just thinking about the contrast between porter and vincent.
vincent who had a loving childhood, a good human life. one ripped away from him in a freak accident. saved by william, turned to vampire royalty by a maker that would never even think about invoking vincent for frivolous reasons, only to save his life. turned by a maker that cares for him, that loves him, even when vincent pushes him away.
vincent, a prince, progeny of the king. vincent who’s third in command of one of the strongest vampire clans. vincent who couldn’t care less about his status, or vampire politics, or any of that kind of thing. vincent who resented it for so long, who resisted the name of his maker. vincent who hated being a vampire.
vincent who’s practically still human in the way he acts. vincent who seems to almost float above it all, who was so sheltered by his maker he had no idea what the reality of his house really was for over twenty years.
vincent who left the house of solaire once the curtain was pulled back. vincent who saw violence and gore and murder and decided he wanted no part in it. vincent who was presented this option by william, who reiterated that no matter what vincent chose, he would always be family.
porter, who had a turbulent upbringing, colored entirely by loss and pain. porter who didn’t have much of a human life to miss. porter who was so determined to avenge his sister he got caught up with the wrong people, turned against his will. turned by a maker who couldn’t care less about him. not that being unloved by people who should care for him was something new to porter. no, he was very familiar.
porter who spent eight years living with constant invocation and swift, harsh punishment. porter who was relegated to nothing more than a lowly servant, who’s only purpose for existence was to please his maker. a task that proved impossible, if the beatings were anything to go by.
porter who ran when his maker died. his first taste of freedom in eight tortuous years and his first instinct was to run, to leave the entire country, entire continent, and run all the way to california. there he found himself at the doorstep of a king, gracious enough to take in a stray like himself. porter who pledged his loyalty to william in gratitude for what he did for him. porter who took the solaire name eagerly, who wore it with pride.
porter who is most decidedly, not human. porter who has time and time again been not just a vampire, but a monster. porter who spent a fair portion of his afterlife up to his elbows in gore and violence. porter who never, in his entire life, vampiric or human, had the privilege of being sheltered. porter who, save for his sister, never had anyone care enough to attempt shelter him from anything.
porter who was the blade of the king. a king that didn’t even seem to consider he might not want this forever. a king who barely acknowledged the loss of an entire wing of the house, who just gave him the next assignment like it was nothing. porter who didn’t get the offer of amicable separation. porter who tried not to think too hard about what he would do, if the offer had been extended. porter who was not williams family. porter who was family to no one.
