Question for the class

[maderr]

Upon reading a Really Bad set of books given to me by a friend, I have realized that one question remains ever unanswered for me in the world of vamps and werewolves:

Why do vamps and werewolves hate each other?

Mind, I've got the same thing going on in DwtD - but mine hate each other for territorial reasons. Vamps are very possessive of their territory, werewolves are known for taking territory. They're also immune to each other, which pisses everyone off. Plus, neither typically gets along with demons either -- Sable is something of an exception.

But in all the other books I've read, no one ever answers that question. So why do they hate each other?


This question brough to you by Bad Mary Sue fiction and the fact they made the mistake of talking about vamps on torquere_social. Yes, I'm behaving. For now.

Man, I so want coffee. But that means dealing with the forty degree weather and a nasty wind.

Comments

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

Well obviously the answer is because it makes for good dramatic tension in stories. Really what other excuse does an author need?

[emthornhill.livejournal.com]

well, the only answer i can come up with and really its not my answer...i kind of got the impression long ago that vampires can control werewolves and they hate that, being wild and everything.

in one of our rpg's my character was a half breed vamp and a co-writer played a full grown werewolf, we had fun with that, the sexual tension between the two...not to mention we did throw in the controlling factor in which mikal would only do it if Hunter became full beast and uncontrollable.

ahh well, not sure if thats the answer you want. I'm almost certain I picked it up from a bela lagosy (way bad spelling, hopefully you'll know the famous actor playing vamp pics) movie.

sends you virtual coffee, I'm on my second pot.

[amasugiru.livejournal.com]

So, you finished the series? Or did you finish Moon Called?

I agree that most rivalries are simply created for a plot's(not matter how weak) sake. I thought the Underworld Evolution movies, no matter how cheesy they were, did a pretty interesting. I am sure there is some deeper, psychological/historical explanation relating back to the origin of the two beasts. Go write a dissertation on it.

And yes, Ptolemy's Gate was HIDEOUS. I will just pretend I never read those books.

[abmca8605.livejournal.com]

I was going to say watch the Underworld movies, whenever the second one (Evolution) comes out.

[audaxfemina.livejournal.com]

So, I read Buffy fanfic, and often enough they sort of give the vampires what I would consider catlike attributes. I mean, aside from fangs and yellow eyes, they often sometimes make the vampires purr and everything.

Maybe it has to do with the author's perception of vampires = cats and werewolves = dogs? But rationally, and outside of ffic...

Both are creatures of the night, both have essentially the same prey... it could be territorial instincts the same way that you see in other animals. If you aren't pack, you're an invader?

[skylark97.livejournal.com]

Because the vamps realize that the werewolves are far superior in their coolness factor and they feel inadequate so they retaliate by being bitchy. ^_^

You know what I miss in vamp fiction? I want the little bastards to turn into bats. Bats are cute. (You know, when you don't have fifty million of them flying at your head ala Batman Forever.) And when you actually see them on a singular basis, they're like the least scariest creature ever. (I mean, it's basically a flying mouse. >_> At least werewolves turn into actual wolves.) I've also been reading a bit too much Sex Pistols, but still. I want cutebat!vamp. Or better yet, ugly!vamp. Or Vampire-whose-victims-give-him-blood-out-of-pity-because-he-is-THAT-bad-at-being-a-vampire!vamp.

And as an aside, I hate it when something like werewolves or vampires becomes the Face of Aids. Like, wha? I mean, do you really need a metaphor for that kind of thing anymore? This isn't victorian England. If you want to talk about Aids in your story, talk about Aids. This whole "I made up this creature of the night specifically so that I could show how deadly and bad this disease is" just has a little whiff of preteniousness to it. >_>;; I will now write about Windigos! But! They will be a metaphor for how children are starving in third world countries! Because there's a correlation there. I swear. (And now, I'm being a bit of an ass, so I'll stop. *sweatdrops*)

Still, my vote goes to the vamps feeling inadequate when compared to the coolness that is the werewolf. ^_^

[maderr.livejournal.com]

AIDS was something else they mentioned (or did you scope that and that was why you mentioned it? If I were dumb enough to read more vamp stories, dragging AIDS and shit into will turn me off faster than my cats can knock a lamp off the table)

Or Vampire-whose-victims-give-him-blood-out-of-pity-because-he-is-THAT-bad-at-being-a-vampire!vamp.

Dude, I really fucking hate you. My brain is loud enough, I did NOT need that added to it. His name is Marcell, b/c that sound perfect for a vamp who sucks at it.

[skylark97.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read that there. I thought about commenting there, but seeing as how I couldnt' be nice about it, I didn't. ^_^;;

Other than squirting milk out my nose because it'd be unintentionally funny, I can't see the purpose in putting huge world issues like Aids into stories like that. I mean, really. If people aren't taking Aids seriously and you decide to educate them by writing a story in which people who run around sucking other people's blood while angsting about their parents and lovers who have been dead for centuries, do you really think anyone is going to take you seriously? O_o;;

RL sucks enough as it is, I don't need it bitch slapping me in the face when I'm reading for pleasure. >_>

Dude, I really fucking hate you.

XD Bwhahaha! I win? *snickers* Marcell! That's so cute!!! *_____*

*puppy eyes*

[aqua-eyes.livejournal.com]

Why do vamps and werewolves hate each other?

I always thought being speciest counts. If you're brought up as a werewolf to hate vampires and vice versa...

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

I don't know why werewolves and vampires hate each other except for it being because of the Vampire and Werewolf storytelling games published by White Wolf.

It's all the fault of johnkeats.

Knowing all about games, even the ones I don't play, I can explain why to you if you really want.

[indigoraven.livejournal.com]

Ummmm... Dunno. Obviously there is a damn good reason in the Underworld movies... but really I don't think I've ever seen an explanation. In Kelley Armstrong's books there really is no rivalry except on personal levels between a few of the characters (For damn good reason.) And Kim Harrison's books don't have as much a rivalry of Werewolves vs. Vampires as much as the fact that the Werewolves in her books are all just very much loners/pack animals and not into other species. Speaking of which, I recommend either series to you. ;->

[minni.livejournal.com]

Because there's only enough room for one mostly-evil species to exist and prey upon humans! Or, not. I suppose, aside from territorial issues, people figure that if you've got one species preying upon humans then throwing in a rivalry to kind of distract them from the humans would make for interesting dynamics.

You know - I'd like to see a kiddy vampire growing up as best friends with a werewolf-pup.

And for some reason, I'm reminded of one of my OCs: Gus, the buck-toothed vampire who stopped preying upon humans due to his oral inadequacy. He was eventually turned to dust and wound up being carted around in a vial by his childhood friend, who needs the occasional reminder of mortality. Not that vampires make the best reminders for mortality but, you know.

[(Anonymous)]

Ditto massively. Kelley Armstrong's books rock. There is one with vampire-dealings in it...and she completely mocks the heck out of Anne Rice. (Mwaha.)

Rafe