“Out of the Coffin” & Into the Fire
When a real vampire begins to tell people of his/her vampirism it is called by the community “coming out of the coffin”. The effect this has upon the community causes much debate within it. Should we or should we not let people know who and what we are? Proponents of what is called The Black Veil (a set of rules created by a couple of vampires as a code of conduct and which has a large following) would say “no”- well at least not to everyone. Their warning is to tell only those whom you trust with your life.
The question is, “Why such controversy?” Yes, there is controversy. There are crazies with stakes out there and then there is the scientific community which may take it upon themselves to rally us up and conduct experiments! There could be vampire bashing! The whole world could be in total shock and fear us! Well, to all of that I say, “Phooey!” Are we to live in fear or in freedom?
If one were to lose one’s child, I can see the need for such caution. If one were to lose one’s job, then perhaps another job would be better. If one were to lose one’s friends, one can begin to wonder if these people truly love them or not. Who wants friends like that? I sure don’t! As for family, family are those who love you- just the way you are. In some cases, it may be prudent to keep it quiet for the sake of family members who are elderly and would not be able to handle the information. Otherwise, why hide your true face? It isn’t like you just changed overnight- you’re still the same ‘you’ they knew prior telling them.
So, what if you’re a vampire and you want to come out of the coffin? What next? Obviously, there is the telling, but for a few of us, there is the showing. This is where controversy comes into the vampire community as discrimination rises against those of us who choose to look different as well. Not all vampires dress in black and/or fancy clothes, wear Goth make-up and fangs, but some of us do. If you choose to do so, be prepared- not for what society thinks of you, but for what fellow vampires think of you.
You see, some vampires have a big chip on their shoulder. It is the “vamp fiction” chip. If real vampires go about being theatrical about it, we look like some sort of stereotype. Some vampires hate vampire fiction altogether as it portrays us in ways we are not. Perhaps it is this group which despises the theatrical vampire. I use the term “theatrical vampire” to distinguish us from those who are “lifestylers” but not real vampires.
We theatrical types have a great time playing with make-up effects and clothes- perhaps due to sheer sense of fun and hedonism. After all, we are a sensual lot are we not? Even those of us whom are transcendent in our spirituality may still enjoy the look and feel of velvet.
What of the fangs? Those who hate them, call them “fake fangs”. I prefer to call them an outward physical expression of my spiritual self. I had a set of two elongated canines years ago. I began with the use of custom made removable caps back in 1996. After going through two sets of those as they would end up breaking, I decided to ask my dentist about other possibilities. He told me that there are two ways in which to proceed: either porcelain or bonds.
For porcelain fangs, the teeth have to be ground down to stubbies and then the new teeth are fitted on and are totally permanent. That is also the most expensive way to go about it. Bonds are built upon the existing teeth by gradually adding the same material used for white fillings and with a heating process. They are very strong and durable, but they do require sharpening every 6-8 months depending on what you use them for. I had canine bonds and they were so strong, I opened a box, sliding along the packing tape with them. They also came in handy for piercing the lids on potato chip canisters. Every six months I would go for my regular cleaning and the dentist would also sharpen my fangs. Three dentists have dealt with me and my fangs and they all thought it was great fun. Anyway, enough of the “fun with fangs” bit. …
As for strangers on the street, the first thing they say is either “I love your teeth” or “Are those real?” In the case of the latter, I would tell them a bit about the process if they were interested and if the conversation segued into “Why did you have it done?” I had an excellent opportunity to educate someone about real vampires. I was in 2005 when I had them and onward for a couple of years. I interviewed my then-dentist about fangs as well as oral piercing for a now-defunct e-zine and that was also fun.
My make-up style recently got three compliments from total strangers when I went out to a mall with a friend. Without the fangs now (I had them sanded down while going through a Catholic education process), I simply look Goth. With my new fangs, which will be built this month, my four upper fangs will distinguish me from a regular Goth and will open conversational doors which would not be opened otherwise.
We theatrical vamps are the frontrunners. We open doorways which others cannot. We do not have to simply go about as psychics working with paranormal phenomena. We show our true face and do not hide who and what we are. We also educate people about what real vampirism is and is not and how the movies portray us incorrectly. We do not create a panic, but rather intrigue. We are not mere attention-seekers, we are attention getters- and in being so, we are one of the educating types of vamps in the community. Also, we may be the best gauge for how society currently reacts to vampires.
Truly, it seems that the only ones who have problems with theatrical vampires is the vampire community itself while vampire fiction has aroused fascination in the public eye and we utilize to our advantage the “image” we present to people who expect vampires to look this way so that we may educate the public.
Most importantly, we are free… We just happen to have a lot of fun being so.
Lady Vittoria
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