From:         Lynne Levine <llevine@MIT.EDU> 
Subject:      Vampire Psychologist at Work 
  
OK, There's a story behind this one.  At DOWII I was privileged to 
be able to attend a meeting of the Deborah Duchene fan club.  Among 
other things, we had to answer the question: would we want to be 
brought across by Janette?  I answered yes, if Janette would give 
me a job at the Raven. (Deborah said yes, she would hire me! :-) ) 
Well, after giving it much thought, I later decided that what the 
Raven needs is a staff Psychologist, to handle the needs of 
maladjusted vampires (like poor Nickolah.)  I mentioned this to 
a friend, and the following correspondence ensued.  Yes, it's my 
first client! :-[ 
  
Lynne 
  
---------------- 
  
Dear Vampire Psychologist, 
  
   I think I'm under the spell of a wicked vampire organization called 
the FORKNI-L.  Please help me!  I can't seem to get any work done, and 
will surely get in trouble with my boss.  All I want to do is read my 
FORKNI-L digests and send E-mail to friends.  Yet, I think those friends 
are all vampires because they're all connected to that organization, too. 
I no longer seem to want to associate with real people -- I just sit in 
a trance staring at a CRT and writing to these  ...vampires!  I hear that 
some of them even had a convention this past weekend!  I dreamed that I 
attended -- the dream seemed so-o-o real!  Yet when I went to get photos 
to prove that I was not dreaming, the person said that no photos had come 
in for me.  Wasn't I surprised!  I must've dreamed that I took them for 
development on Tuesday with guaranteed 24 hour service, too. 
  
  There are other serious problems, as well, Doctor.  I looked in my 
closet this morning and noticed that most of my clothes are black, 
although some are red like blood!  Even my exercise clothes are red and 
black!  I no longer open my blinds or curtains -- all that light bothers 
me!  I've started wearing my hair like a wicked vampire named LaCroix, 
and have pictures of a beautiful vampire named Janette in my bedroom -- I 
even carry a photo of her with me everywhere on a keychain!  I almost 
shouted "Blasphemy!" in public when I spotted a cologne bottle labelled 
"Christian Lacroix"!  And at night, I get a strong urge to go out to a 
bar called The Raven, but I have no idea how to find it!! 
  
  I know it's the fault of that FORKNI-L cult, I know it has to be!  Yet 
I can't seem to break free!  Doctor, what can I do? 
  
-Ravenette 
  
  
Dear Ravenette, 
  
Difficulty coping with having been brought across is a common 
problem among new vampires.  Don't worry: it is perfectly normal. 
Most fledglings are able to adapt successfully and do not end up either 
going on frenzied binges after which they must be destroyed by the 
enforcers in order to protect the Community, or walking into the sun 
<shudder>.  Your involvement on FORKNI-L shows that you are already 
making progress in your adaptation to your new way of life, for you 
have bonded with others of your kind.  Your loyalty to the proprietor 
of The Raven is also commendable, as is your desire to emulate the 
Master Vampire, LaCroix. 
As for your weekend memories, they were not a dream.  What you recall 
was actually the annual gathering of as many as possible of our own 
kind.  Of course, having so many of our own kind in one location is 
a very powerful experience, especially for a fledgling.  It is 
understandable that you would remember it as merely a dream. 
The photographs (of those of us capable of being photographed, of 
course) should serve as a reminder to you that the Gathering really 
did occur. 
As for your job: such mortal concerns need no longer concern you. 
Your place now is with us. 
  
Lynnette 
Staff Psychologist, 
The Raven