Among so many densely foliaged trees, concealment was easy. No-one noticed a
bat seek a perch amid the branches of a relatively low-growing tree near the
goal of the other travellers. No-one noticed a man step out from behind the
tree a moment later and move up to the brightly lit front porch of a
particularly clean and well cared for Elvish house.

As Luthor opened the door, Kadrys grinned at him with genuine happiness. Though
his smile was wide, it looked quite human: the concealment was second nature.

"Come in, my friend..." Luthor smiled, bowing him in with unconscious Elven
courtesy.

"Thank you," Kadrys murmured as he entered, looking round at the already active
group inside. "I'm sorry I'm late..." he added.

"Not at all, it's barely past dawn and the guests have just started arriving."
Aeeing more guests approaching the door, Luthor continued with a phrase he
had said a hundred times already "Can I offer you a - chair?"

Kadrys noticed the slight catch, smiling inwardly and thinking, 'What would the
original words have been: "Can I offer you a drink?"'
The vampire was surprised to see Luthor shoot him an acute sideways glance and
an apologetic shrug. 'Perceptive...' thought Kadrys, 'It's almost as if he read
my thoughts. No, impossible. I would have noticed.'

Just then Serene broke away from a knot of guests and hastened towards them.
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled with happiness.

"Absorbing some more compliments, I see?" Luthor grinned teasingly at her.

Serene laughed. "Yes, and well deserved ones they were too!" she replied
impudently.

Kadrys chuckled at the byplay. "Then another won't hurt. You look radiant
tonight..." Kadrys grinned, taking her hand and bowing over it as he brushed
her fingertips lightly with his lips. As he did so, his eye caught Luthor's and
gave a surreptitious wink.
"...It's amazing what a difference it makes to be serving drinks in your _own_
place..." he added, grinning impishly and ducking as Serene chuckled and
snatched her hand away with exaggerated mock-huffishness.

"Well just for that, no liquor for _you_ tonight!" she cried smilingly.

"A mortal blow! I retire defeated..." Kadrys grinned and bowed his head, his
shoulders drooping in a momentary display of dejection thorough enough to do
Lucas proud.

Luthor chuckled and edged back into the conversation.
"Anyway, old friend, can I make you comfortable? I see you're not wearing that
cloak for once, so I don't need to take that..."

Kadrys' eyes drifted over to a table where people had left various brightly
wrapped packages in all possible shapes and sizes. For a moment a strange
expression - regret? embarrassment? shame? - appeared on his face and was gone.
When he spoke, his voice was quiet and hesitant.

"I - am afraid I have nothing to give." He looked into their faces and they
could see his words referred to far more than a cloak. He nodded as he saw them
realise and draw breath to reassure him. He resumed before they could speak.

"There is no present I could - acquire - in a manner that would be suitable for
this occasion. No object I own is of value enough to do it justice. So all I
can give you is one of the very few things I have ever possessed by right.
Experiences. Observations. Words..." He paused only for a moment, then his soft
voice fell into the measured cadence of poetry:

They say that Wisdom's summit is
to value what you've got.
You don't need me to say to you:
"Appreciate your lot".

But you're not _lucky_: luck's unearned,
an accident of birth.
You each _deserve_ the other, for
you've seen each other's worth.

You both are wise enough to see
the gentleness and care:
the friendship in each other's heart
that both of you can share:

A constant warmth to light your days,
a glow that shall not fail,
And not a blaze to dim with time,
or fade when flesh turns frail:

For Lust will seldom last the night,
and Passion ... _comes_ and goes.
_Affection_ is the love that lasts:
Life's one unfading rose.

A moment of appreciation passed while Luthor and Serene absorbed the poem.
Luthor was the first to break the silence, his voice full of sincerity,
"Kadrys, when you live a thousand years as my people sometimes do, and you
yourself already have, you learn that material things pass.  Few things
survive the test of time.  Among those that do are music, memories, poetry,
and as you have pointed out, affection.  Yours is a true gift, thank you."

Serene also chimed in, "It certainly was a lovely poem.  I have one request."

"Certainly, what is it?"

"Could you write it down?  I would like to learn it by heart.  I could also
show it to Mista when she is older."

Kadrys pretended to think about it for a while and agreed only after a
slap on the arm by Serene.

Luthor noticed that Kadrys was squinting against the light of the sun and
said just above a whisper, "We have prepared a room in the basement with
an earthen floor.  We thought you could rest there if you would like and
then wake to celebrate with us during the night when you are more...
comfortable."

The old vampire smiled at the gesture of consideration, "You are truly a
gracious host, Luthor.  I have not rested in many days, so I think I will
take you up on your offer."  He glanced over his shoulder at a line of
people who were quickly losing their patience, "Since you have more guests
to greet, I will leave you now, but I'll be back at sunset."

As he left Luthor and Serene, Kadrys laughed to himself.  He thought back
to many cities in which he had stayed.  When his identity had been discovered,
he had been attacked, lynched, and run out of town.  Never before had
someone discovered his unlife, welcomed him into his house, and given
him a room in the basement.  "Only in Generica" he said to himself as
he descended the stairs.

Text by: Andrea Evans
Minor Editing by: The Dreamer