Bridgeport

Dimitri skipped down the road ahead of his father. It was Halloween, a rare and special day. All the favorite shops and usual haunts had special treats to be sure, but even more special than that- he was running around with no glamor.

A rare day indeed when those unique features could safely be on display. A line of carved pumpkins caught his attention- a moment too long, and without watching where he was going the poor boy trotted right into another trick or treater.

"Oh! Sorry." He said sheepishly and knelt to begin helping pick up the split candies. "Uh. I like your costume!"

"Thanks!" The half sized Elsa replied. "I like yours too. Mom said I can't dress SCARY because there's little kids at the school though." She rolled her eyes.

Dimitri paused. "...you think its scary?"

"Yeah! Your weird teeths and eyes are really scary! I gotta go, bye!" The little girl ran off back to her mother, leaving Dimitri in stunned silence. Suddenly the pumpkins weren't fun. Neither was trick or treating. Neither was Halloween and neither was being a vampire. The wind thoroughly gone from his tiny sails, he sat on the curb and quietly began to cry.

Andrei walked the street slowly behind his son. The lad wouldn't go far, and he wasn't eager to try and run to keep up. He did revel in the attention from some of the passing parents who complimented his "Gandalf" costume- but oh. There was Dimitri. Crying.

Oh dear.

He caught up to his son and sat down next to him on the curb. "Something troubling you, lad?"

Dimitri wiped his nose. "Am I scary?"

Andrei paused, not quite sure what to say. Ana was better at this. "Why do you think that?"

"Cuz people are scared of me. I have scary teeth. A-and weird eyes."

"Well, you are a vampire, Dimitrius. It is natural for your prey to be scared of you."

"How am I 'sposed to make friends if I'm scary!" He complained bitterly.

"Dimitrius." Andrei sighed. "You know a lot of people are scared of your mama and papa too, right? Remember when you were scared of Miss Miranda? People can't help being afraid of a creature stronger than they are. But if they won't even give you a chance, you're better off not being friends with them."

"I guess." Dimitri sighed. Andrei rested a weary claw on his son's shoulder.

"Trust me, Dimitrius. If I can be as ugly and horrid as I am and still marry your mother, you can make friends despite your more unique features. Besides." He got up.

"Half the fun is scaring humans anyway. Do you want to try it?"

Dimitri perked up. "Mama says not to!"

"Mama isn't here." Andrei grinned evilly. "Just for tonight, all in good fun. What do you say?"

Dimitri spread a matching evil grin of his own and giggled. "Ok papa."