Twilight Speculation thread

[who_needs_fangs?]

I find it hard to believe Charlie's a cop, there's nothing inquisitive in his nature. If I saw someone I loved had changed so drastically, I'd like to think that I would hunt down some answers.

Question:
We know that Jasper's ability is physical, as it works on Bella, but if vampires are like never-changing stone, with no blood, how does he calm down their systems?

[SenorGimp]

Of course they have blood!!
They need it to survive, that's one of the reasons Vampires are so scary, their own blood can't survive, so they have to regularly feed on the blood of others to keep their system strong..
But I understand what you mean...
hmmm.......

[roseaurora]

That is a fantastic point about Charlie being a cop!

I have honestly never really been able to wrap my head around Jasper's ability and how its not mental...
What controls our moods? Hormones? Maybe vampires get to keep their hormones or they are just replaced by venomy-hormones?

I can't even remember how they explained his ability in books... anyone know it off hand or have their book close...?

[edward x lover]

Side note:
If Jasper hadn't ended up in Alice's life, etc. etc. do you think that Edward would still have left Bella, without the expedient of Jasper losing his self-control at Bella's birthday party?

I know this is from way far back but I really wanted to answer it. This is a tough question. I think that he would have but not for the same reasons. I think (and this can only be clarified by Midnight Sun) that Edward had already decided the best thing to do was leave and that he was waiting for something that would make convincing himself easier. I think he was on the fence about leaving or staying and that Jaspers lasp in control was the final straw. Something else would have made him leave eventually. The James incident was what made him think it wasn't safe for her to be near him anymore.

[ariake76]

Question:
We know that Jasper's ability is physical, as it works on Bella, but if vampires are like never-changing stone, with no blood, how does he calm down their systems?

Um..... this gets at a question I've had about Meyer's vampires for a long time...

Given that they retain a nominally human-like body after they turn, how is it that they..... reproduce...... without blood in their systems..... ?

I'm trying to keep it PG here.

I think the answer that they DO have blood in their bodies-- other people's/animal's blood-- would have to be correct. But would that mean that when Edward's eyes are black, he would require some vampire form of Viagra?

Ha Ha, Bella.... so maybe there IS a reason why you eventually have to stop.

But I have to admit, I find that one totally puzzling.

[SenorGimp]

I haven't got anything to add to that, but I just wanted to comment by saying that I find that freaking hilarious!
Vampire Viagra??
Poor Edward, suffering from the ever-dreaded im(mortal)potence!!

[who_needs_fangs?]

I'm trying not to giggle and wake up everyone else in the house, and you aren't making it easier. Most people think its a rush of venom to... down under. Working from the theory that venom is the convectional current that pushes the Australian plate upwards, it would also be what carries the hormones that control emotions. But do vampires even have hormones? And have I sullied the name of plate tectonics?

[Jazz Girl]

Question:
We know that Jasper's ability is physical, as it works on Bella, but if vampires are like never-changing stone, with no blood, how does he calm down their systems?

Given that they retain a nominally human-like body after they turn, how is it that they..... reproduce...... without blood in their systems..... ?

I'm trying to keep it PG here.

I think the answer that they DO have blood in their bodies-- other people's/animal's blood-- would have to be correct. But would that mean that when Edward's eyes are black, he would require some vampire form of Viagra?

Ha Ha, Bella.... so maybe there IS a reason why you eventually have to stop.

But I have to admit, I find that one totally puzzling.

Okay, I think I found the answer to both questions in one quote. The following is from SM's website, FAQ section of the BD page:

Similarly, throughout the vampire's body are many versions of venom-based fluids that retain a marked resemblance to the fluid that was replaced, and function in much the same way and toward the same purpose. Though there is no venom replacement that works precisely like blood, many of the functions of blood are carried on in some form. Also, the nervous system runs in a slightly different but heightened way. Some involuntary reactions, like breathing, continue (in that specific example because vampires use the scents in the air much more than we do, rather than out of a need for oxygen). Other involuntary reactions, like blinking, don't exist because there is no purpose for them. The normal reactions of arousal are still present in vampires, made possible by venom-related fluids that cause tissues to react similarly as they do to an influx of blood
So, to answer Who_Needs_Fangs' question first, I think we can assume that yes, vampires still have a form of hormones, synaptic conductors and all of those other physical markers/influencers of mood. It is on these physcial compounds that Jasper's gift works. I do imagine though, and this is purely my speculation, that it is a lot easier to manipulate the moods of humans as opposed to vampires. It just seems to me that the venom infusion in these chemicals would make them much harder to effect, just like the rest of their physical being.
As for Ariake76's question, essentially same answer, just a different pathway. And, Ariake76, I am assuming you are purely meaning the sex and not the actual reproduction here. SM answers that, of course, as well. But, we know that vampire females can't reproduce. And, suvivors of a male vampires attempts to do so number at 1, that we know of. So, I'll leave that information off.

No, Who_Needs_Fangs you haven't sullied plate tectonics at all. Just made discussing them that more enjoyable.

[roseaurora]

Awesome!... "venomy-hormones" was actually appropriate!

Thanks for finding that Jazz Girl!

[ariake76]

As for Ariake76's question, essentially same answer, just a different pathway. And, Ariake76, I am assuming you are purely meaning the sex and not the actual reproduction here. SM answers that, of course, as well. But, we know that vampire females can't reproduce. And, suvivors of a male vampires attempts to do so number at 1, that we know of. So, I'll leave that information off.
[/color]

Ahhh, thank you, Jazz Girl. I'm so.... glad?.... SM had already thought out an answer to that one. (And yeah, I was using "reproduce" as a euphemism... I remember the discussion about actual reproduction in the books!). So it's venom, huh?..... that's almost disappointing. It sounds so dull. Like it's not going to get routine enough for Bella and Edward over the next five hundred years, without them always knowing that everything will work perfectly every time regardless of any condition.....zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Or maybe venom-based arousal has the same crapshoot qualities as the blood-based version... "I'm sorry honey, you're just not getting my venom flowing tonight"? Can't picture that, sorry