(no subject)

[onceaviking]

 Eric has found Milliways' library. Contrary to how he presented himself to Miss Bennet, he is not much of a reader. He has, however, learnt that it sometimes pays off to spend time with books. 

So he is now settled in a booth with quite an academic tome outlining the rise and fall of various economies in the Western World. There is plenty in it he does not understand, but that does not trouble him. He is merely looking for useful details. Dates of stock market crashes for example. And that whole chapter on the role of steam engines was most enlightening.

Something to get involved in perhaps?

Comments

[mogget_cat]

Just ignore the cat that drops lightly down from the rafters to land on the divider between the booths behind Eric. He's just looking for a better angle at which to read over the vampire's shoulder.

[onceaviking]

Eric would never ignore a cat.

For when is a cat ever just a cat?

So he knows very well it is there. He doesn't turn to look at it though.

[mogget_cat]

That's okay. The cat's attention is on the book. Stock markets aren't exactly something he's dedicated time to study, so they are new to him. He has heard the term, but in a vague, unspecific way (like how he's heard of ancient human hunter-gatherer cultures - they have nothing to do with him, nothing to offer him, so he hasn't studied them). But still, they are something new, so his curiosity is mildly piqued.

The fluffy white tailtip may bend and curl every so often, occasionally brushing the vampire's shoulder as the cat reads.

[onceaviking]

Eric turns the page and says, "Would it not be easier to get a book of your own?"

[mogget_cat]

"Too much effort," answers the cat, resting its chin on its forepaws. "I am already here, and comfortable."

[onceaviking]

Now Eric does turn a little to look at it.

"You're not a shifter," he says.

[mogget_cat]

"There are many things I am not," replies the cat, neither confirming or denying Eric's assertion.

[onceaviking]

He sniffs the air.

Not a fairy either. His nose wrinkles. Definitely not a delicious fairy. Too bad.

[mogget_cat]

There is a faint smell of cat. Beyond that, there is a strange, ozone tang of a too-close lightning strike, of unnaturalness, a mix of burning rubber and hot wiring, the smell of chaotic Free Magic.

"Are you done with this page?" he asks, unconcernedly.

[onceaviking]

"As a matter of fact," Eric says. "I am."

He turns the page again.

His scent is a little dusty. With a hint of blood.

[mogget_cat]

"Good timing," replies the not'cat, resting his chin back on his forepaws where they lie on the seat back near Eric's shoulder, and resuming his reading.

[onceaviking]

It makes his skin prickle. The sense of power this close.

He pretends not to notice and turns another page.
His fangs itch.

[mogget_cat]

After a number of pages in near-silence, the cat snorts, reading. "Hmph. Even I could have told them a crash was coming."

[scots_wolf]

"Economy," says the passing tall, broad, strong blond dead mortal to the sitting tall, broad, strong blond vampire. "Huh."

Urquhart had read up on science from the future, mostly, since coming here.



[[OOC: When I picked a PB for Urq, Alexander Skarsgard had been a definite possibility, and they do answer to a rather similar description, so I had to have him meet Erik. Totally absolutely had to.]]

[onceaviking]

Eric looks up.

Another dead man. His head tilts a little as he takes in his appearance. Not Norse, but close.

"Yes, " he says, his voice even. "I figured it might be useful."

And when given the opportunity to cheat, only a fool refrains. Especially when you get to cheat fate, chance, and history all at once.


(occ: hææ, it's perfect)

[scots_wolf]

"I guess you're planning a few surprises for your world, then," Urquhart says. "Surprises of the kind where the profits end up in your pockets."

He approves.

[onceaviking]

"If you're going to invest, you might as well invest wisely," Eric replies. Calmly.

Then he gives the man a nod. "Eric," he says.

[scots_wolf]

"Urquhart," Urquhart says.

[onceaviking]

Urquhart.

Hmm.

"Where are you from, Urquhart?"

[scots_wolf]

"Originally, Scotland," Urquhart says.

[onceaviking]

Eric nods. "A Scotsman," he says. "I've heard you're good fighters."

[scots_wolf]

"I don't know about all Scotsmen," Urquhart says, "but I am."

[onceaviking]

Eric nods. "There are some here like that, it seems."

[scots_wolf]

"Scotsmen, or fighters?" Urquhart asks, grinning.

[onceaviking]

A small, answering smile.

"Likely both, but so far I have met more of the latter kind."