Going for a walk

[onceaviking]

 He arrives shortly after sundown, looking much like the night before. He's added a coat to his ensemble though. Not that he needs it. 
He has several possible plans in mind, but for now he is waiting to see how Miss Potts will react. 

She seemed like an odd mix of confident and hesitant and that is certainly something he can work with. 

Comments

[othereight]

"Really?"

She chuckles at that.

"I can see how that would be boring, but I'm pretty sure those subjects have never made it past my lips."

[onceaviking]

" Polite conversation tends to be somewhat limited, " he says with an answering chuckle. "So I have been looking forward to hearing you tell of your life."

He is giving her his undivided attention.

[othereight]

"My life? There's nothing so terribly exciting about it," Pepper promises him, shaking her head lightly.

"Essentially, I'm an executive assistant and personal babysitter."

[onceaviking]

"Your employer has children?" he asks.

[othereight]

"No," she murmurs, almost chuckling.

"But he may very well be one himself."

[onceaviking]

"Ah, " he says, knowingly. "A bachelor of independent means. And in your society it is not considered improper for a young woman such as yourself to work for such a man?"

[othereight]

Pepper shrugs casually, shaking her head.

"Not especially. I guess he just felt I was the most qualified for the job."

Which she is, but she's not one to brag.

[onceaviking]

He smiles. "Things have surely changed then. I cannot imagine having a young woman working for me without her family being at the vey least most disapproving."

So, another bachelor.

[othereight]

"Is that because of rules or because they wouldn't want to leave you alone with a young woman?" Pepper asks, surprising even herself with her own teasing.

[onceaviking]

He looks surprised but not unpleasantly so.
"Both, I should think. "

[othereight]

She blushes at her own frankness and glances away, apologetic.

"I'm sorry. That was - a completely inappropriate thing to say."

[onceaviking]

"No, " he says, suddenly serious. "You should ask. You're a young woman on your own. And I shall merely hope that you will not hurry to bid me goodnight."

And now it is his turn to quickly glance away. As if he is embarrassed.

[othereight]

"No, it was - I was making a joke, but it was in poor taste," Pepper insists.

"I only hope I haven't offended you," she murmurs, her fingers reflexively tightening at his arm.

[onceaviking]

"You haven't," he insists. " You haven't."
Putting his hand on top of hers.

It's cold.

[othereight]

Her own hands are bare but still warm in spite of the colder weather, and she starts a little at the feel of his touch.

"Are you cold?" she asks, looking up at him.

[onceaviking]

And again he looks away. Briefly.

Then he glances back at her. "Yes, " he says. " I am cold." As if admitting something.

He has chosen how to proceed.

[othereight]

"Would you like to go back inside?" she asks, concerned for a moment.

"I'm afraid I don't make a very strong heat source."

[onceaviking]

He shakes his head. "It will not help, I'm afraid. I am always cold. "

[othereight]

"So a coat like that doesn't really make much difference?" she asks, motioning to it with a nod of her head.

[onceaviking]

"No, it does not," he says quietly, moving around to face her.
"I am sorry. I should have told you. It was wrong of me not to. "

It would sound as if he is not just talking about his body temperature.

[othereight]

Her brow furrows in confusion and she glances up at him, lightly folding her arms.

"What are you talking about?"

[onceaviking]

He looks down, briefly. " I am not human," he says, quietly. " I should have told you."

[othereight]

Her brow furrows a little more deeply and she looks up at him, not really sure what he's implying.

"Not human, so - what are you, then?"

[onceaviking]

" I am a night creature," he says, softly, as he looks at her. Confiding his secret. Trusting her.

He isn't certain it is going to work, but being here where he cannot force anything it seems like the best modus operandi.

"I was a man once, but it is a long time ago. Walking here with you I was reminded of what it felt like. But it would be selfish of me to lie to you. "

[othereight]

"What, like a vampire?" she asks, almost chuckling at the mere question before realization dawns.

This is Milliways, and she's run into some strange things here already. Why would the existence of a real vampire be so out of the ordinary? Her previous knowledge has only been restricted to the occasional romance novel - which she will vehemently deny she reads if ever asked. (Her private time is her own.)

"So - you're probably a lot older than you look, aren't you," she deduces.