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. 

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[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.

[onceaviking]

"I am, " he says. "I was born a Viking a long time ago."

He still looks at her, steadily. She didn't scream and she didn't run. This might work. His eyes are very blue and once you know, he does look rather pale.

[othereight]

If she hadn't been a weathered veteran of Milliways, he might have made her slightly more nervous. But she's run into mutants and people with superpowers and all kinds of different things. She wonders what it says about her that she barely bats an eye at vampires now.

"And by the time my year rolls around, you would be - what? Centuries old?"

[onceaviking]

" If I live that long, yes," he replies calmly. " I hope I shall. I think I would feel more at home there than I do now."

She is still not afraid. He likes that.

[othereight]

"Right."

She nods slowly, considering everything.

"Well, that explains the cold hands, at least."

[onceaviking]

He smiles. " I suppose it does," he agrees.

His teeth are very white and even. Not a fang in sight.



(occ: bedtime)

[othereight]

While she hasn't run away screaming, it's safe to say she might be a little more cautious now.

Even if she hasn't seen a set of fangs yet. "What's it like? Being a vampire?"

[onceaviking]

Glorious. Exhilarating. Satisfying.

" Lonely, " he says. " Like most large predators we live solitary lives. Some may enjoy that but I find myself longing for conversation. "

He shrugs.

" I was happy when I found this place, but even here I may be shunned despite my commitment to following the laws of this place. "

[othereight]

Pepper frowns at that, visibly, a small line forming between her brows as she glances up at him, hunching her shoulders against the cold as her breath forms in the air.

"Why? I didn't think this place was inherently anti-anyone."

[onceaviking]

" I am a vampire. Many need no other reason. I have been refused service, attacked... "

He trails off.

[othereight]

"That sounds a little prejudicial, don't you think?"

Pepper's still frowning as she shifts her weight slightly, glancing up at him.

"Especially if you're trying to follow the rules."

[onceaviking]

"I am, " he replies. "And I agree. But there is little help I can do to change that. So when the opportunity arose - to spend a little time in conversation with a beautiful young lady - "

Another shrug. This time of the 'how could I refuse' variety.

[othereight]

She blushes again, but this time she doesn't duck her head, meeting his gaze steadily.

"Oh, please," she murmurs, shaking her head. "How many women you must've seen for yourself by now."

[onceaviking]

"I have," he agrees. " That does not change my opinion."
His voice is soft and low. Intimate.

[othereight]

"Oh," she replies, lips moving to shape the word, the letter, before she glances away with a small smile.

"Thank you."

[onceaviking]

He lets a finger run along her jaw, gently coaxing her to face him again.

"I cannot be the first to tell you this, " he says with a small smile.

[othereight]

She doesn't shiver - although she comes pretty close to it when his finger moves like ice along her jaw.

"You'd be surprised," she says, grateful when her voice doesn't catch.

[onceaviking]

" Then the men of your age are fools," he says, letting his fingertips rest gently against her chin for a second before removing them.

[othereight]

It's been a long time since she didn't have a compliment turned her way that didn't involve her organizational skills or her knack for bidding on a new art piece early.

"That seems to be a well-known fact," she murmurs, smiling briefly.

[onceaviking]

His eyes linger a little bit too long on her lips, before he looksback at her eyes.

He is beginning to enjoy this. It's almost a game of sorts.

" Should we continue? Or is it too cold? "

[othereight]

"Maybe not for you," she points out, though maybe that's an obvious thing to say.

"I could do with a little warming."

[onceaviking]

" Let us go back then. There is sadly little I can do to help," he says apologetically. And then he carefully puts one arm around her shoulder.

" Unless this helps? A little? "