002: [visual] consummate businessman

[fogdar]

The feed opens to show Eric sitting in a throne (yes, a throne), in a dimly lit bar that appears to be a shrine to the colors black and red. It is not by any means a dive, but it doesn't particularly ooze class, either.

"Good evening, fellow citizens," (the word citizens contains a generous helping of irony) "I own a bar, located in Osten, called

Comments

[antisaint]

"Nice chair," trolls John, who may have no greater purpose than this in responding, or may have many of them! He is a professional bar goer, after all, and even more professionally interested in shady arrangements. (No you don't, honey.)

[fogdar]

John probably isn't interested in the kind of arrangements Eric has to offer, for the record. Unless John happens to be a secret fangbanger of course, in which case more power to him. As it is, Eric looks vaguely gratified by the compliment (however seriously meant it was/wasn't).

"Isn't it just."

[ visual ] >____>

[antisaint]

No, indeed, which his typist - who will consistently remember tags someday - knows, but not John, so much. You people, with your tastes--yes, things John is not allowed to have commentary on: anyone else's taste in vices. "Yeah. It really sells the whole ambiance of the place."

A beat. "But you already knew that." Surely. "What kind of tastes are you catering to, exactly?"

Fangtasia, you know. John likes to know how things work.

[ visual ] :D

[fogdar]

Eric inclines his head in a slight nod to indicate that yes, he did indeed already know that. He was very involved with the decorating. ...what?

"Back in Shreveport, my clientele were mostly tourists and rednecks. Or simply the curious." Curiously stupid is the subtext here. "Vampires are still considered rare and exotic by some."

[mancalledspade]

It's some time after the message goes out that Spade makes his way to the bar. This is partly because he was debating whether or not he could drink at a place called "Fangtasia" and maintain his dignity, and partly because he avoids the trams when possible. Extras unnerve him. Hell, most of Taxon unnerves him, though he doesn't show it.

Still, if he's going to find out anything about the place, he's going to have to get out and about in it. And he's found that making nice with bartenders is often a good place to start, if you want to stay in the loop. So he walks in the door, subtly taking in the surroundings, and heads for the bar.

[fogdar]

Eric isn't actually behind the bar (no, he has an Extra firmly installed there), but he has migrated from the throne (that was mostly for impact on his transmission) and is now sitting on a stool in front of the bar, perusing some papers. Eric is aware of Sam's presence as soon as he enters (even though his back is to the door), but he looks up and feigns surprise as Sam approaches.

"Ah. I do believe you're my first real customer."

...despite the fact that the bar is semi-busy with other customers. The Extras don't exactly count.

[mancalledspade]

"I imagine the creepy drones don't tip real great." Metaphorically speaking, at least. "Still, you did such a great sell job, I thought I'd clear my busy schedule."

[fogdar]

Oh, how droll. Eric can appreciate a human with a sense of humor. "Thank you. I was quite proud of myself." There is a certain thin irony in that statement.

"What can I get you to drink?"

[ visual ]

[notsawbones]

McCoy and alcohol are like the dish and the spoon of surly southern men. The name of the bar does sound familiar to the doctor, but it's too bad he wasn't too involved in the whole pyromania incident a few months back to pin that memory and show some of that vampire hate he has accumulated since coming here.

"That'll hit the spot." McCoy even sounds happy that Taxon now has another place for him to get steadily more drunk.

[ visual ]

[fogdar]

Oh, McCoy. You'd think the name Fangtasia would have certain implications. Then again, the offer of alchohol is probably quite distracting.

"Come on down." Eric says, with a slight upturn of the lips that isn't exactly a smile, and an inflection that's just a bit odd.

[ visual ]

[notsawbones]

... Okay that was creepy. He just assumed the man who sat on a Goddamn throne and had a bar that sounded vaguely like an antique video was just trying to gather punters.

Still, it was alcohol and it was sweet nectar to his savoury glands. "Maybe I will." He replies evenly, slightly put off by that weird smile.

[ visual ]

[fogdar]

Well, Eric is a vampire. He can't help being creepy, it's like his default setting.

He doesn't reply verbally to McCoy's statement, though he does offer a cordial nod, before returning his attention to something out of the field of vision of the tablet feed. At least he's not pushy and creepy?

[visual]

[mightyfallen]

It's worth turning on his tablet just to give this guy's choice of chair a pointed look, best described as Oh, honestly. Not that Jack isn't envious, mind you, but even he won't allow himself the indulgence of owning a throne. (Not without something to rule, at least.)

That accomplished, he leans forward with a hinted smile somewhere between bemusement and idle skepticism. "'Other benefits,' hm." It's not hard to tell that Jack isn't really the work-for-a-living type (soldier, yes; laborer, no), but he does like to know what vices are in circulation.

[visual]

[fogdar]

Laugh Jack may, but that throne is very functional. It facilitates much easier gawking for whenever Eric is playing fang candy for the night. Also, it's extremely comfortable - and so is Eric, regardless of pointed looks.

"For those of a certain persuasion, yes." Which could mean any number of things really, though he's referring to fangbangers in specific. So many humans find the thrill of being bitten by a vampire absolutely irresistible. This is not an advisable hobby, however.

[visual]

[mightyfallen]

"Uh-huh." Inadvisable hobbies are Jack's favorite kind--but thankfully for...everyone, really, this one doesn't hold much appeal for him as he understands it. Partly because he doesn't understand it very well, but never mind that. He can put Fangtasia and purposefully cryptic offers together into a half-decent guess.

"Do you get many of those where you're from? People of a certain persuasion, I mean. I'm just curious." Because life-endangering-bite fetishists seems like a limited crowd to him.

[visual]

[fogdar]

Eric would gladly be more explicit, if it weren't for the fact that Fangtasia has a strict 'no biting on the premises' rule, and that he's aware there are 'Slayers' in Taxon who probably wouldn't take kindly to overhearing such things. As he's agreed not to kill them all, out of respect to Godric, he needs to behave himself. At least in public.

"Yes, actually the business is very lucrative. There are still a great many people who have yet to see a single vampire, let alone several in one place. It's a great draw."

[ visual ]

[thesecondslayer]

"You again?"

Faith.

[ visual ]

[fogdar]

Oh, hello. Eric has absolutely no idea who Faith is (he only knows her by name, thanks to Godric's explanations), but appearing to be confused simply wouldn't do. So instead he gives her a 'friendly' finger-waggling wave.

"Pleased to see me?"

[ visual ]

[thesecondslayer]

And Faith will just assume until proved otherwise that this is indeed the same Eric, and therefore the friendly wave gets a rather impolite snort. (For the record, Eric: she's pretty sure you've seen her tits.)

"Like I said last time. Stay the hell off my neck and we're five by five, I don't care if your boy need to eat."

[ visual ]

[fogdar]

Oooooh, well that makes a lot of sense, all of a sudden. This one must be Faith, the one he apparently forced Godric to feed from. Of course, sly bastard that he is, he doesn't let on that he's only just realized who she is.

"What makes you think I'd serve the same dish twice, Faith?" Obligatory pause for a brazen lecherous look, oh yes. "No matter how delicious."

Well, Godric didn't mention that she's hot. Of course generally he prefers them blonde, but credit where credit's due.