angels in the architecture

[tryingitall]

Who: Balthazar and open!
Where: The library, the kitchen, and assorted other mansion locations.
When: Monday
Rating: Probably PG?
Summary: Balthazar is in need of distraction. I have two scenarios here, but feel free to bump into him in the halls in between locations, if you're so inclined. I'm game for other ideas, too.



He finds it somewhat vexing how difficult the library is to locate on any given day. He's found it once before, although he wasn't especially motivated to peruse the contents then. Why bother, when he could ask his closet for any book he has in mind?

The flaw in this theory, Balthazar eventually realizes, is there are books out there he doesn't know he wants. Books about art history, for example. Having latched onto the idea of setting up a miniature gallery in his rooms, he's determined to follow through, but he needs more information. Examples. Ideas.

After a couple hours of wandering the halls, he finally finds the place and ducks inside with a grumble of relief. Now, of course, the problem is how to find what he's looking for within the library itself. No one ever taught him the Dewey Decimal System, if indeed that's even how the place is organized. But he has all the time in the world, so he'll begin at the beginning and wind his way through the stacks for as long as it takes.





When he began walking again, he wasn't aware he was headed for the kitchen, but once he arrives there he decides to stay and experiment. Angels don't need to eat, but Balthazar has developed a taste for one or two things aside from alcoholic drinks. Certain sweets. Well-brewed tea. Vegetarian dishes spiked with fiery sauces and spice. There's a cookbook open on the counter, possibly left behind by someone else, and he finds himself thumbing through it as the kettle heats. It's mostly baked desserts, and he's about to lose interest when one page catches his eye.

'Fried cheesecake bites'. Fried cheesecake? Fried cheesecake. It sounds like the unholy offspring of Sara Lee and a county fair funnel cake vendor.

He's not sure if he'll like it himself, but he's willing to bet Death would. Assuming he could somehow pull off the dish. After the recent TV land fiasco, it might be smart to make nice.

It can't hurt to try, anyway. He scans the ingredients list with a frown and goes for the refrigerator.

Comments

[seekinghome]

Ed shakes his head. "Recreating the notes my brother's Mirror destroyed while they were over here."

He makes a face. "I'd rather be looking up something new that I haven't already done. There's been a lot of science advancements since 1923, so I've been catching up on them."

And eating his words to his father about Einstein.

[tryingitall]

"Ah." He sobers, nodding sympathetically. "I'm sorry. I seem to have come out of that chaos better than most. Can I help in any way? I was actually going to look for art books, but since I'm here...?"

[seekinghome]

Ed shakes his head again. "Thanks, but I'm the one that knows what I'm looking for. On the bright side, I guess, this is going faster than the first time."

[tryingitall]

"All right. I suppose I'll just catch up on my own reading, then. Although, do you know where the art section is? That's what I was really looking for."

He taps the cover of A Brief History of Time. "Not that this isn't interesting, as well."

[seekinghome]

Ed seems to be doing a lot of head shaking. "That's not my area of interest, so I haven't gone looking, sorry."

He took a look at Balthazar's book. "What's it about? History book or something about time itself..?"

[tryingitall]

"The author is considered one of the finest scientific minds in the time I've come from," he explains. "He's a physicist. This is supposed to be an introduction to some concepts in cosmology, I believe, but I haven't read it yet."

[seekinghome]

"Hmm. Cool. I might read that one another day. The stuff I've got right now are chemistry books. This place is certainly useful for catching up on advancements made since the 1920's."

[tryingitall]

"That's the time period you're from? The twenties?" Balthazar looks thoughtful, wondering how closely their worlds run parallel. "I was on the planet between 1908 and 1919. I sort of regret I missed the twenties, actually."

[seekinghome]

Ed nods. "Yeah. Years between my world and Earth's don't quite line up since there seems to be about a five year difference, so I was thrown by it being the wrong year for awhile. Like on Earth, it's 1923 and back home, it's 1917."

Now he scratches at the back of his neck. "I've been living in Germany, so I'd be willing to pass on the time period. The economy's fucked."

[tryingitall]

He winces subtly. "Ah. Yes, it would be at that time. I recommend you get out of there if you can, actually. But then, if you get sent home you likely won't remember that advice."

Stupid Wonderland. Balthazar rests his elbow on the table and his chin in one hand. "Economic trouble always seems to breed social unrest."

[seekinghome]

Ed goes still. "Am I going to be wanting to drag my friend out of there too?"

Assuming Alfons lived long enough, given his illness.

[tryingitall]

"Yes, I would say so. You probably don't want the details...but if things go in your world the way they did in mine, there'll be war again in a few years." He frowns at nothing in particular. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. It's not likely to help much.

[seekinghome]

Ed is going to be looking for history books after today, most likely. "Great. Just what everyone needs."

[tryingitall]

Balthazar might feel a bit bad about that. Unless Ed somehow manages to save his own life with the information later on. "The 20th century's a bit of a rough patch, in a lot of ways. I'm not sure whether the next one will improve or not. I've only seen a decade or so of it."

[seekinghome]

Ed is going to be really not happy when he finds those books and reads them. "Here's hoping, I guess."

He looks back down at the books he choose for the day, reminding himself of their presence after he had half forgotten about them.

[tryingitall]

"I'll drink to that." Or he would, if it was permitted to have drinks in the library.

Seeing Ed look at his research, Balthazar's reminded of his original purpose in coming here. "Perhaps I ought to leave you to your reading? I still have a few things to pick up, myself."

[seekinghome]

Ed nods, a little ruefully. "Probably should. With any luck, I can finish redoing old notes either today or tomorrow and then I can start something new."

[tryingitall]

"Now that I've given you depressing things to think about." He smiles ruefully and stands, shaking his head. "If you need a drink later, message me. I'll treat."

Gathering his books, he gives a gentle nod and turns to go. "Good luck with your research. I'll see you around."

[seekinghome]

"Yeah. I've already got plenty of depressing shit that's happened without more being dropped in my lap," Ed says, picking his pen up and pulling a book closer to himself. "I'll keep that in mind and probably will."