Who: Adrien Green and Cassius Corbet What: An investment opportunity When: 18th August, 1888 Where: The Institute Rating: G
"Lord Ravensworth."
Cassius was met just inside the door, after only a moment of waiting. His guide was pale, middle-aged, overweight, and sweating as though he'd climbed up several flights of stairs. Cassius could hear his heart laboring to even out. If the man knew Cassius was part of a vampire coven - which he very well might - he didn't show it. Perhaps it didn't matter here.
"Welcome to our facility," his guide went on. "I'll have someone to show you around in just a moment--you're interested in our work?"
"I'm interested," Cassius replied after a beat of consideration, "in an investment."
Whether or not the Institute was the best place for that investment remained to be seen; Cassius also had interests in dirigibles, as well as various other crafts and institutions. His primary reason for coming in person was so that the Institute could convince him they were a good investment. And, in the process, show him what they were working on, so that he could make an informed decision about funding their projects.
The man showed up not shortly after, equally out of breath but decidedly more due to eagerness and haste than being out of shape -- a man of thirty with a well-tailored suit and an air of Business about him who introduced himself as 'Mister Stevens,' and fawned a bit, casually dropping the names of a handful of other key investors to no doubt make the distinguished guest feel as if he were part of something that was both very much en vogue, and exclusive.
He spoke in a steady stream of excitement about the benefits that Lord Ravensworth would expect to receive as a top-tier investor; unparalleled access to various resources such as the Institute's extensive library holdings, the opportunity for advance notice on the progress of certain advances that a canny gentleman might anticipate and use to shape their own investments accordingly, the opportunity to offer directed funding so as to promote certain projects one would be especially interested in seeing more of, and, for good measure, a sly sideways nod to the need one may have for long-term investments with an organization that was both constantly innovating, and had experienced stable growth -- a sustainable model for many years to come.
There was a standard pattern to these sort of tours -- a visit to a chemical/alchemical laboratory, where serious young men (and a handful of women, too) measured liquid into beakers and took notes, followed by a trip to said library, and then a rather spectacular (according to Mr Stevens) walk through one of the engineering labs, which tended to be noisy, but 'damned impressive,' and then a sit-down with the portfolio in question, along with reports and materials the Lord Ravensworth could peruse at his leisure regarding the Institute's latest projects and current net worth.
Stevens was glowing with fervor, and managed a most enthusiastic coverage of advancements in synthetic alkaloids and their applications despite it being an admittedly dry topic, and then swept the gentleman towards the library.
"Naturally," he said, with a smile and a nod, "if you were to become a key investor, your access to the library would extend beyond the Reading Room access typically given to distinguished guests and members of our various professional societies. It is a most impressive collection," he added. "Quite the jewel of privately curated libraries. We'll go through the research and archival portion of the library first -- a place not many get to see first-hand."
The sales pitch was much like Cassius had expected, and he filled in between the lines as the guide spoke, the picture forming more clearly in his mind as they observed the rows of scientists and bustling researchers. There were advantages to backing the Institute, certainly, and the long-term benefits were not inconsiderable. Cassius didn't like the feeling of being 'handled', but it came with showing up at a place like this, which reeked of wealth and industry, with the promise of further wealth in your pocket to be had if you were made happy enough.
His attention in the archives was caught not by the subjects on the shelves, as expected, but by a quiet, dark-skinned man with a somber expression and the air of someone who politely chafed at being confined underground in a small room at the whims of others. Cassius paused. There was a chance that his tour guide was thoroughly-prepared for a new line of questioning, but if he faltered, Cassius wondered if the man - the vampire, Cassius knew one of his own - would intercede.
"I'm not terribly interested in engineering," Cassius remarked, interrupting something about the historical value of the collection and range of subjects on offer. "Nor metallurgy, I'm afraid. What can you tell me about the Institute's directions of research in the scientific fields? Not something being worked on currently, but long-term projects which I might be able to privately fund, as a gift to the Institute? Perhaps those in development, which might see the inside of those labs you showed me earlier in another three to five years? Extrapolation is perfectly acceptable," he added, with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You know the areas of interest and study here well enough to hazard an educated guess, I'm sure, about where the Institute intends to expand its research in the future."
Mr Stevens gamely attempted to repackage his earlier coverage of synthetic alkaloids and expand upon it, but he sorely lacked in imagination. He was perfectly capable of reducing the current science into bite sized pieces of comprehensible (and highly marketable) examples, but after painting himself into a rather small and awkward corner after expanding on Quinine for far too long, Adrien took pity.
"I would think," he added, "that the systematic continued exploration of synthetic compounds would bear rather substantial fruit," he said. "After all, dynamite has quite replaced blasting powder as a safer, stabler compound, and guncotton and celluloid have demonstrated endless applications, all discovered through a study of chemistry. Commercial exploration into such compounds could yield industrial advances in adhesives, synthetic dyes, improvements on existing materials such as glass and metal to make them lighter, stronger, more heat-resistant ...as well as advances in medicine and food production." He looked over at the vampire Lord, shrugging a little. "Advances in vaccination, fertilization, or a more disease resistant potato may not seem as revolutionary as an airship or the latest model of automobile, but it does have the capacity to make quite an impact."
That was a more satisfactory intervention than Cassius had hoped for, and he fixed on his new guide with focused attention. "Automobiles and railroads are more of an inconvenience to me than progress, I'm afraid," he said mildly. "I'm much more interested in your potatoes. Do you mind?" he asked his former guide, all politeness. "If time allows, I could stay here rather than visit the engineers, and speak with Mr...?"
He raised his eyebrows and looked back at the archivist, amused and expectant. "Would you be interested in giving me your own sales pitch?"
Adrien looked a little warily at the vampire Lord.
"Mr Green," he said, after a pause, and tipped his head a little in acknowledgement.
He'd been expecting a few different outcomes, but the Lord's sudden (and interested) attention was not one of them, and he was surprised by it. He was somewhat used to attention, but in his limited experience among other vampires, it usually was accompanied by a combination of disdain and blatant curiosity, as if he were a specimen under glass or at a zoo -- but this felt more like interest than curiosity.
Mr Stevens flushed, and stammered a bit, and then, finally managed a graceful recovery with an offer to be waiting in the conference room with tea once Lord Ravensworth was satisfied.
Cassius made himself comfortable, taking a seat and folding his hands over the head of his walking stick. "Mr Green. Cassius Corbet, Lord Ravensworth. I hope you aren't too inconvenienced by the intrusion." If he were, he would almost certainly be too polite to say so, which suited Cassius perfectly.
"Have you been with the Institute long? What is your position here, may I ask?" Mr Green seemed to be up to date on Institute research and projects, but Cassius wanted to know more about the man, to see whether he was a resource worth cultivating.
Adrien had been mentally running through all he knew about potatoes, and trying his best to remember the name of the biochemist whose paper he'd read recently regarding the structure of the fungus that had led to the Great Famine and the lessons that could be learned from it -- so Lord Ravensworth's question left him a little flat footed.
He blinked.
"I've been here at the Institute for a little over a decade," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I report to Mr Winslow, who is the Chair of the library and lead researcher responsible for acquisitions and archives, and my duties are varied depending on his immediate needs to grow, preserve, or study our collection, as well as to provide assistance for researchers requiring information, either historical or current, that may assist them in their endeavors."
"And no, not in the least," he added, belatedly.
Cassius' smile grew a little. "That sounds very practiced," he observed. "And entirely official. Do you enjoy it? And let's pretend for a moment that I'm not here with the scent of a bank account trailing behind me, and this is merely a friendly conversation." Cassius let his teeth show when he smiled more widely. "Vampire to vampire."
He raised a hand and waved it languidly at their surroundings. "What do you think of...all of this?"
This led to a considered pause, one that Adrien was sure would be considered rude, but his thoughts on both the question and the man who asked it were decidedly complicated.
"I am grateful for the opportunity for employment," he said, carefully, "and while I play a decidedly modest part, there are portions of my work I find intellectually rewarding -- I would not have the same opportunities or resources elsewhere."
He shrugged, giving a quick, darting look around the room -- Miss Lloyd was off running an errand, and Mr Winslow was not within earshot, although Adrien had no doubt he'd hover soon enough. "...This place is one of great innovation, but that innovation can come at a price," he said, quietly. "There are times they strike me as children who are playing with fire, and liable to get burned -- without consideration for the consequences of their actions, or whether the questions they're answering ought to be asked in the first place." He shrugged. "They will increase your wealth, Lord Ravensworth, of that I have no doubt, and they are shaping our future in profound ways. But while you may be able to influence a project here or there, this ship is far too large to turn easily."
He raised an eyebrow. "And to extend the metaphor, if you'll allow me," he added, "those at the helm are all of a certain persuasion, and would most likely be wary of too much ...outside influence. Myself and my colleague, Miss Lloyd, are rarities here, and most of us rarities are relegated to coal-shoveling."
It was a measured risk, but his loyalty to his employer was decidedly tested at the moment, and he would rather present an honest picture -- who knew whether the Institute would be there in a century's time? This Lord, however, would be -- and he knew vampires could hold powerful grudges.
Cassius took no insult from the pause; he was prone to such himself, and appreciated that his new acquaintance chose to consider his words before speaking. It pointed to a cautious, intelligent nature, which Cassius valued in those around him.
He pressed his fingers together and rested them against his lips as he took his own moment to think. The older one was, the less in a rush they became, he'd observed.
"I appreciate your honesty," Cassius said after a moment. "I don't wish to put you in an indelicate position, and you're right to imagine that I might be tempted to...steer the ship, as it were. While I'm sure there are projects here well worth my time and investment, I believe there may be as many which I would prefer not to see development. It's a pity that it would be difficult to encourage certain fires to burn themselves out."
Cassius studied Mr Green, and wondered whether the man had already tried to steer the ship as best he could, speaking from personal knowledge, and perhaps suffered for it. He had access and influence that Cassius would not, but on the other hand--Cassius had wealth, and wealth could open doors.
"There are other benefits to investment, however," Cassius suggested, tone neutral. "Even without being able to direct advancement, some might consider it repayment enough to have knowledge and forewarning."
That was, if the Institute let anyone know their biggest secrets, and wouldn't just feed Cassius scraps of no importance.
"If you were in my position, Mr Green--would you invest?"
This led to yet another pause.
Adrien was planning on actively undermining the Institute -- ridding it of a valuable resource -- one they’d grown to depend on, he had no doubt. But he very much doubted it would present a death blow -- it would simply tip the scales less in their favor.
“I would,” he said, “...with a recognition of both the limits of one’s influence with a place already well established and monied, and the inevitability of more nimble and responsive competition jockeying for position -- something we’ll no doubt see more of in future.” He shrugged. “If you’re a betting man, entering at the ground floor of a newer organization grants one significantly more capacity to have a hand in, but there’s more risk. If this place does lose some footing, which it will, of that I have no doubt, it will still be a fairly steady presence, and is far more likely to have staying power due to patents and diversity of efforts alone.”
Cassius smiled. It was a slight one, and showed more in the tight crinkling around his eyes than anywhere else. "Thank you," he replied, setting his walking stick beside him in a signal that the interrogation was over and they would stand soon. "I value your insight. I'll be certain that the correct people hear of it. I couldn't have asked for a better champion to convince me to invest."
He did stand then, but his gaze didn't falter from studying this truly unexpected source of information. "Mr Green," Cassius remarked, in a way that might be misinterpreted as offhand if you were not paying attention, "I value individuals with certain admirable traits, which you seem to possess in abundance. Should you be interested in additional employment, I'm certain we could come to arrangement that wouldn't interfere with your work here. I'm sure they pay you very well, what you are worth," although privately Cassius doubted anything of the kind, and was banking on there being some resentment there, chafing at being underutilized and overlooked, "but my value of your worth and theirs may differ."
A man of Mr Green's intellect might still be too wise to risk offending a dangerous employer for simple wealth. Leaving behind him one last thought, perhaps more tempting, Cassius observed, "There are more ways to compensate loyalty than with coin. My position opens a great many doors that might otherwise be shut, even to a servant of the Institute."
The word servant was deliberate; even if he was content here, Cassius guessed that Mr Green was treated with less deference than his peers, and his merits were more often overlooked. There were disadvantages to having dark skin, unfortunately for Mr Green; on the other hand, Cassius was only too happy to turn those to his benefit.
Cassius drew a silver case from his pocket, and opened it to offer Adrien a calling card. "I hope you'll at least consider my offer."
Adrien prided himself on his independence, fiercely so, but at times he suspected it was a protective feature -- a way to cope with the reality of his isolation, and a direct result, no doubt, of a past life spent forcibly beholden to another.
There was a distinct kernel within him that rebelled against the notion of what Ravensworth was offering on principle, feared and distrusted it, but the man had had a point -- he would only go so far here, and the insight into the lengths his employers were willing to go through turned his stomach.
That, and should he get into serious trouble, there was only so much he could do on his own.
He took the card and pocketed it.
“I shall send along a summary of the work done thus far on potatoes, should you desire an introduction to the topic,” he said, figuring that was indication enough that he thought the man’s offer worth chewing over further.
Cassius smiled at the reply, and said with every evidence of sincerity, "I look forward to it."