The Universe's Mixer

It was hard for Eric to not be happy. In the strange way of things that tended to make a vampire happy, Eric had plenty going on. He had his bar here, and it was doing fantastically, he had many prospects with Baba Yaga that gave him pleasure on many different levels. He was finding his way about the City, and discovering it's lack of vampire laws to be freeing. He'd met a vampire who he'd thought at first he'd enjoy killing, but found out he enjoyed talking to. Plus he had his little human, Fred. What a good little human she was, too. He knew where she was, what she was feeling. And the next time they saw one another, she'd feel mighty infatuated with him. His very nearness would make her feel safe. It was the false safety that gave him the biggest smile. He also wondered how her dreams were.

He was taking a night off from Fangtasia, he decided he didn't need to be there so much right now. He had his vampire dancers, and those were enough to keep the humans of this place enchanted. Seeing him was a special gift that they clamored for, and he thought the less they got, the better it would be for business. Just when they gave up on ever seeing him, he'd waltz in and sit with them.

There had been a leaflet in the City's newspaper talking about the library's expansion. He'd always found interest in museums. Sometimes he even found something of his own in them. He didn't know if this place would be the same way, but he wanted to go and see what was there on offer.

One other person had apparently the same idea as he did. Eric recognized the smell, and he approached the little redhead quietly. When he was directly behind her, he inhaled.

"Amy Pond." His voice was slithery and deep, like velvet. He'd done it on purpose, of course.

Being in a city again was like a dream. No, not exactly like a dream. It was more like a surreal virtual reality. Gaius almost didn't believe it was real. In fact, the jury was still out on whether or not he had finally snapped and lost his mind completely. Actually, were it not for his blonde companion's presence, he would have deemed himself completely certifiable. Of course, there were some who might find his attachment to an invisible woman a mark of madness in and of itself, but Gaius had come to see her as an entirely real entity. He didn't know who she was or what she was or why it was that she felt the need to show herself to him and only him -- but she was real. And even if she wasn't really real, she was real to him. And, in a strange sort of way that made no sense under the Gods or under God, she kept him grounded. Not that he still wasn't off the deep end, because he was, but he could have been much worse.

But many people would say that it was impossible for Gaius Baltar to be much worse. Within the short period of a year he'd gone from scientific savior to the fleet's most hated politician. And now? Now he was a Cylon lover. Which, to most humans, was even worse than being a crooked politician.

But he was only doing what she told him to. And why? Because she had been right in the past. Because she had saved his life on numerous occasions. Because she said that God had a plan for him, and he believed her.

"I see you've found something to entertain yourself with while I've been gone," Six whispered from behind his ear.

Gaius quickly turned about, staring at her with wide, worried, desperate eyes.

"Where have you been?"
( God doesn't pity the weak, Gaius. )