He had to smile a bit at that idea. Grey as his color? Dracula would have a fit. The count would opt for darkness and fire ahead of anything else, if he ever managed to ensnare enough of Soma's soul to take over completely. "I think I can live with grey. Not necessarily the nothing bit, but maybe that's just my ego talking."

Soma made a mental note of Riku's name for later and nodded at Epros' suggestion. It -would- be worthwhile to speak with someone familiar with the local ways, and chances were that this Riku could then direct him to someone else. It was a start.

His coffee about three quarters gone, Soma fished in a pocket long enough to dig out a couple of small golden disks stamped with unfamiliar crests and figures that might have been numbers and words in days long past. Doubtless they were worth a small fortune to some coin collector in his home world, but he hadn't been able to call on the relic that held his money since he left the castle until now. Here, he suspected they were just small change. Maybe enough to pay for their drinks. He hoped it would be - he had plenty more of them, but it wasn't like he could go out and cut down a candelabra to get more. Not here, at least.