Day 55: Courtyard [2nd Shift]

[sheepwood]

After what seemed like an eternity of being amused, irritable, bored, in pain, in excruciating pain, and any combination of those, Guybrush was met by the same soldier who had led him to the cafeteria. He wasn't offered a trip to the Sun Room to check the bulletin board, but didn't push for it anyway. That would have been more walking, and moving

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[predictator]

Izaya was not sorry for the cleaning to finally end. So far it had been punishment after punishment for even those who had had the good sense to stay out of yesterday's food fight. First gas, now cleaning... what would be next?

He took the jacket he was handed as he was escorted from the cafeteria, casting only a glance at the name by the collar before putting it on. It was easier to read from a distance than the dog tags, so maybe that could be of some use-to see what aliases were at use here without having to ask. He wasn't sure if that kind of information would be handy to have or not, but he would at least be prepared if he needed it...

The jacket was comfortable enough, but he found himself wishing it were a little longer, and a little more fashionable. Better yet would have been a variety of jackets to choose from, so that there could be some semblance of the individuality that was part of what made the human race so fascinating. It would be more interesting that way, too.

He put the jacket on before he'd made it more than two steps into the courtyard, and after that took to wandering along its edge, keeping an eye out for anything-or anyone-who looked interesting. One person in particular caught his eye-a long-haired redhead who had stopped along one point on the wall and was watching the other people.

Smiling to himself, Izaya headed for the stranger. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, putting his hands in his pockets in an attempt to keep them warm.

[deadlyjuliet]

Fascinating... The motley crew out in the snow were just so fascinating. Grell couldn't pick out what they were or who they were, but he had enough sense in him still to tell that some of them weren't human. The empty ache from losing his powers again clung to him like distant regrets, but he couldn't dwell on that. He'd become accustomed, in a sad way, to being without them now. His shoulder ached a bit, but it was healing, and he could see Dexter playing nice with a... Not quite...? Was he human? Grell frowned and adjusted the glasses on his face.

"Mind if I join you?" Any further inspection was detoured by someone joining him and the frown melted away, replaced with an almost too saccharine smile as he gave the newcomer a once over. Young man, taller than him by a bit, pleasant enough on the eyes, draped head to toe in black - a color that complemented him quite well. Yes, he would do for a companion for the shift. Or, at the very least, he could be eye candy. The smile remained and Grell motioned to the wall beside him.

"Not at all. In the business of watching people, too, are we? Or is it just the cold that brings you to me?" After all, why else would someone choose to disturb someone who was somewhat busy stalking after their newest crush?

[predictator]

Izaya made a soft noise in his throat as he considered the redhead's question.

"A bit of both," he answered after that pause. To be honest, joining the other here was mostly because of the location and the opportunity to observe, but he'd come outside instead of staying indoors because of the cold. After working all morning in the cafeteria, it felt nice to be out here. Maybe in a little while, once the cold had had a chance to seep in, he'd revise that opinion, but he'd enjoy it-and his company, and the people milling about in the courtyard-for now.

He turned so that he could lean his back against the wall and gave the redhead a smile of his own. "But I do always appreciate a fellow people-watcher, and you looked so lonely over here by yourself."

'People-watching'. It was a nice way to term his hobby, even if it wasn't all-inclusive; really, watching humans was just one small part of it... But there was no need to tell the redhead away with the details of his unique love for humankind when they'd only just met. He'd rather just enjoy the company for now.

[deadlyjuliet]

Was he flirting? Grell felt a smirk turn the corners of his mouth and he moved away from the wall slightly, sliding one hand over a shoulder to push a few strands of red hair back before bringing said hand to his cheek. What a cheeky thing. Just a bit taller than Grell himself, dark haired and brown eyed - an Oriental then. He was somewhat reminiscent of the Madam's friend, Lau, but... Well, this boy kept his eyes open.

"Aren't you sweet?" he countered. A fellow people-watcher, was it? He didn't seem to give off any strange aura like Sylar or the Doctor or anyone else did, so was he human? A human who would approach a death god, but didn't smell of death like Dexter did. This was shaping up to be such an interesting day.

Lowering his hand, Grell held it out to the stranger, palm down. "Perhaps we should introduce ourselves, hm? Grell Sutcliffe, formerly of London. And you are?"

[predictator]

There was a change in his smile, the slight quirking of one corner of his mouth, when he was called 'sweet'. That wasn't something said of him often-at least, not by anyone who wasn't a fan (and even among them, 'sweet' was rarely the description of choice). It certainly wasn't how he'd describe himself, either, but if this 'Grell' wanted to think so, Izaya certainly wasn't about to correct him. Opinions and changes in opinions were sometimes half the fun of dealing with people, and a first meeting meant first impressions. Just as with his love of humans, this certainly wasn't the time or place to argue the finer points of his own character.

He pulled away from the wall and turned his body towards Grell.

"I'm Orihara Izaya," he said, glancing down at Grell's outstretched hand. It didn't look like he was offering it for a handshake, but... After a moment's hesitation debating what the expected way to respond would be, he took the hand in his fingers and gave a small bow over it. "From Tokyo."

He released Grell's hand as he straightened from the bow, swiveling back to his place against the wall. The hand he'd removed from the warmth of his jacket pocket sought it out once more, and his gaze returned to the humans out in the courtyard. "There certainly seem to be some interesting people here," he remarked, "from what I've seen, at least. It's been... an interesting few days."

[deadlyjuliet]

First the flirting and now that coy smile playing at his lips. Grell liked this boy. He didn't have the same appeal as say...Kurogane with his rough, abrasive mannerisms, but he seemed interesting at least. And he was playing along, despite his hesitation. Orihara Izaya took Grell's hand and bowed, explaining his origins - Tokyo. No wonder he'd been unsure. Grell had little experience with people of the Orient besides Lau and his little pet, but he knew this much at least. Grell's own smile widened at the boy's display of manners and the death god gave him a half-curtsy in return.

Izaya turned his attention back to the courtyard, but Grell kept his eyes on the boy. Just who was he? The god's fingers itched to find a chainsaw - his chainsaw - and find out, but he couldn't do that now. He couldn't do it at all, really, until he figured out just where it went. The chainsaw was there somewhere, but it was out of reach - infuriatingly so. Crossing one arm over his chest, he held the opposite elbow, putting a hand to his face to keep his hands from fidgeting. Killing the boy would do nothing right now. As with all things, he had to bide his time.

"There are, aren't there?" he agreed, looking Izaya over. A few days - not quite as long as Grell, but close. The boy had to have seen the nights, and the monsters, and maybe even the psychopaths that roamed the halls at night. The god's smile broke, showing the barest sliver of teeth. "Whom among the people here has caught your eye, hm? Anyone in particular?"

[predictator]

Who had caught his eye? Ah, really, it was more like who hadn't... Aside from those from Ikebukuro, the brash Snow Villiers and the direct Castiel had grabbed his attention most for the time being... There had been some interesting people on the bulletin, as well, but all they were for the moment were bits of writing-mostly without names, and mostly without faces.

But even though he could name some names, he wasn't going to. Instead he smiled and tilted his head towards Grell, answering, "I couldn't really say. They're all so interesting, it's difficult to narrow it down!"

In truth, he just didn't want to share those who had caught his eye, even with a fellow people-watcher-or perhaps especially with a fellow people-watcher. Did Grell just like to observe to idly pass the time, or did he have a deeper appreciation for those whom he watched? Izaya wanted to know, but he didn't want to reveal his own hand too soon... Then again, Grell was counted among the people here. Maybe he could reveal a little bit of that interest since he was observing up close and get something in return. "Of course, you're rather eye-catching yourself, Grell-san. Have you been watching the people here long?"

[deadlyjuliet]

"Such a tease." Although his voice put on airs of being offended, his smile said otherwise. With a toss of his head, Grell flipped his hair over one shoulder and looked out over the yard again. There had to be someone here that Izaya found interesting. Grell found Dexter Morgan fascinating after all, and it'd only taken one meeting to draw that reaction from the god. Chance meetings, like ships passing in the night, only the lights hanging from their lines to tell they had been there at all, rare encounters that proved fruitful after all... Dexter was still speaking with that boy. Grell's eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to get a better look at him, and then shut when the headache began.

Better not to try during the day when his powers were all but gone it seemed.

Bringing his attention back to Izaya, the death god grinned wide and put a hand to his chest. "Oh, I know. I'm so much more fetching at night, love. It's positively shameful how I must appear before people during the day." No make-up, ugly clothes, no heels to accentuate his legs. It was horrifying how the Institute continued with their fashion failures. "But yes, I suppose I have. Long enough to pick out the more interesting of them from the rest."