Nightshift 36: M-C Block Hallway

[fourtharcana]

[from here]

The second hallway was at least better lit than the first, due to the light from some others' flashlights. So it's not the Dark Hour. That still didn't provide much of an explanation as to where he had awakened, though

Comments

[deadlyjuliet]

from hereLong dark hallways weren't so fun to walk down when your heels weren't clicking on the tile (or whatever it was) floor. Grell missed his clothes. He missed his scythe. He missed not having to breathe. Stupid punishment. Stupid power seal. Stupid, stupid Will. This was obviously all his doing. Not that Grell had the foggiest how a supervisor could do this sort of thing, but Grell's misery usually sprang from that bibliophile. If only he would lighten up a little, he'd be just Grell's type, too. What a pity

[gothamnight]

[from here]The hall was quiet, the stillness broken only by sporadic clicks and phrases. Bruce watched for awhile, his face a blank slate of shock and bewilderment as he took in the hall. Other people came and went, all males, all wearing the same grey, smiling uniform. Their ages varied, as did their appearances-not all of them had the deadened look characteristic of patients or inmates, but many looked as tense and wary as Bruce felt inwardly. All were unarmed, but most had flashlights. Not that there were many to being with, but it seemed this complex was expansive enough

[deadlyjuliet]

There wasn't a single trace of London in the air. London had this smell about it, something that wasn't entirely fragrant, but most definitely very London. Whitechapel had been positively--

"Um...miss?"

Well, well, now. It looked like someone was coming to play. Stopping in his tracks, Grell turned and looked the newcomer over. Handsome, youngish, foreign, and most definitely human. How delightful. And smart enough to recognize a lady when he saw one - what a bonus. If he was being punished by being forced to walk around with a bunch of mortals, then maybe this was a test. He couldn't sense a death god's presence around the newcomer, but that didn't mean they weren't watching right now to see if Grell repeated his poor behavior in chopping him to bits

[gothamnight]

Bruce Wayne wasn’t corrected for his mistake, and he found himself wondering fleetingly whether this was a common occurrence. Well, it likely did take an unusual character not to feel fear in this sort of situation; rather, the stranger seemed more...frustrated than anything.

He shook his head.

"I’m afraid not. I’ve only just gotten here...and I have no idea how. I suppose I could have always drank too much, but you know how it is with those parties. I just went to bed and woke up here, in this godawful uniform, and then I saw you."

[deadlyjuliet]

Parties? A socialite? Well, what a development. If this man ran in the right circles, he might have overheard bits about the little incidents over in Whitechapel. Even abroad, he'd heard that the murders had made the headlines. Grell had been so proud of the Madam when he heard that, but then...such ill-fitting end to what could have been a beautiful life. It was too depressing to think about that, though, so he ignored it in favor of this new bit of entertainment right in front of him

[gothamnight]

That he was English was evident enough from the accent, and from the notes it seemed to be more urban than rural. London?

Well, it seemed the stranger was also connected to a family of wealth, so it was possible that the perpetrator might simply be targeting the wealthy and upper-class. And yet, judging from how the postures and mannerisms of the other individuals walking in the halls, such a theory was still unlikely. After all, if it was only money the kidnapper wanted, there were other ways to get it that didn't involve such an elaborate prison. It took time...time and something else to be able to capture such a large quantity of people in a single place at a single time. Something else

[deadlyjuliet]

"Oh, yes. A very lovely woman hired me for awhile, but unfortunately, my contract was terminated with her...untimely end. It was a heartrending affair." And for effect, Grell covered his mouth and looked away as if he were about to cry over it. He did miss the Madam every so often, even if she'd sorely disappointed him in the end and had deserved the death she'd gotten. She'd been so beautiful covered in blood and yet, she wouldn't strike down the boy who would ruin her. And why? She was his relative. Boring. Wiping at tears that weren't really there, Grell perked up at the mention of a butler.

So he was one of those types. How interesting. And with an English butler. He'd never heard of a Englishman crossing to America to be a butler. Bruce Wayne must have been a ridiculously wealthy man, and even though money didn't dazzle him as much as it would another lady, he still found it worthy of note

[gothamnight]

"Please, call me Bruce," he said without missing a beat, smile charming.

No recognition of the name "Bruce Wayne," and though Bruce had considered employing an alias, it was pointless if those who'd captured them already knew who he was. He couldn't determine anything precise from the fact that Grell didn't seem to recognize "Bruce Wayne"--after all, while Wayne Enterprises and its subsidiaries had a large presence in most of the European continent (including the UK), it wasn't unusual for someone not to recognize the owner. After all, not everyone was interested in trashy socialite gossip

[deadlyjuliet]

Americans were so informal. Grell wouldn't dare call any of the upper elite by their first names when he was masquerading as a butler and he was certainly doing that now. Perhaps he should keep up the charade? It was hard though, with someone so charming standing right there. Charming men usually had such beautiful Records and now Grell wished he had his scythe, just for a little peek into Bruce's world