Observer

✇ @ikebukurobroker  | orihara, izaya  ←

          SASUKE SUPPOSED IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS OUTSIDE OF THE PRECINCT HAS TO OFFER. He speaks this not as a cop, but as a normal citizen with a life outside of work. As much as he liked being a cop, he also prefers the quiet of being just a normal person. Normal. That word sounded so foreign in his mind and his tongue. When has Sasuke Uchiha ever been normal? The idea sounded like a far cry from what he truly was—and he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be bothered by that or relish in the moment. But he’d think about that later on.

For now, he would find enjoyment in walking through the streets of Jokeo. Though it was the lower end of the district, Sasuke liked being in the neighborhood. It reminded him of how Konoha used to be in a way. Not run down per sé, but it was busy. Busy with shops and kids running around playing while the adults would scold them for almost tripping over goods and merchandise they were selling at the time. It reminded him that, yes, he was capable of going back to simpler times without being haunted by his past.

As he traversed through the neighborhood, he took a look around to study the place. He noted where all the alleyways were, and where some were dead ends and the others opened. It was a habit he had picked up on when he was still a child. After always following Itachi, he had come to form observational habits that ended up saving him on multiple missions and escapades back then. It even proved useful at this job, which he had no doubts with at all. Itachi had thought him well, and he was grateful for that. Clicking his tongue to repress the memory, he trudges on. Wondering if there’s new things in Jokeo that was worth looking into. Time was in his hands, after all.

Especially when he saw something that said Flea Market.

Oh, he has to see this. Clever name, but he’ll see if the owner is just as clever.

    Izaya clicked away at his new computer, sorting out his notes and information that he had gathered these past few days since arriving in wonderland. There wasn’t much as he had hoped when it came to Wonderland’s true mystery, the cursed Mirror, but he had enough from the history of this place as well as photos and minor information on people of wonderland and those who had been dragged in from different worlds. But even that minor data was lacking, the only biggest file he had at the moment was on Adachi, but he was the easiest at the moment and also the hardest to gather info from at the moment.

    He had been in the process of updating that dumb cops folder when he heard someone coming in. He turned in his chair towards the door, he was glad he had finished setting up his little office to match almost exactly his old office back in Shinjuku. On the outside the place looked like crap, but inside it was spotless and pristine, just how he liked it~

    As soon as the male entered, Izaya was able to quickly place a name with the face. Sasuke Uchiha, one of the many unfortunate (or maybe fortunate he wasn’t sure yet) people to be dragged into Wonderland. He didn’t really know much besides a name, and that he was a cop. It would hopefully change soon though.

Wonderland was.. certainly something. At the least, Adachi had appeared to finally be able to find his way around with just a few hiccups here and there. Though he was a bit pissed to find that he had to settle for a low-end security job at the train station … especially given the grueling training and schooling he did back home, but he also didn’t really want to air out all of his laundy (be it dirty or not) for the world to see… It was close enough! And you win some and you lose some, he supposed! Ugh.. At least it payed okay. 

It certainly beat sitting in a cell …

Someone approaching him on his way home from the market wasn’t really on the agenda for today, though, and it took him out of his thoughts. What was it with the people here that made them so friendly? Jeez. 

“H-huh?” Adachi started, eyebrows raised to showcase his confusion. This guy seemed a bit too happy for his own good, and something about it rubbed the former cop the entirely wrong way- it was a little too familiar. “Me?” A brief pause … before a laugh escaped him and a hand raised to poke his cheek nervously. Attached to his wrist was a grocery bag that swayed in tow as he did so. “You’ve got it all wrong! I can try to help you, but, heh, I don’t really know the area all too well …” 

Maybe that would make him leave?

    Izaya nodded as the man pointed at himself, his fake joyful smile never leaving his face as he eyed him carefully. There was something about this man that bothered him, even from just a simply reply to his question. He could chalk it off as just a simple mask he was wearing in an attempt to not deal with a lost stranger, it was the usual thing humans usually did, but yet it didn’t feel right to him. Good thing he wasn’t going to let him off the hook anyways so easily.

    “Ah but you at least know it somewhat right? It’ll be better than what I know!” He laughed softly as he tilted his head a little, his eyes staying glued on the older male. Making sure to memorize every small move, to catch any tick, any slight difference in action. His simply answer of not knowing the area too well told him that he was probably from a different world too, which only made him more interesting. Was he like his normal humans? Or was he someone unique, and how unique? 

Despite his carefree disposition, Cassata was often on edge. He knew that here, in Wonderland, Whiskey couldn’t bother him, but he was still often always paying close attention to his surroundings. Bartending in a sleepy part of town was a perfect opportunity for him to pick up on hints and whispers of goings on. He took careful note of the patrons – most of them were regulars, so any new face would stand out. It hadn’t been long, but he could notice a pattern.

He had seen this guy around sometimes but couldn’t ever make heads or tails of him. He seemed like just an average guy, but a bit more too. What was it about him? Guy gave off the impression of being friendly enough, but they’d never spoke before. He couldn’t put a finger on it. Still, better to ask before he left.

He slipped from behind the counter, coming up to the other man, giving him a curious look from his good eye. “Pardon the intrusion, but I felt I had to ask. I always see you around, but you don’t act like the regular patrons. You aren’t like… trying to start any trouble are you?”

starter for @ikebukurobroker

    Bars were the best place to start gathering information and watching these lovely new humans and how they interact. Seeing them at their drunken worst spoke a lot about the kind of people they were deep down, and of course that was the main thing Izaya had craved to learn about. He didn’t care about the masks people wore, he cared about what lay behind those masks and alcohol always helped remove those masks. 

    Sadly, even here at the bars Izaya didn’t find anyone too interesting, no one like Shinra or his precious Shizu-chan, and so far no one like Celty. Worst of all, none of these drunkards even knew a single thing about the damn mirror that had dragged him here and seemed to play with everyone. But information was information, and he would never turn any of it around, especially if he could trade it.

    He’d been watching a group of men talking about work when he noticed the bartender making his way to him. This was something new, and Izaya couldn’t help the smirk that spread on his face, quickly masking it with a cheerful smile and a small wave. He didn’t know much about the bartender, but he hadn’t missed how on edge the man tended to be behind the cheerful smile.