this is your kingdom.

Alas, only an inkling it was. Kuroo wasn’t about to report someone he found mildly suspicious—and even if he was, to whom could he run to?

A breathy laugh escapes him, scratching the back of his neck lazily. Kuroo buries the suspicion in the back of his mind. No use worrying about it when exchanging (not so pleasant) pleasantries. Maybe he was just on edge: new area, new relations, new horrible life threatening diseases—becoming accustomed may take longer than he had thought. 

"Oh? But It drew you in, yeah? That must qualify for something." He’s witty, apparently, a trait the captain is all too familiar with. Two sardonic men could only spell out disaster, but it would be a mess he’d would enjoy creating.  

"Well, mister blue eyes, do you have a name to go along with that hair style?"

A quick drag fills the silence, one lit prior to their meeting, before Gideon ducks his head and puts out the cigarette. It's not about to go in the demon's pocket, all things considered - he could catch a spark and lose this pretty face! - so beneath his heel will have to do. This stranger, a partially charismatic type, has yet to wholly bore him. 

Perhaps for that, he deserves a reward. (A deal! Couldn't this function just as well as a potential customer?) Inspired, the anomaly offers a smile no less serpentine than Lucifer's himself. 

The majority of people he's run into in this town are drawing from a sucker's lot. 'Oh, thank you so much! I never thought I'd see my daughter again!' Tragedy strikes and they're chickens without heads, all ripe for the picking. Four shut-in walls for a slaughterhouse by every definition. His slaughterhouse, to be exact. 

No need to dirty his hands just yet, though. The hounds will come in a decade or so and handle those matters on their own time. "Uh-huh. Etch'a sketched me right up to tell you all about it." Mister blue eyes? Very cute - he could write a song about it. 

Of course, this wasn’t Tokyo, and the commentator was not a friend nor acquaintance. Said captain was naturally startled—this was a complete stranger, after all. The new setting and new people, it was a lot to get used to. Not as if he had much choice.

"I’d say all night fits better.” His sleeping positions are unique, what can he say?

"Glad it managed to grab your attention so well."

It's nothing like he expects: unruffled, quick, and sparks a million dollar smile. Maybe not a million dollars, though if this kid wanted that, he could certainly provide. As if nearing the end of a population would stop him from making deals... particularly the easy ones!

With a furrowed brow, he rolls his shoulders in reply, anything else to come belatedly. Of course, there's no impressing Gideon, and he makes sure that there's nothing akin to shock about his expression. Others have been faster - others will be faster. He just likes the way this boy came back. 

"Hope you aren't on your way to any interviews." Though it seems as though he would succeed; ripostes are requirements for to-be employees.

Never having been one to hold his tongue, Gideon speaks up without delay. As soon as the thought's come to mind (and how quickly it does!), out with it.