Re: top of the grand staircase. [2/2]
Simon mounted the front steps, running his teeth over his lower lip. He was thinking about getting a piercing there. He'd been wanting to for a while, and anything that made him unfamiliar sounded like a good plan. Maybe he'd pick up a couple more tattoos. Change his hair. Change his name, disappear.
Aside from the low murmur of conversation from the people scattered through the lobby and up the stairs, the whole place was quiet, which was about as unnerving as it was comforting. Weirder than that, though, was the sort of tingling feeling he'd had since he walked in the front door, like this was exactly where he needed to be, and that there was something he ought to see deep inside. If he'd had any questions as to whether he'd made it to the right building, those went away immediately.
He took the main stair, and the redhead on the first landing caught his attention right away. She was the only person he could see not intent on going somewhere or talking to someone else, and he hesitated as he moved past her. Why did her face seem sort of familiar, even in profile? He wished she'd turn her head so he could see her better.
"Hey," he said. Great job, nice conversation starter. He quickly realized he probably looked like a creep with his hood up, so he pushed it hood down, revealing a flat black mohawk with the sides buzzed low. "Uh...what are you looking at?" he asked. Nice save! God, he was an idiot.