If there's no laws, then he's not breaking them

[deepunder]

After giving Caroline the idea of what they could do to find the guy she's looking for, how could he not agree to help? Not that it feels like it is going to be much work. Except they don't know how many of the pod people workers there are, and just how much they're being watched over.

He does keep his phone in his pocket, wrapped in a handkerchief because he's just paranoid enough to worry that somehow they're being listened in on or tracked through them. Lounging against the front of the front desk, trying to look entirely casual. He's much better undercover than he might seem since he looks so conspicuous as he nods at some of the others moving through the hotel.

Here he is a zombie, and it still feels crazy that he's looking out so Caroline can try and find a vampire who might be hiding in the hotel. What else is real? He's not sure he's ready to find out.

Comments

[pirateing]

Caroline is in the back, yielding zero results from the computer system at the desk. But, he said there were physical records - somehow, this is specific magic - and so Caroline is currently in the bowels of the offices. Which go on for longer than she anticipated. And aren't in a language she understands.

This is going to take time.

As for Xander, his day of doing pretty much anything he wants is continuing. He leaves the bar, beer in one hand and - okay, beer in another. He was half done one but wanted to leave - so, he ordered another. It's the only things the pod people here get right. Or, are getting right today. He's not ... sure.

Oh, hey he knows that guy.

He looks down at his beer and his... other beer and - just approaches.

"I know what this looks like but, I... need both of these. For my health. Waiting for someone?"

[deepunder]

It should have been easy. Just stand around and look casual. He can do this. He's an undercover cop! He's infiltrated gangs. He hid being a zombie. He...

Just saw Xander.

Jesus, what is it about seeing him that just kind of leaves Drake feeling utterly and wholly off kilter. In the best possible way.

Grinning though at Xander's need to comment about his double fisting beers in the afternoon.

"Waiting? Not really. Kind of hanging out. A friend said they might be around but haven't seen them yet. So..." He gestures between the beers. "Loading on carbs for a run?"

[pirateing]

"Do you beer up pre-run? I mean, I'm not questioning the running, your abs probably have their own running schedule. Not that I'm on Drake's ab-watch." He should just not talk, should he? "So. Hanging. Hanging out. Did you try sending your friend a message. I don't know but I haven't seen any psychic phenomena on the island yet."

Save for the psychic wall!

[deepunder]

"Probably wouldn't. I mean, cop and prerun and all, so it was probably donuts," he says with a smirk, shrugging because, well, it's how people think, right? The jokes go that way, anyway.

He laughs though, not thinking about it as he runs his hand over his stomach. "An all protein diet works well for abs." Which shouldn't be a joke but he's been used to being around a group that were all on the same diet.

"Message?" He glances at the employee door behind the counter. "Uhmm, yeah. I mean, sent them a text. Not that I'm sure I trust that system. These things are kind of weird."

[pirateing]

"I don't believe it with the you and the eating of donuts. I mean, maybe if they had hot sauce on them."

He laughs, too, then, preferring to not think about his protein specifics.

"Yeah, I haven't... explored all mine can do." He's thought about it. It's been awhile, so the world wide porn web was a thought. But, he hasn't gotten that far. "Mind if I keep you company while you wait? My only plans were taking these back to my room, and now that you've got me thinking about it, seeing what our phones are capable of. If there's wifi with their magical cell service."

[deepunder]

"Sweet and hot. It's a great combination," he points out, glad to side step discussing of his true diet easily after making a stupid comment about it.

He knows Xander is there with Caroline, but he's not sure if they're all on the same mission or how that is working for them all.

"Sure. I'd love the company." Which is only true because it's Xander. "So let's check out the devices. I mean, it might give us some answers. Like if they're satellite phones. I haven't seen any kind of towers."

[pirateing]

"Is it?" Maybe. It sounds like something out the Food Network. Something he doesn't watch much of anymore. Scotland.

Xander sets a beer down on the desk, at Drake's side. So. Drink it if you want, Drake. He takes a sip of the other beer before setting that one down and sliding his phone out of his pocket.

"Well, there's one thing we know. The backings on our phones all come in different colors," he says, holding his up, which is more of a burnt orange.

[deepunder]

"Take my word for it, because honestly I can't remember," he says, chuckling though because it's something he's heard from others but he never put that much thought into things before when it came to tasting food. Limited diet and all even from before.

He does take a drink before pulling his phone out, looking smug. "And they're weird colors. I mean, look at this." He turns it over. "I mean, what even do you call purplish brownish grey?"

Puce, darling. It's called puce.

[pirateing]

"I don't know. Is that like, burnt eggplant?" He doesn't know? But, he knows he's having fun and this guy thinks he's dashing so he's just going to bring the beer to his lips again.

[deepunder]

"Yeah, that seems about right." Sure, that's what color it is. Makes as much sense to him as anything else.

"Hey, did you set a picture? Because seriously, mine just took one soon as I opened it. Made me take a picture and fix that quick."

[pirateing]

"I - I haven't checked," he says, glancing down at his phone. "And now I kind of don't want to. Check for me?" he says, unlocking the phone with his thumb and handing it over. "And, if it is as bad as a random picture taken from a random angle probably would be, you have my permission for a retake. I'm -- presentable."

[deepunder]

Drake takes the phone, pulling open the messenger and seeing the picture there. He stares at it for a minute, looking down and then up with a tiny smile.

"It's a license picture," he says from their earlier talk. "But taken from under the chin," he adds, because that never flatters anyone. "And you're definitely presentable."

He lifts the phone, shifting it just right to get the lighting done. He hadn't been huge on social media because of being undercover but he had known a few friends that had taught him some tricks.

[pirateing]

Oh. Now.

He turns, tries to -- angle himself.. well. Attempts a suave smile that's probably more goofy than suave. But.

"How's this?"

[deepunder]

Lifting the phone just right, Drake finds himself staring at Xander. Loving that smile, the way he poses. For the longest time he just finds himself staring at the other man, forgetting about the picture for a few minutes before he manages to clear this throat.

"Right. Picture. Uhmmm, you look really good. I like it," he says, taking a few pictures. "There, now you have options."

[pirateing]

Xander falters, only slightly, because it's taking a long time.

"Is it in focus?"

And then - was he -- staring?

"Great," he says, taking the phone back.

Behind them, someone clears her throat, physical file in hand.

"Am I interrupting a surprise photo session?"

[deepunder]

Great. So now he's been caught staring. Lovely. Yep, who wants a zombie staring at them? Fuck, he probably thinks he's hungry. Damn it.

And then he's startling like he's been shot, spinning around, wide eyed and comically startled. "What? Huh? Nope, just fixing the bad surprise front facing camera picture, that's all."

[pirateing]

Caroline's hadn't been that bad, but Caroline has no bad angles.

"Mhm." By having a photo session.

"He was fixing my license-worthy profile picture." Which... wasn't a compliment. License pictures. Yich. "Caroline, what... what's back there?"

[deepunder]

"But their little joke isn't working anymore. All fixed, and all good," he says with a nod. Yep, that's it.

The question though reminds him why he was there at the desk and it wasn't to be flirting with Xander.

"Caroline is kind of the friend I was waiting on? While she looked through records," he says, feeling a bit sheepish for lying to Xander about it but he hadn't wanted to make a big deal about it.