[Lalli is actually mid-descent, climbing down from the balcony above, when he notices something is wrong.
He smells the cleaner, first off. That is immediately wrong, because Izo never cleans. Izo's apartment has been a state of mess and lived-in-smells for as long as Lalli has known him, so smelling the cleaner is the first thing that's Wrong.
Second, the fact that the door is open at all. Izo normally leaves it closed, except when opening it to let Lalli in. Too many youkai can just fly in an open door, after all. It's best not to invite them in.
Lalli's feet have touched down on the railing to Izo's balcony, and his hands are still gripping the balcony above. He's frozen in place like this, and just stares at Hijikata with wide eyes.]
My place. Two floors up.
...Where's Izo?
[He. Might as well start with that. Because he's traveled this path often enough to know he doesn't have the wrong apartment, at least.
He hasn't moved, by the way. He's still standing on the railing of the balcony. That initial reaction had spooked him and he's holding onto the balcony above to be ready to run if need be.]
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He smells the cleaner, first off. That is immediately wrong, because Izo never cleans. Izo's apartment has been a state of mess and lived-in-smells for as long as Lalli has known him, so smelling the cleaner is the first thing that's Wrong.
Second, the fact that the door is open at all. Izo normally leaves it closed, except when opening it to let Lalli in. Too many youkai can just fly in an open door, after all. It's best not to invite them in.
Lalli's feet have touched down on the railing to Izo's balcony, and his hands are still gripping the balcony above. He's frozen in place like this, and just stares at Hijikata with wide eyes.]
My place. Two floors up.
...Where's Izo?
[He. Might as well start with that. Because he's traveled this path often enough to know he doesn't have the wrong apartment, at least.
He hasn't moved, by the way. He's still standing on the railing of the balcony. That initial reaction had spooked him and he's holding onto the balcony above to be ready to run if need be.]