He hadn’t been to an event so large since the beginning of this life. It was an odd, unfamiliar inversion of things. Here, he would not be expected, announced, even recognised. Glass was now an unknown. His reputation would not be rebuilt from the shadows, and it was for that which he deigned to bring himself. Luxury was one thing, but status, notoriety - another. Showing up in the usual suits now would demand unwarranted attention, and so he had opted for simpler dressings - a black jacket, pants, and boots, barely contrasted only by an olive shirt, all of which seemed to fit his lithe figure perfectly, as if tailored. It wasn't readily obvious whether, or in what way Glass was armed. In the same way as to which he had been accustomed, he had placed his trust in the Hackers' accompaniment of security for the evening.
Though he had arrived with the majority of the Hacker contingent, he had lingered behind amongst the entourage and quietly watched on. Today was an opportunity for observation and familiarisation - of the criminal underworld, and all of the new ‘friends’ he had inherited along with it. That, and of the Hackers themselves - their methods, the personalities, and their place in this mess - and from what he had seen already, it was indeed a mess.
“Damn”, he said, clicking his tongue. “Not even the industrial accident claimants had faces that misaligned”, he muttered, looking at some of the Rogues out of the side of his eye.
Resolving to avoid the brunt of the social catastrophes, he found Yoko sitting nearby, quite far from anyone else. Ideal. He had met her before during a logistical operation, though she was hardly someone with whom he was familiar. “Yoko”, he said as he quickly sat, avoiding the question of permission that might drive him into the unfamiliar and still disturbing crowd.
“It's good to see you again, and what a beautiful dress that is - from Kusari, is it?”
He had seen similarly formal dresses at Kusarian corporate events before. Briefly glancing across the room as he sat, and noticing the scene at the bar, his weak smile faded back into a flat expression, and his voice dulling to match it.