"Interesting... when humans and monsters... meet... I have to say, I'm intrigued." he said, not having expected this from a FEAR disciple at all. "So you... literally, want to bring their imaginations to life?" he asked, lowering his hand and pointing at him with a half amused and half pleased look. "What a concept. You really think they'd be receptive to this, eh?" he asked, a smile curling about his lips once more. 

"You know... you're an interesting guy; here I thought FEAR were just terrorists... killing, maiming, kidnapping... things that would easily get me murdered by this thing." He flicked the collar around his neck. "But you're a dreamer, aren't ya? You feel like there's more... like your stories... could become reality in a way." He concluded, leaning back and smirking once more. 

"I have a feeling humans find reality a drag, why else are their fantasies and fictions so much more creative than ours?" he suggested. "True we fear them destroying us, but those children, I have a feeling they are enjoying themselves in Monsters Inc. They see us as exotic animals, sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse."

He smiled, "Agents of FEAR come in different styles, but do mind that the organization, the leaders, are that way." great minds within it aside, it was still a criminal enterprise. "I am a dreamer, fiction has lost its allure when I could make reality like it, or at least close..."

Ozul smiled at the conversation being had, even more so that he didn't have to be a participating member to do so. Still, it was his intention to have such an interaction himself, but it seems fate was having some fun and dear Karasu was doing an adamant job himself. Though, he wouldn't have been as brazen with such a topic, to be honest, still, he was the dragon's senior a little over a decade, so he couldn't blame him. He was idealistic and hungry at that age too.

Wasn't everyone?

Still, he didn't imagine the luck of taking a drive out in the stormy weather and encountering someone he had not heard of in quite some time. He always enjoyed raining weather, as the cloud cover was...advantageous to him for whatever may come up, but simply he just enjoyed the pitter-patter of raindrops, as if the darkness was assaulting the world around it. He did it on many occasions, but this one was different when he had spotted a familiar face. Actually it was a combination of a blue tipped tail and the outfit beyond it that caught his attention at first.

Such apparel wasn't exactly current, but it was actually a stylistic choice that Ozul had for his job, and so had worn similar outfits. The unusualness of this caused him to focus more, wondering perhaps if it was an obsessive fan but...no, it was someone more interesting than that. Curiosity peaked, he parked his sleek, black auto a block away, and proceeded, in his own way, to the diner he had seen the person enter. There was no open door, no ringing bell, and especially no flocking of potential fans to his entrance...because, technically, he hadn't entered.

Ozul patiently waited, content, literally within the stable shadow behind an overhead light fixture above the table. He had waited a minute or so to confirm it as a place to stay for this observation, and to track highlights coming from the storm outside. He had traveled from the shadows of the counter base, up the sides of the frame of a picture of the diner years ago, and then along the ceiling to his destination point. None could see him, none could sense him in his personal chamber of darkness that inhabited much of the world this evening. From there, he could view, and listen, on the talk below him.

It certainly wasn't a waste after all.

Randall Boggs, as he lived and breathed, was somehow back. An interesting development, to be sure, and one begging to be probed with intensity, but Ozul was willing to hold off for now. Such an interaction needed privacy, as much as it amused Ozul that he was invading it here. Oh, but there was much to talk about, so many similarities to touch upon.

But there was also Karasu, the writer. Ozul could not remember exactly if they had interacted, if the dragon was a fan or not, but he forgave himself for having to deal with so many over the years. Now that he thought about it, he was almost sure they only knew of each other by reputation for their respective careers.

But, of course, he knew the writer by reputation, and while it was faulty at the moment, in the youths prime, to Ozul's opinion, he was remarkable. What Ozul did in reality, this young writer did within the pages of his books. He had heard about some human parents that told stories to their children to get them to fall asleep, yet in the same practice, if it were Karasu, he could very well have generated screams like a Scarer himself. A pity he never got the chance to try.

Karasu must have gotten ahead of him on this, up-and-comer to be sure, but the boy was lacking funds with his struggling in writing, and wasn't exactly as popular as he once was. Not his fault, of course. The lad could do as he pleased if he wasn't a detriment.

At the very least, he seemed to be convincing Boggs, or at least making him interested in certain topics. Still, there were a few problems to deal with...but Ozul was willing to 'contribute' to fixing them. After all, helping another monster get back on their four, or eight, feet wasn't the least bit illegal, and not unusual for someone in his position.

For now, Ozul was content to let Karasu have his moment, the struggling writer deserved to vent after all. Though, once he had had his say, and Boggs was alone again, perhaps out in the darkness of the world where Ozul called home, he would reveal himself back into reality with an outstretched claw and a Cheshire smile.

The best part? They would both be genuine.

"You know I have to admit, you really do weave an interesting new world. I'm sure a lot of authors can, after all." He pointed out, still smiling. "Knowing the organization itself, in my limited capacity, you seem to be a bit on the fringe of their beliefs... one more given to creating this sort of unique world; do you think humans would really accept us though?" he asked, pausing as his fronds raised a little. 

Whirling his head around, he looked up, down and to the side, but didn't see anything. "Strange." He muttered. Shifting his attention back to Karasu, he shook his head a little. "Sorry... I just sometimes feel like I'm being watched." he admitted. "Call it something I picked up during my time in the human world." He explained. "But perhaps we've stayed in one place too long; I'm gonna take a walk; the rain I've always found to be soothing." He said, grabbing his fedora and placing it upon his head, flattening his fronds to do so. He pulled out a couple of bills that he'd managed to get from his hidden account and placed them on the table. 

"Want to come with?" he asked, starting to rise and looking around once again just to be sure, but he still saw nothing. Taking his trench coat, he slid it around himself, fitting all four of his upper arms into the sleeves, which had been custom made for a monster such as himself. 

Restraint was a condition that Ozul had pratically mastered over the years, and his urge to chuckle at Boggs' comment of being watched was filtered down to a smile. The cognizance of a survivor indeed, couldn't be helped. Still, no bother, he was undetectable in 'that place'.

Seeing at least one of the conversationalists was prepared to depart, Ozul decided it was best he prepare himself as well. He waited a moment for the donning of clothing---again, amused at the similiarites---before slipping through the shades of shadow and out the door.

Going through the darkness was so much quicker than walking or running, though Ozul was no slouch in that department. Within seconds, he was back to his car, slipping through the cracks for a moment to grab a shaft of black resting against the passenger seat before slipping out again.

He'd wait within the shadow outside for the right moment, cycling through the various ways of making an introduction.

Thus far, the dragon had been most pleased with his impression on, and of Randall. He may not have anything from him yet, but he seemed receptive and interested, and that could always prove useful. Things could have gone worse, and he clearly would be willing to talk further...

"Yes, the best in an organization usually are. Either the most fanatical, or the ones using it for other ends." he shared. He nodded at his suspicion, "...Of course." he said, in response to his suggestion of being watched, "In that case, it is best we leave separately." he looked to his coffee, "I'll scope this place out for a while, first." he smirked, taking his coffee, and heading the other way, sure to disappear into darkness if it made itself available.

"Yeah... that's probably not a bad idea." He nodded, admitting the dragon monster had a point. "Right... OK well... I'm sure you'll find me... I tend to frequent the MI factory if you aren't sure." He informed him, giving him a nod. "See ya around... and it was nice to meet you." He smiled, turning and heading back the way he had come to the front door. Pulling it open and hearing the bell ring overhead, he stepped out into the rain. 

Feeling it falling against the top of his hat, he wasn't concerned about that; the hat was fur felt after all, making it quite water resistant. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he began walking, looking down for now, but lifting his eyes after a moment, wondering if there was in fact someone watching him nearby... 

Ozul paused for a moment to note that Karasu remained in the diner, spareing a hidden smile from within his 'place' for the dragonic monster. Such...interesting people can be found crawling themselves out of the gutter they were shoved down by society's wim. Perhaps he'd met with the lad in the future, for his impression, unknowingly to him, made him intriguing.

After all, a studio can always use more writers...

But, on to business.

Ozul trailed in the shadows, following his main quarry of the evening, mischeviously giving Boggs a minute or so to possibly dissipate thoughts of being watched---only to MAYBE being proved true---before he slowly drifted upward from the shadows an overhanging sign of a drycleaners. He engaged his umbrella slowly, claw sliding up the release catch. Suddenly there were droplets falling on something from behind that wasn't there before.

"Well, well, well, as I live and breath. Isn't this a blast from the past?" Ozul commented in an almost British-sounding (in human terms) accent, standing behind the lizard monster, a near-black umbrella in one hand, claw tip and thumb tapping each in the other.

Freezing, Randall whirled around, his eyes wide, but then narrowed at what he saw before him or rather... what he almost saw. This monster or... whatever it was... unusual looking at best, and nearly invisible otherwise. Frowning a bit, he tried to place him, but wasn't sure he necessarily could. "I'm sorry." He finally answered, clearing his throat a little, facing this new monster at an angle, just in case he needed to defend himself. 

"I..." He let his tail curl a bit, his eyes narrowing more. "Don't think I know you... have we ever met?" he asked, his brain working to try and place this guy, but no matter what he... wait. "Aren't you... an actor, or something?" he inquired, nodding a little. Some... detective show, right? He couldn't really remember, but it was something along those lines. 

Ozul chuckled, a hearty one that came from his seemingly-elongated mouth. "Oh dear me, I guess I am so famous that somebody missing for years shows up 'out of the red' and STILL hears about me," he remarked, chuckling again, his unusual body structure seeming to fade at the edges with each beat of laughter.

"Perhaps you saw a rerun in an electronics store," Ozul commented off to the side, his slitted eyes glancing down at the side walk, before shooting back over to look at Boggs. He slowly hooked his other hand onto the shaft of the umbrella, giving a slight grin.

"Yes, that's me. But...I think you'd know me better from way back when, before I got into such a career," he started, a slight curving of the mouth. "After all, we were...unofficial rivals for a time."

Then, he shifted upward, as if hearing something, but his face betrayed that it seemed as if he just remembered something. "Oh that's right...we stuck within our circles didn't we? So we didn't properly meet...especially after oh....how long was that now....eight, nine years since you fell off the Top?" he commented, face seeming to contemplate things.

Then he straightened, smiles again. "Oh it's been so long, and you've been through things yes? I can't blame you for not remembering back then. You wouldn't know me much from my acting career, but I think you will from my former profession..."

The Cheshire smile, and the outstretched, three-clawed hand came. "It's me, Ozul Grimely. Top...oh, excuse me, FORMER...Top Scarer of Fear Co."

He rocked his head back a little, recognizing the name instantly. "Shit..." He breathed, shaking his head. "Ozul... Grimley... yes." He nodded, pointing to him. "No wonder... I didn't realize you became an actor later on... though try about six to seven years since I was on top." he muttered. "Not quite eight to nine." He corrected him. 

He looked to his hand, hesitating, then reached out to shake it. "Yeah... all right. So you know who I am... you're familiar with me... what do you want, exactly?" he asked, releasing his grip and pulling it back. "I can't say I'm exactly sure what a former top scarer at Fear Co. would want with the former top scarer at Monsters Inc." He pointed out, the rain running off the front brim of his fedora. 

Ozul kept his grin, seemingly from the recognizing of his name, though it was also for the years in question. It had been six since the Child Incident, and at least two years before that that Sullivan took the spot...almost as if something else had taken up Boggs' time for two years. But he wasn't about to worry about corrections at this point, it didn't matter right.

Ozul kept his clawed tips up, Boggs looked to have enough 'scars' already, he wouldn't aim to add to them. He gave a simple shake, the strange...structure of his body seeming to feel like both smoke and smooth fiber at the same time; an eerie sensation that many kids 'wowed' at and freaked most first-timers that were adults to touch him.

Ozul dropped the smile, seeming confused, eyes slits going left to right, as if seeing if anybody else wanted to answer that question. "...we're both 'formers'," he concluded, smiling again as if it were funny to answer so simply.

He straightened again, glancing about the weather around them, raising the hand he shook with to dance the claw digits, slicing raindrops, and doing it quite proficiently too. "I was out having a drive in this lovely storm, they're nice you know, and who should I spot going down the street---" he paused, leaning a bit forward with a cheeky smile, "---in some rather classic wear," he said, before pulling back, "...but someone who had been claimed missing, and a criminal, for years! Randall Boggs...perhaps the closest one I had to a competitor back in the old days," he concluded, nodding his head as if to emphasize that point...before getting to brass tax.

"Where ya BEEN Boggs? Look like you've been through the human world...though the rumors kind of say that."

"Heh... yeah?" he asked, smirking as he looked down to his attire, and conscious of the large brim poking over his eyes. "Eh you know... I've always worn it well... it suits me. Thanks, though." he said, waving his top hand dismissively, and folding his lower ones. "You know it's funny, because we weren't directly competing but... I suppose in a way, maybe you made it into a competition." He chuckled, grinning. "Glad I inspired that in someone at least." 

He then gave him a deadpan look. How did he not know this? It surely made the news or... whatever. Blinking both eyes separately, he waited to respond. "I... was banished... illegally, if you want to get technical." He stated. "But then again... as I found out... many at our company who were banished were done so illegally." He muttered, clenching his teeth a little. "You may not have heard but... was tossed through a door, left to fend for myself... and here I am!" He spread all four upper arms now. "Arrested, on deathly probation and hell... unsure where I can go from here." He sighed, shaking his head. 

"Guess in your off time...but you're welcome," Ozul replied. "Happen to wear similar in my current profession, which is what caught my eye to you in the first place. Ironic isn't it?"

Ozul chuckled, head lowered, tapping his snout. "Well, maybe competition is a stretch," he started, with a bit of humorous tone to it. "Oh it was simply fun to have someone who enjoyed the job as well as I did. Thought it would be the same for Sullivan when he took the spot but..." Ozul trailed off, one hand to his side in a shrugging gesture, as if to leave that comment hanging for the moment. A hook to use for later.

The shadow monster listened with interest, slightly amused at Boggs' look. Of course, he was privy to more information than what he claimed...but of course, that was just a few different sides to a topic. Hearing it from the individual in question...now that was a truth to be told.

Ozul listened, showing he was taking in the information, the generals he already knew. Of course Boggs would go that simple for now, they had just met, but Ozul would aim to fix that soon. Still...he couldn't help himself for visibly clenching his teeth at the mention of the Banishment.

Ozul waited a moment after the gesture, then looked the lizard monster up and down. "Home?" he suggested as an answer, in a questionable, though compassionate sounding tone.

Of course, Ozul also knew the answer to this as well...hook, line, and....

"Yeah." In spite of himself, Randall agreed, grinning now. "It is... I guess you must dress similarly on your show, then?" he asked, glancing up to the brim of his fedora, then down again to this interesting shadow-like monster. He gestured to his getup, mostly as a subconscious movement. He pursed his lips, looking right to him when he mentioned Sullivan. "Mm... don't know if he did or not... he seemed to but... yeah I enjoyed it... of course I did... I was damn good and top of the leaderboard... why wouldn't I have enjoyed it." He asked, but not harshly. 

He shuffled his feet at the mention of "home." Yeah... that was something he no longer had... and was still looking for. "Er... I don't..." He looked off to the side. "Being a 'criminal' and all... I don't have one." He said, looking straight to him. "I have money though... should be able to scrape something together for a few months... have an account they never touched." He explained, then froze... why had he just said that? Eh... it wasn't like this guy could access it or anything... and even if he went to the authorities, they couldn't find it without the right information. 

"But look... I ain't no charity case, all right? I can make do just fine on my own... I've got places, after all." he said vaguely, not really explaining his situation to Ozul too well at this stage.