Clockwork's End
-1897 Great Britain-
The night was crisp, icy to the point of burning ones skin. The street that led to a French bank was empty; but of one man dressed in all black with a silk smooth top hat on his head. His leather dressing shoes sent crunching echoes every time he took a step. His warm breath released, from his slightly blue lips, vapor clouds into the sky. The man licked his lips wetting them to continue his whistling of his ever cheery tune; at reaching the front of the said bank he rubbed his gloved hands together bringing them close to his reddening nose. He reached into his leather pea coat sleeve to retrieve a small golden key looking up he took the opportunity to glance to his right and left to affirm that he was alone. The bank laid at the front of a curve causing the structure to curve in an odd shape to the right and left almost like a boomerang. It stretched up to the sky at least three floors; windows decorated the entirety of the building some of the windows stretched covering more than one floor. A small click was released when the door was unlocked the man's left side of his lips curled up into a mischievous smile as he hopped through the door. He walked through the counters leading to the back vault. The vault covered most of the back wall as silver light gleamed in the moonlight. The man stepped closer pulling out a small piece of paper from his slacks pocket upon opening it a ring of keys slipped out along with a tube like contraption. The tube was made of copper with designs of gears engraved on it spelling out the name of the bank the tip had a small indent that made it a bit sharp.
He looked around reading the instructions on the piece of paper. First enter the number code into the dial in which a hatch will open reveal a key lock. He glanced around and the only dial he found was a telephone dial covered in a glass case curiously he edged closer and saw the lock. He saw the tube shape and used the key unlocking it and entered the four numbers slowly upon doing so he heard a small click and whine of old metal to the other side of the wall. He walked over to it and lo and behold a key whole; after much tinkering he finally found the key that fit perfectly. This released the wheel in which he turned grunting at the heaviness as he pushed it slightly ajar. Inside the room were rows and rows of drawers with locks he walked towards two of the biggest boxes with one hand in his pocket and the other tossing up the ring of keys in his hand over and over. When he faced the boxes he pulled out the keys and opened the boxes at the same time inside laid two black bags filled with what he already knew to be large quantities of pounds. Lifting the heavy bags the man closed and locked the drawers along with the vault door once again leaving no traces at all that someone had entered. He then walked into the main room leaving a calling card if you will placed delicately on the banks lead assistance desk. It was about time he left a trace of something whether it lead to him or not he was done playing in the shadows. He walked out the bank locking the door continuing his whistling as he walked into the darkness of the night.
October 20 1897 -Two days later-
His dream left him groggy all he could recall was an adorable spunky orange cat with green eyes purring at his every caress. Eddward had no inclination as to why he had such a vision but he would dwell on such nonsense no longer. He raised slowly from his bed assuring that he does not get light headed from lack of sleep. Slipping on black slippers beside his bed Eddward reached over to the chair that was pushed up against the wall for his silk robe tightening it around his thin frame and walked into his personal bathroom. The white tile floor was so cold he could feel it through the slippers steadily walking towards the gleaming sink. Good lord did he feel a headache begin to unravel in his cranium; looking up into the mirror Eddward looked at the darkening circles blemishing his porcelain white skin under his cyan clear eyes. Breathing out heavily he pushed his shoulder length raven black hair back with his right hand; leaning closer he noticed the single white strip coming a little above his right temple in his hair. When he was younger he wore a flat cap to hide his embarrassing birth right, however looking at it now he felt quite dapper and reframed from hiding it. Eddward proceeded to washing his teeth simple basic hygiene was very important to him he would continue cleansing once in the shower he thought. After his regular bathing routine Eddward proceeded to his sleeping quarters where he found his attire prepared for him. He placed his black slimming slacks up tucking his white collar shirt smoothing it out to the best of his ability he then placed his double buttoned black vest on top before closing it he placed a black silk tie around his neck adjusting it carefully. Once his hair, clothes, and boots were done he began to descend the winding stairs that lead to the main hallway in his mansion.
"Good morning young master I hope this morning finds you well?" His butler Winston came a step behind him.
"I am feeling quite well thank you Winston although I could use a small lift as it were I seem to have exhausted myself last night" Eddward gently spoke messaging his temples with his fore and middle finger noticing Winston had his daily newspaper on a tray.
"Would you like for me to tell the cook to prepare you your special tea for your headache?" Eddward took the Newspaper from the silver tray nodding gently to his butler "Very well young Master…Ah yes before I take my leave your usual guests are waiting for you in the dining hall." Winston scuffed out the word guests pulling out Eddward's trade mark gapped tooth smile. He knew Winston had no affection for his guests but respected him enough to let them be.
"Yes well thank you Winston I'll be in the hall if you need me." Placing the newspaper between his forearm and chest Eddward continued down the hallway decorated with family photos and red carpets up to the large double doors. His family crest adorned it the symbol contained a female water sprite holding the alchemy water symbol in her palms. Eddward thought the sprite was silly but his mother always told him that there was more to the world than just science. That they were things that could not be explained and should be kept that way. He pushed through the double doors the smell of bacon, sausage, and eggs invaded his nostrils an intrusion he very well liked.
"Took you long enough sock head" The voice drifted towards Eddward making him glance at his very short friend at the table. He wore a grey toned dress vest with a buttoned up white collared shirt and matching grey slacks. His bowtie matched his black dressing shoes and his scowl took all the flare from his presence. Eddward stifled a laugh at seeing his oddly dressed friend.
"Honestly Eddy nothing has changed this is the same course of action I take every morning" Eddward looked up at the grandfather clock near the window and sighed "and I am not a minute early or a minute late as it were. You are just impatient is all" Eddward waved at him making the slightly stout man grunt at him continuing with his breakfast. As he came towards his seat a large mass burrowed through crushing him in a hug lifting him off his feet.
"Good morning Double Dee!" The large man began to swing Eddward around in circles making his headache slightly worse.
"Yes, yes dearest Ed good morning! Please desist this at once and put me down!" The burly man laughed and placed Eddward down he looked up to see his friend in dirty tan trousers with black suspenders over a stained white shirt his head covered with a flat cap smeared with grease. Messy messy messy thought Eddward patting himself down the only thing clean on the boy were his black knee high boots that seemed to have been polished recently. Ed's face lightened up when he saw breakfast was ready and ran to his seat. Eddward sat himself down taking a sip of his tea ready at the table unfolding his newspaper. He looked up from the paper to see his two best friends in the world enjoying their meal. They have been eating meals together since a little before the age of fourteen it did help with Eddward's loneliness so he did not mind that these two young men could devour his whole kitchen in a fortnight. He began to fold the paper to put it aside to eat when he noticed the headline. It was quite rare for Eddward to miss such a thing truly this headache was a hindrance. He brought it closer to inspect that another theft had occurred near the main city of Britain, in a bank owned by the French. This will not sit well with the French who knows what violence could flare from this.
"Eddy it seems another theft has occurred…hmm…same motto as well in and out without a trace. Oh dear…" Eddward soaked up the information, he had been following the case from the very beginning putting what he had together however he wished he was able to see the crime scenes in person. Truly that could help him in his endeavor. At that moment Winston stepped into the hall with another of his trademark silver trays. Upon said tray lay a crisp white envelope with Eddward Marion Vincent scripted beautifully on it and an envelope cutter; without reading it he knew who it was from. He grabbed them smiling at his butler and laughing a bit at him when he turned a little green at Ed's eating habits. His face was adorned with pieces of his meal, grease on his fingers never really using the utensils laid out for him. He liked to chomp loudly spewing out sounds like "num num num"; the cook saw it as a form of complimenting his food. Honestly Eddward wondered how he could have been from a good family with dinning skills as those; it took him years to finally get accustomed to them but how he adored his big oaf. Eddward, returning to the parchment in hand, turned the envelope over; seeing the royal seal on the small package he gracefully cut into the top of the paper carefully making sure he did not cut the letter. Pulling it out with a shhhpp he glanced over the letter eyes moving along the page the left side of his lips curled up he could hear the other two cease their actions and feel their eyes watching him intently.
"It seems the Queen requires our presence Eddy, Ed" Eddward commented gently as he put the letter away into its envelope.
"'Bout damn time! Was wondering when the old bag would hire us for the job" Eddy slurred lifting his legs onto the table picking his teeth with a tooth pick.
"EDDY! You can't talk 'bout the empress that way!" Ed looked genuinely upset his frown prominent on his face. Eddward too frowned at his rude companion very much disliking Eddy's sitting habits. He rose from his seat straightening himself and grabbing his newspaper before heading over to where Eddy was siting. Using the paper he swapped Eddy's legs of the table and then crossed his arms over his chest.
"Ed is right Eddy, Now do not be rude and finish your meal you scoundrel." Eddward proceeded to return to his seat ignoring Eddy's quite mumbles of protest. "By the way Ed it is "Queen" or "her majesty" when referring to the Queen, Empress is purely used in Asian countries." He had sat down and taken a sip of his tea when Ed clapped and nodded vigorously at his lesson.
"Yes Double Dee! Can I have butter toast now!?" Eddward smiled at his childhood name feeling a bit giddy he felt like today was going to be a good day. He laid his head on one of his fists and nods at Ed.
"Of course my dear old friend have as many as you please." With that Ed continued to consume a small village's worth of toast.