The beds at the Ruhen Doe Inn were comfortable, there was no denying that. Though compared to the beds of the Reunion Inn in Monte d'Or, there wasn't really too much completion as far as Elaine was concerned. But still, in the morning when she woke up, she did find them very easy to sleep in and never really wanted to leave the morning warmth it provided.

Elaine only opened her eyes as she woke to make sure Johanna was okay. Seeing the younger girl sleeping well in her bed still, Elaine shut her eyes again. It wouldn't do any harm to lie in bed a little longer, surely. Just a little rest longer.

It didn't even feel like much time had passed when Elaine closed her eyes before she felt a hand on her shoulder, shaking lightly to wake her up again. Elaine groaned inwardly but made herself open her eyes again to look up at Desmond.

"Still tired?"

"No. Just one of those mornings when you don't want to leave a warm bed," Elaine mumbled as she sat up. "Might as well wake up-."

"Actually, Elaine, I want to talk first," Desmond interrupted after glancing quickly to the still sleeping Johanna. "I don't want Johanna to hear right now."

"What do you need to say then?" asked Elaine, a little more alert now.

"I decided to go on ahead to the Bostonius last night while you were both sleeping to test those caramels."

"And they were poisoned." Elaine felt it was obvious from the beginning, but there was no fault in making sure. Desmond nodded in confirmation.

"They were. If I had to guess, whoever gave them to Johanna either picked her and us out at random, or they might have heard we were looking into this mystery and tried to put a stop to it. It's a bit uncertain which it could be," he said as he sat down on the side of her bed. "From what I could tell, the dosage might have been mild compared to that lamb chop. Though, not knowing what exactly the poison is, I can't really say how bad it could have been if any of us ate it."

"I suppose that old lady didn't expect us to be wary of eating anything local then," Elaine mused.

"Assuming it is a woman. Johanna did say the person was wearing a veil. It could have been a man disguised as a woman."

"I suppose you would be the expert there since you 'ave dressed up as one," Elaine commented dryly, smiling as Desmond glared a little. Disguising as Angela probably wasn't as amusing to him now as it was for Elaine.

"That was poor if it was meant to be a joke," Desmond muttered. "But back to what I was previously saying, it wouldn't be too far off that the person behind all of this would disguise themselves. It just makes sense after all."

"It would be more shocking if they didn't," Elaine admitted as she thought it over. "Especially if they 'appened to get caught."

"Mmm, while it might not be a massive amount so far, we do 'ave some information gathered."

"And more." Elaine raised a brow to Desmond, and the man just threw Elaine a smirk as he said in a slightly deeper voice. "Descole came out to play last night~."

"And what did Descole do?" Elaine asked sharply, eyes narrowed. Few good things happened when Desmond put on his Descole persona, if any at all. Desmond just gave Elaine an innocent look.

"Nothing too illegal. I may have snuck into the clinic and talked to Mr. Almes. It was actually very easy since he thought I was death, and I told him I would let him live a little longer if he answered my questions. After that, I looked through a cabinet full of patient files."

Elaine pursed her lips together as Desmond said all of this. It certainly wasn't the worst thing Desmond had done, and he hadn't physically harmed the poor man thank goodness. Frightened him, yes. But still in the same shape he was presumably in when Desmond was by his bed.

"So, 'e looked better I'm presuming?" Elaine guessed "I guess 'e wasn't given a lethal amount then. What did you find out? And what were you looking for exactly in the patient files?"

"I was asking if anything about his meal at the tavern tasted funny," Desmond replied. "He said no as far as he could remember, and there he doubts anyone in particular would want to kill him."

"So chances are that we can confirm that the poisoning is definitely random. Assuming anyone else can give similar stories or aren't connected to anything in particular, that is."

"Looking through the files, there doesn't seem to be anything outstanding connecting any victims. Maybe a few coincidences such as similar jobs and family and such, but other than that, nothing else." Elaine nodded before asking,

"So what should we do now? See if we can find out anything else on those twins?"

"That would be a good idea, yes," Desmond agreed. "Perhaps find out more about this marriage Rosaline had, and anything else about her brother, Briar." Desmond glanced over to Johanna and whispered, "Though, I think it might be best to bring Johanna back to the Bostonius. After yesterday, I'm a bit nervous about someone who doesn't like what we're doing, doing something to her or trying to give her some other edible item that's contaminated."

"It would probably make whoever gave those sweets to 'er think she might 'ave eaten them," Elaine said thoughtfully.

""Exactly, so she'll be safe. Do you mind if I leave you here alone for a moment while I bring Johanna back up?"

"Not at all."

Desmond had woken up Johanna and left the room briefly to let Elaine and his daughter get dressed. With Johanna dressed, she left with Desmond while Elaine sat in the room and waited patiently. To pass the time, she looked around the room in case there was something here she had missed previously.

Not much really. Though she did find a rubix cube in a drawer, and since there was a bit of walking distance between the inn and ship she began to play around with it. Not really intending to solve it, but if she could find the answer to it that could do no harm.

Knock, knock.

Elaine looked to the door. She considered calling out, but decided not to out of hesitance. Keeping the cube in hand, she walked to the door and slowly opened it up. Only opening it wider when she saw it was the inn keeper.

"Is there something I could help you with?"

"No, I was just vondering if you vere alright. I saw your husband and daughter leaving and I thought perhaps something vas vrong since you're normally vith them."

"Oh, no I'm fine. Really. Merci though. And Desmond's not my 'usband." It only felt right to correct. "We're just dating, and 'is daughter is from a previous marriage."

"Oh, apologies. I just thought with the three of you together you vere Mrs. Sycmore." Elaine frowned at the pronunciation of Desmond's surname.

"Syc… I think you mean, 'Sycamore'," Elaine corrected. The inn keeper actually looked a little relieved.

"Oh, danke. Sorry, but vhen I read the name he signed in vith, it looked…"

"God awful?" Elaine guessed, familiar with Desmond's hand writing.

"Ja, indeed," the old man nodded. "Between you and me, I vouldn't have thought a man like him vould have such awful handwriting."

"Indeed. 'E's full of surprises," Elaine agreed in a dry tone. "But since you're 'ere, I was wondering if I may ask you a question or two?"

"Vhat do you need to know?"

"You mentioned a portrait of Rosaline Feierbend, I think. Where would we find this portrait ourselves?"

"There's a small museum dedicated to the early years of this town up north, near the church. It shouldn't be too hard to find. The portrait is on the… second floor. I think."

"And do you know anything about 'er brother, Briar?" The inn keeper had a slightly sheepish look on his face.

"Not much to be honest. His sister seemed to get the most attention. She vas supposed to be very lively and beautiful. A bit of a social butterfly as well. I think her brother was a bit more of a shy boy too, and had an illness to boot I think."

"I see. Just one more question before you leave. All the food that can be bought in Schlafwald. It's all local, oui?"

"It is." He nodded his head. "Everything grown from the earth to the meat."

"Well, merci again for the help," said Elaine before the man turned to leave and she shut the door. Now all there was to do was wait for Desmond to return. Then they could carry on with the case. It hadn't taken long for Desmond to return after that.

"I suppose taking a look at an older Rosaline might be of some benefit," Desmond said thoughtfully after Elaine told him what she knew. "It's still a bit odd that Rosaline so far seems to be the more well know."

"She might 'ave just simply been the favourite child," Elaine suggested. "Briar was sick, so there could 'ave been bias."

"I suppose that could be the case. A trip to the museum is in order then I suppose."

"'Ow did Johanna take to 'er new arrangement?" Elaine asked. She had meant to ask earlier, but didn't want to risk forgetting anything she learned from the inn keeper before telling Desmond.

"She's a bit annoyed, I think. But she understood that it was all with good intentions."

"Good to know. It wouldn't do for 'er to be upset," Elaine said as she stretched her arms. "But we should start working again and get to the museum. Then we can try and look more into the Feierbend family."

"Yes. Whatever the cause for this poisoning is, I have an inkling that the family is connected somehow," said Desmond as he stood up. "Did the inn keeper say anything else?"

"Well, you need you work on your 'andwriting. 'E thought your surname was Sycmore when you signed it in."

Meant to say this earlier, but I forgot. I have a one shot up now that was inspired by MockingJ's fic, 'Ruins'. It's meant to be an alternate ending to what happened after the sacrifice in the Sanctuary and the golems shut down, and Elaine's reaction to it. Hope you enjoy. Well, as much as one can enjoy a story called, 'Grim Endings'.