HEY GUYS! So there's a lot more talking in this one which means reading it will go faster! It's the dawn of ACT II - Le Temps Est Bon (Time Is Good) in which Jeanne won't be mentionned as often, instead of concentrating on character backgrounds and such, they'll be concentrating more on the case (mind you, with Yao's nearing appearance, talking about the past of the characters is near inevitable (same thing goes when the Braginski sisters will show up but a little less them))
Anyways, I won't keep you longer! Here's chapter 11 - ACT II!
ACT II - Le Temps Est Bon
"Dam dam tatam… tam tam tatam… tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam…"
Rain pelted on the window as a storm boomed outdoors. Francis trotted slowly around the empty halls of the Edelstein Mansion.
"Dam dam tatam… tam tam tatam… tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam…"
The beautiful, soft, angelic voice resonated eerily in the mansion. The tune was familiar to the French detective and the more it played the more he needed to find its source.
"Le temps est bon…*"
Francis was now running through the halls that slowly stretched and eternalised themselves. His heart was pounding hard as if there was something sentimental about the source of sound. He had to find it, there was no excuse not to.
"Le ciel est bleu…**"
Thunder accompanied by lightning illuminated the halls and shook the household slightly with a deafening war. With more lightning ripping through the sky and bringing light to the obscure great hall, a room was made evident to the desperate Frenchman.
"Dam dam tatam…"
Closer.
"Tam tam tatam…"
Inches away.
"Tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam…"
Francis burst into the room where he found a record player slowly losing speed and just when all movements were at a halt…
"Nous n'avons rien à faire que d'être heureux.***"
"Natalya…turned the music down, our guest is awakening." Ivan ordered keeping his gaze pointed out of the room.
Francis awoke feeling drowsy and confused. His head felt like it weighed a ton but before he could begin to think straight, the detective's nausea was made overwhelming and caused him to throw up on the ground.
"Repulsive…" Ivan stated monotone.
"W-what…?" Francis coughed.
"Brother, he doesn't remember…" Katyusha stated.
"Da, with the medicine he's been taking, it's no surprise." Ivan agreed.
"Where am I?" Francis asked after a moment of combating his nausea.
"Here…" Natalya leaned near him and extended a cup of water.
Francis greedily took it and immediately spat it out as the content of the cup caressed his tongue, "T-this is vodka!" He coughed.
"Is there a problem?" Natalya asked expressionless.
After getting a good look at her face and realising his position, Francis thought it was best not to answer. With efforts, the blonde detective dragged his body away from the pile of vomit that laid on the floor.
"What's going on?" Francis asked dryly.
"We saved you." Ivan answered, lightning illuminated his face darkly, "the driver's dead though."
"I-I don't get it…" Francis stated as he tried to make sense out of everything.
"When we left, we came back," Ivan started, "We found a car crushed by a tree, the driver was dead however the French detective of a sublime reputation laid injured but alive."
"Le temps est bon…"
Francis held his head and winced.
"Le ciel est bleu…"
"Ironic this song no?" The driver mentioned, "Especially with this horrible weather we have outside."
"Yea…"
"Nous n'avons rien à faire que d'être heureux…"
The diver looked in the mirror to catch a glimpse of Francis, "Hey, I put this channel on for you," he teased, "You're French, I thought you would appreciate!"
Francis smiled, "I do…"
"Dam dam tatam…"
"It's just that it brings up this awful feeling inside me…" He admitted.
"Reminds you of heart break, aye?" The driver asked.
"I guess you could say so…"
"Tam tam tatam…"
Lightning ripped through the sky accompanied by a loud explosion.
"Christ…this storm is brutal! I wouldn't be surprised if one of those trees fell!" The driver cussed.
"They're large trees…" Francis remarked.
"Aye! That'll make the mess all the worse!" The driver agreed with a laugh, "Good thing that these roads aren't used much!"
"Tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam…"
Silence between the two men invaded the car, mainly due to what Francis had learned during his second supper with Lord Weillschmidt had confided to him which kept occupying his mind.
"Le temps est beau…"
Just then, lightning dashed through the sky once more but hit a large tree. Slowly, it tipped over and as the car passed by, it crashed down completely.
"Le ciel est bleu…"
Francis noticed as it was too late.
"Watch out!"
The vehicle swerved violently.
A crash and thud.
"Nous n'avons rien à faire que d' être heureux…"
"You remember now, da?" Ivan stated more than asked.
"Yea…" Francis answered anyhow. "But where is this?"
"That…is something you don't need to know, detective." Ivan answered with an emphasis hinting to Francis's position.
"Ah…Do you want me to stop investigating the Edelstein murder?" Francis asked on guard.
"Not yet…" Ivan admitted finally turning his gaze to Francis. "I want you to tell me exactly everything that Chibipu has told you since I've left."
Francis stared at him silently unsure on what to do. Silence seemed like the best decision then again, the Braginski family was known for acts of extreme violence and cruelty that were never able to be proven. Condemning oneself to silence was the equivalent to accepting a long and agonising death yet silence was the only option that seemed proper to Francis and he would take it, regardless of the consequences, to keep a secret.
"Hmm…your reaction does not please me detective." Ivan admitted. From his sleeve dropped a steel pipe slightly bumped and used at the end used for hitting.
Francis winced in advanced and backed away causing the Russian noble to laugh cruelly. Desperately, Francis looked at Katyusha and at Natalya for aid but the sisters only stared at him blankly.
"W-why are you so interested?" Francis stuttered to buy time. For what? He didn't know.
"You should already be aware, da." Ivan stated leaning down to be somewhat face to face with the detective. "Chibipu and I have an arrangement that must not be foiled by anyone."
"Vanya."
Both men froze and turned their gaze to Katyusha and Natalya.
"The pills…" Natalya continued, "Ask him about the pills we found…"
Francis quickly searched through his coat pockets at the mention of the pills only to realise that they were no longer on him. Wait…why do I even need them…? He wondered.
"Da…perhaps the matter involving Chibipu can wait." Ivan nodded to himself and stood straight. "You know what they are don't you?"
"What? The pills?" Francis asked slightly confused but mainly frustrated.
"Da." Ivan confirmed, "to fools they appear to be large aspirin pills, but to those who sell it and create it, they are recognized in an instant. How did you come into possession of Zabyvaĭ Menya****?"
"Zaby—what?" Francis partially repeated.
"Zabyvaĭ Menya. The pills you have been taking are named so." Ivan spoke patiently. "The Braginski Organisation are responsible for the distribution and are also important funders to the creators. Of course, the creators shall not be mentioned due to a certain deal we share. Now where did you obtain these?"
"France…" The detective answered holding his head as he struggled to remember. "A doctor gave it to me…but I don't remember why…"
"How reckless of him." Ivan spat revealing an emotion very close to anger, "The drug has not been finalised yet and the side affects have yet to be determined. I guess you'll be serving as a guinea pig detective. But you don't mind, da?"
Francis didn't answer immediately.
"Don't look so weary detective," Ivan reassured, "Being a guinea pig has its advantages! For example, you will be given extra supplies of pills now since you are running low on the ones currently in your possession. I recommend you don't stop taking them just yet, who knows what will happen if you do."
"You don't sound very reassuring." Francis stated glaring at the Russian man.
"Da, was I supposed to?" He asked playfully.
There was a moment of silence in the room but a moment of tension between the two men. Francis was trying to figure out the noble's motive but his facial expressions and body language didn't give anything up. Ivan Braginski had an astounding poker face.
"Enough of this nonsense, da?" Ivan concluded turning his back to the Frenchman. "You are clearly able to walk now that the drugs have warn off."
"You drugged me!" Francis yelled, shocked.
"It was to dull the pain." Ivan replied calmly. "You were almost crushed to death by a tree."
Francis growled lowly and wobbly got to his feet. He stammered through the door before his legs gave in which was a cue for the two Russian sisters to assist the weakened Frenchman.
"To forget one's purpose is the commonest form of stupidity…" Natalya repeated in Francis's ear.
Francis said nothing but pondered the words. Is she trying to tell me to stop taking the pills…?
"Where in the bloody hell is that git!" Arthur cursed angrily as he stomped around the head quarters. "We can't get anymore work done until that bloody bastard arrives!"
"Chill dude, what's fussing about it going to do?" Alfred suggested with a point coolly as he swung his feet up on the desk.
Immediately, Arthur pushed them down. "Don't put your feet on the desk! Have you no manners!" Arthur hissed, "And don't tell me to calm down! The frog's been absent for nearly two days! Not only that but the car he was in was found wrecked with the driver dead!"
"Well if he wasn't in it, it's because he's not dead." Alfred pointed out.
"How would you know!" Arthur roared, "Injured and confused he could have wandered out of the wreck and into the forest where he fell unconscious and was devoured by wolves!"
"Okay, now you're sounding like me which worries me." Alfred stated seriously.
"Shut up." The Brit groaned. "You're lucky you don't know what it's like to worry…"
"That's not true!" The American defended, "I'm worried, I'm just not overreacting!"
That statement earned Alfred a punch in the face.
"Oww!" He moaned, "It's true!"
"Shut it!"
"Of course, with you it's different." Alfred moaned flopping on the desk, "Because you lov—"
Alfred's face was roughly shoved in the bureau causing him pain and lack of air before he could finish his sentence.
"Don't you dare finish that!" Arthur whispered his words slithering from his tongue and stabbing Alfred's ears making the former's intentions clear.
"Chill dude!" Alfred insisted, "He'll be here soon enough, just mellow out and don't kill me! It's not fair that you get to let your frustration out to roughly on me."
"Bloody pervert." Arthur hissed once more as he slapped his American comrade.
Alfred chuckled, "Here, let's listen to the radio to have you cool down."
Before Arthur could gather the words to protest, Alfred had switched the radio on and the machine began to sing.
"Dam dam tatam…"
Alfred made a face.
"Tam tam tatam…"
"Why is this tuned into a French station?" He asked curiously investigating the radio as if there was something more than abnormal about it.
"Tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam…"
"I didn't even know you could get French stations in England." Alfred stated.
"Le temps est bon... Le ciel est b—"
Arthur turned the radio off abruptly and walked away from Alfred and the desk. "Don't play that station…and I don't want to hear that song." The Englishman sternly stated.
"Okay, cool, all you had to do was tell me." Alfred declared with a nervous laugh.
The atmosphere around them had suddenly gotten a little awkward and tense.
"Screw it." Alfred stood from the desk and grabbed Arthur's wrist, "Let's go out for some of your crappy food. The guys'll call us once our man gets here."
"Twit! You just can't appreciate the superiority of the English culinary arts!" Arthur defended.
"Yea. Sure. That's it."
Without looking ahead, Alfred bumped into someone of his size and clashed heads. The American winced and held his forehead as he hissed in pain, his eyes screwed close.
"There you've been you bloody frog!" Arthur sighed angrily. "I've been worried sick!"
Alfred opened his eyes only to recognise the figure he had bumped into as Francis Bonnefoy.
"Good timing," The American complemented slapping the other's shoulder playfully and ignoring the pain he had caused, "You were just about to miss us. You look like shit bro."
Francis chuckled, "I was almost crushed by a tree."
"Touché." Alfred joked.
"Ah you know French?"
"Nop."
Francis gave the American an odd look unsure how to respond to that bluntness.
"Stupid Frenchie! Where were you!" Arthur cussed angrily. "We're behind on the investigation!"
"Weren't we behind when I began?" Francis asked with a snobby tone.
"He's making a good point, Iggy." Alfred agreed.
Arthur growled to himself, "Regardless! Where were you!"
"I…" Francis paused momentarily and thought about the answer he would give. If he told the truth it meant that Ivan would find out one way or another and send after him, if he lied everything he had found out thus far about the Braginski would be kept secret. "I got information out of Lord Weillschmidt."
"You mean the stuck up German dude?" Alfred asked.
"I'm sorry," Francis apologized, "I don't think we've been acquainted yet."
Alfred blushed lightly in embarrassment. "Oh you're totally right! My bad!" Alfred extended his hand and introduced himself, "Alfred Jones."
"A pleasure; Francis Bonnefoy." Francis introduced himself to his turn shaking his new comrade's hand.
"Yea, I know, you're famous remember?" The blond forensics scientist laughed, "First time I saw you, you were unconscious."
Francis thought for a little and vaguely remembered Arthur telling him about his friend taking away the medication he needed.
Had needed.
Ivan had given him a new supply of pills he would keep taking not because the Russian noble told him so but because it was what his doctor had instructed. Suddenly, Francis's head buzzed which signalled that he needed to take his drugs.
"Would you excuse me for a minute?" Francis asked before quickly pushing his way pass the men.
"The can's calling his name," Alfred smirked.
"Idiot, don't say something like that." Arthur warned. "Ah, that reminds me, you should give him back the pills you took."
"I already told you I wouldn't." Alfred reminded.
"The fact remains that they do not belong to you."
"The fact remains that they are an illegal substance." Alfred retorted with the same sentence structure.
"Must you always uptake a majority of what I say?" The Brit sighed.
"Yea, you're English so everything you say sounds smart."
Arthur stared incredulously at the man before him. Sometimes, the stupidity found in his friend baffled him to speechlessness a little too often.
As quickly as he left, Francis returned feeling better after swallowing his medication. "Right, sorry about that," Francis excused himself, "Shall we postpone this meeting to another time? I'm exhausted after the fiasco of last night…"
Alfred and Arthur exchanged looks. "Yea, I guess…I mean you do look like shit and all…"
A little offended by the comment Francis nodded and called over a cab as he left with a bye. Arthur had decided as it went on to accompany Francis back to his hotel leaving Alfred completely alone and angry that he cancelled a date with his boyfriend for nothing.
"It's bizarre having you come to me of your own accord." Francis chuckled placing an arm around the smaller man.
Arthur quickly pushed it off, "I came to ask you about what happened."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb." Arthur growled, "I asked you what happened and you changed the subject claiming you got information out of Lord Weillschmidt and didn't even tell us any of it."
"Persistent." Francis complemented as he began to stare outside. "Arthur, I'm tired so this conversation will have to wait until tomorrow."
Arthur was going to argue but couldn't find the words to nag Francis or convince him they had to work. The man was in a car accident and reported missing for almost two days; rest was the least he deserved after such trials.
"Why don't you go to the hospital or something?" Arthur sighed in defeat.
"I've already been." Francis lied but he had been bandaged up by the Braginski before he left.
Arthur was unconvinced but let it slide anyhow as he was given a note pad with everything Lord Weillschmidt had confided to him. Everything Braginski related was kept in Francis's mind for privacy and secrecy.
"So you really did manage to make him talk?" Arthur asked rhetorically as he quickly skimmed through the papers.
"Of course, I wasn't lying." Francis quickly grabbed the note pad from Arthur as he began to read it seriously.
"Hey! Bloody frog!" Arthur yelled angrily. "God! You've barely been back an hour and you're already pissing me off!"
"Haha, I missed you." Francis laughed forcing an arm around the Brit and bringing him closer. "You can read the information after…you've earned it."
"And there's the bloody pervert I abandoned almost two days ago." Arthur grumbled somewhat relieved.
"I'm glad you're sort of back to normal." Francis declared leaning his head back.
"What!" Arthur choked, "If anything you were the one acting out of character! And, mind you, you still are! Why are you acting so distant!"
There was a moment of silence where Francis merely stared at his British colleague wondering what he was talking about and what pushed him to actually voice his mind. To some point, Arthur had hit the mark right on; Francis was acting somewhat distant but only towards the topic of what happened a day and a half ago…or so he thought.
"You're absurd." Francis chimed, "I'll show you how much I haven't changed once we get to my room."
Weillschmidt
Dislikes Feliciano because of his relationship with Ludwig…signs of possessiveness
A little too fond of Lady Hédéváry…possibly loves her…
Was with Lord Edelstein at the time of the murder
Doesn't sound as close or fond of Lord Edelstein as said to be
Left to get present…door was look when he heard ruckus of murder (not very convincing)
Pocket watch + picture stolen (check if legitimate)
Broke out, Lady Hédéváry and Feliciano were already there, Lord Edelstein dead
At restaurant Rainsalot
Lord Edelstein and Lord Weillschmidt in same contract with Braginski
Braginski interested in Lady Hédéváry; Lord Weillschmidt worried (might have to expect more visits from him…)
Lord Edelstein uncooperative around the end of the deal
Apparently there's a price for Lord Edelstein's death (confirm if legitimate)
Lord Zwingli appeared a week before murder at Edelstein Estate, angry, yelled, threatened
"I'll never forgive you for such betrayal! You ruined the last thing we ever shared! I hope your Hungarian whore of a fiancée follows you to hell!"
Question Lord Zwingli about statement
Supposedly all were confused but Lord Edelstein seemed more troubled
Lady Hédéváry can't remember because of pills…(determine if she should keep taking them…)
*Time is good
** The sky is blue
*** We have nothing else to do but to be happy
**** Forget me in Russia it's the official name of the pills Francis has been taking since the beginning of the story (I used Google Translate so please correct me if I'm wrong)
Right, so here I'm going to put the full lyrics to the French song (cuz I didn't make it up) in both languages (French and my translated version to English) and after that I'm going to put a link to it so you can listen to the soft (almost creepy) voice of woman who sings it xP I enjoyed this chapter, even if it was short, because now it meant that crazy shit can start happening (Especially cuz Ivan showed up!) anyhow looking forward to what happens next xP You guys can keep guessing who the culprit is by the way xD Especially with the new info our dear Weillschmidt has given!
Le Temps Est Bon (lyrics)
Dam dam tatam, ... tam tam tatam, ...tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam,
Dam dam tatam, ... tam tam tatam, ...tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam,
Le temps est bon, (Time is Good)
le ciel est bleu (The Sky is Blue)
j'ai deux amis qui sont aussi mes amoureux (I Have Two Friends That Are Also My Lovers)
Le temps est bon, (Time is Good)
le ciel est bleu (The Sky is Blue)
nous n'avons rien à faire rien que d'être heureux (We Have Nothing Else To Do But To Be Happy)
Mon coeur est grand, grand, grand, grand comme le vent
Et je suis tendre, tendre, tendre, tendre pour mes amants
Je suis la fleur dans leur cerveaux
Le temps est bon,
(Time is Good)
le ciel est bleu (The Sky is Blue)
j'ai deux amis qui sont aussi mes amoureux (I Have Two Friends That Are Also My Lovers)
Le temps est bon, (Time is Good)
le ciel est bleu (The Sky is Blue)
nous n'avons rien à faire rien que d'être heureux (We Have Nothing Else To Do But To Be Happy)
Mes deux amants sont beaux comme les arbres fous (My Two Lovers Are Beautiful Like The Crazy Trees)
Mes deux amants sont doux, doux, doux, (My Two Lovers Are Soft, Soft, Soft)
Je suis à eux de l'âme jusqu'à la peau (I Am Theirs From Soul To Body)
Les nuits sont longues les jours sont chauds (The Nights Are Long The Days Are Hot)
Je ne savais plus voir, (I Forgot How to See)
je ne savais plus entendre, (I Forgot How to Hear)
je n'savais plus (I Forgot How to Know)
Voici que je regarde, (Look, This Is What I See)
que j'écoute et je sais qui je suis, (What I Hear and I Know Who I Am)
je sais qui je suis (I Know How I Am)
Le temps est bon,
(Time is Good)
le ciel est bleu (The Sky is Blue)
j'ai deux amis qui sont aussi mes amoureux (I Have Two Friends That Are Also My Lovers)
Le temps est bon, (Time is Good)
le ciel est bleu (The Sky is Blue)
nous n'avons rien à faire rien que d'être heureux (We Have Nothing Else To Do But To Be Happy)
Dam dam tatam, ...tam tam tatam, ...tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam,
Dam dam tatam, ...tam tam tatam, ...tam tam tatam tam tam tatam tam tam tatam
Video Link: .com/watch?v=3t5xR80_hoQ
SEE YOU ALL NEXT CHAPTER!