By all means, I know that Alfendi is technically 'missing' in Katrielle's arc, so it's easily assumable that in the Mystery Room arc, he is still missing. Please suspend your realities for this AU. Truthfully, it's only convenient (and technically makes sense) for the plot of Professor Layton is the one funding this rehab stint of Alfendi's.

Dear Prof,

Oh Prof. I just had...the most eye-opening thing happen this morning. I'm still upset about it.

Commissioner Barton called me into his office this morning. Dartwright complained a little because we needed to work on paperwork-well, I did-but let me go anyway. I kinda laughed to myself at his frustrations. I can see what you mean the more I work alongside him.

Anyway, at first, I thought it was because Commissioner Barton found out that I was going to the Mystery Room without his permission and I was ready to apologize for breaching areas I'm not supposed to be in.

Instead, I found your father and the letter you had for me! Your father, Prof! Professor Layton!

He was hand delivering your letter! I was shocked, to say the least. I've only really ever heard of Professor Layton in the papers, so to see the man was a bit of a surprise. Kind of starstruck, really. Isn't he constantly busy? Solving mysteries and puzzles or something like that? He also had this lanky young man named Luke with him too. I think I've seen him on the papers with your father. I wasn't really sure what to make of it until Professor Layton spoke to me first.

What he asked brought more shock! You know what he asked? He asked me why I was still talking with you and what I was hoping to get out of it. As though you were a business deal! I know he was hidin' behind some sort of gentlemanly conduct and the cuppa in his hands, but I'm 100% sure he was really wary of me and didn't seem to like me at first glance. I responded in earnest that I didn't seek anything-you sought me, even though it wasn't your original intention and it's polite to answer back, though I'm greatly enjoying our short letters nowadays. :)

He liked that answer, I think, because he made an affirmative humming sound and nodded. Luke told me that they were in the area and found that you had found a pen pal and had a steady stream of conversation going, so they wanted to find out who I was. It was really scary. It was like they were staring at a puzzle-me-and wanted to learn every bit about me and understand every intention. I was sure they had my file from the Commissioner, but I answered as much as I could anyway. From who I was, my education, where I grew up, all of that. It was the craziest kind of 'meeting the parents for the first time,' you shoulda seen it. I think he was really trying to figure out if I could smuggle you drugs or anything like that but in a roundabout way that wasn't so obvious. Not that I can anyway, you know my first letter to you said there wouldn't be any, period.

Then your father told me the bad news. News that I wish you told me instead of him. Actually, no, I wish there wasn't any bad news to begin with! But...

He went on to tell me that you had found a way to get cocaine from the outside world and into the rehab center. Said you were clever, just like him, and was dismayed despite the fact that we've been talking. But he also said that it made sense as to why you'd get cocaine. Get this, he said that he worries that our correspondence is the reason that you got cocaine, because you wanted to be presentable to me, to be the 'Placid' personality, as he called it. I could tell he was trying to be a gentleman about it, but it still...

I think I kind of lost it there, Prof. Really. I think I was seeing red.

You know what I did? I just blinked and stood abruptly, startling the Commissioner so much he almost spilled his cuppa! He's seen my progress in becoming a DC since day one. He knows what I'm like. I'm anything but prone to negative emotions-I'm quite the opposite. I'm not really one to get angry, you know? I think I convey it pretty well in my letters. I'm pretty laid back. I like to smile more than frown, but believe me, I was really upset at what he said. What he was trying to say, at least. Making me seem like I'm the bad person here!

I told your father that I never wanted you to be presentable. I never asked, I never made any indication. I like the snarky man that you are and that your declarations of wanting to cut people's tongues were hardly an issue-daunting, but not enough to make me run away. If anything, I told him, calmly, somehow, that I enjoyed my letters with you. I encouraged you to be yourself. I would never see to it that you needed to be kind to me. That's just how you are cut. If I didn't like that, I'm pretty sure I would have stopped talkin' to ya, Prof. Plus, I added that you were a good person. People just don't know how to handle your personality and that's their loss.

I even went as far to express that if you felt the need to do drugs to be decent and liked, someone could only really wonder where you got that idea in the first place.

I'm really upset. I already said that, but the repetition is necessary. The Commissioner let me go after that, luckily. I don't think I would have lasted and I didn't really want to see what reaction Professor Layton had when I kinda made it seem like your drug use was his fault. I went back to Inspector Dartwright and worked on some of the case before he let me go on break, so I'm writing this in the break room by myself with a cuppa.

Why did you use, Prof? I know you're a recoverin' drug addict, but... I don't want you to use. I know I can't force you, but that's just how I feel about it. I don't wanna lie and say that this is okay because it's not. Really. I don't care what happens when you use and how it 'makes you more approachable' because you're fine just the way you are.

Write back as soon as you can. Please.

Lucy Baker

P.S. I read what you wrote. I'm 22 years old, for your information. Even I can tell you're on drugs by the way you wrote in that last one. You can't fool me, Prof.