Again, Scotland Yard found another husk of an unknown individual. Down at the docks. Mummified and strangely persevered despite its hollow-ish appearance. The skin was leather and oddly discolored. Swollen from the obtained water. Wrapped in pure white sheets or was it a robe? It screamed agony and reeked of horror. It layed in a rested position, arms folded across one another. Not meant to be disturbed, fished out again from the water. It was nearly frozen, one could put it at least sixteen hours before its discovery.
Citizens crowded around to see the sight, quickly many looked away appalled. Weak stomachs had to leave in a hurry and many soon developed a sudden sensitive smell. Only a few had a steel stomach to bear such a sight. As some of the officers handled crowd control.
"Why is it always the water?"
Inspector Fred said in puzzlement. His eyes wander to the bespectacled man standing next to him. Hoping for an answer. "Commissioner, any thoughts?"
The older man's small brown eyes narrow frown deeply at his detective's question, his own eyes clinking together some sort of reasoning for this. Some sort of lead, but, nothing seem to come up. Which he pridefully refuse to accept, should the scent of this catch up to the dog, who would be here soon. Searching the body for any sort of clue, see nothing but emptiness.
It was swiped clean and well. Not a single trace or crumb for a lead. Water washed it all, as it did everything. Cleansing it free of its trail. Tightly walking to the edge cast his eyes into the water only to have his own reflection cast back from the murky, dark water. Glaring harder find it ineffective. Nothing. Nothing came of it.
Just as his report was to be, just as the last few ones have been. "Sir," Fred comes over interrupting. "t-there..." his words stall. Swallowing. Sensing his detective's reluctance, only irritated the commissioner more.
"Yes? Out with it."
Turns to the young man with a tightening face. Warning him it had better be a rather good reason. Swallowing hard Fred thinks of the right words to say otherwise knowing what would happen should he not. Until his reason outweighed his words. Standing at attention informs his boss.
"There is something...something you need to see."
Following Fred, the commissioner saw what caused the disgusted tone in the man. Wrapped with the body pressed close to them, just turned this into something fearful.
While the weather remains cold and frosty outside, inside warmth held domain, yet it didn't feel that way. At least for Finnian and the others. The manor still was a wonderful place, it just wasn't as wonderful as it should be. Though it was briefly when their master returned and informed them he had delivered their thoughtful gift to Lady Harmony. They waited outside his door once he woke up. His words filled each of them with joy that the winter clouds outside faded away.
Though Finnian already knew, he had a feeling she was happy, which made him happy. It carried him all the way through the week, his smile never faded from the thought. But as time slipped bye it slowly returned back to its...original way with extra weight. His bright big blue eyes began to cloud, outside did bring it back just a little. Just not completely like it would if Lady Harmony was here. Mending the garden wasn't fun if she wasn't there to do it with him or if they didn't have a single tea party. Or even if they played horsey as she loved to do. Actually, it was Flower Princess she loved to play. Making crowns of flowers, she was so talented. He would be her prince and they would rule over the garden together.
Now, it was just him and Dottie. The sheep accompanied him where he went. She seem to miss the presence of the young girl, it was astounding that Ciel allowed it to live here. After all he and the others allowed Harmony to bring it here, during the time Ciel was out. The Earl kept it here on his property, stating it was already part of if as he owned the land it belonged too.
Which was true but, Finnian had a feeling Ciel had his own refusal reason for keeping the sheep. Surveying the massive garden, covered in a light blanket of frost and snow, made it seem like a winter paradise.
"Lady Harmony, she would love it here...right now." His eyes drop as he smiled a little. Resting a hand on top of Dottie's head lightly. "I beat the Lady Harmony would love making snow angels."
He closes his eyes picturing it, hearing her laughter watching her fall back into the white cushion smiling as she did it. He would fall next to her, sharing in her fun doing the same. They always shared their laughter together, always. Looking at the other, their smiles never leaving. She'd call out his name that lifted his heart and set fire to his soul. The two of them.
The best of friends.
Opening his eyes Finnian finds no sign of his dream coming true. There was no laughter only its echo in his mind slowly fading. No smile or cheery voice calling his name. Just the chilling wind instead.
"She has to come back, soon...right?" He said casting his eyes up to the sky. "Right, Dottie? Then everything will be fun, again." He shuts his eyes stopping the tears from coming. Rubs them away with his arm. But, they trickled a bit. "Don't cry, Finnian. Don't cry, re-remember," his voice cracks.
, why are you crying? Please, please don't cry! Harmony pleads.
"She doesn't like...when..."he sniffs."you cry." Envisioning the young girl before him those big amber eyes filling with tears, while her lower lip trembles. Before she threw herself on him, clinging to him in hopes to stop him from crying. And it always worked. Now, he had to do it himself. "I-I won't...I won't cr-"
"Hey! Finnian!"
Baldroy's voice booms across blowing away the young man's somber. "What are ya doing? I've been calling you for like fifteen minutes!"
Quickly wiping his eyes Finnian turns around, looking at the man standing at the porch door fumed. With a dumbfound look. Which only angered Baldroy a bit more. That he snaps. "Would you ya come inside already! Geez!"
"Why?" Finnian yells back.
Growling Baldroy tried to keep his temperament down. "Cause you're being buried in snow! That's why!"
Looking down Finnian finds himself covered in snow up to his waist. Shocked he jumps crying. "It's cold! It's cold!" And runs inside taking Dottie with and knocking the man over. Hard.
"You idiot!"
Hearing the commotion Mey-Rin comes running in along with Snake and Tanaka who sat sipping tea. "Oh dear," Mey-Rin hurries over to them, helping them. "What happened here?"
She sets them up with Snake's help, who takes care of Dottie. "Geez, thanks."Baldroy nips at him. Rubbing his head. "Dammit Finnian, that really hurt!" His head whips around to the young boy snarling.
"Sorry, I don't mean too." He chatters holding himself to retain his body heat. Sneezing a couple of times. Onto the others. They try putting up their arms but it was in vain.
"Cover your mouth, geez!" Baldroy berates him.
Trying as he did, Finnian didn't and sneezed a few more times on them. Except for Dottie whom Snake jumped in front to protect. His snakes hiss in disgust. But endure it.
"Dear me, you're wet," Mey-Rin said ringing out her hair. Fixing her glasses. "we should get you by the fire." Though about to be against it, Baldroy agrees quickly covering Finnian's mouth and nose before he sneezed.
Going to the kitchen, they get a fire started and sit blowing friend in front of it to dry and hopefully stop sneezing. Which did work, Tanaka gave Finnian a cup of tea and sat next to the man with Dottie by him.
"There, how is that?" Mey-Rin drapes a blanket around his shoulders. Fixing it.
"Better, thank you." He said holding out his hands. To warm them. His eyes watch the embers dance and flicker, the color...that one color was the same as Harmony's eyes. Her name on his mind, the others watch his shoulders drop deep.
It was clear something was bothering him. The brightness in his eyes suddenly dull and yearning. A look like that, it was clear what was on his mind. A heavy hand rest on his head. Pushing it down just a little. "Must you be such an idiot?"
To hide his quivering lip Finnian buries them in his knees, only his sniffles filled the room. Mey-Rin cast her eyes to the others, all sharing what the young man held. Wrapping a comforting arm around his shoulders, Mey-Rin gives it a little squeeze.
"Why can't Lady Harmony come back already?" Finnian cries, burying his face now. Gripping the blanket tightly. "She's been gone for so long, she needs to come home." His cries deepen. "It...It's so cold here. Without her."
Lightly choosing the right words Mey-Rin consoles him. "Finnian we all miss Lady Harmony and the Baroness," she said the last part to herself. Holding herself together. For the sake of him. "But, they..she's got to learn to be a lady. She and her sister are nobles, after all, it's only right."
"I don't care!" he fusses. Starling the others. "She can learn to be one here! The master and Sebastian have been teaching her really, really well...I...I..." his voice muffles, mixing with his tears. There was no point fighting them back now. None at all. But, he tried. "S-she has to come back, so she can be home, and we play and smile all the time. She's always happy here."
"Yeah," Baldroy agrees with a bit. "but remember Sebastian said she is having a wonderful time, even told the master himself. She even puts in 'er letters. So it-"
"It's not the same thing! The master said it himself."
Not sure what he was talking about, Finnian continues. "I overheard the master...he said to Sebastian. Saying wonderful isn't the same as fantastic. The master misses her too. He wants her back. All of want Lady Harmony back and the Baroness!" He jumps up turning to them. "The holidays are coming up and...and they're still not here. They have to come back, especially Lady Harmony! She's my best friend!"
His emotions were taking over, his eyes red and puffy. Using his arm he tries to wipe them away, only able to stop a few. "I know..I know Lady Harmony said not to cry...and I know she'll be angry with me..but...I just miss her so much. I just the family whole again."
Letting out a long sigh, Baldory rises and goes over to the distraught lad and flicks him in the forehead. "Yelling ain't gonna bring'em back. But, it is lonely without her. And the Baroness, da master doesn't seem the same either. I know none of are the same. Without stories to tell and no one to admire them, what's the point? Lady Harmony, made them feel so important. It is kind of strange not carrying her on my shoulders. And the Baroness, her calming presence made things seem a bit clearer."
His eyes look to Mey-Rin. Who nods her head slowly. "I miss the little miss and Baroness. Lady Harmony's love for my hair, always put a smile on my face, yes it did."She beams though it fades. "Now, I don't hear anymore. And with the Baroness, her tender kindness always was warm to be around. She was always happy to see me. Yes, I miss our talks." She looks to Snake, who pets Dottie just a bit.
Feeling the same way as each of them, Tanaka even stopped sipping on his tea and dropped his head. "The master needs them back and it will make him happy." Finnian said. "And Sebastian too."
"Don't worry, I'm sure the master will find a way to get'em back." Baldory assures him. Patting the young man's back lightly. Casting his eyes up, when they lite up with an idea. "Hey! I've got an idea!"
All eyes and ears look to their leader. "What?" Mey-Rin said.
A huge cheeky and proud smile spreads across the man's face. With fierce determination in his eyes. "Alright, listen up!"
