chapter word count:358

noir heart: twenty-three

Jack exhales deeply through his nose, venting out resignation at the fact that, essentially, he has lost the game before it even started. Relaxing into his chair, he laces his fingers behind his head as he regards Elsa with studious eyes. "I probably won't be able to prove you did it, will I?"

"I imagine you'll try." she murmurs, and just as she raises her cup to her lips there's a glint in his eyes that's almost as though she's daring him.

"But I'll fail. See, you were there during the crime, and yet not – and all I have to go on is a screwed-up imitation of one of the most meticulous, careful serial killers I've ever seen. It's quite brilliant, actually."

"Is that a compliment?" she half-smiles with slightly narrowed eyes, cocking her head just an inch.

"To whom, Elsa; you, or the Ripper?"

"To whomever you wish, Jack."

"To you, then." he answers, but a menacing darkness crosses his eyes as, with his fingers still entwined together, he rests his arms on the table and leans closer toward her. Intimidating the indomitable. "Here's the thing – brilliance is just like a candle: it fades over time. Sooner or later, people slip up. They make mistakes, and then…" He clicks his fingers. "Boom."

Elsa, however, is evidently unmoved by his warning. The smile she wears upon her porcelain features still remains – and has quite possibly widened. "If I am who you believe me to be, emphasis on 'if'…what makes you think I won't resist the, ah, temptation?"

"Well, that's the thing – I don't think you can resist. I think you're a malignant narcissist sociopath." he states bluntly, watching for her reaction.

It's not what he expects, to say the least.

Leaning forward enough to put her face within a foot of his, she laces her fingers together and smirks playfully, just before a small bulge appears in her cheek for a moment. "Oh my, Jack. That's quite a mouthful."

The heat that subsequently ignites his cheeks can fuck right off.

this is kind of the point where you lovely readers decide whether to continue with this story or not.

hornedgoddess: hurhurhur. handcuffs.
oninoko: I like your thinking. Probably because I was thinking the same thing.
jpbake: I pretty much know the story of Gone Girl anyway, thanks to some wiki-wandering and Anna Kendrick spoiling it during the Oscars.
k j mcdaniel: Oh, she's clever alright. Hopefully. Hoping I've pulled it off.
stefalove: I'm having so much fun with this Elsa. Always enjoyable to take a character in a different direction.
heartonfire: :D *insert heart emote here*