Mon cher Francis and the true villain
He walked forward, his emerald eyes glued to her as she turned and looked straight at him. Her red lips curved into a smile and her brown eyes shone with interest when she saw Arthur approach her. Both began to stride towards each other only stopping when they were inches apart.
"Good morning Mr Kirkland. I didn't peg you for the church going type." She said
" Good morning ma'am. I am afraid that I was under the impression that we had never met." Arthur said politely examining her for any slip ups in appearance that he could use to tell who he was dealing with.
"No, we haven't. But you may want to get to know me." She said coyly looking up at him through her eyelashes
"Indeed I might." Responded Arthur with a small smile
Francis watched their exchange of words through narrowed eyes. He wasn't listening to a word that Mrs Cooper was telling him. He only cared about what Arthur was doing. Francis felt a pure hatred towards the woman, even though he didn't know her very well. He couldn't explain the searing hatred he felt, and didn't care, as it filled him and took over him.
Francis abruptly stood up cutting poor Mrs Cooper off in midsentence. He walked past the poor woman without a word and walked straight up to Arthur and the woman. However once he reached them he paused not knowing what to do. The rage and hatred had disappeared as fast as it had come. The woman acknowledged him with a side glance and a smirk.
"Oh my, it seems that someone maybe jealous that I seem to have taken your attention. Still with him around at least you may catch the attention of who you are looking for." Teased the woman smirking
"And 'ow is that Mademoiselle Adler? " snapped Francis
"Never mind that. How did you know who I am?" asked Arthur
"I am an acquaintance of someone who you once held dear Mr Kirkland. " Adler asked smiling pleasantly again
"Who?" Arthur asked
"That is none of your concern at the moment." Adler said as she pulled a pair of black laced gloves out of her handbag
Arthur was suspicious. Adler knew him, or was close to someone who did. She also gave away hints that she knew about the crime scene. Or at least the motivation that Arthur had just worked out. She was also hiding herself. She gave away no clues. Her clothing was upper middle class but not overly showey or simple. Her makeup was expertly put on to hide any clues given from her skin or features.
"What are you hiding?" asked Arthur
"Is that conclusion you have made? I am hiding nothing. That is why you can find nothing. (Arthur looked surprised that she knew of his deduction skills) Oh yes Arthur (Francis noticed her casual use of Arthurs name.) I know all about you. From that person who you use to be close to." Adler replied closing the gap between herself and Arthur.
She placed a now gloved hand upon Arthurs upper arm. The two looked like a young couple and Francis was painfully aware of this. He had also been aware that she had spoken about someone dear to Arthur. He took a step forward , something that Adler didn't miss as she pulled away from Arthur.
"It seems like I am wasting my time. Someone is already making their mark on you. Something that is quite sinful to be doing so in church." Adler said glaring pointedly at Francis making him flush
Francis was obviously flustered. He felt like he had skipped a step on a long staircase. For a while he floundered looking at Arthur, who looked quite confused, and the Adler who seemed to be enjoying his suffering. Francis wanted to say or do something witty to try and hide his embarrassment, but Francis was not the kind of person to usually hide these feelings, and instead smirked and rolled his eyes at Adler.
"Really mademoiselle, you seem so certain on 'ow a mans 'eart work. I didn't know you were so experienced." Growled Francis
"Francis." Arthur warned
"No, no Mr Krirkland, those are the words of a man who has lost his figurative footing. I wouldn't scold him too much. However I have come across the news that you two are now acting detectives. How interesting. I heard that you are working on that ghastly case of the fae." Adler said calmly and conversationally.
"You are well informed Ms. Adler. So who in Scotland yard is your informant?" demanded Arthur dangerously
Francis felt himself gulp at the sudden appearance of Arthur. He was glad that he had convinced Arthur that bringing his gun to church wasn't appropriate otherwise the woman, as much as Francis disliked her, could have been put at risk. Adler however just smiled. Suddenly Francis felt like he had been thrown into a lion pit with two lions about to tear into each other. He had had no idea how frightening these two where, or why they where snarling at each other, but he prayed in his mind that Arthur would win this strange battle.
"Why Mr Kirkland, my informant is not of Scotland yard. My sole purpose today was to be a calling card, for these murders only just scratch the surface of the giant monstrosity that you face. Good day." Ms Adler said before turning and striding away
Francis made a move to stop her, but Arthur held him back. Francis turned to him and paused. The expression of Arthurs face was of utter intensity. Francis couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
"Shouldn't we...?" Francis asked
"No. If we catch her she will not say anything more. She is a smart woman and will only tell us what she has too. If she is the calling card then who sent her?" Wondered Arthur
"Maybe the murderer?" asked Francis
"No, there is something much bigger under the surface Francis. Whoever is in charge is playing a game, and we have just been invited to join. Now come on, it's Sunday and I believe Mrs Hudson would have done a wonderful Sunday dinner for us." Arthur explained and strolled out of the church like he had only been explaining something trivial
Sadly Arthurs excitement for his Sunday dinner had been ruined by two uninvited guests. Unfortunately they where related, and because blood is indeed thicker than water he couldn't really throw them out. Well he could, and he would, if it hadn't been for the sensible opposition of Mrs Hudson and Francis. So it was a grouchy Arthur who sat down in his chair opposite his two guests, who were of course his brothers.
"So where were you this morning?" Tristain asked
"What's it to you?" Retorted Arthur in his bad temper
"Well, I hear that the normal social convention is to start small talk, then eat dinner and then get into the more serious discussion or activities later." Trstain answered as if reciting the comment from a text book
"Hmm yes I suppose it could be broken down like that. I too have made such observations." Arthur agreed
Francis was trying very hard not to laugh, but caught Mrs Hudson's eye and had to turn away. Really, Arthur and Tristain were just plain useless when it came to being in another room with other people. Iain didn't find it funny. He looked kind of pained.
"Well fine I will humour your social experiment. I was at church actually." Arthur confessed
Tristain choked on the tea he had been sipping and Iain had seemingly forgotten how to breath. Francis didn't know whether to be amused or not. So he settled for pleasantly interested and knowledgeable on the subject.
"Ma god, ta world is endin!" teased Iain
"Don't over react. I just went to church with Francis that is all. Besides I have a feeling that the case is strongly related to religion. A sort of vigilante I think." Arthur replied with a shrug
"Feeling?"
"Oh, no I meant deduction." Arthur corrected
There was a silence. What was happening here? Did Arthur just use the word feeling? Iain had a belief that the "feeling" was probably not to do with the case. Still who could tell with Arthur? Obviously Tristain was thinking something along the same lines as Iain. Well maybe, Tris was just as hard to understand as Arthur.
"This all sounds very suspicious Arthur." Tristain announced
"It does indeed." Arthur agreed
The rest of the evening almost went pleasantly. Tris and Iain naturally joined Arthur, Francis and Mrs Hudson for dinner. Of course there where teasing, but oddly enough the only made to suffer was Francis, who ended up cleaning up after the brothers had drank their way through enough alcohol to poison a cart horse.
Francis sighed as he placed the bottles into garbage sacks. He had no idea Arthur could get that way. He had picked up his violin and began to play and sing. Surprisingly he was very good at both. Iain had joined him, then with a little bit of prodding Tristain began. Mrs Hudson had left earlier announcing that she had something early to do in the morning. As for Tris and Iain, they had eventually taken a cabbie home. As for Arthur... well...
"Watcha doin froggy?" He slurred drunkenly
"What does it look like?" Francis sighed
Arthur actually stopped and seemed to be thinking seriously about it. Francis rolled his eyes. It seemed that the great detective lost his powers of deduction when drunk. Like this he was almost normal. Arthur stopped thinking and smiled finally reaching a conclusion.
"Cleaning. But you don't really want to do that do you?" Arthur practically purred
"Non, not especially." Francis replied with his interest peaked
Arthur came closer and closer. He looked straight into Francis's eyes with his brilliant emerald ones. His face was coming closer and closer. Mon dieu. Arthur smiled, his breath sweet on Francis's lips, but with a faint smell of ale and whisky. Without a moment of hesitation he swooped in and took Francis's lips with his own. Francis was shocked, but before he could stop himself he responded by returning the kiss passionately.
Arthur groaned in enjoyment, which took Francis by surprise, but also encouraged him. He bit Arthurs lower lip to gain entrance, which Arthur obliged. Just at that moment though Iain came sauntering in and witnessed his brother and his colleague and friend.
"Whit ta hell are ye doin?" Iain exploded
"What does it look like?" Sneered Arthur
"Ah thought ye cared for ta law? Homosexual acts are illegal. Ye will noo be hanged, but ye will still gae tae prison." Iain warned
"Hmm, are you going to arrest us then officer?" Arthur asked
Iain frowned. He didn't really want to arrest his brother and his long time friend the doctor. Not now that he had found Arthur's greatest weakness and strength, which made him in a way more normal. Arthur yawned and smiled at Iain.
"Didn't think so. Night then." He said while stumbling off to his room
"Merci for interrupting us." Sulked Francis
"Just watch it frog, yer lucky tha ah dinnea take yer sorry arse in." Snapped Iain
Francis sulked in his chair, while Iain paced the living room. As far as he was concerned Arthurs actions were completely due to the alcohol. His brother may be soft on the Frenchman, but it was due to friendship right? After all this was Arthur's first time with friends. So Iain decided to write it off to his brother being intoxicated.