Whatever Descole's exact plans in relation to Ambrosia were currently, Elaine had yet to find out. Whether that was good or bad was debatable, though with him gone for long amounts of time and only appearing in the house late every so often did lead to her believe that whatever he was doing was far from anything such as world peace. The last she even heard him in the house was this morning. She had just barely heard him walking in the halls before he left again. He probably forgot something and only went to get it back.

But she wasn't going to complain too much. In fact, it just led to her and Raymond talking now and then. While his loyalty to Descole was in no way questionable, Elaine surprisingly found him to be pleasant conversation. Besides, seeing as how she was likely going to be here a long, long time, she figured she thought she might as well see if it was possible for her to get along with the older man.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, 'ow long 'ave you been working for Monsieur Descole?" Elaine asked. They were in the kitchen, which while not large had enough space for at least two or three people to be in the room and not get in each other's way too much. It felt cheery with the pale yellow curtains patterned with sunflowers over the window letting the evening sunlight in, as and old jar rested on the window sill with some red poppies. Elaine was leaning against a counter holding a cup of tea while Raymond watered those poppies after having finished washing some pots.

"Many, many years now, miss."

"And is 'e always so...?" Elaine paused to think of the right word to try and describe the scientist. She wasn't sure how Raymond would react if she just out rightly insulted Descole.

"Abrasive? Assuming on occasion? Quick to anger?" Well, that took care of that worry.

"Oui." Elaine nodded. She was a bit surprised how Raymond said it as though it was normal. Then again, Raymond probably WAS use to it at this stage.

"While those points would be valid, he does have his moments." Raymond began. "I wouldn't say it's an excuse, and it's certainly not my place to give details, he has had his share of misfortunes in life."

Elaine didn't say anything though inwardly she questioned how much misfortune could make him do what he does? And now that she thought about it, she possibly would have to take Raymond's word with a grain of salt. The man was loyal to Descole after all. Plus there was always a possibility Descole may have told Raymond a lie or two. It could be possible, couldn't it? Though remembering some time ago when Descole played Song of the Stars, that did seem like one of those 'moments' Raymond mentioned. Descole still had some arrogance during which but that was besides the point.

Elaine didn't bother to question anything about these 'misfortunes'. Raymond already admitted it was not his place to tell and even if Descole and her could at times be civil to each other, there was a better chance of say... Hmm... Professor Layton going a nude beach, with the exception being if it was related to an investigation of course, then Descole actually going into details of his personal life. Hell, apart from the fact he was an arrogant prick, all Elaine really knew about him was that he was a scientist with an interest in archaeology and could play piano. And the later took nearly three months to find out. Elaine then changed the subject.

"So, does Descole tell you what he plans?"

"Usually miss. Though I can't tell you what it is he's planning exactly." Raymond put the small kettle he had used to water the poppies on the sink. "I should light the fireplaces now."

"Do you want help?" Elaine offered.

"No thank you. I'll be fine, miss." Raymond left after that. Leaving Elaine alone again. With nothing else to do, Elaine finished her tea and washed it out before she went upstairs with the intention of going back to her room. However, she noticed a door slightly opened and stopped when she recognised it as Descole's office. With the door opening in towards the room and Elaine not paying too much attention when she last went by to go down stairs, she hadn't noticed it was open. Remembering this morning, Descole did sound in a rush. He probably forgot to close and lock it properly.

Elaine bit her lip as she looked behind her. Common sense and logic deemed going into a room that Descole told her was strictly off limits along with his own room would be one of her more ill-advised ideas and plans. A bit like opening Pandora's Box in a way. Seeing how being caught in there would no doubt not end nicely.

On the other hand however, just as Pandora was, she was a bit curious now that the door was unlocked. If she didn't disturb anything, or make it painfully obvious she had been inside, there couldn't be much harm. It was unlocked and she would likely never get another chance ever again. Perhaps... Perhaps, she could at least glance inside real quickly at least. Then she would leave, and never enter again. She could promise that.

Looking over her shoulder once more, Elaine then hesitantly moved to the door. Somehow it became instantly ominous but Elaine just ignored it and looked down to see how much of a crack there was in the opening. Just so she would know how much to close the door when she left. She carefully opened the door and peered inside. Both right and left sides of the room were stuffed with books, with an object here and there such as a vase or miniature statue that gained some attention from Elaine out of archaeological reasons. A dark wooden desk, covered in papers and books, was pushed against the wall, under the window to give a view of the surroundings.

Elaine then noticed a book lying on the floor near the desk that seemed to have fallen off. Elaine figured she'd put it back up for Descole on the off chance he might accuse her of trespassing into the study, so without thinking she stepped inside and knelt down to pick the book up but stopped just as her finger tips brushed against it. What if this was some sort of trick Descole thought of? Thinking that if she were to go into his office, she would put the book somewhere or simply lift it up out of curiousity or something, and the fact that it would be misplaced alone would be evidence enough of her presence assuming Raymond didn't do it himself.

She cursed herself for being so stupid and moved to leave. She saw enough of the room to know what it looked like. That was all she needed. She moved back up and was going to leave. But her damn curiousity noticed a silver photo frame on the desk. She glanced over her shoulder to take a closer look at the photo.

There was a woman who seemed to have been a little younger then Elaine. At least at the time the photo was taken. She could have been the same age as her or older for all Elaine knew. She was sitting outside on a stone bench. Her hair was a blondish brown and a little wavey, a little longer then Elaine's too, while eyes were green and shinning brightly. She was smiling in content and had a hand on her stomach, where when Elaine looked closely enough, had a slight bump on it. Signalling pregnancy. But what confused Elaine more was that the woman seemed to completely adore whoever was taking the picture. So why did Descole have it?

At the bottom of the frame though, Elaine noticed an engraving.

'Lucy S-'

That was all Elaine could see before her arm was violently grabbed and was forced to turn around to face Descole. Elaine felt her heart drop into her stomach as she would have had to have been blind to not tell how angry Descole was. No. Even a blind person could have noticed. He was gritting his teeth hard and his free hand shook as if resisting the urge to do something she certainly did not want to be on the other end of. Even his grip was tighter then normal, and possibly close to cutting off circulation.

"What. Are. You. Doing. In. My. Office." He said it slowly, each word clearly separated. Elaine swallowed as she decided to tell a mixture of lie and truth.

"I-I-I." Elaine briefly paused to swallow and stop her stuttering. "I was walking by and your door was open and I saw a book on the floor so I thought I'd pick it up for you-."

"And you think that gives you the right to snoop in my office?! After I clearly told you not to?!"

"I... I wasn't snooping, I was going to go, I swear." Elaine couldn't recall a time she had seen Descole this angry. She knew it was her own fault for breaking the rules, but to see him this angry...

But she didn't think anymore as Descole almost shoved her away from him, letting go of her arm.

"Go. And if I ever catch you in here again, I assure you I'll reconsider my need of you." Descole spat, and Elaine didn't hesitate in leaving right away, and headed straight to her own room. Almost shaken as she did so. She doubted just simply letting her go is what Descole would do She swallowed after closing her door behind her and looked to her arm where Descole grabbed her, and saw the begin developments of a bruise.

"B-baise..." Elaine, while she could be frustrated, angry and frustrated, never really was one for swearing. It had been instilled in her from her parents to not do so. But she believed this was an appropriate exception.

Descole's reaction however, left much to be desired.

OMAKE THEATER: Where Layton characters are chibi-fied!

Professor Layton was a man willing to give second chances a majority of the time. Maybe he would be weary for one or two cases. But assuming the person didn't commit murder willing, strike a woman in the most horrid of ways or had any involvement with the movie version of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', forgiveness could be given possibly.

Though he did feel weary when Descole showed up at his front door, grinning and blushing.

"Erm... Are, you quite alright? Descole?" For now, the Professor would ignore the question of how the masked man found his house. The frown he wore deepened when he noticed a funny smell from Descole. "Are... Are you drunk?"

"Nuuuuu..." Descole said, giggling briefly before trying to look serious. And failing. "I'm here, to take YOU and your Oliver Twist wanna-be to the beach!"

"Luke's visiting his parents." bluntly stated Professor Layton.

"Then it'll just be you, me and Elaine." Descole chirped. Layton however instantly saw a problem.

"But... Where's Elaine?"

"She's right..." Descole trailed off and frowned to himself when he realised Elaine wasn't next to him. Where could she...?

"SHIT!" Descole ran to the car he sto- Er... 'Borrowed' without permission, and worked on getting the boot open. Fearing the worst, Layton went to assist him and was shocked by what was inside after chickens jumped out to freedom.

Inside, Elaine and Raymond were gagged with a cloth and had their wrists and ankles bound with rope. They looked up at the Professor frantically, almost giving begging eyes. Being a gentleman as he is, he went to help her instantly while Descole helped Raymond.

"I'm so, soooo, sorry guys." Descole cooed as he tore the gag off and worked on pulling the ropes off. "I got detoured again and again. Then I got hungry and went to McDonald's but they kicked me out because I strangled a bitch for not giving me a lobster burger with extra mayonnaise and mustard."

"WE WERE IN THERE FOR THREE DAYS!" Elaine snapped.

"Three days?" Professor Layton paled at the thought of a woman and elderly man trapped in a small space with no air or food or water for such a long time. They would have to be fed immediately! "How could he still be drunk?"

"The Master gets like this once a year." Raymond sighed. "The pressures of life get to him so he drinks his sorrows away and gets... carried away." Now Professor Layton felt some pity for Descole. The way Descole showed his distaste of him made him wonder if he was one of these supposed 'pressures'.

"But we're all okay now, so we're heading to the beach!" Descole cheered. Everyone else edged away from him though.

"But, we don't have any swimsuits Master-"

"That's why we're going to drive underwater until we get to France. Since Hawthorne's French, we'll have little difficulty in finding a nude beach."

"... I'm not going to a nude beach."

"I don't wish to go either Master."

"Meh, sure."

Raymond and Layton looked at Elaine who only looked back innocently.

"What? Ma famille and I went to one before we moved to this prude country." Layton was about to reply to that before Descole began giggling in a drunk manner.

"I'M THE UNSTOPPABLE, BOOB-MAN!"

"Wh-AH?!" Elaine shrieked when Descole suddenly groped her breasts and ran across the street.

"MASTER! LOOK OUT FOR THAT TRUCK-!"

Needless to say, after that truck appeared, Descole was not going to the beach for five months at least.