"You shouldn't be doing this." Elaine closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she sat next to her still tied cousin. It had been nearly a week since Elaine arrived in Monte d'Or, and tomorrow Elaine would have to take Madeline's place. But if it meant Descole would keep his promise and not hurt Madeline and let her go at the end, then Elaine would go along willingly. She had managed to get Madeline to admit to some stuff. She at least knew the outside work Madeline was friends with the Ledores', and Elaine already knew Madeline well enough to know how she would react and behave. But outside of that, Madeline was trying to convince her to make an escape attempt.
"It would be point." Elaine replied back calmly. "I escaped before, and he found me again."
"That doesn't mean it's impossible," countered Madeline. "Just untie me now, and we'll-."
"And what?" Elaine snapped. Realising her harsh tone, she spoke more gently. "This isn't an ideal situation, I know. But I'm not risking you been dragged into this any further then you already are." Elaine paused for a moment. Swallowing before she spoke, "Look, hopefully this won't be too long. You'll be out of this sooner or later. Then you can continue on with your life. Besides…" Elaine nodded her head towards the light wooden door. "The door's locked. Descole locked it when he went outside." Madeline looked defeated for a moment before trying again.
"But what about your life?" Elaine didn't respond as first. She thought it over before replying,
"Just… Pretend I was never here."
"Never!" Madeline was glaring. "I'm not letting my cousin possibly get in trouble with the law because of some madman!"
"I'll… I'll be fine. Really." After that, it was a moment of awkward silence between the two cousins. Elaine tapped her fingers lightly against her knees as she tried to think of something to say.
"He's not hurting you, is he?" Elaine saw the concerned and worried lookMadeline had as she looked over Elaine's visible skin for any signs of abuse.
"No." Elaine didn't think those times before her short time of freedom counted. "Descole hasn't hurt me. I mean it."
"Then why are you going along with this?"
"I told you. I don't want you to be dragged in any further, and maybe if I go along with this there'll be less damage then at Ambrosia." Elaine looked at her older cousin. Madeline seemed to be at the very least trying to look at things from her perspective which could be seen as a positive. After a grudging sigh, Madeline said,
"You're so stubborn. Still, it could be worse I suppose. Descole could have converted you to his way of thinking." Elaine scoffed. Maybe she would go along with criminal activities, but she would never allow herself to let Descole do that! She still had some pride left, even if it was… 'slightly' damaged.
"Don't make me sound like I'm doing this willing outside of yourself."
"I wasn't. I just don't want you to get in trouble."
"And you're not worried about your job?"
"I know you won't purposely mess it up." Madeline told her, a shine of confidence from her eyes as a brief smile took her lips. "I mainly take care of paperwork and some phone calls so it probably wouldn't be too far out of your area. You just have to focus on business and dates and not fossils and relics." Madeline then looked as if something just came to mind. "Could you… Could you, try not to get He- … Monsieur Ledore hurt?"
Elaine wasn't sure if she should find it odd or not that Madeline nearly called her boss by her first name, but quickly brushed it off. Madeline had admitted to being friends with the Ledores outside work. She probably wanted to lessen familiarity between them in case Descole got new ideas.
"I'll do what I can," Elaine promised. "But I can't say that I can work any miracles."
"Just try. That's all I want."
"I guess you must be really good friends with him outside of work." remarked Elaine.
"You could say that I suppose." Madeline agreed, though a little tentative sounding. Elaine wasn't sure why she seemed to notice that, but brushed it off as well. "So, how did Descole… Um, 'get you'?" Madeline cringed a bit. Probably a memory she wouldn't exactly be proud of.
"I got a letter in my house that told me I'd find you in the hotel gardens. A bit odd now that I think about it. The gardens were supposed to be closed until tomorrow I think while they fix the waterline for the plants." Madeline mused. "I was just so anxious to find you when it seemed like there was a chance, that I guess I didn't really think it true. I just thought the letter might have been from an anonymous, concerned and kind person. I didn't think it would lead to this."
"Do you know nearly everything that goes on in town?" Elaine hoped not. She didn't want there to be complications if she was going to play Madeline for a while.
"Only business matters that would involve Monsieur Ledore. The Reunion Inn would fall in that jurisdiction since it was created by Monsieur Ledore."
"Well, you're hardly the first person to fall for his lies. He managed to trick me to thinking he was Philippe long enough to get in my house."
"True."
It was surprising how peaceful it was now. It would have seemed like a normal family conversation if Madeline wasn't tied up. To be honest, Elaine was feeling fairly tempted to just untie Madeline like she suggested. Maybe if Descole hadn't locked the door, Elaine would have considered it more and they would have been free. Well, Elaine probably would have let Madeline go and stayed put. The need to escape was in dire conflict with emotions and feelings in regards to Descole when he wasn't so much an arrogant jerk.
But, the family moment would have to go away for the time being.
"Can you tell me where you live? Where the Ledores live? I, assume that's where you go to work." Madeline shut her eyes.
"I do go there. Usually I just help Monsieur Ledore with some paperwork there or in his office here, or I just take some with me to take care of at home. Descole will probably tell you those locations."
That was probably true, Elaine couldn't deny that.
"So, what is he looking for exactly anyway?" Madeline questioned, mild curiosity in her tone. Elaine bit her lip, and thought over things carefully. She considered just being outright truthful but it might be better if Madeline only knew so much. Neither Infinite Vault nor Mask of Chaos could be mentioned, but perhaps the Mask of Order could.
"Well… He's looking for the Mask of Order."
"Mask of Order? Isn't that missing?"
"Monsieur Ledore doesn't have it then?" This gave mixed feelings. Assuming this whole being her cousin thing was simply to get that mask, then this would mean Elaine wouldn't have to do that! But it also meant that Madeline got kidnapped for nothing.
"I wouldn't be too certain." Madeline said sheepishly. "There are some stuff I wouldn't know. Money stuff is usually between Monsieur Ledore and his accountant. Well, when that stupid accountant doesn't talk about some things out loud now and then."
Well, that left Elaine back at square one then.
Not knowing what else to say, Elaine put her arms around Madeline in a tight hug.
"Don't worry, Madie. Whatever Descole wants me to do, I'll try to get it done as soon as I can so you can get out of this." It looked as if Madeline was going to say something back, but the moment she opened her mouth, a click was heard from the door followed by an opening creak.
"I believe your little reunion is over now." Descole commented dryly as he strided towards the pair. He all but gently grabbed Elaine's arm and tugged her up before quickly covering Madeline's mouth with the cloth gag before she could start yelling. Though it didn't stop her from trying. It only muffled her indignant yelling. Elaine scowled as Descole looked back to her.
"I think now would be a good time to dress up." Elaine narrowed her eyes but left for the bathroom where the wig, eye contacts and some of Madeline's clothes (Elaine wasn't going to bother questioning how Descole got them) were left for her. Elaine didn't even utter a grumble as she began moving her hair up into a bun to tie up to fit the wig on better.
Stepping outside of the bathroom, Elaine looked very passable for Madeline. Pale blonde hair in a bun with locks framing around her face and wearing grey contacts. Elaine also couldn't deny Madeline had good taste in clothes since she was wearing an emerald green suit jacket and skirt with a cream coloured cravat that had a shiny red cravat pin. Elaine counted herself lucky that her and Madeline's shoe size was not too far apart (at least not enough to cause Elaine to trip or feeling too much pressure on her feet).
"You knocked 'er out?" Elaine didn't bother to hide the disdain in her voice when she saw her cousin unconscious and Descole calmly sitting on the couch.
"Her attempts at cursing me were getting on my nerves." Descole replied. "I just pinched her shoulder like I usually do with you."
"That doesn't make it sound any better." Elaine huffed as Descole stood up.
"Now, now. If it eases your mind, you do look rather lovely in that outfit. Not as lovely as the dress I had given you. But you likely threw it away so-."
"No I didn't," Elaine interrupted without thinking. "I left it in my room back 'ome." Descole looked mildly shocked.
"You… actually kept it?"
"It… It looked too nice to just throw away." Elaine mumbled, glancing away. "And… Well, I just didn't 'ave the 'eart to do it." Elaine kept her eyes to a space where the wall and floor met for a moment or two. By the time she looked back up, Descole had a light smirk.
"I'm glad my taste in clothes appeases you~."
"S-shut up!" Elaine snapped. "Just tell me what your damn plan is already so I can get this over with."
"Now really, a lady shouldn't swear."
"'Damn', isn't a swear."
"I think you'll find it is." Descole spoke. "As for my intentions for your role, it's quite simple really. I've already established contact with Mr. Ascot and plan to meet him sometime this week. After which, the true fun begins and Ascot will begin getting his revenge against Mr. Ledore."
"That still doesn't really explain my role."
"It's quite simple really. As part of my plan for Ascot's revenge, you'll be assisting in framing Mr. Ledore for what will happen."
"Ex… Excuse me?!" Madeline may have said she didn't blame Elaine, but she had a feeling that she shouldn't be surprised if Madeline never talks to her again. She would be surprised if she did.
"It will be easier to get certain documents signed if I have someone on the inside. Such as permission to remove a chariot for 'repair' and building a replica of an amusement park." Elaine wasn't sure she was hearing correctly.
"P-pardon? What sort of plan would require a chariot and an amusement park replica?"
"One that involves statues of people and another with vanishing people." Descole seemed clearly amused by Elaine's face if the way he was smirking was anything to go by. He clearly had some sort of enjoyment from messing with Elaine's mind like this. "And there's still more. But back to the main topic, you can also make yourself useful and see if the Mask of Order is hidden in the Ledore estate, or somewhere else in Monte d'Or."
"What about the Mask of Chaos?" Elaine asked.
"Ascot does indeed have it, and I plan to get it off him as soon as I can and see the opportunity."
Elaine didn't have anything else to say and just moved her eyes towards her cousin. She was momentarily happy that she was not awake to hear Descole's plan. She didn't want her getting worried, frantic or angry. She would rather take all the worry then let her cousin deal with it.
"It will all be worth it in the end." Descole spoke up.
"For you." Elaine muttered.
"It will be worth it, for the both of us." Elaine scoffed. Descole gave a frustrated sigh.
"I already told you that your cousin will be released when this is over, and that I won't physically harm her."
"Still doesn't change anything."
"I…" Descole huffed and turned to walk to the window. Grabbing Elaine's wrist and pulling her alongside him to look outside. "I'll… I'll, think of something to make it up to you when we're finished here." Descole grumbled, not looking away from the view.
OMAKE THEATRE: Where Layton chatacters are chibi-fied!
Descole had always wanted a wolf for a pet since he was four years old and saw a wolf bite his father on the ass when they went for a father son excavation trip. To say it made him laugh like no tomorrow was an understatement to put it lightly.
So getting Charles the wolf had actually been one of the happiest days in the man's life. He thought him tricks, how to be loyal, where to go potty. You know, the regular stuff. True, it was by use of a device clipped to the wolf's ear that brought up questions of how ethical it was in regards to animal rights, but Descole was pretty cool with law breaking.
However, there was now a problem.
"Oh, 'e's so cute!" Elaine chirped happily as Charles licked her face.
Charles got all of Elaine's attention. And Descole was a greedy, childish man who wanted all the attention on himself and himself alone. So seeing the two together made his blood boil.
"Fetch Charles!" Elaine cheered when Charles brought back the rubber ball and Elaone knelt down to hug him. Resting his head on Elaine's shoulders during the hug, the grey furred wolf looked up at its technical master before giving a wolfish smirk and blowing a raspberry at him.
It was so on now.
"Mine!" Descole snapped and wrapped his arms around Elaine and pulled her up into an unescapable hug of (hot/sexy) doom.
"Let me go!"
"No!" Charles growled up at Descole who growled, no, snarled back. The wolf bit Eaine jeans and soon a game of tug-o'-Elaine was beginning.
"Let me go, damn it!"
"NO!"
"WOOF!"
"Master, I-." Raymond stopped midsentence when he walked in on the scene. Descole and Charles tugging a pissed off Elaine between them like a rope. He stared for a moment before calmly dropping the bone for Charles to the ground and walking off with not another word.
"DON'T LEAVE ME 'ERE YOU SCOTISH PRICK!"
"LET GO OF MY FRENCH SEX BOMB!"
"WOOF! WOOF WOOF WOOF, WOOF, WOOF WOOF!"
"NO WAY IN HELL WILL THAT EVER HAPPEN!"
I hope everyone is doing fine despite the storms that seem to be everywhere. While we don't have snow like in America, we have been getting rain, strong ass winds and more rain. Oh, and flooding in some places (thankfully nowhere on campus or where I live) because of rivers bursting. There was only a little rain today, but I'm not certain if the storm's completely over yet. I heard a rumour on campus that a car got turned over. Wouldn't be too surprising Wednesday had hurricane force winds at 100 mph (according to the news at least from what I checked). Some of the buildings on campus were closed even. Probably because most of them had glass doors or a lot of glass around the entrances etc. Still, I hope you readers (and other people in affected countries) will be fine as well as your loved ones.