He had some sort of plan, or was working towards one. Elaine was sure of it. The last week or so, Descole would often be absent leaving Elaine and Raymond alone. It was something familiar she had grown used to, though it didn't necessarily keep her from wondering (and worrying slightly) about what he could possibly be up to. She tried to think of any other Azran legends she knew of that hadn't already been discovered or found, but none of the ones she thought of felt… right. The Garden of Healing, the City of Harmony, the Infinite Vault. All major legacies of the ancient Azrans. Anything else Elaine knew of was smaller in comparison. The next object of interest would have to just as big, metaphorically and/or literally.

Currently, Descole hadn't been home in nearly two weeks. While she did feel some anxiety, Elaine repeatedly reminded herself that she shouldn't be worrying herself. He was a grown man who always seemed to have a way of getting out of situations or problems when backed into a corner, through either his own skill or luck. Maybe even a combination of both. He's been gone for long periods before. What made now different?

Targent perhaps? Their previous encounter with them was memorable for unpleasant reasons, and Descole had briefly shown a reckless side when he ran towards Bronev while bullets fired at him. Reckless or insane. Or more insane, depending how you look at it.

Still, Elaine had Raymond for company at least. While they didn't talk for hours on end, they would have a small chat now and then and it would be enjoyable or at the very least a worthwhile way to pass the time.

Elaine was just going upstairs, with a cup of tea in one hand. It was late though not late enough to go to bed. She was planning to go to the library for a bit while having her tea. She had just gone up the first few steps when she heard the front door unlock and open. Looking behind her, her feet already acted before she could think properly and went back down the steps at a quick pace and only stopping after the last step as Descole came in, carrying a satchel bag.

"So, er… 'Ow was your trip?" asked Elaine, slightly awkwardly. It was the first thing she could think of that didn't sound so… needy. Descole glanced to her for a moment before locking the door behind him.

"Tiring," he grumbled as he walked towards Elaine and took the cup of tea from her hand and took a sip from it before giving it back to an annoyed Elaine.

"'Ey!"

"I was thirsty." Descole looked to the dining room briefly. "Is Raymond still up?"

"'E's in the kitchen planning out meals for tomorrow. Do you want me to go tell 'im you're back?"

"No, I'll go myself." Descole soon left Elaine alone in the hall as he went for the kitchen.

"Nice to see you as well, mon cher," Elaine muttered to herself with light sarcasm before taking a sip for her tea and turning around to ascend the stairs and continue on with her destination to the library.

With Descole back with a satchel filled with who knows what and having said little to Elaine, the Frenchwoman was expecting the next few days, or weeks even, of Descole staying in his office looking through who knows what and plotting a scheme or a way to manipulate. So it was quite surprising to see Descole the next morning in the parlour. Sitting in an armchair and staring at the fireplace and its long dead ashes.

"You're 'ere?"

"It's my home, isn't it?" drawled Descole at Elaine's surprised remark, keeping his attention on the fireplace.

"I… I know. I just thought you would be in your office looking over what you brought back with you."

"I did a little of that last night," Descole replied. "After last week, I want to rest a bit before more work."

"And, what exactly did you bring back?"

"Papers, details. Let's just say I was able to convince a few people in Targent to give them to me. If I can't have an entire finding to myself, I may as well try to get information some other way."

"You actually went up to one of them? You were wearing a disguise, weren't you?"

"Of course I was. I'm not foolish." Descole scoffed. "Different disguise for each person I went to and different name. Although I'll be sure to avoid one of those people in the future if I need more information."

"'Ow come?" Descole calmly reached into the front pocket of his suit jacket and held up something small between his finger and thumb. A small silver, coin shaped disk.

"Can you guess what this is?"

"Erm…" Elaine moved closer to Descole to have a better look and tilted her head to the side in uncertainty. "It, looks like one of those small disk shaped batteries. But I'm guessing that's not it?"

"And you would be correct. The dullard actually thought he could easily put a tracking device on me." Descole gave a low chuckle. "I bet he was feeling smug as I left. Possibly thought he could hand me in personally to Targent and get some kind of award."

"And you disabled it I'm guessing?" Elaine asked as she gave the tracker a slightly wary look.

"Of course I did. I always took a brief detour after meeting with one of them to check myself and anything I was carrying at the time in case someone thought they could try to sneak something on my person." Elaine nodded, glad to hear this.

"So, why did you bring it 'ere?"

"I suppose I was curious as to how this one worked and wanted to study it a bit in my spare time." Descole played with the tracker lightly. "Maybe see if I could somehow trace it to where the information would have been received. It could lead to The Nest."

"The Nest?"

"Targent headquarters. I managed to find the name somewhere but that was about it." Descole stopped playing with the tracker and just stared at it. "… It could actually lead me to Johanna." Elaine stayed silent, though her gaze did begin to focus more on the tracker. After staring some more, Descole pocketed the small device.

"Even if it can, I can only imagine what Johanna will be like now." Descole frowned, now staring straight ahead. "… I wonder if she's angry with me?"

"Why would she be?" The question just slipped out from Elaine.

"They could have told her lies about me. That I'm a horrible person." Descole paused. "Although, there is a slim chance one or two of them could be true at this stage. I'm certainly no saint. You can verify that with how things ended up when we first met."

"… Maybe," Elaine lightly agreed. "But that doesn't mean she would believe them. Kids can be naïve, but they're not stupid. And while some people might not agree because of the things you've done, I think you 'ave every right to be with your daughter. You might 'ave a temper, but from the way I've 'eard you speak of Johanna, I feel she would be safe with you."

"… Thank you." Descole murmured. So quietly that Elaine almost didn't hear him. Descole cleared his throat and stood up. Brushing his sleeves off. "I should… Get back to my work. If I find anything I need translated, I'll leave it on your desk." Descole then left after a brief nod to Elaine. She looked to him as he left until he was out of sight, and then sat down in the previously occupied chair.

Elaine was certain that what she had said was true. She doubted a child would just turn on a parent because of lies weaved by the people who stole them away. She wanted to believe that Johanna, wherever she was, still had some hope or expectation of her father coming for her. Elaine held her arms around herself. Assuming she and Descole continued and progressed in their relationship (Elaine though that was an appropriate word), Elaine found herself wondering if Johanna would like her, or at the least tolerate her.

She would like her to.