When Elaine's ankle was examined a bit further back on the Bostonius, it was indeed just a minor sprain. But it still needed ice and rest. So much to Elaine's ire she was pretty much confined to sitting or lying down, even when the little swelling there was had gone. It might have still hurt, but memory of getting the injury itself hurt Elaine's pride more than anything else. Maybe even getting an extra blow or two whenever Descole decided he just had to tease her about it.
As for what Descole planned to keep the girl in the ice hidden during investigation, Elaine still didn't know the full details. Though from what he has revealed, there will be some sort of secret door involved. He was already taking care of the details, and paying for what was necessary. It made Elaine severely tempted to ask exactly how much money he had to be able to throw it around for all his schemes and such, but decided against it on the grounds of not wanting to look like a gold digger. But that could lead to the question of whether or not she would still look like one to anyone aware of her and Descole's relationship.
Relationship. That and Descole in the same sentence… It still felt a bit foreign to her tongue and mind. But something about it now, at this stage, felt comfortable and right. A little cliché sounding, maybe. Elaine wouldn't deny that if it was brought up. But it was the truth. Of course it wasn't absolutely perfect. If the events of Monte d'Or said anything, between Descole's goals and Elaine's stubbornness, maybe even slightly aggressive personality, there would probably always be at least one small argument sure to turn up. But when there was no work, their thing seemed almost completely normal.
Elaine couldn't necessarily say it was normal given how they met and how they first interacted. But when she thought too much on this, Elaine shuck her head to herself and told herself to stop thinking so much and to just try to enjoy what she could.
"How is your ankle?" Elaine glanced up briefly from the book she was reading in the library, laying on the crouch with her injured ankle resting and raised on a pillow. Descole stood by the couch, a bag of ice in hand.
"Perfectly fine, Descole." Elaine replied back. She found it a bit odd that she rarely referred to him by his first name. But it was arguable that Elaine was just so used to him referring to himself as that and by others. He didn't seem bothered by it anyway though. Plus since Elaine never did truly believe 'Jean Descole' to be his birth name, she never really thought it would bother him much anyway. "'Ere to add more ice to my ankle."
"Considering you need it, yes," replied Descole as he placed the ice bag on the bare ankle. Elaine briefly flinched at the sudden coldness against her skin.
"It doesn't even 'urt anymore. I could get around fine with a walking stick."
"Perhaps, but I like treating you like this. Being treated like a child does suite childish people."
"I'm not childish!"
"You are when drunk~." Elaine groaned and held a hand to her face. Why, why, why did Descole just have to bring that memory up?
"I thought we agreed it was never to be mentioned again."
"You just stated it was never to be spoken of. I never agreed to it," Descole replied.
"You, monsieur, can be a real jerk. Do you know that?"
"I know that's not one of your best insults. It's actually quite atrocious coming from you."
"And were you always this teasing and mean to Lucy?" Put a hand to his chin, Descole didn't answer straight away. He took his time to answer. Possibly he had wanted to enjoy those memories while he thought over them before he returned attention to Elaine.
"… There was teasing. Not as strong as you and I, but there was teasing. Lucy was usually the one who instigated it though."
"Then I guess you like instigating it now while you 'ave the chance," Elaine mused, and Descole nodded in agreement, giving a small chuckle as he dragged an armchair over to sit closer to her.
"I suppose I do like being the instigator with you. When you get flustered it's amusing."
"And I look forward to when I make you flustered. Then we'll see 'ow amusing you find it."
"Pity for you since I doubt that will ever happen," Descole scoffed. "If you actually try to make an effort, I think you'll find it in vain."
"We'll see, mon cher. We'll see."
"You're actually going to try?" Elaine guessed that if Descole hadn't been wearing his mask now, she would have seen him raise a questioning eyebrow.
"Oui. I just need to think of something." And considering this was Descole, it might actually be a bit difficult. Descole usually just got annoyed or angry. Well, Elaine got annoyed as well but that was beside the point. Changing the subject, Elaine asked,
"So is there any other reason you decided to visit, moi besides the ice? Or do you originally plan on teasing me?"
"Do I require a reason to pay attention to my little captive?" Descole's hand reached out to play with some of Elaine's hair. "There… might be something I have to discuss with you but that doesn't mean that I can't delay for just a little time." Did he purposely say that to raise her curiosity? Elaine did wonder whether or not to ask, but decided it wasn't really worth it.
"I've made arrangements for our security measures of the cave," Descole brought up. "It should be ready and working by next month."
"That's good I suppose. Anything else?"
"Actually, yes." A brief smirk flickered across his face, though it seemed a little half hearted. Or perhaps the briefness just made it appear like that. "I'm actually planning on inviting Layton and his assistant and brat." Elaine stared at him with a look that was almost emotionless but betrayed by the mixture of annoyance and questioning in her eyes and the corners of her lips curving downwards a little.
"P-pardon? I don't think I 'eard you right. You plan to what?"
"I plan to invite Professor Layton and his associates," Descole repeated as though completely normal and understandable.
"But… you, 'ate 'im. D-don't you?"
"I would think of more along the lines of irksome," Descole corrected. "And there is that old saying. 'Keep your friends close, and enemies closer'. And he has an awful habit of finding what I want. Maybe this time I can actually succeed. Though preferably, I'd like to see that as more of a guarantee then just a possibility."
"So you're going to just invite over people whom you 'ave wronged multiple times?" Elaine's eyes narrowed as she shut the book in her hands. Her place in the book now long gone in her mind. "And not expect them to react in anyway relating to justice and morals?"
"I know it might not make too much sense. While I have planned for it, it really depends on how long researching the girl in the ice block and if we need any assistance in getting her out." Descole gave a tiny chuckle. "Besides, it might actually be amusing."
"I can imagine their reaction to the letter now," Elaine muttered as a nearly clear image of a shocked Professor, Emmy and Luke looking at a letter from Descole asking to join in on this.
And for some reason in said mental image, while everyone was frozen from the shock, Professor Layton actually fell out of the chair he was sitting in.
"And where do I come into this? I doubt I'll be left 'ere alone."
"I already have a plan for that in mind. You were captured briefly by Descole but managed to escape around Froenburg. I found you and decided to let you stay with me during the research," Descole explained quickly. "Simple but believable. You then write a letter to the Professor to get him to come here."
"Why me?"
"He knows you so you're words are bound to be more trustworthy then anything from myself." That was a reasonable point. Though, Elaine did notice something odd. When talking of his plan for her, he referred to himself in first and third person. It could have been a mistake. A little suspicious, Elaine asked,
"So, what will your disguise for this be?" Elaine asked.
"Actually, I'm going for a slightly different route this time." Descole adjusted his sleeves a bit as he cleared his throat.
"'Ow… 'Ow so?" Descole looked at Elaine directly in the eyes. He didn't reply right away, but when he did he answered,
"The man behind the mask."
Elaine's jaw lowered a bit, and she blinked her eyes several dozen times. Was Descole… Was Descole actually serious about…?
"You… You won't wear your mask?" Elaine's found this hard to imagine. Descole had not made it difficult to ever imagine him without the mask. It just seemed so… part of him.
"Descole… Are you…?"
"It's one of the reasons I came here actually." Descole sat up a little straighter. "I thought it over, and I think there's no problem now for you to see me without this mask of mine. It's not too shocking. Deep down, you must have thought would happen sooner or later."
"… I didn't really think on it too much," Elaine admitted sheepishly as she shifted awkwardly in her seat. She never did really think about when she'd see Descole's face. But with the topic now up, it was a bit hard to just ignore and just pretend this never happened. "You're sure about this?" Elaine asked, slightly hesitant. But Descole nodded his head, even though he seemed just a little hesitant himself.
"I… I've thought it through very carefully, Admitably I have a little doubt, but… But I think I've developed enough trust in you to see at least." Descole quickly grabbed onto one of Elaine's hands and gripped onto it. "Can I trust you? Can you promise me that?"
Elaine looked a little unsure at first. Descole was asking a serious question of her, but it conflicted with some of her moral when it brought up how to deal with the authorities if they were to ever ask. However thinking that made her feel some guilt since it also conflicted with her relationship with Descole. It had to be thought over, but Elaine soon gave her answer.
"I… I will. I promise," Elaine told Descole as she slowly nodded her head after swallowing.
There was nothing else said for a moment. Descole had simply stared at her before he leaned in to give a small kiss on her forehead. His hand moved up to his mask slowly, pausing once or twice as though reconsidering. But continued on until his hand was lightly gripping the edge of his white mask, and slowly pealed it off.