Story : A Touch of Color in the Gray
Book 1 : Shading the black .
Date : June 25, 2018, corrected in February 2022
Beta: Axzi (2018) RostosGirl (2022)
Fandom : D Gray Man
Disclaimer: No, I do not own D Gray Man and I am not making any profit from this story.
Plot : After landing in the 19th century, Estelle quickly realizes that she was hired by the Kamelott family, basically the bad guys of DGM. Taking the name Eve, she then becomes Tricia Kamelott's companion and helps her in her daily tasks. Now that her life is a little less chaotic, Eve reflects on her arrival in this world and makes the decision to make up her own mind about the personages of this new world despite her knowledge of the manga. However, she quickly became aware of the social difference of women at this time and began to have little for her future, especially when Road and the twins arrived ...
Chapter trigger : Attack but all end well!
Chapter 9: The Silver Child
Sunday, March 1, 1885
"Le Palace" as the name suggests, was a luxurious French restaurant that didn't seem afraid of clichés. With its tiny and ridiculously expensive dishes and the classical music played by a quartet at the back of the room, the atmosphere couldn't be heavier and I had a hard time not squirming in my chair like Jasdevit did.
It was my first time eating with Tricia, Road and Sheryl. Sometimes I had lunch with Tricia or tea with Road, but I had never eaten so formally before. Uncomfortable, I stared at the far too many cutlery that framed my plate before throwing a quick glance at my hosts. Sheryl quietly ate his fish, his business mask firmly in place over his face, as Tricia happily told him about the mass. Beside them, the twins were eating sulkily and I couldn't help but be relieved that Sheryl had scolded them before they could make a scene. Finally, Road ate her meal while listening to her parents. Under the weight of my gaze, however, she turned her head towards me before tilting it to the side as if wondering why I wasn't eating.
Quickly recalling all the etiquette lessons my grandmother and Tricia had forced into my head, I slowly picked up the rightmost knife and imitated my neighbors. Between two strokes of the spoon, (you have to take the soup by bringing the utensil towards yourself and without scraping the plate), and of the fork, (you fold the salad with your knife and fork, you must not cut it... ) performed with steely concentration, I tried in vain to stay afloat with the conversation.
"What do you think, Eve?" Tricia suddenly asked, turning to me. Hurrying down my bite, I made a mental note to have a smaller one in the future and gasped, "Excuse me?" a little too high-pitched to be normal.
"I was asking you if you had a preference for the tailor shop?" Tricia reminded me with a strange look.
"Hum, no, I'll let you choose," I say a little red with embarrassment. Even if my life had been at stake, I wouldn't have been able to name a single store name from that era. And yet it wasn't for lack of listening to Tricia and Road get excited about the latest fashionable dresses at tea-time.
"Marvelous! I know exactly which tailor to go to for dresses!" she said with a smile that was a little too broad.
"The Saint George Street hatter would be quite perfect, I think! But I hesitate between the Baker Street shoemaker or the Bedford Street shoemaker… Both make such pretty shoes!" Road adds with a thoughtful pout.
"You're right, my darling, we can always start with Mr. Clément for the hats and advise afterwards," concludes Tricia.
Wait a second! "I thought we were going to buy some dresses…?" I weakly asked my boss.
"Of course, but you weren't planning to skip the accessories?" Tricia asked, a vaguely scandalized look on her face.
"No, of course not." I mumbled as Road went back to planning our future trip.
"It's the first time I've seen a woman who isn't excited about buying a dress." Sheryl told me calmly, an amused smile on her lips.
"Maybe I'm not one then." I mumbled sarcastically in response.
Feeling Sheryl's gaze on me, I lifted my head to observe his surprised and appraising eyes. "It was a joke" I added hastily, finally realizing what I had told him. I really need to be more careful and limit sarcasm in this era myself…
"Of course..." he said slowly, giving me another strange look. "I don't quite understand French humor.'' he then added with a confused smile.
"I don't understand English humor very well either," I answered confidently.
Sheryl opened his mouth to answer me but was cut off by Devit complaining about how long it took us to eat. Sighing, Sheryl picked up the pace and soon stood up with the twins. "Well ladies, I'm going with our two boys, we'll see each other again tonight." he said before hugging Tricia and Road and leaving with the twins on his heels. A few minutes later, the three of us had finished eating and were following the path of the boys towards the exit where a cab was waiting for our arrival. At the controls was John, who smiled at me as I descended the steps. Joel Brenton was the mansion coachman but when the masters went out separately, John acted as second coachman. At Tricia's instructions, he snapped his reins causing the horses to head towards our destination.
After that, the afternoon was a series of shops, each more colorful than the other, and I had to barely stop Road and Tricia from robbing the hat shop. I ended myself with a wide-brimmed hat, wrapped in beige and sewn with multicolored fabric flowers that could easily be associated with any outfit. A little later, I discovered Jacques, a French tailor who was quick to speak to me in our language when he heard my origins. It's amazing how I missed speaking French! After months of stilted English, I had to force myself not to speak with good old 21st century French. But after ten minutes of actively searching for my words, I was soon speaking as fast as he was. Unfortunately, we didn't really have a topic of conversation in common except for the clothes I had come to get made, so we quickly moved on to my order.
As Tricia told him that we were in a hurry (because I imagine we had quite a few shops left to explore) Jacques told me to stand on the small stage and an assistant began to take my measurements as he showed me a pile of fabrics with various patterns. After deciding on a purple fabric, my favorite color, and a matching floral fabric, he showed me various sketches of dress designs. Much to Tricia and Road's dismay, I chose not to heed their fashion advice and instead chose a somewhat dated style of dress. Well, dated for the end of the 19th, anyway, everything seemed out of time for me.
The operation was carried out twice more for a dressier blue and silver dress which "brings out your beautiful eyes" and another dark orange and brown which supposedly lightened "your wonderful hair" and then I could finally get off the stage and remove the multiple dresses tried. Miraculously, I had been able to convince Tricia and Road to take "only" three dresses, but I hadn't been able to ignore the coat, skirts and the accessories. So I chose a simple pale yellow coat and, thank Merlin, no fur, to go with the hat and we could finally leave. After a few other shops for a shawl, ankle boots and a thousand other so-called "necessary" things (Road's words, not mine) for my wardrobe, we were finally able to get back to the cab to go home. I was going to bed exhausted tonight, without even being able to go to a drawing supply store...
Friday, March 6, 1885
A little less than a week later and shortly after lunch, I took advantage of John going to London to buy the next day's supplies to accompany him. Leaving me down the street that contained the dress shop, he told me he could drive me back if I came back here around 6 p.m. Really not wanting to attempt the so-called three-hour walk to the mansion, I mentally prepared myself to kill time until the assigned appointment. As I found it a bit silly to carry around all afternoon with a bunch of dresses, I decided to walk around and pick them up later. It did me good, moreover, because I discovered a little further… an art supply shop! Finally! Robbing their wares with my eyes and my fingers itching to buy as many things as possible, I painfully forced myself to turn around to find a place to buy a bag.
After asking for directions, I found my happiness a few streets away. Choosing to think about the future, I took a large leather shoulder bag, which shouldn't be too difficult to modify into a backpack and which I dreamed of without daring to buy it for myself in the other world before leaving towards the pencils. My purse becoming lighter and lighter, I limited my choice to a notebook and a few pencils, promising myself to come back later before returning to wander the streets. Going to get my dresses and coat now that I could carry them in my bag, I went in search of a new objective: men's clothes. I didn't know when I would return to London and it was still easier to buy them here, in this big city where no one would remember me, than in the small town not far from the mansion.
Descending street after street in search of an affordable boutique, the affluent neighborhoods quickly disappeared. Walking along the alleys trying not to be noticed despite the rather bizarre association of a woman, certainly bourgeois, with such a big bag, I finally found a cozy little shop filled with mismatched clothes.
Pushing open the door causing the bell to ring throughout the little store, I smiled awkwardly at the chubby lady who seemed to be guarding the counter near the door and started down the aisles. Without a look for the women's department, I went to see the teenagers' department, quickly finding my happiness with dark brown pants, suspenders, a loose white shirt and woolen socks. Finding a pair of chunky second-hand leather shoes much nicer than anything I'd ever worn in this world and a light brown coat that would easily hide the curve of my breasts, I grabbed a matched newsboy cap to hide my hair. The whole thing looked like a student from an average family, enough to go unnoticed in the beautiful neighborhoods as well as the poor neighborhoods. Satisfied, I paid for everything under the skeptical gaze of the shopkeeper.
"My brother needs a new outfit but he hates shopping." I justified myself quickly before carrying all my things outside.
Hiding in a dead end alley, I quickly changed my clothes and stuffed my old things into my bag. Screwing the newsboy over my head and slinging my bag over my shoulder, I was ready to explore the London slums. I wasn't sure how this idea came to me, but ever since Tricia told me about this London outing, I couldn't help but think about exploring the East End depicted in books and series. It's silly, I know, I was bound to see skinny kids, whores or thieves, but I couldn't help but want to go anyway.
If only to realize what could have happened to me.
Pushing away this terrifying thought, I pulled up the strap of my bag and set off for the opposite part of the beautiful neighborhoods, paying attention to the time all the same. I was too scared to go to the middle of the east end alone, especially with this big bag which must have looked very attractive, but I wanted to at least take a look at the start of the alleys. That way, I would know where they are and which neighborhood to avoid! In my new outfit, it's as if I had become invisible. No one looked at me like when I was in a dress. Now I was just another middle-class kid. Despite this, I kept my eyes glued to the ground for fear that people would recognize that I was a woman.
London's slums were dirty and dark from factory pollution, but strangely they smelled less than the uptown areas. Indeed, the Thames was at that time considered a giant garbage can easily accessible, the people threw their rubbish there, whether it was their garbage cans... or bodily waste. Lots of grubby looking pubs dotted the streets and people flocked there in droves after a long day at work. However, for the moment, it was not even 4 pm and the streets were quite calm unlike the quays a little higher which were overflowing with animation.
I had walked for half an hour in this series of alleys when I decided to take a break. Choosing a pub that didn't look too shabby, I pushed open the door and dropped my bag with relief on the old wooden floor.
Glancing around, I spotted a crowd at the back of the bar. Curious, I approached, standing on tiptoe to observe the show beyond the big men. There, at the table, three gentlemen were facing each other, their eyes riveted on their winnings, they seemed to be playing a memorable card game. In the middle of them, on the table, a small pile of random objects, including a large number of coins, seemed to be the bet. In front of me, one of the old guys threw down his cards with a grunt and the curly-haired young man in front of him pocketed the bet with a wicked grin. Not having too much interest in the rest of the game, I sat down at the bar for a few minutes to drink a little before leaving again in search of the East End.
I hadn't gone three blocks when the sound of voices broke out near me. Quickly looking around, I spotted the source coming from a small dead-end alley. Approaching the entrance, I was hesitating to go closer when a high-pitched cry was heard. Biting my lip in concern, I glanced down the driveway, ready to scurry off at any moment. I really didn't want to leave anyone in bad shape if I could help them, but to be realistic, given my abysmal physical abilities, I was more likely to put us both in even more trouble than to save him.
However, I didn't really have time to make a choice because it made itself as soon as I saw the child. There in front of me, eyes wide with terror and held aloft by two frighteningly burly men stood a skinny little boy who couldn't have been more than ten years old. That fact alone, already, would surely have made my heart lean in a clumsy attempt to help him, but add some well-recognizable features to that and there wasn't even much to think about.
Spotting an ideally placed iron pipe, I left my bag at the entrance to the driveway to pick it up as discreetly as possible. Silently approaching the two men, I clutched my makeshift weapon in both hands, trembling with fear.
"...debts kid! The boss of the brothel wants his money and you're the only person who knows him, you'll have to pay it off." growled one of the gorillas, shaking the child roughly.
"I do not know him! I don't have any money on me, I swear!" the kid cried desperately as he clung to the man's hand in an attempt to avoid the strangulation. Suddenly our eyes met. With a simple widening of his pupils, he immediately refocused his gaze on his captor.
I almost let out a sigh of relief at his gesture, a little more and the gorillas could have followed his gaze and discovered me. Raising the pipe, I aimed for the ankles of the second man who wasn't holding the boy, preparing to apply the hardest blow my weak arms could deliver. My choice was carefully considered. Granted, most people would have kicked the head of the man holding the kid back, but in this case the blow could have killed him and the second one would have been on my case right away. Hitting the back or the arms wouldn't have been smarter, certainly the risk of death would have been minimal, but given my strength and their bodies of steel, I especially risked that they wouldn't even feel it. Ankle, then, would be the best idea. I didn't need to control my strength at the risk of killing him and I could even slow them down if they took the legitimate urge to pursue us. Or at least, that's what I thought after the fact to rationalize my spontaneous choice. Exhaling silently, I slammed the staff down on the man's legs with a sickening crunch.
"AAHAAHRGH" he yelled as he dropped to the floor. I didn't even bother though, because in the same movement, I slammed my stick, my eyes half-closed in terror, on the arms of the second man.
The effect was immediate. The gorilla hurriedly let go of the child, who went crashing to the ground, to cradle his injured hand on his chest.
Grabbing the kid's hand I pulled him to his feet and ran towards the end of the aisle. "Take this ! I whispered, shoving the pipe into his hands so I could grab my bag, which was quietly waiting for me at the mouth.
The adrenaline really works wonders, because despite the big bag I was able to sprint for several minutes through the maze of alleys, the child on my heels and the cries of our pursuers at our heels.
Unfortunately, the luck couldn't last and, exhausted, I took a wrong turn in a dead end alley.
"We have to go back! my little mate whispered quickly, casting worried glances over his shoulder.
"I can't… can't" I gasped, opening my mouth wide to catch as much oxygen as possible. Hands on my knees, I tried in vain to resume a normal rhythm of breathing. I had never run so fast in my entire life! "But... you can go..." I told him softly when I got my breath back. I really didn't want him to go away, I wanted to get to know him, help him, support him because I knew how horrible his life would be. It was already incredible to have met him here… if I let him go now, what chance would I have to see him again? We were perhaps not yet 7 billion on this planet, but there were still far too many of us to meet him again one day.
"I can't leave you here…" he muttered, as if talking to himself while looking around the corners of the alley for a suitable hiding place.
"I have an idea." I say suddenly, fixing my gaze on the bag in my hands. "I'm not sure you like it but...pull up your pants."
"What?" choked out the kid, stepping back, a horrified look on his face.
"Don't be childish!" I say, a teasing smile playing on my lips as I take a step forward.
"No way!" he squeaked, terrified. At that moment, it almost looked like he was thinking of going back to see his pursuers rather than staying with me. Even if it was understandable, I found myself strangely hurt.
"Don't worry, I just want you to put this on." I say, reaching into my bag until I pull out my yellow coat that I threw at him. "My other dresses are too big for you, but the coat should be fine. I explained, pulling out a skirt that I quickly put on over my pants before taking off my brown coat in favor of a small matching sweater. Taking off my newsboy cap, I kneel in front of him to help put the coat on.
"You're a girl?!" He said in shock, my coat dangling in his hands.
"Yes, and now you too." I told him, pushing my flowery beige hat over his head, taking care to hide his hair inside.
Hesitating for only a few seconds, he finally sighs and quickly pulls the coat on before rolling his pants up to his knees so they can't see him under his makeshift robe. On him, the cape stopped at the calf and with the hat, he really looked like a little girl from a good family.
"Perfect! Stay behind me and lower your head." I told him while I let my hair fall over my shoulders. "If someone talks to us, you let me answer, okay? I'll take us back to the uptown…unless you know of a closer place?"
"Um, yes, I'm staying in an old lady's house in the red light district with my ma…guardian. We can go there, we're not too far." He said just before we heard the screams of our pursuers again.
"Okay, I trust you, let's get out of here." I muttered, clutching my bag in one hand, ready to hide it at any moment even though I doubted my pursuers had seen it, and holding out my other towards the kid.
Hesitating for a moment, he took it anyway and I led him out of the aisle, letting him take control of our destination when we were there.
Coming out of the small alley, I had to force myself not to stop short. Ahead of us, walking menacingly, were the two men who had attacked my protege a few minutes earlier. Hugging the boy close to me, I quickly led him down the street, praying the men wouldn't pay attention. Unfortunately for me, my prayer was not heard and one of the fellows hailed us when we passed him.
"Hey Missy!" He shouted as he trotted over to me, his buddy unfortunately dragging his leg behind him to lean against a wall, his face frozen in pain. Viciously, I noticed that his ankle had doubled in size. He probably wouldn't be able to walk for a while, I thought a little ashamed when the anger subsided. Redirecting my gaze to the guy who had spoken to me, I observed his arm dangling at his side, no doubt made painful by my blow. Yet the man showed no pain sensation on the contrary, all of his body language implied fury and I felt my hands shaking in response.
"Have you seen a weird kid, about this size…" he said, raising his hand to his waist. "…with a teenage asshole? They owe the boss of the Red Horse money," he growled as if the name should scare me away after telling them everything they wanted to know. Well now, what to do? Lie and send them the other way? Or lie and tell them I didn't see them? On the one hand, the idea of a lead would surely make them leave much faster, but on the other hand, if one day I ran into them again and they remembered me...
"I…I didn't see anything." I say shaking, can't help but stutter. Beside me, the little boy… girl, the little girl, tightened her grip on my jacket, making herself as small as possible so as not to be noticed.
"Come on Missy…" he said menacingly as he approached me, causing me to stumble backwards, far too close to the wall for my comfort. "They must have been there, so you must have seen them, right? »
"No, I didn't see anything, now if you'll excuse me…" I say a little more firmly, lifting my chin and guiding my little protege towards the next alley.
But I hadn't been able to take three steps when a large hand grabbed my forearm, forcing me to turn towards its owner. "Don't play with me, you're going to tell me where they've gone now!" he growled, his fetid breath echoing in my face.
"Let go of me!" I shouted trying to unhook his iron grip[ with little success. And then, in a masterfully executed moment, the small form next to me kicked the kneecap of the big jerk holding me. Cursing in pain, the muscular man let go of me to grab his bruised foot. Beside me, the little boy grabbed my hand and I rushed after him in the alleys slowing down a few streets further to rush into a rickety house.
"Thank-...urghh-...you" I gasped, holding my stomach trying to limit my side stitch. I really had to exercise...
"No-no, thank you." He told me, letting go of my hand. And then he seemed to hesitate a little bit before raising his hand in my direction. "I'm Allen, Allen Walker. »
I so wanted to give him a shattering shout. "I KNOW! ". In this alley, with his white hair and his scar, how not to recognize him? Honestly, even Azy who didn't like DGM would have remembered! Even though he looked smaller, frail and fickle than in the manga, there was no doubt that this child in front of me was Allen Walker.
Or at least would be.
And here comes Allen! (while we haven't even met the Noahs or the exorcists yet in UAPV -_-' it happens, I promise you it happens! slowly, but surely...) and in the next chapter, Eve meets someone again, like the second most important character of the story :) So many twists and turns all of a sudden :p
Come on, the next time we see each other, I'll be convulsing in front of my computer after 4 intensive hours of philosophy, dreading the next tests, wish me good luck :)
Think about the reviews and see you on the 25th of next month!