minglingworlds | when your sister has enough of your dumb hermit tendencies ( alfendi

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when your sister has enough of your dumb hermit tendencies ( alfendi | kat )

[ Finding himself with a bit of free time in between cases, Alfendi passes the time tinkering with his crime scene simulation machine. Upgrades to be done, old crime scene data to be downloaded and filed away... It’s busywork he would delegate to his assistant, if he weren’t so insistent on doing things his own way.

...But he is, alas. It is how he finds himself, holed up in his deep, out-of-the-way office in Scotland Yard.

There is a knock at the door to interrupt his process, but he only narrows his eyes in annoyance, barely sparing a glance. ]

Come in. [ In a sigh: ] Honestly, Lucy, I thought we were past the point of knocking.

[ Hell, after what happened at Forbodium Castle, she probably deserved her own set of keys. He should probably do something about that... hm. ]

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(see, the thing about kat is, she's a natural social butterfly. she flocks to where people are, usually in the hopes of getting some kind of case or free food or some such. it's a bit unusual for her to go to places people hardly ever go, unless she's investigating something. which is actually more often than people know.

and other times, she goes to out-of-the-way places not for anything as grand as hunting down a case or searching for clues. but simply because a certain adoptive brother has only left his office maybe once in the past year, and that was to be held captive and almost arrested, and as soon as it was over and done with, he properly holed himself up in his office once again.

so instead of alfendi being greeted by the usual chipper voice of his assistant...

he's greeted by the chipper voice of his sister.) Heyyyyy, Alfendi! Ernest has class today, so come shopping with me!

(no hesitation or sugar coating here.)

...Katrielle.

[ Alfendi doesn't bother to hide the surprise in his voice. It doesn't last long anyway.

In Lucy's defense, she did try her best to get him out and about after Justin was arrested and things calmed down. He distinctly remembered Lucy going on about how it was a beautiful day, but all he got for his efforts outside were sun rays in his eyes and a prickly stinging sensation all over his skin, which Lucy tried to convince him was normal.

He can almost feel it again now, as he peers towards his doorway. He stares as his sister's familiar figure drew closer, her hair bouncing with each enthusiastic step. ]

I really don't understand why you insist on surprising me whenever you visit...

Anyway, if it's shopping you want, Lucy should be here any moment.

If I didn't surprise you, you'd just lock the door and say you're busy. (but if she shows up unannounced, there's no chance he'll be able to weasel his way out of seeing her. give your sister some goddamn love, alfendi, she's like one of the 3 people on your call list.

kat makes herself more than comfortable in alfendi's office, hopping up on the table with an innocent smile on her face despite the fact that she could very possibly be wrecking possible evidence.

but he has that fancy recreation thing, so it's fine.) Oh, great, she can come, too! But you're getting outside.

For the love of--!

[ Alfendi's hair turns a deep shade of red, not because she's wrong about him, but because he knows she's right. It doesn't help, either, that he notices the way she's resting on his desk. He's smart enough not to keep any relevant evidence there, naturally, but there is paperwork, which is messy enough without her help.

He scowls. But since this is his sister, he actually makes a conscious effort to censor himself. Where is that other, trash version of him when he's needed? ]

Why?

[ He asks with all the calmness he can muster. Why, why do they both insist on making "outside" a thing?! ]

Because the last time you went outside, you got kidnapped, and almost framed for murder. (which she is still jealous about!! where's her dramatic murder investigation? all she does is help out some billionaires and save london's economy from completely collapsing.

you know, the boring stuff.

she shows little concern for his office or paperwork, considering it's already such a nightmare, there's no possible way her walking around could make it any worse.

idly swinging her legs, kat simply waves off his anger and smiles.) Come on, it'll be fun! I'll take you to my favorite bakery.

[ She is jealous of him being kidnapped, nearly dying, being framed for murder, and he's the psychotic one of the two of them. Yeah, that seems fair!!! He doesn't miss a beat, speaking flatly and sarcastically: ]

Thank you, dear sister, I had nearly forgotten.

[ ...No. No, he couldn't, not even if he wanted to (he does). ]

You do realize how ironic it is of you to use that as an argument, don't you? Or shall I point out that what you've said is all the more reason I should stay indoors?

[ shut up and go get some sweets, alfendi. ]

(i'm sorry, who of these two has the split personality. yeah, it's not kat, therefore, still the more sane sibling.

she can only let out a sigh and roll her eyes at his protests. he's clearly not getting this! why is he not getting this! he's supposed to be smart.

not as smart as her, but, you know.) It's all the reason to go outside! You're really just going to hole yourself up in here forever just because you had a rough day? I think not! Come on, Alfendi, the world is waiting!

(she will resort to physically tugging him outside. like right now.)

[ Does it even count as a split personality when one of them is born from a useless trash book. He thinks not!!!!

--Okay fine, whatever, it counts. You're still nuts, Kat. ]

Oi--! [ He protests further when she starts tugging and becoming more aggressive, but he's never going to get anything done at this rate, anyway. He finally gives in after barely managing to literally shake her off his arm. ] Fine! I'll come with you. Just let go.

[ Before leaving, he scrawls a note for Lucy that reads, Out. Blame Kat. Carry on the day without me. -Al

...and he follows her outside into the fresh air and the late morning sun. Great! Amazing. Now what? ]

(science is still out on that one, so yes, it counts.

she eventually lets go of him with a smile on her face, bouncing on her heels as she waits (patiently!!!) for him to write a note to lucy. to which kat quickly adds a few notes about where they'll be going before once again dragging alfendi out the door.

yeah sorry, boy, you don't get to know where you're going on this mystery journey.

once they're outside in the open air and sunlight and alfendi finishes hissing at the world or whatever recluses do, kat points down the street to guide him.) Come on, the bakery is this way. Aleks said they made a new pastry!

[ HE DOES NOT HISS, OKAY he just... kind of grumbles a lot? Look, it’s a step up from threatening to cut out people’s tongues at every opportunity, so leave him alone.

Who? is his first thought as he continues to follow his sister, but since he’s not an idiot, he safely assumes she must mean the owner of the bakery. Figures she would be on first name terms with him. ]

And what kind of pastry would that be?

[ THE TEMPTATION TO ADD a smartass comment or guess at the end is staggering but... no. No, he’s curious, you have his attention now. Go on, tell him about this new delicacy. ]

(he makes an unpleasant noise every time he ventures into the outside world, and frankly, both the tongue-cutting side and the other side are equally weird.

he should consider himself wise for not saying anything, because kat would have more than teased him for not being able to figure it out without his little evidence recreation machine.

she loves you, alfendi, but your methods are lame.

to his question, she simply answers with a smile and a shrug. she has no idea what it is, but sweets!!! SWEETS!!) I'm not sure! I was passing by him today on the street and he told me about it, so I grabbed the person closest to me so I could try it.

(what she means: the person who was the shortest distance away from her. sorry, al, you're convenient.)

[ Kat just doesn't appreciate the beauty of it, the impressive technology that goes into the recreation machine. Someday she'll understand. Someday!!!

In the meantime, Alfendi is narrowing his eyes, because really. "Grabbed the person closest to me." ]

But you came all the way to Scotland Yard to retrieve me. You always did have a sweet tooth.

[ This better be worth it. ]

(yeah, because she's actually out in the real world touching the evidence and getting real testimony. like a detective.

in response to his judgment and skepticism, kat simply smiles brightly at him.) Well, like I said, Ernest has class today, Inspector Hastings is busy, as usual, and I doubt Emiliana would answer if I called her.

(one day, she'll crack that iron tough defense of hers!!! she's done it with alfendi multiple times.) Besides, with dad missing, someone has to make sure you actually get outside.

[ Alfendi grumbles quietly in response. Lucy has been doing quite well in that department, thanks, and he doesn’t feel like he needs yet another babysitter, but arguing seems futile. He simply continues trailing behind her, taking in the sights as he goes.

The topic of their dad spurns enough thought in him to keep him quiet, but be does seem to be making an effort. ]

Yes. Well.

Whatever it is he’s doing, I’m sure it’s more important. I’m fine, if you hadn’t noticed.

[ A pause, though, as her comments digest. ]

Who is Emiliana?

(she respects and appreciates all the hard work lucy baker does to make alfendi a little less of a shut in. but with the level of shut in he is, it is going to take more than one bubbly girl to change that.

kat has never had many issues bringing up the subject of their father, even after a painful revelation. he's still her father, after all, and he's been through enough perilous situations in his past that she trusts him to be fine.

and honestly, she wants him back for the sole reason of saying she solved his riddle.) Oh, he's probably just busy solving more mysteries and getting into trouble with Uncle Luke again, I'm sure he's fine.

(whereas alfendi is very much not, but that's what today is for.) She's a friend from work! A criminal analyst for Scotland Yard. But she doesn't like me.

[ A small smirk grows on his lips, a form of quiet agreement even though he doesn’t respond. Getting into trouble runs in the Layton family, it seems... but he leaves it at that, taking Katrielle at her word (after all, she would know better than he).

It seems not even Alfendi can know everyone who comes through Scotland Yard. The fact nags at him slightly, the feeling that he should know who Emiliana is, but the feeling fades when Kat so cheerfully continues. He is unable to hide the curiosity in his voice. ]

Oh. And why shouldn’t she?

[ “What did you do?” seems to be the unspoken question. He remains neutral, though, trying to seem less interested than he is. ]

(and this is why kat takes it upon herself to drag alfendi's ass out of the office. she knows his own coworkers better than he does, and isn't that just a little sad.

a grown man. and he only knows maybe 4 people.

a pout forms on kat's face as she recalls all the times emiliana has scoffed at her methods. there's nothing wrong with them! they work!) She doesn't like how I solve crimes. With gut feelings and hunches.

(she takes her fingers and performs an impersonation of emiliana, folding her fingers into circles around her eyes.) You need to analyze every bit of evidence and only base your theories on evidence and ignore anything else that doesn't fit no matter what it may be.

[ LISTEN....... a limited social circle isn't always a bad thing and Kat definitely needs to accept that!!! His smirk persists; her impression was clearly supposed to be funny, so his lips continue to curl, naturally, almost without him realizing, until it's more of a placid smile. ]

Well. She isn't completely wrong, but there is value in following your instincts. I suppose we're alike in that regard.

[ ...He's finally beginning to adjust and feel more comfortable with the outdoors. ]

When I was training Lucy, I always asked her who she thought the culprit was from the very beginning. Even with the bare minimum of facts.

(she knows a small social circle isn't a bad thing, but with alfendi? it's a bad thing.

and now that she has her brother validating her and taking her side, kat points to him, still with frustration on her face.) Exactly! We both reach the same conclusion in the end, so why does it matter so much how I got there? I still work.

(at least she can't tease him about being a hermit anymore, now that he's not hissing at sunlight and getting rashes at the fresh air.) Was she ever right?

[ Seeing her light up at his validation endears him more than he should care to admit. He could probably list off a million reasons why it matters; why instinct and evidence are meant to work together, not independently.

But instead, he just shrugs. ]

Some criminals are easier to spot than others.

[ In other words: yes, she was right sometimes, when she was brave enough to try. ]

(face it, alfendi, you love your sister even if she's the biggest pain in your ass.

but she sees that attitude, leaning over with a teasing smirk.) She's right a lot, isn't she?

(homie, don't be like that, just admit she's good at her job.)

[ What is it about Kat that brings out the most ridiculous childishness in him? Alfendi has to resist the urge to stick out his tongue.

He smiles like the proud goddamn mentor he is. ]

She's certainly proven herself, if that's what you want to hear.

[ By now they've arrived at Aleks's, surely? ]

...Speaking of which, do remind me to bring her something. She'll be insufferable if I come back empty-handed.

[ Alfendi, stop exaggerating. ]

(because kat is naturally the most childish person in the entire series, i'm talking even regular layton series.

he's also her brother and sibling fights are always between brats.) Heehee, it is!

(YOU NED TO ADMIT FEELINGS ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE AROUND YOU, ALFENDI. ADMIT YOU CARE AND VALUE THEM.

there's delighted laughter as kat barrels into the store, greeting aleks with a quick hello and an excited demand to see his newest creation.

completely ignoring alfendi, you know, the guy she dragged into this.)

[ THIS IS FINE...... no, really, Alfendi is perfectly happy being sidelined. Recall that he didn't really want to come in the first place!! Yeah, he's more okay with it now, but his feelings on the matter haven't really changed.

He is perfectly happy distracting himself with the giant cake that looks like a teddy bear. He hates so much that he has such a strong urge to pick it up and hug it... ]

(alfendi, don't hug the teddy bear or you'll have to buy it. kat refuses to bail you out of this.

as she makes small talk with aleks, admiring his new work and planning to take home at least 5 pastries for herself, he brings up a rather interesting topic. in a sort of hushed tone, the baker asks if kat is familiar with the rumor spreading around the area. it manages to distract her from the pastries, an inquisitive look on her face.) Rumor? I haven't heard anything... what's it about?

(aleks begins to go into detail, recalling several witness who swear to seeing gloomy, shadowy figures wandering the streets at night. kat clearly seems doubtful at first, until aleks then mentions that if the figures are ever approached, they simply disappear into thin air, or vanish through walls.

kat is silent for a moment before her eyes literally begin sparkling, and there's nothing but excitement in her face.) Do you mean ghosts!?

(without waiting for an answer, kat whips around to look at alfendi, this is exact expression drilling holes into him.) Alfendiiiiiiiiii.

[ Alfendi is listening. Of course he is listening, even as he is idly admiring the teddy bear cake. He recognizes the charm in her voice when he is addressed, and he responds flatly, just to set the record straight. ]

Ghosts don’t exist.

[ Zombies don’t either. Yet still, he continues, trying his best not to seem too interested: ]

......What streets do they wander?

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when your sister has enough of your dumb hermit tendencies ( alfendi | kat )

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