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

[criminalistic]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[criminalistic]

[ 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?

[ladylayton]

(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.

[criminalistic]

[ 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. ]

[ladylayton]

(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.

[criminalistic]

[ 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.

[ladylayton]

(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?

[criminalistic]

[ 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. ]

[ladylayton]

(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.)

[criminalistic]

[ 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. ]

[ladylayton]

(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.)

[criminalistic]

[ 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... ]

[ladylayton]

(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.

[criminalistic]

[ 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?