Realistic or Modern An Invitation [lillymity]

[lillymity]

"I will be nice enough to get along with your staff, don’t worry about that." , he groaned quietly, his voice sounded much sleepier this time, not really like he was feeling quite well. But Adam could be nice if he wanted, could play along, put a smile on just to get what he wanted. Not just forever. He was much to honest to be considered a polite fellow and these 'always-positive people annoyed him. Not everything was always great.

"Hmm…we'll see.." , he muttered, not quite comprehending what Etienne even said. If it was important, they could talk about it later again, if not, well who cares then. The blonde slowly leaned his head against the cool windows, swirling the last bit of coffee in his cup. He wasn’t 'drunk drunk but a little tipsy, enough to not notice that there wasn’t any liquor in that coffee anymore. And probably enough that he wouldn’t even notice if his coffee got lighter as well. It wasn’t just for Adam's wellbeing.

The waiter came over to them immediately, a bright smile on his lips as he noticed that there could be taken even more money from the already rich looking man. But Etienne's request let the man frown. "Oh..uh…I can’t bring you that. We normally don’t serve that, it’s just a special for him." A mischievous smirk formed on Adam lips. "That is to be earned, you know ?" , he mumbled and sipped away the last bit of his cup.

The waiter nodded, coming closer to Etienne, so only he would hear his whisper. "That and it’s better if just one of you is wasted. It’s just his morning down, as soon as the first bit of food hits, he gets the most productive. Don’t let him make any bad decisions in the time before that, though." Then the guy straightend up again, smiling at the both of them. "Maybe another normal coffee ?"

 

[clostridium]

Etienne’s brows set in a hard line and he pursed his lips, regarding Adam. Sneaky little… Fine, maybe he was not technically on the clock, especially since they had not agreed yet on a fee, but that didn’t make him any less offended. He wasn’t even happy-drunk, he looked sleepy and sort of sad. He leaned back in his seat, sighed loudly, and looked from Adam to the waiter.

“Well. I just meant a single coffee. I was not aware that he was…oh, look at you! Positively simpering at me, you’re so utterly, intolerably smug!” Etienne rolled his eyes and shook his head sharply, but he was smiling. His eyes traveled back to the waiter. He hoped that he was right. He needed productivity from Adam, after all, sooner rather than later. As entertaining as it was to see him act a bit foolish, he wanted to live.

“So, I suppose I will take another cup of coffee. Apparently, I will need it, coping with the fact that my detective will need to sleep off his breakfast! Astounding professionalism,” he grumbled. He crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the booth, tilting his head back to look derisively down the bridge of his nose at Adam. “And I suppose you expect me to supply the capital, basically hoping that I will aid and abet your attempt to beg off work. Even though it is work that I have assigned you. The nerve of some people!”

As much as he groused, this was actually ideal in some ways. As much as Etienne delighted in nearly every mind-altering substance he could use to pass the time a little more enjoyably, he also enjoyed being the most sober person in the room. It was like standing behind a one-way mirror. He could see all, but everyone else’s gaze was clouded over, so he could exist with a little more freedom and a little less self-policing. It was especially nice when getting to know a new person. So much could be unconsciously revealed to him, then consigned forever to his little black book - the mental one, unless it was too terribly juicy, in which case the physical edition came into play as well.

 

[lillymity]

"Oh! Oh..—" , the waiter stammered, looking at Etienne. "I didn’t mean to.." But he didn’t finish his sentence, too embarrassed to do so. "Just black like it is ? Or some milk ? Or cream with that ?" , the waiter quickly asked to hide his embarrassment. Technically he would now try to make anything that Etienne would order happen.

The waiter chuckled a little. "Don’t worry, it will be just a short nap and then he will work, you wouldn’t even think he can be that productive." The man should know, he was also involved in that mayhem, where Adam had to help the diner out. "He doesn’t do that often, you can consider yourself lucky, boy." When the blonde caught Etienne's voice coming his way, he slowly looked up, sitting a tad more straight up as he was snuggled into his coat.

"Well…yeah..it’s part of the deal and I am working." He tried to grab the paper to wave it front of the other to make his point valid but miserably enough it took Adam two attempts to even grab the paper. "I am..I am working…alright..?" Maybe working through seriously being wasted.

Actually Adam wasn’t a very talkative drunk person, he maybe wasn’t so gruff anymore, but not happy in the slightest, maybe a little depressed but mostly getting sleepy with the liquor. He didn’t turn magically into a chatterbox, it was even harder to get words out of him, when drunk.

Only minutes later, the waiter brought Etienne’s order in a to-go-cup, smiling at him. "I really don’t want to throw you two out but I would suggest that you get going before he sleeps in here." And with those words the guy slowly slid over the bill — the pot of coffee, Etienne’s last coffee order now and three from those numerous coffees from Adam, they were just listed as normal coffee, probably to not confuse others.

Adam just watched the two, crossing his arms. He got a little cold, feeling dizzy and nauseous. It was very much different today, but after all hw hadn’t eaten anything yet and just a few good cigarettes didn’t make the situation better.

 

[clostridium]

“And now he makes me pay. Absolutely ridiculous.” Etienne made a face. It was unclear whether he was actually irritated or playing it up just to be dramatic. Truth be told, times when he went out and had to pay for his own meal were few and far between. Dining out was not one of his typical vices. He had a cook, after all. Adam was lucky, Etienne reflected, that he was not one of his string of disposable boyfriends, or he would be sitting there with a shirt covered in hot coffee and a car that was already fifteen miles away, with Etienne in it. “You know, if I had any sense at all, I would let him sleep it off right here. …But I have little of that, I suppose.”

Etienne huffed again, loudly, and pulled a loose bill from the inside of his silky jacket, enough to cover their meal and a good bit beyond. He directed a pained, awkward smile at the electrician as he stood and brushed himself off. He stood in front of Adam, considering his sorry state. Perhaps he was not the one who should be judging, but he was. He felt bad for the fellow, though. He considered himself to be someone who drank solely for fun, despite all evidence to the contrary, and this was an uncomfortable reminder of what he might look like to someone else.

“Alright, up, you lout. Give me the keys. I’m here so I’ll not be killed. I’m not going to die wrapped around a tree over your wounded pride.” Etienne took his disposable cup in one hand and extended the other, not sure if he was going to help Adam to the car or if he was just going to be given the keys. He was going to get them, whether the detective saw reason or not. He was not particular strong, but he was a slippery little bastard, and he was unexpectedly willing to try and wrestle something out of someone’s hand, a type of horseplay that, among his friends, was commonplace, and among the lower classes and the old money class was tantamount to challenging someone to an actual fight.

 

[lillymity]

Well, actually, Adam wouldn’t have to pay for his coffees ever again. After he helped them, they made a deal — he would not charge them and would get free coffee, or whatever he wanted, forever. Which didn’t mean the staff was sly enough to get their money a different way. Basically trick new visitors into giving them the money — poor Etienne. But maybe he would learn that pretty soon. Adam did say nothing, not because he wanted them to basically 'steal the money from the other but because he didn’t even concentrate on that whole scenario — he was too focused on his own miserable state and trying to get used to that spinning feeling.

"Well, you also can’t just leave the one that wants to help you here, can you ?" , the waiter asked with a little smile. "He may looks awful now, but he’s helpful."

When Etienne gave him the bill, the waiter dipped his head with a very thankful expression. He hid the mischievous smile inside. Successfully tricked into paying more, check! Having enough money to pay for everything for the whole next month, also check!

"Do I look like I just give you my car keys, I don’t want my car to be broken after just a few seconds." , Adam grumbled, while clumsily trying to get out of the booth and passing Etienne — just slightly brushing his shoulder. For someone who drank probably like five coffees with whiskey, or rather whiskeys with coffee, he walked weirdly straight and seemed pretty stable.

That was until he reached the car and tried to open the door, but the blonde never got to grab the handle after multiple attempts.
Okay, that was going to be a problem…
"Fine.." , he muttered, "But dare to get one scratch into it and it’s over." Adam put the keys into Etienne's hand and slowly led his way to the passenger side, one hand always on the car to steady himself. No need for any fights, the blonde was intelligent enough to realize that driving in such a state would be critical for both of them.

 

[clostridium]

Etienne was not self-aware enough to realize that he may have been worse the prior night when he sped as fast as his car could take him through the woods, becoming genuinely convinced as he went that the world was beginning to repeat itself and he was stuck in an endless loop. He was simply smug when Adam handed over his keys and he was able to settle into the front seat. He stretched his neck and adjusted the mirrors to his liking. He did not have a particularly compassionate look in his eye. In fact, he appeared downright mirthful at the other’s misery. After all, he had just received incredible ammunition that could protect him from being mocked too harshly for his own miserable state the night before. He felt energized and unusually optimistic, between this and the fact that he had pulled himself out of his spiral and found help for his situation.

“Mmhmm. I simply quake with fear, Detective, I tell you. You intimidate me more than you know.” Etienne’s mischievous smile and his tone, which sounded almost reverent, would usually be enough to indicate just how insincere he was, but Adam was plastered. “You know, there are much easier ways to tire oneself out in the morning in preparation for a little siesta. More entertaining, too. Although…I will admit it, I am entertained.”

Etienne backed out slowly, craning his neck to see what he was doing, and then, as soon as he was straightened out, cranked forward into drive and careened into the woods. There was a reverberating clunk-clunk as they bounced on an uneven pit in the asphalt, loud enough to make Etienne wince but not to make him slow. After all, it was a stylish car. He wanted to put it through its paces a little bit. He flashed a disarmingly bright, innocent-looking grin over at Adam as they got going, but his eyes locked back on the road.

“Since I’m the driver, and as such make the rules, would you care to regale us with a song for entertainment?”

 

[lillymity]

Adam groaned as he plopped down on the passenger seat, it had been years since he last sat on that side of the car. Last time — if he remembered correctly — was when he and a previous partner of his had been is a dangerous crossfire and it was just simply the blonde’s luck that he got hit. His whole shoulder had been bleeding like hell back then. Though if he still could have moved his arm, he probably would’ve driven himself to get aid. That was also the last time he got seriously injured or had anyone bleeding in his car.

Adam stretched once, trying to get comfortable with his rather long legs and then snuggled more into his coat again. He was a little cold and tired.

"You should be intimidated, you know. I'm the only one who will help you." , he answered very casually, giving Etienne a short once-over. It was weird to have the guy, he just met yesterday, now sitting behind his steering wheel. He didn’t know if he could trust this wreck with his car but after all there was no other choice if he didn’t want to kill them. "But it’s the most enjoyable way…" , he mumbled. It probably wasn’t but to Adam it was the only fun choice he had besides from drinking at the office. "My pleasure to entertain you…"

As Etienne just moved the car an inch, the blonde was already really tense. There was little to bump into but there was always a way…somehow. As they made it safely onto the road, Adam relaxed a bit. That was until they hit the first pit on the road. There was a pained expression on Adam's face, it almost hurt him as much as it hurt the car. "You know, you can be a little more careful ? You can drive around these pits." It was a low warning grumble.

Just as the other asked for some music, Adam's face got even gloomier. "Etienne, you look cute…but not cute enough to demand whatever you want. You can be glad I have enough brain to not drive myself. But just because I gave you the keys, doesn’t make you the driver." , the grumble got lower with every word. "It’s still my car and we will not be playing any music here." Slowly, the blonde leaned against the side of the car, yawning but trying to still stay awake.

 

[clostridium]

Etienne laughed, loudly and suddenly enough to surprise himself, and glanced over at his passenger. He had a mischievous light in his eyes, and his smile was almost comically satisfied, like a cat with its paw on the tail of a rat. Cute? The detective really was drunk. Etienne hadn’t thought him capable of finding things cute, let alone finding him cute. As with every compliment, even when used as a sharp remark, Etienne let it go straight to his head. Especially given the circumstances - not only did the detective dislike him, he had seen him at his worst, collapsed and sobbing in a whirlwind of drunken panic. And yet he still admitted that Etienne was lovely. Yes, this was ample fuel for his ego.

“Hey, you! No backseat driving. It’s uncouth. And please, be logical! I am driving, so I am the driver. I shan’t deny reality in favor of foolishness to spare your ego, as charming as it is that you seem to expect it.” Etienne only halfway paid attention to the state of the bumpy road as he sped along, so the ride was anything but smooth, but the society dilettante liked a bit of intensity in all areas of his life. It was little wonder that people found him polarizing - or wanted to kill him. “And besides, I did not want you to play anything. I wanted to hear you serenade me, dear, it would set me all aflutter. And perhaps you would not look so dreadfully depressing! …And you know…if you think I’m cute now, you should see me when you’ve made me happy with you.”

Etienne shot him a wink, and he smiled so broadly a dimple showed in his cheek. He glanced back out to the road just in time to make a sudden, hard turn. He gritted his teeth and his eyes went wide, but he leveled out and cruised along the middle of the road until he could get back into his lane. He let out a peal of nervous laughter and gave a little shrug by way of explanation. They were getting closer to the office, which was a blessing and a curse. Adam looked like he really needed to lie down, but Etienne was enjoying seeing what the engine could do.

 

[lillymity]

The blonde pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing and quietly muttering "I can’t take it with this idiot…" He was already pretty pale, tired and his mind was foggy. Just as Etienne looked up, Adam did as well and his eyes widened in shock. For a second he just froze, already imagining them fully crashing. Just as he wanted to take over the steering wheel, pushing them to the other side of the road, Etienne already pulled over. But it felt so sharp and untrained, almost like a total newbie trying to drive a car for the first time. Well, his car was much more to handle than other cars.

The blonde looked over at Etienne, clearly even paler, breathing heavily as he slowly released his grip from the side of the car door. "Etienne.." His voice sounded warning, a low growl.

But just within a few seconds, his expression completely turned — making him seem unwell, looking sick, very miserable. "Pull over..!" He sounded pained, urging. And while they were still not fully standing still, Adam already tore the car door open. He made it out with hurried steps and then vanished behind the first few trees.

The sudden cold air didn’t make anything better, just made him throw up much quicker and gave him a big headache.

A few minutes later, the blonde detective slowly slogged his way back to the car. "You.." , he had to take a big breath inbetween, "are never going to drive again." It sounded absolute, he was not kidding and not leaving any room for maybes or other tricks to convince him. "And god, just try to be careful with the car…" , he groaned as he plopped down on the passenger seat. "I have that for fifteen years now and I'm not going to get a new one just because one idiot doesn’t know how to drive a fast and big car."

 

[clostridium]

“You know,” Etienne said brightly, I’ve done you a favor. You’ll feel better much quicker with all that out of your system. And perhaps you’ll be more careful in the future, if you’re that invested in keeping me in the passenger seat. Oh, pauvre chou, I should not tease you like this when you are feeling ill. Lie back, shut your eyes, and allow me to try to be more careful.”

All of the guilt in Etienne’s voice was put on for effect, but he did make an effort to avoid potholes as much as he could, although he did not give the gas pedal a break. Today, the woods looked inviting, and he was glad to be traversing them. He was a lot braver with someone beside him, especially someone like Adam, with a gun and a willingness to use it. He thrived in social settings, and tended to feel strange and empty on his own, abandoned with only his thoughts for company. They made terrible company indeed, and he spent much of his time trying to get out of acknowledging them entirely. Company, booze, driving a little too fast, staying constantly busy - all were necessary to prop up the house of cards he had built, and to which he continued to add further levels. After a pause, he spoke again.

“I have chosen not to take offense at your thoughtlessly rude statements toward me, by the way. I am feeling like a wellspring of forgiveness right now, and you should feel lucky to be privy to it. Usually, I am one to cling to old arguments. Surprises abound, I know.”

Etienne almost sped past the office, but he managed to hook a turn at the last second and stop abruptly. This parking job was les crooked than the one he had achieved with his own car, but sobriety had proven to provide him with dubious benefits when it came to driving. He drew a deep breath and let out a contented huff, then put the car in park, shut it off, and looked over to Adam, eyes shining with mischief.

“So - throw up again, take a nap, or get to work?”

 

[lillymity]

"Just shut t—.." , but he immediately stopped as Etienne took another dangerous turn and he had to grip the car door again. He sighed heavily as they finally stopped. "Do you even learn how to drive properly ?" , he asked with wide eyes, jittering with his hand to open the door.

Air…he needed fresh air..

"All three of them…in that exact order.." , he mumbled while breathing heavily. "You..just go into my office already, I'll be there in a minute." , he sighed and got out of the car. Rather stumbling than steady. Slowly the blonde walked around the car, looking for any bumps or scratches or anything. Luckily nothing, just Etienne's luck.

He then sluggishly made its way into the little lodge, going right into the bathroom instead of left into his office. Just as he crossed the doorstep, his movements went from lethargic to speedy in the blink of an eye. Adam still reached the toilet before he had to throw up again, the cold tiles cooling him down.

He felt really awful. Normally it never had hit him this hard, never threw him off completely and made him wasted like that. Usually it took a few good drinks before he even felt tipsy but that was a new record of how fast he could get drunk. Adam stayed on the bathroom floor for another few minutes, just trying to calm down and get a clear head, coughing a little.

 

[clostridium]

Etienne slipped out of the car, locked it, and trailed Adam inside, cautiously picking his way along like a deer through the underbrush. He was relieved when the bathroom door shut and he was freed from the possibility of seeing Adam get sick. One of them taking ill was quite enough, and Etienne was brimming with eggs and coffee, so he didn’t want to take any chances. He wandered back into the office to wait. He would probably be wait in for quite a while, he realized. Adam looked bad. How much had he had? It had all been on an empty stomach that was probably still struggling from the night before. It was a perfect storm.

And a perfect opportunity for someone as incorrigibly nosy as Etienne to be left in the other’s office unattended. There was a lot to be learned about the man he had put his trust in, and it didn’t seem like he was going to hear things from the horse’s mouth anytime soon. Adam wasn’t as chatty as he was, and, beyond that, he seemed to get pissed off when Etienne filled the silence. Luckily, the socialite was used to filling in the blanks in unconventional ways. He went through papers in others’ homes and offices nearly every time he was left alone, and he had incredible luck - or skill - in not being caught unless he wanted to be, just to provoke a reaction. Frankly, he wouldn’t mind being caught by Adam. He would surely make an interesting face, and perhaps even come up with a few unique insulting remarks.

Silently, Etienne sidled around the desk and took a seat in the chair, lighting up to smoke as he took the first folder in the heap, which seemed to be most recent, and started skimming. He looked more at the way Adam took down his observations and evidence than the actual content of the file, although he was unapologetically curious about others’ business as well.

 

[lillymity]

Just as the blonde thought, everything calmed down enough for him to stand up again, the dizziness returned just as he moved only an inch. It forced him back to sit on the ground, legs sprawled out like a starfish. Adam sighed heavily, his stomach was normally used to get alcohol or cigarettes while being empty. But today was just miserable. Maybe he overdid himself today, he didn’t even remember how many coffees he had. Well, more whiskey than coffee to be honest. But waiting for Etienne finishing his paper was probably what got him so bad.

For just a second the blonde closed his eyes and tried to calm down, but he nodded off momentarily. Only to shot up a few minutes later, covered in sweat and feeling even worse. He couldn’t stay down here, even if he wanted. Adam fought to get up and leaned on the sink. He looked miserable. His worn mirror reflecting an image that seemed close to a ghost — pale, dark bags under his eyes and his blonde hair hanging down. He splashed some cold water into his face, trying to look at least a bit better.

Then, very stumbly and exhausted he shuffled back into the office, wiping the sweat off his forehead just as he opened the door.

Seeing Etienne linger in his chair, casually browsing through his files, made Adam freeze in his position for just a few moments. There was clearly a debate in his head — whether to go off at the other or just let it go. He decided for the latter, but just because the blonde didn’t have enough strength to start an argument, and let himself fall into the other chair over at the window.

"You could’ve at least asked, you know ?" , he grumbled, leaning his head against the lean. His eyes already seemed to fall shut just on their own. Hopefully the waiter was right with his prediction for the activity because right now Adam seemed like he only got worse by the minute.

 

[clostridium]

“If I had asked, you might have said no,” Etienne said simply. He crossed his long legs and leaned back in the seat, so gracefully languorous that in anyone else it would have looked like an act. A private smile flickered across his face for the space of a single moment, then faded away. He did not look up at any point. Instead, he took his sweet time scanning through the folder, taking in the evidence and the details of the investigation. Well, he had got his wish - the client list did not look high-profile. No one that his cohort would have spoken to, he could be nearly certain. There was, however, something to be said for familiarity. He didn’t know how effectively Adam would grasp the ins and outs of the expectations his little group had for one another. Maybe he didn’t want anyone to know. Maybe he was just making excuses because he liked the miserable way Adam scowled at the wall.

“I’m really not accustomed to being told no when I’ve set my eyes on something. Enough wealth and loveliness and one can manage to avoid it the vast majority of the time. …Perhaps a little guile, as well. Although some of the time, I am a perfect gentleman.” Etienne glanced up and smiled. He looked almost comically contented, slouched back in the chair. There was a sense of purpose to every move he made, which left him looking poised even when he was deliberately attempting to look disheveled. This did not carry over to times like the previous night, when he wasn’t fully in control even of his own body.

“Now, Detective, are you feeling better? It makes me a bit sad, seeing you look so utterly pathetic. Ma pauvre chou - y pauvre moi! For my life is in your hands, and I am utterly at your mercy.” Etienne set down his folder and slipped around the desk, then leaned against it with his legs crossed, looking down at Adam with a rather intense, unblinking expression. “Do you intend to treat that trust with the care that it deserves? To prove that my faith has not been misplaced? My beating heart - it is in your hands.”

 

[lillymity]

"Do I look like I would have said no ?" , Adam sighed, slouching down in the chair he was sitting in.
Yes, yes he did look like he would have said no.
But little did Etienne know that the cases that were really intense — that needed to stay just between him and his client, that involved killing — weren’t here. Of course they weren’t. Who would just let such information lie around for the next best thing to look at it. They were safely locked away in a place only Adam knew.

The ones scattered around the office were just the easy and completely legal cases, no killing, no ambushes or anything on the rather illegal side of the road. Just some casual investigation work.

"No…just let me get some sleep..and don’t speak to me in a language I don’t understand.." The last part was more of an exhausted sigh than anything else. The blonde slowly let his head fall to the side, the way he was still able to look at Etienne. "And don’t get so poetic, I'm gonna do my job, don’t worry." He pinched the bridge of his nose again, closing his eyes for just a moment.

"I..I'll just sleep for maybe twenty minutes and then we drive over to your place. I want each of your staff to come in for a talk. And you have to make sure, they don’t talk about that to each other." He didn’t bark those orders like he did yesterday but there was still a glimpse of willingness to lead left.

Then, without waiting for an answer, the blonde just turned to his side, his back facing Etienne now. The dream land was already waiting for him, trying to pull him over already but that had to be said before he would let himself drift off. To show that he had at least parts of a plan, even if it wasn’t much more than that. He didn’t decide on a story they could tell everyone and he didn’t have a strategy yet.

 

[clostridium]

“Your command is my wish, mon cher. Please, sleep soundly, and I shall be here when you wake.” Etienne leaned back in his seat and let his eyes fall shut for a few moments. He realized shortly that he was not particularly tired, so he opened his eyes again, then stood silently and crept over toward Adam on the couch. He gazed down at the sleeping man and sighed quietly. The poor thing. He really did look awful. Tentatively, he reached in and brushed a little bit of hair behind his ear, then drew his hand back. No, he shouldn’t be doing this. That was the sort of thing he should do when the detective was awake, to put him off guard. When he was asleep, he was just being…sweet. Gentle. Unlike himself. He turned and slinked away into the office to continue looking around. Most of the cases looked to be lower-stakes than he felt his own to be. Infidelity - ouch - theft, disappearances… He hoped that Adam had what it took to operate within realms of dubious legality. He himself was not a great follower of rules, and neither were his guests, for the most part.

Etienne was running himself around in circles, making himself sick with worry. He needed some fresh air. Finally, he left the office with a particularly juicy-looking adultery investigation file and sat on the curb out front to read and smoke. He looked completely out of place, like an elegant sculpture broken at odd angles and abandoned by the side of the road in a bad part of town. He was a bit jittery now that he was alone; he was careful to suppress any outward signs of his anxiety to the best of his ability when people could see him. He wondered what his house staff was thinking. They were accustomed to him disappearing unannounced, but he had been ill. He hoped they didn’t think that he had crawled into a hole and died somewhere. He wondered vaguely who would mourn, and whether Thierry had started looking into who was named in his will yet.

 

[lillymity]

It didn’t take Adam long to drift off to sleep, just as quick as he threw various insults around, he was off to sleep. Curled up in the chair, hands tucked under his coat, trying to stay warm.

But it didn’t take long for his misery to find its way into his dreams.

It started the way it always did: with the sound of a door creaking open somewhere he couldn’t see.

Adam stood in a long, narrow hallway, walls peeling, damp eating the corners. The overhead lights flickered a sickly yellow, and the floor beneath his boots sagged like it might collapse if he shifted his weight wrong. Every door down the hall was slightly ajar. Every door whispered.

He moved forward, though he didn’t remember deciding to.

The first door he passed showed only a mirror inside the room — huge, cracked down the center like a split skull. His reflection didn’t move with him. It just stared, blank-faced, hands limp at its sides. His mouth moved, but he couldn’t hear the words. He turned away fast, heart hammering.

The next room stank of iron and rot. A table, a blackened shape slumped over it, breathing shallow. He knew the shape. He had seen it before — on the job, once, in the rain, bleeding out slow because he’d been too late. Too slow.

“Your fault,” said the shape without lifting its head. The voice was Etienne’s. Low, almost gentle.

Adam stumbled back into the hall, chest tight. The walls seemed closer now, pressing inward, and when he looked back, the doors behind him had disappeared, leaving nothing but smooth, cold wall.

The hallway stretched out and out and out. His legs were heavy, like wading through tar, and every step felt slower. He couldn’t reach the end. The lights buzzed louder. Something skittered behind him — too fast, too sharp — but when he spun around, there was nothing.

Then suddenly, he was standing in the middle of an unfamiliar place: a big and luxurious estate. The walls bled dark streaks like tears. The chandeliers swayed though there was no wind. And everywhere — across the ruined furniture, the ruined floors, the ruined faces — were his mistakes. Every case he hadn't solved. Every deal he hadn't broken. Every bullet that should have been stopped.

In the center of a ballroom, a small, broken body lay face-down.

Etienne.

Adam tried to move, to scream, to run to him, but his legs wouldn’t work. His voice caught in his throat like glass. He watched, helpless, as Etienne’s head lifted slightly, just enough to look at him. Blood dripped from his a wound on his forehead.

Adam bolted awake in the chair, panting heavily as he pushed back his hair that was basically drenched in sweat. "Etienne..?" , he mumbled quietly. His heart skipped a beat as he didn’t see the smaller man in his office anymore.

In just a second, the blonde was on his feet, stumbling outside. Just to see Etienne sitting on the curb, relaxed — not hurt, not dead. Good.

"Etienne.." , he muttered quietly, this time much calmer. "Come on, let’s go. We don’t have all day to question your staff." Now his voice was much steadier again, almost like before. But his pale face and sweat drenched hair betrayed the image.

 

[clostridium]

Etienne’s head whipped around when Adam rushed out the front of the office. His eyes were wide, and he nearly dropped his second cigarette, but he recovered from the surprise. He cleared his throat, and his surprise turned to something indignant before softening when he saw how awful Adam looked. His brow furrowed and he stood, not bothering to hide his concern. With the file under the arm that held his cigarette, he reached up and brushed the sweaty strands of hair back from his cheek. The poor thing. He didn’t even intend it in a teasing way, although that was the sort of thing that he would do.

“Are you alright? You look horrid. Poor little thing, you have slept horribly? You look ill, Detective.” Etienne took a breath and pursed his lips slightly, inspecting Adam’s face as he spoke. “…Wash your face, dear, before we go. If my staff, or, God forbid, my brother sees you like this, they will all assume that I have been off on a tear, drugged out of my mind. …Which…I suppose is not completely incorrect, but I do want to protect my reputation. Everyone thinking I’ve lowered my standards enough to keep company you is quite enough without giving the impression that I’ve found you in an opium den and dragged you home with me.”

Etienne took his mostly-burned cigarette between two fingers, turned it, and placed it between Adam’s lips instead. He looked like he needed it, possibly more than any human being had ever needed a cigarette before.

 

[lillymity]

Adam just looked at Etienne, not quite comprehending the fact that the other just brushed his hair back, so he just let it happen. His mind was still racing, scared from that dream. The other having his hand in his hair was nothing he could be concerned about right now.

"You..get the car ready.." Etienne still had the car keys, which was good, because with the blonde’s shaky hands, he probably wouldn’t get them out that quickly. "I'll drive." , he then added and took a deep drag from the cigarette.

Without waiting for an answer, Adam turned back and shuffled inside, leaving the door wide open to hear Etienne incase someone just tried to kidnap him. He really tried to get the last bits of nicotine out of that poor cigarette. When there was eventually nothing left, he crushed it and put it in the tray in his office.

Before returning to the bathroom, he got out a new file for Etienne's case, taking it with him would surely keep everything more organized. Back to the bathroom, Adam splashed cold water in his face. There was only cold water in the bathroom — which he always cursed normally — but right now it was more than needed. Now Adam looked at least a little bit better. He pushed back his hair, trying to make it look at least a little neat.

Taking some clothes to change with him and looking all the door behind him, Adam made his way outside. Ready to start now. "You'll play the navigator, alright ?"

 

[clostridium]

“I know that you are brimming with excitement at the prospect of lecturing me on responsible driving, but I would think it more practical if we both drove and you followed me. Tailed me, like a detective - ah, it would be thrilling. You must forgive me if I lose myself, and try to throw you off partway along! But it would be a burden to have to return for my car later on, you see, so this seems the most practical choice. I was just thinking - after, you know, once we arrive and you have had your interviews-disguised-as-casual-chatter, it would be prudent to dart back into town and get you something decent to wear. Perhaps Nelson could take your measurements and I could entrust him with the task. I assume that you will want to meet with each individual on my list prior to the soirée if possible, so you will need clothing for that, I will simply have to try to put a rush on something bespoke for the actual night. I have been thinking about what you are. Perhaps a politician of some small renown, which would explain why you cannot really be seen keeping company with me, and why you are a little bit…strange, in your mannerisms. The tendency toward interviewing people and all. But no - I must not define your investigative style for you. I can be this overbearing toward those who actually have the privilege of sharing my bed, but it would be unkind to give the negative without the privilege, would it not? Although I suppose I am paying you…you know, if we are to make all this convincing, you must take me to dinner. Somewhere discreet, but haute. Of course, I would be picking our destination. I absolutely shudder to think what you would consider appropriate for me.”

It seemed that the breath Etienne took in that moment was the first he took since he started speaking. From his earnest, sparkling expression, it scarcely seemed like he had considered that he might have been seen as a touch overbearing right at that very moment. He could certainly talk; with some of his friends, they would just charter right over him, and all of them would be talking loudly at each other about semi-related topics every time a few of them were excited. Others were confident ignoring him when it seemed necessary to preserve their sanity, or outright shushing him and reminding him that he was, in fact, a bit loud. At the end of his tirade, he held up his own keys, jingled them, and set to work putting the top down on his convertible again so he could feel the wind in his hair on the way back.

 

[lillymity]

Adam seemed to be okay with that kind of idea, even though it maybe wasn’t that smart to let someone, who just drunk himself into sleep and now had a nightmare lingering in the back of his mind, along with shaky hands, drive. But the blonde had managed to keep the car on the road in much worse conditions. He simply fished his own cars out of the pocket of his leather jacket, the other was wearing. Shuffling over to his car to get it ready.

Right now was actually the first time he really listened to Etienne — or at least tried to with the abundance of words the other bombarded him with. "As long as you don’t make me look like a fool. Nothing too colorful, understood ?" He was clear with his wishes. The blonde basically only owned clothing in black, grey, brown or white. Well, technically one red button down, which was originally white — but there was a little accident — and now he just kept it to clean up blood.

"Do I look like a politician ? Don’t make me worse than I am. Just introduce me as one of your new little boy toys." His voice was heavy with sarcasm. To be honest, he didn’t have a better idea than Etienne yet. But a politician ? Really ?

With not choosing to argue about taking Etienne to dinner, he silently agreed to it. And eventually the other stopped talking, which was a great relief for Adam's still worried mind. Before Etienne could even think about starting to talk again, the blonde slipped into his own driver’s seat. Adjusting everything again. "Get in your car, Etienne! You can talk my ear off later."

 

[clostridium]

Etienne settled into the driver’s seat of his car, one willowy arm draped down the exterior door and the other resting gingerly atop the wheel as his car purred to life. He flashed a wicked grin over at Adam, regarding him with an all-too-knowing look of amusement in his eyes, and called out: “Oh, that was never in doubt, darling. Frankly, no one would believe anything else. Politician is just the kindest way I could think to imagine why you’re so awfully ashamed to be seen with me…and why, I’m assuming, you’ll be so painfully awkward at the party!”

With a high peal of laughter, Etienne slammed on the reverse and arced out of his parking space. He spared only a moment for a backward glance and then cranked into gear and his car sailed off down the road. Etienne was far better on a horse than he was in a car, but at the very least he was better in his own glamorous vehicle than he was in any unfamiliar one. He zipped away into the woods, silk scarf whipping in the wind behind him. He had only been halfway joking about making Adam work to catch up to him; he was easily tempted by a bit of fun, even if it would be an inconvenience to himself and everyone else.

The Phantom could easily achieve the speed he demanded of it; Adam’s advantage was Etienne’s relative discomfort on the roads. It wouldn’t be too difficult to follow him to the estate; with the roads in between being a long, winding series of straight shots, there were only four proper turns; that was why Etienne had been able to make it at all the night prior, even in the state he was in. The route he took skirted the edge of the city, with all the traffic and other drivers that that brought. It was around two hours before he crested the hill and rolled down to the wrought-iron gate, which was open.

The estate itself gave an incongruous impression. It had been built years before by someone who valued an imposing, Gothic style, and an additional wing had been developed more recently that tried to mimic it while softening some of the harsh edges. The landscaping pulled toward cheerful, with lush vegetation abounding and bushes trimmed into whimsical shapes. It looked like there had been many stages of additions over the years as the scope of the estate crept out throughout the clearing in the middle of the woods: a sparkling pool, a stone garden, two outbuildings - one large and one small, a clay range, and a small stable. Everything was ostentatious, and it screamed of wealth. Etienne’s odd, out-of-touch behavior suddenly made more sense in this context. There was a man lying beside the pool in a chaise lounge, speaking to a young woman who was gesturing wildly with one hand, while her other was occupied by a stack of papers held under her arm.

Etienne pulled his car in front of the building, leaving it parked sideways in the gravel driveway, and hopped out, then fussed with his hair, putting it back into halfway-decent shape. He stretched, then looked back down the long drive to wait for Adam to pull up beside him.

 

[lillymity]

Adam rolled his eyes and just leaned back into his seat. "Just wait until you see me at your sweet little party.." , he grumbled quietly. The blonde could adapt very quickly to certain situations and Etienne would be surprised how fast he could put on a mask and play into their game.

Adam waited for a few seconds before starting the car, the Duesenberg could easily catch up to him. Though, for a moment, as he put his hands on the steering wheel, the blonde could see his hands shake. Still heavy with the worry and the fear to fail Etienne's case.

Suddenly he shot up.
Etienne! He had already sped off!
Immediately Adam turned the wheel to the left, slammed the gas and sped after him. What if someone killed him on the way ? He couldn’t let that happen!

It just took the black lightning about two minutes to catch up, getting a little too close to Etienne's car. But better to close than not being in reach at all, right ?

Adam was grabbing his steering wheel so firmly his knuckles already turned white, but somehow he had to stop them from shaking. He had to stay steady on the road. Because the blonde certainly didn’t want to end up as the passenger again…never again..

Being in that troubling traffic, Adam felt even more nervous. Usually he was a calm and collected driver. Staying cool even in the most dangerous and nerve wracking situations but today was just different…weird..
It took Adam his sweet time to find a way through and catch up to Etienne again. Adam was way too used to his quiet roads in the forest, other drivers very scarce. And now he felt like a foreigner coming back into the buzzing city.

Eventually pulling up next to Etienne's car, Adam just turned it off and took a minute to calm down again. Now he knew why he had decided to leave the center of the city and mover to the quieter part. He breathed till his last nerves were calm again and then got out.

Brushing his, now dried, hair back, he strolled over to Etienne. "This estate looks even more like it has a stick up its ass than you. Where did you get the money for that, really ?" The blonde lit up a cigarette and immediately took a few drags — second cigarette to calm down. "You surely have your own little sweet dressing room, don’t you ?" , he teased with a smirk. "Like all those princesses have." He took another drag, before scanning the people over at the pool. "Who are they ?"

 

[clostridium]

Etienne rolled his eyes, but he was smiling, too. He took Adam by the arm and began steering him down the path toward the front, moving with a purpose. He took in quickly that Adam did not look quite alright even now, and thought it best to drag him inside quickly and get him something to eat. If he fell down or threw up, it would make a bit of a poor first impression. As he led him, he explained under his breath.

“Well, perhaps I did not emphasize to you, it was a…sizable inheritance, and I am quite a bit better with my money than my brother is. I prefer growing, not diminishing, you see. Now - that, over there, is Thierry, and the young lady is Willa. She is one of the part-time maids. She comes for the second part of the week. Luz has the first, and Camille is all week, excepting Wednesday and Thursday.” Etienne paused in his strict, lecturing tone and glanced sideways at Adam. A tiny smile curled his lips. “Of course I have. You think I look as I do and I have nowhere to take care of myself properly? That would be preposterous. And you must be careful calling me princess; you shall have me expecting you to align with a more…fairy-tale sort of image. Ah, here he comes, let me see if he is angry with me…”

The man that had been resting at the poolside was striding toward them, long legs covering the ground quickly. The woman he had been speaking to hurried back inside. As he approached, it became fairly obvious that they were closely related. Each was angular, long-limbed, and elegant, but where Etienne was refined and delicate, Thierry was roguish and dashing. He was several inches taller and notably broader, and from the angle of his nose, it seemed to have been broken once before. Both of them had the same silky, dark hair and vaguely aristocratic bearing, such that it was difficult to believe that they were only half brothers.

“Etienne,” Thierry said, sounding rather humorless and a bit annoyed already, “and…unexpected company. How nice.”

“Yes, isn’t he?” Etienne gushed, blowing over the sarcasm as if he hadn’t noticed it. “I’m really an absolute mess, I must go have a bath.”

“Your attorneys came to call. Said you had scheduled a visit. Made things dreadfully awkward for me, having to let them know that no one knew where you were.”

“Awkwardness is a small price to pay, hm?” Etienne’s tone made it clear that this was a dig, and Thierry’s scowl deepened in response. For the first time, his eyes flicked across to Adam, seeming to see him more as one might see an ill-advised armful of shopping bags than a guest.

 

[lillymity]

Surprisingly Adam just let Etienne take his hand, even clung a little to the other's arm like he wasn’t really sure if he could walk straight without support. "And that’s all yours ? Or do you have to share with your brother ?" , he asked, a small smirk lingering on his lips, just waiting to tease him with whatever answer he would get.

As they walked, the blonde eyed Etienne's brother first, his gaze lingering on the maids for just a moment longer. "And they care for you ?" The question was partly pure interest and partly for investigation purposes. Had to consider all the staff guilty as long as they didn’t prove innocent. "Well…do you expect me to be your knight, the one that saves you ?" If you were really creative with their situation, Adam could really be considered the knight that saved the damsel in distress — Etienne.

Watching Thierry approach them, he gave the — much broader than Etienne — man an once-over. He himself was maybe as tall as Etienne's brother, maybe a little smaller. Thierry would probably look intimidating to most, but Adam was used to keep up with taller men. The muscles, he was hiding under the big coat, always to his advantage.

Adam gave Thierry an ironic smile. Not even one minute and that guy was already so nice. Just how Adam liked it.

While the brothers talked to each other, the blonde just watched. Mostly scanning Thierry for any weirds signs in his movements. But for now, there wasn’t much to notice. Just a really tense body and a rather unwelcoming look at him.