[An At Home.]

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

[There was a notice placed on the table of the dining room this morning, a thinly handwritten card announcing in spidery letters that:

Kudo of the 'Neath
a sagacious and perilous gentleman
will be At Home between the hours of 2 and 4 this afternoon
and Most Cordially requests Your Company.

Instructions on how to reach his room follow. If you take him up on his invitation, you'll find him in his room, the wooden floor neatly swept and with a borrowed carpet covering most of the tiny bullet holes. All sorrow spiders have been firmly shown the door, his bookcase dusted, the more shocking volumes put behind the presentable volumes, a couple of armchairs acquired by mysterious means and his bed, made and adorned with cushions as a make-shift sofa. The shelves, mantlepiece, cupboards, indeed, anywhere the light catches seems to be stuffed to the brim with various curiousities -- archaeological finds, letters, amulets, although in expectation of a visit by Kuroba, he has removed the more valuable items.

The hosts grey overcoat and bowler hat are on a hat stand, meaning that without them boosting his Shadowy, their owner is fully visible for once. He is pale and has recently lost weight, but there is a wiriness to him that suggests he is not to be taken lightly. He's kept his Neath glass goggles on -- dull green lenses that boost his ability to see by candlelight despite not needing them in the natural light coming from the window -- he feels naked enough without hat and coat that he's not sure about removing the goggles at all. Currently he is seated in one of the armchairs, fidgeting with his tie as he waits for a crumpet to toast.]

Comments

[noirneath.livejournal.com]

Inviting strangers into your humble abode now, are we?

[... when did he get there? well, considering his own Shadowy rating, that is probably a question without an answer. but there Kuroba is, seated in an armchair himself, a book he yoinked from the shelf in hand as he flips through the pages with a hum]

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

Can you really say 'strangers' in this place?

[Typical Kuroba. Not even a how-do-you-do -- wait, when did he even arrive? Kudo raises an eyebrow but doesn't otherwise comment on Kuroba's entrance, or lack thereof. Instead, he looks to the crumpet, a rather inviting golden brown by now. This one's ready.]

Crumpet, Kuroba?

[noirneath.livejournal.com]

Of course I can. Though they may share the names and faces of our comrades, they are still individuals we don't know.

[page flip] If you would, Kudo.

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

To a point. Although -- well, have you made your own acquaintance yet?

[Setting the next crumpet on the toasting fork -- now, that was a lucky find -- Kudo turns to the table next to him.]

Butter? Honey?

[noirneath.livejournal.com]

I have. [no explanation for his answer. he is also watching as Shinichi toasts crumpets with a fork, eyebrow quirked]

Have you met the electric bread toaster in the kitchen yet?

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

[Kudo can make his own inferences. Also, since you didn't specify, you're getting butter.]

We have not been formally introduced, but I'm acquainted with the device -- the small rectangular box?

[noirneath.livejournal.com]

[butter is acceptable]

With slots on the top for sliced bread. It toasts quite evenly.

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

That's the one. It is a wonder of efficiency. [Here is your crumpet.]

How do you take your tea?

[noirneath.livejournal.com]

This entire mansion is a wonder of efficiency.

[taking his crumpet] As it is, if you will.

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

Do you class its geography as efficient then?

[Black tea for Kuroba! This host business really isn't so hard.]

[noirneath.livejournal.com]

Not the geography, but everything inside. It's merely simple to categorize it all as 'The Mansion.'

[taking his tea happily]

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

You're enjoying your sojourn then?

[noirneath.livejournal.com]

So far. It's been... interesting, to say the least.

[sip~]

[orchid_below]

[have a polite knock on your doorframe! Provided said door is open]

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

[For this particular lady? Of course. Kudo stands as he recognises his caller, crumpet momentarily forgotten.]

Miss Ran. I am glad you could stop by.

[orchid_below]

May I inquire as to the occasion?

[enters with a swish of skirts]

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

No occasion -- just a simple wish to become better acquainted with the inhabitants of this place.

[Pouring Ran a cup of tea -- look, he's remembered how she takes it.]

Do you prefer butter or honey on your crumpets?

[orchid_below]

And have you?

Ah, honey please.

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I can't say that I have -- perhaps the At Home is a custom only amenable to those of our world?

At any rate, I'm not complaining -- with my present company, I can safely say that old friends have lost none of their interest.

[Crumpet.]

[orchid_below]

Or perhaps they're not used to taking it at this time of day. Though the customs here are certainly quite strange.

[sips]

I would be worried had you lost interest in us in so short a time. [crumpet!] Oh, thank you.

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

That is a possibility. One only has to think of the tea and refreshments served by your counterpart to realise that we all hail from rather different ways of life.

I should not think that was something Miss Ran should ever need fear.

[orchid_below]

More than rather, if any of the tales are to be believed. And then there are the rooms in the basement...

I'm quite grateful for that. [smiles again and takes a dainty and obviously pleasurable bite of her crumpet. Warm bread and honey, yum]

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

The tales?

[orchid_below]

I spoke to a young boy named Conan who had stories of mechanical constructs, giant monsters, and invulnerable people who can fly.

[still sounds somewhat divided over whether she believes it. Quite a lot here is fantastical, but that Conan was a little... well, overly excitable]

I've also heard mention of trains that move at impossible speeds, electrical boxes that permit you to speak to people on the other side of the world, and powered gliders made of metal that carry loads of people through the air.

[fallen-tantei.livejournal.com]

[It's only the fact that Ran mentioned 'young boy' that stops Kudo reacting -- he's pretty sure that no one has yet deduced his literary identity, although running into Nakamori at the University had been an unexpected challenge.] Fly as well? That is -- a remarkable world indeed, if he is to be believed.

There is much to wonder at here. Is there anything in particular that has captured your interest?