bakerstreet | tell me the truth

[ She doesn't take her hand back right away. Instead, she reaches out for the malt vinegar that sits against the wall, unscrews the cap and pours some on her fries. Bon appétit. ]

You are a trained assassin, and I suppose you think it would bother me. It may have, before this place. If you had told me that your name was Five [ which she says with hesitation, because it really isn't a name but something that she's grown quite fond of— ] and your job was to kill people, I do not think that we would be in the same position now.

However.

[ She drops the fry she was working on and looks at him with her elbows on the table, a true sign of a dignified lady. ]

If you truly think that I do not know what they are doing, you're wrong. My mama has meddled in many potential relationships in my family, and I am no stranger to knowing when people are doing the very same to me. You may be older than I am, but to them, we look the same. I think they think me to be foolish, but I am not.

So, you kill them. I will be the person who notices them and reports them to our superiors. My work will lead you directly to them, and we will both be complicit. I may not be the one twisting the knife, but I am the one who will be sat there each day, wa— [ she pauses and pulls back, a slight frown on her face. It all feels very personal, suddenly. She wasn't sure how much she liked that. It felt like the way he squeezed her hand, and Eloise cleared her throat before speaking again. ]

I will be at my post, waiting for you to return. Because they know that we are tied together, because it was the only way they'd let me come here. The Handler is no different than Lady Featherington. She never does something for free. There is always a play behind her moves. But if your contract expires before mine, I implore you to leave so that they do not get extra time out of you due to my contract.

[ Instinctively he frowns because him being an assassin bothers him. There's a deep part of himself that doesn't want to taint anyone with the blood he has on his hands. Even if she witnesses his acts or sends potential targets to the superiors, it is not the same as carrying out the act.

His body stiffens as she stops short of saying 'watching' and shifts to speaking of being at her post. He hates the way it makes his stomach churn. He doesn't want her to watch any of it. But it isn't like he has a choice in the matter. He looks down at his plate, completely disinterested in touching anymore of it as he has lost any appetite he might have had.]

Eloise. I didn't bring you here to abandon you. I'm not leaving until I know you are free of the sharks. Once you are free of the contract, then we can part ways. I'll feel much more assured, knowing you are somewhere else away from here, living your best life.

[ He replies, finding it easier to just address her plead that he leave once his contract is done and not worry over her contract. That is not going to happen. He promised he would be there for her. ]

Oh, Five.

[ She's torn between reading their situation for filth and completely giving up, but it isn't like her to drop a subject and she knew it'd bother him more if she did. Instead, she pops a vinegar fry into her mouth and immediately fishes it out with a napkin. No; that's not for her. After a drink of coke, she pushes her plate to the end of the table and sighs. ]

They sighed me for five years at the switchboard. If end up being good at it, you know the two of them will incentivize me. Everyone expects me to succeed, and when I do, the won't want me to go. And I may not want to. There's only so much left for me in Mayfair.

I think they put me there because they know I— well, they know that we live together and expect us to grow quite close.

But you deserve retirement. You got to this point and then found me, and if you keep up this fight, they will have you for as long as they have me. And I won't want to leave you, because that is precisely how these things work. I am just starting here, and there's no reason for you to give them your whole life!

Five years leaves a lot of time for things to happened. You haven't even had your vacation time in other time periods. You may find that you like one of those other periods to settle down in rather than staying here after your initial contract expires.

[ He points out because while he knows she's not exactly wrong in her thinking. He is still not going to abandon to the Commission. ]

I'll have retirement, one day. I'm not in a rush here. So how about this? If you decide that by the end of this first contract, you want to stay here. I won't interfere. Instead, I'll just focus on finishing up my own contract. However I'm not leaving before then. I did promise that I would be around to offer you support and that is just as important as a contract to me.

[ He says firmly because he wants her to know that she is stuck with him for the next five years at least. ]

Fine.

[ It's the only thing she can manage to get out. Her cheeks are pink and she looks down at the table, her hands fiddling with the napkin in her lap. The contract sounds a lot like something else, something neither of them wanted, and she's torn between the truth and what was easier to feel.

She can't look him in the eyes, but Eloise knows this feeling. She felt it for the printer's apprentice and suddenly it's so very hard to breathe and it makes her regret eating so many potatoes. ]

We both finish our respective contracts and refuse to resign until both of us have an agreement that takes care of our freedoms. If by the end of five years we still enjoy each other? And you wish for more of my time, I will not think poorly of you for staying.

[ He notes the lack of eye contact as well as the color to her cheeks, but he chooses to say nothing about it. Acknowledging her blushing, would be like acknowledging his own discomfort. Though he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. They are in public and anyone can see them, so he chooses to keep himself precise. Slowly he nods as at least she's not fighting him on keeping his promise to her. ]

That's fair as I wouldn't object if you would like to continue our journey. Even if it takes us away from the Commission.

[ Yep, there goes those pesky feelings again, but he absolutely refuses to give it a voice. It's for both their safety they remain friends and roommates. ]

[ She watches him shift in his seat and it makes her smile more, something that is absolutely unheard of when talking about things like retirement and being confined to a place outside of time and space. Eloise gives his leg a tap with her foot and motions toward the door with her head. ]

Walk me to the grocery store on your way to the debrief? I learned a recipe today, thought you might like to try it for dinner - after all, you shouldn't go thinking of spending your retirement with me until we know if I can actually cook or not.

Alright, but it doesn't really matter to me if you can cook or not. Everyone has their talents. I can cook well enough, so it isn't like we will starve.

[ He tells, unsure why she is thinking that her ability to cook has anything to do with them continuing to stick together. ]

Are you ready to go?

[ He asks as he waves to the server to signal he wants the check. ]

Starving is barely the issue. I worry more that we need to share the load so that one of us isn’t carrying all of the stress on their shoudlers. Though, gender roles.

[ She grins at the remark and then nods at him. They should go, and Eloise knows that if they continue to talk about their post-work plans, someone will overhear them and report it back. She grins at the waiter when they make eye contact with the table and Eloise turns her attention back to Five. ]  

If you cook for us, I will bring nothing to our future. Besides, I managed the toaster with ease this morning!

Well you're not wrong about sharing the load, but again we can always split other tasks. As there is the option to order meals when needed.

[ He points out as he gets up, while fishing his wallet out of his inner coat pocket. Lightly he shakes his head as he doesn't believe that she would bring nothing to their future if she doesn't cook. ]

If you say so then. Let's get your groceries, so you can cook your recipe.

[ Five says with a laugh as he drops money on the table for the tip, before going to the register to pay for their meals. ]

[ Eloise trails after him, her oversized purse full of books knocking the back of a seat as they pass. She gives the person a gentle hand as an apology and walks on. Recalling a recipe while walking is complicated business. ]

Happy Homemaker is not my favourite class but the instructors are patient with me. Yesterday they introduced a blender into the mix—not a pun, thank you— and I forgot to put the lid on it. They specifically asked how I was able to learn the switchboard but not appliances and I was tempted to turn it on so that the mix went around the room. I did not.

[ She leans against the counter and grins at the cashier, her blue eyes shining with delight over the memory. ] Spaghetti shouldn't be so difficult. How hard is it to boil noodles?

It wasn't my favorite class either to be honest.

[ He says with a chuckle as she tells him what happened the other day. He chuckles because she truly is a spitfire. ]

It's probably for the best that you didn't. Since cleaning up after that mess would have been more trouble than what it is worth to get back at them. And it would have ruined your suit.

[ He adds after a beat. ]

Spaghetti can be simple, but you'd be surprised at how easy it is to over cook noodles.

One would think that with access to future technologies, things like spaghetti would no longer be a challenge. The same with cleaning.

[ She takes a mint from the dish, stashes it in her pocket and waits for him by the door. It's an advantageous way to watch him without it looking like longing, but there's an ache in her chest when she turns to look out the door. ]

I don't suppose ice cream goes with spaghetti?

Well they haven't perfected the tools that can do it all without any supervision yet.

[ He jokes, though he is aware in future time periods they will get closer. However he is hesitate to say anything as he would like to see her reaction when seeing those technologies for the first time.]

You mean as dessert?

[ He asks for clarification as he heads over to the door, so they can leave. ]

[ She stares at him with suspicion. Five isn't the kind to tell jokes, but he also has a reputation for being right — and unapologetically so. She decides to roll with it and holds the door open for him, her legs crossed in a polite curtsy. ]

Yes, for dessert. You'd think that those tools would be available for people like me. The hopeless ones.

And before you say that I'm not, I know. I know, I know.

I don't see why not. What sort of flavor were you thinking of?

[ He asks as he walks out the door. He merely rolls his eyes as she acts self-deprecating. ]

Well if you know, then stop discrediting yourself, alright?

[ He says simply with a slight shrug of his shoulders. ]

Vanilla bean, and stop worrying about it so much, [ she says with a huff, walking out behind him with her things. Eloise wants to scoff and tell him that she's just fine and rarely discredits herself, but things are still rocky and weird. She has a job. That alone is a major shakeup. ]

And if we choose not to have it, there's always room in the ice box.

No. I won't let you put yourself down, when you are in my company.

[ He says flatly. It was probably the first time he has taken a stand against someone shit talking themselves. But he doesn't like hearing her discrediting herself, let alone putting herself down. He can't just say nothing or just accept that quirk. ]

It bothers me, when you do.

[ He adds in a softer tone as he stops walking momentarily and glances over to her. ]

Oh.

[ She walks alongside him, happy to be back out in the fresh air. The diner is one of her favourite places so far, but it's been burned into her brain that there are eyes and ears everywhere.

Her cheeks pinken and she gives him a quick smile. He's a good person, under all that gruff talk. ]

I can't let them think that I'm so confident. Remember what we said? About it being okay to look a little weak? Perhaps I just get carried away.

I know, but you tend to do it when we are alone as well.

[ He points out because yes, he does remember they discussed her hiding some of her awareness of the situation. He just didn't count on how much it would bother him when she said disparaging things about herself. ]

I suppose I do.

[ If she wasn't so focused on walking and not tripping in her new shoes, Eloise might try to give him a nudge in an attempt to ease the situation. Instead, she looks over at him and shrugs. ]

Do you wish to deal with an ego, instead?

No, you don't need to boast about yourself. I just prefer if you not insult yourself when we are on our own. That's all.

[ He just doesn't think talking badly about one's self is helpful. ]

So maybe just be kinder to yourself?

I will work on it.

[ She's not the kind to say that she'll do something and ignore it down the line. After everything she's been through over the years with her social circle, Eloise knows the worth of a promise. ]

Feedback is important. I am glad you are comfortable enough with me to be honest.

[ He believes her, when she says she'll work on it. So he nods that he understands and well he hopes that does treat herself a little kinder. She's been pretty incredible with how she has handled things in stride. He's been nothing but impressed. Though he doesn't want to heap on the praise and make things awkward between them. At least not more so than they already are. ]

Well I'm glad that you didn't take offense to my feedback.

I might if you had something to say about my hair or how I study, but even then I'd consider myself capable of firing back.

[ The hair had become an issue, but she had an appointment with the hairdresser to seek a solution! There were moments when she missed having a person to tend to her every need, but she certainly wasn't going to ask for one. ]

What do you enjoy eating the most? Just in case I feel like impressing you with my skills, of course.

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