Layton: Alright, listen up. From now on we will be using codenames to make our operation more legitimate. You can address me as; "Eagle One".
Layton: Zarah, codename; "Been There Done That".
Layton: Josie is; "Currently Doing That".
Layton: Melanie is; "It Happened A Few Times in a Dream".
Layton: Pike, codename; "If I Ha--
Till: Hang on. Melanie is "it happened once in a dream"? You've had fantasies about Melanie?
Layton: Yeah, weren't you listening?
Till: We're talking about Melanie Cavill? Wilford's right hand? The Hospitality bitch? The Nightmare? The woman behind the curtain? Our #1 enemy until she switched sides about five minutes ago? That Melanie?
Layton: ...Yeah. But only in like two positions.
Melanie: I'm honored, Eagle One.
Till: For the love of--
*Bonus: A Few Days Later*
Layton: Alright, so before we get into the nitty-gritty details of how to deal with the Wilford problem, we're gonna have to make some changes to the codenames.
Till: Oh, thank God, he's seen the light.
Audrey: Now don't get ahead of yourself, Eagle Two.
Layton: Right so, Zarah, formerly codenamed "Been There, Done That" has been promoted to, "Been There, Doing That Again".
Pike: Oh, uh. Okay.
Melanie: Congratulations.
Layton: Thanks. Meanwhile, Josie, formerly codenamed "Currently Doing That" will now be known as--
Josie: Look, you can either use my name or don't speak to me at all. I'm sick and tired of your childish games.
Layton: ...We'll go with "Currently Working Through Some Stuff."
Till: *rolls her eyes so hard she can see the back of her skull*
*Bonus, Bonus: A Few More Days Later*
Layton: Thank you all for coming, I just need to update you on some changes to the codenames. Now, Josie formerl--
Till: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN E-MAIL!
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*just before Layton's Nightcar visit*
Audrey: Clay! We're going to have a visitor. Can you to cover the bar, I'll need a bit of time to get ready.
Clay: Sure. How long do you need?
Audrey: Oooh. Ages.
Zarah: Oh, if you want I can--
Audrey: No, no, I need your opinion. What do you think? *holds up shimmering corset and tophat*
Zarah: ...
Zarah: Works on me.
Audrey: *sighing and turning to the mirror* Everything works on you.
Clay: She's right.
Zarah: Okay could you just go please? *to Audrey, indicating the lipsticks* What shade?
Audrey: Blood.
*Zarah applies the lipstick for her*
Zarah: So what are you gonna wear?
Audrey: My battle dress.
Zarah: Lucky boy.
*several minutes later*
Layton: Yo, Audrey. I need to ask you some questions about a murder.
Audrey: *struts in naked* Yes?
Till: *faints*
*Bonus*
Zarah: You don't think she--
Clay: Killed a man just so she could flirt with the detectives? Who knows. I just pour the drinks.
Zarah: ... Give me one.
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Fics I'm never gonna finish part 12: Y2 Christmas Party
Based on this wonderful fic by @train-pirate 😍
"One Schnapps!" Ruth announced as she plonked herself ungraciously on a stool at the bar. Her hair had worked its way loose from dancing, and hung framing her face. That and her make up - so much heavier than her usual day-to-day - made her seem so much more a normal person, so much more approachable, that Zarah couldn't help but grin at her across the bar.
"Am I drunk or are there two glasses there? I only want one," Ruth asked, furrowing her brow as Zarah clinked the small glasses down onto the wooden surface.
"You are drunk, Ruth. But only one is for you. I -" Zarah lifted the closest glass and swallowed the contents in one go, wincing slightly. "Am officially off duty."
"I'll drink to that," Ruth replied, raising her own glass as if to toast the woman behind the bar before drinking it quickly and easily. The liquor had ceased to burn several drinks ago, and instead all Ruth felt was the warmth of it as it settled in her stomach. It wasn’t often she got to truly let go, and she had told herself in the mirror many hours prior that she was going to really unwind tonight, to be completely and unapologetically Ruth for once.
Zarah poured them each another, winking as Ruth raised her eyebrows.
“Well I never said I was going home,” Zarah laughed. “I figure if I stay on this side of the bar, no-one will notice that a lowly worker like me is crashing the party. And if they notice I’m having a drink -”
“We shall just tell them I bloody well insisted you did,” Ruth half-whispered conspiratorially.
“Buying me a drink now are you?” smirked Zarah, “Aren’t you quite the flirt, Miss Wardell.”
Ruth’s cheeks blushed red, but she didn’t reply. She knew Zarah was teasing her, making a joke, but the truth was Ruth had been enjoying the view a little more than she cared to admit. Instead of thinking too hard about that, though, she swallowed down another Schnapps.
“I haven’t seen you in the Nightcar for a while,” Zarah said, changing the subject. “You were becoming a regular for a while there.”
Ruth nodded, recalling the appointments she had booked with Audrey on so many or her rare days off. For months on end, her experiences had been small moments of calm whilst she felt otherwise totally adrift, dealing with unexpected feelings that had taken her totally by surprise.
“Yeah,” she laughed nervously. “Miss Audrey helped me work through…that little issue.”
Zarah held her hands up in mock defense, sensing Ruth’s anxiety.
“Hey, I don’t know what went on in there, promise. S’all confidential.”
“She gave me some good advice on getting over someone,” Ruth replied, not able to stop herself from sharing anyway.
Zarah snorted.
“Is it getting under someone else? It’s getting under someone else isn’t it.”
Ruth blushed again, not needing to confirm with words.
“And?” asked Zarah.
“And nothing,” replied Ruth. Zarah raised her eyebrow. “I’ve been too busy with work. But just knowing it’s okay to let that happen has helped some.”
“Well you’re not too busy right now,” giggled Zarah.
“Now who’s flirting?” Ruth smiled, a warmth in her cheeks.
“I meant,” came the exaggerated reply, “there’s plenty of options here tonight. Let’s find you someone to take home.”
Ruth probably should have argued, but instead she turned to survey the crowd as Zarah leant bodily across the bar, their heads almost touching as they stared out across the dining car. She had promised herself, after all. And she had at least the next 24 hours free, something that might not happen again for a long time. Ruth made a mental note to thank Melanie for that. Which was a mistake, as the familiar ache crept up inside her, churning the alcohol in her stomach.
“What about Amelia?” Zarah’s question, her head nodding towards the woman who was in deep conversation, was thankfully enough to shake Ruth out of her thoughts.
“The Notary? Hmm. I don’t think -”
“What are you two doing?”
Ruth snapped her head round to find Jinju approaching the bar, her face flushed from dancing, or drinking, or both. Ruth’s eyes followed the line of her long necklace, a delicate chain that flowed down her neck, her chest, ending in a small fish shaped charm that hung down between her breasts.
“Fishing,” giggled Zarah, and Ruth caught herself, quickly dragging her eyes back up to Jinju’s face.
“Ohoh,” guffawed Jinju, lightly tapping Ruth’s arm and following her line of sight. “Good for you, Ruth.”
“She’s getting over someone,” Zarah explained over Ruth’s head.
Ruth didn’t meet Jinju’s eyes, but felt them boring into her nonetheless. If Jinju had any idea quite who she was getting over, she didn’t say it out loud, but instead she pointed to the far side of the dancefloor.
“What about Boki?” asked Jinju with a grin. “He’s a bit rough and ready but I’ve heard he’s got a really big -”
“JINJU!” Zarah exclaimed, and Ruth covered her ears.
“Heart! I was going to say heart!” Jinju giggled.
Ruth and Zarah both groaned in response.
“I think he might be spoken for,” added Ruth after a moment, nodding to the gaggle of women dancing around him.
“Fine, fine. What about the Notary?” Jinju asked.
“That’s who I suggested,” prompted Zarah when Ruth didn’t immediately reply.
They both looked at Ruth expectantly.
“I just…” Ruth couldn’t find the right words.
The three of them sat like this, heads pressed together like schoolgirls, surveying the room for quite some time.
“You’re being very picky for someone who wants to get laid, Ruth,” Zarah announced after another round of drinks, earning her a glare before Ruth pressed her face into her hands.
“Ughhh,” she groaned, before sitting up and downing the liquid quickly. “I’m not trying to be. I’m just… out of practice. Nervous.”
Jinju gave Zarah a pointed look behind Ruth’s back.
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