[An At Home.]

[fallen_tantei]

[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

Comments

[noirneath]

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]

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]

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]

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?

[orchid_below]

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

[fallen_tantei]

[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]

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?