[Action]

[holmes_fanatic]

The second storey apartment of the apartment building that Ran and Conan live in has been long empty. There's nothing to attract attention there -- you could be forgiven for never glancing past the faded curtains. Or not noticing when said curtains were taken down and replaced. Inside the kitchen, lounge and one of the bedrooms have been cleaned up

Comments

[Action]

[neutralbyforce]

[Vash smiles as he approaches, reading the sign with a raised eyebrow.]

Good afternoon, Conan-kun. You're starting up your own business now?

[Action]

[holmes_fanatic]

Hello, Vash-san!

[Conan nods, turning away from the sign to greet the nation.]

I figured that if I was getting referred to for questions anyway, I might as well make it official.

[Action]

[neutralbyforce]

[Vash nods in affirmation.] It's a good plan.

I never did check back with you about sitting down and catching up, Conan-kun. Do you have some free time now?

[Action]

[holmes_fanatic]

Of course. That's what the Agency's for -- come on upstairs!

[Conan leads the way inside and up the stairs.]

[Perma-Action]

[neutralbyforce]

[Vash follows, casting an approving eye over the neatness and cleanliness of the interior of the building.]

How is your friend, Ran, doing?

[holmes_fanatic]

Much better, thank you! [The second floor apartment door stands ajar, and Conan leads the way in without pause, waving Vash towards the sofa and arm chairs set out around a low coffee table. There's a desk at the window overlooking the city, and a generous allotment of bookcases.]

A hot afternoon like this -- iced tea, don't you think?

[neutralbyforce]

That's good to hear. [Vash takes a seat in one of the armchairs after glancing out the window at the view.]

Just water would be wonderful, thank you. So, do you and Ran live on the first floor then?

[holmes_fanatic]

Third. With how frequently the city streets are overrun with monsters, first floor's just not safe for us regular humans.

[Conan takes his watch out of his pocket, holding out his hand for Vash's.]

[neutralbyforce]

Ah, that is smart. I've only seen them overrun once and I'm not eager to be swarmed like I was before.

[He digs his own watch out of one of his deep jacket pockets and drops it into Conan's hand without question.]

[holmes_fanatic]

I don't think any of us are, not even the most battle-ready. You heard about the heartless?

[Conan takes both watches into the kitchen setting them carefully on the bench before climbing up on to the bench to carefully pour two glasses of water. He leaves the tap running, intending that the sound of water running drown out their conversation, before getting some ice cubes from the freezer and adding them to the two glasses of water he carries carefully back to the table.]

Please help yourself.

[neutralbyforce]

In passing, yes, but no one seems to want to go into them in detail... Not that I can blame them, the few hints people have dropped here and there.

[Vash accepts the offered glass, taking a deep drink before nodding to the kitchen.]

Are we safe to speak freely now, do you think?

[holmes_fanatic]

Mm. I think they're without a doubt the worst of the threats we faced so far, so it's no surprise people aren't ready to talk about them yet. Ran-neechan was here by herself when the outbreak started -- she was in a lot of trouble, even on the third floor.

[Conan climbs into the armchair opposite Vash.] As safe as we can be in this city, I think.

[neutralbyforce]

...Well, with a name like "Heartless" I don't see how they could be exactly pleasant.

[Vash relaxes a little, feeling slightly better now that the communicators are out of the equation.] Wonderful. I've grown to really hate those things.

[holmes_fanatic]

There is that.

So -- you wanted to catch up?

[neutralbyforce]

[Vash nods.]

I was wondering if you had found anything more out about the fairytale illusion... And also what you know about the catacombs.

[holmes_fanatic]

Mm. I think my suppositions were right, and I found an interesting conversation on the watches just the other day that seems to solve things -- but I'd like to wrap a few more loose ends up first before saying anything.

The catacombs? I was only allowed down there the once, during the end of the Heartless invasion. The walls move, and there were human remains found down there, but I don't think the expedition to investigate them ever got very far.