[Plot] A Lonely Island

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Ah... of course." He paused for a moment, trying to think of how to explain it.

"There's this... group. I suppose you could refer to it as a club, comprised of mostly aristocracy with no real power in terms of governance. They've operated in secrecy for centuries.

I am-was, one of it's members."

Colette looked to Chase for a moment, and helped to narrow down the possibilities. "He means 'Ze Board'." She said with little air quotes. "From ze description, it sounds less like ze Illuminati and more like a, ehhn..." She puzzled it over for a moment. "Nipotent gentleman's club for trading favours." She looked back to Edmond. "Zough, I have been told more of what it does not do zan what it actually does."

[Edmond Spencer]

Edmond places his finger on his nose and smirked at Colette, then addressed Chase in return.

"It opens it up a bit, but not as wide as one would think.

When the position was offered to me, I accepted. I had heard all sorts of fun things about these sorts of organizations and I was young and eager to live dangerously.

Turns out, it was worse than having been given the actual title. I found it all very dull, sulking about making business deals, glad-handing people, pretending like I gave a shite about what happened to 'Mother England'.

I often didn't make it to meetings and when I did, I drank my way through them.

Worst.secret.sex.club.ever. "

[Kiwa Ealdwine]

Somehow, Kiwa knew Colette needed more water, and showed up with another pitcher just as Edmond spoke of sex clubs. It earned him a tap to the back of the head and a stern eye.

"Hey watch your mouth. They may be visitors, but they're Chisaki's friends, not yours."

[Chisaki Watanabe]

"Yeah.. so maybe it's not the same. I'm not exactly popular, but I'm hardly a pariah either."

"I enjoy your company though."

"Yes. I know. But that is part of the problem is it not?

We do not enjoy each other's company in the same way. I fear... you would spend your life waiting for me to enjoy your company in some other way. And perhaps I never will..."

[Diego Zapata]

"I told you, I'm fine if you only want to be friends."

You are such a liar Diego Zapata.

"Though I'd be lying if I said I didn't have hopes of becoming something else one day."

[Chisaki Watanabe]

"And what if you spend your entire life hoping that? What if you do not notice a girl who does want to enjoy your company in that way because you are too wrapped up in this?"

[Chase Delacroix]

Edmond places his finger on his nose and smirked at Colette, then addressed Chase in return.

"It opens it up a bit, but not as wide as one would think.

When the position was offered to me, I accepted. I had heard all sorts of fun things about these sorts of organizations and I was young and eager to live dangerously.

Turns out, it was worse than having been given the actual title. I found it all very dull, sulking about making business deals, glad-handing people, pretending like I gave a shite about what happened to 'Mother England'.

I often didn't make it to meetings and when I did, I drank my way through them.

Worst.secret.sex.club.ever. "

Okay, so maybe not that club. Thank God.

"Did you make any specific enemies that might have reason to drag Basil into whatever they're scheming?"

[Diego Zapata]

"And what if you spend your entire life hoping that? What if you do not notice a girl who does want to enjoy your company in that way because you are too wrapped up in this?"

He averted his eyes.

"I don't know. I just know I can't write you off just because you don't feel the same way."

[Edmond Spencer]

Edmond flinched slightly out of surprise at having been smacked, but his follow up response was one Colette was pretty familiar with. Edmond was watching her now with a weird sort of smirk on his face.

Okay, so maybe not that club. Thank God.

"Did you make any specific enemies that might have reason to drag Basil into whatever they're scheming?"

Chase broke his concentration however.

"Not that I'm aware of. As I mentioned, I barely did anything with the title. I really only took it when offered because Beanie encouraged me to do so. She thought perhaps if I had a purpose, I'd have focus in life. And I always did as she told.

The only known enemy I have on the board currently is George Benson, and he took my spot from me in exchange for his discretion."

[Chisaki Watanabe]

He averted his eyes.

"I don't know. I just know I can't write you off just because you don't feel the same way."

Chisaki shifted awkwardly in her spot.

"I am glad you came to see me." Was all she could think of to say in return.

[Chase Delacroix]

"Would Basil inherit the seat if anything happened to Mr. Benson?"

[Diego Zapata]

Diego looked back at her and smile, "Me too. The way you left... I never stopped worrying about it."

[Edmond Spencer]

Edmond arched his brows in thought.

"It's not for certain, but in all likelihood, yes.

Seats aren't automatically given to sons. The Board was designed to eschew the formalities of aristocracy, so women have held seats too as long back as can be remembered. And a Board member can choose who takes their place if they hand over the title willingly. Further still, people can be passed over. They intended for me to be until Beanie used her sway to get them to accept me."

[Chisaki Watanabe]

Diego looked back at her and smile, "Me too. The way you left... I never stopped worrying about it."

"I am sorry for worrying you. I left to find him, but eventually I was dismissed of my duties. I did not wish to go back home to the hotel, and I could not face Colette knowing my lack of actions caused his disappearance.

So I came here."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Augustus said zat ze Spencers held two seats on ze board. If George Benson has yours... who has ze ozer? Is zis Beanie woman a Spencer too?"

[Diego Zapata]

"They came because they thought you might know something. But I'm not here to grill you, so we don't have to talk about that," Diego said.

"That said, you can't know that you wouldn't be missing alongside him if you were there."

[Edmond Spencer]

"Beanie---Beanina is my sister. If Augusta knows this much about The Board, i'm guessing Beanie must be training her to replace her."

[Chisaki Watanabe]

"They came because they thought you might know something. But I'm not here to grill you, so we don't have to talk about that," Diego said.

"That said, you can't know that you wouldn't be missing alongside him if you were there."

"Eddie-kun says the same thing... But..."

[Chase Delacroix]

"If someone outside the family knew about Basil's parentage, would kidnapping him gain them anything?"

[Edmond Spencer]

"Not that I'm aware of, no."

[Diego Zapata]

"Eddie-kun says the same thing... But..."

"I get it. My parents are both cops. My big sister too. I can't count the number of times one of them came home a wreck because they weren't in the right place when someone died. They felt they had failed somehow even when they could have just as easily been the one who got killed."

[Chase Delacroix]

"Not that I'm aware of, no."

"I suppose we'll have to try asking the family members Basil met with a few questions. It's the only thing I can think to do next."

[Edmond Spencer]

Edmond's gaze fell to the table.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Have you all talked to his mother yet?"

[Chase Delacroix]

"In our rush to follow the trail of breadcrumbs we had, I didn't even think of that," Chase said apologetically.

[Edmond Spencer]

Edmond frowned.

"I understand... She's not exactly known for her maternal skills.

But she could know something more recent I don't."

[Chisaki Watanabe]

"I get it. My parents are both cops. My big sister too. I can't count the number of times one of them came home a wreck because they weren't in the right place when someone died. They felt they had failed somehow even when they could have just as easily been the one who got killed."

Chisaki fell silent as she thought about what Diego said. Her thoughts went elsewhere again.

"Colette must be very angry with me."

[Diego Zapata]

"I think she's too worried about her boyfriend to think of much else, but she doesn't seem angry at you."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Edmond frowned.

"I understand... She's not exactly known for her maternal skills.

But she could know something more recent I don't."

"Madame Benson and I are not on ze... best of terms." Colette admitted. "I have a habit of saying ze wrong zings."

[Kiwa Ealdwine]

While the group talked, Kiwa could be heard in the kitchen milling about doing something, probably related to that previously mentioned food.

She emerged with a tamago-don for everyone assembled in the house, and a plate of pickled vegetables to be shared.

"Yea, that ain't you kid, she's a stone cold bitch." Kiwa observed as she set Colette's lunch out in front of her.

"Generally, her name isn't to be mentioned in this house. But considering the topic I'm not enforcing that rule currently."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"If zis were true only wiz here, I might be in agreement Madame, but I have had... a history...."

If Kiwa had even the slightest notion of making amends for wringing Colette out like a dishtowel, she had just succeeded entirely. Food was one of the ways into the girl's heart - new and exotic foods, presented so beautifully, even more so. Even if she was looking more like a teenager now she wiggled upon her little chair like a 5 year old at Christmas, barely able to contain herself, and almost entirely forgetting the previous conversation.

"Oh mon Dieu! Zis looks so amazing!" She gently wafted some of the steam toward her face so she could sniff in deeply before letting out a very contented sigh.

[Kiwa Ealdwine]

"If she wasn't a heartless bint, none of us would be here right now."

Kiwa scoffed, half amused at Colette's excitement. "It's just eggs and rice... and sauce I guess. Nothing amazing."

[Chase Delacroix]

"I should probably bring someone more personable than myself then. It sounds like getting her to talk to us is going to be hard."

Or perhaps Miriam. She speaks bitch.

[Kiwa Ealdwine]

"I'd recommend a telepath, but I'm convinced she's immune." Kiwa stated, placing a bowl in front of Chase.

[Chisaki Watanabe]

"I think she's too worried about her boyfriend to think of much else, but she doesn't seem angry at you."

"I cannot understand why." She replied quietly.

[Diego Zapata]

Diego sniffed the air.

"How about we see how she feels after we eat whatever is producing that delicious aroma?"

[Chisaki Watanabe]

"Alright." She consented, and stood up to go downstairs.

[Chase Delacroix]

"I'd recommend a telepath, but I'm convinced she's immune." Kiwa stated, placing a bowl in front of Chase.

"Looks good. Thanks," Chase said.

"Do you think she's a mutant or just... some kind of incomprehensible alien in human skin?"

[Kiwa Ealdwine]

"I think she's a mutant, low power."

[Diego Zapata]

"Who's a mutant?" asked the lanky cat drawn by the smell of food.

[Kiwa Ealdwine]

"Basil's mum." Kiwa stated, laying out bowls in two open spots for Chisaki and Diego.