The Case of Blackthorn Mansion [closed to Apollo, Stiles, and Heiji]

[detectiveofthewest]

"Dear Mr. Justice,

My family has recently suffered a great misfortune, of whose exact manner I am loathe to discuss by letter. An acquaintance of mine suggested that your law offices may be able to provide some remedy. I pray that this is the case.

Enclosed are instructions to the family estate. I hope you will forgive me for this impersonal manner of address, but if you can at all find it within your heart to lend an ear to my troubles, you would have my eternal gratitude. I shall be waiting for your visit on the date provided.

Best Regards,
Violet Blackthorn."

Heiji looked up from the letter and the swirl of the writer's signature. After a moment, he folded it up, and handed it back to Apollo. "Hey, I've actually heard of these guys. Real old family, used to make a lotta donations. High-society, but now it's down to two or three people."

The neighborhood of Viola Blackthorn's house certainly seemed to be a storied one. One particular house, grey, stately, and slightly dilapidated, rose at the end of the street. It was to this house that they'd been summoned, and it was indeed quite large -- practically a mansion. A heavy oak door served as its entrance, with a lion's head door knocker mounted on its face. The lawn was immaculately kept.

Oddly, they'd been directed to the service entrance, not the main one. Or maybe this was by design and Miss Violet Blackthorn simply didn't want Mr. Apollo Justice and co. using the door meant for high society. In any case, they'd arrived just in time; the sky was darkening with the rain clouds that promised quite a drenching...

Comments

[mensrea]

"Me neither," comes the immediate agreement from Stiles, which proves to be false a few weeks later when he does exactly that. "The sooner we can get outta here, the better. Can one of you help me bring her upstairs? I don't...wanna just leave her like this."

[detectiveofthewest]

"I will," said Heiji, taking Violet under the shoulders. "You get her legs, okay? Maybe we can set her up on a couch, see if there're any smelling salts around. She don't look too bruised up, but I bet this was way more excitement than she ever got up to normally."

[mensrea]

Stiles really doesn't wanna hold some stinky old lady's legs while they drag her back upstairs, but there's no way he can protest after nearly concussing her. With a nod, he does as he's told and helps Heiji bring her to the couch.

[apolly]

Apollo crosses his arms while watching, wondering if he should find a Tylenol bottle or something for the poor old lady. She went through way too much tonight.

"... She probably won't remember anything, so we can just. Leave and pretend we never came here, right?"

[detectiveofthewest]

"I can check in on her after we leave," offered Heiji. "There are tons of foxes in London. I doubt she'd notice one around the house. I ain't sure how much she'll remember -- but I think the Night Council probably has ways of taking care of that, too, right?"

Not actually so keen on that bit; messing with people's memories was slightly sketchy territory. But since they were going to be given Violet's family's most preciousest family heirloom anyway...

[mensrea]

Stiles also has mixed feelings on the matter; on the one hand, he’s relieved that the woman won’t remember him tackling her like a linebacker. On the other, he’s uneasy to hear that this so-called Night Council is allegedly prepared to use judicious memory-altering abilities on the human population. He doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like the insinuation that someone like him could be dealt with so effortlessly by Men In Black wannabes. Bitter, he thinks Derek Hale might have approved.

[apolly]

Apollo spots Stiles's reaction. Easily, no less. That's part of his power thing after all.

"... Look, it's out of our hands. We'll have to let the Night Council deal with it however they need to."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji made a face. "Fine. You take the jar, Apollo. We should probably get outta here before someone wonders why we haven't come out from our visit."

Like he was going to ferry the ghost jar to the Night Council. Gross, no way.

[mensrea]

“Heiji, can you give me a ride back? Even if it’s just to your café, that’d be cool.”

Honestly, he wants to leave this hellhole ASAP.

[apolly]

Apollo doesn't wait anymore, just heads straight for the exit and it feels so free when the outside air hits him. Oh thank god. This is what miracles and dreams are made of.

"Okay. Case solved, right. The first thing I'm doing is stopping by a McDonald's and then I'm going home. The paperwork can wait." I need my sanity.

[detectiveofthewest]

"The cafe? I'll take ya home! Better get back and put some ice on that face." After all, Stiles had kind of taken one for the team.

He patted Apollo amicably on the back as he headed to the rental. "You should eat healthier! Get that stamina up for yelling in court!"

[mensrea]

Waving briefly to Apollo, Stiles climbs into the passenger seat of the rental and prepares for the ride home. This is definitely not what he expected when he tagged along with Heiji earlier. Still, he doesn’t regret it—attempted murder, an old lady with a shotgun, a ghost with bad puns. Today was awesome.

Even if his face was throbbing. Ow. Oh well. All in the line of duty.

[detectiveofthewest]

Just as the last of them stepped out the door and down the front walk, a small, menacing dark shape popped out from somewhere above the sloped overhang above the entrance.

It began blinking on and off, wobbling wildly back and forth as it made spooky noises.

C-case closed...