— Folsense had certainly livened up since the Professor and Luke had departed after uncovering the mysteries of the time-forgotten town. It was not quite up to its previous splendor suggested to them in the train station halls, but it was taking strides towards a city full of life as it once had been.
Making his way through the streets, Layton took in the bright lights and atmosphere as he walked on. However, the words “tall, dark, and handsome” beckoning over the crowd made the professor freeze on the spot, worry building in his throat. Flowing purples and pinks wafted into his vision. The same smooth voice and gaze he and his apprentice had met back then. This sort of attention always made him feel uncomfortable, but nonetheless he greeted her with a smile, as any true gentleman should. —
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, miss. I hope you have been well since we last met.”
— Upon observing his surroundings, Layton noticed that he had indeed traveled into the western district of the town, Ilyana’s building of occupation glowing like a rosy candelabra centerpiece in the middle of the square. Just looking upon it made him feel anxious. Cabaret at least sounded more pleasant than other phrasings. The term “gentlemen’s club” had always made his stomach churn. That objectification isn’t what gentlemen stood for at all. How someone had come up with that name was beyond him.
There was another reason he had initially declined a “show” back in Folsense, and it was not just because he had a thirteen-year-old with him at the time. He bottled up his nerves with a polite yet apologetic smile. —
“Thank you for your hospitality, but unfortunately I’m afraid I must turn down your offer. I’m rather short on time, you see. I hope you can forgive me.”
Ilyana felt, admittedly, a bit down when he declined her offer, but she did her best not to let it get to her like it usually did. After all, when most people turned her down, they did it in a much ruder way than Mr. Tophat over here did. (Slurs were, unfortunately, very common for her to receive, so every time a declination went over without one of those crude names, she couldn’t help but find herself a bit thankful.)
Besides, she knew how hard it was to stay so polite when you clearly weren’t interested in something. She loved the attention she got from Mr. Beluga, truly she did, but she certainly didn’t want to settle down with him as he was so clearly suggesting- well, pleading her to. And even if she were interested, well, juggling a marriage and a job like hers would probably be one tricky task. But that was a puzzle for another time and, hopefully, several years down the line.
“How could I possibly stay mad at someone so polite? My, Mr. Layton, for a declination, you sure are making me swoon! Ooh, those girls back in London are so lucky!” She let one of her signature giggles escape her lips before she tried to get a bit more serious. The last thing she wanted was to make the man too uncomfortable. She remembered him being a bit cute when he was flustered, but she certainly didn’t want to scare him off! Especially before she got to thank him.
“Well, you be sure to let me know if I can be of any help, all right? After all, you’ve done so much for this town! It hardly seems fair to let you go off without a proper thank you this time.”
