Chapter Text
Victoria Bursley was the pinnacle of elegance. From Her neatly pinned bun to her tight corset it was clear that when she was alive she had been the height of society. Everything about her was sharp, whether talking about her facial features or personality, with her long sharp nose and cunning wit, piercing eyes and a sharp tongue.
The middle-aged woman was certain of most things- apart from the whereabouts of her wife.
Charles would have thought she was cool if she wasn’t so terrifying. She wore a black over coat that looked a bit like his, although hers was more fitted and wrapped around with a brown belt. Her hat was black too with oversized peacock feathers decorating the left side. Overall her look was very intimidating and Charles felt uneasy about her.
The four of them sat in the Dead Boy Detectives Agency, Edwin and Charles in their designated seats at their desk (Edwin at the chair behind the desk and Charles sitting precariously on the side). Crystal was standing to the right of the two of them leaning back against the wall and looking very cool. In front of them in the client seat was Victoria looking at them with that same grace she always gave off, but also as Charles looked more carefully he saw the crease in her eyebrows and the way her eyes would sharply turn to any sudden sounds. Her entire person screamed evil and Charles wanted to decline the case, because no soul would be moved on from it, and the night nurse would not be pleased.
But surprisingly to Charles he saw Edwin give a polite smile, which he rarely gave to Crystal, let alone clients. “Good to see you again Miss Bursley, although I can’t say I expected to see you exactly the same as last time we met.” Edwin’s words were smooth and relaxed, as if he trusted this woman completely. Charles allowed himself to relax because if Edwin was friends with this woman then he would be too.
“I’d say the same to you too Master Payne, although I had been aware of your death before mine.” To most people this conversation might have sounded like one between mere acquaintances, but Charles knew better. Edwin participating in small talk was a sight rarer than seeing ABBA performing together again. He smiled at his best friend as he continued.
“I’m afraid Madam Bursley, that while we will happily take your case,” he looked at the other two who both nodded, smiling, happy to see Edwin so enthusiastic. Edwin smiled back and looked to Victoria, “There is always the topic of payment, we run a business you know.”
Victoria sighed light-heartedly clearly having expected this. “Still as professional as ever Master Payne, I taught you well,” she winked causing Edwin to blush from the praise. Reaching into her Mary Poppins-esque hand bag, Victoria proceeded to pull out a tea set from it. It was a deep teal, with runes painted so beautifully in gold ink they looked like art.
Crystal walked forward to take the tea set and admire it before placing it on the desk. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, “but-“ Crystals eyes turned almost as sharp as Victoria as she turned to face the woman. “What do you expect us to do with a tea pot?! It’s completely useless to Charles and Edwin.”
“No Crystal, look- there are runes around the tea pot. An enchantment of some kind.” Explained Edwin as if was the most obvious thing in the world.
As quick as ever, Charles thought grinning, walking around the front of the desk to further admire the tea pot. “But what does it do?” He asked.
“You will be able to taste it,” Victoria answered proudly, standing up with her cane and joining the circle around the desk. “Tea served from this pot and poured into any one of these cups will give a ghost a chance to drink tea again.”
Charles looked to Edwin and stifled a laugh at his friend’s dumbstruck face, as he knew his friend constantly wished for a nice cup of tea after a hard case. “This is… how could you ever give it away?” Edwin blurted breathlessly.
A soft look crossed Victorias face, “Because I need to see my Susie again.” Quickly however Victorias hard expression was reapplied to her face as she added, “and well, Susie always missed baking and therefore spent a long time learning how to get that luxury of taste back. This was her 3rd creation…” the talk of her wife caused Victoria to trail off.
“It’s aces Victor-“ Charles cut himself off, remembering how polite Edwin had been earlier. He didn’t want Victoria to think Edwin’s friends incompetent. “Madam Bursley.” He finished instead, bowing his head slightly, causing Crystal to snigger. He elbowed her in the ribs without taking his eyes off of Edwin’s grateful expression, his eyes twinkling and his smile almost open.
It had been 5 months since Edwin had confessed on the stairs of hell and Charles still didn’t know what the fuck to say to him. 5 months ago Charles would of thought Edwin and him solely as best friends but after the confession it was as if a whole new option had been given to Charles. The problem was he wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. Charles wasn’t gay, clearly, he’s had loads of girlfriends and he was definitely cool with snogging them. But a voice in the back of Charles’s mind pointed out how inviting Edwin’s lips looked and how Charles was much too far away from them. Charles loved Edwin more than anything else in the world, more than cricket, music or even David Bowie. But was it romantic love? Charles wasn’t sure. Either way, you can’t be both gay and straight- such an idea was alien to Charles. So instead he tortured himself knowing that Edwin would be forever waiting for an answer to a confession that Charles isn’t sure would ever come. It was scary being given Edwin’s heart. But it was also the most important thing in the world, and Charles was adamant not to mess it up.
Snapping back to reality, Charles realised he had taken Edwin’s hand and Edwin seemed to be taking it a lot more casually than him. He felt himself going red before pushing those thoughts yet further into the back of his mind.
Victoria was looking at him strangely but didn’t say anything before closing her hand bag and stepping away from the desk. “ Last I saw her was in Piccadilly, she’d gone off to clean her great-granddaughter’s house, always thoughtful like that- god am I lucky to have her she-,” Victoria began to ramble before letting out a fake cough, “sorry uh where was I- oh yes! She went to Tilly’s house and then never came home.” A dark look crossed Victoria’s face.
“For a moment I thought she’d done a runner- but no Susie would never do such a thing to me.” The sentence seemed to be Victoria convincing more herself than the others, before finally stepping to leave. “I’ll meet you there first thing tomorrow- be punctual!” She phased through the door leaving the three friends by themselves.
“She pre paid us?” Crystal noticed looking at the tea set Victoria had left behind. “Seems to have an awful lot of faith we’ll find Susie.”
“Because we will find Susie, “Edwin snapped, already going to grab the tea bags left out for the night nurse. “Miss- or well I suppose Mrs Bursley trusted us with this case and we will deliver!”
Trying to ignore how Edwin’s hand in his was making him feel, Charles admired the excitement and certainty of Edwin’s voice, something that had been missing the past few months. Ports town head had affected all of them substantially, but Edwin was clearly the most shaken after everything. “How do you know old Vicky exactly?” Charles grinned, eager to hear Edwin speak further.
With a look of realisation Edwin stood up dramatically to face Charles “I suppose I hadn’t told you! Mrs Bursley was my etiquette teacher and well, “Edwin muttered embarrassed. “A bit of a mother figure to me. I can’t let her down.”
“We won’t.” Charles and Crystal said in unison.
Charles squeezed Edwin’s hand and gave the brightest smile he could muster. “Well mate, looks like we have a case to solve.”