[Puzzle 004]

[hisapprentice]

[A dejected little boy young gentleman in blue sits in the library today at a table, journal open off to the side. In front of him is a book with a red cover, full of intermediate-level puzzles and riddles. There's a piece of paper beside it, on which he solves most of them - if they require paper.

There are a few interesting ones copied down into the journal, for reference later.

YYHLYEYT?
6L=12 6S=18 6LS=?
Meanwhile...

After a while, Luke sighs in a most ungentlemanly way.]

I wish I knew why this book feels so important. [the sound of ruffling pages] Maybe if Professor Layton were here he-

[Luke cuts himself off almost sharply, closing the puzzle book and doodling a few little pictures of fish and mice instead. One of the little mice wears a tall top hat.]

I wish I could go home.

Comments

written;

[hisapprentice]

[R-Retired at thirty...

The handwriting here is a little slow.]

Professor Layton is an expert at puzzles and a true gentleman, and I'm his apprentice.

[Action]

[mikan_chibi]

...oh. [Feeling slightly glazed just listening to that. Nami frowns.] You're right. That's a lot harder.

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

That's why I wrote it down. I want to work on solving it. It's too bad the answer probably isn't 36.

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

A lot less. [MmmmMMMMmmm now she's intrigued.]

D'you mind if I try?

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

Oh, sure.

[He slides over the book and his open journal, with pencil.]

written;

[endgames]

[He's since learned thirty isn't really that old, even for ninja. Getting past the age of twelve probably helped.]

...you're going to solve puzzles for a living when you grow up?

[Oh and some stuff about being a gentleman, too. That's kind of funny, actually - it's reflected in the great care he took with his words there.]

written;

[hisapprentice]

No, probably not. Just for fun! ...I'm learning from him how to be a gentleman, really.

[And puzzles. And adventure.]

He doesn't solve puzzles for a living either. He's a professor of archaeology.

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

Thanks!

[Hnnn she can do this. Don't mind the tip of her tongue sticking out while she starts scrawling on this page. One small pipe takes three hours, one large takes two, so

6S/18 6L/12

1L=1.5S

18->S 1+1.5??

18/2.5
7.2

dot dot dot...]

Seven hours and 12 minutes.

written;

[endgames]

[Aww. Not as cool as puzzles.]

Huh. That's neat too, I guess. [There's a pause, and then he continues.] He's that Layton guy you mentioned?

[failguardian]

[Oh hey, it's Luke!]

[...And he looks pretty upset. Anise frowns and moves closer, just in time to catch his last words. Luke is...homesick?]

[She quietly walks over until she's standing behind the seat next to Luke, with a tense little smile on her face.]

Hey, Luke, mind if I sit down?

[hisapprentice]

[ASjdaioaksa he jumped a little. At least it's a familiar face.]

Hello, Anise. ...It's not my library, you can sit if you want.

written;

[hisapprentice]

[Luke doesn't think so either. Layton's kind of a nerd about archaeology.]

That's right.

Are you stalling for more time to solve my puzzle?

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

[Luke is very quiet while he watches her. When she's done, he takes the journal back and does some math of his own...and it's identical to hers. Complete with answer.]

I think that really is right. Wow. You're pretty good at that.

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

Eheh, thanks! [She beams.] I've always been good with math.

action

[tolivefortoday]

What kind of puzzles were they?

[failguardian]

[Drawing out a chair and sitting down then, keeping a careful eye on Luke. But it's probably bad to start off with a serious topic right off the bat, so she tries to search for an ice-breaker. The book and notes on the table provide the perfect opportunity.]

So, what's all this?

[hisapprentice]

It's a book of puzzles and I'm writing some down so I can solve them.

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

Math puzzles aren't really the ones I like best.

[failguardian]

I bet you can solve them even without writing any down!

[hisapprentice]

[Oh geez you are making him smile.]

Well, probably, but I can't always carry this book around with me. So I want to have some saved.

[failguardian]

Awww, Luke, you're so smart! ♥ [And that isn't entirely flattery either! She smiles widely back at him, glad to see he's beginning to cheer up.] So, how come you like puzzles so much?

written;

[endgames]

[He was mostly just curious, but he can recognize the subject change.]

Hey, I said I wouldn't spoil it.

[hisapprentice]

Don't you know? [POINT!] A true gentleman leaves no puzzle unsolved!

[failguardian]

So, you're a gentleman, huh? [Gentlemen tend to be rich, right???] That's great! I've never met a real gentleman before.

[Because dem boys in her party totally don't count. Well, maybe Guy, but what self-respecting gentlemen throw poor innocent lolis off their back?]

[hisapprentice]

Professor Layton is a true gentleman. I'm his apprentice!