hisapprentice | [Puzzle 011]

[It's early in the morning, and there's a commotion. The village knows about this commotion because things are scattered in the scuffle, including Luke's journal. It thunks onto the floor of the apartment, open and 'on' enough to record...well.

The sounds of a scuffle.

Bangs and clangs and the occasional mechanical whirr or someone shouting (classic noir American accent or subtle/overt British one, take your pick!) and the end result is a nice, spread-out flurry of chaos.

In which one of the people living in the apartment is no longer there.

After a while, there are footsteps; it's Luke trudging over to pick up his journal and gingerly talk into it.]

Um. They came and...took Czes- Benjamin. [Not without a fight!] Maiza and Professor Layton and I tried to stop them, but it- it didn't work. Sorry. [...] Maybe he won't be gone for long.

[[ooc: Those replying may get an answer from Luke, Maiza, or Layton! Depends on who's got the journal at the moment, and who's off trying to clean up the mess in a dejected manner.]]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[The last bout of icy rain was but three days ago. Layton finds the weather here moody at best. He waits patiently for Luke to de-coat before stepping into the hallway.]

Now that you mention it, I have been feeling a little... aimless, lately. [No mysteries, no papers to write, no students...] Though I'll confess I don't know much about the school at the moment, apart from general hours and location.

Speaking of which, I don't recall you ever mentioning your own attendance at the school.

Well, I wouldn't have mentioned it. There's nothing to mention.

[He's not keeping up with your pace, Layton. Facing this discussion is scary.]

[Maiza is a fairly intellectual individual but puzzles are a new thing to him. He leans over the paper, and what does he do?

Why, read out loud all the gibberish words, of course! Arglebargle.]

[Oh, Luke. He sees your sadface and raises you a smiley.]

Don't look so glum, my boy. I was only curious. I know too well that most youths would rather have fun than chain themselves to a desk.

That's assuming that living here is 'fun', Professor.

[But he'll catch up. Even smile a little.]

And I suppose it is, sometimes. Just not always.

I just hope it's something he can recover from.... aah, he might not mind if he was taller for a few weeks, though. [Just to lighten things up a little.]

Thank you, Firo. I'm still new to the game, so I've gotta count on you.

Isn't that true for all of life? I imagine we'll get ourselves into more than a few predicaments in days to come, but I have faith that there will always be something better waiting around the corner.

[And.

He really missed hearing things like that.

Luke tugs the brim of his hat down a little bit so all anybody might be able to see is a smile.]

Yeah. I hope so.

I hope not, either...

Is the person they took one of your friends? What's he look like? I can tell you if I see him come back.

[She nods.]

A-and sometimes they might be a animal, like a cat! So if you see a cat and they look like your friend, you should double-check and say hi!

He's short like me, with brown hair and a brown hat. He, um, usually calls himself Benjamin.

[It's hard for Luke not to laugh at that. He gets up to join Maiza in looking at the paper, one hand tapping his chin in thought.]

Sometimes the answers to Professor Layton's puzzles are just hidden somewhere.

[While they're puzzling that out, Layton just turns the kettle on and contemplates tins of tea. Which flavour should they have today...?]

What? It's my damn business to know, no matter who tells me!

Maiza..?

[It takes him a second to process the joke, then he smiles and shakes his head.]

He probably wouldn't. Bet they could do it.

You need me over there now to help you clean it up?

Maybe he doesn't want you to know! That's why he has to be the one to decide to tell you or not.

[That hurts. He's always felt a bit cut off from Czes, to be honest, but he still considered him family.]

Why wouldn't he want me to know?

Hidden? You must be used to his ways then, aren't you? Let's see...

I don't know, Firo! I'm not Czes and I can't choose for him. [Ow ow owwwww shouting at you is so painful. Luke winces.] You should ask him when he comes back and see what he says.

Just tell me if you want a hint, and I'll give you one.

[~~FOR A FEE~~ okay no.]

[Maiza glances at Luke and back at the puzzle. He thinks for a few minutes, and he can feel the answer coming-- but he turns to Luke again. It sounds like the kid is really into puzzles, so..]

I think I'll take a hint, then.

[She nods to that.]

Aright! Benjamin with brown hair under a brown hat!

I'll look for him, so if I hear anything I'll tell you!

[Firo wants desperately to yell back, he's already frazzled from hearing about Czes being taken away, and his temper doesn't help. He grits his teeth and forces himself to keep them that way until he's calmed down enough. Luke has done nothing for him to get mad at, he just needs a moment to let that register.]

...Fine. I will.

[After a pause he decides he should ask about that wince too.]

What's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

[Firo can't really see Luke's arms crossed, but he can probably hear it.]

Thanks. That'd be just great. Sorry you had to be awake this early.

Page 6 of 13

[Puzzle 011]

no subject

no subject

[action]

no subject

no subject

[Voice]

no subject

no subject

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[action]

[action]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[action]

[Voice]

[action]

[action]

[voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[voice]