hisapprentice | [Puzzle 011]

[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.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Maiza's run has a limp to it as he runs out after Layton. He twisted his ankle sometime during the scuffle, and there's a scrape or two along with bruises. What he was told was true though; those droids are stronger than any thug he's had to knock out before.

He runs past Layton and down the hall, skidding to a halt by the stairs when he realizes that there is nobody there, either. His shoulders slump. It looks like the cut he had on his face is gone now, but so is his friend.]

We lost them...

[The pace at which Luke follows is much slower. He stays in the doorway, staring down the hall after them. They're both a little too new to understand, are they? Czes won't be back until the Malnosso say so.]

[He's heard about these "kidnappings", but being faced with your own lack of power is never easy. He eases up, adjusts his hat, and looks at Maiza's back.]

I'm so sorry. I don't believe there's anything we can do now.

[There's a couple moments before he responds, turning back to Layton and fixing his glasses that miraculously stayed on his nose.]

... No, I'm afraid not.

Are you hurt?

Nothing I won't be able to handle. [Just a few knocks here and there. He'll be all right with a good night's rest. But does he see Maiza favoring one of his legs?]

What of you? You put up quite a fight.

It's just a twisted ankle, should heal soon enough. [Though it makes him give pause when he can still feel the dull pain already minutes after hurting it, he doesn't give it a lot of thought when he feels it fading. He won't be limping anymore as he makes his way back to Layton, turning to Luke.]

Luke-- what about you? You all right?

[Actually he's got a pretty good grip on that doorframe, to match his too-quick nod.]

Yep! I'm...um, well, not great, it isn't good at all that they took Czes. [That's no proper answer at all.]

[Hmm. That... did seem to heal very quickly. Regardless, he inspects Luke as he follows Maiza back.]

You don't seem very surprised, my boy.

[He raises an eyebrow at Luke's grip on the doorway and at his strange answer.]

... Those were the droids, weren't they? I've heard about them. Luke, you sure you aren't hurt?

Just a few bruises. [He's surprised by nothing at all that just transpired - the droids, the futility, or the way Maiza heals within minutes.]

I'm not surprised, Professor. [A quick breath, as though explaining even in small words is hard.] This is...what it meant, in the guide you read.

I see. [And he also sees your dodgy answer, Luke.]

As I seem to recall, you took quite a tumble, Luke. [After diving at one the droids and getting a good whack for it, no less.] Let's all get back inside and recuperate, shall we?

[Maiza, would you do the honors and herd Luke in?]

That's a good idea.

[He certainly will, Professor. Come here, Luke, let Maiza check to see if you can stand steady and then take you back inside. Here's to hoping the couch is upright.]

We should get you some ice for those bruises of yours, huh?

[Hint number one, he flinches from the contact. He'll shuffle himself over to the sofa all on his own, please and thank you.]

That would be really cold.

[Layton picks up a few stray pillows rather slowly and dusts them off before setting them on the couch for Luke's lounging needs.]

Do your best to bear with it, Luke. Remember, it will be difficult to be the best gentleman you can be if you're swollen all over.

[Maiza gets to his feet, acting good as new now, and gestures to the couch at Layton.]

Professor, why don't you take a seat too. I'll get you both some water right now.

I think it's difficult to be the best gentleman I can be this early in the morning, too.

[What he actually does next is get back off the sofa, to pick up the journal he spots lying open near his door. He makes a quiet announcement, then brings it back with him, still shuffling.]

[Layton straightens his coat and sits gratefully, not one to snub Maiza's thoughtfulness. He listens to Luke make his announcement silently and takes a look around the room in the meantime. Hopefully, nothing of importance was broken in the struggle.]

Is this the first time this has happened to Czeslaw?

[Maiza excuses himself from the room to head the kitchen while Luke is making his announcement, coming back quickly and handing them the glasses.]

He hasn't told me it's happened to him before. [But Czes does not tell him much, actually.] Ah... Luke, do you know?

I don't think it has. Not like this. [Luke sips at his water, running his free hand carefully through his bedhead. Ow.] It's never happened to me either.

[Layton takes the water with a thank you.]

Yes, I should hope this isn't a common occurrence. I prefer my mornings violence-free, strangely enough.

I know one other guy who said he'd been taken by droids before. It's true they're not easy to take on, huh?

C'mon, Luke, let us take a look.

Well they're robots, aren't they? Made of metal and everything, of course we can't beat them in our pyjamas.

[This is his most hesitant face.]

Uhm, a look? [Usually he is more savvy than this but the hand-to-ribs gesture is such a giveaway it stings.]

Come now, it's clear that your injuries are bothering you. We'd best treat them as we can until we can get you to a doctor.

And you hit your head. [Don't hide it, kid.]

Can't ever take those lightly, Luke. You're a smart kid, so you know that don't you?

[He's smiling but this is a Look, Luke.]

It's really not that bad. [Really it isn't. Still, he doesn't want to risk Layton's Disappointed Tone so he unbuttons his nightshirt to reveal...almost nothing. A bruise is starting around his ribs on the left side but that's about it.] See?

[Sure, it's going to be a big bruise but that's details.]

[action] in CH7, room 23

[action] in CH7, room 23

[action] in CH7, room 23

[action] in CH7, room 23

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