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

[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.]

[That's a good lad.]

Hmm. [He's no medical expert, but nothing seems out of place to his unpracticed eye.]

You will tell us if it starts bothering you, won't you, my boy? Though we should still get that bump on your head looked at. Just in case.

[Maiza is no expert either, at least not ones like this. The ones he's used to seeing and actually worrying about tended to involve more blood and weapons. He's glad none of that's applying to Luke at the moment.]

Can you see fine?

Mmhmm. [A bit indignant, he buttons his shirt again and resists crossing his arms. That would be a bad idea.] I could probably see better if we had more of the lights on.

[Realizing the possibility of Layton telling him not to be rude, Luke sighs and rubs the back of his head again, but differently this time.]

I wish they hadn't gotten him.

[He knows Luke is trying his best. He stands to turn those lights on, and maybe get some of that ice.]

I think it's safe to say that none of us are exactly pleased with this situation.

[Maiza bites his lip. He's not pleased at all. He'd been determined to keep Czes safe -- and look at the situation now. But he doesn't want to let that show too obviously, so he'll get to his feet and pick up some of the knocked over furniture around them.]

You got that right.

[It may not be too obvious but Luke remembers fragments of what Czes had to go through and thinking of it now makes him uncomfortable.]

They should leave him alone. [Fighting words, accompanied by a slight wince.] They should leave all of us alone.

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