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.]]

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[That's about enough of that. Layton shuts his tea tin calmly but firmly.]

Luke. A true gentleman never loses his composure. Nor does he turn his back on an unfinished conversation.

[That stops him, all right. A whole pile of thoughts tumbles through his head. They came and took away his friend/not!brother/the kid who doesn't always seem to like him, and nothing they tried in a fight could stop them, they might be doing horrible things to Czes, and then Maiza treated him like a little kid with that puzzle, acting like he didn't know just to see what Luke would do, and now the Professor's scolding him and he's disappointed and- and it's making his head hurt, not to mention his chest, so Luke stops in the doorway.

And he stands there with his head down, shoulders slumped forward, not saying anything.]

[He approaches Luke and puts a hand on the boy's shoulder.]

I wasn't trying to tease you. I enjoy seeing folks do what they like to do, that's all.

[Layton keeps silent. He trusts Luke will be able to handle this on his own.]

You thought you could trick me into...not thinking about what happened.

[Even as he says it, he's not sure that's what he is so riled up about. At least it's on the list.

He wants very much to just keep walking.]

I thought I could see you do something you liked, now that the professor's here to provide us with puzzles.

What was wrong with my puzzles?

There was nothing wrong with them. But if you're the one telling puzzles, I can't watch you solve them.

[It unnerves him most that Professor Layton keeps on being silent. That's why he hasn't turned around, or even looked much at Maiza. Maybe if he doesn't look, he can keep up the feeling that his anger is justified.]

That was a kids' puzzle.

[This doesn't convey the problem either.]

A puzzle's a puzzle, isn't it?

[Maiza shakes his head though he's not sure if Luke can actually see it.]

In any case, I apologize for upsetting you.

[The headache has effectively scrambled any sense he had of what he was really angry about. He shrugs.]

It's fine.

[He's thankful that Maiza is so patient, or this could have been much worse. Layton makes his way over, carefully stepping around the mess on the floor.]

I know it's been a trying morning, Luke.

[Maybe he makes a sound. He does nod, silent and slow.]

... Why don't you get some rest? We could all use some downtime, I think.

I think that would be a good idea.

[He stops behind Luke. He won't force the boy to face him, but he stands there with silent expectation.]

You still seem troubled, my boy.

[Sigh.]

It's not important, Professor.

[And he almost just heads for his bedroom but he cannot, as he was just advised, leave this conversation unfinished.]

Sorry.

[He gets the sense that this is difficult for Luke, but if any part of his frustrations can be amended, then Layton would at least like to try. But first, he has to understand what Luke's frustrations actually are.]

'Sorry'? Whatever for?

For...for being rude.

[For doing things that result in your disappointed voice, really.]

[He shakes his head slowly, even if Luke can't see it.]

That isn't something you need to apologize to me for. I know more than anyone how hard you try to do the right thing.

[Well in that case. He looks up at them both slowly.]

Sorry, Maiza.

[On top of all of this he keeps worrying about Czes. What will happen to him. The things that it seems like nobody knows...]

[He smiles and nods gently.]

It's all right, Luke. You had a hard morning.

[Very good. And yet Luke still seems worried. Layton thinks for a moment before kneeling and resting a hand on Luke's shoulder.]

I know you must be tired and very worried. I wish I could assure you that everything will be fine, but none of us here can know that for certain. The best we can do is trust Czeslaw to be strong until his return; the very least we can do is be strong for him in the meantime. Do you understand?

[Oh.

Well there are all sorts of memories tied up in things like this aren't there?]

Of course I understand. [Not in that indignant tone, either. He looks pretty grateful actually.] I'm the one who told you how it would happen, remember?

[Look though he's almost smiling, sort of. Thanks, Professor.]

How could I forget? [He gives Luke's shoulder a pat before rising to his feet.]

Now then, I believe the tea should be about ready.

[Maiza watches their exchange quietly and straightens himself as the professor rises.]

I can get you your cups.

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