[Puzzle 013]

[hisapprentice]

[Part 1

Homework on the weekends is just plain unfair! Luke chooses not to bring this up with his favorite teacher, however, opting instead to carry his notebook and papers and books to somewhere else to study. He considers the library, standing before its door for a while, but in the end he turns around and goes through the Welcome Center to the Tea Shop instead. The sense of bustle helps him get all distracted concentrate.

Plus, there's tea. He chooses an empty table and spreads out everything he'll need. As usual, this turns pretty quickly into him sitting there with a full cup of tea while he devises puzzles on paper or of paper. At the height of his distraction he builds a tower of folded paper cubes...and a gust of wind through the window scatters them all across the floor.

Then he's got to pick them up again.

Part 2

After all - or most - of his schoolwork is finished, Luke shoulders his bag and heads off to the stables. Just because Mr. Greg went home is no reason to slack in his responsibilities! He loves the horses and they tend to like him too. Besides, he brought carrots.

He greets any fellow stablehands and goes about his horsey business, picking up a rake to start on clearing one of the stalls. Of course, you've got to get the horse out of it first.

What happens next isn't quite clear to him once it's over; all he knows is that something spooked the horse and he managed to get out of the way before it kicked, and now he's on the ground with the rake's handle trapped beneath him. Pushing himself up again, he sees that the sound he heard must have been said handle half-snapping as he landed on it. Then he notices something else.

A bit shaky, he goes back to his bag and fumbles his journal out of it.]

I think there's...a bit of a problem... I'm at the- the stables and I fell and, uh...I might be hurt.

[Though he sounds unsure, it's the kind of unsure that really makes one sure.]

[[ooc: Go ahead. Break time. You know you want to. It'll be great. (Meaning, of course more than one person can find him at the tea shop/pick up papers with him/discover his fate in the stables. Have fun!)]]

Comments

[reminded]

[It's a relief to see that he's still in one piece, at least. Layton frowns and heads over, giving Luke and his surroundings a quick once-over.]

Luke? Are you all right? [He obviously isn't, but it's a place to start.]

[hisapprentice]

I think...I think the rest of me is okay. [But he's pale and in obvious pain.]

[reminded]

[He kneels and puts a comforting hand on Luke's shoulder -- softly, just in case there are any hidden injuries.]

Where does it hurt?

[hisapprentice]

J-Just my arm. [The brave face falters a fraction, but he keeps himself steady.] I fell on top of that rake over there.

[reminded]

[He glances at said rake. A hard fall on that could do some damage. He holds out a hand, palm up, in front of Luke's injured arm.]

Would you let me see it for a moment? No need to roll up your sleeve. [He's pretty sure neither one of them needs the visual.]

[hisapprentice]

[It is only his implicit trust of Layton that brings him to move his right hand out of the way. Holding his arm up on its own is painfully uncomfortable though, so he doesn't just drop it.]

[reminded]

[Layton supports Luke's arm gently at the wrist and holds his other hand over the injury if only because it feels right to do so. He's never been able to practice Nala's powers on anything more severe than a cut or bruise, lacking both the opportunity in others and the conviction to create such an opportunity in himself. So when he tries healing Luke's arm, he has to wonder if it will be enough. He focuses intently as an inexplicable light gathers around the wound, blinking only once it's faded away. Then he lowers his hands and searches Luke for a reaction.]

How does it feel?

[hisapprentice]

["Like we're back in Folsense" just won't do.

What just happened here? Luke struggles to fit his image of Layton together with the 'oh yeah that's magic' bit.]

Uh... [And fails.] It's, ah, it's a little better, I think.

[reminded]

Only a little? Does it pain you to move your hand? We'll need to get you to a proper doctor if the healing wasn't enough.

[hisapprentice]

[The urge to answer with an 'it's great it's totally better let's go home' is almost too strong to ignore.

But that would be lying. He wiggles his fingers a little, hopefully - and hisses.]

Well it didn't hurt in the beginning either. ...I-I guess it still does, sort of. [The truth is that whatever Layton just did made it feel quite a bit better. He had to get over the dazzle first.]

[reminded]

Hm. [He can't help but feel a little disappointed in himself.]

All right. Do you feel well enough to walk to the clinic?

[hisapprentice]

[Sensing Layton's disappointment, Luke nods, starting to get to his feet without assistance. Then he thinks his mentor might prefer a real answer.]

Mmhmm. I'll be okay.

[reminded]

Let me know if it begins to trouble you. [Layton rises, adjusts his hat, and moves toward the exit. Slowly, so as to keep pace with Luke.]

What happened? It isn't often you take such a hard tumble.

[hisapprentice]

[Luke keeps his eyes on the ground.]

One of the horses got scared, so I backed up in case he decided to kick me. I guess...I didn't leave that rake far enough out of my way. [That has to be it, though the actual events are all blurred.] I'm sorry, Professor.

[reminded]

[He looks askance at Luke, not expecting an apology, and then smiles for the first time since Luke's call for help.]

There's nothing to apologize for, my boy. If anything, I'm impressed with how you've handled yourself thus far.

[hisapprentice]

[Things like that will drive him to lose his composure much faster than...well, anything. Silent, he nods and tries to disguise a sniff as just a breath.]

I didn't want anybody to worry.

[reminded]

If we worry for you, Luke, it's because you're worth worrying about. Take it as a compliment.

[hisapprentice]

[Sometimes, Layton is one weird gentleman.

Luke keeps mum about whether this is one of those times.]

Thanks. ...Where did you learn to do that anyway?

[reminded]

I was prodded into giving it a try by young Red Savarin. I had no good reason to refuse, and in hindsight, it's quite fortunate that I didn't. It's quite the handy ability.

[hisapprentice]

I never pictured you doing magic. [He is, however, not complaining.]

...What do you think they're going to say?

[reminded]

[He never pictured it either.]

They?

[hisapprentice]

The doctors at the clinic.

[Luke is nervous. One might even say scared.]

[reminded]

[Layton doesn't quite the understand the reason for this nervousness, but he smiles.]

That you shouldn't be doing any heavy lifting for a while, perhaps. [And, in a mildly conspiring tone:] Now would be your opportunity to get a doctor's note excusing you from class, by the way.

[hisapprentice]

Why would I want to do that? [Other than probably not finishing his homework today after all.] Do you think I'll have to stay in the flat then?

[He looks forward to class, all right? Especially being in Layton's class, as in London he would have no such opportunity for years yet.]

[reminded]

[As if anyone cares about doctor's notes around here anyway.]

I would say not, but I'm no medical expert. You would be surprised at the lengths some students go to in order to dodge a lecture.