hisapprentice | [Puzzle 015]

[Well, he's put it off for as long as he conceivably can. Luke pulls open his journal and speaks, not bothering with the business of filtering anything.]

I'm going to- [This is much harder than he thought, even after all the practice.] To...to move house, in with Firo and Seto. S-so...um, this house will be-

[Come on, Luke, you're nearing fifteen and this is not the time and a true gentleman never lets his most painful emotions show in public this way.]

House five is going to be empty. After today.

[With Layton's, Maiza's, and Czeslaw's stuff gone, he doesn't even have a lot to pack. It keeps him out of school for the day, though. Maybe saying all that could serve as enough of an apology to Professor Sage and Toph and everybody.

After a while, in the true and final emptiness of the house, he sits for a while in the kitchen, opening the journal again to write about something that has, historically, made him feel better; this time, there's a lot of melancholy in with the entertainment.]

Does anybody know a good puzzle?

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Even the most difficult puzzle is always worth a try. [And he's trying to hard to be positive about it all.] Um, I can go somewhere that's all right for you.

If you want, you might come over to my house.

Hm. If you've never had a go at a puzzle box before I shall see if the shop might have one with fewer moves for you to try out. It's always better to have an idea how things work first, yes?

Sure, I could do that. [He just has to remember which house is Loki's, if indeed he ever really knew.]

Well, I've had to open locked boxes by solving puzzles before, but it doesn't sound quite like what you're talking about.

Not quite, no. We'll take a look at it when you get here.

[Loki just assumes everyone has investigated his whereabouts in self defense. Think of it as a new puzzle?]

[Right then. Puzzle zero zero one, find Loki's house. Too bad there's no intricate logic-riddle list of directions.

He gets there eventually. Knock knock.]

[This gives Loki more than enough time to make it to the item shop and find a couple of simpler puzzle boxes, then back.

He opens the door for Luke.]

Ah, there you are. Tea?

Tea? Sure, thanks. [Some of his usual enthusiasm still lies buried under the weight of losing so many important people.]

I have a bit of cake around somewhere if you'd like that too.

[He ushers Luke inside.] The puzzles are on the table.

I'd always like a bit of cake. [His smile is small, but real. That's nice of Loki who is not always perfectly nice.] But not if you're saving it for something else.

I'm not overly fond of cake. You can dispose of it for me.

[He disappears into the kitchen and returns a few minutes later with tea and the cake.]

You don't like cake?

[Mr. Loki sir how do you live?]

I don't particularly like sweets.

[How very very unfortunate for Loki.]

I guess I won't bring you one as a gift then. [Sweets and puzzles, though. Two of his favorite things. He intends to finish the cake before starting on the puzzle, but it's a little awkward to eat in front of Loki when he isn't.]

Hah. Whenever someone does give me sweets, I just pass them along to my lady. She appreciates them.

[He sits comfortably and sips at his cup of tea.]

I've never found food that interesting. Consider it a personality quirk.

[Suddenly there is a part of Loki that Luke will never be able to understand. Food is like his third favorite thing in the world - this one or any other.]

Maybe you've not met a good enough cook.

I have it on good authority that my lady is quite good. And I do try to appreciate her.

She made that cake. [Which is good. It's just not Loki's thing.]

[Well, now he's had a bit of it:] You can tell her it's great! And, er, I won't tell if you won't, you can pretend you had it yourself.

I think I'll tell her it was appreciated. Otherwise she might worry since it isn't something I'd naturally eat on my own.

You're one of or best volunteers. I don't think she'd mind at all.

Volunteers? You mean...you mean Rogue? Rogue is your, er, lady?

[He looks surprised too quickly to hide it. Loki seems a few too many years her senior, among other things, for him to catch politeness before shock.]

Yes. She is my lady. [Well, it isn't as if they've been advertising this fact. But it feels important now. Being a bit more open about it.]

[The more Luke's brain tries to puzzle that out, the worse it gets. He busies himself with the cake until he can keep his expression under control.]

So what puzzles do you have here?

[Loki nudges a little tray toward Luke. On it is the puzzle box Rogue gave him, and a couple much simpler and smaller boxes.] The two smaller ones are far easier than the large one. The puzzle is in how to move their various pieces to cause them to open.

[Puzzle 015]

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