[Puzzle 001]

[hisapprentice]

[In the plaza, near its southern edge, there is something strange. It is most noticeable now that snow is falling in earnest - a shape, smallish and curled up on itself. There is a boy in the snow. Asleep, dressed only in new feather pants, shivering. When he finally shivers himself awake, it's a groggy half-there voice that broadcasts. Seems the journal's open.] Just...a few m-more...minutes, Prof-ffessor...

Comments

[emp3thy]

Pretty far, Luke-kun.

[he marks the guide in Luke's journal before handing it back to him. That's for later.] But if your Professor is here, he'll find you soon.

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

Of course he's here! He wouldn't just leave me out in the snow. [with no shirt and no shoes and...this is all very weird okay?]

I don't understand what's going on at all.

[emp3thy]

Then let's make sure you don't freeze before he finds you. [come on, Luke... if you won't stand up he's picking you up. Let's head for the clothes shop.]

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

[He can't feel his feet! Also Luke isn't that scrawny, that someone built like Minato can just hoist him up. He'll stand but need to hold on to something in order to keep any kind of balance.]

[emp3thy]

[hey, hey, he's strong, okay. But Minato will let him hold onto him to support himself as they start moving.]

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

[he's a stumbling mess. Good luck, Minato, this is one heck of a puzzle]

S-so cold...

[emp3thy]

[hold on, kid, they'll be inside soon. Then you can find a gentlemanly coat.]

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

[He's shivering so much now. All he really wants is his sweater and his hat and...maybe his teddy bear.]

[emp3thy]

[into the clothes shop, Luke. It's warm in here. Minato leads Luke right over to the heater, though.]

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

[Standing in front of this heater and warming his hands like a pro. And shivering.

Something about that feels weird]

Did I...hurt my back? [he twists his head around to try to figure this out]

[emp3thy]

Sort of.

[...don't freak out too much at the wings. Meanwhile, Minato is looking for a coat that seems vaguely Luke's size.]

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

[He'll just sit here and try to warm up his frozen bare feet while looking over his shoulder.]

Sort of ho- [Something moved.

Something moved back there. Getting up right now to find a mirror.]

[emp3thy]

Welcome to Luceti. [it gets less weird, promise.

or maybe not. He's found a serviceable coat, though.] They're sensitive. Try not to damage them.

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

They're...moving. They're real?

[No sense made.] No, it can't be real, I must be dreaming or...or it's like Folsense...

[emp3thy]

[Folsense...?]

They're real. Everyone here has them.

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

[Maybe if you started at the beginning. Right now Luke has something like hints 2 and 3, and about half of the main puzzle.

It's very confusing and waaaah they're moving! So he tugs on one.]

Ow!

[emp3thy]

[And that's when Minato moves to intervene and direct Luke's hands away.]

You can't do that. They're part of you now.

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

I noticed.

[For about a minute he's in sulky pout mode. Then he crosses his arms and looks up at Minato again.]

So who are you?

[emp3thy]

I'm Minato.

[and just so they're clear, and he doesn't get Luke accusing him of kidnap or something next -] I'm the same as you. I've just been here longer.

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

You haven't...been here as long as it took you to get that old, right?

[emp3thy]

[blink...

Did you just call him old, Luke?]

No, not that long.

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

[Well if you started at his age, that's a long time!

But now that he's not frozen or panicking, Luke's rational thoughts are taking back over. It's time to find out exactly what's going on here. ...He just tried to pull his notebook out of his bag, both of which are gone]

Could you start at the beginning and tell me...all of that again?

[emp3thy]

[This kid is prepared. Minato likes him already.]

I can do better.

[he picks up Luke's journal again, and opens to the guide.] This should answer some questions.

[his-apprentice.livejournal.com]

What is it?

[He takes the book, and reads the first few lines of the guide out loud, quietly. And stops.]

I don't think I could hallucinate this much information...

[emp3thy]

It's real.

[Logical, too. Maybe he's some kind of kid detective. He should introduce him to Loki.]