hisapprentice | [Puzzle 017]

[Puzzle 017]

[Things in the village continue to move at molasses speeds, ever since the draft ended. Without school to keep him occupied, and with (shock and dismay) a wholly diminished interest in all things puzzle, what with all the sadness and walking on eggshells going on all over the place, he's been...practicing his violin, actually. No one in the house came after him pounding on the door, so it must not be that bad.

It was better, sometimes, than thinking about all the strangers who appeared (from the draft, he learned later) bloody and beaten up, or his friends, coming back with darkness in their eyes.

His plans for this day are tame, and come in two flavors:

In the morning he's at the stables, tending to the horses with the kind of affectionate banter and bounce in his step that he doesn't have many close friends to share with anymore. It's not so bad. Animals are, um, people too. But anyone else there might catch him whistling or seeming to talk to himself.

After lunch (Luke always has a long generous lunch - today he eats at Seventh Heaven) he heads into the school to the music room, balances the open journal on a spare music stand, and pulls his violin and bow out of their case to prepare and tune them.]

So, er. [It doesn't usually bother him to talk to the village but...this is a little different.] You know...I think maybe it's better if I don't say anything first.

[And, after one last, soft check of his pitch, Luke shuts his eyes and starts to play a song whose sheet music he found in the library months ago. It isn't very long, but he goes through it thrice: the first time quietly, too afraid to mess up to really play, and then twice after that. It's a little slow and a little sad but he doesn't feel sad when it's over.]

That's that, then. [Projected confidence or not, he's blushing pretty red on his end of the journal.] I sort of thought, um, that maybe somebody could use a little music.

[[ooc: shh shh pretend it's a violin in the track not a cello...]]

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[Very skewed. Scarily enough, his views now are after his own Family has softened him up a bit--he used to be even worse!]

I know that they'll hurt you if they think you're too nice.

[He sighs.]

You need to be careful. Not bein' able to stand up for yourself is a sign a' weakness to most people.

[...Well. "Most people" where Firo comes from. Even though he fancies himself an adult, Firo has yet to learn that his experience doesn't apply everywhere.]

Don't they hurt you just ask much when you're not nice?

[There is a tiny pause in there, because Luke wanted to say "for being a jerk" but a true gentleman does not start useless arguments and he has to live with Firo, and everything.]

You don't have to act like a jerk for people to think you're strong! Maybe it's your world with the wrong idea.

[Luke has enough maturity for the both of them.

Firo sighs, but isn't quite ready to end his "lesson."]

Hey, did I say I liked it? I'm just sayin' that that's the way it is and you gotta deal with it. We all do.

But that's not the way it is at all, Firo.

[He's sure. He is so sure of the goodness of the world at large despite some truly stellar bad decisions happening in front of him in his short life. It is a world he would give a lot for.]

You've just met the wrong people. Most people aren't like that. They don't let a few problems stand in the way of what they think of someone!

Am I supposed to believe most a' the people you've run into are great?

Of course! Most people are. And even the ones who aren't...really...well, a lot of them have their reasons. They just don't handle everything in the best way.

[I can only imagine what they might accomplish, which is a thing he never heard, but it lives inside his head as though he had.]

[That almost sounds sweet. Well, it would if Firo didn't have a cold heart.]

Then you're either very lucky or a very bad judge a' people.

[Either way, he worries about you, kid.]

Or, someone else in this conversation is unlucky or a bad judge of people. It's all right if you've been hurt a bit and stopped trusting others, though...

[Hurt? People have hardly handled Firo with kid gloves throughout his life, but that's not something he's going to admit. Especially not to Luke.]

That's ridiculous! I've just... I've just lived longer than you, okay?

So that makes you automatically right, just because you're older?

It does when it comes to stuff like this.

[He sighs. ]

Look, I've been around longer and I've seen more stuff than you. That makes sense, doesn't it?

Of course it does. You've had more years to see things, so naturally you ought to have seen more of them.

[Luke is grinning.]

And since that means Professor Layton's seen a lot more things than you have, and we even saw some of them together, I think I'll stick with his way of looking at the world.

[What? Firo's startled that Luke accepts his argument. But why does the kid look so pleased?

Oh. Firo really should have seen that coming. He wants to complain that it's not fair for Luke to use his words against him, but he's pretty sure Luke would have a snappy response for that, too.

He's pouting something fierce when he finally speaks.]

...You're too smart for your own good, you know that?

[Beaming now, Luke straightens his hat. In fairness, Firo sort of walked himself into it, and living with ruffians has taught Luke more about setting up a trap.]

Thanks!

[~~Who're you calling a ruffian, punk?~~]

That wasn't supposed to be a compliment!

[He sighs, but even then he can't keep from smiling just a little.]

Really? It sure sounded like one to me.

[He's been smiling since he knew he could win the argument, and he's glad Firo decided to join him.]

No, 'cause one day somebody's gonna get mad at you for bein' a smart ass and what if you don't have me or your professor there to take care a' you?

[It's not anywhere close to the threat it could be--Firo's heart just isn't in it. And he's more faintly concerned and amused than angry.]

I suppose on that day, I'll just have to take care of myself.

[Grudgingly, but... maybe a little relieved:]

You've got an answer for everything, don'tcha?

[Look, Firo, now he's gotten started and he won't stop.]

Well, every puzzle has a solution!

But not everything's a puzzle!

Not everything's a brawl in the street, either.

[Are you sure about that assertion, Luke? Because you certainly don't seem to be pulling your punches right now...]

H-hey! What're you tryin' to say?

[Firo doesn't fight in the street! He does a lot of fighting in back alleys, too!]

The same thing you're trying to say, I think. One method just doesn't work for everybody all the time.

[Luke's right on (though he misses the part where Firo's methods are totally the best) and Firo's annoyance is quelled. He'd been pretty sure Luke was trying to insult him.]

Oh. Yeah, uh, I guess that makes sense.

...Just don't try and force me to do any puzzles, okay?

[His brain isn't ready for that method of problem-solving.]

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