Picarat | 003 [Quill]

[professorgent]

[Layton's handwriting scrawls across the page in that quick, slightly messy way of one that's used to jotting down notes often.] Good afternoon everyone. My name is Professor Layton to any new arrivals I have yet to speak with.

I wanted to inform everyone that I am planning on offering extracurricular, non-magical fencing lessons and demonstrations

Comments

[modernholmes]

Fencing, professor? Sounds interesting. Holmes was a fencer, you know.

Ah, but I don't think I will be able to participate in this.

video;

[professorgent]

Yes, I thought it might be a good idea to try. [Layton nods, smiling slightly.] Indeed, he was. And an excellent one too, if my memory serves me correctly.

That's alright. Participation isn't obligatory at all.

video;

[modernholmes]

He was. Watson mentioned it in 'A Study in Scarlet'.

If you wouldn't mind I might come and watch a session. [He was fairly certain that he was too short right now to actually learn.]

video;

[professorgent]

Yes, I recall that particular mystery. It was one of my apprentice's favorites.

I don't mind at all. You are more than welcome to observe, Mr. Edogawa. And should you change your mind, you're welcome to participate as well.

video;

[modernholmes]

The minimum age to take on fencing instruction is 7. I am barely older than that.

video;

[professorgent]

[Assuming Layton knows Conan's real age because he's a Professor. Please ignore my fail if he shouldn't know.]

Oh, I see.

...That is a little puzzling, though. I thought you were seventeen, because that is what your age is listed as in my roster, Mr. Edogawa. [And he was just very small for his age.]

Re: video;

[modernholmes]

[I think my reasoning is that the professors and the castle know how old he really is. Conan doesn't know that they know, and is in for a minor panic attack now. If that makes sense.]

[Conan experiences a moment of sheer panic.]

Do I look like I'm seventeen? I'm in first grade at home, and I'm one of the shortest kids in my class.

video;

[professorgent]

[Yeah, that works!]

Well, no, but looks can be deceiving. [Layton notices something akin to panic passing across Conan's face. It was an intriguing puzzle, the discrepancies between the ages, but Layton wasn't one to pry unless a larger mystery was afoot. For now, he lets the matter go.] It isn't terribly important, though. It could just be a mistake on the school's part.

Re: video;

[modernholmes]

[Conan gratefully seizes on that explanation.]

That seems likely. A lot of things about the school don't seem very well organized.

video;

[professorgent]

Admittedly, our arrival itself wasn't organized. But, with more time, things will fall into place.

Re: video;

[modernholmes]

Maybe.

video;

[professorgent]

[Layton chuckles.] Your expression suggests you think otherwise, Mr. Edogawa.

Re: video;

[modernholmes]

I don't have high expectations for that.

video;

[professorgent]

I see. Well, who knows? There's still time for change, I believe. [Sorry, Conan, Layton's an optimist at heart.]

Re: video;

[modernholmes]

[Conan was a skeptic and a pessimist. Optimism required a faith in human nature that he'd simply never developed. Blame it on his talent for stumbling across murder case everywhere he went.]

That depends on whether they are good changes.

video;

[professorgent]

[Layton tugs on his hat with a faint smile.] That can be said for most things. Ah, well, it seems we're going back and forth on this, aren't we? I suppose we will just have to agree to disagree on the matter.