First Journal Entry

[tophatofawesome]

What on Earth...?

[Layton turns over in bed to find the drone wife next to him and yelps; scrambling backward from the bed and falling onto the floor. Thankfully, he didn't wake her up; he gets to his feet, looking around in confusion. This building is completely unfamiliar, and these aren't his clothes. He reaches to the top of his head and

Comments

Action+Voice

[brbpouncingyou]

[[Hunter's in his room, looking across the gap between houses. There's some guy who's talking into a phone in the other house. He doesn't take any notice of it until he answers the phone.]]

You know Luke and Flora, do y-

...wait a sec.

[[Wait a sec. Judging from the way the man in the other room is looking, maybe it's the guy who just spoke?

He opens his window and goes back to the phone.]]

Hey, open the window for a sec.

Action+Voice

[tophatofawesome]

Before I was kidnapped, they were both in my care.

[....]

The window?

[Layton goes to the window and looks out. He's not looking into the other house, out of his instinctive sense of privacy; he doesn't see anything.]

Why?

Action

[brbpouncingyou]

[[And Hunter hangs up the phone, then goes to the window to lean on the frame, waving at Layton.]]

Hello, neighbour!

Action

[tophatofawesome]

[He sees him now and opens the window, though doesn't step away from it, looking at Hunter suspiciously.]

Do you plan to jump across the gap?

[He leans out the window and looks down at the distance to the ground, then again at Hunter.]

Action

[brbpouncingyou]

Maybe.

[[And he jumps to the top of the bit of frame that sticks out above Layton's window, looking down with a grin.]]

Thought it'd be nicer to talk to you in-person. Know what I mean?

Action

[tophatofawesome]

[Now that he's closer, Layton can see those stains on his clothes. They didn't have to be blood -- perhaps he loved ketchup and was a particularly messy eater. It's still very suspicious and he's somewhat alarmed, but -- he seems to know Luke and Flora. Perhaps he can tell him how to find them. Therefore, Layton stepped back from the window, casting his eyes about the room for a way to defend himself in case he was as violent as his clothes seemed to indicate.]

You mentioned Luke and Flora?

Action

[brbpouncingyou]

[[And he swings down from the top of the window, landing in the room.]]

Yep. They've been here for a little shorter than I have. About... eh, two months?

[[He casually leans against the bit of wall next to the window.]]

Flora's a sweet girl. Saved her life once. She's... clumsy, and a little slow sometimes, but I'm sure she's got her heart in the right place.

As for Luke, he's a bit odd. He doesn't seem to be willing to trust people, but he's not a bad person, I guess? He's definitely smarter than he lets on, though. I personally think that he and Flora would be a cute couple, but he says he's not interested.

If you're looking for 'em, they're at 5721 Cunningham Lane.

[[And he snaps his fingers, looking like he's forgotten something.]]

Ah, right. I'm "Hunter" Allan. Either name works. But just who the heck are you?

Action

[tophatofawesome]

So Flora's told me.

That sounds like Flora, but... that doesn't sound anything like Luke. He's a friendly, bright, energetic boy. ...I think Flora's a little old for him, never mind that they seem to view each other like brother and sister.

...How do I get there, then?

[Layton slowly offers his hand for Hunter to shake.]

Professor Hershel Layton, Mr. Hunter. I'm sure it would be a pleasure if circumstances were different.

Action

[brbpouncingyou]

...Maybe we're thinking of the wrong Luke?

[[He shakes Layton's hand, grinning.]]

And on the subject of how we're all here... This is Mayfield. Mayfield's a town that's super-happy and shit and does things we don't like. We're forced into these houses and we have to live together for the time being. Nobody knows why we're here. For example, take a look at my house. I'm supposed to be a "dad," there's a lady named Retsu Unohana who is supposed to be the "mom," there's this kid who just got here named Sasuke who's the "brother," and there's a scary little brainless thing that's supposed to be a "sister." Basically, we're supposed to play house. I don't think there's actually anyone in your house that's a normal person. As far as I remember, there aren't any.

Oh, right. The drones. Yeah, the people who aren't actually people are called 'drones.' The dads all act the same, the moms all act the same, and the same for the brothers and sisters. They're brainless inhuman freaks. But you know, if you don't behave under the town's rules, you

Action

[tophatofawesome]

Perhaps. Luke is a common name, after all.

So then... Don Paolo has nothing to do with it. And that woman sleeping in my bed... was a drone as well?

[He's listening.] That's a relief. It's one thing to be kidnapped, but the thought of being trapped here without my hat is one I'd rather not entertain. Speaking of which -- what's keeping us from just walking away? Is there some sort of wall or fence?

....

In a manner of speaking. Flora is my adopted daughter of sorts, Luke is my apprentice. He's normally under the care of his father, but he allows me to take him on trips with me from time to time, and he was with me when I was kidnapped.

Action

[brbpouncingyou]

Never heard of any Don Paolos. And yeah, that chick was probably a drone.

[[He raises an eyebrows at the hat comment.]]

What's wrong without having a hat? Y'look fine to me, are you usually bald or something?

But anyway. Yeah, we can't leave. I've never tried it myself, but the people who have ended up not getting anywhere.

It's nice to see someone who knows Luke and Flora, though. S'good they've got friends.

Oh, and just so you know, Flora died. But then she got better.

Action

[tophatofawesome]

I'll do my best to keep away from her, then. As a general rule, I don't share my bed with strange women.

The hat is of great sentimental value. [And he's going to leave it at that.]

I see. I'd still know how to get to where they live, though.

[And at Hunter's last comment....]

What? How? Who is responsible? [Oh hey, he's actually showing an emotion than annoyed curiosity -- in this case, anger, though because it's Layton, it's only a mild display.]

Action

[brbpouncingyou]

I can show you where Flora and Luke live, if you want.

And Flora's temporary death was by the milkman. He's... responsible for a lot of the horrible things that go on in this place. He poisoned everyone's milk. The day before, I saved her from a pack of even-more brainwashed drones, so it... was really depressing.

[[And he smiles.]]

But she's better, so it doesn't matter.

Should we go to their house, then?

Action

[tophatofawesome]

And no one did anything about it? He ought to be locked up for what he did.

....

How can the dead even come back to life here? Are you sure she didn't just lapse into a coma and get better?

...Please. I need to see her more than ever, now.

Action

[brbpouncingyou]

We can't do a thing about it. They've... got power over us. We can't do a thing. He was the mayor for a while, but we voted him out.

And the dead can return to life here. During the voting, I killed at the very least twenty drones. And before you say anything, it was either the drones or Flora and I.

...After she drank the milk, her body was like ice. The same familiar happy blush on her face was gone. She was pale, unmoving... dead.

[[He nods, and gives Layton an understanding look.]]

If you're as close as you say, then she'll be happy to see you. I'll see you outside, alright?

[[Before Layton has a chance to react, Hunter jumps out the window, then goes to wait on Layton's front walk.]]

Action

[tophatofawesome]

[He couldn't think of anything to say. Flora dead, but revived? And someone had tried to kill her before that?]

I suppose you wi--

[Hunter was already gone. Layton looked down and realized he would need shoes at the very least; he'd have to go into that room with that woman again.

Using the best of his sneaking abilities, which admittedly weren't very good, he crept back to his bedroom, opening the door a crack. Still asleep. He stepped inside, and, finding a masculine-looking pair of shoes, took them in hand and went out back in the hall. Wearing them without socks would be horrible on his ankles, but he didn't want to spend any more time around that woman.

He joined Hunter outside soon enough, sure he looked ridiculous wearing only pajamas and shoes with no socks.]

Lead the way, then.