001 Puzzle ; Video

[verdantventure]

This isn't London, but...

[ There was a sigh. It came from a lost-looking girl sitting at a street corner. She wasn'd doing much, just fiddling with her communicator, trying to figure out just what she should do now--but she couldn't really think of anything, and the fact she was getting more nervous by the second didn't really help...

She hated

Comments

[dubiousdoings]

Latimir...

Ah, good. I'm only a street away from you, Flora. You ought to get to the safety of Latimir and I can meet you there.

PUZZLE 001: Where's Latimir?

If I recall right, there should be three other buildings standing with the Latimir building, an Office Building, a Toy Store, and a small Factory. Trouble is, I'm not sure WHICH building it is of those! I do remember this much though:
-The Office building is next to the Toy Store
-The Factory is not next to Latimir
-The Office building is to the immediate right of the Factory.

That should be enough for you to find it. I'll meet you there.

((This. just happened.))

[verdantventure]

Alright...

[ She takes a moment to draw herself a small diagram in the dirt-- [o] [ f ] [t] [ L ]

So, if the office building is to the immediate right-- [ f ] [o] --and the toy store is-- [ f ] [o] [t]

then the answer should be: [ f ] [o] [t] [ L ]! ]

Take that, puzzle! [ For the record, the device is still on for this. She hasn't really figured out how to turn it off.

ANYWAY, off she goes, answer in hand--To the Latimir apartments!! ]

[dubiousdoings]

((Well done!

Flora should arrive well before Clive does, who's decided it was best to keep his hat on for this encounter. Approaching and entering the building, he casts his eyes around thee vacant reception area for the familiar girl.

When spotted, he darkens just slightly. He honestly never figured they would meet again. Approaching, the soft friendly act takes shape again.))

Well, it seems you've solved that dilemma without a hitch. Sorry I couldn't match your efficiency with my own haste.

[verdantventure]

[ When he approaches she offers a smile, kind of disappointed in the fact she still doesn't recognize him. The hat seemed familiar, if only because it reminded her of Luke's, but otherwise he was a total stranger.

One would thing that STRANGER DANGER might kick in, but Flora's kind of a moron when it comes to realizing potential threats. ]

Oh, no, it's quite alright. I'm just happy you're here. [ SHE'S NOT ALOOOONE. ] Besides, you were a street away...weren't you? So it must take longer to get here from there.

[dubiousdoings]

Something like that.

Let's move on though. Do you have immediate questions, or should I just give you the story as far as I know?

[verdantventure]

Well, I have plenty of questions, but you should probably tell me what you know first. Then I can just...ask all of them at once.

[dubiousdoings]

Well enough.

As I explained before, you're currently located in the city of Discedo. It's no where near London, nor is it even located inside of England. You've been kidnapped and brought here by a group of scientists. They remain hidden from public view, yet some how seem to be operating the whole city from the shadows.

You've probably already noticed that we aren't the only ones trapped here. Currently the population has been divided among three cities due to an explosion which threatened the inhabitants of Discedo. iit was good luck that you arrived here, I would say.

((he thinks a moment, scratching his chin.))

Ah yes. You might find a young individual here claiming to be your friend Luke. He isn't. Do not trust him if you come across him, there's a vague chance he's vicious enough to be a risk.

I know this might be surprising, but you'll have to trust me. Many others of the population haven't been themselves. It's best you be wary of everybody here.

[verdantventure]

Is...Discedo the best one, then? Or, well, what are the other cities like? I mean, if it's a good thing I'm here, there must be some reason.

[ Wait. Waitwaitwait. ]

So Luke isn't really...but why would someone pretend to be him? Actually, why...aren't the people here acting like themselves? Did something happen?

[dubiousdoings]

That's just my opinion. Discedo, as I understand it, was once the hub of chaos, and the other two cities were only a safer place to go after the events of the explosion.

((shakes his head lightly. This is the second time somebody has asked why anyone would impersonate Luke. REALLY GUYS?)) I wouldn't know, I can only guess. All I know is that people haven't been themselves, I know of two or three, and it's a recent event.

The real Luke should be returned to us in due time.

[verdantventure]

But...don't you think a place that used to cause problems would be...a bad place to end up? It could start causing problems again, after all.

[ But...it's Luke. Seriously, there are more interesting people to impersonate. People with like...power and influence or something. ]

Oh...[ She frowns, obviously worried. ] Well, at least he'll be back...

[dubiousdoings]

Look at it like this Flora. You are in one room, and a puzzle stands in another. Can you solve that puzzle without approaching it head on?

[verdantventure]

No...?

[dubiousdoings]

Exactly. Believe it or not, the situation we're in right now might be the biggest "puzzle" you've ever faced, and being in Discedo--the hub of this massive puzzle--puts anyone there at an advantage to figuring out what is going on down to the last details. Perhaps there are more outlying things to discover from the other cities, but this is where it began, and this will be where it ends.

[verdantventure]

Oh, I suppose your right, there. [ Though she seriously doubts she'll be able to solve a puzzle of this magnitude. ] Though thinking about explosions and...and people acting strangely, it's kind of unnerving, don't you think?

[dubiousdoings]

Many things are, Flora, which is why I plan to get to the bottom of this. Your professor had a saying: every puzzle has an answer. The more inane, the more intriguing.

[bbsatbyrobots]

[ She nods. So far, every puzzle had had an answer, but...could someone really solve it alone? ]

Could I...help?