genessia | Puzzle 001 [Open; Video/Action]

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Puzzle 001 [Open; Video/Action]

I. Video

Hello! [Luke is smiling at the camera, and waves politely to his audience. He's sitting at the counter and has a book in front of him, but the image is catching a view of Teanie Teas that some who have been in Genessia longer might find familiar--Luke has set his mismatched china out on all of the tables, he's stocked his shelves with various arrays of tea, and the kettle is on the stove behind him.]

I've not been in town for a long while, but now I'm back and taken over the shop again from Miss Kiryuin. And everyone knows a proper celebration deserves a puzzle!

[Come now. You can't have expected anything less.] I promise it won't be too hard. If you can solve it, you may have a cup of tea free! So, what on earth is this message trying to get at? "Blank is one thousand times blank blank." [Complete with air quotes.] You can fill in the blanks with a single letter from the alphabet. What's the letter?

II. Action

[As promised, Luke is back in the tea shop for most of the day. As a shop with no other employees, he simply spends his free time in and about the shop.

Today and with the heat wave, he's looking at boxes of tea on the shelf, arms crossed with a small frown and head tilted just slightly to the side. He's talking quietly to himself, clearly lost in thought.] I'm sure there's something that will make a nice cold tea, but what?

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It was appoximately ten minutes after Luke's video went up that the front door rang and something green and affectionate attached itself to him, nuzzling his cheek. It was Koishi! She must have recognized the shop in the background.

"Luuuke! I missed you a lot! I was afraid something happened after my head was skewed but I'm okay now and I'm here and I saw your happy face and I had to come see it in person and--"

She would not stop talking. And she would not stop nuzzling. In fact her third eye even squished itself into his other cheek.

[Wow, this kid is a shop owner? Akira can't help but be impressed. Genessia really is full of opportunities for everyone here, isn't it?

He mulls over the puzzle for a moment before he answers.]

M is one thousand times MM. One meter is a thousand millimeters.

[Hooray for Knowledge!]

Luke is unsurprisingly bowled over by the green blob that tackles him, staggering sideways as she nuzzles her third eye into his cheek.

He doesn't recoil from her, but he does stiffen just slightly--in part to keep himself upright.

"--Koishi! Hi! I missed you too. I've been trying to get back to working and get the shop back in order."

He holds both hands up, giggling. "Miss Kiryuin tried, but she didn't keep the shop just the same so I had to fix things up..."

[Luke beams.]

That's right! One meter is a thousand millimeters. I suppose Americans might have a hard time 'cause they don't use the metric system.

[Clapping his hands together, he smiles brightly.] Do you like puzzles, mister? I've more, and you've earned a cup of tea for free too!

"I missed you sooooooo much!" she did let go though, drifting back, practically vibrating with excitement. She seemed completely back to her old self fortunately.

Oddly enough, she wasn't dressed in her normal bright yellow. Rather she was just wearing the black tanktop she normally wore under her long sleeved top. And it was hard to blame her. It was very, very hot. It did have the unfortunate side-effect of exposing the translucent skin, grey muscle, and blue lines on her upper arms. Not to mention the points where her tentacles actually originated from.

"I'm glad you're back and smiling and looped around point by point with hats and sweaters! But no sweaters today, okay? It's too toasty."

[Ah, so he knows about America? They might be from the same world then, or one really similar. Akira takes a mental note of that.]

I'm Japanese, so thankfully it wasn't too difficult for me. And I do like puzzles. I wouldn't mind trying some more while I enjoy my free tea. Question, though: can you do cold brew?

[Normally he drinks it hot, but in this heat wave, he might actually die if he drinks a hot beverage.]

LUKE!

[Someone's excited]

You terrible tenderfoot! How good to have you back! Don't suppose your memories made room for me, eh?

[Cause if not his feelings will be very hurt. Choose your next words carefully.]

Aha, and it starts with a puzzle. All right...

[The number 1,000 brings to mind measurements automatically, and thus: m. Then he works backwards, seeing what fits annnnd yup!]

'M', I think!

So, making your reunion all right?

Luke is, unsurprisingly, not wearing a sweater himself. Instead, he has on a short-sleeved white button down and a blue vest with his usual shorts. And hat. Always his hat.

"I missed you too, Koishi! I'm glad you're back to normal, too. I was worried," Luke fidgets slightly, adjusting his hat where it had been knocked askew.

At the mention of it being toasty, he claps his hands together. "Oh! I've brewed a special tea that's supposed to be served cold! Would you like to try it?"

Ah! Where do you live in Japan? Miss Kiryuin and Koishi are from Japan as well, but from different times--they're at least from different times. I'm English and I've lived in London for years. [Luke is from some very weird steampunk version of Earth that has America and England, at least.]

I've been working on a cold tea. A proper cup isn't really supposed to be cold, but it's much too hot for that, so I suppose the Professor won't mind.

[Please don't die.]

Hi, Mr. Ted.

[Chosen well, he presumes.

Leaning on his palm, he nods cheerfully at Ted's answer.] That's right! It's talking about measurements! Meters and centimeters. I suppose it's easier if you use the metric system.

[Ted's comment gives him pause, just long enough to notice, but he plasters a smile on his face and presses on.] I got back right when Koishi got one of Miss Kiryuin's odd uniforms. I've just been trying to get back to normal for a bit before going about and getting on the network!

"I missed you with all of everything." She waved her arms. "Luuuke! I've started telling stories again too. Just like you asked me but you might not remember because you were miserable and sick."

"Also-" She reached back, pulling out her folded up yellow shirt from the hem of her skirt, unfolding it to reveal a book. "-I got you a puzzle book. I think you'll have fun with it!" She basically shoved it into his hands before reaching up and proceeding with the hat-swap. Though not before removing a small box out from under the hat in question and placing it on the table.

"Oh? Chilly tea? That sounds wonderful!" At least she knew what iced tea was. "I'd love some. That would be nice and cool. It's the best! Though I think I'll still roll around in the snow when I get home later because there's nothing like that either."

Edited 2017-07-04 18:40 (UTC)

So you do remember! I'm glad.

[Clearly]

Heh, used to inches and feet myself, but I'm familiar.

[Wow he mentions that awful event so casually. This is one unnervingly placid kid. Ted did catch him on the network earlier, but decided against badgering him then. There's a little hurt, a little bitterness he has for those who leave and come back. Like he wants some proof that they actually mean to exist this time.

A puzzle post would do.]

Heh, as normal as it gets around here, anyway. Suppose I should produce a riddle of my own for turnabout. Let's see...

You, a trucker from Appletown, would like to transport 3,000 apples to Bananaville. It's a thousand mile trip, every mile of which is taxed for 1 apple. Your truck can only carry a thousand apples at at time. What's the highest amount of apples you can bring to Bananaville?

I am afraid 'iced' tea is not one of my areas of expertise.

[Replies a voice from behind. Well look who stopped in; Satsuki and her Furfrou! And on a day like this.. Well. Iced tea actually isn't sounding like an abomination right now.

It goes without saying that she's pleased to see Luke, but her expression is about as frowny as it always is. Well.. Maybe a little less than he remembers anyway.]

However, I am willing to try anything.

Edited 2017-07-08 01:45 (UTC)

I spent the last seven months in Tokyo, but before that I lived in a rural town that even most people in Japan have never heard of. [And also doesn't have a canon name. Thanks, Atlus.]

The Professor? Is that your mentor?

[No promises...]

"I remember talking about stories! I was just sick," he whines in protest. Of course, by 'just sick' he really meant that he had pneumonia and was escorted back to his flat by security. It's no wonder Koishi thought he was sick enough that he wouldn't remember. To be fair, his memories are a bit fuzzy.

As she presents him with the box, he grins excitedly. "A new puzzle book! I've done all of the ones I have so many times, a new book is exciting! Thank you so much!"

Koishi gets a hug--a quick one, it's blazingly hot--in thanks before he scurries behind the counter. "Well, it's too hot for hot tea, isn't it? It's a very flowery tea, hold on. Let me get it from the refrigera--"

Half under the counter, he whacks his head on it before successfully poking his head up to look at her. "Snow? Where are you rolling about in snow? It's hot enough to melt out there!"

I used to live in a little town too. There was lots of waterways, and it flooded a lot when it rained. [Level-5 and Capcom forgot that Luke used to say he lived in London his whole life, 'til they gave him a backstory where he grew up in Misthallery. Plotholes are fun!]

Mmhm! I'm the Professor's number one apprentice. [Despite it being years since he's seen Layton properly, Luke still recites the line as if he'd said it yesterday and with the same enthusiasm.] That's why I'm in London! He teaches in University, and sometimes I even get to go to his classes. I can get questions right even his students don't know the answers to, and I'm still in secondary school.

[What no he's not bragging why would you say that.]

Of course I remember you, Mr. Ted.

[How could he forget you? Honestly.

Regardless, he considers Ted's puzzle.] I'm not certain what Bananaville wants with apples, but this seems like a math puzzle.

Where do you pay your apple tax? That will matter! If I have to pay my apple tax in Bananaville, then you can't right bring any apples over. Well, you can, but you'll be paying your one-apple-per-mile apple tax when you get there, and as it's a thousand miles all thousand of your apples will go right to your taxes! I suppose if you can pay your taxes before, then you could pay your one-thousand-apple tax--and I guess it's one-thousand-apples each way, right? So you lose two thousand apples just going back and forth. The best you could do is deliver a thousand apples to Bananaville, but only if you get to pay your taxes before you leave.

You really ought to keep your apples in Appletown. Or pay less taxes.

[Luke jumps, if only because he's still easily startled and just because it's Satsuki doesn't mean she's exempt. Regardless, he whirls to face her and after a moment, his face splits into a wide smile.

He'd worried after her, considering the beating she'd taken at Koishi's hands, but had been too nervous to call. After returning, Luke had spent far too long hiding in his flat and trying to get his bearings--especially when he had friends who needed him.] Miss Kiryuin!

[Bouncing on the balls of his feet, Satsuki should recognize the familiar expression of Luke using some measure of self-restraint in not hugging her.] Hi!

Koishi had drifted over to the box she had removed from her hat and was opening it, revealing several blobs of daifuku mochi inside. These weren't shaped like critters with strawberries though. "Luke I brought some mochi so please enjoy it, okay?"

She was careful about the hug-back. Her need to cling had clearly died down and even Koishi's hugs were toned back in this kind of weather.

She was already stuffing one in her mouth when he bumped his head. "Ah- are you okay?" She blinked. "Oh... OH!" And then beamed. "Luuuuke! You know it snows in hell. It's super cold there. There's snow and permafrost and all sorts of interesting things. We can't exactly light the furnaces safely without Okuu. I mean... we can. But its a lot harder."

[That swells Ted's heart nicely. "Of course". As though he were some indelible character. Dangit Luke...]

Oh, every mile on the mile. Think of it like an apple falling off the truck every increment. Ah, and I forgot to mention! There's no taxes going back to Appleville from Bananaville to retrieve whatever cargo you'd like.

Hah, I should think why cities trade of their abundance would be easy economics for you.

[Luke's reaction comes close, so very very close to making Satsuki smile. There's a hint of a smirk at least, and she very much can see his restraint.

She reaches to set a hand upon Luke's hat and give it a slight ruffling motion.]

Good day, Luke. As you can see I am quite well.

The same goes for you, I hope.

[Luke immediately reaches to fix his hat, huffing just slightly at the audacity she has to touch his hat. If nothing else, that should be comfortably familiar to Satsuki.]

You do look well. I'm glad! I was worried, after--um...well, with everything that happened...

[He folds his hands, glancing away.]

Um...I'm doing well too. Just getting the shop back in order and getting used to running things again.

I understand why cities trade! But your apples ought to be worth more in Bananaville--I bet that's why the taxes going there are so high.

[Luke reconsiders the scenario with the new information. He seems momentarily puzzled, as if something hasn't clicked into place and then--]

Ah! One thousand miles in a round trip, so it's five hundred miles each way? I thought it was a thousand miles each direction at first, but you kept saying trip...

If you bring one thousand apples to Bananaville you can actually deliver five hundred apples. Five hundred you'll lose to taxes. And you can make the trip three times, since you don't pay taxes on your way back. So you can deliver one thousand and five hundred apples. You'll pay the other half in taxes!

Ah, not quite. It's a thousand miles each way, so if you took a load of 1,000 apples to Bananaville--traveling, of course, 1,000 miles to do so--you'd lose every one to taxes. Remember, you've 3,000 to start with, and going back to Appleville costs nothing. It's a hard one, but you're getting closer, I can tell!

"Oh, mochi sounds great...!" Even as he places the pitcher of iced tea on the counter and moves to get Koishi a glass, he's thinking about food. Of course he is. "This is a mint and rose tea with some honey. I hope its all right. Let me pour you some."

Was she concerned about him bumping his head? Luke is distracted. He almost overfills the glass with tea, and has to return some to the pitcher so he can add ice.

"I thought hell was supposed to be hot, Koishi. Very, very hot. Fire and brimstone hot. Haven't you seen pictures?"

"Mochi is ALWAYS great!" She's not wrong.

Koishi drifted over, hovering around Luke and watching the drink. She makes a small sound as the glass reaches the brim... But relaxes when he stops and returns the extra. My goodness she's more excited than usual to have her drink. Better add that ice quickly Luke!

"Oh! Well, sort-of. Technically Old Hell is Naraka. Which is still hell. But parts are meant to be cold and parts are meant to be hot. We don't have Okuu so we can't light the furnaces so its all cold right now."

It had been awfully snowy every time Luke had been there. Though Chireiden itself had always been kept nice and comfortable via magic and heat lamps.

[Yes, good.]

Indeed. Koishi and I still work together, of course.

It is the possible strain on the relationship between you two that concerns me.

[After all, she still needs Koishi to help keep tabs on him. As for getting the shop back in order she has a comment about that as well, but she can bring that up later.]

Edited 2017-08-14 23:09 (UTC)

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Puzzle 001 [Open; Video/Action]

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The Latest is Here [Action]

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From my favorite smol

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