One

[chainsawspistice]

[This gray-skinned horned girl will be wandering around with a strange candy corn ball thing in hand until she reaches the town square. She'll be hovering on the edge of the celebration looking one part contemplative and one part unsure. If you look human, chances are she'll be giving you a very interested look as well.

Also, if you look at your CAT, you'll find an oddly typed message in jade green font:]

I Dont Know This All Seems So Callous
The Gifts Were A Nice Gesture
But Allow Me The Delusion That A Basket Of Inoffensive Food Items And Paraphernalia Might Be An Insufficient Catalyst To Heartfelt Gratitude
Even If The Basket Appears Very Well Made
And The Two Wheel Device Was Unexpectedly Generous
Still Id Like To Return Home As Soon As Possible
If Anyone Can Direct Me To The Mayors Office I Would Appreciate It Thanks

Comments

[chainsawspistice]

[Kanaya follows his line of sight up, but predictably fails to catch sight of her own horns. She gets the idea, though.]

Yes. Why wouldn't they be?

[luke_triton]

Well...well they're horns! People don't have horns.

[Or are they something else? Really, Luke, is this any way to talk to a lady?]

Um...I hope that wasn't insulting. Sorry if it was.

[chainsawspistice]

It's fine. I am beginning to find that there are many subjects that, when gently scuffed upon the human sensibilities, elicit a torrential outpour not unlike a water-filled rubber expansion toy being pricked with a fine needle.

[luke_triton]

[That goes just a bit beyond him at the moment. Luke finally puts his hat back on, tugging it enough to be sure it's secured. He looks kind of sore when he gets up to gather up everything he dropped, but at least it was just a little bike accident.

Somehow it's easier to talk to her when he isn't looking at all the strange stuff.]

Am I supposed to figure out what you mean by that?

[chainsawspistice]

I suppose not. [She helps right his bike and set the kickstand.]

In other words, I am what you might consider an alien and I sometimes find your species just a little silly.

[luke_triton]

An alien? [At least the basket is on the ground still, so he didn't drop it.] That's impossible.

[chainsawspistice]

Impossible, really? [Staring at you with her alien horns and alien eyes and alien skin.]

[luke_triton]

...Okay, maybe not "impossible" but there's definitely got to be an explanation.

[The wildest things that happened to Layton and Luke all had some kind of logic at their core. Folsense, the spectre, the mystery of St. Mystere, "Future London"...

...There was that pesky actual-time-travel part. But...Luke likes to think of that as a worthwhile special case.]

[chainsawspistice]

[Yes, maybe Kanaya is some type of drug-induced mirage...]

Which is more unbelievable: that sentient life exists on a planet other than your own, or that there is an existing technology that allows you to meet said life?

[luke_triton]

Both of those are pretty weird. Are you sure there isn't someone behind all this trying to trick me?

[chainsawspistice]

Yes, I'm sure. As far as my existence is concerned, I can assure you I have no iniquitous scheme lying in wait for your impending blunder of trust.

But it doesn't matter if you believe me, I guess. It's not a big deal.

[luke_triton]

[Sigh.]

Fine, suppose I play along. Where are we and why exactly are we really here?

[chainsawspistice]

I suspect our ignorance is matched in that regard. I had been assuming we were on Earth or one of its settlements given the apparent majority of humans.

[luke_triton]

Well, it does look a little bit like home, I suppose...the trees and houses and everything. It's nothing at all like London though.

...What are you anyway?

[chainsawspistice]

A troll. My home planet was named Alternia. It existed in a universe entirely removed from yours.

[luke_triton]

[Well, at least she has a story with some substance. He's not convinced she isn't a person in costume.]

If that's true, then how do you even know what humans are?

[chainsawspistice]

[She would let him tug her horns if it satisfied him, but that would be highly undignified. And probably insufficient.]

Not long ago, my co-players and I spoke to a small group of humans over the internet. We found their hornlessness and pink skin just as strange as you undoubtedly find us. No offense.

[luke_triton]

"Us"? There are more of you?

[Luke this isn't getting anything done and furthermore interrogating a lady is not what a gentleman does.]

U-Uh, sorry, my name's Luke.

[chainsawspistice]

Of course. My race would be highly questionable if I were its only member.

My name is Kanaya. Nice meeting you.

[luke_triton]

[All right. Kanaya is a nice name. Luke kind of smiles.]

Thanks for helping me pick up my stuff.

[chainsawspistice]

You're welcome.

[She gives the bike's handlebars a slight readjustment so they're perfectly straight before she steps away.]

Be careful.

[luke_triton]

Yeah, I'll try. I was trying to work out how to find something to eat.

[chainsawspistice]

All of the nutrient consolidation centers I saw appeared unserviced. The celebration in the "town square" may be the only option. I was heading there, myself.

[luke_triton]

Don't bother, there's really nothing there. Just some cheese and crackers.

[His stomach joins in the complaining. Luke is so hungry.]

I was hoping if I found my "house" there might be food inside.

[chainsawspistice]

Not even punch? The fiends.

[It takes her a beat to translate "house" to "hive". The culture exchange process. It never ends.] Are you having trouble locating it?