[001]

[luke_triton]

[The best way to figure out the ups and downs of a puzzling situation is to explore! Right? Luke thinks so, and he's wandering up and down the streets of Luministi Greens East to get an idea of the lay of the land, so to speak, in his new neighborhood. It's weird to think about so he's trying not to; walking felt more familiar, prompting him to leave his bicycle at home.

"Home", rather.

After a while of sorting things out (the layout is nothing complicated, but he wants to sit down with a map anyway and start getting things all noted down in his notebook) he starts fiddling with the CAT again. The video function is pretty useful!]

The food they left out for us was sort of disappointing, wasn't it? I've got something less unimpressive, if anyone wants to hear a puzzle.

Comments

[manicurious]

I mean exactly what I said. Secret laboratory. A laboratory that's also a secret.

Except it's not really secret because I'm telling everyone about it.

[luke_triton]

Well how did you get stuck there? I thought the idea was that everyone moved into these houses here.

[manicurious]

I do have a house which is the same-- no, wait, mine's better than everyone else's. But only because I put a great amount of time into decorating it.

Anyway, I've lived in Luministi for about a year and most of that time was spent all by myself. In the laboratory there's this window where you can get a stunning view of the stars, which I think you can see behind me...

[He turns his head to glance out the window with a solemn look.]

It's stupid and pathetic, but after a few months of having the whole place to myself I started coming to the lab every night and sometimes during the day just to stare at whatever's out there until I fell asleep, right here on the floor.

Then when I woke up this morning there was a deluge of communications and the exit was sealed off.

[luke_triton]

A whole year? ...How are you going to get out, then?

[manicurious]

I'm not going to get out. I don't want to get out. I've had the opportunity and have turned it down every time.

[luke_triton]

So...you're going to stay locked in that secret lab forever?

[manicurious]

[The incorrect response induces a creepy giggle.]

No, not the lab! Look at the big picture, kid! This lab and that town are all part of the same structure! I'll be perfectly content if I can freely access both, as I've been able to for most of the last year. Being trapped in the laboratory alone is extremely distressing!