a bit of audio/action.

[contaeoro]

[audio]
[There is not a lot to the audio from Maiza today. Nobody is talking, but there is definitely something there, and that something is definitely attacking the journal. It hits it, sharply, then shoves it across -- judging from the sound of leaves and dirt dislodged by the moving journal -- the forest floor. It's followed by the rustle of wings close by the book, and some more scratching as the journal moves again.

The wings make noise again, although this time it sounds like it's flying. Clumsily so, one might note. The entry ends with the sound of wind blowing past and a loud thud as the journal hits the forest floor. Whatever bird was carrying Maiza's journal, it couldn't keep its grip.]

[action later on #1; the fountain]
[A couple hours after the entry, there is a brown owl sitting on the fountain in the village. He looks exhausted as he slumps on the journal he's got with him and hoots miserably at whoever passes by. Sometimes he spreads out his wings and rustles it to try to get attention, especially at people who Maiza Avaro may recognize. He's hungry. He's tired. Please help.]

[action #2; community house 7, floor 5 room 23]
[It's later in the afternoon, closer to evening, when an owl smacks into the window. It might have looked like it was trying to headbutt its way through the glass, but it's hard to tell. It disappears for a minute and returns to the window again, flying a little less steadily and now with a journal clasped in its talons. It stays at the window hoping someone will open it.]

Comments

[reminded]

[He pushes the doors leading out of the building and steps out, contemplating for a moment whether to cut through the woods or take the long way around to the store. He decides to take the shortcut.]

Did you know I was here in Luceti once before? [Twice, actually, but he doesn't know that.] Over a year ago, maybe two.

[contaeoro]

[He did not, so Maiza's answer is a side-to-side shake of his body and a tilt of his head. He had figured that, should people leave, there was a chance they were brought back sometimes. He didn't think it would have happened to someone he knew, though! Layton did seem to get used to life here easily, now that he thinks about it. He hoots.]

[reminded]

[He glances at the motion on his shoulder and nods once.]

But I don't remember a shred of it. I might never have known at all if I hadn't spoken to a woman who knew me during my prior stay. At the time I wondered if she was teasing me, but I see now that she was likely telling the truth.

[contaeoro]

[...Oh. Then he must have imagined it. way to get his hopes up, Layton! But regardless, this is a new piece of information he thinks it won't hurt to remember. Memories were easily erased around here...

Sigh, Layton, why couldn't you have remembered.]

[reminded]

[He's the victim here, okay. Don't b blamin'. Layton ducks under a low branch, and in so doing arrives at the edge of the plaza.]

Her name is Nephry. Nephry Osborne. She seems like an intelligent woman.

[contaeoro]

[He holds on tight to Layton's jacket as he ducks, but he hoots enthusiastically a few times. He recognizes that name, has played poker with Nephyr even! He knew she was here for a long time, but that's definitely really long.]

[reminded]

[He'll take those for positive hoots.]

You know her, do you? Small village. But I suppose we older folk are bound to notice each other at some point or another. [Sometimes the demographics make him feel like he's back at Gressenheller.]

[contaeoro]

[Luceti had a variety of age groups (apparent age groups, at least), Maiza's noticed. He doesn't go around so much, but he has seen the faces on the journals. There were many children, but there were also adults. But Layton is right; people are bound to notice each other.

(Honestly he was relieved to find company in Layton that wasn't the height of his belly button.)

He hoots again, agreeing.]

[reminded]

[He chuckles softly as they head into the grocery store. He aims for the meat section, slowing only to look thoughtfully at an assortment of brooms lining one aisle. Such an interesting set of brooms...]

[contaeoro]

[Layton, why are you looking at brooms? Maiza's interest is torn between the meat section (he's kind of hungry, he realizes) and the brooms Layton is looking at. Were they in need of any, he wonders, or did Layton have a secret interest in cleaning supplies?]

[reminded]

[Layton stops completely now to scrutinize the brooms, trying to think of a place where he might be able to put one. The flat already has one, after all, but he just can't pass this particular broom up...

Can Maiza spot the broom that has caught Professor Layton's interest?]

[contaeoro]

[... Hoot?

There was a plurk the plurk concluded with the one on the left with the hook.

Maiza hoots.]

[reminded]

[The plurk is wise. After that moment of thought, Layton picks out the small dotted broom, whose question mark handle reminds him quite charmingly of puzzles in general. He could use it around his desk at the school.

With that out of the way, he continues on to the meat section with hardly an explanation.]

[contaeoro]

[He hoots in confusion. You already have a broom don't you Layton? He climbs on Layton's arm to get closer to the broom and peck at it lightly.]

[reminded]

[Layton looks down at that. He'll assume the pecking is an inquiry and not a sudden perplexity over the material of a broom.]

For my office at the school. A gentleman must always keep his space presentable. [Even he keeps a minimum level of tidiness.]

[contaeoro]

[That makes more sense. The design... is interesting but it suits Layton too, so Maiza decides to sit on the broom.]

[reminded]

[It had occurred to him that Maiza might need a dedicated perch back at the flat. And what's more long, perchable, and readily available than a broomstick? He'll have to see if he can throw something together once they get back.

But for now, meat. He stops and surveys the selection.]

Is there anything that makes you feel particularly peckish? [Chicken? Beef? He begins to name the available meats, pausing after each to give Maiza time to nod or hoot an affirmative.]

[contaeoro]

[He recognizes the words and perks up at every one of them, but he's not too sure if he's just hungry or the owl body finds any of these meats appetizing. Finally he just hoots and hoots at some sort of fish.]

[reminded]

[Then some sort of fish it is. Layton leans the broom against the meat display case so that he can bag a couple.]

[contaeoro]

[Oh no he was on the broom D8!!

The broom clatters. Maiza tumbles.]

[reminded]

[Worst bird!! As Layton realizes his mistake, he makes a fumble to catch Maiza, knowing as he does so that it's probably too late.]

[contaeoro]

[The broom is on the ground and so is the bird, who looks dumbfounded and grounded for the second time today as he struggles back on his feet.

You're gonna kill him Layton why.]

[reminded]

...

[He stares at this sad, traumatized owl and is sorry from the depths of his genteel heart. But he can't exactly pick Maiza up and comfort him the way he might a pet, so all he can do is kneel and hover.]

I'm so sorry, Maiza. Are you all in one piece?

[contaeoro]

[He's in one piece. He's pretty sure he is, and he can feel his feet and head and wings move so he's pretty sure he's not broken anywhere.

He just hoots and picks himself up.]

[reminded]

[If his father were around, he might say something like, "Son, I am disappoint," and Layton would reply, "Father, I am understand."]

It seems my shoulder really is the best roost for your safety. Shall we give it one more try?