after vivarium

[fairsfair]

after vivarium!

It may have been weeks, months, or even years, but finally, everyone makes it out of the warehouse just fine. The authorities have broken in and let everyone out, or maybe the characters managed to escape on their own. Either way, Zero and Calhoun vanish without a trace and they still haven't been caught to this day. It's infuriating, but the important part is that they're now free. What exactly entrails after that ending though? How to Play: ✖ Make a top-level comment, either blank or filled with some info/prose. ✖ Tag others, whether it's shortly after the escape or much later. ✖ Action, text, video, whatever, it's all good. ✖ Have multiple threads? ✖ Done!

Comments

Hershel Layton

[puzzlinglad]

[Hershel, the exciting asshole that he is, got to go home to SCHOOL so he could learn archeology and things. He tried to keep his head down about whatever reporter hype there was, easier said than done but hey, he could dream. He even has a dorm and a weird roommate who would one day have a very cute son named Luke Triton and everything, what a life.

The point of this boring tag is you can bet your ass he's keeping in contact. People coming to visit? All about it. Visiting people? All about it.]

like two years later when they're in college or something

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji's letter read as follows:

Dear Hershel:

I hope this letter finds you well. I'm writing to you about a rather odd series of events that I thought you might have some insight into.

Nah, I'm just kiddin'. I heard one of the professors at your university disappeared suspiciously so I'm coming over for break! Meet me at the train station at 2:15 on the 5th!

[puzzlinglad]

Hershel was half tempted to write him a letter back, but instead sends this text with a small smile:

Who on earth sends letters anymore? Also you forgot to sign it.

That's rude you know.

With that important business out of the way he absolutely was at the train station, waiting for Heiji. He had heard about the disappearance, and maybe he was actually looking into it a little too- just a little. Having Heiji there would be a much better reason to dig into things, so he was a tad excited. After all, if anyone could figure this shit out it was Heiji.

He even took the day off class for this. You're welcome.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji hopped out of the train doors and onto the platform, a single blue duffel bag slung over one shoulder. The instant he saw Hershel, he was going in for a hug.

"Hershel! How you been? You're not slacking off class, are ya?"

[not_that_sasuke]

[They had already made plans to meet up during Hershel's visit to Tokyo, but it isn't until later on that Sasuke is able to dig up some definite information. The text he sends is short, and from a number that Hershel won't know, but he can probably guess easily enough who it is.]

I found a place you might be interested in visiting in Tokyo.

It looks like the people there were her friends.

[He won't specify who. But who else could he be talking about?]

[puzzlinglad]

[When it cam to random numbers he didn't know it was always either Sasuke or Jake. Jake was better with keeping his phone at least, and he'd hardly be talking about Tokyo.

He was half tempted to send a text teasing Sasuke a little about yet another new number, but the content of his text gave him pause. It was hard not to realize who 'she' was, who else would it be? He almost typed 'are you sure?' before deleting it. It was Sasuke, he wouldn't mention it if he wasn't fairly certain.]

What's it called?

I'll be coming in next week. [He hesitated on what to say next. 'Are you coming?' No, delete. 'Should we go?' No, not that.

Finally he tagged on the end of his reply:]

Will you come with me to see them?

[not_that_sasuke]

Time of Eve. It's a café.

[Admittedly one in a somewhat trashy back alley, but... if Akiko frequented it, there may be more to it than that.]

If you want me to, I'll come.

[He didn't know Akiko personally, so if anyone asked questions, it would end up directed at Hershel. He feels confident enough that he could translate, but...

If Hershel needs any moral support, he'll do his best to provide that, too.]

because we didn't have enough threads going on

[fairsfair]

[ assume this is some years later when hershel is well into his college years. jake doesn't have work for another month, so he figured that spending time with hershel was a good way to pass some time. of course, that isn't so easy to do when there're classes to attend to, but no worries there. jake will just follow hershel to a lecture or two. he hasn't been in a classroom environment since he dropped out of high school (merc business kind of does that), so this is a nice start again. ]

[ ... if this wasn't so boring holy shit. ]

[ with arms crossed, he leans over to hershel and whispers: ]

Just how long is this?

LMFAO you're a hero

[puzzlinglad]

[Hershel, meanwhile, was rather raptly taking notes as Schrader started going on about the archeological contribution of some old guy who fought a bunch of other old guys to dig up a site a lot of old things were in. He scribbles in his notes periodically, names and places and dates. Interesting stuff. Really.

He glances over when Jake whispers- at least he was whispering, it could be worse. When he leans over he answers dryly:]

Oh come now, it's not that bad. It's only been twenty minutes. [Enjoy at least 40 more of this, Jake.]

you bet i am B)

[fairsfair]

[ Jake is hardly listening. This is just going through one ear and out the other. ]

Only twenty minutes. Tell me again when you're studying this.

i have no fucking patience to wait for a thread to end so here

[fairsfair]

[ Another year, another Christmas break. Last year, it was something about Hershel's insecurity over his hat and some nonsense. This year, it was probably going to be something else. Jake can't really look into the future and he isn't a master at predicting things, but he kind of had an idea what would happen. Losing a leg kiiiind of made new conversations with old friends predictable. ]

[ Throwing his bag over his shoulder, he grabs both crutches and makes his way carefully off the train. Since it's a somewhat recent injury, he hasn't really done much besides grab himself a pair of these so time to see Hershel and prepare for motherhen clucking. ]

Hey, long time no see.

[ hahaha trying to act like nothing is wrong ]

LMFAO JUST i'm so glad we have no self control

[puzzlinglad]

[Just like last year there was Hershel, waiting in his long coat, in the same ugly hat, not any taller but still vaguely excited. There was always the chance Jake wouldn't come off the train, he'd get caught up in something (or worse, but Hershel really didn't like thinking about that) but Hershel tried to be hopeful about it each year. Usually he was rewarded. This year was a little different.

He stares a moment when he ses Jake, shocked. Just last year, what had he said? Good to see you in one piece, and Jake made some snide comment, and they debated his job shortly but moved on like they always did. And now-

He hurries over after the shock faded, snapping back to attention.] Jake, you-

[He struggled with what to say.] You... I'm so glad you're alive. [Because jesus christ, whatever happened here...] I just- I'll call a cab, that would be better.

it's four in the morning, you fucking bet we're not going to have any self control at that time

[fairsfair]

[ Jake can't even try to pretend to shrug this off, just like any other injury he might have had in the warehouse. Losing a limb is normally a pretty big deal (moreso for someone like him since his job wasn't exactly restricted to a desk), but he didn't want to be suddenly treated any differently because of it, so he just wave Hershel off (or attempts to). ]

I can still walk, you know. It's not going to kill me to walk a few blocks over to your place.

[ Yeah, you bet he's still going to be stubborn about this. ]

Some time later...

[blind_badass]

*It was quite an honor to be allowed to go to Oxford for a physics symposium, with him as just the lowly post-doctoral PhD of the group. At the same time, it did give him a chance to visit Hershel and Clive. Also, England was so very civilized. He couldn't wait to share a proper tea time with Hershel.*

[puzzlinglad]

[Hershel was clearly excited about it, enough that Snake probably got a few texts on the matter. The latest is:]

Are you here yet?

I took the afternoon off so I should be able to pick you up if you need it.

We can go out for tea.

[He's excited, give him a break.]

[blind_badass]

*It's funny to get texts because Snake's phone renders them in the same monotone voice. Still, he can imagine the excitement. Especially now that the group has the afternoon free to wander about.* I have been looking forward to tea. And yes, we got in early this morning, had a few lectures and now we can wander around. I assume I'll be easy to spot, if you don't mind picking me up.

some years later i guess idk

[skyentificmethod]

[communications from ema were never particularly regular, the odd email or postcard interrupting long, long stretches of radio silence. so maybe it's a surprise when there's a knock on the door and it's a visitor with pink glasses and a bottle of something]

Happy birthday?

[is it even the right season for this, should she have brought a pizza, is he even wearing pants, it is a mystery]

yesssss

[puzzlinglad]

[if he wasn't you bet your ass he is now, a gentleman never doesn't wear pants when answering the door probably. this is likely after he got a shitty apartment rather than a shitty dormroom, and when he opens the door to said shitty apartment he's just going to stare a moment in shock before-]

... Ema? [and then the shock fades to genuine excitement] You're here, you- ah, where are my manners, please come in.

[he opens the door, gesturing for her to come in and then hastily hurrying over to try and clear the clutter off... well, everything. why put your books and things away when you can just leave them basically everywhere???] I'm sorry for the mess, I- you're really here, aren't you? I was starting to think the odd letter or text would be the best I could hope for. How have you been?

:3

[skyentificmethod]

[even gentlemen have days off, she wouldn't hate. entering the apartment she immediately takes one of the freshly cleared surfaces and sets the bottle and a bag of stuff on it, so much for illusion of cleanliness.] It's funny, when I heard you had your own place I imagined it might look like this. Maybe with a cat.

I'm actually doing okay. Had a day off and I thought I'd surprise you, hope that's alright. It's been a while, after all. [she sounds appropriately sheepish for it has been a long one; a case had come up during the group's first formal reunion, and she'd kinda dropped off the grid after that. That said, she looks in good health and good spirits; hair cut chin-length and lab coat exchanged for a tweed jacket but no giant scars or eyepatches or anything, apparently piracy didn't happen in the last few years] What about you, what've you been up to, what happened to your hair?

3AM text notif

[skyentificmethod]

i think it would be like really awesome if scientist could genetically engineer manatees to be like the size of goldfish so i could have one in my fishbowl and be like FUCK YEAH TINY MANATEE

beautiful

[puzzlinglad]

what? are you drinking?

[and then, after a minute and reading jake's message]

You're drinking. With Jake.

What did he think of this manatee idea?

[skyentificmethod]

Jake IS a manatee
An a lightWeight

I'm not drink tjo
WEver are y ou

3:02AM text message

[fairsfair]

okay you know what. iPhones need to stop autocorrecting all my fucks into ducks. it's making all my strong worded texts look harmless and adorable and i got something important to send to someone at 3 in the morning without this garbage

ps: ema is one shit drinking partner

[puzzlinglad]

I can't believe

No, I can believe. Somehow part of me knew when you and Ema were brought together again I'd somehow suffer for it.

[and after a briefish pause]

Make sure she's drinking water, you as well.

[fairsfair]

like this is actual suffering. we're just keeping ypu updated on the thrilling life of jake and ema

she acn take care of herself. if she wants to go throughout the night without drinking any water then she can be my guest