No. 00X - The Fourth Wall

[reminded]

[There sure is a lot of excitement this morning. After getting a vague grip on the situation by talking to some of the wingless newcomers, Layton decides to take a stroll around the village, trunk in hand, and observe. Something very unusual is happening, and there's no point in missing it by staying indoors.

Occasionally, he takes a seat on a bench or at a table and scribbles notes into his journal. Or puzzles into his puzzle index. Because no matter how much hubbub there is, you can never stop the puzzles.]

Comments

[reminded]

[maybe the squirrel had a traumatic incident in the past

maybe it's a religious thing

Anyway, Layton takes her deliberate gestures as a sign that she does understand him.]

Go on. Take your time and think it over, then touch your answer. [He leans over and draws a bit more upside-down, adding four circled letters at the base of each starting branch: A, B, C, D.]

[brushworkmother]

[what kind of religion does that

Still! That does make it easier. Ammy leans in to consider it, squinting a little as she tries to follow the path down. …no that's not the right number of even turns… and that's not the right number of odd turns…

Eventually she just snorts and puts her paw on B.]

[reminded]

[a very squirrely kind of religion to be sure

Layton breaks into a wide smile. It's a whole new story to have a wolf solving his puzzles.]

Precisely so! How delightful. I wish I could reward you, but I wouldn't be sure how.

[brushworkmother]

[badum tish

Ammy perks up, tail wagging. Hmm, a reward? Well, he could always feed her. For now, though, she'll settle for pets, pushing her head against his hand.]

[reminded]

[Well that, he can do. He obliges and gives her head a firm and thorough petting. Good job, Ammy. You are the good girl. It is you.]

[brushworkmother]

[yessss all the pettings for her

she will now claim Layton's lap so that he can pet her better]

[reminded]

[What a sweet animal. Layton gives her a couple scratches behind the ear before going on to give her side a rub.]

Curious. You're remarkably well-mannered, yet you don't appear to be a pet. Is that right?

[brushworkmother]

[yes good keep doing that

…well there is the occasional barging in on people and knocking down the walls of their rooms but it was in the name of a greater cause! And otherwise she behaves perfectly well which is definitely what counts. She whuffs amicably, tail thumping against his leg.]

[reminded]

[ok he will keep doing that

Luke probably would enjoy having a pet in the house, and so might Maiza. Czeslaw... maybe. But it isn't very fair to have an animal as big as this one cramped up in a flat as small as theirs. On the fifth floor. Alas.

His rubbing gets increasingly absent as he becomes lost in thought.]

[brushworkmother]

[excellent

Aside from the part where he's becoming more absent-minded about it. She lifts her head with a soft whine, giving him a look. What's on his mind?]

[reminded]

[just thinking about how he could justify kidnapping you, no bigs

He gives her head a few reassuring scratches before returning to his side-petting duties with renewed attention, switching to the other side.]

Do you have a name?

[brushworkmother]

[he gives good scratches

what more justification do you need

She whuffs, tail picking up again, but not too quickly- now that he's mentioned it, she's wondering how to tell him her name. Writing it, maybe? She pushes herself to sit up, dabbing a dot of ink on the table.]

[reminded]

[...

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM.]

[brushworkmother]

[GOOD QUESTION

certainly not the wolf on his lap, who's grinning at his reaction

and slowly beginning to draw 天 next to it]