Puzzle 031

[hintcoinplz]

[726 Anderson Lane]

[The last thing Luke remembered was being dragged back through the funhouse by Lucas, right before he fell unconsciousness. He doesn't remember how he got home, but here he was, feeling exhausted and sick. A quick glance at his hand and he realizes that his fingers are still missing, but he doesn't dwell on it long before trying to climb out of the bed and towards the nearest food source.

At least it was over now and he was home again. Right as he clumsily lands on the floor, he's greeted to the sight of a familiar man in the doorway. Luke's face brightens in relief. As much as he thought he'd get used to how death works in Mayfield, it was always hard to watch a loved one die. But of course he was back and in good health again.]

Mr. Nigma, you're alive-

[Luke's relief is cut short, when he notices the blank stare and the eerie smile on the other man's face.]

Hey there sport! You're not gonna spend all day in bed, are you?

[...What? No no, that's not-

Luke frowns, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.]

...Mr. Nigma? You're-

Hey now, is that any way to talk to your old man? Anyway, I'll be in the garage. Why don't you help your mother out today by cleaning up the kitchen, eh?

[Luke watches as he leaves, a feeling of dread and horror washing over him. He stumbles forward on unsteady legs, trying not to collapse out in the hallway as he makes his way towards Edward's room, trying to find any trace of his Mayfield father's personal belongings.

But as much as he searches the room, going through closets and desk drawers, everything that was ever owned by Edward Nigma was gone.

A crash comes from the upstairs room, followed by a loud cry.]

[Outside 726 Anderson Lane - Evening]

[It didn't take long for it to sink in. After not being able to find a trace of Edward's things, it was obvious that Edward wasn't coming back. He feels a sense of numbness going through him as he approaches the swing in the yard, carrying the cane that Edward gave him as a gift.

Without saying a word, he sticks the cane into the ground hard enough to make sure it'll never be moved again. He takes a step back, admiring the makeshift memorial for a moment. It was foolish to get attached in the first place, after all the ones you loved where always the first to go. He thought maybe he could make up for the loss of his first family with his new family, but he...

He couldn't. He was weak and useless, incapable of protecting. He couldn't even hang on to the people he truly cared about.

Edward Nigma's number one apprentice. What a joke. It was...

...it was almost funny...

...if it weren't so sad.]

Comments

Evening

[crazyclownwoman]

[Someone's come looking for Eddie. ...:|]

Hey ya kid! Is Eddie in?

Evening

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke's voice is flat when he speaks.]

No, he's not in. Not anymore.

[crazyclownwoman]

Huh? Where is he?

[Not getting it.]

[hintcoinplz]

He's gone home. You won't find him here anymore.

Evening

[bread_goes_bip]

[Death softly tries to get his attention.]

Luke?

Evening

[hintcoinplz]

[He doesn't answer, but continues staring at the memorial.

His expression is blank.]

Re: Evening

[bread_goes_bip]

[She reaches out to hug him.]

It's okay to miss him.

[hintcoinplz]

[He doesn't really react to the hug. He's just entirely numb.]

It was stupid to get attached.

Evening

[motheringnation]

[Ukraine is walking by when she sees him and quickly stops to walk over.]

...Luke...what's wrong?

[hintcoinplz]

[Ukraine being one of Luke's other mommy figures, Luke makes an effort to hide his fingerless hand.]

Ah, it's...someone's gone home, that's all.

[motheringnation]

Oh....Luke I'm so sorry.

Was it someone important to you?

[calmingmelody]

[hearing a crash, Loosha sits up abruptly from her spot.]

(Someone's back!!)

[Loosha was getting so lonely with how long everyone had been gone, she decided to stay at the house and wait. She bumps her nose against the window, then realizes she can't see anything like that, so lowers her head a little to peer in. So enjoy a big eye in your window.]

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke is sitting on the ground, not having much energy to stand up, and sobbing into his hands. At the sound of Loosha bumping the window, Luke straightens up and looks to the window.]

L-Loosha?

[calmingmelody]

(Hi.)

[Loosha is still peering, noting how weak he looks, and - well, he was sobbing into his hands, so she sees that one of them has no fingers. She feels a pang of sorrow - where was she when that happened?]

(Does it hurt?)

Evening

[ceasetoexist]

[He was coming over to see Slugger because in most cases that was the only reason Pokey would dare coming over to the house and having to brave Susan. Still he has to stop when he sees Luke standing out there. He pauses for a moment, thinking how it would probably be easier to just go on in and find Slugger or, even better, just go home but he can't will his damn legs to move.

After a few seconds of standing there and staring like a goon Pokey gets himself moving again. But not running or trying to avoid the other boy. Rather, he goes up to look at the small memorial Luke had created. At least that's what Pokey figures it is. It's made out of grief that much he's sure of.]

...I'm sorry for your loss.

[Because as far as he can tell that's the only thing that can still upset the long timers here.]

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke doesn't look up. He can't.]

S'alright. He's gone home now, that's the important thing.

[And Luke's last memory of him will be the last moments before his death, watching him in agony as he tried to stay alive.

...He never would get the chance to say sorry, huh.]

[ceasetoexist]

...It is. But it only kind of helps to know that.

Action ; Evening

[balzams]

[After making the rounds of everyone he saw on the other side, Luke was the last one left. As he hobbled closer, he could sense something was up]

Um... I'm not interrupting anything, am I?

Action ; Evening

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke looks up at Latvia, smiling weakly. Good, he was all right.]

No, you're not.

Action ; Evening

[balzams]

[Shyly, he takes a half full bottle of Riga Black Balsam and offers it towards him]

You look like you might need this...

Outside Anderson Lane

[equinamity]

[Riza had found an old game a little ways back, and had purchased it because she thought Luke would enjoy it. She'd been laying low since the situation in which she thought she'd been married with multiple children. But she'd found this game, and thought the puzzle-like aspect was something Luke would enjoy.]

[So game in tow, she was about to knock on the front door when she saw Luke out back. Immediately, she realized now was probably not time for a game. She could tell he was upset. She steps across the lawn and to the side yard, approaching the back yard.]

Luke?

Outside Anderson Lane

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke doesn't look up, staring at the memorial with a solemn look.]

Hello, miss Riza.

Re: Outside Anderson Lane

[equinamity]

Are you all right?

[Such a pointless question, but this was not something she was good at approaching. She knew well how to address upset adults; children was something else entirely.]

May I come back there with you?

Evening

[strike_you_out]

[The swing creaks slightly as Slugger appears seated upon it. He'd found out earlier about Edward's droning after searching the house. It was strange to see a cane sticking up from the dirt again, a flashback to the day he'd buried his family in this yard and used Edward's cane as a grave marker.

For now he's silent, head bowed as if attending a funeral service.]

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke doesn't say anything even when Slugger appears. If Slugger waits long enough, he'll eventually see tears.]