( open ) most intriguing

[scrutinies]

Characters: Cyrus Albright [Sherlock Holmes] & you!
Campaign: Break
Format: [ brackets! ]
Open
Summary: January sidestory shenanigans and some general open prompts!


🖋️ i. journal

Salutations,

I find myself curious as to how other Aspects have found themselves changed by their Essences in the time they've been here. No doubt we all found ourselves altered in some respects, marked by both losses and gains, but as time has gone on, how have you acclimated to whatever gifts the Storyteller has bestowed upon you? Have your new abilities perhaps developed further since your initial arrival, or have you discovered new and unexpected talents? Any related discussion would be more than welcome, not only for curiosity's sake, but in a continued effort to learn more about this world we've pledged our aid to and its inner workings.

Sincerely,
Professor Cyrus Albright (Sherlock Holmes)

📖 ii. library

[It wouldn't be entirely inaccurate to say that Cyrus has spent more time in the Index's library than he has in his own home since his arrival. How could he possibly stay away from such a collection, with so many volumes offering windows into both this and other worlds? He's become a regular there, with a favored table that the library staff have learned to leave unoccupied for him, where he's made a habit of spending countless hours reading, researching and taking scribbled notes that likely mean very little to anyone but him at first glance. He's come to feel quite at home there— perhaps too much so.

This particular evening finds him at his usual table, though not necessarily working— he's been at it so long that he's fallen quite asleep atop his work, face-down in an open book with tomes of various sizes stacked haphazardly across the table and towering over him. His quill has fallen from his hand mid-sentence, with a cup of tea that's positioned precariously close to the table's edge and in very real danger of being knocked over if he so much as shifts.

The situation is a disaster waiting to happen, really.]

🛏️ iii. a towering puzzle

[Cyrus never could resist a puzzle or mystery, long before becoming an Aspect, and so when it comes time to restore this particular tale, it's no surprise where his unparalleled focus is drawn. He stands before the revolving tower of beds, his finger crooked just beneath his chin as he regards the tower as a whole, thoughtful.]

The matching should be simple enough, but there must be more to this.

[He has yet to see an Eraser, but he has no doubt they'll make themselves known before long.]

Indeed, some of these seem to be trapped— a hazard for anyone aiming to climb. We must be on our guard so that our Princess may reach their goal!

[Hey, you— yes, you. You've just been conscripted to help him solve this, whether you like it or not. Maybe you're interested in the puzzle itself, or you can offer your services by keeping the Erasers at bay while Cyrus works? Either way, Professor Layton Albright welcomes your assistance.]

🍭 iv. rotten forest

[Whatever has brought you to the forest of decaying sweets, you're in good company. Cyrus' Essence makes him an excellent partner when it comes to scouting for those white pebbles, and he also seems to have a knack for spotting Erasers that might be hiding among the candy cane trees and gumdrop bushes. He's actually looking forward to confrontation here— he may not have his magic in its purest form, but he's worked out a few new tricks with his pipe that he's eager to put into practice.

For the time being, however, he's quite interested in the forest itself, and he approaches a tree that looks like it was meant to be a lollipop in order to examine it more closely.]

These truly are remarkable, even crumbling as they are— do you think they grow naturally?

[Or did the witch who owns the cottage further in put them here?]

I have to wonder what one would plant to grow such a tree. Given this world's magic, I imagine anything is possible. There's no scientific law here that would prevent a planted lollipop from growing into something far greater. Truly, this world's possibilities are endless.

[He's gushing. Apologies to whoever has wound up working with him— unfortunately, he's just like this.]

Comments

[rokubro]

Oh right, it came from that pipe! Definitely a strange type of...weapon. But hey, now you can fool your enemies. Pretend your smoking, but actually casting a spell.

[scrutinies]

Not unlike the way I've done things in the past— most people don't think twice about a book unless they, too, are magically inclined. Magic isn't necessarily rare where I come from, but oft underestimated.

[Not to mention he doesn't exactly look dangerous, but he's burned more than his fair share of monsters to ash.]

I think the pipe is quite growing on me, in fact. I hadn't thought much of it at first, but this is quite useful.

[rokubro]

I don't really deal with magic much myself, at least not in terms of spells. Some of my artes have some elemental properties and then there are my form artes, but I don't really think of them as magic. [Close, but not quite.]

So that was the only spell you've come up with so far?

[scrutinies]

There was one with a bit of fire, but I've yet to decide whether that was a spell or a malfunction.

[For just a moment, he looks crestfallen.]

I lost a perfectly good journal during that experiment.

[:c]

[rokubro]

[Aw.]

Guess that's a risk when you're playing with fire.

[Ey? Eeeeeey???



Okay yeah that was bad.]

But hey, if you managed to conjure fire, that's better than not at all.

[scrutinies]

[Anyone else might have sighed heavily or asked Rokurou why he's like this— but not Cyrus. Instead, he chuckles warmly at what the other man seems to think passes for 'clever.']

Well, I certainly can't argue with you there.

[He shakes his head, tucking his pipe away.]

Come— I think we've spent enough time loitering about here. We should press onward!

[rokubro]

[No, he knows it was bad, he's not even going to try and pretend it was that great. But he just laughs all the same.]

And can't argue you with you there. [God, he's on a horrible roll.]

Let's see if we can't track anymore of those Erasers, down—or find a candy tree seed.

[LOOK. HE'S GOING TO THINK ABOUT THIS A LOT FOR A WHILE...

But off they go!]