Where is it?!

[airlynx]

 [A large form stalked through the house, cradling its head gingerly. A headache was nothing new, and Atsushi knew from experience that it was the kind you got from a hangover. The more he thought about it, though, he couldn't remember drinking anything the night before--but then again, weren't blackouts for him a common occurrence? He thought that was so. He thought--no, it hurt to think. 

It was a miracle he'd found the map lying next to him upon waking, but using it was a whole nother ballgame. All he managed to get from it was that the kitchen was somewhere leftish, before throwing it back on the floor without bothering to see if there was anything on the back. 

He threw open some of the kitchen cabinets and squinted into the darkness before groaning in disappointment. What kind of house didn't have some sake in it to help remedy his headache? 

After throwing open the door to every cubpoard and cabinet he could lay his beady eyes on, he was forced to face the truth. Without bothering to close the now gaping doors, he lumbered back in the general direction from which he had come, leaving naught but a string of curse words in his wake.]

Comments

[momingstar]

I don't remember at all, and I certainly wasn't drinking at the time. I was simply at home with my family. I'm sure they're looking for me, just like the rest of us must have people out for us, but if we don't even know where we are, that'll be hard.

[airlynx]

[Atsushi glances backward.]

Tha's right, jus' stay behind me. If anythin' jumps out at us, I'll clobber 'em.
Oi, Light--Is wutever is inside that door worth a lot o' money? For you to wanna get it that bad. Or...

[Atsushi trails away, thinking back to a similar door back at his house in Sotoba. Also locked. Also rectangular. If this one is just like that door in his house, then it has to also contain the sake. Could it be...?]

[airlynx]

Well, I also hope tha' your folks are out lookin' for ya. If they find ya, they also gonna find me. I hope so cos my folks sure as hell won't be lookin'.

[momingstar]

...Sir, I'm sure I should find this flattering, but how old do you think I am?

[airlynx]

Wuh? Uh, by height, yer...um...[Atsushi thinks back to seeing kids on their way to school as they were running past his bedroom window.] Fifth grader. Cos they're about ab level. Yuh.

[momingstar]

...I've heard of trying to pass for twenty-seven when you're my age, but not ten.

[andeatit]

[That's not... Light has braved many a laundry room by himself. It has more to do with his starting point, and the fact that the room was a dead end.

But he only nods at the offer. No reason to discourage his help should he want to offer it.]

I can't say for sure what's behind it. It's locked and so far, I haven't been able to find the combination. It could be something to divert our attention from the real problem, but considering this seems to be a game set up, it could also be helpful.

[airlynx]

Tha's one fancy lock. A combination, ya say? Have ya tried guessin' it? If there's one thing I learned growin' up, it's tha' anythin' can be broken into. Now, I don' know a lot, but I know the most common password is 'password'.

[Atsushi laughs lowly, shaking his head.]

[airlynx]

Well, ya sound educated fo' a ten-year-old, then. I bet ya get them straight A's, too.

[andeatit]

It's a combination lock, so it uses numbers instead of letters. [If it used a computer, Light would be much better off.] There's 184,756 different possible combinations if we try guessing. [Some numbers can be spaces, giving them 10 possible outcomes for each space.

Giving him another look, he comes further into the room.]

Then construction? You look like someone who works with your hands.

[momingstar]

[Calling it now, he's the culprit. Tell: Mistakes forty-year-olds for children.]

Sir, if you think that's an effective way to trick someone into telling you her age, I don't know what to tell you.

[airlynx]

[Atsushi crosses his arms and huffs proudly, but he knows he must keep the semblance of modesty.]

Well, yeh, I have done some buildin' work here and thar.

[There. Now it won't look like he's bragging.]

[airlynx]

[D: !!!]

Ya can start by tellin' me yer age.

[andeatit]

Good, good! I could tell! [He'll offer him a smile. Good job having the right skill!]

Then, if we haven't found a way in the right way, maybe we can get around whatever it is that would kick the electricity.

[momingstar]

Well, a lady doesn't usually tell that sort of thing to begin with, but I'm old enough to be your mother.

[airlynx]

Kick? [Atsushi tilts his head.] I can try kickin' somethin', but that might break it.

[andeatit]

Not in the literal sense. We won't worry about it now. It's just good to know you have the skills should we need it.

[airlynx]

[D-does that mean that the kid--no, woman--thinks Atsushi looks young? Atsushi sees it as a compliment. The only wrinkles he wants to have on his body are the ones defining his six-pack.]

Oh, well, tha's kind of ya.

[airlynx]

Well, yeh, I s'pose we have more things to worry about, bein' stuck on this here island an' all.

[andeatit]

Considerably. Even you could be in danger. But, with you here, we have more options than before. Would you mind letting me know which room you'll be staying in?

[airlynx]

Oh, uh, prob'ly the one I woke up in. It's over there. [Atsushi extends an arm toward the entrance to the kitchen.] Yourself?

[andeatit]

That's where they're all located. I'm in the second bedroom on the map. When you settle in more firmly, I'd like to know which you've chosen.

[airlynx]

Eh? The far one, if I'm rememberin' right.

[It's Bedroom #3 that he woke up in.]

[andeatit]

And it's fine if I stop by? I'll knock of course.

[airlynx]

'Course. I'll be glad t'see ya, even more if ya manage to dig up some booze.