user: #B91600 - subject: Missing Hat

[heartsteals]

[ contrary to his fairly casual way of speaking, Lupin types on the forums exactly the way you'd expect a gentleman from the 1800s to write a letter. ]

My dear fellow abductees,

The recent events involving Shadows and Shadow-Monsters led to the unfortunate loss of my hat; with their activity subsided, I assumed that my stolen goods would be returned to me. However, it appears they had one last prank to play on me: I am reunited with a hat, but not my own. It is a navy blue pork pie hat with a red and white ribbon, adorned with a cute pink flower. I've attached a rather poor image of it - my description may be of more use.

[ attached is an artistic depiction of a hat. He did his best with the laptop touchpad and the paint program... ]

If you are the owner of this hat, it shall be returned to you. And if you have my hat - a fine silk top hat with a red tie - this is a notice of my intention to take it back, if you will not hand it over yourself.

Cordialement,
Lupin

PS: Do we have a name for our Town yet?

Comments

[messianic]

[Huh.]

Honestly, when you put it like that, it sounds really official... I'd be okay with a name like that, but the trick is getting everyone to use it, I think.

It'll sound more natural then.

[heartsteals]

It was the first thing to come to my mind! A little more thought should go into it than that.

[messianic]

I don't know about that...if it's the first thing that came to mind, maybe that just means it's extra suitable? For this place, I mean.

[heartsteals]

Fair enough. Still, I think it should be something everyone decides on, as good as my suggestion might be.

[messianic]

You're not wrong. Trying to get everyone to agree on a name will be the trickiest part, I think.

It usually is.

[heartsteals]

I look forward to choosing a name being the trickiest thing we must deal with. How are you, Minato? You weren't hurt any more than we were that first morning, I hope.

[messianic]

[Hurt? No, thankfully.]

I'm okay. Somehow, I managed to get through all of that without getting injured. What about you, Lupin-san?

[heartsteals]

I'm fine; from the looks of things, my hat was in more peril than I ever was. I can't say the same for some of my friends - I had to help Cairngorm get their leg out of the well.

[messianic]

[.......... what.]

Are they okay? Their entire leg?

[heartsteals]

It seems that way, yes. They're a sort of animated gemstone, so they don't bleed or hurt like we do, as far as I can tell. It's quite strange.

[messianic]

I...see. Well, I'm glad they're okay. Just when I thought I'd gotten used to the sorts of people that are here, I get surprised all over again.

[heartsteals]

We've certainly got all sorts here. I consider you one of the surprising ones, too, for the record.

[messianic]

[...?]

Me? And here I thought I was doing a good job of being normal and nondescript...

[He's mostly joking, even if he is surprised by that comment.]

[heartsteals]

No one can pull the wool over my eyes.

[messianic]

[LUPIN...]

I was joking... I'm really not that special, so I didn't think I had much to hide in that sense.

[heartsteals]

As was I. I suppose sarcasm is difficult to read over text. In any case, you are fairly special from my point of view - though perhaps the world I come from is simply dull.

[messianic]

[Stop flattering him, it's overwhelming.]

That's definitely not true. There's no way the world Arsene Lupin-san comes from is dull. I don't believe it.

[heartsteals]

[ but he likes flattering minato... ]

Nope. It was utterly normal - no magic, only the forward march of technology.

[ except there is magic and one of his friends is an immortal zombie illuminati but he doesn't know that ]

[messianic]

[And vampires and zombies and magic.]

There doesn't have to be magic for it to be an impressive world, you know... just because magic's the most startling doesn't mean there aren't amazing people there, changing the world or making it an amazing place.

[Minato has a rather simple view of the world--but he'll always think people are way more interesting and amazing than some strange concept like magic anyway.]

[heartsteals]

[ LISTEN vampires are just ordinary people to him... ]

In that case, I suppose it's not dull at all. There's been all sorts of amazing advancements in technology lately. Again, though, I would think they aren't so amazing to someone from the year 2000.

[messianic]

[Lupin....!! Talk about how cool your world is!!]

Do you follow technology very closely, Lupin-san?

[heartsteals]

I wouldn't say so, no. It's simply hard to miss. When the neo-steam engine was invented, it changed the world for everyone, not just scientists.

That said, my best friend is an engineer, himself, so I do hear about it from him now and again.

[messianic]

Oh, really? An engineer? That's impressive. [He didn't know that!!!

...Also wait, what?]

Wait, what's a neo-steam engine?

[heartsteals]

That's right. His name is Impey. He is quite an unusual fellow; his goal in life is to somehow build a vehicle that will take him to the moon. It may sound like a madman's ramblings, but if anyone can do it, I'm sure it would be him. As for the neo-steam engine, I don't know the details, as I am a layman and nothing more in this field, but it is an engine that works by heating water until it turns into steam, which expands and powers movement. It's a miraculous invention, although I imagine it sounds quaint to you.

[messianic]

[... Isn't that jus a regular steam engine...?]

To the moon...

[................. WELL.]

I wonder if it was him who figured it out, then, or helped to.