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So I may have learned that trying to do a bunch of art projects all at once is a bad idea, and I shouldn't do it. Not that that has anything to do with with this post, nosiree! So continuing on from my crossover stories where each of my main characters meets their inspirations, this time with my detective character, Mocha! I want to explain this choice of a character, as even I didn't realize how Layton inspired Mocha, but let's get into the story first. This is... the puzzles of Avalon.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

  It was an average day in the city of Avalon. Just a bright, sunny, average, boring day. Mocha sighed as the summer heat hit him like a truck. It was the kind of heat that hung onto an animal, and just wouldn't let go. All of that compounded by his heavy trench coat, he was suffering. Luckily, he was close to shelter that he could easily duck inside if he overheated, and he had a large supply of water with him at all times.
   But paltry solutions aside, that still didn't change his situation. Here he was, patrolling the main street of the Epoch district of Avalon City, and he couldn't find a single animal that seemed to require his help. It had been this way for days on end now, and it was starting to bother Mocha. Usually one or two animals would recognize him as a detective for his outfit, and request that he solve a mystery. And sure, it was usually something simple like finding a missing animal or a petty larceny, but at least it was SOMETHING. Mocha sighed in frustration again, pacing past the same hotel for the eleventh time that day. Or maybe it was the twelfth.

   It was still only noon, but Mocha decided to stop his search for new clients. Obviously there wouldn't be any cases today, either. He hated giving up like that, because he had to worry about his share of the rent for the apartment he shared with Latte, but Mocha didn't feel like he had a choice. It was either that or suffer in the abysmal heat waiting for Godot, in a manner of speaking.

   Since he was leaving early, Mocha followed an impulse to take a more scenic route back home. It didn't take him that far out of his way, but it was a route that had earned him an interesting mystery once in the past, and he wanted to see if he could get just as lucky this time. As he passed a bunch of animals he didn't quite know, he spotted something interesting up ahead, standing in front of a jewelry store. There was an animal in a brown coat, hat, and slacks, standing there. It reminded Mocha of how he was dressed.

   When he got closer, he suddenly realized it wasn't an animal at all, but... a human? That can't be right! He thought. Humans have been extinct in Gaea for millenia! But sure enough, he is a human, sure as the nose on my face. “Uh... Mister?” Mocha asked timidly.

   The man turned in surprise, revealing that he wore an orange shirt under his coat. He had tiny eyes, and a friendly smile on his face. “Ah, hello there! Am I correct in assuming that you are yet another inhabitant of this perplexing city?” he asked.

   Mocha nodded, still unsure of what to think. “Yeah, I am. I'm Mocha, local detective for this area. I haven't had any major cases yet, but I've taken on quite a large number of them.” Mocha was curious about this man here, but waited to hear the man speak again.

   “Ah, a detective, a fine career!” the man said cheerfully, “And don't worry too much, Detective Mocha. I'm sure you'll end up with a large case one of these days!”

   Like, for example, how on GAEA a human managed to appear in Avalon City? And moreover, how absolutely nobody else seems particularly worried about this person? “That accent... Are you Lonian, by chance?” Mocha wondered. Lonian was a term for people who came from Lonland, which could be found across the ocean from Avalon. Lonians were known to have distinct accents, and this man's accent reminded Mocha strongly of it.

   “Lonian? I'm afraid I've not heard of such a term before,” the man replied, “My name is Hershel Layton. I'm a professor of archaeology, and my hobby is solving puzzles. Though it seems that quite a number of residents around this city believe I can solve their mysteries for them. Quite naturally, it is a gentleman's duty to always help those in need, so I solve the mysteries to the best of my ability. Though the main mystery of this city is one I can not seem to figure out.”

   For Phoenix's sake- THIS guy's the reason I don't have any work right now? Has nobody realized he's a human? “The main mystery of this city?” Mocha wondered, “What would that be?”

   “That would be the mystery of why it seems to be populated entirely by talking bipedal animals, Detective Mocha. Since you're also a cat that seems to be able to walk on its hind legs, you probably wouldn't know the answer yourself, but do you think you could perhaps provide some clue on this matter?”

   ...That's his big mystery? “Professor, I don't think you seem to have realized yet, but you're actually the odd one out here. This entire wold is populated by nothing but... as you put it, talking bipedal animals. You're the only human who's existed in... five thousand years. Respectfully, YOU'RE the mystery, Professor Layton.”

   Layton didn't seem quite convinced, putting his hand to his chin in thought. “Really? Well, that discounts my theory that this was actually a city full of people who enjoyed dressing up and acting as animals. Though to learn that I'm the mystery here is troubling. I must've ended up accidentally traveling here from my own world.”

   He doesn't sound too surprised to learn this information. “...Has this... somehow happened to you before?” Mocha wondered.

   Layton smiled, raising his hand in the air nonchalantly. “Well, I have traveled through time before, so this actually isn't so far-fetched for me. I do have to wonder how I got here... and how I can get back. My young assistant must be worried sick about me.”

   Aaaand he's just apparently traveled through time before. Cool, great. Not that I needed to feel any more inferior as a detective, no sir! But wait... this situation sounds a lot like what Latte mentioned to me the other day! “I wouldn't worry about it if I were you,” Mocha responded, “My good friend Latte apparently had a surprise visit from a tanuki who also claimed she was from another world, and he told me that she just went back after a little while, no problem. It's very curious, though.”

   “It's highly probable that some strange force of the universe is simply plucking these people from other worlds because it believes our meetings may be of some value,” Layton suggested casually, “Either that, or this could serve as a small form of entertainment, watching two characters of a similar nature interact with each other.”

   Mocha couldn't even fathom a response to that statement. “Well, uh... why were you just standing around outside this jewelry store?” he wondered, “Something strange about it?”

   Layton nodded. “Not so much anything strange about it, but I heard reports that this particular jewelry store had been broken into. However, it wasn't a valuable gem or stone that was stolen, but just a simple chair from the store.”

   That IS strange! “Just a chair? Why on Gaea would an animal just want something so mundane from a jewelry store?”

   “That seems to be the puzzle at present, Detective Mocha. Care to assist me on this matter? While I have been doing fine on my own, it would be preferable to have an animal who knows their way around this world to help me.”

   “You bet I do! I'm just as curious on this as you are, Professor!”

   Less than half an hour later, Mocha and Layton were able to solve the mystery. Apparently, it was all a misunderstanding, and the chair had been there all along. An animal had tried to break into the jewelry store, but when the alarm sounded, they left empty-pawed.

   Mocha collapsed onto a nearby bench, and took a sip from his water bottle. “That had to have been the most exhausting thirty minutes of my entire life.”

   “I couldn't agree more, Detective Mocha,” Layton said, sounding less than thrilled. “But at least the matter's been put to rest. It was nice to work with a detective of a different world, albeit for a very short time. But here is where I must bid farewell. If our paths should happen to cross again thanks to the mysterious powers that be, I hope we can find a more substantial case to solve.”

   “Alright, thanks for everything, Professor,” Mocha stated. “I hope you don't have any problems getting back to your world.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________

I think I still need to work on my closure for these, but it's already hard enough trying to keep these stories under two pages long as it is. But that's not the main point, I actually wanted to talk about how Professor Layton was the primary source of inspiration for Mocha. In case it wasn't clear from is general attire, Mocha's design is more inspired by general detectives. Think Columbo, Holmes, Poirot, that kind of deal. I always had a liking for detectives in stories, so this story was initially going to be Mocha meeting one of those three (or all of them because I think that would have been hilarious), but then a certain series of videos I watched recently made me remember why I got into the mystery genre in the first place: Professor Layton. Of course, our fine gentleman is no detective, but he solves mysteries and unravels secrets all the same. I remember immediately being endeared to Layton when I first played Curious Village, so the fact that I kinda forgot how he spurred me into the mystery genre is very strange indeed. And while I'm a little disappointed that I didn't go with my original idea, I think Layton is a much closer match to Mocha anyways. Mocha is very generous, always taking on a case for whoever he can, and always seeing it through to the (usually very abrupt) end. It's not easy to get on his good side, but once you do, he will go above and beyond to help you, you can count on that. Layton additionally has this same trademark, with all his talk of being a gentleman and helping out those in need. Layton and Mocha are also very similar in that they can't turn their attention away from a good mystery or puzzle, which is an interesting character trait for the both of them.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the story! This was a really fun one to write, can't wait until I get to the next one.

This art features one of the characters I've made for the story I'm writing, called Rise of the Phoenix! You can find more art of all the characters here: www.deviantart.com/duplifox/ga…

Description

So I may have learned that trying to do a bunch of art projects all at once is a bad idea, and I shouldn't do it. Not that that has anything to do with with this post, nosiree! So continuing on from my crossover stories where each of my main characters meets their inspirations, this time with my detective character, Mocha! I want to explain this choice of a character, as even I didn't realize how Layton inspired Mocha, but let's get into the story first. This is... the puzzles of Avalon.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

  It was an average day in the city of Avalon. Just a bright, sunny, average, boring day. Mocha sighed as the summer heat hit him like a truck. It was the kind of heat that hung onto an animal, and just wouldn't let go. All of that compounded by his heavy trench coat, he was suffering. Luckily, he was close to shelter that he could easily duck inside if he overheated, and he had a large supply of water with him at all times.
   But paltry solutions aside, that still didn't change his situation. Here he was, patrolling the main street of the Epoch district of Avalon City, and he couldn't find a single animal that seemed to require his help. It had been this way for days on end now, and it was starting to bother Mocha. Usually one or two animals would recognize him as a detective for his outfit, and request that he solve a mystery. And sure, it was usually something simple like finding a missing animal or a petty larceny, but at least it was SOMETHING. Mocha sighed in frustration again, pacing past the same hotel for the eleventh time that day. Or maybe it was the twelfth.

   It was still only noon, but Mocha decided to stop his search for new clients. Obviously there wouldn't be any cases today, either. He hated giving up like that, because he had to worry about his share of the rent for the apartment he shared with Latte, but Mocha didn't feel like he had a choice. It was either that or suffer in the abysmal heat waiting for Godot, in a manner of speaking.

   Since he was leaving early, Mocha followed an impulse to take a more scenic route back home. It didn't take him that far out of his way, but it was a route that had earned him an interesting mystery once in the past, and he wanted to see if he could get just as lucky this time. As he passed a bunch of animals he didn't quite know, he spotted something interesting up ahead, standing in front of a jewelry store. There was an animal in a brown coat, hat, and slacks, standing there. It reminded Mocha of how he was dressed.

   When he got closer, he suddenly realized it wasn't an animal at all, but... a human? That can't be right! He thought. Humans have been extinct in Gaea for millenia! But sure enough, he is a human, sure as the nose on my face. “Uh... Mister?” Mocha asked timidly.

   The man turned in surprise, revealing that he wore an orange shirt under his coat. He had tiny eyes, and a friendly smile on his face. “Ah, hello there! Am I correct in assuming that you are yet another inhabitant of this perplexing city?” he asked.

   Mocha nodded, still unsure of what to think. “Yeah, I am. I'm Mocha, local detective for this area. I haven't had any major cases yet, but I've taken on quite a large number of them.” Mocha was curious about this man here, but waited to hear the man speak again.

   “Ah, a detective, a fine career!” the man said cheerfully, “And don't worry too much, Detective Mocha. I'm sure you'll end up with a large case one of these days!”

   Like, for example, how on GAEA a human managed to appear in Avalon City? And moreover, how absolutely nobody else seems particularly worried about this person? “That accent... Are you Lonian, by chance?” Mocha wondered. Lonian was a term for people who came from Lonland, which could be found across the ocean from Avalon. Lonians were known to have distinct accents, and this man's accent reminded Mocha strongly of it.

   “Lonian? I'm afraid I've not heard of such a term before,” the man replied, “My name is Hershel Layton. I'm a professor of archaeology, and my hobby is solving puzzles. Though it seems that quite a number of residents around this city believe I can solve their mysteries for them. Quite naturally, it is a gentleman's duty to always help those in need, so I solve the mysteries to the best of my ability. Though the main mystery of this city is one I can not seem to figure out.”

   For Phoenix's sake- THIS guy's the reason I don't have any work right now? Has nobody realized he's a human? “The main mystery of this city?” Mocha wondered, “What would that be?”

   “That would be the mystery of why it seems to be populated entirely by talking bipedal animals, Detective Mocha. Since you're also a cat that seems to be able to walk on its hind legs, you probably wouldn't know the answer yourself, but do you think you could perhaps provide some clue on this matter?”

   ...That's his big mystery? “Professor, I don't think you seem to have realized yet, but you're actually the odd one out here. This entire wold is populated by nothing but... as you put it, talking bipedal animals. You're the only human who's existed in... five thousand years. Respectfully, YOU'RE the mystery, Professor Layton.”

   Layton didn't seem quite convinced, putting his hand to his chin in thought. “Really? Well, that discounts my theory that this was actually a city full of people who enjoyed dressing up and acting as animals. Though to learn that I'm the mystery here is troubling. I must've ended up accidentally traveling here from my own world.”

   He doesn't sound too surprised to learn this information. “...Has this... somehow happened to you before?” Mocha wondered.

   Layton smiled, raising his hand in the air nonchalantly. “Well, I have traveled through time before, so this actually isn't so far-fetched for me. I do have to wonder how I got here... and how I can get back. My young assistant must be worried sick about me.”

   Aaaand he's just apparently traveled through time before. Cool, great. Not that I needed to feel any more inferior as a detective, no sir! But wait... this situation sounds a lot like what Latte mentioned to me the other day! “I wouldn't worry about it if I were you,” Mocha responded, “My good friend Latte apparently had a surprise visit from a tanuki who also claimed she was from another world, and he told me that she just went back after a little while, no problem. It's very curious, though.”

   “It's highly probable that some strange force of the universe is simply plucking these people from other worlds because it believes our meetings may be of some value,” Layton suggested casually, “Either that, or this could serve as a small form of entertainment, watching two characters of a similar nature interact with each other.”

   Mocha couldn't even fathom a response to that statement. “Well, uh... why were you just standing around outside this jewelry store?” he wondered, “Something strange about it?”

   Layton nodded. “Not so much anything strange about it, but I heard reports that this particular jewelry store had been broken into. However, it wasn't a valuable gem or stone that was stolen, but just a simple chair from the store.”

   That IS strange! “Just a chair? Why on Gaea would an animal just want something so mundane from a jewelry store?”

   “That seems to be the puzzle at present, Detective Mocha. Care to assist me on this matter? While I have been doing fine on my own, it would be preferable to have an animal who knows their way around this world to help me.”

   “You bet I do! I'm just as curious on this as you are, Professor!”

   Less than half an hour later, Mocha and Layton were able to solve the mystery. Apparently, it was all a misunderstanding, and the chair had been there all along. An animal had tried to break into the jewelry store, but when the alarm sounded, they left empty-pawed.

   Mocha collapsed onto a nearby bench, and took a sip from his water bottle. “That had to have been the most exhausting thirty minutes of my entire life.”

   “I couldn't agree more, Detective Mocha,” Layton said, sounding less than thrilled. “But at least the matter's been put to rest. It was nice to work with a detective of a different world, albeit for a very short time. But here is where I must bid farewell. If our paths should happen to cross again thanks to the mysterious powers that be, I hope we can find a more substantial case to solve.”

   “Alright, thanks for everything, Professor,” Mocha stated. “I hope you don't have any problems getting back to your world.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________

I think I still need to work on my closure for these, but it's already hard enough trying to keep these stories under two pages long as it is. But that's not the main point, I actually wanted to talk about how Professor Layton was the primary source of inspiration for Mocha. In case it wasn't clear from is general attire, Mocha's design is more inspired by general detectives. Think Columbo, Holmes, Poirot, that kind of deal. I always had a liking for detectives in stories, so this story was initially going to be Mocha meeting one of those three (or all of them because I think that would have been hilarious), but then a certain series of videos I watched recently made me remember why I got into the mystery genre in the first place: Professor Layton. Of course, our fine gentleman is no detective, but he solves mysteries and unravels secrets all the same. I remember immediately being endeared to Layton when I first played Curious Village, so the fact that I kinda forgot how he spurred me into the mystery genre is very strange indeed. And while I'm a little disappointed that I didn't go with my original idea, I think Layton is a much closer match to Mocha anyways. Mocha is very generous, always taking on a case for whoever he can, and always seeing it through to the (usually very abrupt) end. It's not easy to get on his good side, but once you do, he will go above and beyond to help you, you can count on that. Layton additionally has this same trademark, with all his talk of being a gentleman and helping out those in need. Layton and Mocha are also very similar in that they can't turn their attention away from a good mystery or puzzle, which is an interesting character trait for the both of them.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the story! This was a really fun one to write, can't wait until I get to the next one.

This art features one of the characters I've made for the story I'm writing, called Rise of the Phoenix! You can find more art of all the characters here: www.deviantart.com/duplifox/ga…