They walk through the second lounge room
"... So what about you? Who are your favorite detective and criminal? I will judge you
"In real life? Us.
In fiction, hm... Professor Layton or Harry du Bois. And for criminals, it would be this one character Vivi made in DnD. It was really funny."
"Ah, so you're a bit of a nerd then?"
"You play minecraft"
"How did you know that."
"... Wild guess, I think you're the type of guy who asks people out on minecraft dates"
"Fuck, he's more perceptive than I thought"
"But isn't solving mysteries a bit of a game on its own? Just, well, much more serious"
"... I dont know if I'd call it a game, but it's certainly a puzzle.
Puzzles are really fun, I like solving things. The feeling when everything just *connects* is so satisfying.
But I certainly enjoy games, I love their structure, their rules, the way they change so drastically with just a few conditions. A game is like a puzzle, in a way."
"... Hey, how about this.
Let me contract you for my case"
"Huh?"
"I want you to investigate my next hit.
Time, place, object, method, all of it! I'll leave hints and clues beforehand. "
"Do you get it? I want to make puzzles for you"
"Oh. Oh fuck. This better not be feelings.
This is a terrible time, place, person, and situation to catch feelings in!! Get a grip Me!!!
He basically just did the equivalent of offering me a sudoku book, no big deal! Mom did that for my birthday already!
Well, except a hand crafted puzzle would require a lot of thought and care and research into it, and seeing as this is a real-life robbery, there would probably be items and places and other variables at play that will make everything more exciting, not to mention the real danger he is going through for this, just for me...
Which!! Is Fine!! Not romantic at all!! I have never felt a single feeling ever in my life."
"What happens when I solve it"
"If you solve it"
"When I solve it. You'll go to jail"
"I won't get caught, I know my way around police"
"So, dont worry, once it's over, I'll bounce back with more puzzles for you
We'll get to know each other better"
"... Okay. I'll do it, then"
"Ah fuck. These really are feelings"
"Im screwed"
They reach the stairs and go up