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storypaint ([personal profile] storypaint) wrote2009-01-07 01:03 pm

Every Girl's Crazy 'Bout (Layton gen)

Title: Every Girl's Crazy 'Bout
Length: 672 words
Prompt: Professor Layton (Anon) Fan Meme: Layton playing Guitar Hero. More specifically, "Sharp Dressed Man."
Pairing: Layton and Luke gen
Other: modern-day AU (obviously)
Excerpt: He held the box up to the light and read the words: "Guitar Hero." He frowned slightly. One did not play guitar to become a hero; heroes did not often play guitar. But video games made little sense to him, except for ones involving logic puzzles.

As was his custom, Layton put together and wrapped all of Luke's gifts on Christmas Eve after the boy had been sent to bed. There was no need to lie to him about Santa Claus-- he knew his gifts had been sent from home-- but this was something Layton liked to do by himself in the firelight, enjoying the precision of tape and wrapping paper.

He held the box up to the light and read the words: "Guitar Hero." He frowned slightly. One did not play guitar to become a hero; heroes did not often play guitar. But video games made little sense to him, except for ones involving logic puzzles, and after he'd utterly demolished Brain Age 1 and 2 in two heady days, he had given up on them entirely.

But Luke's gifts were his parents' prerogative. Layton had already prepared a few small ones for the boy, a gift of socks and another of sudoku puzzles. Those things made more sense to the practical professor. But he wrapped the gift and placed it under the small tree, just the same.

*

"Play one, play one!" Luke urged him, handing him the guitar, and Layton took it as though it were a foreign object.

"I never played music in school," he tried to protest, feeling silly holding a plastic guitar in his pajamas, but Luke wouldn't take no for an answer.

"They've got a perfect one for you, Professor!"

"I'm sorry?" Layton began, but Luke pushed a couple of buttons and the opening strains began to play. Awkwardly Layton leaned down to see the guitar neck flowing down the middle of the television screen.

"When it comes up, hit the button, and strum the guitar."

"There aren't any strings..."

"This, Professor!" Luke said, exasperated by his mentor's uncertainty. Like most children, he picked up new technology with ease. To Layton, a man who remembered eight-track tapes and mimeograph machines, this game was utterly alien.

He struck a few buttons, utterly tentative, and was actually quite satisfied by the way they lit up with little fires on the screen. Then the band began to sing.

Clean shirt, new shoes
and I don't know where I am goin' to.
Silk suit, black tie,
I don't need a reason why.
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man


Layton looked over at Luke and raised an eyebrow.

"This is about the hat, isn't it?" he said. Luke giggled.

"It's not that out of touch, is it?"

"You're going to miss the first solo," Luke admonished hurriedly, and the professor returned his attention to the screen.

Gold watch, diamond ring,
I ain't missin' not a single thing.
cuff-links, stick pin
when I step out I'm gonna do you in.
They come a runnin' just as fast as they can
cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man.


"I don't have any of these things, Luke," Layton said.

"You haven't, ah, opened your presents from me yet, have you, Professor?"

"Oh, my."

"You're sure to catch Miss Claire's attention then, don't you think?"

"I can't imagine why you think I would want to! She's just a coworker!" Layton said, his face burning, and he was actually glad for the next verse to distract his apprentice's attention.

Top coat, Top hat,
And I don't worry cause my wallet's fat.
Black shades, white gloves,
lookin' sharp, lookin' for love.
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man


He played out the solo with the virtual audience-- and Luke-- clapping.

"Cor, but you're good at this, Professor!" he said admiringly as Layton handed the guitar back and disappeared back into the bedroom. He emerged a few moments later in his general dress, top hat in hand, and he looked at it for a moment before he put it on.

"Do you really think--?" he began, and Luke nodded.

"Perhaps later we will pay a call, then," Layton muttered, pulling the hat down over his eyes, and he watched Luke carefully demolish "Smoke on the Water."

It wasn't his thing, really, but it was sort of fun.