ask-professorlayton

[ask-professorlayton]

Welcome to Ask Professor Layton!

I hope your day or night is going well. Here, you can interact with esteemed archaeologist Professor Hershel Layton. He's always open to some company--especially such pleasant company as yours! Feel free to come in and enjoy a cup of tea.

Below is some helpful information to get you started here. If nothing else, do be mindful to read the rules section. A gentleman must always be careful to be considerate of others and stay out of trouble!

What is this? This is a character ask blog featuring Professor Hershel Layton (and company) from the Professor Layton puzzle game series for the Nint*ndo DS. In case you're new to the concept or simply need a refresher, "ask blogs" have been a popular genre of blog on Tumblr for quite a while, but were more popular some years ago. However, there are still plenty of them around today! The way they work is by combining art and roleplay in order to create a functional story as well as a relationship between the "asker" (the person interacting with the character via the ask box) and the "muse" (the character the blog is about). It's almost like a choose your own adventure comic or a visual novel, except you can speak and interact directly with the main character. Your actions may have a lasting effect on the story, something known as the butterfly 🦋 effect. Some ask blogs feature an overarching story while others do not. Each ask blog tends to have its own unique quirks and methods. There is no one correct way to run such a thing, which is part of the appeal.

How do I engage with this? You can interact with the Professor by sending in an ask via the ask box. Despite the name, your query does not have to be in the form of a question. Simply write what you wish to say (or do; actions are allowed and even encouraged) to him in your message. You will receive a response that may or may not include some art depending on the content of the ask. I will try to include art as often as possible. However, you can specifically request a response without included art if you simply want to engage in casual conversation with him. These asks will be under the tag #ProfessorChats. You will receive a much faster response to these.

This art is a bit… Odd. I'm afraid that I am a very unprofessional artist, ahaha! I've never been to any form of art school. Part of my motivation for starting this blog is that I've spent years attempting to improve my artistic skills, only to never be satisfied with where I was at any point. I suppose we're all our own worst critics. Recently, I've come to the conclusion that perhaps by combining something I'm deeply interested in and enjoy (such as Professor Layton and storytelling) with my artistic journey, it may kickstart significant improvement, sort of incentivising it to myself. But even if I don't improve all that much, or even at all, I know this is something I'll have had fun with and learned from. Hopefully others will too! At the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Is there an overarching story? Yes! I have many ideas that I'm eager to implement here. Buuut I'm not going to talk about it. You'll just have to find out by interacting with him and the world in which he resides. Go wild, get creative!

What are the rules? I'm so glad you asked! You can do just about anything you want with this dear middle aged man, with respect to these few basic rules

No content that violates the Tumblr guidelines.

No real-world political themes or references, especially US politics. His poor heart can't take it. Do not send asks inciting real-world violence, hatred, or political aggravation. In-universe political discussion is fine, given that it's fictional and relevant to him.

No racial, ethnic, religious, etc insensitivity or hatred. That is not very gentlemanly. Shoo! Away with you.

No explicitly sexual material. I don't mind suggestive jokes or themes, but explicit material is strictly prohibited. Suggestive themes will be tagged accordingly with #suggestive. Minors and individuals who are sensitive to these themes should block this tag. Absolutely no themes, references, or any form of content involving the romanticisation or sexualisation of minors is allowed here. Moreover, if you engage with these types of themes or actively consume such content, I urge you to seek professional help immediately. Please contact mental health professionals or a hospital in your area, or telephone your country's emergency services number if you're having explicit thoughts about minors. Do not contact me under any circumstances. Any asks violating this rule will be reported along with the account that sent them if applicable.

On that note, do not send in asks involving shipping Luke and Layton (or Luke/other minor characters with any adult character). You will be blocked and your asks will be deleted.

No content involving themes of incest, fetishes, or kink material is allowed here. Do not send asks involving the shipping of Layton with his brother or any other characters with their relatives/family.

Violent, injurious, and bloody asks are permitted to an extent. Heavy gore, severe body horror, explicit horror, and related themes are not allowed. No parasites. Egregiously offensive asks will be deleted. Violence and blood will be tagged accordingly with #tw blood and #tw violence.

Discussion of mental health topics is allowed, but if I suspect an asker is in danger or requires help, the ask will not be answered. You will be encouraged to seek help. Discussion of mental health themes and themes involving self injury will be tagged accordingly with #mental health themes, #tw suicide mention and #tw self injury mention. If an asker expresses intentions of harming themself or others, the message will be reported accordingly and will not be answered. If you are experiencing thoughts of severe depression, urges to harm yourself or others, or have intentions of doing so, please contact emergency services for your area. My heart is with you and so is the Professor's--we sincerely hope that you feel better soon.

All spoilers for the series are untagged so be wary if you're missing something. I don't do anything involving Layton's Mystery Journey/Katrielle or Layton Brothers Mystery Room so please don't send in asks involving the lore of those. I simply don't particularly care for them and I don't consider them canon to this blog.

Do not attempt to involve this blog in discourse.

Do not solicit this blog for money, art, etc.

Do not reupload art from this blog to any other websites, medias, etc.

Do not use the art featured on this blog in any form of ai training or other projects. Usage of the art on this blog for any purpose is strictly not permitted or consented to.

Asks determined to be in poor taste (such as attempts at forcing self injury, forcing sexual themes, certain forms of removal of personal autonomy, etc) will be ignored and deleted at the Admin's discretion.

I understand that your OC may be related to Layton or another canon character, but (with all due respect to your awesome characters) please do not attempt to interact as a relative, daughter, son, etc without at least discussing it with the Admin in personal messages first. Regarding the canon of this blog, the Professor does not have any biological children.

Fictionkin and individuals with alters who have the Professor Layton series as their source material are welcome (and encouraged!) to interact, but please do not attempt to correct my interpretation based on your own experience/memories. Please also do not involve the Professor, the Admin, or this blog in discourse involving these things. This blog is friendly to everyone who is friendly to it regardless of their opinions, beliefs, etc.

Any questions, clarifications, or requests regarding these rules should be directed to personal messages.

What can be done here? Anything that isn't mentioned in the outline above. Want to interact but not sure where to start? Try thinking of something silly or goofy that makes you happy and find a way to combine that with an interaction. Put him in an ugly sweater. Toss him into an aquarium. Turn him into a worm on a string. Ask him for help with your homework. Give him an unusual object. Expose him to psychological horror by putting him in a modern day Waffle House in the US. The rules, Tumblr guidelines, and your imagination are your only limitations. You can also try asking him about people he knows or has encountered during his adventures. Of course, what is the Professor Layton series without its colourful cast? Feel free to poke the others with a stick, so to speak!

Do you have an OC/self-insert/etc you want to be interacting with him? I'll try to doodle it in the reply if I include art, just be certain to include that in your ask!

Why hasn't my ask been answered? It can take a lot of time to answer asks depending on the art I may or may not do for it. Please be patient. I have very severe personal health problems and may be going through a particularly rough time which can make it take that much longer. Other reasons your ask may not have been answered is that I felt personally uncomfortable with the content of it or I just don't feel like answering that one at the time. It could also be that Tumblr simply ate the ask and as a result I didn't receive it in the first place.

can i give him a lil smooch Well, I recommend asking him first, of course. These sorts of feelings take time to build /hj

What are the posts with the tag butterfly🦋effect? That's a surprise tool that can help us later! /ref

What do I do if I need to get in contact with the Admin? The quickest way is to private message me on my main blog @harestrax Can we do a one-on-one roleplay? Maybe? I've never done that on Tumblr since I'm still kind of new here but I'd be open to the idea! Individuals over the age of 18 are welcome to personal message me and we can discuss what you have in mind. However, please do not contact me for sexually explicit interactions. I'm not personally comfortable with it.

Why is some art colourful and some isn't? i am sooooooo eepy i am so tired and eepy

Anything else? Thank you very much for your interest in this silly little project! Remember not to take any of it too seriously. Any opinions, actions, or thoughts expressed by the characters do not reflect the Admin's opinions. Everything on this blog is fictional and is for entertainment purposes only. Keep in mind that the villainous characters could potentially be more aggressive or rude and to not take what they say personally to heart. The Admin does not have any ill will against you and neither does the Professor. ❤️

This blog is not associated with Level 5 and is for personal entertainment only. No AI is used in my art or writing--ever!

Have a wonderful day/night! 🐇