#Still not Early Onset Dementia but I do remember my grandfather zoning out

[another-clive-blog]

clive has early onset dementia

I'll admit it, I did A LOT of research on this subject. I knew about Alzheimer (my grandparents have it) but I didn't know early onset dementia was a thing. I looked up a lot of ressources, studies and testimonies : however, I want to make it clear that I don't personally have early onset dementia. I will write about it because I have witnessed far too many people treating others badly because of similar conditions, but I definitely advise you to turn to someone who has firsthand knowledge of this topic if you want to know more (and if they feel like talking about it) =)

"We have to go back to the clock shop," Big Luke said, for what seemed to be the fourth time in five minutes.

Luke glanced at the professor, and the look he was given in return only confirmed his theory. He wasn't just imagining things- the professor had noticed too.

"Do you actually believe we would just walk away and do something else entirely ? It's almost vexing," Luke said matter-of-factly, putting his hands in his pockets. He would usually find that comforting, for an adult to be protective and on the lookout, but right now that adult was him. It was really weird and a bit disappointing to know he'd just turn into some sort of nanny later.

"Hu ?" Big Luke looked at him as if he had just been deep in thought. "Oh, don't say that. I know you well and I know you wouldn't just give up on our mission. What would I do if I couldn't even trust myself !"

"In that case you can stop mentioning the clock shop every minute," Luke grumbled.

"Luke." The professor briefly but firmly said his name, just like he would whenever Luke said something bad- but he hadn't done anything bad this time ! It was just a normal remark- what wrong was there in that ?

Big Luke stared at him with a mocking smile. "I don't remember being that dramatic as a child. Come on Luke, I only said it twice."

Luke was so taken aback that he actually stopped right then and there, in the middle of the path : his future self stopped too, and he had the audacity to look smug about it. "What ? Are you serious ?!" Argh, of course not- he'd been making fun of him ever since the casino. This was just another provocation, and Luke had once again fallen for it.

Except that Big Luke suddenly seemed as confused as him. "Yes ? Luke, are you sure you're okay ?"

Luke stammered for a moment. What was even that question ? His future self was pushing the joke too far now !! "Are you kidding me ?! You-"

"Luke," the professor gently cut him off -gently is still cutting off professor !-. Layton was calm and smiling, but Luke knew him well enough to realize that he was also... lost in thought ? Most definitely wondering about something, even if Luke didn't know what.

That got him to calm down. The professor wasn't blaming him for once, he was just trying to pull his weight in the conversation.

"Please excuse Luke's behavior. You certainly remember how you were at his age," Layton jokingly told Big Luke, who didn't laugh at all : in fact, he seemed quite uncomfortable, his eyes going back and forth between the professor and his apprentice. Oh- Luke hadn't even noticed that he had made his future self so uneasy. Crap... Well, now he felt bad.

"Yes, of course," Big Luke answered hesitantly. "I- I apologize too." It was the way he said it that made Luke react : his future self sounded like he didn't even know what he was apologizing for.

Ouch. He had messed up, hadn't he ? He shouldn't have reacted that way, even if Future Luke was annoying when he made fun of him- which he probably hadn't been doing this time. He seemed genuine right now, confused and kinda lost : it made sense, really. Luke had not acted like a gentleman at all. "Sorry too," Luke muttered shamefully.

"Very well," Layton smiled. "Now that this is settled, we should head back. Big Luke, could you please lead the way ?"

Big Luke... only frowned. He didn't start walking, didn't start talking like he had been doing since the very beginning, always filling the air with something to say, be it important or not- no, this time he was quiet. He slowly looked around them as if he had just gotten here for the first time. "Yes, certainly- we were going to... to Chinatown, right ?"

This time, Luke didn't say anything at all. He didn't even get angry. Instead, he stared at his future self as a single question crossed his mind : what was going on ?

Layton kept on smiling patiently, and Luke wondered what more informations the professor could have. Did he know something Luke should know ? Was there a puzzle to solve here ? What wasn't he seeing ?!

"I'd perfectly understand if you wish not to talk about it," Layton said, "but understand that I feel concerned for my apprentices. When did these memory problems start ?"

Luke could only stare at the professor, dumbfounded : funnily enough, his future self did the exact same thing, but for different reasons. "I don't... have any memory problems ?"

Luke knew, knew, knew the professor wouldn't want him taking part in the conversation, but he couldn't help it. "You keep forgetting where we're going and you forget that you're repeating yourself. And now you're forgetting that you forgot !"

"You're not making any sense," Big Luke immediately said, and was he angry ? He sounded angry, irritated for sure, and he was staring Luke down with his arms crossed. Before Luke could say anything to try and salvage it though, his future self showed impatience. "Can we head back now, or should we keep on wasting more time ?"

"Of course," Layton promptly said with a smile. "We shouldn't keep Spring and Cogg waiting, after all."

"Spri-" Big Luke muttered before cutting himself off. "Alright, we should go back to the clock shop." He must have still been angry, Luke guessed, because he then proceeded to walk away without waiting for them.

"Did I do something wrong, professor ?" Luke asked him as they followed his future self.

The professor seemed pensive. "I think that your future self may have some... trouble, yes, other than his memory."

Luke thought about it : well, it was certainly right. He had the Future Layton who seemed to be a real piece of work. Probably a big problem. But other than that, he wasn't sure. "I don't get it."

"Big Luke forgot about the clock shop as soon as you talked about something else. I do believe it is somewhat difficult for him to focus on multiple things at the same time, or to stay focused for an extended period of time."

Something finally, finally clicked in Luke's head. "Oh- are you saying that-"

"I can't make any affirmations, my boy, especially if he doesn't know anything more than we do. In the meantime, we should at least work on the disparaging remarks."

Oh- well, he was... not wrong. Looking back now, he had been pretty rude; he did have an habit to talk too fast. "I am sorry..." Luke bowed his head. "I just thought that he would be- I don't know, more like me ?"

Layton shook his head. "I don't see what you are talking about : he is exactly like you. Now, I am not quite sure how I am supposed to handle two mischievous and provocative apprentices."

Luke chuckled. "No offense professor, but I don't think there is much handling us left to be done. After all, I'll still be that way in ten years."

---

I wasn't sure what you wanted exactly, so I decided to go with what I thought was right. In most cases, the person's memory is affected (short term memory such as remembering what you went in this room for + long term memory but for unimportant things, like what you ate yesterday) as well as their cognitive qualities (namely : confusion, loss of orientation, difficulty to focus on something/multitask). Language is also impacted, but it usually comes in later so I decided not to focus on that here. I hope it makes sense !