[RL: Sunday, Noon - Lunch [Freud!Virus] | Phoenix; Edgeworth]

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix stared at the piece of paper in front of him. The prospect of eating raw fish didn't seem as appetizing as his lunch companion made it out to be, and the fact that he didn't recognize a single item on the list only served to make him more skeptical. Magura? Hamachi? Kani kama? Perhaps if there had been some kind of explanation, he may have been less inclined to set the paper aside in favor of the regular lunch menu, although that was a very large if.

As he scanned the selections, he sighed in relief. At least you couldn't go wrong with a teriyaki beef bowl, right?

Comments

[attorneyatlol]

A pointed glare was his response. Phoenix knew Edgeworth was right. He also knew he could make things infinitely easier on himself if he proactively sought clients instead of waiting for them and actually demanded payment instead of allowing himself to be brushed off, but he wasn't about to bring that up. "I'm sure we'll manage."

[samuraiprosecutor]

'Managing' was hardly reassuring; it brought to mind an image of the Wright & Co. Law Offices, every available surface hidden by folders and stacks of paper. It was difficult to imagine either Wright or his young 'assistant' as being particularly well-versed in the running of an office. A slight frown furrowed Edgeworth's brow. "I'm sure."

[attorneyatlol]

With nothing further to add, Phoenix sighed and let his gaze wander to the kitchen again.

[samuraiprosecutor]

When Wright turned away Edgeworth found himself focusing on his companion's profile, his attention drifting from the man's jawline to the boredom lurking in his eye. He followed Wright's gaze, irritation growing as a waiter slipped out of the kitchen to carry someone's meal to their table. Service at this restaurant was usually faster; it seemed as if they'd been waiting an inordinately long time. Frown deepening, Edgeworth raised his glass for another long drink.

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix shifted in his seat and kept his eyes on the kitchen. When he was sure the other man was looking away, he cleared his throat and allowed his gaze to fall on the cloth in front of him. The lotus that decorated each table sat awkwardly between him and his companion, and Phoenix reached up to play with its petals, avoiding Edgeworth's gaze completely.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Their waiter finally appeared just as Edgeworth was setting down his glass. "My apologies for the wait, gentlemen." Expertly he began moving plates from the tray carried in his left hand onto the table. In less than a minute the table was spread with a myriad of brightly colored sushi (some rolls and some traditional nigiri-zushi), the teriyaki beef bowl, and bowls of miso soup and rice. Two long, rectangular plates, two small dishes, and a bottle of soy sauce followed the food; the last things to be placed on the table were a tall flask and two small handle-less cups.

The waiter surveyed the table briefly. "If you'd like to end your meal with anything from the dessert menu it will be complimentary. Again, I apologize for the wait. Is there anything else I can get you?" On the last he included both Edgeworth and Wright in the question with a look in each man's direction. Tip already adjusted in his mind, Edgeworth nodded at the offer.

"This should be sufficient." Almost as an afterthought Edgeworth glanced across the table. "Wright?"

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix, already eagerly poking at the beef with his chopsticks, looked up at the sound of his name, somewhat surprised. “Hm?” He paused, food halfway to his mouth, and offered Kim a sheepish grin. “Oh, no, I’m fine. Thanks.”

Kim smiled. “Then enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Oh, wait!” Phoenix finished off the last of his soda in a few, hasty sips and held the glass up. “Another Coke, please?”

“Of course.” Kim took the glass obligingly and nodded in Edgeworth’s direction. “I’ll be sure to bring some more water.”

Phoenix watched his retreating form before turning back to his meal, clearly impressed. “He’s good.”

[samuraiprosecutor]

"He's satisfactory." With their prior silence broken Edgeworth settled temporarily into the routine of preparing his food: pouring soy sauce on his rice and into one of the small bowls, bypassing the lump of wasabi to select his first pieces of sushi, and carefully placing them on one of the rectangular plates.

Preparations complete, Edgeworth finally reached for the flask sitting between them. Expertly he filled both of the small cups, and set the flask aside before picking up a cup and staring expectantly at Wright.

[attorneyatlol]

Allowing time to chew and swallow, Phoenix simply nodded at the cup. “Is that the kanzake?”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and instead raised an eyebrow at Wright. "It is. Though if it's allowed to cool much longer it won't be."

[attorneyatlol]

“Perish the thought.” Setting his chopsticks aside, Phoenix retrieved the small cup and held it gingerly in his hands, allowing the warmth to penetrate his clammy skin. Carefully, he blew away the thin layer of steam rising from the surface of the drink and took a slow, experimental sip.

“Whoa.” He quickly withdrew the cup and examined it with a slight chuckle. “That packs a punch.”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth watched the display with amusement, and responded to Wright's reaction with a smug smirk. "Does it?" A hint of challenge in his eye, he raised his own cup to his lips and, with a quick tip of his head, he threw back the warm sake. Small as the cup was, his companion was right about the drink's potency; as he set the cup back on the table his head swam pleasantly for a few moments. He wasn't accustomed to indulging so early in the day, but this was a rather...special occasion.

He refilled his cup and left it on the table. Picking up the chopsticks, he began to transfer several of the more colorful (and odd) pieces of sushi to the other rectangular plate, which he calmly slid across the table.

The glint in his eyes spoke volumes.

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix rolled his eyes. Not one to pass up a challenge, he held his breath and knocked back the sake, all while resisting the urge to gag. He was never very fond of drinks that burned going down, but he had to admit that the taste wasn’t entirely unpleasant: bitter with a hint of sweetness.

Unable to keep from wincing, he set his cup back down and cocked an eyebrow at the plate of sushi in front of him. He settled Edgeworth with an incredulous look before decisively pushing the plate back in the other direction. “I said I liked my food cooked.”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth leaned back in his chair, smirk still firmly plastered across his face. "My mistake. Considering how experimental your methods tend to be, I assumed you'd be open to trying something new. How...disappointing."

[attorneyatlol]

After offering Edgeworth an unfavorable glare, Phoenix went back to scooping beef and rice into his mouth, eyeing the sushi critically as he chewed. “What kind is it?”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Smirk widening at his companion's vexation, Edgeworth pronounced in perfectly accented Japanese, "Unagi and tako nigiri, and that is a California Roll." With each name he pointed the piece out. The unagi and tako were both slices of meat laid across pads of rice, the unagi a dark brown and the tako a pure white lined in a vibrant red. The California Roll was made of rice rolled around a collection of brightly colored ingredients, and the whole thing was sprinkled with tiny orange-red spheres. "The sauce the unagi is brushed with is similar to teriyaki, by the way. It would go well with your meal."

[attorneyatlol]

“’California roll’ doesn’t sound very Japanese to me,” Phoenix remarked as he poked one of the pieces with his chopsticks. “What’s the orange stuff?”

[samuraiprosecutor]

"Astute. Most sources credit its creation to a chef here in Los Angeles."

Wright poked at the (rather expensive) sushi, and this time Edgeworth didn't bother to resist rolling his eyes. "It's a traditional garnish." He folded his arms, smirk fading as he raised an eyebrow. His voice was tainted with irritation when he continued, "As you've never had it before I'm sure you're not aware, but most sushi types, such as tako and California Rolls, are best when chilled." He accented the names with a deliberate tap of his finger against his temple and a pointed look.

[attorneyatlol]

Scrutinizing each piece individually, Phoenix decided that the California roll was probably his best bet since whatever uncooked elements it contained were surrounded by seaweed and a good amount of rice. After a few, slippery tries, he finally caught the roll between his chopsticks and brought it to eye level for a more careful examination. “So I just dip it in some soy, right?”

[samuraiprosecutor]

With a triumphant smirk returning to his face, Edgeworth retrieved his chopsticks and reached for another California roll. "It's not required but that's the most common method." In demonstration he dipped the roll lightly, and quickly popped it in his mouth.

It was exceptional, as usual. As he chewed he shut his eyes and concentrated solely on the mixture of flavors and textures.

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix watched, momentarily transfixed by the sheer concentration on Edgeworth’s face. If anything, the other man made the experience of eating raw fish look exceptionally pleasing.

Tearing his gaze away, Phoenix considered his food once more and, with a mental shrug, he leaned over and quickly dipped the roll into Edgeworth’s dish of soy without permission, then popped it into his mouth. As he chewed, his brow furrowed in thought.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Upon opening his eyes Edgeworth was greeted with the sight of his companion's sushi being lifted from his dish. He fixed Wright with a heated glare. "Would you care for some soy sauce?"

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix swallowed with a smirk. “I got some, thanks.”

Running his tongue over his teeth, he contemplated the taste. Aside from the rice and the soy sauce, it was unlike anything he could remember eating before, though not necessarily unpleasant; ‘different’ was certainly a qualifying descriptor. He looked at Edgeworth. “It’s not bad.”

[samuraiprosecutor]

"So glad you approve." Edgeworth's glare lessened only slightly as he poured another bowl of soy sauce and slid it smoothly across the table.

[attorneyatlol]

As Phoenix eyed the other two sushi pieces, a new glass of soda was placed at his side, and with nodded thanks, he took a few sips to cleanse his palate before grabbing the sushi identified as tako. Like with the California roll, he brought it to eye-level for scrutiny.

It was… a very pretty piece of sushi, he had to admit, but the waves on the side of the meat gave him pause. “What kind of fish is this again?”