[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]

"Hold it!"

[samuraiprosecutor]

The exclamation caused Edgeworth to pause in the middle of putting away his wallet. He fixed Ellison with a cold stare. "Is there a problem?"

[attorneyatlol]

"I, uh..." Phoenix lowered his gaze. His hand self-consciously wandered to his neck, lightly scratching the short wisps of hair while he took a moment to consider his words; he hadn't exactly thought this through (not that that was a first).

Uncertain, he frowned at Edgeworth. "Maybe I should go with you..?"

[samuraiprosecutor]

It was the last thing Edgeworth expected his therapist to say. His eyes widened momentarily before narrowing to a heated glare. "I'm capable of finding my own way home." With that he turned toward the door, preparing to leave.

[attorneyatlol]

As Edgeworth walked away, Phoenix watched, at a complete and total loss, before finally kick-starting himself in motion. Quickly fishing a few bills out for his share of the meal, he tossed them on the table, threw his own jacket over his arm, and made quick strides to catch up, stopping beside Edgeworth as they both reached the door. "What about a cab?" he suggested, almost desperately. "We could share one. That stuff was strong, after all." He knew his argument held absolutely no water, but it was worth a shot.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth's already frayed patience was growing thinner by the moment. He tensed noticeably as Ellison walked up beside him, and shot him another glare as he laid his palm on the handle of the door. "I'm walking, if that's what's concerning you. I live close by."

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix tried again, forcing an amiable smile. "I could walk with you."

[samuraiprosecutor]

Patience exhausted, Edgeworth gave up all pretense. With a stern voice and a slight quirk of an eyebrow he replied, "No."

[attorneyatlol]

After holding Edgeworth's gaze for several seconds, Phoenix sighed and relented, shoulders sagging. "Will you at least think about staying home from work tomorrow?" he asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.

[samuraiprosecutor]

"Of course," Edgeworth replied, with a smirk that accented the sarcasm in his voice. With a mocking nod and an affectedly amiable, "Good afternoon," he left the restaurant.

[attorneyatlol]

Watching him leave, Phoenix briefly considered following at a distance to make sure the other man arrived home safely, but he reminded himself that Edgeworth was otherwise lucid and perfectly capable of navigating the short distance to his apartment.

...Still, it probably wouldn't hurt to call and check on him later, even if the concern would likely be unappreciated and met with disdain.

In the meantime, Phoenix's thoughts slipped back to what was likely the root of the problem and his fist clenched instinctively. Once he found out who was responsible... He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he knew he couldn't stand aside and let it happen. Shouting hadn't done much in the past and was risky in itself, if what happened to that..Blackout was was any indication.

Perhaps a plea for an appeal was in order.