[RL: You got some splainin' to do - Friday, September 5, 11:00AM | Phoenix; Larry; Edgeworth]

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix paced the apartment in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that were supposedly his. While they did look like something he’d normally wear, he hadn’t recognized anything, and even more worrying, there was no sign of the sweater Dollie knitted him anywhere.

Sighing, he stopped in the hallway and fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. Miles (or ‘Edgeworth,’ as he evidently preferred being called) had said that Dollie was indisposed for some reason, but refused to give Phoenix any details beyond the fact that she was safe and well. It was frustrating, to say the least. Lunchtime was rapidly approaching and he would have been preparing to spend the next half hour with her under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much he could do from here, especially given the fact that he didn’t know where ‘here’ was nor did he have any clue what could have possibly detained her. But Edgeworth had asked Phoenix to trust him and Phoenix did.

He stood in the hall for a moment, nervously chewing the inside of his cheek. More than ten years had passed since he last saw Miles; there were so many things he wanted to tell him and even more that he wanted to ask him, but waiting like this was a nerve-racking, necessary evil. He hoped his friend would arrive soon.

With another sigh, he went back to pacing.



((OOC: Backdated to the first day of the mental regression virus, around 11AM.))

Comments

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

The caustic tone did little to faze Larry. Instead, he simply folded his arms and gave it some honest thought. “Well, there was the first one, like you said… and the last one—it was pretty extraordinary, wasn’t it? And before that there was the one where my boss got killed… oh!” He turned back to Edgey, his grin dripping with absolute smugness as he said, “And we can’t forget the winning testimony I gave at your trial, of course!”

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix watched the exchange like a tennis match. If weren’t for the iffy subject matter, it almost would have been nostalgic. How many times had he found himself in the middle of their heated, often trivial, arguments as children, either trying to persuade them to stop or inadvertently making it worse by being swayed one way or the other? Too many times to count, that was for sure. He smiled slightly, stifling the chuckle that was bubbling in his chest.

…All right, maybe it was a little nostalgic.

The pleasant thought didn’t last long, however, as Larry’s last comment drew Phoenix back into the present. He turned his wide-eyed look on Edgeworth, frowning. “Miles?”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Shock flashed over his features at Larry's words, only to be replaced by a venomous stare. An angry heat suffused his chest, but Wright's soft question dampened it with a speed that was almost surprising. Resigned, he turned to meet his friend's gaze then hesitated, his brows furrowing at the concern he found there.

His voice was gratifyingly steady when he finally responded. "You were there for many of your friends...when you were needed."

[attorneyatlol]

The statement carried a heaviness that settled inside Phoenix’s chest, creating a dull ache that spread outward. More than a gracious compliment, it was confirmation that he had, in fact, made the right decision, and if Edgeworth’s words truly implied what he thought they did, it meant that’d he’d accomplished his goal, as well.

There were no words to convey the feeling that accompanied that revelation—Phoenix wasn’t even sure he could describe it himself. In lieu of a response, he simply held Miles’ gaze and smiled.

[samuraiprosecutor]

In the face of Wright's warm, guileless smile Edgeworth couldn't hold his gaze. He found himself averting his eyes and leaning back further in his chair. A slight ache was building in his chest; he briefly entertained the vain hope that the source was purely physical, but the change in position did little to relieve it.

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

Heedless of the mounting tension, Larry chose that moment to chime in, “Geez, Nick, just how many of your friends have been on trial?”

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix watched Miles a moment longer, a question forming on his lips, before Larry’s voice dragged his gaze away. As his friend’s words sank in, he found himself chuckling, an unbalanced mixture of amusement and unease. “I was actually just wondering the same thing,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “I’m not sure I want to know the answer…”

[samuraiprosecutor]

"You don't," Edgeworth replied, taking the opportunity to direct the conversation into safer, more familiar territory. "As far as statistics are concerned, the number is disproportionately high. I've often speculated on whether your astonishing luck spreads to those around you, or if you simply attract people prone to unlikely misfortunes."

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

“Or if he’s secretly orchestrating the whole thing just to get a paycheck,” Larry teased.

[samuraiprosecutor]

"Also a probable theory," Edgeworth replied, tossing a deceptively casual smirk at Wright then returning his attention to Butz. "Which, unfortunately, falls apart in light of one glaring fault: most of the cases were pro bono..." He swept his hand out, encompassing the tiny studio. "...As is evidenced by the size of this apartment."

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix frowned and took another glance around the apartment. “It’s not that bad…” Although, if he were being honest with himself…

He sighed. The whole conversation brought him back to the startling reminder that this was his future and that five years of his life were nothing but empty spaces in his memory. Even with the assurance that everything would be fine in a few days, it was still a lot to absorb and the reality of it was beginning to take its toll. Standing up from his chair, he excused himself to the restroom. “Er… I’ll be back, guys.”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth watched Wright's back, brows furrowed, as he made his way to the front of the apartment. As soon as the soft click of the closing door sounded through the room, he turned a harsh glare on Larry. "Should I clarify for you what constitutes information it wouldn't benefit him to know?"

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

Larry glared right back. “Hey, you’re the one that wanted to answer his questions, remember? I just wanted to watch a movie!”

[samuraiprosecutor]

The point was a frustratingly valid one; Edgeworth bristled, gritting his teeth then jabbing a finger imperiously at his companion. "I wished to answer necessary questions regarding the workings of the community and its viruses, not engage in a casual discussion of the more burdensome events of the past five years."

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

Larry was clearly offended. “Dude, what are you talking about? I was watching TV and all of a sudden I looked up and you were, like, debriefing him on his trials! I just went along with it!”

[samuraiprosecutor]

"I answered the questions he directed to me, as I came here to do," he snapped, leaning forward in his chair. "As I instructed you to do as well. Instead, you offered information he had no need of."

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

“Man, all you needed to do was tell him it was a virus, let him know it’d be okay in a few days, and then be done with it. You invited uncomfortable questions.” He punctuated the words with an accusatory point of his finger. “Don’t try to blame it on me!”

[samuraiprosecutor]

A sudden urge to slam his palm on the table swept over him, and only balling his fist on the wood kept him from indulging in it. "You were paying very little attention to the discussion. Obviously you missed the sections of the conversation that Wright was leading, and the entirely relevant questions he asked."

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

Larry waved the argument away; man, Edgey was annoying. “Yeah, but I heard the parts where you were all, ‘So, do you have any more questions? How ‘bout some more? Wait, man, I don’t think you asked enough questions, yet!’ Tch.” He sat back, folding his arms firmly across his chest. “Try to tell me it’s my fault…”

[attorneyatlol]

In the bathroom, Phoenix splashed water on his face and held his hands in place for a moment, allowing his skin to absorb the slight chill from his palms as trails of water snaked down his neck. When he removed his hands, his gaze hesitantly met the reflection in front of him. He didn’t look old—not like Miles—but five years had left its mark, most notably on his forehead. Sighing, he pushed himself away from the sink and made a mental note not to squint so much.

A low growl in his stomach reminded him that lunchtime was drawing near. He’d give anything to have Dollie with him right now and, not for the first or even the tenth time that morning, he wondered what was keeping her so occupied that she couldn’t be there with him. Seeing Larry and especially Miles was nice, but it would have been infinitely better if she could share the moment with him.

But she promised she’d tell him when they could be together and Dollie was a person who kept her word, so with a brief, mental pep talk and an attempt at determination, Phoenix returned to the living room with a hesitant smile on his face.

[samuraiprosecutor]

The sudden absence of the sound of rushing water finally registered on Edgeworth's consciousness, just as the click of the bathroom door heralded Wright's return. The biting reply died on Edgeworth's tongue; he folded his arms tightly against his chest and focused on Wright (or, more specifically, refused to focus on Larry) as he stood before them both. Wright's smile had returned, albeit in a slightly subdued form; brow cocked, Edgeworth watched him expectantly.

[attorneyatlol]

“So,” Phoenix said, hands on his hips. “Ready to watch that movie?”

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

“All right!” After a smug grin in Edgey’s direction, Larry leaped off the couch and headed straight for Nick’s tiny media tower under the TV. Throwing the doors open, he began sifting through the collection like a man on a mission, creating a small pile on the floor beside him. As he came across a few, worn cases, he paused to snort over his shoulder. “I can’t believe you still have DVDs, man. Better yet…” He banged on the side of the combo Blu-ray/DVD player the TV was setting on. “I can’t believe you still have something to play them on.”

[attorneyatlol]

“Careful!” Phoenix warned as Larry tossed one of the DVDs aside. “Those are probably sentimental!”

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

Larry snorted again. “Geez, get with the times, Nick. Blu-ray’s where it’s at!”