[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]

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!”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth looked on the exchange with mild interest. Infuriating as Larry's presence had become, for now he was providing a welcome distraction...and possibly a convenient means of escape. Wright's initial confusion and panic was well under control, his most pertinent questions answered, and with that Edgeworth's duty to his friend had been fulfilled. There was no need for him to risk irrelevant discussion, no need for him to miss out on the better part of a day's work...no need for him to stay, really.

Decision made, Edgeworth stood and cut into the conversation with a casual tone. "If there's nothing further you need, Wright, some of us do still have professional obligations to meet. I trust you'll remain in your apartment."

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix’s hands dropped to his sides as he watched Edgeworth stand, brows upturned. “You’re leaving…?”

[samuraiprosecutor]

"I've done what I came here to do," Edgeworth replied with a forced shrug. He stuffed his hand into his pocket and clenched his fingers tightly around his keys, glancing at the door. "While some are free to waste their time in front of the television, my work day hasn't ended. If I return to the office now I should be off only an hour or so later than usual."

[attorneyatlol]

“But…” It’s been so long, Phoenix wanted to say, but realized how childish and likely untrue it was. He frowned instead, dropping his gaze to the floor as his shoulders sank.

…Not that that was any less childish.

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

“Ah, let him go, Nick.” Larry ejected the DVD in the player and swapped it out for one of his choosing. “He’d just spoil the good mood, anyway.”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Though it may have been years since he'd last seen it, Wright's posture was painfully familiar. Edgeworth turned away, directing a half-hearted glare at the back of Larry's head. "Yet another excellent reason."

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix briefly glanced up. “If you really have to…”

[samuraiprosecutor]

"I've got a great deal of work to attend to..." Edgeworth gave the door another sidelong glance, and idly fidgeted with his keys as he trailed off for a moment. When he finally returned Wright's gaze his brows were pulled together and raised slightly, and a soft smirk played at the corner of his lips. "Work which is more important than whatever sub-par film you two would subject me to."

[probablythebutz.livejournal.com]

Larry stood and backed away, looking oddly triumphant as the familiar theme music for Austin Powers began to play on the menu screen. He flashed a quick grin at his friends and then resumed his position on the left end of the couch, DVD remote in hand.

[samuraiprosecutor]

"Case in point." Edgeworth rolled his eyes, and projected his voice over the loud, chipper music. "If I were willing to forsake my duties, it would only be for a film with more to offer in the way of entertainment value. Fortunately I'm not willing to, so it's a moot point."

[attorneyatlol]

The theme music had actually lifted Phoenix’s spirits a little. Returning his attention to Edgeworth, he inclined his head toward the couch with a slight, almost boyish smile. “Are you sure?” he pressed, unable to keep the hope out of his voice. “It’d be like… like old times.”

[samuraiprosecutor]

It was almost disingenuous, as if his friend was simply feigning his lack of awareness; the effect was doubled, tripled by each small, familiar element of the setting, everything that served as a forceful reminder. Edgeworth's brows furrowed, but one corner of his lips quirked up slightly. "The virus isn't providing enough of that?"

[attorneyatlol]

“Not with you,” Phoenix replied, but then quickly added, “And Larry.” In his mind, he’d seen Larry a few weeks ago, and had been seeing him on a somewhat bi-weekly basis for the last couple months. It was nothing compared to the twelve year gap that separated him from Miles, but Phoenix didn’t want Larry to feel left out, as his friend was wont to do. “Please? You don’t have to stay for the whole movie…”

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth tensed, and let his eyes drift to the screen. 'Dr. Evil' was currently consulting with his henchmen, and Edgeworth wrinkled his nose slightly at the actor's heavy-handed approach to comedy. Staying seemed less appealing with every moment, but Wright's earnest plea still rang in his ears. Finally he dragged his gaze back almost guiltily to meet his friend's eyes.

"Wright, we'd spend the entire time staring at the television screen. It isn't as though my presence would make a difference, under those circumstances."