maskormenacelogs | Getting in the swing of things [OPEN]

Entry tags:

Getting in the swing of things [OPEN]

WHO: Miles Edgeworth and you!
WHERE: All over Heropa! Specifically: the local library, a greasy spoon diner, and his own humble abode over in the Govt. Apartment Complex
WHEN: 11/17 to 11/21
WHAT: Edgeworth's finally settling into the city, and he does what he does best: research the situation
WARNINGS: Incoming existential crises

There's a table, near the very back, that's covered with teetering towers of books. There's a litany of law books, a hoard of history books, a barrage of biographies, all scattered and piled between miscellaneuos texts. No subject is too big or too small; politics and geography are the topic of the day, but there's also books on technology, literature, and even pop culture and fashion. Old newspapers and magazines fill up the negative space, and, if one were to look closely, one might notice an actual human being hidden between the stacks. He's a young man, with a soft face that places him in his late teens or early twenties, though his gray hair and serious demeanor add a touch of artificial maturity to his appearance. His fashion is surprisingly casual for those who might know him, his brocaded suit traded in for a pair of khakis and a pale pink oxford shirt, though it's a sensible enough choice for the Florida weather.

He stares down at an encyclopedia, scrutinizing the page before he flips to another, shifting his attention from the book to his stack of notes. The cycle repeats itself, flitting from book to notes and back again, broken only to check another reference or jot down a new line of text. The world outside of his table might as well be nonexistant to him, so focused is his attention, until the SNAP of graphite against paper breaks him out of his trance. Edgeworth glares at his now useless pencil before he reaches for his trusty satchel, tugging at it lightly... and forgetting the last pile of books that he placed so carelessly on the strap. It shakes, it quivers, and Edgeworth jerks forward, bracing the pile with both hands. It's...it's steady! Success!

The rush of victory is replaced by palpable embarassment, and he sits back down immediately, his face as pink as his shirt. He's just going to tidy up his table and pretend that never happened.

===

He's moved from the library to a local diner, and the piles of books have been replaced with piles of plates. There are stacks of pancakes, dripping with butter and golden syrup; sausage links, glistening with fat and still sizzling from the pan; hashbrowns covered with cheese, toast points slathered in jelly, and bowls of mixed fruit that seem to exist only to assuage feelings of guilt. A more current newspaper is folded and forgotten, next to an abandoned, half empty mug of tea, the only edible substance on the table that's been ignored. With a fork in one hand and his notebook in the other, he absentmindedly stabs at one of his sausage links, until the waitress comes by to refill his water. He clears his throat and gives a quiet, stiff, and apologetic thank you.

All eyes are on him now, or so it seems like. He doesn't normally eat this kind of food, and even if he did, he wouldn't eat this much of it... but it's hardly his fault! Extraordinary powers come at an extraordinary price, specifically in the form of infinite restaurant tabs and grotesque grocery bills. He simply cannot be blamed for this indulgence. And, to drive the point home, he gives a quick glance around the diner, ready to greet anyone who stares too long with a sharp glare. If not... well, then he'll set his notebook aside and pick up the paper, and return to his pancakes.

===

Edgeworth trudges to his door, a brown bag of groceries in one arm and a pile of books in the other. Shouldn't hyper metabolism mean hyper energy? So much for his file... he mutters to himself and shakes his head, with no other desire than to get inside and melt into his couch. He fumbles for his keys, doing his best to get them one handed- oh hell, the books are slipping out - okay, okay, he's got those, he's good...

And then, at the exact moment he slips his key into the lock, the bottom falls out of his grocery bag. The food crashes on the cement, starting with a bag of apples, but quickly followed by his pears, his celery, his meat and his eggs and his bread. And all he does is stop. He stops, and breathes, and closes his eyes, and pointedly ignores the yolk and whites and the entire disgusting mess that's pooling at his feet. He's calm, he's calm, he is perfectly calm and composed...

===

OOC: Don't like the options, but you still want CR with Edgeworth? Feel free to make up your own scenario, either in Heropa or in another city! I'll be glad to tag it back.

===

OOC: I started with prose, but I'm okay with brackets and action tags as well! Just tag me in your preferred format and I'll change to match

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's really, really hard not to laugh at poor Edgeworth's flustering. He holds himself in for the most part, though the occasional snicker still slips out. It's nice to see some things never change.

Kotetsu takes his part of the load easily, holding the door open for Edgeworth with his back before turning on his heel and setting them down on the kitchen counter.

...aaaand, he might already be rifling through your cupboards, whoops.]

Hey, you got any paper towels around here?

[You know, for the mess outside. Why go up to Barnaby's when they're already here, right? Right.]

[He heard that snicker, mister, and he shoots him a dirty look before he walks in. The groceries are set on the counter, and he's just about to put things away when Kotetsu speaks]

Ah- [He knew he forgot something] Not yet, I'm afraid. Right now I just have these.

[He gestures to a set of kitchen towels, draped over the handle of his stove]

There's more towels in the closet, if those aren't enough.

[Just a spare bath towel or two, but hey, better than nothing]

[That look is nothing compared to the one the previous version gave him for calling him "Edgeworth Fancypants" in their first meeting.

Kotetsu looks over the towels and flaps a hand at him, shaking his head.]

Nah, that's fine. You'd have to wash those, and I can just run upstairs to grab some from Bunny's apartment, it's no big deal.

[Just who 'Bunny' is will have to be left to your imagination, Edgeworth, because he's not seeming to make any move toward explaining.]

Edited (wording tho) 2014-11-24 02:57 (UTC)

[Edgeworth doesn't think much of the name, and simply assumes that she's a friend or a colleague of some sort]

It's not a problem, but if you insist...

[He's not going to complain about not having to do an extra load of laundry. While Kotetsu runs and grabs the towels, he'll put everything else away]

[That assumption won't at all be awkward in the future nope noooope. Anyway, Kotetsu nods and goes off to fetch said towels from his partner's apartment, appearing back at Edgeworth's doorstep a few minutes later with several sheets in hand, offering a couple to the attorney. As he's kneeling down to start sopping up the mess, he looks toward the other to ask]

So, how long've you been [back] here?

[And Edgeworth takes them, kneeling down to help clean the mess. He's grateful for it, in a way; it gives him something else to focus on besides... all of this.]

I arrived here just a few days ago. [Spoken calmly and matter of factly. Ignore the fact that he's not looking at Kotetsu while he says this. He's simply focused on cleaning, is all] ...considering current events, though, I suppose my timing could have been worse.

[Should Edgeworth look up at any point, he might note a weak sort of grin that looks a bit more tired than amused.]

Might wanna knock on wood, there. Next thing you know, there'll be like five disasters in a row just to spite you.

[Snorts]

Ten disasters could come my way, and they still couldn't top the file leak.
I can't think of a single person here who hasn't been touched by that debacle in some way or another.

[What can he say? He's a man who values his privacy]

Eh, I can think of a few.

[As pissed as he was and still is about the file leak, in Kotetsu's book it's still relatively tame compared to some of the things that have happened since February.]

Don't get me wrong, what she did is bullshit, but at least her stunt hasn't gotten anyone hurt or killed.

[WHICH was honestly his main concern?? He's still mad about it, and that someone lost their job over false information, but Kotetsu's top priorities will always lie in protection of people's lives, and he's really, honestly so glad that everyone involved in that ordeal is still relatively safe and sound.]

Some imPorts 'round here've been through a world literally ending, and even I've been around for worse than a glorified paparazzi member making a nuisance of herself.

Edited 2014-11-27 12:14 (UTC)

[It hasn't killed anyone yet, he wants to say, but Kotetsu's comment about the worlds of other imPorts makes him hold his tongue. That's a somber thought, isn't it? Edgeworth lowers his gaze for a moment, but he knows it's not something he should focus on now. The thought is shoved aside for the time being; he'll process it fully later on, when he has privacy once more. His voice will take a quieter tone when he speaks again, though]

It's not the paparazzi herself that I'm worried about. It's her sources. We don't know who they are, much less their motives - something more dangerous may be afoot here. However... you do have a point. There are worse disasters.

[Lifts his head up, looking at Kotetsu properly]

Like our relationship with the Soviets.

[The Soviets... now that's a phrase he didn't think he'd have to say outside of a history class. Reading up on that disaster had been a surreal experience - and made him grateful that he wasn't around to see it. Hey, when he said he had good timing, he meant it]

The Soviet government, you mean.

[It's a correction he probably wouldn't have been bothered enough to make a couple months ago. But he's still incredibly sore about what happened in the aftermath of the Orlando and Sofia attacks, the way those deaths got twisted into a part of these people's political games, a pawn in their war. It still fills him with disgust and anger, so the distinction is important to him. "The Soviets" included civilians, women and children and fathers and husbands. Doctors and teachers and people that never hurt anyone, who were only in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Soviet government....and this American government, that's who he's lost all respect for.]

It's not just them, either. There's plenty of people who wanna get rid of us...or use us for 'emselves. Anybody tell you 'bout what happened in Colorado this summer?

[Soviet people, Soviet government, does it really matter? After Sofia, it seemed that everyone in the USSR, from the highest official to the lowliest prole, was furious with the United States and its heroes. While a nation's people and its bureaucracy shouldn't be confused, Edgeworth thought that the distinction was moot, at least in this case.

But he forgets about the Soviets the moment that Kotetsu mentions Colorado. He goes still for a moment, the muscles around his mouth tightening as he grips the messy paper towel]

Not yet. [He wants answers, but not out here. This is a topic for a private conversation. He looks down at the paper towel and then at Kotetsu] ...my apologies, but I left the trash can in the kitchen. Let's get rid of these, first.

[Gets up to leave. You can tell him all about Colorado inside, Kotetsu]

[Kotetsu understands the deflection for what it is, and he nods, picking up the paper towels he was using and following Edgeworth back inside. Once the towels are disposed of and hands are washed, he takes a seat at the coffee table, idly fiddling with his tie.]

Sooo, Colorado. D'you, uh, wanna grab a drink or anything first?

[Because it's pretty hideous. Kotetsu's not even sure whether to tell him that his previous self was caught up in it.]

I'll be fine.

[Spoken calmly and coolly as he strides into the living room. He takes a seat across from him and leans back, crossing one leg over the other. Kotetsu's nerves don't escape his notice, and it makes him want answers even more. Whatever happened, it must have been huge]

Just start from the beginning.

Right. Well...the beginning's innocent enough. There was a weeklong summer camp for kids in Colorado, both imPort and local, and some of us adults volunteered to be chaperones. Y'know, to look out for 'em and stuff.

[What he doesn't say is: he went pretty much because he expected something to go wrong. He just never expected it to go as wrong as it did.]

We got through the whole week without a hitch, the kids had a great time, and we were on our way back when our buses got attacked. It's kinda fuzzy 'cause they used knockout gas on us, but I vaguely remember some guys in armor and gas masks crowding around 'fore I passed out.

They took us to this place underground, and for the next two days straight, we kept getting dropped into these arenas, to fight for our lives against all sorts of different things, particularly mutated animals and various robots. The ones that stick out're the bears and the hippo with the nullifier tech, but there were so many I don't remember 'em all.

I'm guessing whoever was behind it figured we needed a little extra motivation to fight, so they shoved all those civilian kids with no powers in the arenas with us, and then had all those things actively go after them.

Here's the weird part, though--I don't think they were just after hurting or killing us. I'm pretty sure they didn't want to kill the imPorts at all, 'cause like. Every several hours this gong'd go off and we'd wake up in these little motel sorta rooms where there was food and a bathroom with hot water for showers and a bed and blankets and stuff.

I think it was some sort of...test, or performance or something. There were these TVs, in the rooms, and they played footage of the people in those arenas. I'm pretty sure that wasn't just to mess with us. I think someone else was watching those feeds. 'Specially since some people who were investigating there later found a business card of some hotshot geneticist there.

Edited 2014-12-22 10:03 (UTC)

[He remains calm and composed at first, frowning as he listens to Kotetsu speak, but it's not long before his face pales, his eyes go wide, and his jaw drops]

That's...

[His eyes narrow and his hand clenches into a fist]

That's completely barbaric!

[His outburst is shortlived, though, and once he realizes how loud he was, Edgeworth crosses his arms and glances to the side. There's no point in a private conversation if the neighbors can hear him scream his head off, is there? So he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, in a vain attempt to reign in his temper]

Not to mention, it's also rather elaborate if their goal was to simply kill the children.

[His tone is tense and brittle, failing to achieve the artificial calm he's going for. But it's an improvement. He opens his eyes, arms still crossed, and stares right at Kotetsu.]

But you mentioned a geneticist. What was his name?

[Just. Going to try and focus on the facts, now.]

[It's a bit more intense of a reaction than he's used to seeing from Edgeworth, but then again, it's probably pretty shocking to just have this kind of thing dumped in your lap. the last Edgeworth had been thrown into this fray; there wasn't exactly time to be righteously indignant about it.

Kotetsu, for his part, just looks rather grim.]

The civilian kids were probably just collateral. Insurance to make sure we fought, 'cause they know we care too much not to protect 'em.

[It's an unfortunate reality that Kotetsu's found himself confronting more and more in this place. Everyone who wants to cause trouble's got their number, as it were. They know beyond an absolute shadow of a doubt that most imPorts don't have the stomach for callousness. Threaten the lives of people and they'll come running in droves. They'll come out to events as added protection in the case something happens. They'll ignore all signs telling them getting involved is a bad idea and fight anyway because they just can't not. It's a way to control them, and even Kotetsu knows it.]

I can't remember it offhand, but it was on the network. [He rubs at his neck.] David-something? Darryl? Daniel? Pretty sure it was something along those lines...

Edited 2014-12-29 11:23 (UTC)

[Wait, he can't remember his name? You'd think something like that would stick out! Edgeworth frowns, narrowing his gaze, clearly unimpressed]

No matter - I'll look it up later. Has he or his company shown up in the public eye since then, or have they been lying low?

Edited 2014-12-29 22:21 (UTC)

[Look the name came up like two months later while he was neck-deep in Lunatic hell, don't judge him.]

From what I heard, he's some kinda recluse.

Denied having anything to do with it. And the government's not much help on that front--they covered the whole thing up, probably 'cause it makes 'em look bad. So they're not about to put out any search warrants or anything.

Or there wasn't enough evidence to pursue a warrant. I imagine that if he planned all of this, he'd be smart enough not to leave much of a trail - honestly, I'm surprised there was even a business card to begin with. But tell me, what did the government do, exactly?

[He wants to make sure that he has all the facts before he makes a judgment.]

Nothing. Literally not a thing. They didn't even do a press release or run a story on the local news, passed off the mountain we were being kept under exploding as 'volcanic activity.' Only reason anyone but imPorts even know anything about it is 'cause it was on Tattlecrime.

[He says that name with such visible distaste, as if it physically pains him to suggest that anything to do with that tabloid isn't complete trash.]

[Edgeworth scowls, disgusted. Oh, he is well aware of Tattlecrime, Kotetsu, well aware]

And what did the government do after that? Did they come clean, or...?

[He's expecting a "no", to be honest, but he might as well ask]

Nope. They just moved on. Like it had never happened.

[He'd considered unregistering in protest. He decided against that, but it was definitely the point at which unemployment was preferable to spending another day at his assigned PR job which he'd hated from day one.]

[Blinks]

Wait, that's it?

[The government not wanting to admit to its coverup? That he can understand. But he'd also think that the government would put more effort into the coverup, some attempt to discredit those who spoke up, or...or something. Or perhaps they thought that the association with Tattlecrime would be enough? Who knows. Either way, he has a feeling that he's not getting the whole picture here, and he might have to talk to somebody besides Kotetsu about this]

Far as I know, yeah. I dunno if they're quietly investigating in secret, or if they had something to do with it themselves that they're trying to hide by acting like it never happened, or what, but there hasn't been any noises from them on the subject ever since.

[He shrugs a shoulder, uncomfortably.]

You'd think they'd be more invested in this, considering some of their own died, but nothing. Just...nothing.

Getting in the swing of things [OPEN]

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wow i'm sorry for the massive late; rl ate me

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WOW i'm so sorry for the hideous late orz

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sorry i apparently can't read orz

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goddamn it my phone died just as i was submitting this tag