ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

Comments

[enigmaster]

...Yeah.

Aside from that.

[agoodname]

[Oswald frowns, slightly, looking down into his wine glass]

Is this about dinner?

[enigmaster]

...Yeah.

[agoodname]

[and Oswald goes quiet for a moment, staring down at his wine. Where to even start?] ...I've never lived anywhere without my parents. I never moved out. I always stayed with them, because it was my home. And we're....we were close. And after they died, I...that was the first time I'd ever lived alone. [his chest hurts, stomach twisting into knots, and he's starting to blink perhaps a bit more than he needs to.] And having you here, too, it's...it's wonderful. [his voice sure is getting a little wobbly though] It reminds me, sometimes, of how much I've missed that, since they died. Having someone else around.

[enigmaster]

[Edward's quiet for a bit, as he just listens and then does his best to take it in. This is something that's harder for Edward to understand. Never having had that... trying to imagine losing it... It would just feel inevitable, if he did. But it had been like that, always, for Oswald. Until suddenly it wasn't.] I'm sorry, it... um... It must be difficult. Missing them like that...

[agoodname]

It's--[and he stops, sucking in a bit of a breath, because it is difficult. And he sniffles a bit]--it's a bit difficult, yes. But they're...they're still here! [he tries to force some kind of brightness into his tone, but it falls a bit flat] Kind of.

[enigmaster]

...Yeah. [They are, still. Except...] ...Does that help, though, if... if you can't see them? [That's even harder for Edward to imagine. Not seeing the dead is just... he has no idea what it's like. Just... not seeing ghosts. He can't imagine the feeling of knowing someone is there but not being able to see or hear them. What that would feel like.]

[agoodname]

[that's....a difficult question to answer] ...yes and no. [he swallows] On the one hand, it's comforting to know that they're there. That they're with me. That I can tell them things and they can answer. But...it's like they're almost within reach but aren't. Because I can't...I can't see them. Or hear them. [his voice wobbles again, precariously, and he sucks in another breath, lifting a hand to scrub at his eyes] I can't touch them. I can't hug my father or kiss my mother goodbye, I--[his voice breaks, then, and he stops, looking away, trying to compose himself. Then, after a moment, in a small voice:] --I just miss them.

[enigmaster]

Oh... Right... [Yeah. That... makes sense. And it sounds kind of awful, actually. Not even being able to see or talk to someone you miss so much, even though they're right there...] ...I wish I could do anything to help with that...

[agoodname]

Edward--[and Oswald turns on the couch then, to face him, reaching out thoughtlessly to take his hand] Edward, you do help. I wouldn't even know that they were there if it weren't for you. [he's...very earnest about this] I really, truly appreciate what you've done for me. And I'm sorry that I reacted so badly about it the first time, when you were just trying to help.

[enigmaster]

[Edward looks up, blinking a little.] Oh, that's... No, that's fine, really. You didn't know that it was real or anything...

[agoodname]

Perhaps not, but it was really no excuse to treat you that way. [he smiles a little, squeezing his hand] I'm just...very glad you're here now.

[enigmaster]

I'm... glad I can help, then. [It doesn't feel like enough. But he'll just... make a note of that.] Really, don't worry about it, though.

[agoodname]

....if you say so. [Oswald looks down--at which point, he abruptly realizes he's holding onto Edward's hand. He immediately lets go, flushing] So...would you like watch a movie?

[enigmaster]

Ah... Mhm. Sure.

[agoodname]

Would you like to choose? I can go make us some popcorn.

[enigmaster]

Alright.

[He'll just get on that, then. The rest of the evening can just be... nice again. Though Edward is a little distracted, now, thinking about... if there's anything more he could do.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald will work on a couple cases while they're watching the movie, so if Edward's a little distracted, that's okay, because he's a little distracted also tbh]

[enigmaster]

[And the rest of the evening just... goes on as normal, really. It's quiet and nice. And the next day, back off to work. Where Oswald is... probably going to do more research again, yes?]

[agoodname]

[HE SURE IS But only during his breaks, though. He still needs to look like he's doing his actual job. So on his lunch break, he can be found once more in the research room, making some notes and flicking through some details.]

[enigmaster]

[And hey, guess what? Someone's coming over now, taking a curious look at what Oswald's working on.]

"Don't tell me you're working all the way through your break?"

[Look at that, it's Harvey.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald can't help but startle; he wasn't exactly expecting someone. And he twists around in his seat, ready to yell--except it's Harvey so he just...closes his mouth with a snap instead]

Ah...Harvey. Good afternoon.

[enigmaster]

"Good afternoon."

[Geez, Oswald, chill. We're all friends here.

Harvey looks a little apologetic, though.]

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt what you're doing."

[agoodname]

No, no, it's fine. [LOL HE'S GOING TO TRY AND RECOVER because omg it's Harvey his favorite person at work.] It's no trouble. I was just, ah...[wait shit how does he explain this]...it's a personal project.

[enigmaster]

"Oh, really? What about?"