ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

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[agoodname]

[with some elbow grease, he will eventually manage to get those screws out. He doesn't open the latch so much as take the entire thing off. And once he does, the door will jerk open, flipping up the entire back of the cabinet to reveal an opening just big enough to venture into if one crawls. Oswald jumps a bit in surprise at the sudden movement.] What the-- [Edward could go crawling in there if he wants to...but considering the smell of rotting that's coming from inside, he might want to hold off. Oswald himself is grabbing for his handkerchief to press it to his nose]

[enigmaster]

Oh... That's not great. [Yep, okay, he's just pressing his sleeve to his nose, trying to block that out.] ... [Yep, okay, he's... gonna pull out his phone first, turning the flashlight on. Just. Taking a look. Anything visible without having to like... go in?]

[agoodname]

I'd say not. [muffled, behind the handkerchief. And no, there isn't anything immediately visible. But then, it's a good thing Edward already has the flashlight on his phone on, because the lights sputter and flicker out. Oswald can't help but suck in a breath, going a bit rigid.] What on Earth-- [it also might be getting a bit colder in there.]

[enigmaster]

... [Ah. It's one of the dramatic ones.] Mhm. [He'll just keep the flashlight on, then. And he'll stand over by Oswald for a moment, patting him on the arm.] It's alright.

[agoodname]

[.....] Is it? Because this feels rather u-unusual. [his breath stutters in his throat as a shiver goes through him as the temperature dramatically drops--before he jumps, hand reaching out and instinctively latching onto Edward's as a beaker shatters]

[enigmaster]

[Edward, meanwhile, doesn't even blink.] Oh, no, this is pretty normal, really. [He'll look around the room. It's dark, sure, but... anything visible?]

[agoodname]

This is normal?! [Oswald's voice rises, cracking just a bit--and another beaker shatters as the temperature continues to drop.

There isn't anything visible--until a hand materializes, suddenly, grabbing the back of Oswald's coat and jerking him back, dragging him across the lab with a hard, fast yank.]

"TRAITOR!"

[it's practically a roar, angry, distorted--not that Oswald can hear it. He can only gasp, eyes wide, cane going clattering from his hand to the floor, as he's practically flung across the lab, slamming into the counter--which makes him yelp because ow]

[enigmaster]

Ah-- Oswald! [That's the first thing that startles him. Because now it's Oswald who's affected. Edward starts moving over to him, though he pauses, his eyes narrowed. If he could see where the ghost was, this would be a lot easier. ...Whatever. He keeps moving, to Oswald.] A-Are you okay...?

[agoodname]

[yep his hip sure is on fire because ow that hurt--and Oswald's bracing himself against the counter, sucking in a breath through his teeth.] I've had worse. [His voice is a snarl, eyes darting around the room in the barely-lit dark, as if trying to fruitlessly to see what's after them. Edward will see it first, of course. A hulking mass of rot and red, flesh starting to slough off bones, maggots crawling out of crevices. Blood spattered down the front. It looks about ready to make another lunge for the two of them] "Thief! Betrayer!" [it howls, throwing itself in their direction]

1/2

[enigmaster]

[That's still not great, though. But Edward looks over and... Oh. Oh, that's... fun. Honestly, he's staring just a little. He might be used to this sort of thing, but a sight like that is still kind of a lot. Something... Something very bad happened here. And thats never great. However, anything he might be feeling is kind of drowned out by... something else.]

2/2

[enigmaster]

[Edward pulls Oswald out of the way, a little, just to be safe. Get them both out of the way of that lunge. And then... Then Edward stands up a little straighter, eyes narrowed, staring the mass down.] Excuse me.

[agoodname]

[Oswald sucks in a breath as Edward pulls him back--and he watches as Edward's back straightens, facing down...something. Whatever's coming after them. His eyes flick between him and the empty air in front of them, tense, waiting. The hulking thing snarls, teeth gnashing as it looms over the two of them. He definitely has its attention] "skin him alive for this--!" [and it starts making a move to reach for them]

[enigmaster]

[Oh no, no, no. Absolutely not. Edward is having none of that. He just takes a step forward and keeps staring this thing down.] I said, excuse me. [His voice is... even. Calm, but a little stern. Like he's talking to an unruly child.] Would you stop that?

[agoodname]

[Ah. Well. This is a very different side of Edward than Oswald's really had the chance to see. And he just kind of...stares.

The vaguely-humanoid mass in front of him makes a gurgling, angry, questioning sound]

"Cannot stop--must end! Betrayed!"

[enigmaster]

Yes, well, nicely done, you really showed that beaker before. [Sorry, ghost, he's not having any of this shit.] You're only making a mess right now. [HONESTLY!] How about you explain yourself? And then maybe I can actually do something for you. Otherwise I'm just going to leave and it will just be you and an empty lab again.

[agoodname]

[this is....clearly not the reaction the ghost was expecting. It gurgles again, agitated, its mass shifting a bit in indecision]

"....was left. Partner didn't help me! I killed that woman and then he was supposed to let me out! I want him dead!"

[enigmaster]

[Let... them out...?] ...Were you... stuck inside there?

[agoodname]

"Yes! Stuck! Then the other way was blocked! Couldn't get out!"

[enigmaster]

[Oh. Oh.] ...I'm sorry. I... know the feeling. [...] Your partner... he isn't here.

[agoodname]

"Not here?!"

[the ghost's form writhes a bit, looking far too much like the Greedy from that horrible Raggedy Anne and Andy movie.]

"He must pay!"

[Oswald may not be able to hear the other half of the conversation, but he can put two and two together. Between Edward's side of this conversation and the evidence of the smell that came from that area...he can guess at what happened to whomever was in there. And he's stepping closer to Edward so he can ask him a question, though he keeps his attention trained on the space in front of them]

Was their partner Murray Leitfield?

[enigmaster]

... [...Edward just swallows, keeping his gaze fixed on the ghost. Focus. Just... don't feel for a bit.] Murray... Is that your partner's name? Is he the one you're angry with?

[agoodname]

"Ray! Raaaaaaay!" [it's a wail, almost] "Betrayer!" [the flesh ripples, another beaker explodes, causing Oswald to flinch, slightly, pressing himself a little closer to Edward] Should I take that as a yes?

[enigmaster]

Yep. [Edward still hasn't flinched at any of this. Hm...] ...What's your name?

[agoodname]

"L-Leonard. My name was Leonard."

[enigmaster]

Leonard. Can you tell me... what happened? If I understand, then... maybe I can help you.