ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

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[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.

[agoodname]

Leonard...[Oswald frowns, slightly, brow creasing into a frown--yeah he sure is going to just start going through all the evidence in his head]

"We had a job. Get notes of the current progress. We came in. Ray wanted to just go to the lab, but there was a guard in the break room. She would hear us. Informant told us about the passage. I took care of the guard, then went to the passage. Ray was supposed to let me out the other end. He didn't. The passage on the other end locked. I got stuck halfway. Called and called, then I heard people. They didn't hear me. Waited, and waited. But nobody came."

[enigmaster]

I see... ...I'm sorry. [A passage. That explains some of this, at least. There's... Well, there's a cold feeling in his chest, as he hears all of this. He knows that feeling. Terror. He's not going to deal with that right now. He shuts it down, shoves it away. That's for later. Or never, that'd be great too. But certainly not now.] Your partner... he was arrested. [...] Who gave you this job? Can you tell me?

[agoodname]

"Arrested. Anonymous hire. Most hires are anonymous."

[enigmaster]

Ah... I see. Alright... [...] ...Do you want me to talk to your partner for you?

[agoodname]

"Talk? Talk?!" [snarling again, hulking]"Want him dead!" [it's a howl, and two more glass vials shatter--Oswald flinches again, slightly, before his mouth twists into a scowl] Cut that out! [and he's pushing forward to stand next to Edward, glaring at the air in front of him, trying to angle his attention in whatever direction Edward's looking at] You want revenge, right? Is that it? [there's a low growl as whatever is left of Leonard leans forward, getting in Oswald's face. He can't see that, obviously, but the temperature does lower drastically. It causes a shiver to run through him as even the very air that he's drawing into his lungs seems to freeze--though his mouth twists into a somewhat deadly-looking smirk] I can help you with that. Give me twenty-four hours, and you'll have your revenge, if you let an investigation team come in here and remove your body unharmed. You let them do that, and I guarantee that you'll be more than satisfied with the results. [the hulking mass makes another noise, this one wary, cautious, glancing at Edward] "He telling the truth?"

[enigmaster]

Ah... [Oswald cutting in is probably helpful. He would've gotten around to telling the ghost what he wants to hear eventually, but, well. This makes everything a lot easier. So he nods.] Yes. ...My friend is very good at what he does.

[agoodname]

[the ghost turns its mass again, still bearing down on Oswald, who is still just....looking up into space and doing a really good job of looking like he's actually focused on someone or something. He's standing as straight as he can, trying not to shiver in the ice cold air around him, hand tight on his cane to keep him upright. His knuckles are white with the force of his grip, but his face is a mask of pure casual confidence.] "24 hours. Then I come looking for you." [that sure is a threat]

[enigmaster]

...Noted. [Geez, okay. Dramatic.] ...Before that, though. The woman you killed... [Because... he'd like to know this.] ...have you seen her here since?

[agoodname]

"No. No one else here but me." [the mass retreats a bit from Oswald, making the air slightly less frigid, and he just...waits a moment, to see what happens]

[enigmaster]

...Alright. ...Well, then. I guess we'll just be on our way. Unless, ah... [He glances at Oswald.] Is there anything else you want me to ask?

[agoodname]

No. [Oswald rolls his shoulders, forcing the tension out of them] I have everything I need. "24 hours." [and with that last snarling reminder, the mass dissipates and the lights flicker back on, the coldness of the room fading away.]

[enigmaster]

...He's very insistent on it being done in 24 hours. [Edward lets out a breath, though, and turns to Oswald more properly.] Well, let's go tell someone about the body, then...

[agoodname]

I believe it would be best if you went home ahead of me, and I'll call someone about the body. The less we have to explain why you were there, the better, at least until we could get you billed as an independent consultant or something like it.