ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

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[agoodname]

[and he'll hand him his coat as they get to the door] What kind of cake do you normally like?

[enigmaster]

...Honestly, any? [He's never had a cake he didn't like, okay. But... out they go.]

[agoodname]

Then maybe we'll ask if we can sample a couple different kinds. Just to make sure you get the right one, of course. [yep, off they go indeed. And Oswald is going to make sure they get a very nice bottle of champagne and they go through about four or five different samples of cake before Edward is encouraged to pick one out....and finally, some icing from the grocery store, so they can write a message on the top]

[enigmaster]

[It's a good time. Edward enjoys it and it distracts him wonderfully in the moment. He doesn't give the whole thing any more thought. Even over the next few days, he doesn't. He doesn't think about it. He doesn't think about ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒ It's... fine. The next few days are fine. Things are good, still, living here. Being with Oswald is good. Everything is ▒▒▒▒▒... ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ It's a new day. Edward is up early, for once, so he's up when it's time for Oswald to head off. Everything is fine.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald blinks when he notices Edward is up, coming over as he idly ties his cravat] You're up early today. Is there a special occasion?

[enigmaster]

[▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒] Oh, no, not really. I just woke up and didn't feel like sleeping more. [And, well. He doesn't look very tired, so that seems legit.]

[agoodname]

That's fair. [he looks mildly amused] Do you have any plans for that day?

[enigmaster]

Mhm, just ghost stuff. [The usual, so to speak.]

[agoodname]

Ah. [.....yep that doesn't make him worry at all--and he pauses in tying his cravat, fingers lingering near his throat...before he keeps tying it] You'll be careful?

[enigmaster]

[▒▒▒] Yeah. I do this a lot, you know.

[agoodname]

I know. [the corner of his mouth quirks slightly] You're very capable. But it can be...dangerous, if the encounter I accompanied you on was any indication.

[enigmaster]

It wasn't as bad as it seemed, really. I know how to handle ghosts. And usually they're approaching me first, so they're not so aggressive.

[agoodname]

...yes. You certainly did have it handled. It was rather impressive. [he pauses again after finishing tying his cravat, smoothing down the front of his vest. He's quiet for a moment, looking down at the ends of his vest] I know it's, well, a bit silly. You certainly have plenty of experience. Only...[he swallows]...would you call me, when you're done? Just to check-in?

[enigmaster]

[It's nice... right? To have someone actually worry about him? It's ▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓] Alright... I can do that.

[agoodname]

[something in him relaxes just slightly, shoulders slumping a little] ...thank you. [he looks up, then, and there's a small smile of relief.] That means a lot to me.

[enigmaster]

Sure... No problem. If that helps you worry a little less...

[agoodname]

It will at least take a couple hours off of my worrying. [and he just...reaches out to touch his hand, gently, lingering] I appreciate it.

[enigmaster]

Ah... [▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓] ...Sure... I'll... be alright, really.

[agoodname]

...I know. [he does. He's trying to remember that Edward very much knows what he's doing. And yet....

He withdraws his hand, reaching now for his jacket.]

Still, it will be a relief to hear it, so I appreciate you indulging me.

[enigmaster]

Of course. [Just... don't worry about it, Oswald.] I'll see you later. Um... have a good day at work.

[agoodname]

Thank you. [it's impossible for him not to worry, but...at least this might help?] You, too. I'll see you tonight. [he retrieves his cane and there's a moment of hesitation by the door--like he wants to say something, and his heart's in his throat almost and it feels a bit like he's choking, but...no, at the last minute, he swallows it, and steps out]

1/2

[enigmaster]

[Edward stays for a little while longer, still, before he heads out as well. Honestly... he kind of goes looking for ghosts to help out. And there's a few. Nothing complex, just simple things. He can fit multiple of those in a day.

And then... and...

And then he ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓

.................................]

2/2

[enigmaster]

[...A ghost finds Edward, as the sun's going down. It's a very upset young woman. The locket she got as a gift from her sister was stolen. She doesn't ask, but it's obvious she wants it returned. So he goes to look for it. It's no surprise it turns up somewhere bad. The ghost, to her credit, is worried. She doesn't want him to go in just for this locket, it's important but not so important, it's too dangerous, it isn't worth it. And Edward ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ He goes in. It isn't his greatest decision, maybe. Even he knows that much. He would've done this differently, otherwise. He's had to steal for ghosts before, but he knows how to do it well. These people aren't anything special, either. Just a few stupid guys who think they can make it here without joining up with a gang. It would've been easy, if he'd taken his time. He promised Oswald he'd be careful. And he fully intended to be. It isn't a conscious decision. It doesn't... even feel like he can hold himself back, it just... happens. It ends up with a punch to the face and the gut and then with him knocked over in the alley outside, before he's lifted up and slammed against the wall. It's three guys. One holding Edward, and two standing on either side. Surrounded.] "You must have some sort of death wish, pal, trying to steal from us! Huh?!" [Idly, Edward feels something cold against his cheek and a sharp... pain? ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ a knife. That's bad. He knows that much, intellectually, but somehow... it doesn't... feel like it matters. None of this... feels like... it.... █████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████]

[agoodname]

[Butch gets the call around ten thirty. It almost surprises him to be hearing from Oswald again, especially with how angry Edward was about the whole thing. But no, it is from Oswald, and it is about the ghost thing. It's a fairly easy job, from the sounds of it. Just tail Edward. Apparently it's more for Oswald's sanity than Edward's safety, according to the lawyer. It should be fine. He shouldn't have to do anything, really. And considering what happened last time, Butch pretty much believes that. It's not too difficult to wait outside the building for Edward to appear, and then to tail him at a distance. He really kind of travels here, there and everywhere, so Butch gets a bit of a kick out of it. He just gets to spend the day following the ghost guy from a distance and watch him do his work. Most of the day is uneventful. But, like most things, it can't be that easy. It's nearing the end of the day when Edward starts heading towards a shadier part of town. Butch frowns but follows, slipping a little closer, but it's not until Edward stops in front of what is clearly the hideout of a couple small (but dangerous) fries that he starts to get concerned. Butch picks up his pace, following silently, reaching into his coat and adjusting his gun holster as he descends the stairs.] "--death wish, pal, trying to steal from us. Huh?!" [...that sure is a knife. And Butch sucks in a breath, moving a bit closer, silently, before he steps out of the shadows, hands clasped in front of him.] "I don't think you wanna do that, friend." [his voice is friendly--easy going]

[enigmaster]

[The guy pauses. The knife leaves Edward's cheek, though there's definitely blood on it. And the three of them turn.

Edward's less... aware of what's going on. He kind of... hears someone, sure, but right now he's not entirely... there.]

"And just who the hell are you?"

[It's very aggressive. The guy's holding his knife out threateningly.]