ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

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[enigmaster]

Mm... Alright.

[He would... kind of like his stuff back. He doesn't have a lot, but it's still his.]

[agoodname]

Lovely. Let's take care of that, then.

[and he'll grab his coat, moving to hand Edward his]

We'll just take a taxi over.

[enigmaster]

[Edward blinks a little as he's handed a coat. Ah. Well, it is probably cold out, so. He'll just put that on.] ...Sure. [Honestly, he's just kind of going along with this. Like. Okay. This is happening. Sure.]

[agoodname]

[it doesn't take long to flag down a taxi; there are plenty in this area. Nor does it take too long to get to Edward's old apartment complex--at which point Oswald is making to stride right in unless Edward stops him for any reason.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward absolutely doesn't stop him. Right now it doesn't even occur to him to try, he's just trailing behind nervously. Oswald seems... very intent on this. It's... a much cheaper place. There isn't even really a proper receptionist or anything, but there is a little office there.]

[agoodname]

[GREAT THAT'S WHERE HE'S GOING THEN and he'll rap on the door with his cane] Excuse me. I'm here to speak to the landlord of this establishment.

[enigmaster]

[There's some shuffling behind the door. And, after some moments, a man opens it. Narrowing his eyes at Oswald, a little. He looks... unpleasant. Those sorts of people with an unpleasant personality that just have an aura radiating it?

Yeah. That kind.]

"...Yeah, what?"

[agoodname]

[oh wonderful. Oswald sets his cane in front of himself and leans on it a bit, keeping his chin tilted upwards a bit, so he's looking down his nose at this guy, even though he's shorter] I have a former tenant of yours with me, and we'd like to retrieve his belongings, as the locks were changed on his apartment during his period of absence.

[enigmaster]

[The guy blinks. He opens the door a little more, glancing behind Oswald and... spotting Edward now. He scoffs a little.]

"Oh, good, you again." [And, back to Oswald now.] "I changed those locks a while ago already. If he wanted his stuff, he shoulda been here for 'em then. And maybe actually paid his rent on time."

[agoodname]

[Oswald's eyes narrow] ....and what, exactly, are you saying that you've done with his personal property?

[enigmaster]

"What's it to you?" [The man huffs, clearly not appreciating any of this.] "Why should I keep that around, just taking up space."

[Oswald's a lawyer, though, so he should be able to tell... this guy's definitely hiding something. There's obvious tells.]

[agoodname]

It matters to me, sir--Ah, forgive me, what did you say your name was?

[enigmaster]

[He narrows his eyes more.]

"Carl Lyon. Listen, do I gotta call security here or what?"

[agoodname]

Carl Lyon. [And Oswald gets a notebook out of his inner pocket, along with a small pen, and begins to write] And what did you say that you did with Mr. Nygma's possessions, exactly?

[enigmaster]

"I said I got rid of it! Just who the hell are you?"

[This guy is... not the brightest, clearly.

As the man raises his voice, Edward glances away. Nothing Oswald will see, right now, but it's... a subtle sign of discomfort.]

[agoodname]

You got rid of it. In what manner exactly? [he pauses at that, however, glancing up] Ah, terribly sorry. I'm Oswald Cobblepot. I'm Mr. Nygma's lawyer.

[enigmaster]

"You're-- What?" [Wuh-oh.] "Am I being sued, what is this?"

[agoodname]

Quite possibly, depending on the manner in which you treated Mr. Nygma's items. After all, they are his personal property and, if damaged, could easily be the grounds for a lawsuit.

[enigmaster]

"I didn't do anything to them, I just got rid of it - I don't have to keep anything around when a tenant hasn't paid!"

[He's digging in his heels here, but he's sweating a little.]

[agoodname]

As a matter of fact, you do. According to Article 258, section 12, paragraph 33 of the Tenant Rights Act, if a tenant is evicted and cannot collect their things due to extenuating circumstances (which these, as I'm sure you can understand, are,) then it becomes the duty of the landlord to care for the personal belongings of the tenant until such items can be collected. At this point, the tenant shall assess the items and ensure that they are in the same condition as when the tenant last saw them, as the landlord, in evicting them during a time of clear duress, becomes responsible for those items, and is liable for up to twice the worth of said items if they are not properly returned to their original owner.

So. Mr. Lyon...you said that you got rid of those items? [Oswald writes something down in the notebook] Interesting. I'll ask again: in what manner did you get rid of them?

[enigmaster]

"Y... I... Uh..." [Oh, he's really stammering now. At a loss for words, after that. He's paled a bit.] "Well, uh. I mean, might be they're still here somewhere... Always takes forever for anyone to actually get around and..." [...] "...I'll just take a look." [And he vanishes into his office. Meanwhile, Edward is staring at Oswald a little.]

[agoodname]

You do that. [DRY AS A DESERT. His mouth presses into a line and he narrows his eyes, lowering his voice and turning his head a bit over his shoulder so Edward can hear him, but keeping his eyes on the door in case he comes back] He's hiding something. I know the type.

[enigmaster]

Oh. [Oh, indeed. He's a little... swept away, right now? It's... a strange feeling.] I didn't really question it, when it happened, but... I guess... [Edward was ready to give up the second his key no longer fit, honestly.]

[agoodname]

He's definitely trying to play us. Pretending like he doesn't know anything. [:/] He probably still has all of your things, he just doesn't want to give them to you. [he scowls, folding his arms over his chest momentarily]

[enigmaster]

[Edward's about to speak, but then the door opens up again and he goes quiet. And there's our oh so reliable landlord, looking very put out.]

"Alright, here." [And that's a box alright, which he's putting down on the floor. He folded pretty quick when presented with an actual lawyer, but. That makes sense. People like this kind of rely on not being challenged.] "Guess I must've overlooked it. Now, will you just get out already?"