ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

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[agoodname]

....right. [and he just....takes a slow breath and then breathes it out. Focus, Oswald. It's fine. It's just a little touch. It's...yeah. But more on that later. Right now, the lock.] One at a time.

[and he starts again, slowly, working one at a time and just....TRYING TO FOCUS ON THAT even though his face still feels like it's on fire and his ears are red but it's fine. He's worked under higher-stakes circumstances]

[enigmaster]

[Edward leans in, just a little, because that way he can see the lock better too ...and only when he does so does he realize that this puts him closer to Oswald and uh shit okay well this is happening]

[agoodname]

[oh. Edward is...very close. And Oswald has to bite his tongue to try and stay focused and not lean closer to Edward rather than focus on the lock and AAAAAAAAHHHHH HE'S JUST SO CLOSE He swallows, hard, and just--he almost loses his grip on the wrench, but manages to catch himself at the last moment and--yes alright, he's got the first tumbler in place, at least.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward's... doing his best to focus on the lock, instead of on Oswald, which is going extremely badly, but okay okay he can do this] Right... Just keep at it.

[agoodname]

[he blows out a breath at that] ...yes. Working on it. [right--the next one, then, and then the next. But it's....he's right there and it's doing very funny things to Oswald's stomach and his concentration and how do people live like this--yep gonna take in another, slightly shaky breath]

[enigmaster]

It seems like it's going well.

[agoodname]

[alsdkhfs that makes Oswald choke on a bit of a laugh] Well now I can't fail.

[enigmaster]

Isn't that what people usually say right before failing?

[agoodname]

Yes, which is why I'm trying not to, now that you've said it's going well. [dryly, in return]

[enigmaster]

Alright, well. Go ahead, then. [He... tries to make his tone light.]

[agoodname]

Thank you. [EVEN DRIER

but that, at least, helps his focus a bit--and he manages the next two tumblers fairly handily]

[enigmaster]

[Edward just... watches. Waits. Sees how Oswald's doing.]

[agoodname]

[well now he can just feel the hairs on the back of his neck prickle because he knows Edward is watching him and that's tying his stomach up in knots all over again--and he swallows again, faltering just a bit on the next tumbler, but managing to click it into place as well. Just one more to go. But he might be losing a bit of the tension he's put on the wrench, which could definitely be a problem.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward swallows and, without thinking, puts his hand on Oswald's arm.] Careful...

[agoodname]

[YEP HE'S GONNA JUST GO UTTERLY STILL WHEN EDWARD PUTS A HAND ON HIS ARM BECAUSE AHHHHHHH?????????!?!?!?!?!!! that sure is contact that he didn't expect and normally that's not a problem for him but this is Edward and he can feel the heat of his palm through his sleeve and he's even closer now and it's a good thing he didn't jerk in reaction because he would've lost that whole thing but he does freeze up for just a moment--before he swallows, putting a bit more tension back on the wrench] Ah--right. Yes. Thank you. [his voice is a bit strained and he's definitely flushed he can feel it and he takes in another breath and holds that tension and really tries to focus on that last tumbler and just hope that Edward doesn't move his hand]

[enigmaster]

[Edward realizes what he did only after Oswald speaks, bringing him back to reality a bit. And. Suddenly he's very aware that he reached out and touched Oswald. What he kind of wants to do is pull his hand back. Immediately. But he's... a little frozen and he doesn't know, really, so he just... stays. Like this. For now. It makes him nervous, but not as much as it should and it's. Odd. All of it is odd.]

[agoodname]

[Edward doesn't remove his hand. It stays there, warm, one of the few moments of physical contact that they've ever had, and the longest so far. Oswald almost doesn't want to finish this last tumbler, just to see how long it might last. To try and draw it out. But....finish it he does. It clicks into place, and Oswald takes a breath, turning it slowly until the lock pops open--and then he lets that breath out in a whoosh]

[enigmaster]

[The lock clicks. It opens. Oswald lets out a breath and... Edward pulls back. Suddenly, nervously, now that the moment's passed and he remembers himself. His body language is immediately more withdrawn and he swallows.] Ah... Good job.

[agoodname]

[the lock clicks--and the moment's gone. And Edward with it. True, it was only a hand on his arm but it was...he feels like he misses it already. Oswald head jerks over to look at him and he's...closed. Again. He swallows at that, and turns his attention back to the lock, withdrawing the tools, managing a small smile] I had a good teacher. [he sets the tools on the table, next to Edward's kit] Thank you.

[enigmaster]

It's no problem. [That comes easier, now, as he puts his defenses back up. Grabbing the sleeve of his sweater and just holding it. Grounding himself.] It is a good skill to know. It really comes in handy, though... Maybe more so with my circumstances.

[agoodname]

[and Oswald pushes to his feet, albeit a bit slowly. Sitting in one position mostly on the floor hasn't done anything for his ankle, and he was distracted enough not to notice--and he tightens his jaw, refusing to wince] You did mention that a lot of requests constituted breaking and entering, so I can see why you're so good at it. [he stretches a bit--before blinking at the clock] Ah...it's later than I thought. Perhaps we should put the movie off until tomorrow? [As Edward may start focusing a bit more on his surroundings again and not just Oswald, he'll notice both Elijah and the Russian maid sitting on the couch just...watching the two of them. The latter with rapt interest, the former with gentle curiosity.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward starts opening his mouth to answer... ...when he notices the audience they have. And his mouth shuts. He ducks his head a little and he stands up quickly. Maybe a bit too quickly, honestly.] Sure, that's fine. It is kind of late. [WOW THE FLOOR IS SO INTERESTING ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S JUST GONNA KEEP STARING AT THAT NOW!]

[agoodname]

[Oswald blinks at bit at how abruptly and quickly he's stood] ...yes. I'll just...get my pajamas and then the room's yours. [and he's going to just...start heading to his bedroom and try not to feel disappointed because what were you THINKING was going to happen Oswald, what is there to be disappointed about???] "...Edward--" [and Elijah's starting to get up as well]

[enigmaster]

[Edward just... keeps staring at the floor.] Sure, um. I'll wait... [nope nope he can't deal with this right now]

[agoodname]

[Elijah frowns a bit at that, concerned now]

"...are you alright?"

[the question is quiet, inquisitive]