ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

Comments

[agoodname]

"You said they don't come back, either." [gently]

[enigmaster]

Not usually, no... Sometimes things go a little differently. ...In my experience, that's a red flag.

[agoodname]

[he frowns a bit] "...how so?"

[enigmaster]

If something seems too good to be true, it always is. That's all. The last time I thought things were going okay, I... [He trails off. Gripping his sleeve again. He kind of doesn't want to think about that too much.]

[agoodname]

[WELP OKAY THATS A CONCERN]

"...I'm assuming it ended poorly."

[enigmaster]

...Yeah. [Very poorly, judging from the bitter and hollow tone in his voice.]

[agoodname]

"...I can't tell you for certain that things will be different, because I don't know what your past experience was, but...I do know my son." [he threads his fingers together in his lap] "And I know that, despite how he first came off...he doesn't want to hurt you."

[enigmaster]

[He kind of has to take that on faith, which is. A lot. And anyway, then that just means that Edward's going to be the one fucking things up, which is no better.] ...He'll get tired of me eventually, though.

[agoodname]

"I...don't believe that is the case, either." [Elijah's lips press together, and he looks down at his hands]

"Oswald...never had many friends. He was always the odd one out, even as a child. Even now he has...well. He has co-workers. Colleagues. He's always been alone, save for us and now...he is completely alone, in a lot of ways." [he pauses, glancing over at Edward] "I believe you, as well, are familiar with that. As am I. And when you're offered something different than that; the chance to not be alone any longer, it's...well. It can be rather terrifying, can't it?"

[enigmaster]

[Edward's eyes are fixed on the floor. He doesn't look over at Elijah at all. He... doesn't think he can, right now, honestly. Because, yeah. It is terrifying. He's got that completely right. And a part of Edward just wants to fight this whole thing, whatever it is. Just run away now, before it can get ruined. At least then it can be a nice memory.] ...Shouldn't he find someone better to be around than me? [Because it isn't right, that Oswald should be all alone, but. But he's not the answer to that. He shouldn't be.] I'll screw this up. Sooner or later. I know I will.

[agoodname]

"...if there's one thing I've learned, it's that screwing up is just...that's part of relationships. All relationships. It's about whether the people in that relationship are willing to come back and try and work things out or not, and whether those screw ups can be overcome."

[enigmaster]

[Edward goes quiet. He doesn't... really know what to say, to that. Because it makes sense. Sure. That seems... correct, probably. It's just hard imagining anything like that, because it's always just been waiting for people to get sick and tired of him and then they'd send him away or leave and... that's just how things are, for him. Something else just seems impossible. It'd be nice, to keep this. The thought of that for real is terrifying. How can it be both at once...? ...He stays silent.]

[agoodname]

"I...understand if it's too frightening to think about right now. But you were talking about the end of the week, so...if you need to, you can leave the thought of it until then. It's a lot to think about."

[enigmaster]

...Sure. [Put it off until later. That sounds fine. He'd love to not think about this for now. Or forever. That'd be good, too.]

[agoodname]

[Elijah smiles a little at that, gently] "Why don't you get some rest for now? Things are often better when you sleep on them."

[enigmaster]

Sure. Okay.

[Sleep sounds great. He'll just... get up. Right, yeah. Time to get ready and just pass out for a while.]

[agoodname]

"Good night, Edward. Sleep well."

1/2

[enigmaster]

[It's the middle of the night when Edward wakes up. He squints a little into the dark, as he hears just the worst wailing sound.] Oh, come on... [He glances at the time and then pulls a pillow over his head. Trying to block out the noise of the ghost standing by the bed.] It's 3 AM, do we really have to do this now? [But the sound doesn't stop. Edward knows the type. Dead for an awful long time, now, and probably under bad circumstances. They tend to be like this. So he knows there's no reasoning with this one. Well. Getting decent sleep was nice for the one night it lasted. With a sigh, he gets up.] Okay, just... Let me get dressed first, if you don't mind...

2/2

[enigmaster]

[When Oswald gets up... No Edward.

His stuff is there. The box, the clothes, the books, all of that. What's gone is his phone, the lockpick set, and the spare key Oswald gave him.

Just. No Edward in sight.]

Re: 2/2

[agoodname]

[at first, there's a moment of dread, panic--that he really did succeed in chasing him off.

But...his things are still here. At least, the box is.

After a moment and a few calming breaths, Oswald goes to retrieve his phone, sending off a text to the number that was on Edward's rap sheet as he brushes his teeth]

Everything okay?

[enigmaster]

[...no response right now]

[agoodname]

[squid???? SQUID???]

this is Oswald btw

[enigmaster]

[...nope, nothing]

[agoodname]

....at least tell me you haven't been captured by whomever it is that cut my breaks

[enigmaster]

[still nothing]