ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

Comments

[enigmaster]

Okay... Good. That's... good. [okay that went... better than expected???]

[agoodname]

[Edward may not have yet agreed to the bodyguard thing, but at least he's agreed to think about it, and he's not leaving, and he doesn't hate Oswald forever so all in all could have been significantly worse.] Yes, I think so too. [teasing, just a little bit, but also honest lol]

[enigmaster]

Oh, well. Thank goodness you approve. [Also teasing.]

[agoodname]

A relief, surely, I--

[and that's about the time the buzzer rings]

--ah. That must be dinner. [and he's going to push himself to his feet to go get that]

[enigmaster]

Ah... Mhm. [Yep, okay. As Oswald goes to do that, Edward just lets out a breath, tension leaving his shoulders. That... That went.]

[agoodname]

[it sure went. It wasn't perfect but it happened and no one left so that's good, right? Either way, time to focus on dinner and just feeling as back to normal as possible?]

[enigmaster]

[It's a lot more normal than the night before, anyway. And that'll get better again, more comfortable, as a few days pass. Or, well. Things between Edward and Oswald are as normal as they were again, at least.

But as they get further into October and the city puts up more and more decorations for Halloween - because Gotham loves Halloween - the less and less Edward goes outside. He's... barely leaving at all at this point, if he can help it.

Not to mention he's acting a more withdrawn, too. Which is saying something, because it's Edward.]

[agoodname]

[YEP OSWALD SURE IS NOTICING THAT. and in response, he's increasing the amount that they're just...ordering in. Both for meals and getting groceries delivered. It's...well. It's significantly noticeable. And one evening, sometime after dinner, Oswald is finally going to bring it up. He sits up a little bit on the couch and presses his lips together for a moment, before closing his book] Edward?

[enigmaster]

[Edward idly looks up from his phone for a moment, a little distracted.] ...Hm?

[agoodname]

...is something wrong?

[ah--he should clarify--]

That is, you haven't been going out much lately.

[enigmaster]

[Edward... tenses, a little. Turning his attention back to his phone screen.] Oh. No, I'm... [...] I don't like October much, that's all.

[agoodname]

Oh. Are there more ghosts out or something like that?

[enigmaster]

Um, no. I don't think so, anyway? It's just, um... I'm not really a fan of Halloween. [And Gotham kind of goes all out on that, throughout the month.] I know that's pretty much blasphemy in this city, but. Y'know. [He shrugs.]

[agoodname]

No? [he looks a bit curious at that] Why not?

[enigmaster]

...

[...]

I just don't... like it. That's all.

[Someone's being evasive.]

[agoodname]

[YEAH, HE SEES THAT]

...do you not want to tell me?

[a bit quieter but...yeah. Listen, he can fuck up sometimes but he's been real careful about paying attention these last few weeks]

[enigmaster]

[Edward looks up, at that.] That isn't... [...] I just had a... bad experience around Halloween once and now I don't really like it much..

[agoodname]

Oh. [yeah. yeah he got that vibe] ...is there anything I can do? I mean--I obviously can't stop Gotham from going crazy about it but I don't know...anything that might make it easier to deal with?

[enigmaster]

I don't really think so.

It's fine, though, I can just... stay inside and avoid it. [For. The rest of the month.] That way I won't have to see it all constantly.

[agoodname]

For the whole month?

[enigmaster]

...Sure. [THAT'S REALISTIC, RIGHT?]

[agoodname]

....alright. We'll just stay in. There's enough places that deliver.

[IT IS NOW]

[enigmaster]

...Okay.

Thanks.

[This is gonna work out completely perfectly, yep, YEP. Let's just! Get on with the evening and not think about it anymore.]

[agoodname]

Of course. [mmmmm he sure is thinking about that "incident" And resolves to keep a closer eye on Edward as the month progresses.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward mostly just stays quiet and withdrawn. There's no other changes, at least, so he seems to be doing fine? Things just... keep going as normal, other than Edward staying inside as much as he can.

Though one night, if Oswald is up late, he'll hear... some noises coming from the bedroom.

Hm?]