Tears In The Teahouse

[truthsnomiracle]

Who: truthsnomiracle and YOU!
What: Edgeworth's first DL-6 day since being made to realize that dear old Dad lied.
When: December 28th, daylight hours
Where: A teahouse
Warnings: Discussion of a murder, betrayal, and major Ace Attorney spoilers.
Format: Your choice of prose or action.

Miles Edgeworth knew better than most that the truth could be an ugly, painful thing. He also knew, however, that truth was the single most important virtue and goal of humanity in the world.

Which made today sting all the more.

December 28th was, to most, just a day for enjoying Christmas presents, preparing for New Year's parties, and neglecting the trappings of the previous holiday. For Edgeworth, however, it was the day when several traumatic hours trapped in an elevator ended with a single bullet through his father's heart that ended the defense attorney's life, the day that haunted his nightmares for fifteen years straight, and then the day it was all brought back to the surface as his own mentor was revealed to not only be the murderer, but to have raised him specifically to see him crushed.

Now, he couldn't even take comfort in the idea that his father was blameless for all that had happened in the wake of his own murder. The supernatural was real, the Kurain technique was the only explanation for the case at Hazakura, his own Shadow had literally manifested to argue that his father was a liar and that he himself would sooner disbelieve the supernatural than this truth, and just to make sure that he couldn't return to denial of the supernatural, fate ensured that Edgeworth now had a power of his own. Even if it had turned out that his father had meant well and that he was rescued from the backstabbing of his own mentor, his past was still the product of hypocrisy and lies -- more so than he ever realized before.

As such, as ribbons came loose in the snowflake-speckled wind outside the teahouse, the prosecutor swirled a half-finished mug of black tea with cream in a corner booth and attempted to hide his glum face from passersby. His usual suit was obscured by a black trenchcoat, but the storm-grey curtain hair and cowlick, to say nothing of his cravat, might well give him away...

Comments

[needsteaplz.livejournal.com]

Saori often visited the teahouse to pick up some tea tins and those sort of things. By chance, when she entered the shop, she saw Edgeworth from the corner of her eye. Quietly, she walked over to him.

"Mr. Edgeworth?" She softly addressed him. "Is this seat taken?"

[truthsnomiracle]

Edgeworth doesn't turn towards Saori, but he does recognize the voice as belonging to one of the more informative and intelligent people he'd encountered so far.

"It is not." Despite his best efforts, there's a strangely grim undertone to Edgeworth's voice.

[needsteaplz.livejournal.com]

The undertone doesn't go by unnoticed but she won't bring it up just yet.

"Is it alright if I take a seat? I promise it won't take much time." One of the tea house waiters looked at her and she gave a nod. They already knew to prepare a cup of green tea for her.

[truthsnomiracle]

Saori seemed like potentially agreeable company to the prosecutor judging by their previous interactions, at least, so...

"You may."

[needsteaplz.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Mr. Edgeworth." She quietly took her seat across from him. Her tea was brought over to her. She took off her gloves so her hands could warm up as they held the cup.

"I apologize if I accidentally intrude on something personal but, I couldn't help but notice something when you texted your thanks for the cookies I sent out earlier. And now I find you here, looking so rather grim. Is it safe to assume you're not a fan of the holidays?"

[theheirofbreath.livejournal.com]

John was just bored, and is passing the time by exploring the city a little. Stopping in the tea shop to see if they have hot chocolate, he recognizes Edgeworth as that guy who lectured them all about the whole dungeon thing. So he smiles and waves.

"Hi! What's up?"

[truthsnomiracle]

If anything could snap a logical man out of his moping -- if only for a moment -- it was a cheerful greeting out of nowhere from someone who had apparently been through far worse than himself.

"Egbert," he murmured in a surprised tone. "I was merely attempting to enjoy a cup of the locally-prepared tea."

[theheirofbreath.livejournal.com]

"Is it any good? I was hoping they'd have hot chocolate."

He plops himself down in the seat across from Edgeworth and looks at him thoughtfully.

"You look kinda down. Is anything wrong?"

[truthsnomiracle]

"What I've sampled so far is indeed quality tea," Edgeworth replied somberly. "However, I have yet to try the majority of the varieties they have to offer."

A fleeting look of mild irritation flitted over the the prosecutor's face at John seated himself without asking first, but this time he didn't have the heart to start lecturing the boy. Once John posed his question, Edgeworth simply looked away before responding, "Nothing you should concern yourself with. Compared with your own burdens, mine are but pebbles."

[theheirofbreath.livejournal.com]

John suddenly found the table to be entirely more interesting. He'd never really thought of anything in his past as a burden. It never really occurred to him before to think of his life as tragic, although much of it was. He recovers his smile as always though and looks back up to Edgeworth.

"I dunno about that. I mean, everyone's burdens are kinda.. burden-y. If something bothers you, then it really doesn't matter a whole if someone else is bothered by something that seems worse. You should still be able to talk about stuff like that...

Hehehe, I'm....not making a whole lot of sense right now, am I? I was never that good at this kind of thing. Sorry..."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei had had a few conversations with Edgeworth before, and thus could recognize Edgeworth fairly easily. He approached him with a small smile. "Good afternoon. I've always liked this teahouse."

[truthsnomiracle]

"Its tea does seem to be of fine quality, from what little I've sampled so far." Something was clearly wrong with Edgeworth's tone, however; as much as he attempted to disguise it as simply understated, he couldn't entirely hide the weight dampening his enthusiasm.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"May I sit down?" Issei was going to control his natural tendencies to pry. But he couldn't help asking, at least.

[truthsnomiracle]

"I suppose that an unbiased guide to the offerings here would be welcome," Edgeworth responded with a shrug.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei pulled out a chair. "Thank you, Edgeworth. I won't bother you too much."

[croibhristeoir]

[Diarmuid had a hopeless crush on the king of England. Keeping the hotel room stocked with tea was just something of a consequence. But upon seeing Edgeworth looking quite dejected, the former Servant adjusted his glasses and approached.]

Would you mind if I sat down? [A slight smile.] You seem as if perhaps you could use the company.

[truthsnomiracle]

Diarmuid.

[Edgeworth hesitates after that acknowledgment, but eventually nods.]

Typically this is a solitary day for me, but perhaps that too must change.

[croibhristeoir]

I don't wish to intrude.

[truthsnomiracle]

You know more of the situation than most and are good company. I can think of worse people on this island to have ask.

[That tone was primarily matter-of-fact.]

[croibhristeoir]

Very well, then.

[He took a seat, smiling faintly as he did so.]

[toomanypetals.livejournal.com]

[Kanda comes up-- wearing a ballcap, sunglasses, and sweatshirt as a sort-of disguise. He's kind of tired of fangirls.]

...Tch. What're you so glum about?

[truthsnomiracle]

[And here is a man he owes a great debt to, not to mention the one who thanks to his Shadow knows the most.]

...Today is the day that he died.

(As he already possesses that context and knows little else that it could be confused with, that should be sufficient.)

[toomanypetals.livejournal.com]

Ah.

[Indeed, he can put two and two together.]

A day for mourning and reflection, then.

[truthsnomiracle]

Precisely so. The event that you were of such aid in provided a new perspective from which to reflect upon it, as well.

[toomanypetals.livejournal.com]

...Don't let yourself drown in it.