Party Noodles - A party for the recently undeceased

[assaultedramen]

[Text; Response from Sakurako]

[Early in the Morning, everyone who was reported as murdered will get the following text:]

Hey! ! know you all have been through a lot and probably feel k!inda down so come to the bookstore ton!ght at 7 and well cheer you up!!

Action: Gil's bookstore

[Anyone who comes into Gil's bookstore around 7 am will find it decked out with a banner saying "Welcome Back!" On a table stands a sheet cake frosted with the letters "You're Alive again!" and a post of soup simmering away on a hot plate. Around both of these are a number of smaller plates holding a much fancier cake, strawberry and all, each with the name of one of the victims written on it. The cafe cats are decorated with a ribbon of their own, to varying degrees of annoyance to each of them. They have been joined by Sakurako's cats Cookie and Biscuit, who seem to be enjoying their stint as the center of interest to a number of their fellow felines.

In the back stands a small Karaoke machine, beeping away in an attempt to generate interest. The couches and chairs have been pushed flush with the outer bookshelves to create a bit more space for people to mingle.

Miki is sitting at the counter, waiting to get coffee (or I guess, sell books) to anyone who is interested in buying some extra stuff.]

Comments

[crouching_sin]

[It was funny, okay? :| ]

Good evening to you as well.

[truthsnomiracle]

I, er, understand you were one of the victims.

[Boy was this awkward.]

[crouching_sin]

That's correct.

[He doesn't sound too bothered, at least.]

Were you one of them as well?

[truthsnomiracle]

[WAY TO MAKE THIS MORE AWKWARD, NAOYA. Now he's going to just try to hide his discomfort at that mistaken assumption under a sterner glare. At least he actually has something to be resolute about...]

Fortunately, no. I'm merely doing what I can to ensure that justice is served as best the circumstances allow.

[crouching_sin]

[Pfft. He chuckles.]

And what kind of justice would that be? Prisons are unlikely to hold most of us, and execution would merely get you another one of these parties.

[truthsnomiracle]

If we cannot deprive such a dangerous criminal of life or liberty, removing their privacy is the next thing that comes to mind.

[crouching_sin]

You'd simply track him? Surely someone like you knows how easily such things can be defeated.

[truthsnomiracle]

I'm open to other suggestions, though I've already discarded such extremes as torture and brainwashing.

[crouching_sin]

Of course you have.

[... And changing the subject slightly - ]

Your cuff links are rather interesting. That's the seal of Forneus, isn't it?

[truthsnomiracle]

[Wait, what?]

You recognize this symbol? I had no idea that it related to my Persona; I only knew that upon my arrival on Prospero, I found these pinned in place of the ones I had been wearing.

(To think I would learn something about these after all this time...!)

[crouching_sin]

Indeed. Forneus is a great marquis of hell. He teaches rhetoric and languages, gives men a good name, and makes them be loved by their friends and foes. Someone must have thought you would need a helping hand with those things.

[truthsnomiracle]

I've already lived by my use of the spoken word for some time and I learn new languages with ease, so if anything, those particular aspects would bolster my own strengths.

(The rest is worth additional consideration, however. Miss Nakagawa didn't mention his rank or the full extent of his supposed enhancements of one's charisma.)

[crouching_sin]

I see. It's just something to consider. Knowing such things is something of a specialty of mine, at least in my world.

[truthsnomiracle]

I see. Then I thank you for your insight.

(I wonder if he's a mere scholar like Miss Nakagawa, or if such things supposedly carry actual weight in his world...)

[crouching_sin]

It's no trouble at all.

[truthsnomiracle]

My name is Miles Edgeworth.

(I'm not certain what to make of this man, but in the end, I am here primarily to introduce myself to the victims.)

[crouching_sin]

My name is Naoya. Good to meet you.

[He holds out his hand to shake.]

[truthsnomiracle]

[There's perhaps a half-second's delay too long before Edgeworth takes the hand to complete the shake in a tight, fleeting way.]

Unless you have more to discuss, I'll be on my way to speak with others.

[crouching_sin]

Very well, then.