boxolawyers | (no subject)

Current Mood: nervous

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Dream (Daniel), Edgeworth
What: A chance meeting.
Where: The Dreaming palace.
When: No particular time.
Warnings: None.

Edgeworth was in trouble. It took a while for this fact to truly sink in--the Dreaming is an endless source of distractions, many of them seemingly innocuous--but once it became clear that his companion wasn't going to find him then trepidation began to set in. He knew enough about this place to know that even the residents had to watch their steps at times. For the uninitiated or unwary, the Dreaming could be very dangerous indeed.

So it was that his pace gradually slowed, as he tried to decide whether it was prudent (or safe) to stop and wait for the Corinthian to track him down. Ordinarily that might be the wisest course, but this section of the palace gave him an uneasy feeling. It seemed an inordinately long time since he last saw any--

He drew to a sudden halt and stared down the hall he'd just come through, his eyes straining to catch any sign of movement. After a frozen minute, he scowled at himself and continued down the corridor with a determined stride. He'd find a more agreeable location, preferably something at least mildly familiar, then he'd wait patiently for the chance to chastise the nightmare for allowing him to get lost in the first place.

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There was, perhaps unfortunately, a light sense of movement just down the hall as he continued walking, the brief scuttling of tiny things in the shadows. But whatever it was, it was moving fast down the opposite way, and just as quickly the palace was silent and still again.

At least, until the next door he passed creaked open behind him, and suddenly the hall was filled with bright sunlight, and the sounds of a party, people laughing and talking and clapping in time to music. But this was also short lived as a man, all in white, stepped through and closed the door behind him.

"You should not be down here," he said mildly, his head tilting in an almost curious manner. But it was about all the reception Edgeworth was given before Dream turned back to the door, key suddenly in hand to lock it up.

The movement didn't go unnoticed. Edgeworth kept a steady pace down the hall, but his heartbeat was quickening and the urge to run was swelling inside him no matter how loudly his mind tried to suppress it.

It reached a fever pitch when the door opened behind him without warning, spilling light and noise into the hallway. He whirled around with a loud gasp, his eyes wide, and only managed to keep himself from bolting through a supreme effort.

The new presence in the hall relieved some of Edgeworth's tension. The man was strange and perhaps a bit unsettling in both appearance and carriage, but so were most of the Dreaming's denizens. He posed no immediate threat, and to a lone mortal lost in the palace this was the most that could be hoped for. Edgeworth struggled to compose himself as the man turned to lock the door behind him.

"Am I so obvious?" His dry tone was somewhat marred by an undercurrent of nervousness, and he cleared his throat before continuing. "I seem to have...misplaced my guide."

If the man did notice the effect his sudden appearance had caused in the other, he didn't show or acknowledge it. In fact, he....didn't seem to pay much attention to Edgeworth at all once he was finished. No, once everything was locked up and the key tucked away he started to walk the way Edgeworth had just come, as if he had forgotten the man completely.

But after making it just a few yards he paused and turned to Edgeworth again, a questioning look in his midnight eyes. "Ah, come then. Where was it that your guide was headed?"

Edgeworth waited for a response...and waited...and eventually was left staring down the hall at the retreating figure.

Apparently his relief had been premature.

His expression fell into a halfhearted scowl, and he was just preparing to turn around and continue his aimless wandering when the man seemed to remember he existed. Edgeworth hesitated only a moment before giving an audible sigh and following him.

"I don't know precisely. A tower of some sort. He said it offered a spectacular view."

"That leaves quite a number of them," he replied once the man had caught up, and though he again started off without even a word of warning he did glance back, made sure Edgeworth was still with him.

"We could check each of the towers, however...." He walked with purpose, leading Edgeworth down the hall and through another door. The next hall was somewhat darker, deep reds and golds covering it and the rooms that surrounded it, but on the whole it was a wing that certainly felt more welcoming than the one before it. "He mentioned nothing else of them? The views they share are all rather unique...."

"I'm afraid not. He's the type who prefers to show rather than tell." A fond smirk touches his lips, but the way he keeps turning his head right and left as he takes in their new surroundings may make it difficult to catch.

Once satisfied that he's seen all there is to see so far, Edgeworth gives his new guide his attention again. "How many are there?"

Just as it may have made it difficult in turn for Edgeworth to see something that may have almost been amusement pass over Dream's face. He paused, and this time waited for Edgeworth to follow as he opened a new door, gesturing for the man to follow the stairs.

"At the moment there are several." He glanced out the closest window. "But that may change."

He was tempted to ask what that would depend upon. Instead, he paused in the doorway to give his companion a questioning glance.

"I don't mean to drag you along on a wild goose chase. If you'd rather direct me to somewhere I can...wait safely, I'm sure he'll find me eventually."

With a small nod, Dream stepped away. "There is a guest room at the top of this tower you may wait in, provided that is where you stay until he arrives."

But rather then leaving right away, he lingered for a moment longer, and there was a pause as he seemed to debate on whether or not to ask his next question. But he needed to know. "Who is your guide, if I may ask?"

Edgeworth was quick to nod his assent. Given the choice, he had absolutely no intention of wandering the halls of this eldritch and unfathomable edifice.

They lingered in the entrance to the stairwell, Edgeworth glancing uncertainly between the stairs and the man in white until he finally made up his mind to ask his question.

"Ah, of course," Edgeworth answered casually, a tad relieved that that was the only thing holding them up. "He's known as the Corinthian. He's brought me here several times before, but this is the first time he's managed to lose me."

Apparently, that answer would only hold them up longer. Dream looked up, a little surprised.

"The Corinthian?" Make that quite surprised. The look of curiosity was back, but there was also something considerably more critical in his gaze. "You are a....companion, of his?"

Given what information he'd gleaned from the Corinthian about the way his role in the Dreaming was viewed by others, Edgeworth had been expecting that sort of reaction. He met the man's scrutiny with a steady gaze and maintained a companionable air, though he was ready to raise his defenses at the first sign of disapproval.

"Something more than that. At least, I'd like to think so. We've known each other for several years now."

Again, Dream nodded, though this time a bit absently while he continued to regard the other man.

"I see...." And this time, something that might have been a smile touched at the corner of his lips, though it had an almost sheepish edge to it. It was already rare enough as it was to meet one who claimed the nightmare as a friend.... "I did not realize. He is not normally the most....social of nightmares, you see."

"I'm not normally the most social of humans, so that works out rather well." He smirked, half to himself as evidenced by the introspective cast that flashed briefly through his eyes. He knew the Corinthian's name wasn't always the most effective currency in the Dreaming. It was a relief his friend could still help him when he needed it most.

"You know him well?" he asked with open curiosity.

"Very well, I should like to think." And that time it was a smile that crossed his face, genuine and maybe a bit relived, however brief it was. He nodded lightly at the stairs.

"May I join you, while you wait? I sometimes worry about guests traveling this place on their own."

"Let me assure you that I share your concern. So much so that, contrary to my nature, at the moment I would be very grateful to have your generous company." He gave a graceful little half bow and gestured up the stairs invitingly, waiting for the man to start up them before following.

"I only hope that I prove to be good company." He led the way with another small smile, until they reached a small room lined with large windows that looked over the ocean, its surprisingly calm, ink black surface reflecting a brilliantly starred night sky.

And once Edgeworth had entered the room behind him, he glanced back, again curious. "I'm sorry, I....never asked your name."

"I think it would be difficult for you to make yourself bad company to a lonely wanderer." With the flash of a soft barely noticeable smile, Edgeworth gravitated toward the window. Immediately he wondered if this was the very tower where they were to meet the Corinthian. The view was certainly spectacular enough.

If his companion had continued to make general conversation, Edgeworth might not have turned away from the window at all, but ignoring a question like that was too rude for him to consider around a mysterious stranger who could hold his safety in his hands. Reluctantly, he turned towards the interior of the room, meeting the man's eyes. "In that we both seem to be at fault. My name is Edgeworth, Miles Edgeworth. And you are?"

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If Dream means what I think he might mean, it went right over Edgeworth's head.

The way he phrashed his answer isn't helping much. XD

Wouldn't want to spoil his misconception too quickly~

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