(no subject)

[tobeproud]

Who: Quatre, Edgeworth
What: A virus strikes! Quatre and Edgeworth are forced to stay within proximity of each other, lest they become terribly ill.
Where: The Maganac's village and base of operations.
When: Some random point in time.
Warnings: None!

The sun peaked through the curtains of the window, slowly bathing the small bedroom in light. It was a quiet morning; the only sounds that could be heard were those of men and women setting up shops at the market down the hill, and those were only faint echos at best.

It was a day to sleep in--not that Quatre normally did. There was something about this place, though, something peaceful and safe. Everyone knew who he was, just as they did nearly everywhere he went these days, but the Maganac Corps were like family, and so was everyone in the village by proxy. He could forget about politics and disarmament, at least for a moment, which was why--when a sliver of sunlight positioned itself directly over his face--the young man simply winced and rolled over with nothing more than a groan.

He could afford a moment more.

Comments

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth seemed to relax a bit once the boy had made a move toward modesty. The sheets pooled in his lap as he settled back against the headboard.

"Underground?"

Switching to script, per your permission~ ;)

[tobeproud]

Mm? [glances at Edgeworth as he internally debates whether or not it's appropriate to put his pants on while they're still in the same room] ...Oh, this village serves as a home base for the Maganac Corps. They're, ah-- well, it's a bit complicated right now, but you have my word that they're good, trustworthy people. ...Excuse me for moment.

[he steps out the door to quickly put his pants on and returns a few seconds later, watching Edgeworth from the doorway.] Their base is underground, and so is Sandrock. My Gundam.

Yay~

[samuraiprosecutor]

[bites back a derogatory comment about the kind of people Winner thinks are trustworthy, just nods as the boy leaves. he folds his arms across his chest and starts to take in his surroundings, but the boy doesn't give him much time to absorb it all. he returns only a few seconds later, mercifully clothed.]

[cocks his head at all the information he's suddenly fed. he doesn't recognize any of it, but he remembers enough from previous conversations (namely that the boy is or was a soldier) to make some sense of it, except for...] Gundam? I don't believe your predecessor ever mentioned the term.

[tobeproud]

That doesn't surprise me. [it's said with a somber smile] I wouldn't have mentioned it, either, were this another time, but... there's no need to keep it secret, anymore. [he shakes his head] I'll explain when I come back with your clothes.

[turns to leave but first glances over his shoulder]

Is there anything else you need?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[coolly] No, thank you.

[he waits for the boy to leave, then waits a bit longer before getting up and moving to the window. after a moment he pulls back the curtain and is surprised to find the village they're in appears to be in a desert--the buildings and the clothing on the people passing by look vaguely Middle Eastern. he muses over the things Winner said as he watches them.]

[it seems likely this Gundam is an element of their war, as are the Maganac Corps. since neither seems to be a carefully guarded secret any longer, the war has probably ended (or he hopes so, for his own sake as well as the sake of the participants). he wonders where on the timeline this Winner falls in relation to the one he once knew.]

[tobeproud]

[returns roughly fifteen minutes later, carrying a small bundle of clothes and looking noticeably ill; he places the bundle on the bed and runs a hand across his pale, sweat-slicked forehead]

[he smiles despite his condition] You can change in here, if you like. I'll be just outside.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Edgeworth is also looking considerably rougher than he did when the boy left. he's nauseated, flushed, strands of hair matted to his forehead. worst of all, it's a familiar feeling. he's starting to suspect the true nature of this virus, and isn't at all pleased. before Winner can leave the room he comes closer, under the guise of retrieving the clothes, and is rewarded with an unmistakable lessening of his symptoms.]

[heaves a long-suffering sigh and retreats to the other side of the bed.] I won't be long.

[tobeproud]

[nods and closes the door as he leaves]

[the way his symptoms noticeably lessened as Edgeworth came closer hadn't escaped his notice, and now that he thinks about it... they had gotten worse the further he went, hadn't they? he'd nearly been doubled over by the time he'd gotten to Rashid, and with the way the older man had looked at him, Quatre was almost surprised to be let go so easily. it's too coincidental not to be the virus.]

[he quietly stands by the door, mulling over this, as he waits for Edgeworth to finish]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[predictably, the clothes turn out to be very similar to the ones he'd seen on male passersby when he looked outside. not so predictably, the clothes were large on him, and hung loosely at his hips and shoulders. this Rashid must be a bear of a man...a potentially worrying prospect, considering whatever relationship he might have with Winner and the state Edgeworth and the boy found themselves in when they woke. perhaps he could avoid the man...]

[as soon as he's done he meets the boy in the hall. the roiling in his stomach instantly calms down, confirming his fears.] We can visit that base, but I don't think it's going to help as much as we hoped. I'm fairly certain you're stuck with me for a while yet.

[tobeproud]

And I'm fairly certain we've come to the same conclusion as to why. I suppose we might as well confirm our suspicions. [glances at him and blinks, doing a double take] ...Ah, would you like a belt?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[color tinges his cheeks and his fingers tighten a bit on his hip.] I would appreciate that, yes.

[hesitates. getting a belt would most likely mean meeting this 'Rashid.'] I'll wait here. By the time you get back, we should both know for certain whether this is the virus I think it is.

[tobeproud]

[sensing Edgeworth's hesitation, Quatre smiles in an attempt to allay whatever his fears may be] No need for that, unless you really require the evidence. [disappears into the room and begins rifling through one of the dresser drawers] I should have a sash in here...

[samuraiprosecutor]

[that certainly works. he relaxes a bit and hovers just inside the doorway, arms crossed as he observes the hunt. he feels a touch of nausea, but nothing like the pain he'd felt when Winner was gone.] I've experienced this virus before. Last time it was...more intense, but the symptoms were the same.

[tobeproud]

[produces a purple silk sash and holds it out for Edgeworth, nodding] I believe I remember someone talking about it during the last virus we had, when everyone was affected differently.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[accepts it gratefully, though that doesn't stop him from giving it a quick once-over with a critical eye. it's a very fine silk, undoubtedly expensive. runs it through his fingers a moment, enjoying the soft texture, then ties it around his waist. he nods as he does so, keeping his eyes on what he's doing.]

[mostly to himself, with obvious distaste] At least we can be grateful we aren't being forced to touch each other.

[looks up as he finishes.] Is this the first virus that's affected you?

[tobeproud]

[vaguely thins his lips at the obvious distaste in Edgeworth's words but says nothing of it]

No. I was... made to think I was part of a family, during the last one.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[don't worry, Quatre bb. it's not you, it's him.]

Ah... [that definitely prompts a few memories, as well as wonder over how several other people (Mikaela, Butz, his own sister) are doing.] I experienced that one myself, fairly early on. It was...one of the tamer ones.

[tobeproud]

Mm... [we're just gonna sidestep this topic, thanks]

[looks at Edgeworth, smiling again] Ready to go?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[gladly.]

[sadly, it's gonna take more than a smile to win him over. he does offer a shallow bow, though, leaning more towards playful than mocking.] Lead the way, mon hôte.

[tobeproud]

[smile widens; he makes his way towards the exit, gesturing for Edgeworth to follow] Par ici, s'il vous plait.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[he can't quite hide the grin that flashes across his lips at that, and disguises it as a wry smirk instead. he is so very fond of French.]

[...not fond enough to encourage conversation with Winner, of course, but still. it is good to hear, especially spoken with such skill.]

[he follows the boy in silence, taking in their surroundings as they go and watching for other residents.]

[tobeproud]

[although content, he breaks the silence after a few minutes]

Are you familiar with mobile suits, Mr. Edgeworth?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[suppresses a sigh when the relatively pleasant silence is broken. ah well. they may be stuck with each other for a long while yet. as long as the conversation remains polite, he supposes he can play along.]

[besides, it may behoove him to know something about the world he's visiting...particularly the current status of their war.]

I can't say that I am. I take it that's another term for this 'Gundam'?

[tobeproud]

In a way, yes. A Gundam is a type of mobile suit, but not all mobile suits are Gundams. They're made with a special alloy that can only be manufactured in zero gravity, so there are very few of them.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[eyes widen a bit. it sounds like these machines are advanced and valuable, well beyond what he would expect a country to place in the hands of a boy his age.] You said this Gundam is yours?