boxolawyers | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Edgeworth, Tomoe Mami
What: Miles Edgeworth chose death, then something inhuman chose death for him. This time it won't be Phoenix Wright who comes to his rescue.
Where: Paris, France
When: Post case 1:5
Warnings: Attempted suicide

[his suicide note had been sincere. the Miles Edgeworth that left Los Angeles couldn't be allowed to survive. he would come back a new man...or he wouldn't come back.]

[for a while his resolve seemed to hold. he fled to Paris and buried himself in the comfort of the great city's libraries, surrounding himself with the touchstones that had once provided so much guidance. but the more he immersed himself in the world's greatest works on philosophy and social justice, the less meaning they held for him. he struggled to reconcile their contents with the tortuous reality he had lived, struggled to tear down everything he thought he knew, hoping against fear that he would find buried underneath it all something true; something right. he fought for it, forsaking his physical needs with the same frenzied, obsessive energy he once devoted to trials, now focused tenfold on destroying himself.]

[in the end, he failed. in the end, he found himself on the Eiffel Tower, leaning far over the railing and looking down on the glistening city he loved so dearly. the buffeting wind brought moisture to his eyes and a gruff, mocking whisper to his ears. somewhere, someone was laughing, the sound high and cruel. he shuddered as he slowly climbed over the railing to perch precariously on the wrong side. numb fingers gripped cold metal. Edgeworth leaned forward and looked down.]

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[Mami isn't normally one to encroach on what is likely another magical girl's territory, but when her soul gem reacts while her class is on tour of the Eiffel Tower, well, she simply can't ignore it. She especially can't ignore it when the trail of magic leads her to a man who is literally on the edge.]

[Before he can make a move, Mami springs into action. Bullets fly, piercing the shadows and destroying the familiars invisible to anyone outside the barrier. It isn't enough to break the man from the witch's spell, but it makes things easier for Mami to clear the way.]

[She reaches over the railing with a warm smile, placing a hand on his shoulder.]

You'll be all right.

[She scans the area for the witch.]

[Edgeworth starts at the touch, nearly losing his grip on the railing in his effort to throw her off.]

I won't. [He shakes his head, wide eyes remaining fixed on the landscape. A grimace momentarily twists his features.] I was never meant to be.

[She pulls her hand back when he starts and prepares to catch him, should anything happen. It's then that she catches sight of the floating mass cloaked in black leaves above: a giant wind-up ballerina, turning slowly]

[The witch.]

[She turns back to the man with determination.]

It'll be over soon. I promise.

[Without hesitation, she climbs onto the railing and throws her cap into the air, unleashing several muskets, which fire and hit their target simultaneously.]

[He snorts at the words, sarcasm taking hold even now.] It certainly wi--

[The girl finally forces her way into what remains of his consciousness when she joins him at the railing, balancing effortlessly on the precarious perch. Edgeworth glares over his shoulder, irrationally offended by the intrusion--must even this last, desperate act of despair be public?--then the sky erupts with gunshots. He's transported to another time and place, another terrible, paralyzing explosion.]

[It only lasts a moment. Just long enough for his slack fingers to slip from the railing and bring the ground rushing up to meet him.]

[The man will find himself suddenly suspended by yellow ribbons, stopping him a scant few feet above the ground.]

[On the tower, the railing appears to crumble as the witch's barrier becomes visible, and the area is bathed in endless gray mist and pink daisies. Mami uses them to her advantage, jumping from flower to flower until she's as close to the ballerina as she can get.]

[The wind as he falls face down is nearly suffocating. Even if he could choke out a cry of alarm the sound would be stifled, and he hardly has time for it anyway. Only seconds, barely enough time to realize what's happening and not at all enough time to fully understand before impact.]

[But it's not the unyielding ground he hits. He's snapped up short, neck straining as he's caught up in something that whips him back up, down, up as if he's strapped to a bungee cord, the distance shortening each time until he comes to rest mere feet above the ground.]

[He pants as he hangs there. Something in him feels like dropping to his knees and kissing the ground. Something else screams for him to twist those interfering bonds around his neck and finish the job. Fortunately he's too tangled in bright yellow ribbons to do much of either. His struggles leave him exhausted and hovering on his side, jaw slack as he stares up at the impossible scene playing out above him.]

[Mami focuses her magic on this last shot, calling:] Tiro finale! [as an enormous matchlock appears before her, aimed directly at the witch.]

[It goes off with a flash, and for the next several seconds, all that can be seen is gold.]

[He tries to shut his eyes against the glare, but they refuse to cooperate. It feels as though the light is burning through him, vaporizing the pall that's smothering his mind.]

[When the gold light finally clears, the Tower is as it always has been. The only difference is the yellow ribbon now binding him to it, looking far too thin to be able to support his weight. It's unavoidable evidence of what Edgeworth almost did only moments before.]

[Sick heat suffuses his cheeks. He whispers] Oh God.

[When the light fades, Mami is already on the ground, crouching as though she'd just landed there. The ribbons lower the man to the ground gently and then withdraw, disappearing into thin air.]

[Mami is soon kneeling beside him, now in her usual school wear. She tentatively places her hand on his arm and smiles warmly.]

It's okay. You're all right now.

[As before, Edgeworth shrugs off the girl's comforting gesture, scooting back out of her reach. If he trusted his legs to hold him he would have stood and put even more distance between them.]

What was that?

[He narrows his eyes, looking at her as if she was his attacker rather than savior.]

[She withdraws her hand but stays at his side.]

Ah-- It's a bit... difficult to explain, honestly. It's probably best if you rest for a while, first.

[Now that it’s over, clarity is settling in with ruthless efficiency. The compulsion and urgency that was driving him seems to have disappeared with the…thing that the girl destroyed, but the despair is still sucking at his chest. In an effort to hold it back, he focuses on the girl, letting shame turn into anger.]

I just fell from the Tower. Right now I’m not capable of resting.

[She scans the area to find a crowd gathering not too far away, likely wondering what the commotion was and why she and this man are on the ground.]

[She turns back to him with a no less pleasant but slightly more pleading smile.]

Perhaps we can discuss it over some tea?

[The gathering crowd is enough to make Edgeworth relent. His skin prickles as he also scans the curious faces. Thank God none of them display the shock and horror that would indicate they witnessed his ignominious fall or the events surrounding it. It seems impossible they could have missed the scene, but then everything else he saw in the last few minutes was equally impossible.]

[He shoots the girl a wary glare then gets shakily to his feet.] I know a café nearby.

Mm. [She nods and gets to her feet as well, barely standing at eye level with the man’s jabot, and brushes off her skirt.]

My name is Tomoe Mami, by the way. [She bows in greeting, seemingly calm and cheerful in spite of everything that just occurred, as well as the man's obvious suspicion.]

[He nods in response to her bow—more out of habit than respect—and without offering his own name in return he flees the scene, hurrying away from the indiscreetly staring crowd. He barely pauses along the way to check that the girl is following.]

[Shortly they come to a small, picturesque café about a block away. Edgeworth settles into a seat at one of the wrought iron patio tables, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he feels the nervous energy that kept him going starting to drain out of him. After a moment, he looks at his companion.] Tomoe is your surname?

[She follows quietly and without question, and then settles in the seat across from him. Instead of going into an explanation, she waits patiently, assuming he’ll want to ask questions. When he does ask (albeit it not the question she had expected), she nods.]

That’s right. Ah-- but you don’t introduce yourselves that way, do you? You can call me Mami, if that’s more to your liking.

[Before he can respond, a server approaches their table and greets them cheerily in lyrical French. Edgeworth responds in kind, ordering a pot of Darjeeling then turning expectantly to his companion.]

Oh. Um... [She seems flustered for a moment, taken off guard by the language barrier, and then looks at her companion sheepishly.] I apologize. My French isn’t very good... Could you possibly...?

[He blinks in mild surprise, and is aware in the same moment that it was foolish for him to assume this girl, a nearly picture-perfect example of a Japanese student, would speak French. He takes a deep breath in an effort to calm his singing nerves, and answers with as much politeness as he can muster. The child did just save his life (for the time being).] Of course. What will you have?

[smile] Thank you. Just tea, please.

[He nods, tells the server tea for two. After the woman slips away, he once again turns back to his companion expectantly.]

Now, Miss Tomoe. [he puts subtle emphasis on the surname] I know what I think I saw back there. Perhaps you can tell me what I actually saw.

[After a nod of thanks, she listens to what he has to say and then responds, simply:]

It was a witch.

[He looks at her as if he thinks she’s mad. If he hadn’t witnessed that whole scene for himself, he would think she was mad.] That didn’t resemble any witch I’ve ever heard of.

[nods again] As I said, it's a bit difficult to explain. Normally, people lose consciousness or deem the experience a hallucination, but it is a matter of fact: she was a witch, and you were being influenced by her curse. It's my duty to stop such things.

[There's a beat before Edgeworth shuts his eyes and leans back in his seat, grimaces and rubs his forehead.] You know how ridiculous that sounds, correct? Beyond the obvious, you don't look like... You're a child. Studying should be your duty, not fighting, for God's sake.

[She watches him for a moment, and then a smile that's beyond her years graces her features, soft and somewhat sad, yet appreciative of his concern.]

It's the choice I made. [and then, with a chuckle, the look is gone] Studying is still a duty, though balancing the two can be difficult, at times...

[The server returns with the pot of Darjeeling and sets it in the center of the table. Mami gives her thanks in French--one of the few things she knows how to say--and then begins pouring tea, first for her companion and then for herself.]

[She beats him to the punch, leaving him with nothing to do but watch as she gracefully serves not just herself but him as well. The awkwardness of this meeting settles in on him, punctuated by the lingering ache left by her smile.]

[After a long pause, he speaks, his tone much more subdued.] Is your guardian aware of your…extracurricular activities?

I live alone. [She blows on her tea and then takes a small, careful sip.]

[The announcement doesn’t surprise him much. There’s something about her, a maturity that he’s seen often enough in other children (and, in times past, in the mirror) to recognize. It’s clear she’s carrying more than her share of responsibility, but he had hoped that was the result of the bizarre work she was apparently doing, not… Bearing aside, she doesn’t look old enough to be on her own, even under normal circumstances. He takes a sip of his tea as he mulls it over.]

You aren’t a local?

Oh no. My class is taking a cultural tour of Europe.

[He heaves a sigh and leans forward, eyes downcast and elbows resting on the table.] And you just happened to stumble across that little scene.

[She studies him for a moment, taking another sip of tea. It’s obvious this man is troubled beyond a witch’s curse; he’s defensive and closed off, only asking questions and actively avoiding Mami’s offers of comfort. Furthermore, he doesn’t seem surprised or disturbed by the fact that she found him in such a dangerous position. Perhaps it had been his intention…]

[She rests her cup in its saucer and asks him, concernedly:]

How are you feeling now?

[He glances up sharply at the question, giving her a cagey look from behind the rapidly cooling tea cup.] Well as can be expected after such a fiasco.

[He takes another sip of his tea. He sounds calmer when he speaks again, but won’t meet her eyes.] I’m confused, of course…and not entirely convinced that whole thing wasn’t some elaborate hallucination.

But wouldn't that make this conversation a hallucination, as well?

[Cocks an eyebrow at her.] Or a lie to support it.

[After a beat, he shrugs and drops his gaze to his cup again.] But if that’s the case I don’t know what it’s meant to accomplish. None of this makes any sense.

No... No, I know it doesn't.

[She drops her gaze to her cup, as well, staring at its contents while she continues:]

I promise I have no reason to lie to you. There’s nothing to gain by trying to convince you what did or didn't happen, but.... [looks up] ...but whatever it was, perhaps it was only meant to keep you from making a mistake.

[For a moment he looks as if he’s been struck, grimaces then shoots her a steely glare. His voice goes cold.] My mistakes are mine to make. I don’t need a child passing judgment on them.

[She seems genuinely surprised by his ire for a moment, but the look is soon replaced by a melancholy smile.]

...You're right, of course. I apologize. It's not my intention to pass judgment. [reaches for her tea again] I don't like watching people hurt.

[If he needed any other evidence that she was not a normal girl, that calm reaction would have been it. Some part of him shrinks from the understanding he sees in her smile. He wants to deny it, tell her she was mistaking his intentions when she found him on the Tower.]

[He can’t lie again. Not after everything his lies and half-truths have done all these years. There’s a familiar pang in his chest. Afraid that it might be reflected on his face, he drops his gaze to the ground and starts to reach for his wallet, preparing to drop a few bills on the table and flee the scene.]

[coolly] Then perhaps we should cut this short.

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