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by on May 14, 2024 at 1:29 pm
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tru-daddy:

Even if Capcom didn’t plan anything with the writing and Project W wasn’t a thing until RE5, I still love the fact that the reveal recontextualizes Wesker’s line to Chris in RE1:

It’s meant to be all smug he’s like “I’ve always been with Umbrella 😏” But now knowing Wesker’s backstory it’s quite a sad and ironic line. Like he really has always been with Umbrella… This is one of my roman empires my guy thought he was chilling as Dr. Frankenstein when instead, he was actually Frankenstein’s monster.

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by on May 14, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized

cemeterything:

cemeterything:

cemeterything:

i care so much about fictional morality and ethics but not in a lame ass “is this character/ship problematic” way. i’m cringe for other reasons.

i want to know what the court proceedings for a trial where the defendant claims mind control or possession look like. what’s the worst crime you can commit in a world where people can cast spell of curse your entire bloodline over a careless insult at the farmer’s market. how are magical prisoners treated. what kind of values would a society whose honour code is built on glory through battle and warmongering uphold. what’s public opinion on the death penalty.

tag from throughdarkeningskies: "#what do domestic violence proceedings look like in a soulmate au?"ALT

grabs your hand. come worldbuild with me.

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by on May 14, 2024 at 1:00 pm
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Lucifer Was an Angel As Well (44125 words) by thesavagesabretooth

catch up here

Summary: A sheltered young artist with a tragic past finds herself caught in the web of dark affection by a beautiful and sinister murderer, and his carefree rockstar brother.

–

September 3, 2028 – 8:30 am

When Vera woke up in her bed the next morning she was surprised to find that she didn’t have a hangover at all. She’d read about hangovers. On the taxi ride home, Klavier had coached her on how to nurse a hangover.

But as she stared up at the light of dawn seeping in through the blinds of her window she felt clear headed as any other morning. There was no pulsing pain, no dry mouth and achy body…just–

A normal, gentle rousing from bed by the fingers of the dawn. She yawned and stretched with a little murmur as her bones popped, wondering just why it might have happened.

She survived a poisoning attempt in the past– one with an almost certain chance of fatality with the amount she’d consumed. One with almost no known survivors.

As she shuffled into her bathroom to brush her teeth and comb her hair, she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe she just had a good liver? Maybe she was just more resilient than most to the effects of toxins and poisons by that same demonic luck that drew her and the Gavins together.

That, at least, was the thing that gave her a reaction. A deep flush she could see in the mirror as the details of the night before filtered back into her mind. 

“You’re going to spoil me, big brother.” 

“I have been taught that that is part of a big brother’s job, liebling.”

The very memory sent her heart beating quicker in her chest as she combed out the unruly waves of her hair in her reflection. 

Klavier Gavin treated her the whole night like his ‘little sister’…trailing her around the club and introducing her to his friends. Teaching her to dance, buying her the first drink she’d ever had at a bar…

She’d gotten into it, the little thrill and warmth of acceptance every time she called him ‘big brother’ practically burned into her heart even now. Even when he introduced the Gavin family secret into it…

Helping her practice her kissing, holding her close…

Maybe it wasn’t a joke after all, just as he’d said. 

The familiar and insistent chirp of her cell phone’s message function pulled her out of her daydream.

She dropped her brush with a startled yelp, before she hurried over to her end table to grab the phone and check her messages. 

The message was from Miles Edgeworth. All it said was– 

Are you available to talk this morning?Vera tilted her head to the side as she typed her answer “huh…”

Of course. I’m ready any time, Mr. Edgeworth 🙂

Thank you.

Knowing Mr. Edgeworth, that meant he’d be there pretty soon. Probably not immediately though, or he’d have given her some warning.

She took a deep breath, and wandered back to the bathroom to freshen herself up and drive away the lingering thoughts of ‘big brothers’ before dressing.

The body glitter and mingled perfume covered dress lay draped across her drafting table while she figured out how to get it laundered…so she opted for something familiar and simple. A white and blue striped dress and jean jacket. 

The dress was very much a reminder of the night before, and it brought everything to mind again. She hadn’t expected that her journey into the web of her guardian angel would lead her to a situation like this.

How could she have? The devil’s web was more complicated than she could have imagined– bound in ways she never knew to people both familiar and strange. The thrill of excitement came back to her with the memory of the muffled music through VIP room speakers and the feeling of Klavier’s body against hers as she accepted a very physical invitation into their twisted family.

The Devil had his claws in all of them…and she found she could hardly resist walking deeper into hell after him…right alongside, it seemed, his brother. ‘Her big brother Klavier’. She felt her breath grow heavier again, not realizing for a solid moment that she’d practically fallen into a dissociation staring at the dress on the table. 

The way Klavier had talked last night– the way he’d acted. It had been different than when he’d been trying to warn her about Kristoph, trying to dissuade her and make her stay away.

She remembered him staring off into space during the discussion. The revenant, but almost frightened tone he spoke about his brother in. As if he was something mysterious, to be feared if he couldn’t be hated. 

It was clear that Kristoph had hurt Klavier deeply somehow. In some way perhaps no one else knew, and that was the experience Klavier had been remembering days earlier.

But last night had been different. The mentions of his brother had still been reverent, but almost worshipful, rather than fearful. The hurt wasn’t gone, but it was clear that Klavier was compelled by him somehow, in a way he couldn’t entirely reject.

Much like Vera herself. 

It was like for Klavier, Kristoph was a poison he was eager to drink, and perhaps– eager to share.

She brushed her fingers against the dress with a fragile smile. Klavier…herself…they had more in common than anyone knew. They’d both been hurt, by the same man…but they both were drawn to him in a way they simply couldn’t escape.

Nor did they want to.

Klavier shared the poison Vera was already desperate to drink…sealing both their fates in the process.

Perhaps it was the devil’s own luck that Vera Misham had an amazing tolerance for poison.

September 3, 2028 – 9:15 am

The familiar knock of Miles Edgeworth rang on Vera’s door just as she was washing up the breakfast dishes.

She put them on her dish rack to dry, leaving only the coffee cups and some silverware in the sink as she drifted over to open the door with a quiet smile. 

“Good morning, Mr. Edgeworth!” 

Edgeworth smiled politely as he stepped inside. “Good morning Vera. I hope you’re well.”

Vera nodded cheerfully. “I’m doing pretty good h-honestly. I had a nice night last night and slept pretty well…and the Academy’s looming right on the horizon!” 

“I’m pleased to hear it,” he nodded, striding into the kitchen where they usually talked. “Only two days until you move in. Are you… nervous?”

Vera walked back towards her kitchen table with a nod of her head. 

“Honestly very nervous, but…at the same time excited. They’re not too different , as far as emotions go.” She started pouring water into her kettle with a thoughtful smile. “it’s going to be my first real step towards a new life…I know you’ll be watching over me while I’m there, Mr. Edgeworth.” 

She looked over her shoulder at him and he smiled back.

“I will, Vera, without a doubt. But ah, there’s something a bit awkward I wanted to talk you about. If you’ll forgive me for intruding in your privacy.”

Vera froze, and her smile went a little tighter on her face..

 “….oh dear…did something happen?”

A thousand nerve wracking possibilities rattled through her mind…including the absolute worst case scenario…

Did he know?

Edgeworth sat down at her table and folded his hands on it. “Vera, I’ve been making a lot of preparations with regard to Kristoph Gavin’s community service. That includes checking on his visitations– and his correspondence.”

Vera gasped, the mug she’d grabbed to set aside for Miles dropping from her hand to the counter below with a sharp ring of chipping ceramic.

“His…correspondence…” she trailed off before startling back to attention “oh no!”

She grabbed the mug and held it in her shaking hands to check for damage, using it as a distraction from Miles’ gaze. 

“I’m sorry to invade your privacy like this. It wasn’t my intention. I… had no idea up to now.”

Edgeworth’s tone was as it often was, somber, and hesitant.

Vera turned with the mug clutched to her chest. She could feel how wide her eyes were, and was keenly aware of the way her breath shuddered in fits and bursts. Hyperventilation, that was the word for it.

She squeezed the broken mug tightly in her fingertips. “You rea…read them, Mr. Edgeworth?”

“Some of them, yes, Vera,” he said. “Would you sit down at the table with me? I hope you understood that correspondence with a prisoner isn’t truely private.”

She was in a daze as she fell into the chair opposite him , pushing the mug away into the center of the table before pressing her hands to her face. “Of…of course i knew. I’m not…I’m not stupid. I just…” 

He spread his hands on the table. “Talk to me, Vera. I’m not mad at you. I want to understand what’s going on.”

Vera peeked out from between her fingers. 

“You’re not m-mad?” she whispered. “I’..I’ll talk to you Mr. Edgeworth…I just don’t know where to start.” 

“I’m not mad,” he promised again. He took his glasses off and cleaned them with his handkerchief. “Why don’t you start at the beginning. I noticed that he wrote the first letter.”

Vera slowly shifted until she rested her head in her folded arms.

“I was settling in after you helped me get set up again– after father’s death and my coma. The letter arrived. I didn’t…didn’t expect it. It surprised me enough that I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away.” She murmured softly and bit her lip. It smelt like him, she’d known instantly who it was from.  “…so I read it.” 

“It’s only natural to read mail you’ve been sent,” he agreed. “Can I ask what made you respond?”

Vera shrugged her shoulders. 

“He was polite in it. Conversational– even if he didn’t say he was sorry for everything. He wanted to know if everything was settling alright. I don’t know exactly why I responded at first…curiosity maybe? Maybe it was just that I had so few connections at the time, too.”

She’d just started to write before she knew what she was doing. 

“That’s understandable,” he murmured. “And then you just got into the habit of writing, I suppose? How did you feel about it– back then?”

“Would it surprise you if I said I wasn’t upset?” Vera gave him a weak smile as she looked up from her arms. “It surprised me at first. I felt…curious. Maybe even a little happy. I didn’t know why he was taking the time to write to me. I mean…he’d poisoned me, usually you’d think that’d be the last someone wanted anything to do with you, right?” 

“You would think, yes.” MIles nodded with a frown. “Most people don’t try to kill someone that they’re happy having a pleasant correspondence with.”

“So I kept writing,” She murmured. “I’m sure you saw what I started calling him…”

“Your ‘guardian angel’, yes?” He folded his fingers together again.

Vera nodded 

“…my guardian angel, twice a week with advice and a smile I could read between the lines. He’d killed my father, Mr. Edgeworth, while trying to kill me…but he accidentally did the only thing that could have ever set me free.” 

Miles sighed and shook his head. “Vera. I’ve wanted to respect your privacy, but I fear maybe I’ve gone too far, and made you feel isolated, or like you couldn’t to me. Can I ask you a very personal question?”

Vera looked up at him with wide eyes. She bit her lip. 

“…I…I always felt like I could talk to you, Mr. Edgeworth! I just didn’t want to disappoint you…” She brushed her hand through her hair. “..but what, what is it?” 

He took another deep breath. “How did you feel about your father? And your father’s death. Genuinely.”

Vera tensed, and her fingers tightened around her elbows. 

“Do I have to be honest, Mr. Edgeworth?” She looked at him with a shaky smile “would you still care about me if I was?” 

“I promise to you that I will still care about you no matter what you say, Vera. I won’t be mad. I would… very much like to hear the truth of your feelings. Difficult as that sort of thing may be for me sometimes.”

He spoke slowly, as if the whole conversation was as difficult for him as it was for her.

Vera took a soft, hiccuping breath before she admitted something she’d only admitted to a few people before. Trucy, Kristoph, Klavier she expected knew…

“I was happy when he died. Scared, yes…it was frightful to see someone die in front of me…but when I woke up from the coma I felt…”

She trailed off “free. The fear was gone, and I felt happy…confused, but happy. Papa was a demon, Mr. Edgeworth.”

Looking up to meet his eyes, she continued with a voice trembling with emotion. 

“When I nearly got kidnapped by that man, I became too scared to leave the house. But papa never ever tried to help me. He…he kept me inside that tiny cage of a house. He never urged me to leave, even – even as he lied to Mr. Wright and that reporter about how he’d been ‘so worried’. He fostered my fears so he could use my talent.”

She hiccuped “…he took my eye for details– my love of art, and he turned me into a criminal chained by fear in his house. He told me all kinds of stories about what people were like and how horrible they could be…he only seemed to care about me, notice me, when I’d created some new work for him to sell. I was a tool. A forgery pretending to be a human being, to be used by him for money I’d never even see outside of more…more forgery equipment and the occasional drop of a childhood. Like the Gramarye show..” 

Miles Edgeworth had gone white, and his hands were tense on the table. If the surface of it had been wood, his nails might have been dug straight into it.

“Lady justice– I never– I… I should have known.” He looked away from her, and she could hear a terrible hurt in his voice.

Vera reached out her shaking hand towards him. 

“I didn’t want to talk about it more than I had to…but it’s why art’s been so hard for me lately. I knew– I knew if I talked about it people would worry. Maybe it was better if– if people saw him the way Mr. Wright saw him. ‘A dutiful father who fell into criminality to protect his traumatized daughter’. Right?”

She looked down. “but I’m only able to be where I am now because he died. If he were still alive, I’d still be working alone in that workshop with only the poison Mr. Gavin sent me as an unknown promise of release. I wouldn’t have you. I wouldn’t have Pearl, I wouldn’t have Trucy, or even my guardian angel and his brother. I’d have nothing.” 

Miles put his hands around hers, and she could feel that his were shaking just as bad. He looked at her, and he looked like someone had slapped him across the face. he squeezed her fingers with his.

“Vera– Vera I’m so sorry that you felt that you had to hide your feelings. I… I understand. The man who raised me. If… if someone had killed him when I was your age, I might have thanked them for it.”

He looked away again, clearly ashamed of his own words.

Vera looked up at him with wide eyes, blinking away her tears. 

“…you would have? so you understand…you were raised by a demon too?” Her hands held his tightly. “Mr. Gavin saved me from Drew Misham. I’ve never stopped being grateful for it. He told me in his letters of his own father too…a cruel and awful man…something we all, all share. I can’t even fault him for…for trying to kill me too. I can see the broken logic in it.”

Now Edgeworth’s lips had gone white as well, and he held her hands too tight. “Y-yes, I suppose you can. Not that it’s any kind of excuse but– I’m sorry are you telling me that Kingsley Gavin– But I remember him! My father was friends with him!”

Vera leaned forward to rest her forehead against their hands, staring up at him under the fringe of her hair. “and my father had friends…and Zak Gramarye was well beloved by many…but what I’ve been told in my letters and what I’ve seen from Klavier and his home…”

Miles hissed through his teeth. 

“Another Manfred Von Karma? Another Blaise Debeste? Where the hell does it end?” He took a shuddering breath, and seemed to compose himself, squeezing her hands again. “I’m sorry, Vera. I’ve drifted off topic here. We’re talking about you. And I have to apologize again, for failing you, and not seeing that you had been in pain.”

Vera’s fingers tightened around his, and her cheek rested against the back of his palm as she nodded. 

“You’re forgiven, Mr. Edgeworth– but I promise that you haven’t failed me. I never wanted to trouble any of you with it. I tried not to let it weigh me down, but I…I wish I’d talked to you about it. You’ve always been a source of good advice and care for me, sir…I was just… I dunno.”

She was quiet a moment before she spoke again. “I wanted to grow beyond it, which is one of the reasons why I was desperate to be a detective. Someone strong…capable. Useful. I could repay Mr. Gavin for killing papa by finding evidence to help his case…maybe…if I were lucky…” 

“I understand,” he took another breath and lessened his tight hold on her fingers without releasing them fully. “I won’t lie to you, Vera, I have serious reservations about your relationship with Gavin, and what his intentions might be. But… hearing this, I understand better why you’ve allowed yourself to fall into this relationship at all.”

He paused for a moment before continuing. “I’m not a very good man for talking about emotions, Vera, even emotions that I understand and empathize with. Would it be alright with you if I had you talk to someone about all this? Someone whose job it is to listen to people’s emotions?”

Vera still clung tightly to his loosened hand, nodding nervously against it again. 

“Y-yes…I’ll talk to someone if you think it’s necessary. But I..” She hesitated “I won’t be dissuaded from my course.” 

“I understand. You’re an adult, Vera, and you’re free to make your own choices. I hope that they won’t bring you to harm, but it’s not my place to keep you from making bad decisions,” he sighed. “Perhaps you’ll be a good influence on Mr. Gavin.”

Vera smiled for the first real time since the mug broke against her countertop. 

“…that’s my hope, Mr. Edgeworth.” She took a deep breath “…but I’ll talk to whoever you want me to talk to…if you think it’ll help.” 

“Thank you, Vera,” he nodded. “I’m happy to listen to anything you have to say, but I’m afraid I don’t have anything wise to respond with. And you’ve already given me quite the food for thought.”

She brushed her hair over her ear. 

“I really didn’t want to trouble you. And I’d always been taught that …y-you know..“ She put her finger over her lips “…lingering criminal behavior. Sorry.” 

"You’re used to keeping quiet about things?” he offered.

Vera nodded. 

“I was hardly allowed to talk to outsiders, but in the rare moments where I was…father told me that the more you say, the more people can use to hurt you. So I got used to saying almost nothing at all…it helped that…that words are hard.” 

“The more you say, the more people can use it against you.” Edgeworth sighed. “Yes, I understand very well. But I hope you will open up a little. I’m told it’s… healthy.”

“I’ve been trying! ..it’s very healthy, r-right?” She tried to smile a little more, leaning against the table. She bit her lip. ‘…I’ve been talking more with Pearl and Trucy…and just last night Klavier took me out to a club for a drink to celebrate the Academy!” 

“I’m pleased to hear about you and Pearl and Trucy,” he nodded. “Klavier took you out drinking? Goodness, that must have been… an experience.”

Miles looked a little terrified by the idea.

She pointed to the dress covered in glitter with a flush. 

“Yeah, to his favorite club in town. It was a lot…a little scary, but also pretty exciting.” She bit her knuckle thoughtfully “I got to dance and try a new drink…and I think we really bonded…”

The memories of the night before flashed in her mind , and she hoped the flush didn’t show on her face.

‘You’re going to spoil me, big brother’.

“Well, if you had fun, then I think that’s wonderful,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “Very appropriate for a young lady of your age to be out dancing. I assume Klavier was a good host?”

Vera smiled and tucked her hair over her ear with a sheepish smile. 

“Yeah he was ah..he was a pretty great host. I can see why everyone’s so enamored with him..” 

“Yes, he certainly has that rockstar charm down, doesn’t he?” Edgeworth chuckled politely before he asked, “does he ah, know about your correspondence with his brother?”

She rubbed the back of her neck. 

“….ah…well..” Did she lie? Or tell a half truth…

“You haven’t told him yet?” Miles asked. “I can’t blame you. He seems to have a very… rough relationship with Kristoph. But make sure you don’t hide a secret that can hurt you later, Vera.”

Vera opened her mouth, her brow furrowed, before she nodded and accepted the hand life had apparently dealt her. 

No forgery required.

“Of course. I’ll make sure to talk to him about it as soon as I can, Mr. Edgeworth!” 

“Good,” Edgeworth nodded. “Perhaps I ought to offer to have someone talk to him as well… but I suppose that’s none of my business. But thank you for being open with me, Vera.”

Vera glanced down before giving him a smile. 

“Mr. Edgeworth…I hope we can spend more time with you soon. I’m..I’m going to try and be more open, alright?” 

“I’d like that very much, Vera.”

September 3, 2028 – 10:05 am

Edgeworth and Vera had talked for a little while longer, but he had turned the conversation shortly to all the preparations for Vera’s move in two days, and her orientation at police academy.

After he was gone, Vera collapsed onto her table with a quiet sigh and a hesitant smile. She rolled the broken mug gently back and forth as she considered its repair.– he handle had snapped off and a nasty crack running down its side– and the conversation.

She’d nearly had a heart attack when she realized the inevitable consequences of her correspondence. Miles Edgeworth had read her letters now and knew of her unusual relationship with the devil himself.

She’d opened up– all of it was the truth— a truth she kept to herself and few others purely for the desire not to relive it in her mind, and gotten a kind of sideways blessing from one of the most important figures in her life.

A protector, a friend, someone dear to her. He wouldn’t interfere, even if she dreaded the conversation with the ‘expert’ who’d arrive to talk to her about it. 

Edgeworth had said that he’d see what he could do about having someone come and talk to her before she moved into the academy. Which meant tomorrow, or the day after.

Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she traced the pad of her thumb over the edge of the break in her mug. “Will it be Miss Cykes…or someone else, I wonder..” 

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by on May 14, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized

The Mechanics of Emotion (30199 words) by thesavagesabretooth

catch up here

Athena Cykes has a problem. For years, she built her life around rescuing the man who had saved her, Simon Blackquill. She’d been imagining a fairytale ending. A kiss. A ride into the sunset. But real life isn’t as simple as a dream. Athena got her kiss, but there was no ending– there was a complication. Bobby Fulbright was suddenly back in Simon’s life in an unexpected twist of fate, and it turned out that he and Simon had been together for a whole year.

Not to mention that there are two more members of the Phantom Organization who’ve been captured that Simon now needs to prosecute, and Athena must defend. Love and chaos in LA. In justice we trust– but who understands the mechanics of emotion?

–

December 27, 2:35 pm

They did, in fact eventually decide on where to get lunch, despite the revelation that Halblicht had already eaten. Over bowls of Eldoon’s noodles they chatted about interior decorating, the challenge of finding a place to live, and generally light matters.

After lunch, they’d split up, with Simon heading to the prosecutor’s office, and Athena who had to go to the police precinct to start preparing for “asset 24"s case. Halblicht had happily accompanied her, and now she found herself in the passenger seat of his rented car.

“You know…another benefit of living together’s this.” Athena chuckled. “I can hitch rides with you guys instead of running everywhere and missing buses.”

She leaned partially against the door, watching the city roll by with a chuckle. The noodles had hit the spot, and the nerves of the morning had all but seemed to dissipate. 

"Ahh, you don’t drive, do you, Miss Athena?” Bobby asked, cocking his head. “I’ll be happy to drive you anywhere you need, as long as I’m not on duty–”

“–and maybe sometimes if I’m on duty anyway,” Robert cut in slyly.

She glanced over at him with a sly grin. 

“You guys have always been pretty helpful~. I won’t be afraid to hitch a ride, on duty or no, Mr. Halblicht” she winked playfully “I never got my driver’s license, given the whole ‘living in Europe’ thing.” 

“They do have a very good public transit system there. LA seems to try its best,” Halblicht chuckled. Bobby mused after a moment “I could teach you to drive if you wanted!”

Athena shifted to look at him more fully with a grin. 

“Woah, you would? I mean…on one hand It’d mean I couldn’t beg you for a ride as often, on the other…I guess I’ve always been kinda curious…and it’s not like I had anyone willing to teach me before.”

“No one? That’s a shame, Miss Athena! Consider the offer open. And if you do learn and you still want me to drive you, I don’t mind playing chauffeur." 

 Athena leaned on the center console.

“Hmmm…Sorry , I’m just trying to imagine you in the cap.” She chuckled into her hand “and sadly not…I mean. My father’s parents…my grandparents I guess– they were pretty old and didn’t seem keen on giving lessons, and I was too busy anyway to do anything but cram and study.” 

They seemed to notice Athena leaning toward them, and she felt a flutter of curiosity from Bobby, but it was Robert who replied.

"Actually, I happen to have a full chauffeur’s uniform among my possessions. Though, that may be classified as evidence now.” He smirked, dryly. “But I see, busy busy busy in europe. And as I understand it Mr. Wright doesn’t drive either.”

Athena whistled, the curiosity fluttering in echo through her “…wait , for real? Why? Did…did you actually chauffeur on a job?”

She nodded her head , still leaning on that midpoint between them “yeah, Mr. Wright doesn’t drive, and the one time I asked him he got all cagey about it and went into a long winded story about the time he was hit by a car and hit a telephone pole.” 

They shook their head in response. “Mr. Wright’s a bit ridiculous. As for chauffeuring, that’s one role I’ve actually played more than once. It does make it easy to get close to someone, and to get them alone.”

“Easy to dispose of crime scene too, if you’re careful.” she put her fingers to her chin “honestly it makes sense! I just thought the uniforms were only used in like…old movies.”

She chuckled “Mr. Wright’s …a lot. But he’s my boss so..you know.” 

“No, the uniforms are still very much in use. I suppose you’ve never had occasion to have an official chauffeur. Me either.” Another dry smirk from Robert, and he glanced her way curiously.

“We could trade the uniform back and forth if I got my license, I suppose. We can pretend to be living the high life.” She looked up at him with her bright grin “you don’t mind me leaning here, do you?” 

“There’s hardly anything I mind, Athena,” Robert remarked, glancing at her again. “But it does remind me of a question I meant to ask.”

Athena pointed to him with two fingers. “Shoot, Robert…I’ll answer as best I can.” 

“I still don’t have my gun back,” he said, shaking his head. Clearly a joke, despite the lack of palpable feeling from him. “But my question. You mentioned the night we shared a bed with Simon. Was that a persuasion tactic, or a flirtation?”

“Too bad.” she laughed “maybe the police department’ll give it back later. You could teach me to shoot, too.”

She joked partially to delay her answer, feeling the slightest burn of heat on her face as she formulated an answer.

“As for your question.I did promise to answer…” she rubbed her neck with a shy grin. “I mean…I suppose I meant it as a flirtation…and as a way to show you that I was pretty open to the idea..” 

“To the idea of both of us having a relationship with Simon?”

Athena ducked her head with a shy laugh. 

“I mean, I was okay with that basically since the start. Simon deserves all the love in the world. But well, we’ll be in pretty close proximity– and we’ve had some moments where we’ve bonded over a lot..” 

“A flirtation towards us then. Interesting.” Robert smirked. “Bobby suggested that it might be, but I hesitated to believe it.”

Athena tucked her hair over her ear with a nod. “Yeah, a flirtation towards you guys….you hesitated huh?” 

“My guess is that most people in your position would be hesitant to extend a flirtation in my direction.” He rested his hand on the center console near where she was leaning. “Though I’ve already observed that you’re not like most people.”

Athena laughed softly. 

“most people would think i was crazy for even thinking about it…” she shifted, and her hand brushed his “I’m..not like most people. Like I’ve told you back in Cauli, I was born a bit different…I don’t think the same way as others. And despite everything, I enjoy your company.” 

“For the best, since it seems like you’ll be getting a lot of it after all.” The warm leather of his gloved hand brushed hers in return and then rested atop it. It was the same hand, she realized suddenly, that bore a scar of her making.

The same hand she remembered from her visceral half-memory that had risen up during the trial. In a way, it was a sign of the history they all shared, twisted and tumultuous as it was.

Her thumb rubbed against the leather of the side of his hand as it rested atop hers, as she nodded “and you mine, so I hope you don’t mind too much.” she winked.

“We’re gonna be roomies…promise, I don’t snore. Just don’t ask Junie.” 

“I don’t have to ask though. After all, we’ve already shared a bed, as you mentioned.”

He pulled the car into the police precinct, and backed smoothly into a parking space.

Athena’s eyes widened. 

“…I don’t snore, do I?” she asked in a hushed voice, leaning over to put her other hand atop his gloved fingers. 

“No, Athena, you don’t snore,” Robert assured her. But suddenly his expression changed and Bobby looked at her with a wide eyed expression. “Wait a minute– do I snore? I used to snore, but Robert doesn’t…”

Athena lifted her hand off his to wave a little ‘50/50’ motion. “Eehhhhh, a little bit, detective.” 

“Oh that’s weird!!” He slapped the steering wheel and accidentally beeped the horn, jolting in response to the sudden noise.

“Yeep!” Athena jolted too as her fingers tightened on his hand for a moment. 

“It is, isn’t it? I mean…maybe your giving Robert some of your bad habits?” she teased. “I mean…nothing wrong with that, it adds character!”

Bobby smoothed back his hair, laughing off their mutual startlement. “Well, if you insist that it does, Ms. Athena. And I suppose Robert could use a few non-illegal bad habits, eh?”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” She tapped her nose “maybe I can pass over some of mine, too. You know…as a welcoming gift into our new arrangement.” 

“You have bad habits, Ms. Athena?” he asked playfully, grinning widely at her. She could feel his puppyish warmth and affection wash over her, almost completely overwhelming the background ping of his slight anxiety.

Athena flushed. It was a lot of emotion– good emotions, the sort that were easy to accept and allow to reverberate through her internal matrix, easing her own.

“One or two.” she stretched her legs out. “…I mean, I may have a slight addiction to going out to eat. I also wake up real early to go on runs most days.”

Of course there was my notorious bad habit that got put on public display during the Themis trial. But that isn’t something to mention out loud right now. 

“Ah, I hate to break this to you, Ms. Athena but I don’t think getting up early and going on runs counts as a bad habit! If anything it’s a very good one!” he grinned broadly and openly at her, but the way he held his head, she could tell there was something else on his mind.

“Gosh, maybe I’m some kind of modern saint then! or maybe you haven’t gotten the pleasure of seeing my worst habits yet!” She looked up at him with a tilt of her head “…you alright? You look thoughtful.” 

“Ah, well!!” He put his hand behind his head embarrassedly, and she realized as he did that it was the first time their hand had left hers. “Maybe just a minor thing on my mind! Can’t fool you, Ms. Athena!”

“Maybe that’s one of my bad habits.” she chuckled with a sheepish grin, holding her hands up. “I’m not easy to hide things from, and I can’t help but ask when I notice something…can I ask?” 

“Well– it’s silly! I’m being told it’s silly,” He grinned embarrassedly and waved his hand. “But I was wondering, you know…. um, just Robert?…. Or me too?”

Athena blinked, and she turned a deep pink .

“Oh!!” She began brushing her fingers through her hair, through her long ponytail with a lopsided and flustered smile and laughed quietly. “Yeah! Obviously you too, Bobby! I mean…I know you were in there that whole year investigating…I was always over the moon when I saw you at a scene! We had fun, ongoing jokes…you were charming. And then in Cauli….” 

Bobby’s smile lit up, and the wash of puppydog warmth rolled over Athena all over again.

“Really? That’s honestly really nice to hear, Ms Athena…” He poked his fingers together with nervous pleasure. “I’m glad you liked seeing me at the scene!”

Athena grinned “I mean…of course I did! That whole ‘oh poor damsel, if only someone on the side of justice would help me’ back and forth was more than just me fishing for evidence you know! You’re cute and I was having fun! It was kinda flirting from the start!”

Bobby laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “You were! I had wondered at the time, but you know it didn’t seem like the right time to follow up on that, given the circumstances.”

“Given the circumstances.” she chuckled before leaning on her hands on the center console “but I absolutely was…and circumstances have changed…” 

He rested his hand next to hers again, leaning toward her a bit. “I’d say they’ve changed considerably!”

This time, it was her hand that went atop his as she looked up to meet his eyes with a half smile 

“Only took one crazy week, packed to the gills with weirdness, too.” She bit her lip, feeling a ping of shy, almost timid joy thrumming in her heart “honestly, I’m overjoyed in a way.” 

“You are?” he cocked his head, leaning quite close now. She could feel Bobby’s curious excitement in every subtle motion and twitch of his expression– not that either were ever subtle with him.

She nodded, and for a moment her nose brushed the tip of his. 

“…I can feel you’re pretty excited too. So I know it’s not just me…” With a slight glimmer of mischief, her eyes met his. 

Bobby, always neatly dressed and classy in his handsome suit, looked flustered beyond belief. He grinned embarrassedly as their eyes met.

“Can we kiss you, Ms. Athena?”

She answered his grin with a mirror of it, 

“I was just about to ask you the same thing…” Leaning forward with a close of her eyes, she nodded “I’d be overjoyed, Mr. Halblicht.” 

They leaned in and closed the small distance between them, and her. Their lips brushed hers, lightly at first but with intention. They cupped a gloved hand on her jaw, and she could smell the wafting scent of their cologne.

It was a nice cologne, the scent pleasantly filling her senses along with the feeling of his lips against hers, slightly tacky with gloss.

She leaned into his touch, lips parted slightly as she accepted the kiss with eager anticipation. 

It was an expert kiss, eager, but not overzealous, their lips tugging at hers for a moment, before she felt their tongue press to slip between her teeth. Their fingers slid gingerly down her jaw and over her neck, sending a thrill of sensation through her.

She was no expert, but she matched them all the same with an eagerness and warmth. Her skin prickled in the wake of their fingers, the sensation of the leather lingering against her jaw even as his hand trailed downwards. A flush traveled in its wake as her face heated against his.

Her tongue brushed his, and her lips sucked softly against his own. Her hand, with only a little hesitance, rested upon his chest, against the breast pocket. 

His lips lingered on hers for a long moment even as he pulled away, as if for a moment he considered pulling her with him. Then the kiss broke, and they were left leaning on one another in the wake and glow of it.

Halblicht smiled.

Athena smiled back, her breath a little heavy as she caught it, and her head tilting to rest against his shoulder.

“Wow. You know. I can see why Simon gave you guys such rave reviews in the kissing department.” she giggled quietly, before she flushed deeper “…that was a really nice first kiss…thanks guys.” 

He pushed up his glasses which had slid down his nose. 

“Rave reviews, hmm? Well, that’s good.” They smiled rather amusedly, and then it widened into a bashful grin from Bobby. “Definitely a really nice kiss, Ms. Athena.”

His hand lingered on the curve of her neck.

It felt nice, she found herself gently shifting to feel the trace of his leather gloves against the skin.

“Maybe the first of many, if I’m lucky?” she asked with a sheepish grin. 

He stroked his fingers up her neck and over her jaw again, as if noticing her movement.

“Count on it, Athena,” Robert murmured. “But for the moment, I’m afraid we’ve got business to attend to.”

She tilted back into his hand with an amused wink. 

“yeah… I probably shouldn’t let you guys distract me toooo much from preparing my defense.” Sitting up, she pointed her finger “distraction tactics can only go so far!” 

He gasped and threw up his hands. “Caught!”

December 27, 1:55 pm

After filing the paperwork at the precinct, they got instructions on where the building was that Interpol was holding Kelso, and headed off to it. This time, as they drove, Bobby casually held his arm around Athena’s shoulders. It was nice. She’d been so unsure of how this would work when Simon and her had discussed it, and even when they’d brought the idea to Bobby…

But she couldn’t help but feel warm and comfortable under his arm, the casual intimacy giving her a pleasant and happy little thrill. She had, quietly and surprising even herself, been growing ever fonder of Bobby and Robert during their time in Cauli. Now here they were, sitting so close as they winded down the road towards the holding facility. 

The building they arrived at was by all external appearances an extremely mundane office park down a long driveway, with tall hedges and dark, mirrored windows. There was a somewhat menacing man in a long coat waiting outside for them whom Athena didn’t recognize, but Bobby immediately saluted him as they approached.

“Agent Badd, sir!”

Athena saluted as well, blinking at him “Agent…Badd?” Surely it had to be a nickname, right?” 

However, the man simply nodded. “Halblicht. Fancy seeing you here and without your leash. And this must be…”

“This is Ms. Athena Cykes, defense attorney and psychologist, sir.”

“Ah,” Badd snickered. “Second leash then. Nice to meet you, Ms. Cykes– I’m Agent Tyrell Badd,”

The big, grizzled man offered her a handshake.

Athena shook his hand with a big grin. 

“Nice to meet you Agent Badd! I guess you could call me the second leash, if you want.” She flushed, and ducked her head “I see you’re aware of the situation!” 

“Agent Badd and I spoke while I was in the hospital,” Robert explained with a restrained smile. “He had a few words of wisdom to share, which have been taken to heart.”

“Glad to hear it,” Badd grunted, smirking. “So you two are here to see Kelso, right? I haven’t got clearance to let anybody talk to Lovelace yet.”

Halblicht moved to stand very slightly closer to Athena, and she felt a subtle ping of discomfort from his direction– from Robert. From anyone else it would have been nothing, but from him, it was like a rocket of anxiety going off.

Athena looped her arm around his, and let her hand find his own to squeeze. “We’re not here to talk to Lovelace, luckily then! We’d like to talk to miss Kelso.” 

As Robert’s gloved hand squeezed hers, she felt Badd’s curiosity as his eyes lingered on them. He didn’t say anything, but the corner of his lips curled up, and Athena could feel his amusement.

“Perfect then, come on with me.”

He waved them forward, and headed to the dark glass doors.

Athena hurried along to follow, gently tugging Robert behind her as she turned a deeper pink, feeling the amusement turn to her own embarrassment inside her. 

Inside the glass doors was a large, very normal looking office lobby with a waiting area and potted plants, and a reception desk with a blond woman behind it filing her nails.

“Adrian’s going to want you to sign in, even though you’re with me,” Badd chuckled. 

And so Athena and Bobby had signed their names on the check in sheet, before Agent Badd led them over to an elevator that was activated with a hand print.

“Tight security,” Halblicht commented. Athena notices his eyes flick to an alarm set high in the wall, and a strange square line dug into the space nearby.

“I’m guessing they don’t want to risk anyone making a mistake– or getting in to ah, finish any jobs.” Athena mused as she squeezed his hand. “How’s miss Kelso holding up, Agent?” 

“Pretty well, all things considering,” Badd nodded. As the elevator descended, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of lollipops, offering one to Halblicht, who waved it graciously away, and one to Athena. “I’ve been spending a fair amount of time with her.”

It had been two days since they’d seen her in Cauli, exactly the amount of time that all of them….Kelso included, confirmed that the Agent Kelso who’d died lingered on in the body…sharing space even, with the asset known only as 24.

Athena took the lollipop with a smile and popped it in her mouth. 

“You have been? Good…it’s not a great time for them to be alone.” 

“Yeah, I’ll agree with you on that much.” Badd nodded as the elevator opened on a long, well let hallway. “I take it you’re here to talk about her trial?”

“Uh huh…I’m her defense attorney, after all.” Athena smiled. “I’m hoping we can come up with some kinda bargain to get her out sooner rather than later.”

“And we need her cooperation for it,” Halblicht nodded with a grin. “Can’t just run roughshod over your client, right Ms. Cykes?”

“I absolutely wouldn’t allow it, Detective Halblicht!” Athena playfully nudged him. “I’d be furious”

Halblicht laughed and nudged her back. “And you’re terrifying when you’re angry.”

Badd grunted, satisfied with the answer, and led them to another check in area. No one was manning this one– it appeared to be automated, as he swiped his hand through.

“Alright. I’m letting you two in.”

December 27, 2:20 pm

The holding cell that they entered was nicer than the one in Cauli. Cleaner, and more modern. When they entered, Athena found Kelso quietly turning a photograph over in her hands with a pensive frown.

She didn’t visibly react to them entering…but Athena felt the mingled and strange stings of quiet caution and eager curiosity well up within her.

“Good morning, Miss.” Athena chirped. 

Halblicht lingered behind her like a faithful dog, and saluted as Athena greeted her client.

Kelso jolted, and turned to face them with a tired smile. Her dark hair had fallen around her face, a straight curtain as she gave a two fingered salute. “Morning, Miss Cykes…Halblicht.”

It must have been the agent speaking , it carried her usual lazy and bemused affect, with the pings of emotion to back it up.

Athena sat by the bedside in one of the small chairs provided, and gave her a smile “I heard Agent Badd was keeping you company…I’m glad to hear it, honestly…he seems like a good man.” 

“He came to see me while I was convalescing too,” Halblicht said. He remained standing by Athena’s chair. “A pleasant man to speak with– though I didn’t have the pleasure of his company long.”

Kelso’s expression smoothed somewhat as she murmured. “He seems strangely worried about us. But Sam Wan says that’s normal. She’s been training under him and Agent Ash since she joined up a little while back. She says she looks up to them a lot.”

“Paternal, is I believe the word to describe him,” Robert shrugged.

“Paternal.” she blinked slowly “yeah, that sounds about right.”

‘He has a certain fatherly charm, it’s true.” Athena chuckled and put her hand to her chin in thought. “Either way, he really seems to be worried about you. But– I’m your defense attorney. So I’m here to make sure there’s nothing he needs to worry about, yeah? You already gave us all kinds of information, I’m certain I can get you declared not guilty– or at the very least, get you a deal like Mr. Halblicht’s!”

Halblicht nodded. “What we need is your agreement to representation, and that you’ll accept whatever deal that Ms. Cykes can obtain for you.”

“I don’t have much of a choice.” she said slowly “and…”

Sam Wan Kelso must have muscled her way back to the surface from the sudden pings of emotion “Absolutely. 100% , whatever ya need, ma’am. Whatever deal you can get is better than a cell. We’re serious when we say we aren’t going to waste her second chance.” 

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