Those of you who know me from somewhere else; do me a favor and send me a virtual slap/punch.
Yes, I'm writing ANOTHER separate story, when I obviously can't even update on my others even on a remotely acceptable basis. What is wrong with me? Any story I plan on keeping up with, I plan on updating before the end of April, so look out, and bug me if you see a story you like not get updated.
That being said, this fool would like to introduce himself to this area. I've spent a bit of my time skimming through other stories here…I feel outclassed in a way. I'm just surprised at the sheer skill most seem to wield here.
Obviously, I don't own anything from this franchise, and I…probably don't belong here.
Well, welcome, regardless, to; "Virtuoso Advocate: Prior Avocation/Dorsal Residuum"
All that fancy stuff basically means:
Ace Attorney: Before the Affair, after the fall. ~ Finalage.
+~-VA -~+
Prologue: The Gates of Memory
+~-PADR-~+
Date: ?
Time: ?
Place: ?
The room was full of young men and women, some sitting and others leaning against the wall. Cheap plastic chairs creaked as some shifted their positions, conscious of the noise made and glancing fervently around. They fiddled with pens, spoke on their phones, stared at the ceiling, anything to pass the time while the old style clock on the wall ticked impossibly loud. A curt voice broke the silence, and the occupants snapped into a line before a door. All of them looked hopeful and ready to go…save one that looked uninterested, the senior of his peers.
"Please sir, I'd ask you to remove your…uhh…"
Phoenix fixed the woman with a quelling stare before his hands came up to remove his precious beanie from his head, allowing some disheveled dark hair to escape from it. He opted to spin it on a finger as he spoke before jamming right back down on his head.
"My daughter knitted this for me you know. It was the first and last thing she made too; she lost interest after making it. It's kind of a good luck charm."
Swallowing, the organizer stayed quiet. She and just about everybody else knew who this man was, and as a result, no one was eager to cross him. However, she was adamant. This was the bar exam and that hat is against the rules…
Hello. My name is Phoenix Wright. Thirty Three, going on Thirty Four Pianist and Poker Playing Extraordinaire. I'm in line to take the bar exam for becoming an attorney at law…again.
Oh no, don't get me wrong, I didn't fail the first time. I passed, maybe not with flying colors, but I passed pretty well. I even spent a few years making a name for myself as an Ace in my field…but…I suppose you could say all luck runs out some time or another. I was accused of forging evidence and disbarred.
It was a dark time for me, but I was an impulsive, act-first-and-think-later kind of guy. I adopted myself a magician daughter and became a pianist for a freezing Russian restaurant. Me, I guy who couldn't play to save my life and who hardly remembered to water a plant once a week or so, taking on a kid and music?
I managed to survive though; and hey, look, I'm standing next to a whole bunch of barely-twenties and snake-eyes aged kids, ready to become an attorney again. Whooo! Right?
"Phoenix Wright, your station is B 16. Good Luck…and I'm sorry about her and your hat."
I simply smiled a half smile at that one before taking back my ID from him. He reminded me of a calm, observant Meekins…wait…was that an insult?
I pushed the thought away as I arrived at B16 and turned on the terminal. Here we go…as the first case popped up on the screen, I realized, with a shock that it was one of mine…the one I had taken before that one…
February 17, 2019
Rick Mousler versus the State
Defense Attorney: ?
Prosecutor: Winston Payne.
The defense attorney for this case was? Enter Answer here: _ANSWER_
My first question, and already this test gets personal. Last time I had to answer things about Mia and Hawthorne…now it's me against me. I remember that case…poor Mousler…
+-~Mason~-+
February 14th, 2019 – 8:15 PM, LAPD Parking Lot.
The night was dark, the lights scarcely populating the building a figure hurried out of. It was late, and this late at night, only the grumpiest of detectives and officers slunked around. The still winter air bit at his nose and slapped his face, lifting him more awake then he had realized work had let him fall. Glancing upwards, the man registered that three offices were still lit.
Shaking his head, he left. He wasn't there to hear gunshots ring out, almost forty five minutes later…
February 15th, 2019 – 9:28 AM, Wright & Co Law Offices.
"Nick, Nick! The T.V! Look!"
Phoenix sighed, staring at his reflection in the cloudy, half-transparent water that the toilet offered him. It was bad enough that he hated cleaning the thing, but did Maya always have to interrupt him while he was doing said task? It just prolonged it and made him walk around with gloved hands he would be afraid to touch anything with. Giving up, he got to his feet and walked out of the bathroom, he leaned against the bathroom wall and watched the said T.V with what was first annoyance, but quickly deteriorated into shock.
"Last night, a shocking murder rocked the Los Angeles Police Department, as a Forensic scientist was killed in cold blood. The estimated time of death is somewhere before nine pm, and the main suspect in this case is Officer Rick Mousler, twenty nine, who was acting as guard duty that night. Eyewitness accounts claim that Rick was on shift and near the office where the murder occurred a mere ten minutes before the estimated time of death, and that he and the victim were the only other individuals in the building…"
Sighing, Phoenix felt like tossing his hands up into the air and giving up that particular establishment of enforcing the law as a bad job. How many times had officers of that office been convicted of something since he started his career? Not only that, but every time, who was their lawyer?
Yet they still refused to make his life easier when it came to his other cases. Where was his respect?.!
Something about the guy's face though…it pulled at Phoenix. It was a look that Maya knew well, as she had turned around to see if the lawyer had come into the room, and there he was, looking with those eyes straight at the innocent T.V, as if he wanted to fry it.
Looks like "Nick" has found his next client…
The television went back to other news, and Phoenix went back to cleaning the bathroom, but after cleaning, he took a shower and put on his suit.
By now, it felt like he was donning his super hero outfit.
You know, after looking through his clothes in the back of his closet, he had found that sweater that Da-Iris had made him.(He never had found the heart to throw that heart endowed sweater away after all…) All he needed was a cape and he's be set…
February 15th, 2019 – 12:54 AM, Detention Center.
Phoenix sat opposite from a man. He well knew what it looked like form the other side of that window, and he knew too, how unforgivingly plain it was in there. There was nothing else to do but think of what crime you may or may not have committed, and that guard in the room was more like a wall than the walls themselves. The blue suited attorney grasped an item secured behind his tie, and asked him the same thing he had once asked Matt Engarde, only with a far deeper undertone.
Pale, with a lesser build than Phoenix, the man answered as expected, his washed out green eyes pleading and wide. Phoenix focused on that face, devoid of any kind of guile he could see, but…fear was bubbling there. Fear and confusion. He sighed.
"Okay then, I believe you. Just...let me ask you some questions."
February 15th, 2019 – 2:35, Forensics Department.
"It seems the police have already searched this area and closed it off. Well, that's never stopped me before...Maya, keep guard will you?"
Before his partner could protest, Phoenix had already skipped the tape and made his way inside. He had a funny feeling that Gumshoe was going to pop up at any second, like he always did, but he hoped not. Not that he minded the quirky detective but…he was an obstacle whenever their objectives weren't the same. It was his job to be at odds with the defense after all…
+-~Mason~-+
Enter :Phoenix Wright_
Phoenix shook his head to rid it of the memory. He had no time for flashbacks, not in the middle of a test. Still, as soon as he answered the question, the terminal spat out the next one, and he internally cursed.
"Please input the design for a prosecutor's badge."
This thing's determined to make me think about the past, huh? I know how that thing looks like. I remember seeing it twice. Once, in Gant's office when I was on Lana Skye's case…and the other was when Edgeworth visited me at home…after I was disbarred.
+-~Mason~-+
November 18th, 2019 – 7:49 PM, Wright Talent Agency
The building had seen better days, and so too, had the door that Edgeworth had raised a careful first too before scrutinizing it. It was in need of a scrubbing…no, scratch that, it was clean, just worn and in need of some paint. The plaque that proclaimed the office as one of law had been removed, replaced by a slip of garishly colorful paper that proclaimed this door to hide the "Wright Talent Agency" from view.
Edgeworth just ended up adjusting his cravat in an effort to give his hand an excuse for being near eye level. That door was unusually ominous. On his chest was his prosecutor's badge, and the man cursed his…unusual sense of childish goad. Here he was, a man who never wore his badge, and yet he wore it today…to do what? Kick a man already down? That was a "dick move" even for his upbringing.
He was about to attempt to remove it from his chest when the door opened on its own. Surprised, he found himself staring at…a man in a black hoodie and jeans, with a girl riding on his back, piggy-back style. Her hat brushed the door frame as the man froze there, his eyes tracing the face in front of him, taking him in before focusing on his chest. A flash of anger, too fast for Edgeworth to be sure, drained from his face.
At any rate, there was a sad smile on his face now, and his posture adopted itself into a guarded one. The girl too, had gained a darkly curious look in her eyes, feeding off the emotion she could tell her "ride" was feeling.
"Trucy, I don't think we'll be able to catch the ice cream shop today. Do me a favor and get the telescope for me? We'll still be able to get the stars, and maybe that crazy old ice cream truck guy will drive by the park again."
Jumping off, the little girl only gave him an affirmation before vanishing, but not before punctuating the sentence with "Daddy" at the end. Edgeworth's face went from surprised to priceless. Wasn't that Wright's voice that emanated from this jacketed man? Daddy?
Phoenix turned to face his former rival, and his smile widened at the sight in front of him. Edgeworth's eyes were struggling to stay in his head. He chuckled darkly before sweeping his arm into his home, stepping aside to indicate that the other could come in.
"Miles. Come on in."
He waited for Edgeworth to step in before his arm snaked out, quickly removing a stream of multicolored scarves from his path, making Edgeworth take a hasty step back. Where…had that come from?
It was only when he glanced around from the amazing sight of Wright without his spikes and a hoodie, did he actually see where he was being admitted into. An unsteady table balanced a teapot and cup near a couch, and on top of that couch was a box full of dishes. On another haphazard couch, piles of multicolored scarves, blankets with stars, shiny snakes of tinsel and all manner of glittering things took up half the space. A lone magician's wand lay on top of all this, along with a bunny.
He thought it was real until the very last second, just before he sat down next to it. Then it decided to be wise and jump away, flapping wings and all. A…dove? Edgeworth watched it fly to settle on the shoulder of the little girl he had seen earlier, now holding a long spyglass.
She was…cute. Her eyes were far too large though. Large and…reading. Edgeworth had the feeling that he was staring down a tiny, powerful x-ray, and she was reading right through him. He grew uncomfortable before Wright's voice made him jump to fit his first name in the air.
"I hope you don't mind Miles, I only had Green Tea leaves on short notice, that and a couple croissants. I see you met Trucy. You're getting along with Miles, aren't you?"
"He's scared, Daddy. He's trying to hide too-"
Phoenix gave his daughter a calming look. It was kind, but the meaning, in curt language, would have been: "Please shut up now Trucy." Phoenix simply sat next to the box of dishes and gave Edgeworth a stare. The prosecutor suddenly felt that he was facing down two very powerful headlights, and his badge felt heavy and cold against his chest. How did Wright manage to wear his all the time? How could it possibly have brought him comfort and pride? For him, it just amplified uncomfortable truths.
"What brings you here Edgeworth? You could have called; I would have cleaned up a little."
Trucy giggled at this. Since when did her father ever really manage to clean up? Still, she should give him some credit. He was a bit better than her Uncle Valant. No food or underthings were around after all, and most of the stuff that made the mess was hers. The problem wasn't daddy…it was daddy's space.
"Of course, but I was walking by on my way to the Detention Center and I just assumed I might stop by…"
Phoenix had a look in his eye that reminded Edgeworth of their time in court. Only when Wright stopped him, it wasn't with a yell, though his hand did jerk slightly before he stopped it. He instead swept it behind his head and took a sip from his own tea.
"You own a car Edgeworth. A very expensive and well-kept sports car. Not to mention that this office is out of your way no matter if you are coming from home or from the Prosecution Office."
"I never said I was coming from any of those places-"
"You did."
It came, short and biting. Miles Edgeworth had nothing to say, for he did come from the office, and even though Wright had no proof…the girl staring at his eyes and the man at his badge knew they didn't need any.
"Daddy…"
Taking a swig from his cup, Phoenix put it on top of a stack of dishes in the box next to him. He stilled his daughter's comment and looked to his guest with calmer eyes. Edgeworth didn't relax though. Not even as Wright reached for his cup, and Edgeworth let him take it, empty.
"I repeat my question, What brings you here, Edgeworth? Have you come to spill your disappointment at me? Rage at me for forgetting what "justice" means in presenting forged evidence? Laugh at your fallen rival? It can't be for anything kind, that badge on your chest says so."
Curse whatever demon that convinced me to put this on my visage on this day!
Opening his mouth, he prepared to douse the claims Wright put against him, but he quelled under Wright's eyes. Since when…did a hoodie and some stubble grant a man so much power?
"Yes Wright. I came expecting to have something to teach you, something to denounce you, some way for me to simply crush you and make you mean nothing to me, so that I could forget about the criminal whom I had called a partner once…but it seems I can't even do that. No matter what happens to you Wright…I never understand how it works."
"No matter what kind of mud you get dragged through, you always end up coming out smelling of roses..."
+-~Mason~-+
The next few questions on Phoenix's test were, thankfully, memory free, things about procedure of law, stuff every attorney should know…there was only a tiny twinge when a question came up about evidence law, but he beat back any trips down memory lane that time. His eyes were quick, and any question that came his way he made short work of. He found that everything he had studied for was pretty much useless.
It was his common sense and experience that let him squash these questions dead. It wasn't until another question hit him below the belt did he pause. This one had to do with Maya, Maya and Iris…damn, he was getting old, all these trips down memory lane. He glanced up at the clock as he felt the cinema crew knock on his mental door. He was almost done, he could feel it…and he had almost a whole hour left…might as well get it over with. He gave his answer and put his arms behind his head as his mind drifted…
+-~Mason~-+
"Fee-Phoenix…"
"Nick!"
Laughing, a man in a beanie and hoodie sat up a little straighter in his hospital bed, looking between the two women who had crowded his bed. One of whom was on his phone. He hadn't seen either of them in a long while. A long, long while. The looks of concern they gave him were priceless however, so he couldn't help but laugh.
"Come on Maya, you look as if you're sitting on my death bed. The doctor tells me I only have a sprained ankle."
"They told me you got hit by a car and flew into a lamppost headfirst!"
"Well, yeah, that's true too."
Again, the looks he received…picture wise in Maya's case. It was a kind of running gag now, Phoenix realized. He was made of steel. He had eaten a sharp, metal necklace, poison traced bottle and all, he had run across a burning bridge and dropped thirty to fifty feet into a freezing, raging river below in the dead of winter, and, to top it all off now, had been hit by a car and sent flying thirty or so feet, but got up and walked away from the incident.
"That's it, I'm sending over a bunch of steel samurai for you."
"Oh please, no. I have enough to worry about…Maya? Damn it, she already put down the phone. Didn't hang up though…must be expecting to come back to it…"
Looking up, Phoenix focused on his one physical visitor, Iris. His smile faded a little at her silence. He found himself looking at his sheets. Normally, this would be the time to forge ahead, but her entire aura seemed to radiate a kind of vulnerability that stayed him. He waited until she looked up to see that he had settled to watching her, and she flinched as if struck.
"Iris. It really has been a long while, huh? You know, I called a few times…in the beginning."
"I…know. I wasn't there…"
Phoenix said nothing, his silence stretching between the both of them. He had called many times. First to congratulate her, then to give pointers, encouragement through her sentencing of being an accomplice, he wrote when she had to do time. He had tried his hardest on his side, and he knew Edgeworth too, had pulled a few choice strings, if only for the fact that he knew her involvement in this case was noble.
"Really? I would have hoped you had time to respond back at least…"
She was supposed to see through fifteen years…but after five, an appeal was made. Right now, she was on a kind of probation for a while, so they could figure out what to do with her, what kind of compromise and how much "good behavior" counted here.
She hadn't changed much, besides looking a little thinner, maybe a bit darker around the eyes. Frailer was the word he was looking for. Smaller, weaker, yet somehow tougher at the core. Phoenix knew she was looking him over in the same way he was to her. What did she see? He had gained some muscle over his time away from a lawyer, he had been doing that ever since becoming one, and someone commented him on it once…but he had streamlined down too.
His stubble was something Maya had commented on, her comment of him trying to emulate Will Powers making him mentally cringe. True, he didn't put his hair in spikes anymore, and when he took of his cap, it did stick out in odd directions…but the similarities stopped there…he hoped.
"I…hear you have a daughter now."
Changing the subject. Well, he might as well go with her.
"Yes, I adopted her when she was eight, right after I lost my badge."
"Oh, so that's why you stopped trying to call?"
+-~Mason~-+
"Thirty Minutes Left in the test people…oh, Mr. Wright…here's your hat back…It's harmless as far as I can tell, and seeing as you're just about done anyway…"
Phoenix glanced up from his last question, looking at it with malice. It was asking him about his last case. It named him as the defense attorney, Klavier as the prosecutor and even the piece of forged evidence, but its aim was for the taker to answer who made the said fake, the witness who proved it was his work.
Tempted to write down "Vera Misham" he spun his pad pen and tapped in "Drew Misham", regardless of how wrong it was. He then was met with a blank screen save for the simple line: "Thank you for completing the bar exam."
Spinning around, he held out his hand for the beanie, waiting until it was delivered into his hands before jamming it carefully unto his head. The word "Papa" shone once again on the noggin it was meant to fit for, and the decal with the ever open mouth seemed to wink.
"Your daughter must really love you to make something like that, Mr. Wright."
"I try, and I can only hope it bounces back, you know?"
+-~E~-+
Well, there's that. You can look at this as a prologue, or as a one-shot story, it all depends upon its response. But keep in mind, please, that I am a very busy, insane individual, and one of my main insanities is lining up stories even though I know I have next to no time to update them.
True, I've shrunk my focus to two, now three if this goes somewhere, stories, but still…counting how many stories I have uncompleted compared to those finished, forgetting about the ones I deleted years ago because my grammar was like a two year old banging their head against a keyboard…yeah…I'm ranting. Why are my "notes" for this prologue so long? Do I have so much to say for being gone for so long?
If you want more from this crazy fool, review. If not…hey, take this and run. ~Finalage.