Day 4: Malversation

"Hey, there's something I've always been curious about…"

Edgeworth looked up to meet Phoenix's stare with slightly puzzled look in his eyes. After several moments in a silence that was growing increasingly awkward he said, "And…?"

"And what?"

"Wright!," Edgeworth leaned back in his chair and glared, "I haven't the time to listen to your cryptic muse—"

"Hey Edgeworth why did you stick up for Von Karma during the Hammond trial after all he'd—"

"Wright I did no such thing…"

"Yeah you did," Phoenix said and he threw up his hands for emphasis, "You were like 'He's a God among Prosecutors!' and 'I'm guilty!'. It seemed like you were going to just roll over and let him—the guy that killed your dad—drag you through the mud."

"Wright! Why must you ask questions like that?"

"Because I'm your friend. And I want to know what makes you tick."

"Well, I'd rather you changed the subject."

"Why? Is it a secret?"

"No, I'd just rather not speak about it."

"Does thinking about him make you sad?"

"Hardly…"

"Not even a little?"

"Wright!"

"I know why you don't want to talk about it," Phoenix smiled, "You're still not over it."

"I'm quite certain 'moving on' means no longer dwelling on the subject."

"Fine. So you wanna talk about birds?" Phoenix said and he crossed his arms petulantly.

"I know nothing of birds," Edgeworth said.

"Probably 'cause you're holed up in here all the time…"

"Hmph… At least I understand work ethic and responsibility."

"Oho! You're getting upset…"

"I'm not—"

"Come on, I just want to know about this guy. Call it a morbid curiosity."

"Aside from the fact that he is deceased, I fail to see anything morbid—"

"Don't change the subject!"

"Very well, Wright. Ask the question…"

"What made you look up to Von Karma?"

Edgeworth gave Phoenix a baleful glare and said, "There was no one else."

"Sure, but wasn't he evil and cruel—"

Edgeworth was shaking his head, "Not for a lonely young boy who just wants people to like him…"

"Oh, well, I didn't mean to start down that road in re—"

"Now, Wright, you started this…" Edgeworth interjected, "So you have to hear all of it… You have to remember, when I was younger, all I knew were his methods and teaching. He was perfect, so I should strive to be like him. Mister Von Karma was not disliked, per se. In fact, he was a popular public figure, whatever Malversation he might have been involved in."

"Malversation!" Phoenix said and pointed at Edgeworth.

"What?" Edgeworth said.

"Malversation," Phoenix nodded sagely, "From 'Mal' meaning bad and verse—versation? Conversation!"

"Conversation?"

"Yeah, it's the root word of Malversation."

"Um… No, Wright," Edgeworth said, "Malversation and Conversation are not closely related. Kind of like how what we're talking about now has nothing to do with our original conversation."

Phoenix gave him an exasperated look, "But they both have 'versations'…"

"Right," Edgeworth said.

"So they are related?"

Edgeworth tapped his temple and wagged his finger at Phoenix, "If you want to dig deep enough you will find a connection. Malversation and Conversation is like comparing bears and porpoises."

"So they're not related?"

"But they are…" Edgeworth said.

"But you just said—"

"I think we've segued enough, don't you?"

Malversation

mal·ver·sa·tion [mal-ver-sey-shuhn] n. Chiefly Law. Improper or corrupt behavior in office, especially in public office.

Updated July 2015. Revised for minor grammatical and spelling discrepancies.

A/N: Yes it's me, I'm back. I'm hoping to crank out another 20 of these, they're actually a lot harder to write than you might think! .

As always thanks for reading and I'd love a review. I am always open to comments or suggestions!

CHALLENGE: Use this word in one of your stories!