songerein | [Closed] The Merry Ace Attorney

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[Closed] The Merry Ace Attorney

Who: The Great Ace Attorney cast
Which: Closed log
Where: Mikotoba house
What: The Mikotobas invite Kazuma over for Christmas on the 25th, and all their friends from home on the 26th
Warnings: Nothing here but Christmas cheer!

[25th, closed to Kazuma]

[It's Christmas day in the Mikotoba household, and no such celebration would be complete without their adoptive family member. For that reason, presents have not yet been opened and instead lie ready in a corner of the living area, the wrapping paper almost beckoning the curious gaze. The decorations in the house are minimal in number, though Yujin did learn a thing or two from the most recent dreamscape about crafting a strong Christmas aesthetic with bare essentials. Food has already been prepared for the most part by Susato; roast duck and an apple spiced tea. It only requires those few easy finishing touches, but it's not dinner time yet!

At the moment, they're still waiting for Kazuma to arrive.]

[26th, Cast Party]

[For today, the Mikotobas made sure to invite everyone they know from home to spend Christmas at their home. They have to stick together! While those who hail from London may have their own traditions regarding Christmas, they'll just have to make do with what's been set up! Yujin dragged in a small tree, there's hot cocoa for everyone and dinner will be later. After that, perhaps some drinks of the alcoholic variety for the adults? (Which means everyone except Susato, sorry!) The choices are between apple cider or wine, because we all know Van Zieks has a problem.]

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[He could certainly feel the homeliness and the holiday spirit between the two of them. It manages to put a smile on his face, just being able to spend time with them. He looks to where Susato indicates to put down the gift, nodding.]

Something smells awfully good in here. [He remarks as he sets the bag down with the rest of the presents. He reaches for his coat, hesitating for a moment. It wouldn't be proper to keep his coat on...]

[Listen, Susato can light lanterns with her mind. As far as Yujin's concerned, that's the same as mastering it. If it were him, there'd either be nothing or he'd burn the house down.

Once Kazuma is inside, Yujin closes the door again to shut out any unwelcome cold breezes. He lingers in the hall, his eyes following Kazuma to the present pile. Something seems to be poking out from beneath Kazuma's coat, and it's not until a moment passes that he realizes it's a tail. Um. Alright. He'll just pretend he doesn't see that.]

That would be Susato's hard work.

[ Once upon a time, when Kazuma first returned from the forest, he said something like, "This too shall pass." As the month passed and Susato helped with the cleaning of his basement area, it hadn't... which is something of a concern, but Kazuma had been in such good spirits lately, she hadn't bothered to ask.

...She certainly isn't going to now. ]

Are you alright? If it's more comfortable for you to keep it on, I'm sure father wouldn't mind.

[ Maybe a tad irregular for a prim and proper Asian household, but after having a meal out in the wilds of the forest, she can think of worse. She gives her father a quiet look, as if he should confirm, but then she continues. ]

He is right, of course. It still isn't the same as the pheasant Iris once made, but if you like roast duck well enough, I will be happy to make more for the Wild Harvest when it opens.

[ While Supplies Last^tm, or something. ]

...No, it wouldn't be proper. You already understand why the sweater. [The gaudy sweater isn't the problem. He pulls off his coat, sweater and snake tail now in full view. White scales creep up behind his neck and other parts where his skin is exposed. Their presence seems to have receded a little since Susato last saw him.]

Roast duck sounds wonderful. I think it would fit well to the theming of the Wild Harvest. [A small smile as he goes to set the coat on the coat rack.]

I assume she has told you about what I've been working on...? [A glance over to the Professor]

[Indeed, Yujin wouldn't have minded, but the coat is already being discarded now. Wryly, he wonders how Sholmes would react to the snake tail. It's ironic, that's for certain. Still, he won't say a word about it.]

A pub of sorts, isn't it? It sounds like a very exciting project.

[And somehow, a bit of an odd one. He never pictured Kazuma as the sort of person to own a leisure establishment. But then... Kazuma isn't quite the same person anymore, now is he? Several years have passed for him. Situations like this really drive that point home. Yujin wants to get to know the current Kazuma better, and perhaps frequenting the pub will be a good way to do that.]

[ Rule #1 of the Wild Harvest, framed and displayed like rules of a steamship: dad is not allowed to pick up new husbands--

Haha, just kidding. Of course Susato told him all about it, rather excited at the prospect of something totally new. She had a similar thought, of course; the braided ponytail is a simple, yet constant reminder of how different a man Kazuma had become. She couldn't think of a more fitting excuse to work under him, even if it was at a different capacity than the one intended years ago. ]

Isn't it just? He has owned one before, in the Realm of Stories, but there will be a far more feminine touch to guide him this time. There will be a garden and everything.

[ Convenient and beautiful! ]

Heh, well...it won't be as exciting as the previous establishment. Certainly far more quiet and welcoming.

[He glances over to the sofa, standing by it, but not taking a seat. He'll wait for one of them to direct him.]

It's something to do at least. If it wasn't obvious, attorneys aren't exactly on high demand around here.

[Sure enough, Yujin will wander over to sofa as well, gesturing towards it with one hand before taking a seat in an opposite armchair.]

I suppose it's a blessing that attorneys aren't needed, nor even organized law-enforcement. Though with so many different people arriving and the town growing, it's only a matter of time before someone causes trouble.

...... [ He's brought this up before, and she does find it a little strange. The lack of legal troubles... perhaps the magic of the world has something to do with that, and why everything is seemingly free. ]

Well... if there is trouble that calls for it, we have the best.

[ Between Ryunosuke, Kazuma-sama, and of course, Lord van Zieks.

Susato takes a seat opposite her father on the sofa, leaving room for Kazuma to join her. ]

Hm, Ryunosuke would be outnumbered, but I'm confident he can handle either me or Prosecutor Van Zieks. [Is this bullying? He'll go ahead and settle down beside Susato then. The ring she had given him was still on his index finger.]

He'll have you to help him, I'm sure. [He glances to Susato before looking to Yujin.]

I have to wonder...how would the people here go about deciding who should be the authority for this theoretical law enforcement? In a world without any sort of rules.

[Since Ryunosuke defeated both Kazuma and Van Zieks on more than one occasion, Yujin is also confident the young man would stand his ground just fine. And if Susato's there to help him, that's even better. The bigger concern would be a repeat of the McGilded incident, then.

He raises a hand to his chin as he mulls over Kazuma's query.]

That's a very good question. For now, it appears we are not living by written laws, rather by common decency. That will work wonders so long as everyone here has common decency, though I'm afraid there will come a day when we'll be joined by someone who falls outside that category. [And he's not talking about you and your Hyde issues, Kazuma, gosh.] As we've got no true rulers nor even any sort of local nobility to turn to, perhaps a council of sorts ought to be established to compile some base laws.

[ You know what? This is fine. This is very reminiscent of their study sessions where they'd discuss the latest chapter of her law textbook over dinner. Plus, you know, while Japan isn't lawless, there might be some good information to go on when-or-ifever she and Ryunosuke ever wake up from this dream.

She just wish it didn't feel like a them vs. him situation. She had chosen Ryunosuke back home, and it was easier then, because it felt like he needed her more, as did Japan, but now it felt like Kazuma... at least in some ways, needed her just as much. She was glad, at least, that he still wore the ring to remind him of her support. ]

Given our experience with nobility and those high-ranking, perhaps it is best that we have no one in that regard for the moment. A trusted council would be better to establish some ground rules, but I wonder how they would be decided or how easy that would be.

Politics can be... quite messy, I've learned. I would worry if either of you were to be involved. [ Which they would be, or at the very least Yujin, who seemed to put forth the idea. ]

[He was admittedly thinking about the Hyde thing, cause that's always a possibility.]

Let's not forget we're dealing with people and beings from all kinds of worlds, with their own laws. [How does one tell someone considered a "god" from their own world to follow rules?] I would at least observe. I'd like to know who could potentially be our future "council" members. [Kazuma still doesn't have any bitterness towards authority or nobles or anything. Nope.]

[As Yujin became an official advisor to the government when he returned from his study tour, he supposes he would make for an adequate candidate for such a council. However, he doesn't know what sort of qualifications other people here might have. The more experience, the better. And as Kazuma pointed out, other worlds might have other laws. They'd need a very diverse council indeed.]

Hm... I suppose the only way to know what sort of council members we might get would be to put forth the idea to the public and see who responds. However, that's not the sort of thing to do on an impulse. Once such a process has started, I don't believe it can be stopped too easily.

[ Admittedly, the "wait and see" tactic is one she's often felt ill-advised. In the courtroom, she's learned to seize the momentum, the heat of the moment--but rather than that, in this case, it feels like they are the ones making the waves.

In which case, waiting might be wise. ]

People are celebrating the holidays as well, no doubt spending time with the families they've found here. That, combined with the Wild Harvest opening soon... perhaps it is a project we should tackle after the new year?

. . .You're right, it is the holidays right now. [He leans back in his seat, coming to the realization this is probably not holiday appropriate conversation.]

We can worry about it later. Should we do presents first or have dinner...? [How does this work?]

[Oop, can't have a family dinner during Christmas without it getting political, huh? Yujin bows his head a bit in an apologetic manner at that.]

I'd suggest we have dinner first. It'd be a shame to get too distracted from Susato's delicious cooking. [Though, the tone in which he says it implies he can easily be veto'd if the kids want their presents first.]

Edited (HTML!!!) 2022-01-05 07:42 (UTC)

[ How does this work, indeed? She looks proud at the compliment, but do they instead spend the entirety of dinner thinking about what their presents might be? ...Oh, well. Maybe that's just Susato, and she isn't about to veto her father for no good reason.

She stands, but rather than curtseying as she is wont to do, she gives a performer's bow, with a familiar (at least to Yujin) twirl of her hand. ]

If that is alright by you both, I shall be happy to oblige. Just give me a few moments. [ She quietly walks towards the kitchen after that, calling back idly: ] I certainly hope it is as good as it smells.

Hm, you have a point. We don't want it to go cold before we can enjoy it. [He moves to stand, calling into the kitchen.]

And I absolutely believe the meal will taste wonderful. [He'll wait for Yujin to join him before moving to the dining area.]

[Oh, he recognizes that twirl of the hand, alright. A smile dawns on his face at the sight of it. To think Sholmes's mannerisms would rub off on his daughter...

He rises to his feet as well, following Kazuma to the dining area.]

Those who intend to enjoy a meal at your pub will be quite blessed indeed, Kazuma. Though, I should hope you won't work Susato too hard, ha ha!

[ She will work as hard as he needs her to, thank you very much, dad!! After checking on the duck, however, and seeming satisfied, she will make her first trip out of the kitchen and into the dining area, holding a set of plates, silverware, and chopsticks.

Just like old times, she sets the table, following up with a second trip to bring out the spiced apple tea, after she’s taken a moment to prepare the actual apple slices to go with it.

Finally, she makes a third (? however many it takes) trip to bring out the duck. She sets the dish down and reaches for the knife she prepared beforehand, seeing no reason not to cut into it right away to dole out their portions. She won’t have this luxury with all their customers, of course, but since it is family, Susato has the advantage of knowing approximately how much to cut and the size portion they like of the vegetables to go with it.

Everything, including the tea she’s already poured, is still steaming, just as it should be. She passes out each plate one after the other, and each place is already set for them to sit. ]

Careful, it’s hot.

Well--I don't intend to. She may just work harder than she needs to on her own in fact. [You know how your daughter can be.

Just look at her going back and forth, preparing the table while the men are doing nothing but laughing.] Please, let me at least help a little.

[He offers to finish setting the table, maybe cut into the duck.]

[He knows exactly how she can be, yes. That's why he expects he'll need to go over to the pub several times a week to fetch Susato and bring her home. Working for the pub is important, but rest is even more so.

Similarly, he knows Susato won't want to accept help at this very moment. That's why he casts a sideways glance her way and waits for her response, already making a guess on what it might be. Let's see whether she can still surprise her old man or not.]

...Practice. [ She points into the air at nothing in particular, looking very matter of fact. ] Practice is what I need, gentlemen. I don't have the experience Kazuma-sama or 76 does. But far be it from me to say no to my father, or my new boss.

[ Are you surprised yet, dad?

With a quiet sigh, she offers the knife to Kazuma, so that he may cut his own portions after all. Maybe she can learn a thing or two about how he does it. ]

[He raises a brow. What was that movement just now?] Ah...you don't need to call me boss. [That's really odd to think about.]

Also, my apologies. I didn't think for a moment you were practicing. [He's also not trying to steal anyone's spotlight. He's just been on his own for so long that he's used to doing everything himself, otherwise he gets antsy doing nothing.]

Here, we'll cut this duck together then.

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