[Closed] The Merry Ace Attorney

[professorbestie]

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.]

Comments

[discourtesies]

[Barok doesn't really know why they would say such things, but the suggestion that they would certainly seems true enough, for whatever reason. He has been offered far more from these people than he rightly deserves, but rather than reject it, he has decided he must simply find a way to earn it.

Once he removes the burner and incense from its packaging, he turns the piece in his hand to examine it with some curiosity. While he hasn't had such an item for himself before, the idea of using it seems... intriguing now that it's in front of him. That Naruhodo would make certain it fit with the prosecutor's decorative preferences, too, feels meaningful.]

That is very thoughtful of you.

[He brings one of the scents closer to his face, but of course he doesn't sniff because that's undignified. Hmm... Eastern, this one. Subtle, not exactly sweet, but pleasant nonetheless. It brings back memories of before those tragedies... and his expression turns pensive for just a moment before he raises his eyes to the young man again.]

I look forward to finding a proper place for it.

[mychosenpath]

[Perhaps it's just a simple gift, but it warms his heart greatly to see it so well received. It certainly made all the nerves he felt and the fussing he did worth it in the end. He had questioned the idea of choosing something Eastern to gift with it, but had felt it would make the gift a bit more personal. Which is why in the end, he compromised by including a second different one to go with it.

Ryunosuke studies that pensive expression, wondering just what he's thinking about. At the very least, he feels confident it's not a bad thing.]

I wasn't sure what scents would be best... oh! You can also burn natural herbs like lavender or chamomile.

[He had considered not mentioning the unmarked package he received so mysteriously the other day. But his observation and deduction skills were among the few he was fairly confident in these days. With Vigil having no proper memory of him, that left only van Zieks as the sort to go out of their way to get him something and yet make no effort to mark it. Whether he intended it to be a secret or not, ultimately Ryunosuke just isn't happy allowing it to end like that.]

And thank you. I received your gift the other day as well. They both made excellent additions to my desk.

[Although whether or not it was wise to put the Newton's cradle there was another matter entirely. (It was not.)]

[discourtesies]

[It's a new experience to explore, certainly, and reminiscent of the relationships he once had with his brother and his Eastern colleagues back then. In a way, it feels like a new start... although he hesitates to allow himself such optimistic thoughts.

Ryunosuke turns his attention to another topic soon enough, however, and he supposes it was only a matter of time before the man puzzled it out. Rather than simply coming out and saying you're welcome, van Zieks simply lets out a brief hum of acknowledgement. He's definitely not embarrassed or awkward, just distant and stoic. Yes.]

You've been making use of a desk, then?

[That's good. ... even if the physics demonstration might be a little too mesmerizing to be useful. That's sort of the point, though, isn't it? And it wouldn't be Naruhodo without a considerable amount of distraction, he's sure.]

What have you been up to in this world... my young friend?

[mychosenpath]

[Friend. Truly that's the best and most important part of the whole thing.]

Yeah, well... originally I was using it to store and display some interesting items I found here and there.

[So basically it started off it's life as storage space. One can only imagine what it looked like in those days. Before Susato, he certainly wasn't the most organized by a long shot.]

But eventually I collected so many that-- well, they needed their own space. So it's a lot cleaner now. Instead, I started studying the different ways people have used the powers that come to us naturally here. So... maybe I could figure out what to do with my own.

[It's something that's weighed on his mind no small amount, if only because he's gotten himself into troublesome and dangerous situations several times now and had to rely on the help of others in order to get himself out of them.]

There have been... a number of incidents, since I first arrived. So... I'd like to make an effort to be prepared in the future. I don't want to continue to worry Kazuma and the others because I always panic and can't recover...

[discourtesies]

[Just don't call him out on being sincere or he might take it back.

The collection of trinkets is closer to what he expected. After all, law doesn't yet seem to be a topic any of them can exactly pursue here. Arbitration of some sort at the most, perhaps... although that is a separate sort of expertise.

As far as what Naruhodo has decided to study, it's certainly a reasonable thing to be concerned with, given the few of said incidents van Zieks has encountered. The addition of secondhand accounts of danger have only made the importance of developing these supernatural abilities all the more clear.]

I have found my own small progress with such powers has been achieved with the aid of acquaintances familiar with magic.

[Having come from the mundane world that they do, it's to be expected that they'd have more difficulty. The imagination can only do so much without experience. So, seeing how troubled the young man appears, van Zieks offers him a piece of advice:]

In all pursuits, Mr. Naruhodo, we must rely on the wisdom and strength of others in order to begin our own journey. Rather than be ashamed of such things... we must seek out this assistance if we are to improve ourselves.

[mychosenpath]

[No take backsies

As much as he loves his work in theory, he would be happier if it wasn't necessary. After all, that would mean things are going well-- at least in some regard.

Barok's advice is very solid. And it is something he very much needed to hear. Though he knew on some level that he wasn't making a great deal of progress on his own, he had been inclined to think it was a reflection of his own capabilities rather than something that affected many without that sort of experience. And to think that he might have more success with the help of others more familiar does give him some hope he'd very much wanted.]

...no, you're exactly right. I don't know how to develop something that I don't even know where I'm going with it. Because it's not enough just to be able to use them-- I have to be able to control them... at least to some extent. Or else I'll just be causing more trouble for others, instead of helping them.

[discourtesies]

[Before van Zieks can stop himself, he responds:]

I'm sure you've had your fill of that.

[So much for the heartfelt advice... but even after everything that happened in that fateful trial, Barok can't help but remember the number of times he found his patience tested by the man before him. Old habits die hard. At least he doesn't leave it at that:]

You'll grasp the concept well enough with the proper aid, most likely. [Naruhodo certainly seems like the fanciful type... which normally wouldn't be a complimentary thought, but it comes in handy in a world powered by dreams and feelings.] Have you discovered any particular inclinations with these abilities thus far?