[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

[chippedsoul]

[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.]

[professorbestie]

[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.

[judicialassistant]

[ 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?

[chippedsoul]

. . .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?]

[professorbestie]

[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.]

[judicialassistant]

[ 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.

[chippedsoul]

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.]

[professorbestie]

[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!

[judicialassistant]

[ 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.

[chippedsoul]

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.]

[professorbestie]

[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.]

[judicialassistant]

...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. ]

[chippedsoul]

[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.

[professorbestie]

[That too was very Sholmes-like, daughter. So yes, he is surprised and also a hosting a bit of a bittersweet taste in the back of his mouth. Best to wash that down with some tasty duck. Please cut into that fowl fast, kids.]

[judicialassistant]

[ ...Yeah, it is weird, isn't it.

With a bit of a laugh, Susato shakes her head, as if to show that she was just kidding, and that he has nothing to apologize for. She seems more than OK with the suggestion, too: she keeps her grip on the knife, then, and positions herself so that Kazuma can reach for it, too.

Which also leaves her looking straight at Yujin. ]

...Alright. In that case, I think we'd better give father the first piece.

[chippedsoul]

Hm. Yes, of course. [His hand proceeds to rest over hers. Like cutting into a wedding cake. Cutting into the fowl was easy enough with the two of them working together. He was mostly there just to guide Susato's hand.]

I'll take it to him while you keep working the duck. [And soon Mikotoba will have a plate of delicious duck delivered to him.] Hm, what are we having to drink?

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato can definitely take it from here, though she finds herself missing the warmth already as her eyes linger where his hand just was. The smile that had appeared on her face gives way to something else--like she's just remembered something, when she turns to answer him. ]

Ah, it's my apple cider tea. [ Another trial run for the menu, and not whatever version Dreambucks was making. ] Go on ahead. I will be out with the apple slices shortly.

[professorbestie]

[Yujin could swear that he caught a glimpse of a little something there, with those two hands. He's not going to comment on it, though, and the duck placed before him provides so much distraction that he doesn't notice the lingering glance.]

Well. It certainly looks as delicious as it smells. And thankfully, it's no chicken. [He knows about that, Kazuma.]

[chippedsoul]

[His tail curls slightly.] ...Well, since the both of you knew I was coming, the thought never crossed my mind. [Would the two of them really torment him further after everything? Though now he's eyeing that roast duck suspiciously.]

You mention something about preparing a pheasant before, and that's how you came to the idea of roast duck? [Even as Susato tells him to go on ahead, he'll wait until she has brought out the apple slices. Though he's lingering nearby in case she wanted the extra hand.]

[judicialassistant]

[ The duck is innocent--and so are they, and Susato worked really hard on it! She'll thank you not to besmirch its good name, father.

Moments later, she walks into the dining room part way through the question, with the apple slices on a small plate and in hand, no extras needed. She walks around the table, trying out another idea she had: namely, she places the slices atop the rims of their teacups, hoping to be all fancy and high-class. ]

Oh, yes. It was Iris's idea that I borrowed. That I recall, she made that especially for you... Professor Mickey.

[professorbestie]

[Who's besmirching? He said it's a good thing it's not chicken! That's like a compliment! And while he's waiting politely for everyone to have their own serving before digging in, he's doing it with extreme difficulty. He's hungry and the smell has been haunting him ever since it began to fill the house.

Still, Susato's last remark gives him a bit of a start. That's a little embarrassing.]

A-Ah! Yes, she did... Susie-chan. [Two can play at that game.]

[chippedsoul]

[He blinks, staring at the two of them.] Professor...Mickey? [Susie-chan?? He looks utterly lost and confused, until he thinks about it a little more. Susato brought up Iris and then these nicknames...and then he starts to laugh softly. It's funny to imagine a little girl addressing Mikotoba as "Mickey".]

What was the occasion, Professor Mickey? [And now he won't stop. Duo bullying from his kids.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Joke's on him; she actually likes her nickname. Though despite the teasing, Susato actually likes "Professor Mickey," too. It is just... very Iris, and Susato hadn't considered how much she missed her until just then... ]

It was... an apology, wasn't it? [ Susato answers honestly, though she can't see her father wanting to get into it anymore than she does. ] Did you actually finish the whole thing?

Hopefully mine inspires the same amount of enthusiasm.

[professorbestie]

[Joke's on both of them; embarrassing as the nickname is, he doesn't actively mind it either. He deserves to be embarrassed once in a while, he feels. And it's... endearing, really, that Iris would think to honor him with a nickname.]

Well, I would have finished all of it, had I not passed along a small portion to Sholmes near the very end. [Sholmes had all but stared the pheasant out of Yujin's mouth; it had left a bitter taste of guilt in his mouth.] Should yours be just as delicious, I'm afraid it may cause our world's greatest detective to spontaneously appear within this very dining room.

[chippedsoul]

An a apology? [Maybe it's not his place to press on such matters, but he can't help his curiosity. Then again, it does feel like he's intruding into a conversation he shouldn't be.]

I have absolute faith your duck will taste wonderfully as your own, Susato-san. [He shakes his head.] No need for comparison. [He'll take a seat once Susato has finished passing him and herself a slice of the duck.] That detective has a tendency to appear in the most interesting of places doesn't he...?