[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 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...?

[judicialassistant]

[ She's mentally assigned herself the hostess role, so she'll definitely wait until everyone has at least their first portion. After that, they're free to go for seconds, thirds--they're all family here. She sits down after Kazuma.

She doesn't feel like he is intruding at all. It would be easy to leave it to Yujin to explain; he'd likely do a better job, but she doesn't like the idea of just... leaving him unanswered. She does look very pleased though, at his compliment. They'll see if she's earned it. ]

Iris... took something she shouldn't have, and was operating under a misunderstanding that only caused more misunderstandings. I did help her prepare the pheasant, but I think she was rather determined to do things mostly on her own. [ At least, when it came to that pheasant specifically. ]

It left Mr Sholmes very jealous indeed. [ Who would have thought someone so self-confident would be capable? ] About the only thing certain about him is that you can never be certain. Expect the unexpected, as they say.

[professorbestie]

[Yujin also wouldn't think that Kazuma is intruding; it's hardly his fault he wasn't there when these things were discussed in Baker Street. Had the situation been different, Kazuma would've been included in those sorts of moments from the very beginning. Still, it's a bit difficult to explain. The way Yujin sees it, Susato summed it up just fine.]

The unpredictability does lead to some very interesting, occasionally amusing situations, I would say. Regardless... I believe it's time to focus our own attention elsewhere. [He gestures towards the food.] Would anyone like to say a few words, or shall we move right on to the sampling?

[He does want to hear at least one word, which is "itadakimasu", but if anyone wants to say something more elaborate, the floor is open.]

[chippedsoul]

I see. . . [Someday he'll get around to asking how Yujin and Herlock actually became such good friends. And all the other stories within the Baker Street home. It sounded rather lively at least. Yujin is right though and they shouldn't let their meals go cold. He really was going to leave it at itadakumasu, but now that Yujin has put them on the spot...what else does he say?]

Thank you, for having me in your home and for the food. [Short, simple, and to the point. It's clear he hasn't really had much practice for these sort of occasions.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato doesn't have much to add... She is as eager for them to try her food as Yujin is, though for some reason she's a little bit nervous, too. It's been some time since she cooked for Kazuma, and there's no telling what kinds of food (good, bad, Japanese, British, other!) that he's had in all the time on his own. (Three. Years!)

She looks at him while he speaks, putting her hands together. ]

Thank you for coming. [ And also for not eating her in the forest, that was nice. She also keeps it short and to the point, and when she can't think of anything else, she closes her eyes. ] Itadakimasu.