"The coffee's cold. Did I forget to drink it yet...?"

[ergomaniac]

Who: Miles Edgeworth and Shikamaru Nara
When: April 5, because I am A MONSTER, THE WORST
Where: In un petit cafe!
Summary: Edgeworth got his memory wiped. A while back. I AM THE HUMAN STAAAAIN.
Warnings: Nothin'! Aside from DANGER DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE WHEN WE KISS WHEN WE TOUCH



[It's rather worrisome; there's no question of that. And deep down, those worries do catch at him, but only in a strange remove...He isn't worried so much as he's worried that he isn't worried, maybe, but even that is remote.

There's a lot that he does know. He knows Latin and German as well as English, and he knows the definitions of the terms jurisprudence and adjudication, and he knows too that he's in Canada and that the weather is decent for this time of year. He knows that he's to tuck in his scarf and pull snug his gloves and turn up his collar against the wind. He knows lines -

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough -

And those words ring around him as he sits in that cafe and drinks tea that tastes worryingly familiar and watches people go by. He sips, and his throat is flooded with the heavy scent of jasmine, and he feels in that moment on the edge of some great revelation...But it slips away as the flavor fades.

Another cup of tea, and he casts his eyes about and catches sight of a face. Again, he feels as though he stands on some precipice – but he studies the young man for a long time, and it's as though he'd taken a step and expected a tumble but his foot found solid ground. It's jarring and unpleasant but ultimately harmless.]

Comments

[ergomaniac]

But didn't I fire you?

[underachiever]

I, um... quit.

[ergomaniac]

So I was a bad boss.

[underachiever]

No, you weren't bad. You were... You were a really good boss.

[ergomaniac]

It doesn't particularly sound it, between the quitting and just how displeased you sounded by that phone call.

[underachiever]

Maybe I'm the asshole.

[ergomaniac]

[But he shakes his head:]

No, you're not.

[underachiever]

How do you know?

[ergomaniac]

[A pause, and then his determined expression settles into an unhappy frown. Slightly helplessly:]

I'm...not certain. But I know.

[underachiever]

What else do you think you know?

[ergomaniac]

[He looks down.]

I'm not...sure. But I know that...I do not know. When I look upon you, I feel only - [He makes a slight face - ] Affection.

[underachiever]

[That's promising, at least. Affection - that would be tied to memory somehow, wouldn't it? Somewhere under there. Shikamaru tries to think about it logically instead of letting his mind wander to the way he feels when he hears that. Because he feels... pain. Guilt and anger. His head gives an involuntary shake, one burst of denial before he goes back to suppressing the entire thing.]

That's... weird.

[ergomaniac]

[Edgeworth looks up.]

Why?

[underachiever]

Nevermind. It's a good start, at least. Any other feelings you've been having?