bewrightback | IC Inbox [Cerealia]

[Phoenix nods gravely.]

He was a despicable man. ...is, now. [He shakes his head, pinching at the bridge of his nose for a moment. It's odd in a lot of ways for him. It's been so long for him that Von Karma didn't feel like the threat that he used to be. But that doesn't make it any less surreal to see the dead man offering fashion advice over the CereVice.

And then there was the way he had acted in the garden at the party, and the way that he decked Phoenix. That left the attorney more wary than ever.]

But back then, Maya and I did everything we could to stop him. Even though Edgeworth thought that he was guilty, I stuck by a lesson that Mia Fey once taught me. [For a moment, he smiles slyly.] It might sound familiar to you - you might have heard it from some old man: I stuck by my client and believed in his innocence until the bitter end.

And so the case ended with us proving Von Karma guilty. Edgeworth was finally free from those burdens and started his journey that lead him to the chief prosecutor's office years later. As for Von Karma...

[Then, he looks down grimly.]

...He was executed for his crimes.

[ Well, of course... that's what happens to anybody convicted for committing capital crimes... It's just business. Though as for whether it's justice. . . it might just be. The law isn't perfect, but it's there to protect the people. Athena can't think that Manfred von Karma got what he deserved, but he at least deserves to be sent to prison for the crimes he's done. ]

He might not be the only person here whom you've proven guilty of murder... When more people arrive, there could be more of them. . .

[ The worlds may have been destroyed, but people are saved here for a reason. She just can't discount the possibility that their adversaries may find their way here, as well. Who is she to tell CERES who to restore, and who to leave alone, anyway? ]

What's the plan then?

[He nods solemnly.]

We'll have to keep our eyes and ears open, Athena.

As for our plan? It's been to avoid Von Karma and try to do what we can not to provoke him... or to let him know the truth about the future. The thing is, he's actually from far in the past. From closer to the time of the actual DL-6 Incident...

[It might be wisest to leave out the part where he punched me in the face...]

So he doesn't know who Maya and I are. And he doesn't know the truth about what ended up happening with Edgeworth or himself. That's also why... Edgeworth's said that he wants Von Karma to believe that he's the prosecutor that he used to be. To keep him from getting suspicious. We all have to do our part, to keep him from becoming a threat here...

[ If that's the plan, then Athena's just going to roll with it. She wasn't directly involved in the incident, nor does she want to be. ]

More like he's provoking me...

[ IT JUST HAS TO BE SAID, OKAY. Von Karma is a nutjob and is a jerk!!!!!11 ]

[He sighs.]

He is still a jerk who will heckle people at any chance that he'll get... especially if he knows that you're a defense attorney. It's up to us to be the better people and keep him from having reasons to escalate it beyond that.

[ With a grumble, she says: ] ... okay.

I'll do what I can.

[He smiles at her.]

I'll get you an ice cream every time you succeed. [Of course, not endangering your life should be the real reward...]

Thanks for telling me about him, Mr. Wright.

And about Mr. Edgeworth, too.

[ That was some deep stuff. ]

Of course. [He nods.]

I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. This is important information. And we have to stay as safe as we can, especially with how unpredictable an weird this place can be.

[He pauses for a moment, tapping at his chin, and then he adds.]

...And I hope that this goes without saying, but most of what I've told you are sensitive subjects for Edgeworth. I'm going to tell him that I told you about it, but try to be careful about bringing it up around him unless you have to.

[Even now, all these years later, I think... that some wounds never completely heal.]

I don't see the topic ever coming up when I do talk to him again, so please don't worry.

[ Still, to be in the same place as the guy who killed your father. That's tough stuff, and it probably brings back painful memories each time they bump into each other. ]

Thanks, Athena. I knew that I could count on you. [He folds his hands, and he smiles towards her.]

Aside from that... How have things been lately?

[ ha... does she have anything interesting to share apart from the fact that she almost waged war with manfred von karma?

she laughs amiably as she thinks. ]

Well... things have been fine. I moved back into my apartment the other day.

You did, huh? Did things go alright there?

I can't say for sure.

But one of Ryuko's enemies arrived here, so Ryuko had to move out for a while so the person couldn't track her down. And she made me move out, too. Then Ryuko told me she was coming back, so... [ shrugs. ] I think things are under control.

[He frowns and steeples his fingers in thought.]

That sounds serious. I really do hope things are under control.

But your Ryuko friend always sounds like a good person. I don't think that she would do this if things weren't handled. But if something does happen... You do know that we're here to help you.

...Especially Edgeworth. He's the one with powers now. [Just casually volunteering him as Athena's personals security, no big deal.]

It's fine, really! I— I don't want any of you to get hurt. But if I need your guys' help, then I'll be sure to let you know right away.

But none of us want you to get hurt... times two. [He smiles lightly.] I'd appreciate that, Athena.

I've already gotten hurt here a ton of times. . . I almost died, too.

[ She's been hiding this fact from so many people for a while now, but she may as well say it to people now that she's told Ryuko and Simon about it. ]

[Now Phoenix rises to the edge of his seat with a start, instantly looking concerned.]

Athena...! What happened?

[ The rise in Phoenix's tone surprises her, but she's back to being calm right after. ]

It happened during the blizzard. A car ran me over.

[His eyes do widen in concern. I knew that she was hiding something... but I didn't imagine that!]

...I'm so sorry, Athena. I had no idea. How bad was it...?

[ She pushes herself back into the couch. Well, as far as she can go, anyway. It's not something she can openly talk about, so she minimises herself before anything else. ]

I— I was found by three people before things got too late.

The worst part was that I saw my mom.

[Phoenix glances towards her as she speaks. He wants to comfort her in some way, but it looks like she needs her space.]

I'm glad that people were able to find you at least, Athena.

...So you really did see her. [That was the part I had suspected.]

You knew?

[ She's not offended, or anything of the sort. But she is staring at him now. ]

I suspected it, with everything that happened. I saw Mia... and I know that others saw people too. I thought you were hiding something about that day, and I thought that might have been it. I almost pressed you about it, but I didn't want to make you relive it.

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