Day 57: Arts & Crafts Room (Fourth Shift)

[gald_digger]

When she left the lobby, Anise still didn't know what to think about her visitor. All this time, she thought the one person the institute would never truly get to was the Colonel, and that if he was gone, then maybe he was hiding somewhere, plotting a way to rescue the rest of them. Now that she thought about it... maybe that was naïve of her. She only thought those things because she didn't want to believe that the institute had that much power...

Thinking about it too hard made her feel so anxious it made her stomach churn, though, so Anise decided it would be best to distract herself in the meantime, and then think about it when her head was clearer. She'd probably have to tell Guy and the others what happened, too.

While she really wanted to see the movie she helped select, she also really wanted to see if the Arts & Crafts Room had those new sewing supplies the Head Doctor talked about a while ago. When she arrived, she asked her "nurse" about it, who cheerfully replied that yes, they had them, and that Anise was among the ones fortunate enough to have the privilege of using them. Was that a good behavior thing, or a military rank thing...? Well, in either case, it meant Anise got to check out the new materials they brought in, so she wasn't going to complain.

There were some pretty floral patterns among the pieces of fabric, so Anise selected those. Anything that she made had to have a few cute elements, after all. She brought the pieces to her table along with some needles, thread, scissors, and a roll of a thick cord-like material.

Before she could begin, however, that "nurse" returned, dropping an envelope on the table in front of her. "This is for you," was all she said before walking away again. When Anise picked the item up, her eyes widened in shock. There, on the envelope, was the name Dolores... written in her Mama's handwriting. Much of the other information on the outside had been blacked out, but... was this from her parents!? Without a moment's delay, she tore open the envelope and began reading the letter within, her hands trembling as she did.

[For Claude!]

Comments

[in-your-defense.livejournal.com]

"...it wasn't an attack," Phoenix said poutily, though it was clear that he wasn't too offended by Edgeworth's mock prickliness. "You were whispering sweet nothings in my ear...can you blame me?" The defense attorney's lips turned upwards in an affectionate way as he watched Edgeworth, enjoying the prosecutor's inability to cope with random, unexpected affection. In several ways, his reactions were incredibly endearing, and Phoenix couldn't resist poking further fun at him.

[the-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

"You...it...I'm finished here," Edgeworth finally managed, sliding his seat back as he stood up. Placing a hand on his hip, Edgeworth looked down at the defense attorney haughtily, his fingertips drumming against his side. "I trust that I'll see you tonight," he added, his thoughts largely returning to the task of gathering up the proper medical supplies.

[in-your-defense.livejournal.com]

Phoenix gave Edgeworth a sheepish, somewhat apologetic smile as he nodded, the prosecutor's posturing revealing how undone he was feeling about the entire situation. Phoenix had initiated the contact impulsively, having felt almost too giddy with the fact that Edgeworth was willing to try, to the point where he'd entirely forgotten about his promise before - and he couldn't help but to feel a bit of guilt for intruding on Edgeworth's comfort zones.

"...yeah," he confirmed, as he began to work to gather his pictures back together into an organized pile. "Where did you want me to meet you?"

[the-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

"Assuming that I don't decide to make good on my offer of forcing you to sleep on the front lawn of the institute, I suppose we can meet in the hallway where you made your grand entrance," Edgeworth said, his gaze falling upon the drawings Phoenix was gathering up. After a few moments one in particular caught his eye, and he plucked it up from Phoenix's grasp as he lifted to look at it properly.

The scene depicted hit Edgeworth in a poignant way, his eyes moving over the intricate detailing of himself and Phoenix arguing against one another in a courtroom. It was clear that each pencil stroke had been placed methodically, from the lines on his face to Phoenix's eyebrows, and the intensity captured in the drawing itself was something that caught Edgeworth's attention and drew several memories to the surface of his mind. The picture itself didn't lend much detail in the face of which trial it might have been, but Edgeworth found himself taken with it nonetheless, his gaze flickering back to Phoenix. "And I'd like to keep this."

[in-your-defense.livejournal.com]

Said like I have a choice, considering that you have it in your hand, Phoenix thought to himself wryly, as he nodded and stood up, pushing his chair back lightly with a soft scrape. "...if you decide against exploring, I should be okay with sleeping out there as long as you decide to bring the pina coladas and your grass skirt," Phoenix said wryly, as he hugged the rest of his pictures to himself, the look on his face teasing as he looked at Edgeworth. "Seeing you dance the hula should keep me pretty warm."

[the-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

Offering Phoenix a deeply wrought glare, Edgeworth bapped the front of his nose with the drawing in his hand, his expression incredulous. "Remind me to purchase that muzzle," he gibed in return, stepping around his chair and walking in a slow stride towards the door. "And hopefully the bat will be enough to battle against your horrid sense of humor."

[in-your-defense.livejournal.com]

"...hopefully that's the only thing we'll need to worry about tonight," Phoenix said softly, his tone edged with concern as Edgeworth stepped away. Raising his voice a little, Phoenix spoke after the prosecutor without moving to follow behind him - he got the feeling that the prosecutor didn't want to be tailed, so he refrained. "Stay safe, Edgeworth. I don't want to find you in pieces."

[the-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

Rolling his eyes, Edgeworth came to a stop a few paces away from Phoenix, his head turning to look at the defense attorney before quirking a brow at him. "...I'd like you to think heavily about pots and kettles before we meet again tonight," he said tritely before flashing Phoenix a quick, somewhat unsure smirk. "Enjoy your dinner, Wright."

With that, Edgeworth turned and left the art room, his sights set on returning back to his own room. Even with the inexplicably enthusiastic emotions pumping through his chest, he had to remain subdued - after all, there was still a horrid meal to consume and unknown horrors waiting once the lights went out...and strangely, for the first time, Edgeworth felt the harsh edges of his fear wash away, leaving him only with the purpose of what he needed to accomplish and everything that their victory could represent.