Mingle and an Intro: Welcome to the Box!

[gravemanagement]

[ On today, a long-time business has been bought for the day and paid well. Whoever paid it wants people to eat and make merry for some reason. Must be a holiday? Huh, all devices showing the date day it's the new year. It doesn't matter what day it was for you before now, it's not the new year. And you? You are at the Chloe Café at 1:30PM.

Waiters and waitresses will take your order. Really, it's a chill time. Even if you're supposed to be dead? You're alive now, somewhere in Los Angeles, Japanifornia. Welcome and have a good day, because eventually there's gonna be a murder to solve in this big ol' city. ]

Comments

[2/2]

[guiltyguitar]

... Oh, I think it's a lot my business. I like to keep up to date on who I might end up tangoing with in court.

[ ... He's being a bit more serious this time, even if it's in the same friendly tone with the same smile. ]

Which is to say, I'm interested in what kind of music you're going to make.

[marlonmajesty]

[ Well. Now he finally has her attention. She'll look up for a minute, before looking back down. ]

...Chess.

[guiltyguitar]

[ ... Hmmmm. ]

I'd be careful with that. Pawns are tricksy little guys, ja?

[marlonmajesty]

Every piece can be tricky. It's how you move them about. That's evidence, using it as a counterattack against the evidence that your opponent presents. If their pieces are arranged in a manner that can't be penetrated, then one side of the board falls and loses.

[ Chess!!! She likes chess!!! ]

[guiltyguitar]

[ Heh. He likes her, he thinks. ]

I don't view court as a battle. It's like a recital. Everyone's got their own parts to play, and if someone is off during the performance, then it's going to sound bad.

The melody of truth is always the sweetest to hear, anyway. Our job is to make sure Fräulein Justice hands out the right decisions. Don't you think?

[marlonmajesty]

You'd be a rarity. Unfortunately, most prosecutors are out to win regardless of who gets caught in the crossfire.

[ Hate to rain on your parade but... ]

[guiltyguitar]

... Some defense attorneys, too. There's a lot of people who go into this line of work... for the wrong reasons. Oh, the tales you hear!

[ Sad smile. ]

... But so what? Can't let a few bad apples ruin the whole bushel, right, Fräulein?

[marlonmajesty]

Kachessa Strahl.

[ She holds out a hand to shake. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you.

[guiltyguitar]

Klavier Gavin. Prosecutor by day, rock god by night.

[ He smiles. And firmly shakes that hand! ]

The pleasure is all mine, Fräulein.

[marlonmajesty]

Gavin... Gavin...

[ She seems bothered by this, and then-- ]

Oh! Any relation to Kristoph Gavin?

[ She seems surprised! Gee I wonder fucking why. ]

[guiltyguitar]

[ ............. Well fuck, that's not a name he was hoping to hear. ]

You... know my brother? How?

[marlonmajesty]

He's in the latest text books for everything around what he did. An example of what not to do, as it were. ...Sorry, that's probably insensitive.

[ But also he asked. ]

[guiltyguitar]

...

[ ............. UH. There's some cursing in German. Sorry. ]

A-already...?

[marlonmajesty]

Already...? The big scandals were a few years ago now. It was a big deal, the whole framing Phoenix Wright thing for forged evidence and the murders he committed, including attempted murder of a teenaged girl. Of course he'd be an example in text books.

[ Klav your brother did a lot of bad. ]

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[He was trying to be good, minding his own business at his table.

But he couldn't help but overhear that part about Klavier's brother framing Phoenix Wright for forged evidence.

He absolutely just did a spit take and nearly choked on his coffee.

His free hand comes up to the side of his visor, realizing he probably just drew attention to himself. Pay him no mind. Really. Please.]

[guiltyguitar]

What?!

[ --EXCUSE HIM. He takes a moment to look back at Godot and honestly cannot blame him for the reaction.

Same man.

Same. ]

That's not just the kind of thing you can say without evidence so casually! Proof! Where's the proof!! ... I'll admit he murdered a man. I know about that. Everyone knows about that. It's disgraceful. And he certainly tried to pin it on Herr Wright, but...

[ Denial is not just a river in Egypt. ]

[marlonmajesty]

...

[ Kachessa is just going to look at him like he grew another head. ]

Were you not present for the revelation of all of this? D... Did you somehow miss all of that scandal?

[ Gods, okay, where's the nearest library. ]

I don't have my textbook on-hand, maybe...

[ Googling on her phone and then handing it to him to read a news article on the whole thing. ]

[guiltyguitar]

No?! Wha--

[ It says he was the prosecutor ON THE GODDAMN CASE WHAT. His eyes furiously look over what's written and he can't believe it. ]

I... I don't remember... any of this! Mein gott! ... This joke isn't very funny, Fräulein!

[marlonmajesty]

There's something strange going on here... I can't exactly fake a news article on a phone, after all. And if you'd like...

[ She'll take him back to the results page! There's more than one. ]

I definitely can't fake more than one. So something strange must be happening...

[guiltyguitar]

... Nein!

[ No no no no no. This isn't happening. So many images rush before him.

"Ah... I won't be appearing in the trial, actually."

"Huh? Why not?"

"I won't be facing off with you on your first trial, apparently. But in exchange, I brought information."

"Information...?"

"The attorney who'll be there in my place tomorrow is not to be trusted."

Kristoph had the most to gain. Kristoph had the most reasons for wanting Phoenix gone. All of them petty. But he's known Kristoph for years. Surely he'd never... surely he'd...

... But then, he didn't believe the murder charge at first, either. But it was true. He DID kill a man. He admitted to it. ]

... What kind of sick joke is this...?

[marlonmajesty]

...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause problems like this.

[ But now there's the mystery of why Klavier doesn't remember. ]

[guiltyguitar]

[ Oooh he is deeply not okay. ]

... He used me.

[ It's said through gritted teeth.

But surely he should already know. Isn't that all Kristoph had ever done? Found him a tool to be useful? He'd been the one to encourage his passion for law. He'd been the one to want him in the prosecutor's office.

... Had he ever actually cared? At all? ]

For seven years, I've wondered why he came to me about that phony evidence. I wondered how he knew. I wondered a lot of things. B-but this... I never... how? How is this possible...?

[marlonmajesty]

...Forgive me for floating this idea, but... Given you have no knowledge of this, despite being there, but I do... Hm... What year is it? Without looking at your phone.

[ She has a theory. ]

[guiltyguitar]

[ He maybe thinks he gets what she's driving at. But that explanation is no less insane. ]

... It's 2026. Isn't it...?

[marlonmajesty]

Now tell me... How could a boy born in 2022 be in school if it was 2026?

[ Sheeee has questions on this. ]