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

[marlonmajesty]

[ Kachessa Strahl is an up-and-coming defense attorney. Because of course she is. The daughter of some wealthy business entrepreneurs, she's here for some tea. And oh boy, does she have tea. She is, quite possibly, on her fifth cup while she reads the morning paper. ]

[guiltyguitar]

[ Tea? Nah. He likes coffee.

But how can he resist such a beautiful woman in front of him. Lucky place, lucky time, it seems. He pulled up on his bike the same way he does most places. And then he orders a coffee, some milk and sugar. He's carrying a little pile of documents. He's got a lot to go over for this current case. It's going to be a pain in the ass.

Seriously, a hit and run? Who does that anymore. It's not like they had any trouble finding the guy. He slides in to the table next to her. Then smiles.

Now the question is. Does she recognize the rock-star sensation and prosecutor, or is she that unaware? ]

Looks like I'm not the only one hitting the books this morning. Anything in your paper that's interesting, Fräulein?

[marlonmajesty]

[ She immediately looks like she's tasted something sour. ]

Casual flirting will get you nowhere with me. You remind me too much of my ex with that.

[guiltyguitar]

Ouch. Are you sure your shoulders aren't made of ice? I've had warmer receptions at a funeral.

[ Smile smile. He's not deterred. :) ]

Besides. I've heard about you. You're the newbie, aren't you? Congrats.

[marlonmajesty]

[ She is looking increasingly annoyed. ]

Go away. Who I am is none of your business.

[1/2]

[guiltyguitar]

...

[ A small pause. Wow. This one is very grumpy... ]

[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.]

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[It's not surprising that Godot would find himself at a café like this one, really. Life's too short for bad coffee, and while he could easily be percolating his own - well, it's just like the spirit of ordering a meal out somewhere, isn't it? Just because you can cook, doesn't necessarily mean that you always want to do so. Far as that goes, the same could be said of enjoying an occasional cup or twelve in a quiet establishment, away from the noise and crowds of the courthouse.

The fact that there was another patron today, however, did not escape his notice.]

Haven't had your fill of the world's troubles at work?

[There's a smirk on his lips as he asks that, canting his head to the side slightly.

The expression is forced, if only because it serves more to communicate intent as an ice-breaker/something of an attempt at bleak gallows humor, rather than an honest inquiry. Fact is, on a daily basis in this line of work, you see and hear a lot of unfortunate things. Everyone has a sob story. Reading the news on top of that, some days, would only serve as another grim reminder of how terrible the state of affairs really was.]

[marlonmajesty]

That would be true, but alas...

[ She'll set it down so he can see: it's a newspaper from a local elementary. ]

It's something I use to keep informed of my son's school. Anything to be as involved as I can. They produce something remarkably professional-looking, so I'm assuming someone there has a passion for the press.

[ Well she's in a good enough mood, and Godot has successfully made an icebreaker. ]

Kachessa Strahl. Pleased to meet you.

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[His expression softened as she revealed the type of newspaper that it was, and nodded attentively as she went on to explain that it was her son's school. It was noble, really, that she was trying so hard to be actively engaged in her child's academic life.

As she offered her name, a genuine smile crossed his lips.]

Godot. The pleasure's all mine.

[He raises his mug at that, in a very typical "cheers" sort of gesture.]

I have to agree on the quality of that newspaper - I was genuinely fooled by it, myself, at a glance.

I'm impressed that you manage to find the time and energy to be so actively engaged in his schooling, though; I know how demanding this kind of work can be.

[He's absolutely being polite and not fishing for more information than what she chooses to give up willingly - he's not some kind of creep, after all.]

[marlonmajesty]

Godot... I thought I recognized the visor. I'd wondered, but I suppose I assumed it had just become an expensive but otherwise-used product following your fall...

[ She'll put down the paper and take a sip of her tea. ]

I only just started. My son is eight, and even if we're exes, his father is involved. He also has his grandparents. So I try to be involved where I can be. It's going to be hard, but... I'm sure we'll manage.