Rita awakened in a cold sweat that morning. What the hell was that all about!? It had to be a trick, like the moving shadows from the other night... It just couldn't be real
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Franziska woke up groggy and while the sensation itself was familiar enough, so was the realization that she hadn't reached her goal for the night. As she woke, her memory dragged back fragments of the final intercom announcement. Five sessions, three groups, paying for their uniforms? The prosecutor sat up, touching her forehead as she scowled at the thought of it all. So was that their aim? How typical of the military to see everything in terms of gains and profits. There was no justice in what they were doing and she was certain it broke some sort of law somewhere.
After being shoved into unpleasant clothing and given the usual Doyleton fare (it was surprising they were being allowed to go at all, to be truthful), Franziska boarded a bus and tried to pull her winter coat a little closer to her. The large white coat hid the embarrassingly pink cardigan even if it did little to cover up the gray slacks or beige turtleneck poking out at the neck. She couldn't let anyone see her wearing pink. It wasn't her color. She was a von Karma, they wore blue. That was simply how things were done.
As she moved down the bus aisle, she looked for an empty seat to take until her eyes alighted upon a soon to be unfortunate fellow. He was too busy shoving food in his face (not that Franziska could blame him) to notice her right away, but he would most certainly see her as she stopped next to him. He had better see her at least or she'd be losing privileges for the day in exchange for slapping him across the face. To be honest, she knew she should stay her hand, not just for his sake but also for his cousin, Lion. She...well, she didn't owe the Ushiromiyas anything, but she didn't necessarily want to alienate an ally through beating his cousin, either. "Ushiromiya Battler. I trust today you're a bit less scattered than the last time we met?"
It was true that they'd only met once, but Battler recognized who was talking to him before he even turned to face her. The voice, the tone, that condescending way of using his full name... Yeah, that could only be one person. He laughed weakly to himself at what Franziska was saying. Scattered...? That was ... certainly one way of putting it. More like he'd been completely out of his head for no discernible reason. It still made him a little uneasy just thinking about it, but at least it was gone, and he had a better idea of what was actually going on. Maybe with that, things could go better this time, and he could reverse whatever weird impression he'd given because of what had happened. It .... couldn't be a good one, when even he couldn't understand the way he'd been acting.
"Yeah, I'm okay now," he acknowledged, a little warily. His voice went firm. "Listen, um. I know I already said this on the bulletin, but it's not really a proper apology unless it's in person, right? So, I'm sorry. I can't really explain what happened that night. Even I don't understand. The things I was thinking and feeling weren't normal at all. I was totally unstable. That ... it wasn't me at all. Even so, it's not like anyone else did anything for me, so it's not like there's anyone else to blame. I won't make any excuses, and I definitely don't plan on letting something like that happen again."
"... Well, maybe we should just start over. I guess there's not really a choice, in my case." That thought was just as uncomfortable as the knowledge that he'd totally lost it, but Battler managed a smile despite that, inviting Franziska into the seat next to him with a friendly gesture.
Come to think of it, they probably had some things to talk about regarding that, right? ... Or maybe it was just him. He wasn't really sure how they'd gotten along before this was he? And it was possible that weird incident had made it shift. ... No, that was probably too optimistic. Most people weren't going to just blow something like that off were they? Though he kind of wished he could himself, and just forget that it had ever happened. Apparently, it wouldn't be the first time. The thought caused a twinge of bitterness, though he did his best not to let it show.
Unstable was one way of putting it, was what she wanted to say, but Franziska held her tongue. She knew it wasn't his fault he'd been certifiable that night, nor was it his fault that the Institute brainwashed him into forgetting his time here before. At the time, Franziska had thought all of his excuses were lame ways to cover up his memory failure, but the longer he kept to the apologetic routine, the more Franziska realized she was probably being a bit overly harsh toward him.
He still rambled, however. That didn't change even after a temporary absence from this place, it seemed Battler needed to fill every nook and cranny with logic. In a way, it made it easier to read him, but Franziska was one for succinct conversation so the tic still bothered her. With a raised eyebrow, she turned her head away and waved her had dismissively. "Your apology was given before. It is unnecessary to repeat yourself, Ushiromiya Battler, unless you repeat your foolish mistake."
Someone was behind her, trying to push through to keep going on to the seats and Franziska sighed, taking Battler's offer to join him. It wasn't because she wanted to sit there, of course. She couldn't give the impression she wanted to associate with anyone like a normal person. Instead, it was out of necessity - and only that - that she sat, back straight, ankles crossed, holding the jacket closed by keeping her arms cross over her chest.
"I saw you last night with that garish prosecutor Klavier Gavin," she said, picking up the conversation again with an attempt at a neutral topic. She wasn't picking on Battler, so that was neutral, right? "Did you do anything useful together?"
...... Ha. Well, that was something, at least. He couldn't help but feel like she could have phrased that a bit more carefully, but better a little harsh than an outright rejection. The air could definitely be lighter, but he could live with that when it meant that he didn't have to bring it up again. Live by action instead of word, right? .... Something like that. He wanted to say something silly to break away the terseness of the atmosphere, but he had a feeling the attempt wouldn't do any good, so instead, he lightly rested his head against the window.
Luckily, the air seemed to clear without any motion on his part. He couldn't help but laugh lightly at her description of Klavier, not only for the word choice, but because it was said as a simple fact rather than some sort of jab, though he couldn't say he would have minded if it had been the latter. The fact he was apparently a prosecutor, however, did caused him to pause. Klavier had said the same thing thing about Franziska, didn't he?
Which meant that he'd been hanging around two trained professionals. ..... That was just great. No wonder he'd started feel overwhelmed when Klavier had started talking about investigating. The methods were going to be totally different, right? They actually had skills and training, where he'd been forced to work around his lack of anything like that with flexible thinking and unconventionality. The sort of thing definitely had its advantages, but he wasn't so arrogant that he thought he could take the place of the police. Only an idiot would think something like that. He felt vaguely embarrassed by the revelation, like he was a little who'd been caught playing where they shouldn't. ... Of course, it wasn't like that. He wasn't screwing around, and he definitely wasn't making any undue assumptions.
"We ended up in the file room," he responded. "He said he was trying to look into what happens to patients who disappear. A couple files were missing, but it's a start at least."
".... Actually, when we were talking earlier, he was telling me a little about how the three of us met. The details were kind of vague, but something meeting by coincidence and investigating together?" He'd even gone as far to call the inner working working of the place a common interest. And if that was true, it might be a good place to test the waters. ... It was strange, but he was starting to get the feeling that he might have allies in places he wouldn't expect. He wasn't really sure if it was true or not, but there couldn't be much harm in verifying it, could there?
When he laughed at her question, Franziska was ready to reprimand him, but Battler seemed to retract his laughter as soon as he started. Perhaps she had judged him too harshly. If Lion thought well of him, then shouldn't Franziska give him a second chance? Not that von Karmas gave second chances easily, but Franziska had found Lion useful and worthwhile to keep around, meaning she couldn't alienate the man by beating his cousin endlessly about the head.
Dammit, where is Phoenix Wright when I need to vent my frustrations?!
"I se--" File room? Wait. Looking into those who disappear? Franziska went from listening out of politeness' sake to zeroing her attention in on Battler like he was a key witness she had to interrogate. Klavier was looking into those who disappeared? Who? Would he know of Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth and her... "What names was he searching for?"
Talk about their initial meeting could be dealt with later. She had to ensure that Klavier Gavin didn't go poking about in sore wounds, or asking after her father and rediscovering his crimes. He had seemed rather knowledgeable of Franziska when they met, so it was only natural that he would know of her mentor and father, Manfred. But how much? How much more would she remain under his shadow? "Answer. Now."
.... That was definitely unexpected. It was kind of incredible, actually, the number of times something had shifted to something totally different within seconds since he'd gotten here. Did he need to be more careful, or was it just that he kept ended up talking to some weird people? ... He did have a certain talent for attracting those types, didn't he. Why was that? ... Well, at any rate, it seemed some higher power wanted to prevent him from ever having a normal conversation.
"About that, I'm not really sure. A girl, and someone close, but I couldn't really tell you the names." It was kind of a vague way of putting it, but that's about as far as he was willing to go. It's not like he was friends with the guy, exactly, but Battler didn't make a habit of sharing other people's personal information. Not that was in confidence or anything like that, but he still didn't feel quite qualified to mention he'd been looking for his brother, even if that fact was he knew about it.
"Why?" He turned to her curiously. "If you're that interested, it can't be without reason, right?" And he had to admit, now he was, too.
A girl and someone close. Close to Klavier? Who? Turning away, Franziska methodically gripped the sleeves of her jacket, closing her eyes as she thought. While Klavier Gavin knew much about Franziska, she knew little about him. The only information she had was from her father, and he had only mentioned Klavier bearing unfortunate blood relation to a defense attorney. Such a shame, too. He was likely a brilliant prosecutor, but he was tainted by the blood bond.
Could it be the mysterious brother? And who else? A girl. There weren't that many here in the Institute, but it could easily be someone who had disappeared and escaped Franziska's notice. Opening her eyes again, she ran through the information she had and realized, with a certain amount of disgust, that it wasn't enough. She needed a research team here. Blast the Institute for taking away all the tools and people she relied upon!
"Because we are from the same place," she said, turning her head slightly toward Battler so she could watch him from the corner of her eye. "Those he searches for could easily be ones I am searching for and it is a matter of efficiency that we do not look for the same ones. I do not enjoy wasting my time investigating the same incidents endlessly."
It was a lie, but a plausible one. Battler had told Franziska enough to assure her that Klavier wasn't looking into her father. As long as no one followed up that line of evidence, she was fine. As for the missing Wright and Edgeworth... Those were closed cases as far as Franziska was concerned.
"I suppose on your trip together was when he told you of our meeting?" she continued, trying to pull away from the topic before Battler decided to pry too deep. Her eye dipped to his arm, the one the rat had clung to the night before last, and then closed again as she turned her head away. "You both have spectacularly bad luck when it comes to that hallway. First a scorpion and then a rat?"
.... From the same place? Something about the way that was put struck Battler as odd, but he couldn't quite place why, and it did make a certain amount of sense. Maybe they acquaintances? It had sounded like all three of the had met here, the way he was told, but... Well, whatever. It probably didn't matter either way.
"In that case, wouldn't it be easier to ask him?" he shrugged. Although, she did have a point. They weren't going to get very far if everyone continually tried to look into the same things, would they. "... Maybe it would be better to try and coordinate. If we're interested in the same thing, we might be able to help each other out."
It would be a nice option to have, at least. As it was, he was only surrounded by strangers, and any kind of potential ally was more than welcome. If not, well, at least he couldn't say he hadn't bothered trying, right?
"During lunch, actually," he explained, though the rest caused him to pause. ".... A scorpion?" Was that something that had happened before? If so, Klavier had failed to mention it.
After being shoved into unpleasant clothing and given the usual Doyleton fare (it was surprising they were being allowed to go at all, to be truthful), Franziska boarded a bus and tried to pull her winter coat a little closer to her. The large white coat hid the embarrassingly pink cardigan even if it did little to cover up the gray slacks or beige turtleneck poking out at the neck. She couldn't let anyone see her wearing pink. It wasn't her color. She was a von Karma, they wore blue. That was simply how things were done.
As she moved down the bus aisle, she looked for an empty seat to take until her eyes alighted upon a soon to be unfortunate fellow. He was too busy shoving food in his face (not that Franziska could blame him) to notice her right away, but he would most certainly see her as she stopped next to him. He had better see her at least or she'd be losing privileges for the day in exchange for slapping him across the face. To be honest, she knew she should stay her hand, not just for his sake but also for his cousin, Lion. She...well, she didn't owe the Ushiromiyas anything, but she didn't necessarily want to alienate an ally through beating his cousin, either. "Ushiromiya Battler. I trust today you're a bit less scattered than the last time we met?"
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"Yeah, I'm okay now," he acknowledged, a little warily. His voice went firm. "Listen, um. I know I already said this on the bulletin, but it's not really a proper apology unless it's in person, right? So, I'm sorry. I can't really explain what happened that night. Even I don't understand. The things I was thinking and feeling weren't normal at all. I was totally unstable. That ... it wasn't me at all. Even so, it's not like anyone else did anything for me, so it's not like there's anyone else to blame. I won't make any excuses, and I definitely don't plan on letting something like that happen again."
"... Well, maybe we should just start over. I guess there's not really a choice, in my case." That thought was just as uncomfortable as the knowledge that he'd totally lost it, but Battler managed a smile despite that, inviting Franziska into the seat next to him with a friendly gesture.
Come to think of it, they probably had some things to talk about regarding that, right? ... Or maybe it was just him. He wasn't really sure how they'd gotten along before this was he? And it was possible that weird incident had made it shift. ... No, that was probably too optimistic. Most people weren't going to just blow something like that off were they? Though he kind of wished he could himself, and just forget that it had ever happened. Apparently, it wouldn't be the first time. The thought caused a twinge of bitterness, though he did his best not to let it show.
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He still rambled, however. That didn't change even after a temporary absence from this place, it seemed Battler needed to fill every nook and cranny with logic. In a way, it made it easier to read him, but Franziska was one for succinct conversation so the tic still bothered her. With a raised eyebrow, she turned her head away and waved her had dismissively. "Your apology was given before. It is unnecessary to repeat yourself, Ushiromiya Battler, unless you repeat your foolish mistake."
Someone was behind her, trying to push through to keep going on to the seats and Franziska sighed, taking Battler's offer to join him. It wasn't because she wanted to sit there, of course. She couldn't give the impression she wanted to associate with anyone like a normal person. Instead, it was out of necessity - and only that - that she sat, back straight, ankles crossed, holding the jacket closed by keeping her arms cross over her chest.
"I saw you last night with that garish prosecutor Klavier Gavin," she said, picking up the conversation again with an attempt at a neutral topic. She wasn't picking on Battler, so that was neutral, right? "Did you do anything useful together?"
Reply
Luckily, the air seemed to clear without any motion on his part. He couldn't help but laugh lightly at her description of Klavier, not only for the word choice, but because it was said as a simple fact rather than some sort of jab, though he couldn't say he would have minded if it had been the latter. The fact he was apparently a prosecutor, however, did caused him to pause. Klavier had said the same thing thing about Franziska, didn't he?
Which meant that he'd been hanging around two trained professionals. ..... That was just great. No wonder he'd started feel overwhelmed when Klavier had started talking about investigating. The methods were going to be totally different, right? They actually had skills and training, where he'd been forced to work around his lack of anything like that with flexible thinking and unconventionality. The sort of thing definitely had its advantages, but he wasn't so arrogant that he thought he could take the place of the police. Only an idiot would think something like that. He felt vaguely embarrassed by the revelation, like he was a little who'd been caught playing where they shouldn't. ... Of course, it wasn't like that. He wasn't screwing around, and he definitely wasn't making any undue assumptions.
"We ended up in the file room," he responded. "He said he was trying to look into what happens to patients who disappear. A couple files were missing, but it's a start at least."
".... Actually, when we were talking earlier, he was telling me a little about how the three of us met. The details were kind of vague, but something meeting by coincidence and investigating together?" He'd even gone as far to call the inner working working of the place a common interest. And if that was true, it might be a good place to test the waters. ... It was strange, but he was starting to get the feeling that he might have allies in places he wouldn't expect. He wasn't really sure if it was true or not, but there couldn't be much harm in verifying it, could there?
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Dammit, where is Phoenix Wright when I need to vent my frustrations?!
"I se--" File room? Wait. Looking into those who disappear? Franziska went from listening out of politeness' sake to zeroing her attention in on Battler like he was a key witness she had to interrogate. Klavier was looking into those who disappeared? Who? Would he know of Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth and her... "What names was he searching for?"
Talk about their initial meeting could be dealt with later. She had to ensure that Klavier Gavin didn't go poking about in sore wounds, or asking after her father and rediscovering his crimes. He had seemed rather knowledgeable of Franziska when they met, so it was only natural that he would know of her mentor and father, Manfred. But how much? How much more would she remain under his shadow? "Answer. Now."
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"About that, I'm not really sure. A girl, and someone close, but I couldn't really tell you the names." It was kind of a vague way of putting it, but that's about as far as he was willing to go. It's not like he was friends with the guy, exactly, but Battler didn't make a habit of sharing other people's personal information. Not that was in confidence or anything like that, but he still didn't feel quite qualified to mention he'd been looking for his brother, even if that fact was he knew about it.
"Why?" He turned to her curiously. "If you're that interested, it can't be without reason, right?" And he had to admit, now he was, too.
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Could it be the mysterious brother? And who else? A girl. There weren't that many here in the Institute, but it could easily be someone who had disappeared and escaped Franziska's notice. Opening her eyes again, she ran through the information she had and realized, with a certain amount of disgust, that it wasn't enough. She needed a research team here. Blast the Institute for taking away all the tools and people she relied upon!
"Because we are from the same place," she said, turning her head slightly toward Battler so she could watch him from the corner of her eye. "Those he searches for could easily be ones I am searching for and it is a matter of efficiency that we do not look for the same ones. I do not enjoy wasting my time investigating the same incidents endlessly."
It was a lie, but a plausible one. Battler had told Franziska enough to assure her that Klavier wasn't looking into her father. As long as no one followed up that line of evidence, she was fine. As for the missing Wright and Edgeworth... Those were closed cases as far as Franziska was concerned.
"I suppose on your trip together was when he told you of our meeting?" she continued, trying to pull away from the topic before Battler decided to pry too deep. Her eye dipped to his arm, the one the rat had clung to the night before last, and then closed again as she turned her head away. "You both have spectacularly bad luck when it comes to that hallway. First a scorpion and then a rat?"
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.... From the same place? Something about the way that was put struck Battler as odd, but he couldn't quite place why, and it did make a certain amount of sense. Maybe they acquaintances? It had sounded like all three of the had met here, the way he was told, but... Well, whatever. It probably didn't matter either way.
"In that case, wouldn't it be easier to ask him?" he shrugged. Although, she did have a point. They weren't going to get very far if everyone continually tried to look into the same things, would they. "... Maybe it would be better to try and coordinate. If we're interested in the same thing, we might be able to help each other out."
It would be a nice option to have, at least. As it was, he was only surrounded by strangers, and any kind of potential ally was more than welcome. If not, well, at least he couldn't say he hadn't bothered trying, right?
"During lunch, actually," he explained, though the rest caused him to pause. ".... A scorpion?" Was that something that had happened before? If so, Klavier had failed to mention it.
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