Night 41: Main Hallway, 1-West

[toxicspiderman]

[from here]The main hallway was empty, too. The quiet was broken only by squeak of S.T's shoes on the tile floor and tiny creaks of metal as the toolbox swung as he walked

Comments

[high_prosecutor]

Just the person I didn't want to see right now. Of course she would be out early. Miles shook off the rumble from the voice and put on his best courtroom smirk. "I wouldn't call being in an open hallway hiding from anyone, Franziska von Karma," he replied, turning to face her. "Unless your definition of hiding from someone involves them being in plain sight in their usual clothing, easily recognizable to anyone that passes. I don't believe that definition would stand up in a court of law."

He shrugged his shoulders, gesturing with the hand that was holding his flashlight. "So, I take it you awoke here this morning and proceeded to order the nursing staff to do your bidding, which did not go as planned. That having failed, you've been looking for information, having decided that your few hours' experience here was clearly superior to my month's worth of time. Am I correct?"

Edgeworth didn't wait for her response before continuing. "That said, I don't actually wish to antagonize you. This place has thwarted many of our best efforts to get to its roots. You're quite good at using brute force and cunning to aid with such things, should you wish to do so."

[iwhipthefool]

Damn him! Damn him to... Something! Somewhere horrible where Franziska could wipe that smug look off his foolhardy face once and for all! How dare he shut her down like that when-- AUGH.

Franziska's mind could never catch up to her frustration when someone caught her at a weak moment, and when that someone was Miles Edgeworth, things just never went as smoothly as she wanted. She wasn't about to let him get the better of her again! Not here of all places where they all should be at the same disadvantage!

Pointing her finger sharply at him, face scowling, she managed to get her feet under her and said, "Incorrect, Miles Edgeworth. I have decided that my few hours of experience coupled with the combined knowledge of everyone here put me in a clearly superior position to your first night here. And I intend to build on that knowledge and leave here before the week is up - unlike some foolish people who have remained trapped for a month." Relying on the help of others was weak, but if she labeled the help under the guise of research, it wasn't so bad. Lowering her hand, she set her free hand on her hip, leaving her flashlight's beam on the ground as her eyes wandered to the sword at Miles' side. "Do you even know how to use that effectively?"

[high_prosecutor]

"I'll agree that when I arrived here there wasn't anyone posting the information that I do on a regular basis, and the patient population was smaller, so yes, on that front, you do have an advantage I didn't." The words flowed smoothly; he had been expecting her argument on that side.

Edgeworth waited a single beat before he spoke again. "I'm sure that by now you're aware that the man who runs this place, one Martin Landel, made an appearance in the second-floor chapel several days ago. Of course, as you would guess, several patients attacked him physically. Those attempts failed; none of them could even touch the man. I myself spoke out on that occasion, and as you can see, I'm still here. Before you call me a fool, Franziska, I'd like to ask you a question. How do you plan on countering someone that can't be touched by either physical force or words?"

He didn't wait for her response. "The month I've spent here has been one ongoing investigation. It isn't a simple open-and-shut case, as much as I'd like to tell you that it is. And I've been training with this," he said, indicating the rapier in his right hand. "I wouldn't be carrying it if I didn't think I could use it." A bluff, but he didn't think she would call him on it after a question like the one he had asked.

[iwhipthefool]

She had known that physical attacks would not work. With this many people forced into a small space against their will, it was just a matter of time before they rioted. Simple human dynamics dictated that at one point or another, they should have attempted to kill or attack Martin Landel. Hearing that he had appeared in the chapel and that he hadn't been crushed to death (poisoned or bombed were other likely options, given Rude's notes) said that he had some sort of security team in place that kept everyone at bay.

If words did not reach and physical force proved insufficient, then that left a sneak attack or a combined effort of the entire Institute and outside help. Sneak attacks were rendered uselessly simply by the fact that Martin Landel's position was never revealed to anyone, and therefore had to be unknown. Crossing her arms and finally turning the flashlight off (it was pointless to have two on at the same time), she closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Combined effort would be best, but bringing this group together would be nigh impossible.

Good thing she was here. Whether through cooperation, coercion or simple force, she'd get this patient body working together if it killed them.

For his part, Miles Edgeworth had certainly been doing his work, and that meant Franziska would reap the benefits of it as much as possible. As for her plan, she didn't need to reveal it yet. Not until she gathered more information. "If you have been conducting an investigation for the better part of a month had still not yielded results, then I can give a little time and help you find your way. First and foremost is finding where Martin Landel resides - second is uncovering the workings of his security. Simple." Franziska motioned to the rapier with a sardonic smile and then opened her eyes to look at him. "I didn't ask if you were training, little brother. I asked if you could use it effectively. Answer the question."

[high_prosecutor]

Well, that was a surprise. Miles had expected at least three or four more back-and-forth exchanges. He supposed that the years of extra work had tamed the wild mare at least a bit. Or at least made her more willing to see reason - or act as if she's seeing reason. Either way, though, even if it did take flattering her to no end... as long as her father kept the low profile he seemed to have been keeping, then Franziska could very well prove a capable ally. The voice rumbled in a bit of dismay, but Edgeworth ignored it for the moment.

"There are efforts in place to mobilize the patient body," he said, answering the unasked question that she had to have been thinking. "There are a number of them, actually, but the one I think will prove most fruitful is the information network that's coming together. A number of us - and by 'us', I mean prosecutors and defense attorneys from Los Angeles - are a part of that network."

He gave Franziska one more smirk. "I did answer the question. Do you think I'm foolish enough to carry a weapon I wasn't capable of using effectively? The fact that I have it at all should be enough."

[iwhipthefool]

"Don't give me that look, Miles Edgeworth." She knew she wasn't imagining that slightest hint of surprise that she had actually listened to him. After the past year or so, she'd thought he would have realized that she knew the smarter path by now. She'd even flown in from Germany to help him once - not that she knew she was helping, but the end result had been the same. Crossing her arms again, she turned her head to the side, staring off into the dark for a moment as she thought.

She knew he was referring to the clubs - organizations masquerading as harmless associations. Arts and Crafts, History, St. Francis Aide Society, Boxing, Lost and Found, Search and Rescue - the list went on. While everyone was working in smaller groups, none of them seemed truly capable of bringing the entire patient body under one leader. Indeed, they seemed to resist if her study of the past few days' worth of bulletins was any indication. Lelouch Lamperouge was singled out as the head of the Informational Network, which made him a target for the more antagonistic of the so-called 'clubs.' Franziska knew to do her research when she didn't have minions assistants to do it for her. Once she had her thoughts collected, she turned a cold eye on him. Defense attorneys meant only one person - Phoenix Wright.

"So yet again, you've aligned yourself with your enemy? How typical of you, Miles Edgeworth. You and him." Even if she didn't hate Phoenix Wright with that same burning passion that she used to, that didn't mean they were friends and that didn't mean she liked him. She tolerated him at worst and highly disliked him at best. Yet, Miles' answer begged another question. How many others from Los Angeles were there? "I expect you'd carry a sword for protection, but simple possession does not equate actual proficiency. Now, as to your network - how many of you are there? State their names and which side of the bench they stand for the record."

[perfectrecord]

[From here]

As von Karma reached the intersection, the voices he had heard grew louder... and more familiar to him. He stopped to look around, sweeping the beam of his flashlight in a steady arc over the area. Several people were standing here, apparently occupied in their own matters. Two of them who were right next to each other--

Franziska!

He had to blink a few times to make sure that he wasn't merely seeing an illusion nor mistaking the identity of this young woman who looked eerily similar to his daughter. But then she continued to speak. If her brisk, curt voice wasn't evidence enough per se, it was her addressing her "little brother" by his full name that finally convinced him that this was indeed his dear daughter.

Instantly, his heart sank at this realization, in spite of himself. If there was anyone he had hoped never to see in this hellhole, it was her. Though he was perfectly confident that she could fend for herself effortlessly in just about every situation -- after all, he had trained her well to live independently ever since she started her career in Germany at the age of thirteen -- this miserable place was a different story. No laws, no criminal justice system... and no whips. The dismay he felt inside was fleetingly betrayed only by a slight tremble of his hand, causing the beam of his flashlight to shake a little. It was all he could do to stop himself from rushing towards her and embr-- No! You are not a sentimental fool like the rest of them! he immediately chastised himself, his moment of weakness passing as quickly as it had overcome him.

Besides, the wretched boy is standing right next to her -- and he is armed! he suddenly noted, as the light reflected briefly off the metal blade of what appeared to be the sword of which Franziska mentioned. The older prosecutor's attention swiftly turned to Edgeworth, fearing at first that he may be a "brainwashed" patient, since he was wearing his regular outfit, right down to the perfectly tied cravat around his neck. However, the boy's behavior indicated otherwise; he was merely talking to his "big sister" and otherwise paid no mind to the other patients in the hallway.

Still, it would be wise for von Karma to keep his distance from them for now. He approached them, stopping a few feet away from them. His countenance as cold and emotionless as ever, he took a deep breath and finally spoke. "Well, dear daughter. I am certain you already know my name and which side of the bench at which I stand." He had to force himself to stop short of asking what in blazes she was doing here.

[high_prosecutor]

Miles felt exactly whose presence it was before the man spoke - he had just opened his mouth to reply to Franziska's question when a sharp jolt of pain shot through his head. Now wasn't the time to show exactly how much that hurt, and how much it was affecting his thought processes, though. Instead, he swallowed down the dual waves of fear and nausea, then turned to face von Karma.

"I see you've come out of hiding, Herr von Karma," he said dryly. "Oh, and before you start accusing me of hiding anything, Franziska, do keep in mind that you simply hadn't given me time. There were more pressing matters to attend to, such as the ones we had been discussing up until a moment ago." There was a silent 'besides, you wouldn't have believed anything I said about him, even if you did give me the opportunity' added to that statement. It was the truth, and she very likely knew that, so there was no need to say as much.

The voice prickled in his head again, reminding him - unnecessarily, he thought - of exactly how thin the ice he was skating on was, but this time, he felt the tables were turned just a bit. "By the way, Herr von Karma, I do so appreciate the 'nomination' on the bulletin board. It's certainly good to know what, exactly, I'm dealing with."

That was a dangerous shot, but it was one he couldn't resist the urge to fire.

[iwhipthefool]

Franziska had been ready to open her notebook and jot down names, descriptions and occupations when she heard a voice that she hadn't heard in what seemed like forever. It was impossible. Not just impossible, but illogical and absolutely, positively not happening. Nothing could ever bring him back. Nothing.

"I see you've come out of hiding, Herr von Karma."

Impossible.

Franziska didn't turn at first if only because she wasn't ready to see who was standing behind her. He was gone. He had been gone for so long - not only when he left her in Germany to continue his career in America, but when she had received news of the trial of the century: the fall of--

Pull yourself together! You can't show weakness, especially to him! Franziska whipped around, hand on her hip, the same cold stare she afforded everyone frozen on her face as she found herself staring at her father. Her father. She... couldn't think of what to say. "...of course. There is only one place that a von Karma stands, the side of perfection - nothing else matters."

Why were her hands clammy? And why was her heart beating so fast? Emotions were for fools, not for her! Flashing Miles a dangerous look, Franziska snapped, "There is nothing more important than this, Miles Edgeworth. You should have informed me immediately."

Even if she hadn't believed him, she wouldn't feel so unprepared for this confrontation. However, she didn't want to know what nomination Miles was referring to, even if she had an inkling about it. She hadn't wanted to think that it was her father who had done such a thing. And now she had no idea what to think about this place anymore. Her father was standing to her left like nothing had happened at all and here was her brother on her right, antagonizing him. Looking to her father, she waited to see what he would do. His decision would force her hand one way or another, because it was his shadow she had spent her entire life chasing after.

[perfectrecord]

For a moment, von Karma did not answer but stood there silently, observing and listening to the both of them. Yes, this was definitely his daughter. Her words... her quick retort to Edgeworth as she shot him an icy glare in only the manner she could... her commanding pose... had he any lingering doubts before about her identity, these details completely eliminated them.

He grinned at Franziska -- almost proudly underneath his usual sneer -- as he finally addressed her again. "Indeed, dear daughter. Spoken like the true, full-blooded von Karma that I have always known you were. Such a shame that your 'little brother' fell short of living up to that ideal."

Now turning his attention to Edgeworth, he clucked his tongue in condescension at him, maintaining the smug grin. "How pitiful that you are making such foolish assumptions of me, boy. I know nothing about this nonsense of which you are babbling. Please do enlighten me." Of course, they both knew damned well that he was lying through his teeth about his ignorance of the "nomination," but what concrete evidence could the blasted Edgeworth spawn have on hand to prove otherwise?

[high_prosecutor]

Edgeworth shot the elder von Karma an icy glare of his own. "No, but that's an ideal I don't particularly care to live up to, as it would involve being both a murderer and an attempted murderer." The next look was to Franziska. "There's a witness to the second one, not that you would consider speaking to him of your own volition. You're certainly free to talk with Wright about it, however, seeing as it happened here a bit less than a week ago." Another shot across the bow, this time a bit more carefully aimed.

"I suspect that you know exactly what I'm talking about, unless you would rather admit to being the one that posted the initial 'nomination list' for the 'sleep studies'. Of course, though, your way of doing things generally involves only a single target, as collateral damage is far too messy for your likes. That, and you're not the type to play games. The person who did it is that type, as evidenced by the fact they did it so many times."

He'd thought to take a copy of the list from the bulletin board, but it was one of the copies. It would be immediately dismissed. "I don't feel that I have anything else to say to you, Herr von Karma, but I do have something to say to you, Franziska. You have a number of options in front of you. I would advise you to choose wisely."

[iwhipthefool]

Just what in Justice's name was going on?! Her father was denying the accusations on one hand, and Miles was piling them up on the other. She hated hearing anyone say it so plainly, too - her father's crime. His crime. Such things should have been impossible. A man dedicated to the law and to perfection should never have fallen in such a way. And Miles Edgeworth knew how much of a sore spot her father was for her, so why was he bringing it up like this?! After all that time she'd spent in the Prosecutor's Office and all the help she'd (inadvertantly) given him, was he finally showing his true colors like this?

"Typical of you, Miles Edgeworth. To turn your back on the ones you owe the most to. Without absolute proof, you have no case." The talk of a witness didn't escape her attention, even if it was Phoenix Wright. He would have to be interrogated later, when her father wasn't around to see it. Even if he-- Why was he here anyway? None of this made any sense! She was careful not to outright ignore her father, but at the same time, she honestly didn't know how to react to him. He'd been absent most of her life and the only real time she'd seen him was in the papers and in the news when he had been standing triumphantly at the end of a trial. His name had haunted her throughout her life and then, suddenly, he'd been gone. And now he was back, like a specter that shouldn't exist and yet did. "Unlike my foolish brother, I am not one to stray from the path set before me."

Even if she didn't know where that path was anymore.

And was Edgeworth telling her she had options now? Options? Bah, that foolish brother of hers hadn't learned a single thing in the time she'd left him in America! She had no options! She only knew one thing, and that was to follow her father's legacy. She'd tried, in her own way, to continue her career, but no matter what, her only basis for law had been the von Karma method. She knew nothing else and right now she had no idea what to do because, despite all the information gathered, it hadn't prepared her to meet Manfred von Karma again. Not like this.

Crossing her arms, Franziska closed her eyes and took a few shallow breaths. She had to think. She had to think carefully. She knew, logically, that her father had committed a horrible crime. He had murdered a man in cold blood and then tried to frame another man for a different murder. She knew all this and yet, she couldn't just abandon him like Edgeworth could. He was and always would be her father and her mentor. "I don't need you to tell me that, Miles Edgeworth. Pass your foolish advice off to someone who actually needs it."

[perfectrecord]

von Karma had been silent this whole time, listening to the two argue about him. Though his outward expression never showed it, he had been resigned to the likelihood that his daughter might take the brat's side instead of his. After all, Franziska had to have been aware of his ignominious fall, as it had made national news in both the United States and in Germany. The fact that she had not tried to contact him at all after that miserable debacle most likely meant that she wanted nothing more to do with him. Very well. He accepted that. After all, were their positions reversed, he would have summarily ousted her from his family. Even a single loss in court would have been grounds for disowning her; a true von Karma never failed, never lost, which was why he had pressed for the expedited sentencing in his case.

As Franziska responded in complete support of von Karma, his expression remained just as impassive as before, as though he had expected nothing more and nothing less of her. "Very astute, dear daughter. Of course he has no concrete proof. If he had, he would have presented it by now." And even had the Edgeworth spawn held the original note in his hand, he would have had no way to prove that the handwriting was von Karma's; though impeccable, it had been well disguised.

von Karma then folded his arms, closing his eyes as he addressed the boy's accusation of what had happened only six nights ago. "Furthermore, consider that the boy claims that this witness to this alleged murder attempt happens to be a defense attorney, of all people. Can you honestly trust the word of someone who aids and abets in allowing the guilty to shirk their responsibility of paying for their crimes?"

[high_prosecutor]

"If I presented it, neither of you would have believed it, so why should I waste the effort? Of course, I wouldn't make an accusation without it, but it seems a moot point, since you've made up your mind already." Miles gestured with his free hand as he spoke.

"That said, I'd expected better of you, Franziska, particularly from the point in time you seem to be from. I had hoped you'd be thinking for yourself and not chasing after a long-dead demon's shadow. Or is it that you turned into a murderess yourself, in some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy? I would certainly hope you wouldn't be emulating your father in that aspect." The words were carefully chosen in order to force the younger prosecutor to think, not just blindly follow.

"Also? An eyewitness is an eyewitness, no matter their occupation. Unless you'd like to speak to a member of the staff regarding the incident? If so, please feel free to speak to Dr. Gregory House, seeing as I had very little choice about presenting the injury. If you'd rather not go that route, you could certainly ask any of the patients I spoke to during the days immediately after the incident. You left a rather obvious and messy trail behind you, Herr von Karma, though I'll give you the fact that you kept an exceptionally low profile after the incident. Did you honestly think that the evidence would go unnoticed?"

[iwhipthefool]

There were a few things that Franziska would not, under any circumstance, allow to be said in her presence. Snide remarks about her age or gender, references to her defeat at Phoenix Wright's infuriating hands, and finally - talk of her father's crime. She knew he was a criminal and that she should abandon him like the world had. But then the world hadn't been followed by whispers through the halls about how the legacy was over, or how it had been a sham from the very beginning. Talk like that shook her to the core. It stole everything she'd tried to do from her.

And the world be damned if she was going to let Edgeworth insult her like that. Before she knew what she was doing, Franziska had stepped forward and raised a hand, slapping the younger man straight across the face. She didn't know what he meant by time, or what he had hoped to achieve, but calling her a murderess was too much. It wasn't until she felt her palm stinging that she realized what she'd done and the fury in her eyes abated, albeit slightly. She had to stay angry, just so she didn't let her real emotion slip through. Edgeworth couldn't know how much his words had just hurt her. "There are low blows, Miles Edgeworth, and then there is what you just did."

Stepping back, Franziska looked down at the ground, noticing her notebook there. She must have dropped it. "..." Reaching down, she picked it up and tucked it under her arm again before she turned to look at both men. Her voice was steely when she began speaking again, as if her emotional outburst had never happened. One hand stayed anchored at her hip, the other gripping the edge of the notebook - both were here lifelines, a careful pose made to erase any doubt of her dominance and her control. Even if she had none at the moment. "Consider the case under investigation. All witnesses, including Dr. Gregory House and Phoenix Wright will be interrogated." Including you, Papa. "Attempted murder is a serious accusation. Be ready to present evidence and alibis in a timely manner. Miles Edgeworth, bring me a list of those you would count among your witnesses, and do it quickly."

[perfectrecord]

"Messy evidence trail?" Bah. The blasted Edgeworth brat had to have been bluffing. For one thing, the only possible piece of evidence that existed was the weapon that von Karma had used. Unless there was a forensics team on the premises willing to examine it for fingerprints and dents denoting that it had broken a man's shoulder, it was no more decisive than the new flashlight he gripped in his hand. The wound on the boy's shoulder seemed to have already healed completely, judging from his apparent full range of motion on the side that had been broken. And even were it still injured... anything could have caused it. Aside from the pesky defense lawyer's word -- and what other concrete evidence could exist to back it up? -- the other "witnesses" were most likely little more than recipients of mere hearsay. They... had to be, for von Karma had seen no one else in the hallway at the time of the incident.

Before the older prosecutor could retort back to his former student, his daughter suddenly struck at the younger man in an outburst of anger. Very much like old times, von Karma mused to himself, remembering how Franziska used to literally whip some discipline into her "little brother," ensuring that he didn't stray from his studies.

"My dear Franziska," he admonished her, waving a finger (though deep down, he was quite pleased at her commanding action against Edgeworth). "This is not the time to lose your cool. Clearly, the boy is delusional. Just listen to this nonsense he is spouting! 'Point in time?' Bah!" He stopped short of mentioning the previous discussion they had had, lest the boy reprise the miserable argument about the "circumstantial evidence" of his death. He was especially loath to continue it in front of his daughter.

Though he, too, was skating on thin ice, he himself could not afford to show it. Why risk giving the brat the satisfaction? Instead, he merely smirked, feigning complete serenity over his "innocence" of the charge. "Boy, since you are so willing to accuse me of such a heinous crime, I, too would like to hear what these 'eyewitnesses' have to say. And what is this 'evidence' you claim I am overlooking?"

"Furthermore..." he shook his head at the boy, clicking his tongue at him again, "your implication that your sister is a murderess is quite shameful and highly unreasonable of you. How pitiful that you would resort to such slanderous attacks against your own family. Though Franziska acted rashly, I can hardly blame her for her action."

[OOC: I posted this entirely from my phone. I can still edit as needed, however, so please let me know if I left something out or if it needs to be fixed in some way. Thanks. ^^ ]