MAN ON A MISSION [OPEN/ACTIVE]

[masashiku]

Characters: Larry Butz masashiku and anyone else who wants to bump into the tard.
Content: Larry is LOOKING FOR WORK!
Setting: Somewhere around the center city~
Time: Mid-afternoon, most likely.
Warnings: Larry being retarded, and there's always the possibility of someone mean coming along, I suppose.

Comments

[worth_noting]

Unlike Larry, Edgeworth was quite familiar with the city. He had seen the mountains and vast forests of Germany, visited the crumbling stone metropolises and ancient cathedrals of France, and had sailed across the oceans to return to America. The young man had traveled more in the past decade than most people did in their entire lives, but no matter where he went or how far he strayed, he always came back to Allupato. If there was any city that he was sentimental enough to call home, this would be it.

And as someone who was familiar with the city, he was able to pick up on certain trends, such as the trickle of tourists that came in whenever it was the festival season. For example, take this unlucky man wandering the streets. Pants too short, jacket too large (definitely not the native style), gawking at the buildings and empty stores in complete, abject confusion. Well, he seemed to be stumbling in the same, vague direction he was. The least he could do was offer some advice.

Edgeworth quickened his pace, and walked closer to the stranger. He cleared his throat, placed his arms behind his back, and said, "If you're looking for something, most of the places here are closed. They won't be open again for a few days, I'm afraid."

[masashiku]

It was very reasonable to assume that Larry might not have noticed someone walking up behind him, as he usually just wasn't as conscious of the world around him when he was focused on something. And what he happened to be focused on was the current window he was standing in front of, head slightly cocked to the side, as if the angle would help him understand the foreign words on it better.

It didn't. All it did was make the world sideways and that didn't make sense of the words and damnit Italy! Why did you have to hate Larry?!

Larry was intent to defeat the sign before moving onto the next one, however, allowing for the approaching man to get right up behind him with little effort, the sudden presence of his voice causing Larry to jump rather suddenly and dramatically, "WOAH!"

He whirled around and took a stumbling step backwards, though he managed to recover quite easily. He blinked, his brain--as slow as it was--processing the words spoken to him as English and that automatically got a big grin out of Larry, "Huh? Holidays? Really?" He blinked, eyes slightly wide. Huh. Maybe that's why he hadn't been getting many phone calls! "Well, shoot. I didn't know that! Thanks, man!"

If this had been a normal occurrence, Larry might have just started on back to the crappy motel he had been staying at without another word, but there was something that was bothering him. This guy. He looked... kinda familiar. Maybe it was his hair, or the way he was standing there, all stiff and proper. Or maybe it was that ridiculous frilly thing he was wearing around his neck.

So, Larry did what Larry did best. Pry. "Hey, you know, you look kinda' familiar! Have I ever met you before?" A dumb thing to ask, considering he was in the middle of bumfuck nowhere, as far as Italy was concerned.

[worth_noting]

Edgeworth stepped back, deftly avoiding a head on collision with Larry's theatrics. He wasn't just as hopeless as he had expected; he was evenmore hopeless. For a moment, Edgeworth wondered why he was even here, but quickly decided that the answer would probably be more trouble than it was worth.

He merely nodded in response to Larry's thanks, and was about to walk away...until he heard the question: "You look kinda' familiar! Have I ever met you before?". How strange; it was possible that they may have met at some point (he didn't spend all of his time in Allupato), but it was unlikely. He didn't remember seeing anyone like this when he visited America, nor on any of his trips throughout the rest of Europe. Still, there was something about his dramatics and demeanor that unnerved him, something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"I doubt that," he said, clearing his throat. "Unless you've been to Italy before...?"

[masashiku]

Larry watched at the guy looked like he was going to just up and leave, almost straight-out grabbing onto him, but stopping when he stayed put. Larry didn't want this dude to leave if he was someone he might have met before; he didn't know anyone in Italy and even just an acquaintance was better than nothing!

But then, he seemed to be negative about the situation. He doubted it? Well, that just wasn't going to fly with Larry; his gut feeling was telling him otherwise, after all! So, he continued to pry, taking a step forward, even, as he spoke, "Nah, I've never been here before, but I really coulda' sworn I've met you before!" He gave Edgeworth another good look, eyes narrowing somewhat on his face. "Hmm.. c'mon, c'mon, I never forget a face..." Well, most of the time. But he definitely wouldn't have forgotten someone who looked like this guy!

[worth_noting]

When he stepped forward, Edgeworth stepped back. Whoever this person was, it was clear that he had never heard the term "personal space". As the stranger (he had to be a stranger) continued to look over him, he clenched his jaw and felt a vein begin to throb at the side of his head.

"Perhaps you're mistaken," he said coldly, "because unfortunately, I don't seem to remember you. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Italy."

And with that, he turned around, and began to walk away.

[masashiku]

Larry was very intensely studying Edgeworth's face, perhaps almost on the verge of a breakthrough, when the man started to back away! Hey, that wasn't fair, he wasn't done yet! Larry instinctively took a step forward as he had taken one back, though stopped somewhat short when Edgeworth started speaking again.

"..." His voice was really stern and he really seemed set on the fact that the two of them had never met before, huh? Larry frowned--almost downright pouted--and shook his head rapidly, "Hey, wait a second, dude!" He started to follow after the man, nearly tripping over himself in the process. "Hey, at least tell me your name! I mean, c'mon, it's fair, right? Introductions and formalities and all that, right? Right?!" Really, Larry just didn't want to be left high and dry when he could have potentially bumped into someone he knew!

[worth_noting]

As much as Edgeworth hated to admit it, the pest was right. There was no harm in a short introduction, and besides, the sooner they got this cleared up the sooner they could go their separate ways. All he had to do was tell him his name, and with luck, he'd realize how mistaken he was.

"Very well," he said, actually stopping to let the other man catch up. "My name is Miles Edgeworth. Now, seeing as how you've never been here before, and I've lived here for quite some time..." He trailed off, hoping that the obvious would sink in.

[masashiku]

Larry was extremely relieved when the man waited up for him, a stupid grin already on his face. At least if he got his name, then he'd surely know if he had met the guy before, right?

He listened and took in everything and was really willing to introduce himself next, if just out of habit, but that urge was very promptly stomped flat when he realized the man's name was Miles Edgeworth.

"..............." Wait, wait, wait. Larry's brain had to go over that bit a few times before it finally clicked. "Edgeworth. ....Miles Edgeworth?" The question was directed more so to himself than anything else, but there wasn't enough time for Edgeworth to even answer if it hadn't been. Larry's eyes were wide and for the briefest moment, it looked like he was stunned into silence.

It didn't last. "EDGEY?! LITTLE EDGEY FROM MY FOURTH GRADE CLASS?!" Larry exploded, arms waving around dramatically as he closed into Edgeworth's precious personal space. He couldn't contain himself; of course! No wonder why this guy looked so familiar! The hair, the stuffy attitude, this was Edgeworth!

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!! YOU NEVER CAME BACK AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD WRITE ME AND NICK AND I NEVER GOT A LETTER AND I WAITED AND IT NEVER CAME AND THEN I HEARD SOME BAD STUFF HAPPENED AND YOU WERE STRANDED OUT HERE AND AND AND!!!" At this rate, Larry was going to hyperventilate.

[worth_noting]

Edgeworth raised an eyebrow at the sudden silence. Whatever response he expected out of him, this certainly wasn't it; after Edgeworth announced his name, the other man seemed downright shocked. He cleared his throat, and was about to say, Yes, it my name is Miles Edgeworth as a matter of fact, now who are you?, but it was too late. The silence was broken, and now there was this person who was shouting and waving his arms like a madman and why did he feel the need to flail his arms so close to his face? Edgeworth stepped back further, and he stared blankly at the lunatic while his mind pieced his rants together. That spastic attitude, the ridiculous nickname he just used, and now he was talking about fourth grade and letters and...

Edgeworth blinked, and stopped moving entirely. "Larry?," he croaked out. "Larry Butz?"

[masashiku]

"AND AND AND!!!" Larry was still going, spouting out things that probably didn't make any sense to their current situation, but he didn't seem to care because what the hell, Edgeworth!! His flailing was cut short, however, when he managed to catch Edgeworth's words, finally sputtering and sniffing and oh lord, Larry was crying.

"Y-YEAH!! Larry, that's me!! You remember me, old buddy?!" He sniffed, swaying around as he stood in front of Edgeworth and trying his best to fight that urge that was rapidly increasing in strength in the back of his head. The urge to do something that would violate Edgeworth's personal space on a whole new level. But, there wasn't a hell of a lot that ever helped Larry fight these urges in the past, so he just did it.

He reached over and hugged Edgeworth.

"EDGEY MAN IT'S BEEN SO LONG!! HAVE YOU BEEN STRANDED HERE ALL THIS TIME?! WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL?! I BET ME AND NICK COULDA' CAME TO YOUR RESCUE!!" He was still crying, but in between pathetic sniffles, he was laughing. Hey, he was happy! Finding Edgeworth was the very last thing he ever expected here.

[worth_noting]

Oh lord, now Larry was crying. Edgeworth continued to stare at him, almost frozen in place, as a wave of panic rose through his gut. He wasn't a cowardly man by any means, but a surprise onslaught of tears was not something he was equipped to deal with.

...in fact, even without the tears, Edgeworth still wouldn't know how to handle the situation. While he had some brief nostalgia during his last visit to the states, he hadn't given much thought to his old life in quite some time. Of course he missed them when he first arrived in Allupato (he was only a child, after all), but over the years he had mostly forgotten about them, and assumed they had done the same regarding him.

Until now, that is. Edgeworth tried desperately to think of something to say, something that would make him calm down, but he didn't get a chance. Before he knew it, Larry had went from waving his arms around him to wrapping his arms around him, squeezing tight. A small, strangled sound escaped his throat, as he realized he was being suffocated by orange vinyl, affection, and loud, enthusiastic rants that threatened to make him go deaf.

"I couldn't call anyone," he replied, voice sounding oddly strangled. "You can't call anyone outside of the city." He attempted to pull himself out of his grip, but he stopped struggling as soon as he realized something - he wasn't just crying, he was laughing. It was strange, it was fickle, but it was Larry. Something about it made Edgeworth feel like he was in the fourth grade all over again.

[masashiku]

Larry continued the charade for a few moments longer, clutching onto Edgeworth as if his life depended on it, sniffling and laughing and generally making a scene in the middle of the street. But, Larry wasn't really concerned with any of that; he had found Edgeworth after so many years and it was just sort of comforting, even if the two of them didn't bond over the years. The nostalgia was enough.

He calmed down enough to pick up on what Edgeworth had said, his grip loosening, but ultimately not faltering entirely. He blinked and tilted his head to the side, making a face of displeasure, "What! Really?! How are you supposed to call your folks or your friends, then?!" He paused, taking a moment to look pensive--as much as a stretch of the imagination that happened to be, "... Maybe that's why I couldn't call Mom and Pop... the phone just beeped at me and disconnected." Made sense. At the time, however, he had just thought he was pressing the wrong buttons!

After this epiphany, Larry's hug finally loosened and broke away, but Edgeworth wouldn't be in the clear yet. His left arm pulled up and slung around his shoulder, and Larry would sniff again, wiping at his eyes with his free hand. "Anyway, man, it's good to see you, Edgey! You sure have grown, huh?" He teased. "How you been? I mean, crap, it's been forever!"

[worth_noting]

Edgeworth relaxed when Larry broke away, but he tensed immediately when the arm come down on his shoulder. His jaw clamped down again and he felt the return of his facial tick, before he unclenched his jaw and forced his body to relax. "I've been well," he said stiffly, before pulling away and clearing his throat. His voice relaxed somewhat, and he continued. "Surprisingly well, in fact. The city has been...rather kind to me, over the years."

While it wasn't entirely honest, it wasn't a lie, either. All things considered, Edgeworth had been quite fortunate (or at least, as fortunate as one could be, in his situation). He was taken into somebody's home instead of being tossed in some godforsaken orphanage, and he was cared for and protected, until he had the strength to protect himself. Not only that, but his time with von Karma had given him something that most men never found, no longer how long they searched: strength and purpose. His life may have been unusual, even dangerous, and calling his education "unorthodox" was an understatement. If that was the price he had to pay, though, then so be it.

Regrets were for the weak.

However, while he may have pride in his work, he knew better than to shout about it from the rooftops. Yes, the less Larry knew about his work, the better. It was time for a change of topic. He turned back towards the other man, and, sounding more casual than before, asked a question that had been nagging at the back of his head for a few minutes now. "And what brings you to Allupato, if you don't mind me asking?"

[masashiku]

Larry didn't make any note of Edgeworth pulling away, allowing his arm to drop and hang by his side instead. "Yeah? That's great to hear!" Larry smiled big. At least Edgeworth was all right, hell, maybe even happy. That was more than he could have said for himself when he arrived in Italy. "I'm glad you found a place you fit into!" Whatever the hell that was supposed to mean.

Larry continued to grin big and look generally more happy than any man should have in the situation, eager to continued the conversation with Edgeworth, until he asked that question. At first, Larry looked a bit taken aback, but that soon faded into something more depressed-looking.

"Uh... well.." He laughed again, though this one was a bit nervous and even kind of sad-sounding. "See, I had this girl! She was really great, you know? Beautiful, sweet, cute... any man's perfect woman!" He sighed heavily then, getting to the really depressing part. It wouldn't be long before he started sniffling again. "Then her work called for her to travel, and we went all over the world together and when we got to Italy.."

And here comes the waterworks. "SH-SHE DITCHED ME HERE BY MYSELF!! SHE WAS SEEING SOME OTHER GUY AND SHE SAID WE WERE OVER BUT I.. I .. I TRIED TO WIN HER BACK SO I WOULDN'T BE STUCK OUT HERE AND I NEED HER EDGEY!!" He cried, once again making a huge ass of himself out in public. It was a wonder he wasn't dragged off by the authorities yet.

[worth_noting]

Oh, this was just ridiculous. Here he was, a grown man, bawling his eyes out in the middle of the street, not ten minutes after he made another scene. Difficult circumstances or not, enough was enough.

"Pull yourself together!" he snapped, pointing a finger in his face. "Honestly, are you a man, or are you a sniveling, spineless rat?" He hmphed to himself and crossed his arms, and continued on, not bothering to wait for a response. "This...this woman, you said she abandoned you, yes? Left you high and dry, so she could gallivant with some other man? And yet, despite everything she's done, you need her." He sneered at the phrase, and rolled his eyes. "She's hardly the perfect woman, if you ask me."

Edgeworth shook his head, tutting softly to himself. "If I were in your position, I wouldn't stand for such treatment. Believe me, you hardly need a person like that in your life." He resisted the urge to sigh; it still amazed him the lows people would stoop to, all in the name of loneliness.

[masashiku]

Larry would have been perfectly fine with continuing the charade forever if Edgeworth didn't snap at him so suddenly. He jerked to attention, eyes wide and teary as he stared at the other man and his very threatening point at his face. He shook his head rapidly. He wasn't a rat, that was for sure! What kind of accusation was that?

But, then he had to go there. Larry's expression hardened and turned angry, the tears gone for the moment, "Hey, watch it, buddy! She IS the perfect woman!! It's not her fault I did something wrong!" That was the obvious answer; if it wasn't her fault, Larry must have done something.

"I .. I probably wasn't affectionate enough!! Or maybe I didn't call her enough!!! Or or or maybe I didn't buy her enough presents!!" He reasoned with his flawed logic. He was convinced that she wasn't to blame for his situation, and there was probably little Edgeworth could do to convince him of otherwise. Well, short of bashing his head into a brick wall.