Insert Eggplant joke here

[acemedium]

Who: Shinjiro, Maya, and later Phoenix and Edgeworth. Also OPEN to anyone who wants to visit Edgeworth after his post
When: During and after the earthquake!
Where: Grocery store, and then Edgeworth's office
Summary: Shinjiro and Maya encounter each other during the earthquake. Soon after, they join up with Phoenix to check on Edgeworth and/or

Comments

o/

[modestmusume]

[Unlike the others, Haruhi knew just exactly where Edgeworth was hiding. After all, she'd been there the first time the Earthquake had hit. It wouldn't be surprising if he'd be hiding in the same place.

Without a word, quietly and calmly, Haruhi stepped into the office, frowning a little at the mess the tremor had caused. A few more steps and she was rounding the man's desk, crouching down and low and behold - there was Edgeworth.]

Mr. Edgeworth. [She offered him a small smile, although it was debatable whether or not he was paying attention.] Mr. Wright is here to see you, along with a Mr. Shinjiro and...Maya? [She kept the smile, her voice calm, low and quiet - like it usually was, as if nothing had happened, ignoring the fact Edgeworth was hiding under his desk. There was no point in asking Edgeworth whether he was alright or not. He wasn't, but that was just because of the initial fear, much like her own with thunder. Would he be? Of course. It was better not to point it out, lest the embarrassment of the situation become any worse.

Instead, she settled on the mundane to talk about.]

I'm afraid the office is in a mess, but I'll help put order to it once I find Tamaki-sempai. Remember last time this happened we had tea? Would you like some?

Gotcha

[lawyerific]

[Phoenix hesitated for a moment, looking away into the room as Haruhi skirted around the mess on the way to Edgeworth's desk. Quietly Phoenix followed, moving a little further in to make room for Maya and her friend. Maybe it was a bit cramped, but they all fit in.

Now was Edgeworth really behind that desk?]

We can all help tidy up if you want, Edgeworth, but you're going to have to come out first. I ah...made a bit of a mess of your door.

[He smiles to himself.]

But I'm sure you'll forgive me, after all it's not like a door's going to keep Larry out when he gets here. [If he can even find the place. Still, if anything's going to get Edgeworth back on his feet the threat of a Butz Invasion will.]

So bossy! I like it.

[mentis_reae]

[He presses his eyes shut and, for a moment, strongly considers feigning unconsciousness. Wright and Maya are perfectly all right: they know of this absurd weakness, and they've accepted it. Fujioka too - she was here the last time, after all. But Aragaki? God, Aragaki, of all people? To whom he'd tried so hard to seem competent, the sort of person who was competent enough to warrant trust? Well. That was utterly obliterated now. The best he could hope for at this point was that Aragaki was decent enough to not mock him for it.

Yet - he was clearly conscious, and pretending to slump over now would simply send them into a panic. Jesus. No. He couldn't do that to them. Instead, he forced his eyes open and said, in a low, shaking voice:]

Tea would be of use.

[Normally, he'd have snarled about how it was their responsibility to clean up the mess they'd made, but he had no energy for either anger or humor. Instead, quietly:]

I need...a few more moments.

I just don't want us to get all muddled again ;_;

[acemedium]

No, Mr. Edgeworth is definitely in here. He's always in here.

[Having that said, Maya squeezed past Phoenix to check on Mr. Edgeworth]

Don't worry, Mr. Edgeworth! We're all here to protect you. And I'll help with the tea.

[She heads over to Haruhi to give her a hand]

Is there a kettle?

[weaktobullets]

[So he had been under the desk. A brow simply rose as the girl approached the desk in top professional manner, offering tea to coax the man out-- a quick look to the other people in the room showed him that they probably considered this normal, or at least expected. No one else seemed surprised at the grown man quivering under a damn desk, after all.

But Maya had said he didn't do well with Earthquakes. This was probably what she had been referring to.]

...Take your time. Long as you ain't hurt. [And another roll of the shoulder. He admittedly felt a bit out of place amongst Edgeworth's-- well, friends.-- But at least now he'd be able to report the state of things here to Mitsuru later. After a moment, he glanced to Phoenix- he seemed... well, the most in charge here.]

What needs t'be done? [A quick gesture to the door.] Just gonna leave that for now, or what?

sob sorry for the late

[modestmusume]

Ah, yes. There is one. In the office kitchen. [She replies, turning her attention to Maya as she stands up, dusting herself off.]

It's all right, Maya. If you stay here with Mr. Edgeworth, I'll go make tea. Just make sure to give him space, all of you. Okay?

[And with that she's stepping out the broken door. Next stop: kitchen.]

[lawyerific]

Er...

[Yes, the door. Edgeworth sure had a lot of friends worried about him, didn't he?]

I'll get the door and check the network just in case there's anyone out there who needs help. Ah, Shinjiro wasn't it? Could you help me out?

[He paused to step closer to Maya, lowering his voice.]

Try holding Egdeworth's hand, okay, until the tea comes? I'd do it myself but he probably wouldn't appreciate it much.

[mentis_reae]

[Slowly, Edgeworth is relaxing. Not enough to come out yet - not fully - but enough that he's looking up at the others and speaking more clearly. Indeed, it's humiliation that shades his voice now - Damn it all, why does Aragaki have to be telling me to take my time - and he's almost stopped shaking.]

How bad is the damage?

[acemedium]

[Maya nods to Haruhi] Okay, I'll guard Mr. Edgeworth while you make the tea!

[She leans in as she sees Phoenix talking to her, and nods again]

Well, Nick broke down the door... I guess you can send him a bill.

[Maya sits down close to where Edgeworth is]

Hey, Mr, Edgeworth, do you want to sit out here with me 'till the tea comes? We could make Nick grab us some cushions and just chill out here.

[weaktobullets]

..Yeah. [He followed Phoenix to help him with the door, figuring it'd help get things more in order, and give Edgeworth a bit more room to breathe. He hadn't been expecting so many people barreling into the guy's office when Maya had showed concern.

At least it was something to do- and distract him from worrying about everything else in the quake.] Things ain't wrecked up too bad. Just take a bit've time to put it all back together.

[modestmusume]

[It didn't take long to make the tea although it took some time to find enough mugs that weren't chipped or broken in the quake to use. Setting all the stuff on the tea cart, Haruhi pushed aside various odds and ends that made up the mess on the floor as she managed to wheel it out toward Edgeworth's office. Peeking her head in the doorless opening she gave a small smile.]

Well, I've the tea if everyone's ready for it.

[lawyerific]

[With Aragaki's help, Phoenix moves to pick up the heavy door. It's just a case of lifting it back onto its hinges, since the door itself is fine, but the lock on the door will need actual repairwork where the wood has splintered. Holding up its weight and lining up the hinges is the hardest part.

And getting it out the way of Haruhi's cart.]

Thanks for the help. [He lowers his voice conspiratorially.] So you came with Maya?

[mentis_reae]

[Edgeworth nods quietly to Maya. He's out from under the desk by the time the tea arrives, leaning wearily against the desk. He's quiet.]

[acemedium]

[Maya takes Edgeworth's hand and squeezes gently, talking as they wait]

If you can give Nick a discount for the door when you send the bill, that'll be great. He's pretty broke right now, plus there's all the money he owes me!

....On second thought, maybe you should wait to send the bill. He owes me tons of money, after all!

[And then, when the tea arrives:]

That smells awesome, Haruhi! What kind of tea is it?