[Blizzard] [SCENE] Iris, Diego and Edgeworth in "Best Served Cold"
((Takes place the morning after this log.))
Iris: *Business has slowed to a complete stop at In Bloom; no one is looking to buy some flowers this morning. So when they receive an order for a delivery, Iris has no qualms about making the trip to the unusually far location. Putting on her coat and scarf, she fastens a box containing a single potted crocus to the back of her moped and makes her way down the plowed roads. It's still snowing lightly.*
Iris: *Nearly an hour and a half later, she parks outside a hardware store and struggles with the snow a bit to reach the doors, box in hands. She eyes the entrance -- a door is wide open, and someone has attempted to seal it off with a tarp and some tape, but the wind has loosened the edges. She gives it a push and steps into the cold store interior.*
Iris: Hello...? *pulls out a piece of paper with the recipient's name on it* I'm looking for a Miss Connie Lingus.
Diego: *Diego Armando has been sleeping next to Miles Edgeworth, unmoving, for the past several hours - much longer than he intended to sleep. When he hears the tarp pushed aside he comes awake, but when he hears Iris' voice he reaches out for his mask and slams it onto his face* Iris?
Miles: *Edgeworth is deeper in sleep, he doesn't quite rouse at the voices though his eyelids flutter and a faint grimace crosses his face*
Iris: *follows the sounds of light shuffling to find Diego and Edgworth, sharing a sleeping bag on the floor with their clothes off. When Diego puts his visor on, she's already standing there* ...Mr. Armando? Mr. Edgeworth??
Diego: *stares at Iris for a moment, then looks down at Edgeworth, then back up at Iris. After a moment he draws the blanket back and rises to his feet, naked save for his underwear, the unconcerned picture of poise. He reaches down to pick up his clothes from where they had been laying* I'm guessing you aren't the rescue party.
Miles: *finally wakes when the cold air hits him. His eyes fly open and dart around, finally landing on Iris. His face livid with surprise and embarrassment, he sits up and covers his eyes with one hand, muttering* Lovely. Wonderful.
Iris: *she wasn't going to say anything, but Edgeworth's visible embarrassment prompts her to reassure him* Oh-- no, please, Mr. Edgeworth, I...I know there must be a very understandable explanation behind this! *turning a bit red, though her cheeks are already tinged from being in the freezing cold*
Diego: *still showing no particular reaction to being discovered, pulls up his pants and begins to fasten his belt* I was on a walk from the city to Kurain when the blizzard hit. I called Edgeworth when I was halfway between them; if he hadn't come to get me, I would have frozen to death.
Miles: *looks up at him and snatches his shirt up from the pile of clothes, buttoning it testily* Yes, yes. I'm a hero. As if I could have left you to die. *he gives a sigh, not awake enough to realize that the salient parts of the story - the parts that explain the half-naked cuddling - have been left out of Armando's account thus far*
Iris: *with genuine awe* You came out here to save Mr. Armando...? How brave of you! *looking between them both* What happened then?
Diego: *puts on his undershirt and begins to button up his overshirt* Why, Edgeworth broke into this place to find us shelter. He has sworn on his honor as a man to replace the door, of course.
Miles: I'm a man of the law, when circumstances permit. *he rises and steps into his pants, buttoning them and thereby feeling a bit more himself* Of course the door was broken. Armando fixed it as best he could, but it couldn't keep the cold out completely.
Iris: My, it sounds like an ordeal... ...What happened then?
Diego: *looks straight at her as he fastens his tie* We slept together naked on the floor, and that's how you found us.
Miles: *stiffens* Oh yes, that's certainly the whole story. *his voice is flat as he folds his jacket over his arm and begins to fasten his cravat* We had to, Iris, to keep from dying of hypothermia.
Iris: Well, this was all very unexpected... I came to make a delivery. *hefting the box* Did either of you happen to see Connie Lingus around here?
Diego: ...I don't think there's been any Connie Lingus around here in a long time, if ever.
Miles: *stares blankly and then produces a strange noise somewhere between a cough and a sneeze. He puts his jacket on* We're the only ones here.
Iris: *confused* I have a crocus for Miss Lingus... *glancing at the paper again* It came from Mike Rotch. *moving further into the store* I'll put it some place safe and leave a note.
Diego: *his jaw goes slack as he watches her walk past. After a moment he turns to Edgeworth, speaking low* She isn't easily phased.
Miles: *there's a dumbfounded expression on his face* Well, I'm thankful for that. *raises an eyebrow* It seems as though it cuts both ways.
Iris: *returns minutes later with a thick blanket. She wraps the box with it and puts it in a visible spot by the counter* There...this display blanket should keep it from freezing completely. They had a couple of display heaters in the back aisle, too, but it wouldn't be safe to leave a heater on unattended. *smiles to herself and pulls out a pen to write a note to the recipient*
Diego: *doesn't even look up as he laces his shoes and smooths out his clothes* Heaters, huh?
Miles: *he cannot help it - he looks stricken* Heaters.
Iris: *finishes writing and leaves the note on the counter. She turns to the two men* Does anyone else know you're here...?
Diego: I have no idea. *looks at Edgeworth*
Miles: No. *crosses his arms* The car still runs. The roads are plowed now, I expect?
Iris: Yes. I was able to get here with relative ease... *glances out the store windows* I saw some poor stuck motorists blocking traffic on the way, but I was able to surpass them with my moped.
Diego: You drove out here in this weather on a moped wearing that? Ha! *shakes his head* Fey women have blood of molten iron.
Miles: You can't be serious. It must have taken you quite a while, given the highest speed of a moped. *taps his finger on his arm* You can ride back with us.
Iris: Oh, it's all right. *smiles* I'm accustomed to the snow. Making my way through it is like second nature to me.
Diego: As true as anything else that could be said. *rubs his hands together for a moment before slipping them back in his pockets* Consider it an invitation for the sake of conversation. We would not mean to impose on your ability to drive.
Miles: In the event that you're still on the clock, you'd be able to return to your duties more quickly.
Iris: You're right...I should return as quickly as I can. *moving to the door* My boss stayed at her home, and I'm the only one who came in for work...so I had to close the store to come here.
Diego: *laughs as he moves after her, not betraying the fact that he is once again very cold* You're a gem.
Miles: *pulls up the collar of his coat and follows* Armando, you have the keys, if I remember correctly.
Iris: *stops, turns around* Oh, Mr. Armando...Mr. Edgeworth?
Iris: *facing them fully, her expression dead serious* You don't have anything to worry about. I won't tell a soul about the compromising position I found both of you in.
Diego: *steps past Iris, but pats her on the shoulder as he does so, nodding solemnly* Thank you, Iris, for preserving the good Mr. Edgeworth's humility. I would hate for him to be the subject of unwanted attention, no matter how much he deserves it.
Miles: *sneers, then sighs and shakes his head* Yes, I'm quite sorry that my lack of desire for such attention will prevent the world from coming to know of your deeds as well, Armando. That's just how these things go, I suppose.
Diego: *looks over his shoulder, back as Edgeworth, and pulls the keys to the car out of his pocket* Mr. Edgeworth, please. As I told you last night. *tosses the keys to the other man* A man never kisses and tells.
Miles: *catches them* Ever the gentleman. *goes out to the car to get it warmed up*
Iris: *speaking to Diego as she follows behind him* Was he warm enough...?
Diego: *looks over his shoulder, slowing down so that she is walking beside him; he's headed toward her moped* I should hope so. I had no intention of letting him or myself freeze, and I am something of a heater myself.
Iris: Are you? *moves her hand and places it briefly on his arm*
Diego: *out of reflex he brings up his other hand to touch her fingers - it's impossible to tell if his hands are just freezing or if her are as warm as they feel, like hot water being poured on the ice of his own digits* When I sleep, anyway.
Iris: *withdrawing her hand* Oh, Mr. Armando...you must be freezing to the bone. *with concern* You should go see a doctor to make sure you haven't caught anything.
Diego: I'll be sure to get to a clinic. *steps up to her moped, taking the handles in his hands and guiding it toward Edgeworth's car* Would you come with me? I'm always nervous in those places.
Iris: *nods* Of course. If there's anything I can do to help you, I will do it.
Diego: Thank you. *motions at the car with a jerk of his head* Go ahead and get in, I'm going to see if I can fit this in the trunk or if I'll have to take one of the wheels off.
Iris: Okay. *goes to the side and opens the passenger door, ducking in to move to the back seats*
Diego: *watches Iris take the few steps to reach the car door, the sway and curve of her hips, the warmth of her appearance, and as he pops the trunk he leans down, biting his knuckle until he can feel it, thinking of Edgeworth in his underwear until the feeling passes, completely unconcerned with his use of the imagery. Then he searches for a wrench, so as to get to work*
Iris: *Business has slowed to a complete stop at In Bloom; no one is looking to buy some flowers this morning. So when they receive an order for a delivery, Iris has no qualms about making the trip to the unusually far location. Putting on her coat and scarf, she fastens a box containing a single potted crocus to the back of her moped and makes her way down the plowed roads. It's still snowing lightly.*
Iris: *Nearly an hour and a half later, she parks outside a hardware store and struggles with the snow a bit to reach the doors, box in hands. She eyes the entrance -- a door is wide open, and someone has attempted to seal it off with a tarp and some tape, but the wind has loosened the edges. She gives it a push and steps into the cold store interior.*
Iris: Hello...? *pulls out a piece of paper with the recipient's name on it* I'm looking for a Miss Connie Lingus.
Diego: *Diego Armando has been sleeping next to Miles Edgeworth, unmoving, for the past several hours - much longer than he intended to sleep. When he hears the tarp pushed aside he comes awake, but when he hears Iris' voice he reaches out for his mask and slams it onto his face* Iris?
Miles: *Edgeworth is deeper in sleep, he doesn't quite rouse at the voices though his eyelids flutter and a faint grimace crosses his face*
Iris: *follows the sounds of light shuffling to find Diego and Edgworth, sharing a sleeping bag on the floor with their clothes off. When Diego puts his visor on, she's already standing there* ...Mr. Armando? Mr. Edgeworth??
Diego: *stares at Iris for a moment, then looks down at Edgeworth, then back up at Iris. After a moment he draws the blanket back and rises to his feet, naked save for his underwear, the unconcerned picture of poise. He reaches down to pick up his clothes from where they had been laying* I'm guessing you aren't the rescue party.
Miles: *finally wakes when the cold air hits him. His eyes fly open and dart around, finally landing on Iris. His face livid with surprise and embarrassment, he sits up and covers his eyes with one hand, muttering* Lovely. Wonderful.
Iris: *she wasn't going to say anything, but Edgeworth's visible embarrassment prompts her to reassure him* Oh-- no, please, Mr. Edgeworth, I...I know there must be a very understandable explanation behind this! *turning a bit red, though her cheeks are already tinged from being in the freezing cold*
Diego: *still showing no particular reaction to being discovered, pulls up his pants and begins to fasten his belt* I was on a walk from the city to Kurain when the blizzard hit. I called Edgeworth when I was halfway between them; if he hadn't come to get me, I would have frozen to death.
Miles: *looks up at him and snatches his shirt up from the pile of clothes, buttoning it testily* Yes, yes. I'm a hero. As if I could have left you to die. *he gives a sigh, not awake enough to realize that the salient parts of the story - the parts that explain the half-naked cuddling - have been left out of Armando's account thus far*
Iris: *with genuine awe* You came out here to save Mr. Armando...? How brave of you! *looking between them both* What happened then?
Diego: *puts on his undershirt and begins to button up his overshirt* Why, Edgeworth broke into this place to find us shelter. He has sworn on his honor as a man to replace the door, of course.
Miles: I'm a man of the law, when circumstances permit. *he rises and steps into his pants, buttoning them and thereby feeling a bit more himself* Of course the door was broken. Armando fixed it as best he could, but it couldn't keep the cold out completely.
Iris: My, it sounds like an ordeal... ...What happened then?
Diego: *looks straight at her as he fastens his tie* We slept together naked on the floor, and that's how you found us.
Miles: *stiffens* Oh yes, that's certainly the whole story. *his voice is flat as he folds his jacket over his arm and begins to fasten his cravat* We had to, Iris, to keep from dying of hypothermia.
Iris: Well, this was all very unexpected... I came to make a delivery. *hefting the box* Did either of you happen to see Connie Lingus around here?
Diego: ...I don't think there's been any Connie Lingus around here in a long time, if ever.
Miles: *stares blankly and then produces a strange noise somewhere between a cough and a sneeze. He puts his jacket on* We're the only ones here.
Iris: *confused* I have a crocus for Miss Lingus... *glancing at the paper again* It came from Mike Rotch. *moving further into the store* I'll put it some place safe and leave a note.
Diego: *his jaw goes slack as he watches her walk past. After a moment he turns to Edgeworth, speaking low* She isn't easily phased.
Miles: *there's a dumbfounded expression on his face* Well, I'm thankful for that. *raises an eyebrow* It seems as though it cuts both ways.
Iris: *returns minutes later with a thick blanket. She wraps the box with it and puts it in a visible spot by the counter* There...this display blanket should keep it from freezing completely. They had a couple of display heaters in the back aisle, too, but it wouldn't be safe to leave a heater on unattended. *smiles to herself and pulls out a pen to write a note to the recipient*
Diego: *doesn't even look up as he laces his shoes and smooths out his clothes* Heaters, huh?
Miles: *he cannot help it - he looks stricken* Heaters.
Iris: *finishes writing and leaves the note on the counter. She turns to the two men* Does anyone else know you're here...?
Diego: I have no idea. *looks at Edgeworth*
Miles: No. *crosses his arms* The car still runs. The roads are plowed now, I expect?
Iris: Yes. I was able to get here with relative ease... *glances out the store windows* I saw some poor stuck motorists blocking traffic on the way, but I was able to surpass them with my moped.
Diego: You drove out here in this weather on a moped wearing that? Ha! *shakes his head* Fey women have blood of molten iron.
Miles: You can't be serious. It must have taken you quite a while, given the highest speed of a moped. *taps his finger on his arm* You can ride back with us.
Iris: Oh, it's all right. *smiles* I'm accustomed to the snow. Making my way through it is like second nature to me.
Diego: As true as anything else that could be said. *rubs his hands together for a moment before slipping them back in his pockets* Consider it an invitation for the sake of conversation. We would not mean to impose on your ability to drive.
Miles: In the event that you're still on the clock, you'd be able to return to your duties more quickly.
Iris: You're right...I should return as quickly as I can. *moving to the door* My boss stayed at her home, and I'm the only one who came in for work...so I had to close the store to come here.
Diego: *laughs as he moves after her, not betraying the fact that he is once again very cold* You're a gem.
Miles: *pulls up the collar of his coat and follows* Armando, you have the keys, if I remember correctly.
Iris: *stops, turns around* Oh, Mr. Armando...Mr. Edgeworth?
Iris: *facing them fully, her expression dead serious* You don't have anything to worry about. I won't tell a soul about the compromising position I found both of you in.
Diego: *steps past Iris, but pats her on the shoulder as he does so, nodding solemnly* Thank you, Iris, for preserving the good Mr. Edgeworth's humility. I would hate for him to be the subject of unwanted attention, no matter how much he deserves it.
Miles: *sneers, then sighs and shakes his head* Yes, I'm quite sorry that my lack of desire for such attention will prevent the world from coming to know of your deeds as well, Armando. That's just how these things go, I suppose.
Diego: *looks over his shoulder, back as Edgeworth, and pulls the keys to the car out of his pocket* Mr. Edgeworth, please. As I told you last night. *tosses the keys to the other man* A man never kisses and tells.
Miles: *catches them* Ever the gentleman. *goes out to the car to get it warmed up*
Iris: *speaking to Diego as she follows behind him* Was he warm enough...?
Diego: *looks over his shoulder, slowing down so that she is walking beside him; he's headed toward her moped* I should hope so. I had no intention of letting him or myself freeze, and I am something of a heater myself.
Iris: Are you? *moves her hand and places it briefly on his arm*
Diego: *out of reflex he brings up his other hand to touch her fingers - it's impossible to tell if his hands are just freezing or if her are as warm as they feel, like hot water being poured on the ice of his own digits* When I sleep, anyway.
Iris: *withdrawing her hand* Oh, Mr. Armando...you must be freezing to the bone. *with concern* You should go see a doctor to make sure you haven't caught anything.
Diego: I'll be sure to get to a clinic. *steps up to her moped, taking the handles in his hands and guiding it toward Edgeworth's car* Would you come with me? I'm always nervous in those places.
Iris: *nods* Of course. If there's anything I can do to help you, I will do it.
Diego: Thank you. *motions at the car with a jerk of his head* Go ahead and get in, I'm going to see if I can fit this in the trunk or if I'll have to take one of the wheels off.
Iris: Okay. *goes to the side and opens the passenger door, ducking in to move to the back seats*
Diego: *watches Iris take the few steps to reach the car door, the sway and curve of her hips, the warmth of her appearance, and as he pops the trunk he leans down, biting his knuckle until he can feel it, thinking of Edgeworth in his underwear until the feeling passes, completely unconcerned with his use of the imagery. Then he searches for a wrench, so as to get to work*