[Closed] I won't change for you, because

[fallingjunkyard]

Characters: Edgeworth and Joshua
Content: First meetings, a game of chess, and (relatively) civil conversation over a cup of tea that may not actually be tea.
Setting: On board the Victoria II
Time: Various times in the past, starting from two years ago.
Warnings: Another funky format log, similar to the one with Joshua and Isshin. Each new thread

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[edge_of_honor]

And two years ago, the Victoria II had a new first mate: Miles Edgeworth, young prodigy and the current protege of the infamous Manfred von Karma. The promotion should have been the proudest moment of his life; after all, the admiral, a man with impossible standards, had chosen him to be his second in command. After all his years of training and hard work, he had finally thought him worthy of such a high position. However, the circumstances under which he ascended rank, from the accident his predecessor suffered to the whispers behind his back, left a bitter taste in his mouth.

No matter. Who cared what those men thought? Only von Karma's opinion was important If they still thought him unworthy, well, they'd be proven wrong soon enough.

He pushed these bitter thoughts aside and concentrated on his paperwork, only to be interrupted by a knock on his door. Ah, they were supposed to get some new passengers today, weren't they? Personally, he'd rather they fill up and bother some other ship, but it wasn't his place to turn them down. He cleared his throat and, after he set his pen and paper down, leaned back in his chair.

"Come in."

[fallingjunkyard]

Joshua entered the office, pulling his luggage along behind him. It didn't look like he had a lot of belongings, given the small size of the luggage. He gave who he supposed was the First Mate a winning smile, observing as much as he could of the room while keeping eye contact. It was surprisingly... pink. And was that a pot with a cravat?

He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised, given what the man himself was wearing.

"I hope you don't mind my interruption," he began with a smile, "but I was directed to come here to seek passage on this ship."

[edge_of_honor]

Hmn, well, he certainly seemed young. He was polite enough, though, so hopefully it wouldn't present too many problems.

"Very well," he said calmly. "Your papers, please?"

[fallingjunkyard]

The moment Joshua was allowed on the ship, the problems would never end. But Edgeworth wasn't one to know that... yet.

Fishing out his papers from his luggage, Joshua approached the First Mate and handed them over with a smile. His papers, Ivonan of course, were in almost impeccable condition.

[edge_of_honor]

Edgeworth glanced over them; everything seemed to be in order. He signed his name with a flourish and set them aside.

"Welcome aboard, young Mr. Kiryuu." The first mate stood up, and extended his hand. "I'm Commander-" (Commander. The word still weighed heavily on his mind and on his tongue) "-Miles Edgeworth. If you have any problems or questions, feel free to come back to my quarters."

He'd regret those words later on.

[fallingjunkyard]

Joshua blinked. He didn't expect this stuffy looking First Mate to use a greeting as friendly as this. Bracing himself when his hand met Edgeworth's -- your hand isn't going to go right through, he told himself -- Joshua shifted his grip on his luggage's handle to the other hand, and shook Edgeworth's extended hand.

"You're quite the kind man, Edgeworth." Letting go of Edgeworth's hand after a moment longer than was prudent, Joshua half turned and waved a hand in the direction of the open door. "I'm not familiar with the Victoria II's layout. Surely you could take a moment to show me around?"

[edge_of_honor]

Edgeworth barely noticed Joshua's lingering touch; something about the handshake seemed off, but he shoved the thoughts out of his mind.

Now, his paperwork was finished, and the crew was running as smoothly as ever, which left him with very little to do. No, that wasn't quite right - that left him with nothing to do. Rather than face an afternoon of drudgery and pointless reorganization, he nodded to Joshua and walked towards the door.

"Just follow me," he said crisply.

[fallingjunkyard]

Joshua wasn't a very good follower, and walked beside Edgeworth instead. He left his luggage behind in Edgeworth's office as if it was the most logical thing to do. He really didn't want to be dragging that thing around all day, now, did he?

"I'm surprised you're not busy, Commander." Joshua said with a grin. "I'm sure many visitors would have been enamoured by your appearance."

[edge_of_honor]

"We don't deal with many visitors," he said simply, oblivious as the innuendo flew right over his head. Edgeworth glanced back at Joshua, but stopped as soon as he noticed that something was lacking.

"And where's your luggage, Mr. Kiryuu?"

[fallingjunkyard]

What a shame. Joshua didn't think Edgeworth was ignoring his innuendo; usually there was some small tell that the brain registered it. He personally preferred to keep his terrible innuendos less obvious -- even though his one had been higher on the more obvious scale than usual -- but if he wanted a reaction from the Commander, maybe had had to be more obvious with them.

Joshua slipped a hand in his pocket. "In your office. I thought I might need an excuse to see you again later."

[edge_of_honor]

Edgeworth ground his teeth together and gave a sharp glance to the passenger. Just what sort of games was he trying to play with him? He was an officer (the first mate, he reminded himself), not some babysitter!

"My quarters aren't a storage unit," he said, in a voice that dripped with annoyance. "You're to take your luggage to your quarters immediately, am I understood?"

[fallingjunkyard]

Was that annoyance from the fact he left his belongings in Edgeworth's office, or was it from wanting to see him again? Joshua was inclined to believe the former. Was something as minor as that enough to rile this man up? He'd keep that in mind for the future.

Joshua just gave Edgeworth a shrug, before running a hand through his hair. "I'm afraid there's a slight problem with that, Edgeworth. I can't take my luggage to an unknown location."

[edge_of_honor]

Damn it, he was right. Edgeworth instantly regretted his own foolishness, and his shoulders stiffened as the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Very well," he said sharply. "Your quarters will be our first stop - after you retrieve your things."

[fallingjunkyard]

Even if it was a short distance, Joshua really didn't want to drag his luggage around any more. That brief reprieve of having no rolling weight attached to the end of one arm made him loath to return to it. Still, it wasn't his ship, and Joshua was willing to make this small sacrifice for keeping the First Mate's company for longer than if he didn't.

At least the walk to his cabin wouldn't be too long. He hoped.

Sighing dramatically, Joshua shrugged and gave Edgeworth a lazy salute, "Yes, sir!" before returning to Edgeworth's office. It didn't take him long to return with his luggage -- the wonders of having a good memory and sense of direction -- at least in his opinion; his normal walking pace was a leisurely stroll.

[edge_of_honor]

Hmph. Edgeworth rolled his eyes, and waited for the brat to return with his things. Fortunately, he didn't linger for long, and the quicker he could take him to his quarters the quicker he could shove him off onto somebody else.

"Now, he said as he began to walk forward, his back straight as a rod, "This way."

[fallingjunkyard]

Unfortunately for Edgeworth, even if he managed to shove Joshua off onto another crew mate, Joshua had the perfect excuse to visit Edgeworth in his office again. Joshua was amused by the sudden stiffness Edgeworth was demonstrating, contrasted with the relative friendliness he'd been greeted with earlier.

Following a little behind Edgeworth, Joshua asked the First Mate, "Say, Commander, do you prefer to lead, or do you prefer to follow?"