1 ❀ video

[preciouspearl]

[One failed attempt. The screen is black for the first few seconds until whoever is holding the NV moves her fingers off the camera lens. Then, it shows pavement; the person recording is obviously not used to handling this device yet. It will be another second or two until the video clicks off abruptly. It seems like a wrong button was pressed.]

[Then a minute later, from the same device, a second video post pops up on the network. It's a child - a girl, perhaps, of around ten years of age. Her voice is quiet and shaky, and she is very obviously nervous... ]

[... and very strange-looking. Her hair is reminiscent of a pretzel, and her clothes are of an interesting design. Some might recognize her.]

[The feed is pretty short, lasting a few seconds at most.]

I'm not very sure if I'm using this en-bee correctly, but if anyone sees this... U-um. I'm looking for a person, but I don't know how to reach them.

Comments

[preciouspearl]

Oh! I-I'm very sorry. I won't forget that.. Mister Armando... [she mumbles it a few times, to remember this change of name.]

It's-- [nice? It's been only a couple or so weeks, and she remembers just how sad he had looked that day in February. It's nice to see him, yes, because he'd been trying to help Mystic Maya, she knew. But still... was he still sad?]

How have you been, Mr. Armando?

[beenwaitinglong]

It's all right. Don't worry about it.

[It's a little bittersweet to see her, if only because he knows she remembers him from a different time than he remembers her. Last time he saw her was at Wright's side in the Mask*DeMasque case.]

I've been well. And yourself? Keeping out of trouble?

[preciouspearl]

I-I wish I could say I have. [She looks very downcast now, a little ashamed.]

I've bee away from home for a few days. I woke up here very suddenly and I'm sure people at Kurain Village are worried.

[beenwaitinglong]

Well now, Little Fey, I wouldn't be too worried about Kurain Village. Nobody there will even notice you're gone. That's the way things work around here.

Where have you been for the last few days? I'm sure your big cousin will be wanting to see you.

[preciouspearl]

Huh? What do you mean? They won't notice?

[But it's been almost four days..! She couldn't reach the phone number, even though she tried every day after the people from the diamond showed me how. And Mr. von Karma, too.]

One of the people from the diamond showed me a place to stay... he's been very kind to me, but I wasn't feeling very well after I got here, so I rested for a little.

[beenwaitinglong]

Nope. Not a bit.

[Well, that was nice of... that person, whoever it was.]

Are you staying at the Tower Apartments?

[preciouspearl]

But why? I'll be missing a lot of training, and Mystic Maya should be home soon, too.

[She shakes her head, though.]

I don't know the name of the place. I'm sorry...

[beenwaitinglong]

Wish I could tell you why, kid. It's one of those... mysterious happenings in life. [Siiiiiiip.]

Mystic Maya lives with me. And you're welcome to come stay with her too, if you'd like.

[preciouspearl]

[She watches him sip the coffee, and she's struck by a strong pang of longing. She would love to stay with Mystic Maya, of course she would! But--]

I would be very grateful of being able to live with her, but I should stay here for a little bit more, at least. He helped me when I didn't know anything and I have to repay his kindness.

[beenwaitinglong]

Why don't you let me speak to him for you? I'm sure he'll understand wanting to live with your cousin.

[preciouspearl]

I shouldn't act spoiled. No! I'll pay back what I owe him for me helping me out first..! [That's what good kids do, Mr. Armando. And when she is a good child she can go live with Mystic Maya with her head held high!!]

[beenwaitinglong]

If that's what you want to do.

[He doesn't want to force her into anything, after all.]

You have my NV number now, Little Pearl, so please don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, all right?

[preciouspearl]

[She nods very determinedly.]

Thank you, Mr. Armando. And please-- please take care of Mystic Maya. I'll be around too, but you'll help her, wouldn't you?

[beenwaitinglong]

Of course. Any time.

Before I let you go-- who are you staying with, anyway?

[preciouspearl]

He's a family of Mr. Edgeworth's!

Oh, would you like to speak to him? I don't think he would mind.

[beenwaitinglong]

[....................... WHAT

Diego does manage to hide his sudden, utter horror of realization, but only by merit of the fact his eyes aren't visible.]

Yes. I'd very much like to speak to him.

[preciouspearl]

[Pearl doesn't even notice, already getting to her feet on a quest to find her current host. She tells Mr. Armando to please hold on just a moment.]

[beenwaitinglong]

[In the meantime, Diego chugs his coffee. Blend #19 for calm and tranquility. Von Karma may be a monster, but he raised two daughters of his own. He's not going to harm Pearl. He has to keep telling himself that.

Or else he's going to march over to Von Karma's place and start having an episode.]

[Video; Private]

[makethemguilty]

[Takes the phone from Pearl calmly, placing his teacup back upon its saucer.]

Yes?

[Video; Private]

[beenwaitinglong]

Afternoon, Mr. von Karma. This is Mr. Armando.

It was good of you to take Pearl in.

[makethemguilty]

[This can only end...badly.]

...Hmph. She was wandering about the Tower Apartments by herself. Without a guardian. I took it upon myself to keep her the degenerates away from her.

[beenwaitinglong]

Yeah, no kidding. It's a relief to find out she's been safe.

Can I repay you for having her the past few days?

[makethemguilty]

You don't have anything that I need.

[He did it out of duty, if not paternal instinct. Not to mention the prospect of ulterior motives. But he's not going to admit that any time soon, is he?]

[beenwaitinglong]

A few dollars to cover what she ate, then.

We can get her out of your hair as soon as you'd like. I think she'd like to stay with her cousin.

[makethemguilty]

That depends. What conditions is her cousin staying in?

She's only nine. She needs a suitable environment for a child.

I daresay that the fact that you live as unmarried man with a teenage girl disturbs me.