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

[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.

[beenwaitinglong]

[Ohhhh no, he doesn't.]

Maya lives with me in a clean apartment in Sector 4. She's as good as my daughter.

And how, exactly, is it better for Pearl to live with an unmarried man recently recovered from a stint on death row?

[makethemguilty]

[Inquiries, inquiries, Mister Armando.]

Alone? And are you her legal guardian?

...Whatever are you implying? I asked you a simple question. What is more, I have reared three children by myself.

[Counting Franziska, her sister, and Edgeworth, that is.]

If you're going to call my integrity into question perhaps I shall see to it that the law should examine exactly what the nature of your relationship is with Ms. Fey.

[beenwaitinglong]

[Ever so calm. Ever so tranquil.]

Maya's 19 years old. She can live wherever she wants with whoever she wants, and the "nature of our relationship" has no bearing on anything.

So then you'd know how legitimate the idea of being a single father is.

[makethemguilty]

It is relevant.

Hmph. I daresay your physical attributes—or lack thereof—should be called into question.

[Yes, he went there.]

[beenwaitinglong]

Ha...!

[On one level, he's pissed as hell about that remark. On another... it's just so baiting and ignorant he can't bother being angry.]

Are you really suggesting that a physical handicap makes someone an unfit parent?

[makethemguilty]

Depending on the severity it certainly can!

[He taps the side of his temple near his eye for emphasis.]

Your...disability can certainly be a problem in looking after the welfare of a child.

[beenwaitinglong]

My disability has caused me no difficulty in becoming a city prosecutor and living a very productive life in Siren's Port, nor in supporting a young woman.

And quite frankly, I'm insulted by your implying that it has.

[makethemguilty]

Ha! Only by merit of that thing you wear. Without it you'd see nothing!

What is more, your state of health should also be inspected, Prosecutor.

[beenwaitinglong]

Well now. Sounds like a solution to the problem, then, doesn't it?

That's a fair statement. I should expect the same of an elderly gentlemen in the same position as me.

[makethemguilty]

Hmph! I've always been in a perfect state of health.

And we're not in a similar position at all!

[beenwaitinglong]

Sure we are. Two lawyers looking after the welfare of a young girl in an extremely dangerous city. You're old and decrepit, I'm young and decrepit.

Only, if you want to look at it more closely, I've been established here for almost two years already. I have a steady job and two adults bringing money into the household. I'm well-known with the rest of the Newcomer populace. I also live with the girl's beloved older cousin, who had guardianship of her back in our home city.

Oh, yes. And I've never killed anyone.

So you're right, I guess... we're not in a similar position at all.

[makethemguilty]

Do you think I care about such amateurish remarks from a third-rate Prosecutor?

You may think to bait me, yet this is nothing more than a fool's game. Clearly this is a colossal waste of time.

Let the courts decide!