IC contact [Mask or Menace]

[infomodder]

"Gone fishing."

[ so don't leave messages to ruin the after fishing glow !!!

your one stop shop for not leaving him alone ]

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[Sudden intensity that only grows the longer Edgeworth goes on. Even when he takes a swig from the mug and sets it on the counter, he's still watching, focused, taking in new information and shredding it to bits to create as accurate a profile as possible.]

Lunatic said when the time comes, he'd answer for what he's done. But. He said that as Lunatic. [He looks at that mug, fingers tapping against the counter as he puzzles this all out.] He talked more about atoning than...punishment. That theory isn't. Unreasonable with what else there is to draw from. [Isn't unreasonable and, unfortunately, not quite what Will was expecting, doesn't quite like how on point it is.] Could be completely true. [He picks the mug back up, seemingly not at all bothered by this small glimpse behind the curtain.] Probably told you that with an agenda, regardless of whether it was true or false.

[Words have meaning. Agenda.

Don't they always?]

[takethestairs]

[He lowers his gaze, his tone going quiet, but not soft]

And he wouldn't need to lie to push whatever agenda in mind. Verity Willis, one of the people who replied to my...

[Clears his throat, deciding to brush past this part as quickly as possible]

...announcement, volunteered her services. A human lie detector, she called herself. While she was able to uncover some of his deceptions, she also said something interesting.

[And he looks back up, staring at Will before he continues]

That he, in her opinion, rarely needs to lie. That, in her words, 'he knows exactly how to deal with people so he doesn't have to'.

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[A human lie detector? Well, well, this was more informative than Will initially had expected it to be. Good to know a human lie detector was running around, albeit for rather selfish reasoning. Sure could come in handy in regards to situations like this, sure could come in as a pain in the ass otherwise.]

They often do. [His lack of seeming bothered is starting to break; his shoulders stiffen, he crosses his legs at the ankle, physically drawing in on himself.] Though with what you've just shown me, if he's giving out admissions...you've got what matters.

[Says Will Graham, trying to persuade himself that's true. For the moment, it's true enough. For the moment, Will can't afford to be the one who shows burns from betrayal. He's no longer plagued by physical sickness, has a good group of people to rely on instead of just the one who's wounding him and the rest of the world around them the most, no, no, there won't be any crumbling, no backsliding this time around.

Edgeworth saying he wasn't someone who matters. Please. Will looks at his bag as he says the last part, taking another sip of that coffee. P l e a s e.]

[takethestairs]

[So Will Graham finally admits that Edgeworth was right. Not about his methods, no, but about the undeniable connection between Yuri Petrov and Lunatic. And really, that's why he came here, wasn't it? To show him his proof, to declare victory once and for all?

Funny, victory doesn't feel nearly as good as it should. Not with the way Will's face fell when he read the conversation for himself. Not with the threat that looms over their heads until Petrov can be brought in. Not with the last dregs of fear and adrenaline sinking into his gut and flowing sluggishly through his veins, making him feel every bit as small as Will looks right now - and when did he start to look so small, anyhow? At what point, exactly, did the other man start to shrink into himself?

When Will looks at his bag, Edgeworth glances away as well, rolling his shoulders and fiddling with the strap. There's nothing more for him to say, is there? No, there isn't]

Unfortunately, that's all I've got at the moment. [A pause] I should be leaving now. I... don't exactly have anything else to show you, I'm afraid.

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[Will's eyes remain on the bag; even as Edgeworth causes it to shift, Will's focus appears rather fixed. Whether it's because he feels as small as he looks, because he's avoiding eye contact, that's up to Edgeworth to decide, if he wants. He stays fixed on it for a while, but there's something about don't exactly have anything else to show you that has his face changing. He's listening, he is very much giving the words out of Miles Edgeworth's mouth full attention despite not looking at him. It almost seems like Will doesn't want to look at him, but...not out of humiliation. Not out of being wrong.

He was wrong about more than Yuri Petrov.

He finally nods, glancing across that lukewarm coffee to Edgeworth's face, and oh, that intensity is not lost. It's just quieter.]

You've showed me plenty. [Not at all referencing the conversation with Yuri Petrov, not at all bothering to hide it. There are hot readings to go along with those cold readings, and Will's certainly unable to claim anything cold in regards to Miles Edgeworth. They might be generally attributed to groups of individuals most consider con artists and nuisances, but Will's never had a problem being among the very bottom of the barrel. He was born there.] Anything crops up you think I can lend a hand with, you know how to reach me. [He points, lazy, as if he truly doesn't realize Edgeworth has no idea of the lay of the house, as if he's just like everyone else when they have their groggy states, need sleep. It's the direction of the bedroom April and he share, Edgeworth can at least surmise wherever he's indicating has his communicator.] Generally always hear that thing go off, regardless of what's happening. I'll answer.

[May God have mercy on Will's soul should Hannibal Lecter ever pop back up.]

Don't worry about locking the door behind you; I'll get it.

[takethestairs]

[And Edgeworth looks up, accidentally meeting his gaze, staring back as he feels the shift in atmosphere. He senses a double-meaning to his words, recognizes something lurking underneath the surface, but what, exactly, he does not know. It's like glimpsing a figure in the fog: you can guess at their significance, but the harder you strain for details, the hazier the stranger becomes.

He breaks eye contact when Will points haphazardly, his eyes following Will's hand, grateful for a break from the intensity of his stare. A moment is all he needs, though, before he turns his attention back to his host]

I'll keep that in mind.

[He speaks slowly, cautiously, still puzzling out the subtext to their conversation.]

But I think that's all for now, Graham. If we do talk again, though, I hope it will be under less dire circumstances.

[He doubts it, unfortunately. Edgeworth prefers to avoid conversations that don't have a use to them, and so far, Will's main use seems to be a profound knowledge of dark, terrible people and the events surrounding them. But, in the interest of keeping this conversation brief, Edgeworth keeps that thought to himself, and will be walking out the door if Will has nothing else to say]