04: [Accidental Video, backdated to the afternoon of the 25th]

[truthsnomiracle]

[The feed that starts is at a strange angle. It's looking up at two men sitting on a bench outdoors, though the one in a black trenchcoat and burgundy pants is more clearly visible than the the one in a similarly black coat and green scarf. The former man looks rather irritated and pulls his hand up from the bench as he begins to speak to the latter. Maybe what jostled the phone loose was him striking the bench?]

Damn this Trey Matre! I've never known anyone so thoroughly committed to the erasure of evidence!

Patience, Miles. Don't let yourself get too worked up over it -- just take things slowly and you'll work it out.

[Edgeworth crosses his arms.] You speak as though I'm the one in control of the pace, Father. It is, presumably, by his hand that it's taken two months to simply learn his name. If not by his, then by that of another who stands above him in this scheme.

Perhaps so, yes. But I have faith that you'll outwit him and any other above him.

[Edgeworth glances away.] If it is to take this long, then I fear that the truth may be lost before I have the chance. It is not merely for the sake of swift justice that trials where I'm from can last no longer than three days, after all -- it also ensures that there is no time for evidence to simply disappear as it has here.

You're worrying far too much. Relax and trust me; we'll work out the truth sooner or later.

[Edgeworth turns his head back to Diarmuid and peers at him.] 'We'? You speak as though anyone other kidnappee sees value in anything more than literally chasing Shadows! Recall that it took my arrival for anyone to even consider investigating the hotel's ownership.

There were no fools amongst the Fianna, Miles. But I can not claim to be clever in the same way that you are. Together, I think we can outwit who or whatever is in control of this place given enough time.

[Edgeworth lowers his arms, frowning in unease rather than irritation now.] Time is the one thing we may not have, Father.

I've been here since summer, with little indication that we have anything but time.

[Edgeworth looks grim.] Which means that they've had since summer to take steps to undermine a proper investigation, as proven by the difficulty thereof.

...It may never cease to amaze me how seriously you take everything.

One cannot succeed in any form of law by taking it lightly.

You're not in a courtroom. Just try for ten minutes to relax.

[Edgeworth furrows his brow.] I'm on the trail of criminals. The difference is negligible.

You're missing the point entirely. Relax for a while or you'll work yourself to death.

[Edgeworth rubs his temple.] Would I have agreed to this walk if I failed to see the value of such a thing?

You're not relaxing. [Diarmuid puts his arm over Edgeworth's shoulders. Strangely, the prosecutor doesn't so much as flinch.] Stop thinking about it for a while or you'll drive yourself insane.

You were the one to ask how I was doing to begin with, Father.

Details. Lighten up for a while, Miles.

...

[As Edgeworth runs out of words, Diarmuid pulls his "son" into a hug. Edgeworth looks awkward for a moment, then raises his arms to at least attempt to embrace his "father" in return. Shortly after that, the feed cuts out.]

[[OOC: Joint accidental post! Either Edgeworth or Diarmuid may reply or threadjack.]]

Comments

[Video]

[unknownrival]

Listen to Diarmuid-nii, please.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

It isn't as though I spend every waking hour on such things, Issei. [Enjoy your first name basis while it lasts.] However, I do admit that it's more difficult to relax under these circumstances than it would be those I would normally find myself in.

[Video]

[unknownrival]

It's important to take care of yourself even in the most trying of circumstances. Stress can ruin you as easily as an outside force.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

I'm aware of that, as was my mentor. Furthermore, I've seen the effects of overwork due to having lived and studied for over a decade alongside Franziska.

[Video]

[unknownrival]

I'm still going to worry about that.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

Relaxing is simply far more easily said than done when the situation is not only unusually stressful, but also lacking all of my usual releases.

video;

[ex_cashcow493]

[ For a moment she doesn't want to reply. There's something that tugs deep inside of her mind and instinctively she raises a hand to her chest. It stings, she knows that much, but she doesn't understand why. ]

Diarmuid. [ A whisper that was meant not to be heard, she moves to try to turn the phone off instead. ]

Video

[sandma]

Trey Matre?

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

The man who apparently purchased the Bay View Hotel and renovated it shortly before our kidnappings began -- provided, of course, that it isn't some form of pseudonym.

[Video]

[sandma]

Interesting. I take from your conversation with Diarmuid that you've been unsuccessful in finding more?

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

Nothing that can be substantiated, hence why I've made no effort to report knowing even this much. He supposedly lives in Maryland, or did at the time of his purchase, and yet I can find no records of his existence. This can mean one of three things, and I lack the necessary evidence or leads to determine which.

[Video]

[sandma]

You could have asked the community for help.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

The community seems far more interested in the Dark Hour than in directly investigating the crime we've fallen victim to -- assuming, of course, that they aren't simply indulging in entertainment or... [Edgeworth pauses for a moment to shudder.] ...far baser pursuits.

[Video] replies will be... in an hour or so I think. /tired

[straight_and_true]

Pretty sure he's got the right of it, Edgeworth.

[Blue suit, throwing his worthless two cents in.]

[Video] /waves frantically!

[truthsnomiracle]

It remains more easily said than done under the circumstances, Wright.

[Video]

[straight_and_true]

That doesn't make it any less necessary.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

I never claimed that it was unnecessary, Wright -- merely that time does not appear to be on our side.

[Video]

[straight_and_true]

That must be an unusual feeling for you.

[Don't mind the little jab. Somebody doesn't ever get any time to prepare for his cases, remember?]

Even still, you'll just have to make time. It's probably not nearly as pressing as you think it is.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

Wright, I had to go to some trouble to outmaneuver the efforts by this "Trey Matre" to both erase evidence and prevent me from conversing with anyone who might know something about him. Though you might complain about the stress inherent in the initial trial system, it also serves to make it difficult for evidence to simply disappear.

[Video]

[needsteaplz]

[She's at first speechless by the touching moment between them. Still, the first part of the video was something that interested her.]

What are you investigating?

Mr. Edgeworth, I think Diarmuid has a point. If you overwork yourself, you might overlook a detail.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

[Siiigh.] Must this truth be sung out in chorus? To answer your question, however, I've been attempting to trace the hotel's ownership since shortly after my arrival. The name "Trey Matre", the difficulty of uncovering it, and the apparent nonexistence of its owner are all that I have to show for my efforts.

[Video]

[needsteaplz]

S-sorry, didn't mean to beat the dead horse there.

Hmm...well, we are dealing with someone who might be capable of pulling people from across time and space. So I imagine this person would be very capable of hiding their tracks. I wonder if the Baron has found out anything on his side, assuming he's not working on another project that is.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

If this Matre is not so capable, then clearly he's working alongside someone who is. Furthermore, they've had months in which to cover their tracks prior to my arrival. ...It isn't as though I'm incapable of reasoning out the roots of my difficulties, Miss Nakagawa.

Who is this "Baron"?

[Video]

[needsteaplz]

Baron Klaus Wulfenbach. He lives on the same floor as me and teaches biology at the high school.

He's a "spark," a term used in his home world to call a mad scientist and a powerful one at that. He was the ruler of his world's equivalent of the European continent before coming here. While he can only access his full capabilities during the Dark Hour, he might be able to help you with uncovering any clues with science.

[Video]

[truthsnomiracle]

I find the "mad" portion of your description disconcerting. (Can I not gain assistance from someone normal, just once?)