[RL 36: Miscellaneous Scenes from a Vacation Taken During a Virus; Edgeworth, Phoenix][Backdated]

[samuraiprosecutor]

((OOC: Action spam of several scenes taking place during the 'What If?' virus. The first scene takes place several hours after the phone call at the end of this post--so the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 9th comm time, second day of the virus--and the scenes will cover the entire duration of the virus. Action spam is go!))

Comments

Wednesday, Sept. 9th.--Morning

[samuraiprosecutor]

[the ride up the coast is scenic, relatively short, and reasonably congenial. Edgeworth dons his driving gloves, and they drive with the windows down and the cool, ocean air whipping through the Porsche. there are a few uncomfortable incidents, prompted by misspoken words or slip-ups on Edgeworth’s part, and the speed with which he takes some of the curves in the road inspires a few outbursts along the way, but eventually they find themselves outside the chic Malibu Beach Inn.]

[check-in is a short affair. Wright spends some of it wandering nearby, taking in the sights of the lobby, until Edgeworth sends him up in the elevator with the bellhop and their bags, assuring him that he’ll be up shortly.]

[Wright and the bellhop only have to wait outside the door for about a minute before Edgeworth arrives from the opposite end of the hall. he moves past them and slides the cardkey through the slot on the door to let them in.]

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix looks at Miles curiously as the bellhop enters the room with their bags] Where did you go?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[averts his eyes to the luggage that the bellhop is setting inside the door, cagily.] I...wanted to check out the bar before I came up.

[attorneyatlol]

Oh. [seemingly satisfied with that, he offers Miles a smile before entering the room himself, briefly taking in the sparse (but not in a bad way) decor before quickly becoming distracted by the sliding glass door next to the couch. the curtains are drawn, revealing a balcony just outside and, beyond that, the most amazing view of the beach]

[he stares, wide-eyed] ...Wow. [glances over his shoulder] Miles, you've got to see this view!

[samuraiprosecutor]

[looks over, his lips turning up momentarily in the barest hint of a smile, before turning back to the bellhop and handing over a bill.]

[the bellhop accepts the tip with a grateful:] Thank you, sir. I’ll just get you some ice before I go. Is there anything else I can do for you?

No, thank you. [waves the man away and walks toward Wright, appraising the room as he goes. finally, once satisfied that everything meets his standards, stops next to his companion to silently take in the view from the balcony.]

[attorneyatlol]

[is clearly enamored by it; still smiling, he turns to Miles with a questioning look] How did you afford this?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[the contented look he was wearing when he turned to meet Wright’s gaze quickly fades and that caginess returns. he considers feigning offense that Wright would even ask such a question, but isn’t sure how that would be taken and doesn’t want to start off what’s already a tenuous situation with another conflict.]

…With savings.

[now might be a good time to start unpacking… crosses to the closet and opens the luggage rack inside.]

[attorneyatlol]

[cocks an eyebrow at the response but ultimately lets it drop. Miles is free to do what he wants with his own money, of course; Phoenix only hopes that this trip isn't leaving gaping hole in the other man's bank account]

[...although--he muses as he watches the waves crash against the shore not too far away--it might just be worth such a cost]

[after one last look at the view, he turns around and starts heading towards the closet to help but stops mid-step, raising an eyebrow at a certain detail (or two, rather) that somehow escaped his notice]

[snort] Looks like they messed up. [he says with wry amusement]

[samuraiprosecutor]

What?

[glances up from the suitcase he’s laid across the rack and follows Wright’s gaze, brows already furrowing with irritation. Wright’s attention is on the sleeping area of the suite, but a survey of the beds reveals nothing out of place, not a wrinkle in the comforter. there’s even a pair of fine chocolates waiting for them, one laid out on each bed.]

[glances at his companion, eyebrow raised questioningly.]

[attorneyatlol]

[eyebrow raises higher in response, as he gestures towards the obvious error]

The beds...?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[furrow deepening, looks back at the beds, frustration building in his chest. finally turns back to Wright, cocked brow demanding clarification.]

[attorneyatlol]

[brow begins to furrow; that sinking feeling from last night is creeping back] ...There are two, Miles.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[‘…God.’ he stares, wide-eyed, at the double beds for too long, the implications sinking in, then turns back to the luggage, pulling the top back down and zipping it shut.] I’ll…call the front desk. They may be able to switch rooms without us wasting time on another trip downstairs.

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix stands there, watching Miles' back as the furrow in his brow becomes increasingly deeper]

[finally, jaw set tightly, he turns away and retreats to the sliding glass door, unlocking and opening it quickly, and then heading out; when he closes the door behind him, the glass shakes]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Edgeworth’s fingers clench on the side of the suitcase for a while, white-knuckled, before he lifts it off the rack, his back stiff, and sets it on the floor. his stomach twists as he dials the front desk from the phone on the nightstand between the beds.]

[‘it isn’t the first time. if the community has its way, it may very well not be the last.’]

[the woman at the front desk is profusely apologetic and all too eager to switch them to another room on the same floor. when the bellhop returns Edgeworth directs him to the new number, sending him off with most of their luggage.]

[he steps out on the balcony about ten minutes after Wright did. for a few moments he watches the man’s tense back framed by the sky and the waves, his dark hair gently blown to one side. finally, without approaching, he speaks.] We’ve got a room at the other end of the hall, a corner suite by the stairs.

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix's back straightens the moment he hears the door. his shoulder are tense, his arms folded across his chest, and he doesn't react to Miles' words other than a quiet hum of acknowledgement]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[watches a while longer, anger—at Wright and the community—mounting. the man’s assumptions are painfully, disturbingly clear now, and knowing what’s expected of him, what other liberties he may have to inelegantly sidestep, it’s all he can do to keep from rather forcibly shoving the truth in his face and being done with it. only the scene it would inevitably cause is holding him back.]

[the scene, and the hurt already etched in every tense line of Wright’s shoulders.]

[closes his eyes against the light and rubs the bridge of his nose, sees Wright’s silhouette in an afterimage on his eyelids. opens his eyes to find Wright still in the same, silent state. finally continues, evenly.] The number’s 312. I’ll take the last of the luggage.

[attorneyatlol]

[remains unmoving; it's only until he hears the door open once more than he finally speaks, his voice even and stern]

Miles.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[stops with the door half open and turns to look at Wright over his shoulder, not answering.]

[attorneyatlol]

[finally turns his head, looking over his shoulder at Miles; it takes a moment to find his words]

You know I'm not a suspicious person, right?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[jaw tightens, the only outward sign of any reaction.] I know it all too well.

[attorneyatlol]

[continues] And you know I'd never accuse anybody of anything without evidence, right?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[a cold smirk briefly crosses his lips, not quite making it to his eyes.] I should hope you've learned at least that much from me.

[attorneyatlol]

[his expression softens, but only slightly. jaw still tight, he turns away again, watching the waves. it's obviously difficult for him to say what he's trying to say. he lapses into silence for a moment]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[a moment Edgeworth is content to wait out, occupying his time with reminders of what the reality of the situation is and why he's tolerating it.]