[SCENE] Kristoph and Edgeworth in: Introductions
Edgeworth: *It's a few days after State v. Enigmar and business is almost exactly as usual for Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth. He concludes his remaining trial of the week mid-afternoon, after spending the majority of the day fighting against a defense attorney in order to expose the truth of the case--the revelation of which, ironically, resulted in the acquittal of the attorney's client. An additional result of the tiresome affair: instead of heading straight back to the office at its conclusion, Edgeworth instead makes a stop at the courthouse cafeteria and orders a hot drink to unwind from the day's events*
Kristoph: *is already there, having concluded his own trial just a bit before. It was nothing to write home about, certainly not strenuous in any way. He's up for a bit of people-watching, and that's what he'd call it as he coolly observes Edgeworth from a table near the door, sipping a cup of coffee*
Edgeworth: *is, for the next few minutes, fully occupied with the steeping and the preparation of his tea. However, when he moves away from the condiments bar and turns to find a seat, he happens to notice a solitary figure by the door looking in his direction--he glances back at the man*
Kristoph: *returns a smile, practiced and certainly welcoming*
Edgeworth: ..... *walks over to the attorney, making no move to sit at the man's table. Instead, he crosses his arms* Kristoph Gavin, I take it.
Kristoph: *sets his coffee down and interweaves his fingers* Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth. *nods* I've never before had the pleasure.
Edgeworth: Hn-- a pleasure. *contemplates for a moment, then adds:* ... You look remarkably like your brother.
Kristoph: *chuckles, though there's a note of tenseness in it* It's been a while since anyone said that to me. *contemplatively* It might be the first time, actually.
Edgeworth: I trust the similarities don't extend further than appearance. *nods over to the other chair of the table, finally* May I?
Edgeworth: *sits, taking a tentative sip of his tea--he directs his gaze towards the rest of the room moreso than at the attorney opposite*
Kristoph: *takes the lead and doesn't overly scrutinize the man. He lifts his coffee mug and sips* I take it the two of you have had occasion to meet.
Edgeworth: More than a handful of times--his office is directly to the right of mine. *a smirk* He's had to do some... adjusting to the workplace environment, shall we say.
Kristoph: Oh? *tilts his head* In what way?
Edgeworth: Noise. General conduct. Time spent on matters other than work. *shakes his head and shrugs* Though I must say he's handled the aftermath of his first case better than I'd expected. It doesn't seem to have gone to his head... by much.
Kristoph: Not unexpected given how young he is and how eager to please. *clucks his tongue and sips his coffee* Quite an aftermath it is.
Edgeworth: Quite. I noticed today that the papers have finally stopped reporting on it, or matters in relation to it.
Edgeworth: *his countenance darkens as he contemplates something or other. After a momentary pause:* ...How are you acquainted with Phoenix Wright?
Kristoph: *looks a bit surprised* I'm... not. Except that I ran into him briefly after the hearing, we'd never met.
Edgeworth: ......... *a skeptical eyebrow* You two haven't encountered each other in your circles? Met at any point in regards to a case?
Kristoph: *a wry smile* Defense attorneys don't all have common offices, Mr. Edgeworth.
Edgeworth: *even if he'd ordinarily offer up a biting retort, Edgeworth remains silent this time. As evidenced by his growing frown, he seems... genuinely troubled by the earlier admission* If that's so, what caused you to speak up for him at his hearing?
Kristoph: You didn't see what I'd said in my journal entry? I'm nothing if not a man who respects the law. Even if I believed him to be guilty from the very beginning, he was owed a fair hearing. *he pushes up his glasses* I don't feel that he got one.
Edgeworth: Spare me. *waves a pointed finger towards Kristoph* It was a one-sided fight, but it was unanimous amongst your peers for a reason: through sheer application of the law alone, it was a sound decision. It was the 'correct' decision. There's precedent.
Kristoph: *sighs and smiles, lifting his hand and shaking his head* To be quite honest... Maybe... *he hesitates a bit* Maybe I believed him a little. He was so desperate, his eyes... I couldn't find it in me to fully disbelieve someone who could so steadfastly meet my and the other board members' eyes and proclaim his innocence.
Kristoph: I don't know what the truth is, but I can't help but feel we didn't find it in there. *shakes his head again, his smile fading just-so into a troubled look* I wonder if I couldn't have made more of a difference than just... a tiny dissenting paragraph that will be lost to the ages. Maybe that's why I made that journal entry. *meets Edgeworth's eyes again* I felt a little helpless.
Edgeworth: ........... *crosses his arms, his expression growing darker* You ignored precedent for an individual you had no familiarity with. You believed him... because of his eyes. You "felt helpless" -- to say I don't believe you is putting it lightly.
Kristoph: I don't understand... *frowns slightly* You don't believe... my opinion?
Edgeworth: *sharply* ...No. Absolutely not.
Edgeworth: I would believe it only from one man, and only out of familiarity with his utterly foolhardy ways. *rising* You are not that man.
Kristoph: You mean... *frowns* I see. *sighs* I'm not sure what you wanted from me, Mr. Edgeworth. I can only tell you the truth as I see it.
Edgeworth: All I wanted was an impression of you, Mr. Gavin. *picks up his drink, already turning to the exit* Good afternoon.
Kristoph: If only it could have been a more favorable one. *lifts his coffee cup, looking away from Edgeworth in disappointment* Good afternoon, Mr. Edgeworth.