[scene: Phoenix is a BIG SCARY HOBO]
((Basically, Atmey tricked Meekins into spying on Phoenix for him. To read what led up to this, go here and then here.))
Wright: *late one night, a solitary individual treks briskly across the footpath winding through People Park. His hands are shoved into the pockets of the gray-brown hoodie he's wearing, and he slouches forward just slightly as he walks. There's a rather out of place pin-back button with a pink and yellow surprised face attached to the top of his outfit*
Meekins: *coincidentally happens to be in the park that night, taking a walk past his bedtime to help him practice staying awake late. Though he's tired and wants to go home and sleep, he notices something a bit familiar: a head full of sharp hair spikes! He stares at the person for a long moment and almost decides to break out his megaphone and introduce himself, then remembers that the man is the one and only Phoenix Wright!*
Meekins: *recalling the mission he was given, he goes into STEALTH MODE. With a big sideways leap, he flings himself behind a nearby gardening shed, alarming an elderly woman a few feet away. Meekins makes a "SHH" motion to her while she stares at him in bewilderment.*
Wright: *stops and glances up sharply at the odd noise. It's outside of his peripheral vision, so he turns towards the sound, from his angle seeing a baffled elderly woman staring at a shed-like building. As confusing as that image seems, he decides not to investigate and speeds up his pace walking away from the old lady and the noise*
Meekins: *gradually begins humming his own theme song as he slides along the side of the building and around the corner in Wright's direction-- but promptly trips over a watering hose and falls flat on his face with a THUD. He freezes for a second, then quickly rolls sideways behind a bush and crouches behind it--but he's so tall that the top of his head is visible. He resumes humming his theme song*
Wright: *his eyes narrow at the loud thud, which, without turning, he estimates took place more or less at the shed the elderly woman had been staring at. He takes an abrupt turn towards the nearest exit of the park. Unseen in the hoodie pocket, his fists clutch*
Meekins: *gets up to follow; or tries to. His tie has somehow gotten wrapped around a branch and causes him to pitch forward into the bush. Meekins flails and spazzes for a bit before emerging with bits of leaves and twigs stuck to his uniform. Struck by rare inspiration, he breaks off a few branches and holds them in front of him in an ineffective camouflage attempt while he follows Wright, occasionally ducking behind a tree when he thinks Wright might turn around, then hiding behind a too-short wall when he reaches the exit.*
Wright: *unfortunately--or rather, fortunately for Meekins, Phoenix doesn't so much as glance back at the bushes as he exits the park. Without really looking out for a passing car either-it's pretty late at night, anyway--he crosses the street, to where a number of two and three storey buildings are lined up close together. He heads into one of the small alleys between two buildings and disappears from sight*
Meekins: *still humming his theme song, he vaults over the wall and starts heading across the street, also not looking out for cars; but one happens to be coming at the time of his crossing. It screeches to a stop and honks loudly at him, and Meekins shrieks in fright. He quickly finishes crossing before the driver can start yelling obscenities at him, then forces himself to go back into STEALTH MODE once he's off the street, knowing that this is his big chance and he can't afford to mess it up no matter the danger. He resumes his humming and conspicuously presses himself against a brick wall, and starts sneaking sideways towards the mouth of the dark alley. Feeling like he's on the verge of a great achievement in detective work, he slides around the corner and into the alley, still holding the branches in front of himself.*
Wright: *the alleyway stretches some distance, dead-ending at a chain link fence. There are a couple of boxes scattered around, and trash and stray papers are stuck to the walls and ground. There are a couple of trash cans, and large garbage bins line one side of the alley. Of the hoodied man, there is no sign*
Meekins: *slowly walks into the alley, humming louder as he grows more tense and nervous. He tip-toes over to a dumpster and lifts the lid to peer inside, sees nothing but stinky trash, and closes it. As he walks towards a second dumpster right next to it, he walks right into a trash can and trips over it with a loud crash.* Oww... *picks a potato peeling off his arm as he stands up to walk towards the chain link fence, searching for signs of Wright*
Wright: *as the bailiff approaches the dead end, a couple of loud, rapid footsteps come thudding from behind him. Before Meekins has time to turn, a shoulder, followed by the rest of a fairly built body slam into him, tackling him into the fence*
Meekins: *screams and flails ineffectively as he's tackled, and hits the fence hard with an "OOF!", becoming dazed and partially slouching over his attacker.*
Wright: *grabs the man's arms from behind, and pushes him back into the fence. His eyes flash angrily--though also somewhat frantically--as he yells out* Who are you!? Why are you following me!?
Meekins: Unnn... I... I-I... s-s-sir! *starts to panic* D-don't hurt me, sir! Please! I-I-I was just on a secret mission, sir!! My wallet is in my left pocket, sir!! JUST TAKE IT!
Wright: *the wail is both piercing and piercingly familiar, and Phoenix falters for a moment, his grip on the bailiff's arms weakening. He glares at the man's facial features, and even in the poorly lit alley it's clear who the individual is* Offi--Meekins? What ... what secret mission? To do what?!
Meekins: Y-you're not going to hit me again, are you, sir? *sniffles*
Wright: No. *contemplates for a moment* ...No, not if you answer truthfully. *stops pressing him into the fence, and lets go of his arms--but stands ready in case Meekins tries to bowl him over to run away* Who sent you on this 'secret mission'?
Meekins: *rubs the bold fence-imprint on his cheek and turns to face Phoenix, slouching, but still several inches above him* I'm... I'm in training to be an ace detective, sir! *makes a half-hearted salute* Mr. Atmey said I could spy on you for practice and you'd understand. *sniffs*
Wright: *his right hand impulsively slips into the pocket of his hoodie as looks up to survey Meekins' face* Atmey... *blinks, then frowns again* Luke Atmey? How long has this been going on?
Meekins: I've been following you for approximately ten minutes, sir!
Wright: *stares at him, deadpanned* And before today?
Meekins: I-I haven't been following you before today, sir... (You look so intense, sir, don't hurt me, sir!)
Wright: *waits, but after a split moment he relaxes somewhat, backing up a little to allow Meekins his space. He runs a hand through his hair tiredly, now caught up in thinking*
Wright: *glances up suddenly--there's a rather fierce anxiety in his frown* Did Atmey tell you to spy on anyone else?
Meekins: *fidgets* U-um... I... uh....... n-n-no, sir! J-just you, sir! ...... *four psyche locks slam into place*
Wright: *his eyes dart up and around the taller individual, and even before the locks set, he's in the process of pulling out a small, brightly glowing green object, and flashing it in front of the bailiff's eyes* TAKE THAT!
Meekins: EEK! *raises his arms and cowers when Phoenix shouts, expecting to get punched*
Wright: *with a steady, but considerably more angrier voice than usual* Meekins. You're not telling the truth when you say that you're only trying to spy on me. *matter of factly* Atmey told you to shadow more than just one person.
Meekins: ...Urk! I.. I... s-sir! How did you............ *stares intently at Phoenix* Have YOU been spying on ME, sir? *one psyche lock poofs away*
Wright: *disregards his comment, the anger in his voice rising* Atmey told you to shadow more than just one person. He's trying to keep tabs on those who get too close to figuring out the truth.
Wright: That's why... you've also been told to track Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth!
Meekins: .....huh? I don't remember him ever telling me to follow Mr. Edgeworth, sir. Besides, sir, Mr. Edgeworth is scary! I wouldn't want to follow him even if Mr. Atmey asked me to, sir. But you're pretty scary too, sir.
Wright: *recoils back as if he has just given a mental punch to the face-- he nearly trips over an empty can in the process, and takes nearly a full minute to recover. Apparently, the error has taken a lot out of him, or else this isn't the first time tonight he's made such an error*
Wright: *he shakes his head, trying to ignore the dull and rising ache in his mind--it's starting to leave a slight ringing sound in his ears* *with some effort* M-Mike Meekins. Atmey told you... to shadow more than one person. *frowns, trying to think coherently*
Meekins: *fidgets* C-can I go now, sir?
Wright: *forcefully* No!
Meekins: *wilts*
Wright: Atmey... Atmey would want you to trail... *he blinks for a moment in realization* Someone totally unrelated to what I was thinking. ...He's still fixated on his trial, isn't he?
Wright: *with confidence* That means, the individual he told you to track... is none other than Ron DeLite!
Meekins: Eeep! *flails suddenly and tangles himself up in his handcuffs* *the remaining three psyche locks shatter immediately*
Wright: *sighs with relief, the pain in his head subsiding somewhat with the successful unlock-- that is, until he puts some thought into what he's just presented and proven, and groans*
Meekins: I-it was supposed to be a secret, sir! A secret mission can't be a secret if it's not a secret, sir! Please don't tell him, sir! Then I won't get to practice my detective moves!
Wright: I can't believe Atmey is still-- *glares at Meekins* Why are you helping him?! He's a criminal!
Meekins: He's... he's really nice, sir. And he has a lot to teach me, sir! Someday I hope to be a detective as great as him, sir! And I haven't been helping him with anything, sir. He's been helping me!
Wright: ...... *holds his head*
Wright: Look-- I'm sorry I pushed you into that fence, but I don't appreciate being followed around, despite what Atmey may have said. And I doubt. Mr. DeLite would either.
Meekins: I'll be sure to stay away from fences when I follow Mr. DeLite, sir. *salutes*
Wright: *stares at Meekins in disbelief*
Wright: Look... it's way too late to deal with this.
Wright: Just... stop following me around, okay?
Wright: *with a bit of a glare and a smirk* I can't guarantee I'll let you off so easily, next time.
Meekins: Y-y-yes, sir! ...T-that look you're giving me, sir, it's... it's disturbing, sir! If I were to call it "creepy", or... "not creepy"......
Wright: *knowing what's about to happen, he practically swats the bailiff's hand before he can reach for his megaphone*
Wright: Right, right. 'It's definitely the former.' But let's not wake up half of L.A. tonight with that announcement, alright?
Meekins: *twitches compulsively at not being able to spontaneously express himself through his megaphone* S-sorry, sir! Y-you're right, sir. I wish I was in bed asleep too, sir. My bed time was three whole hours ago!
Wright: *nods, looking quite drained himself* Go on, then. *steps aside, for Meekins to go ahead first*
Meekins: *He starts to move, but jerks to a stop and realizes his tie is caught in the fence. He pauses to untangle it.* Um... *carefully slides past Wright-- though he stumbles as his foot hits some debris* ...Have a good night, sir! *salutes awkwardly and flees the scene*
Wright: *sighs and rubs his eyes tiredly before he stuffs his hands back into his pockets. He's too tired to even rearrange his messed up hair before he trots off again, back to his apartment*
Wright: *late one night, a solitary individual treks briskly across the footpath winding through People Park. His hands are shoved into the pockets of the gray-brown hoodie he's wearing, and he slouches forward just slightly as he walks. There's a rather out of place pin-back button with a pink and yellow surprised face attached to the top of his outfit*
Meekins: *coincidentally happens to be in the park that night, taking a walk past his bedtime to help him practice staying awake late. Though he's tired and wants to go home and sleep, he notices something a bit familiar: a head full of sharp hair spikes! He stares at the person for a long moment and almost decides to break out his megaphone and introduce himself, then remembers that the man is the one and only Phoenix Wright!*
Meekins: *recalling the mission he was given, he goes into STEALTH MODE. With a big sideways leap, he flings himself behind a nearby gardening shed, alarming an elderly woman a few feet away. Meekins makes a "SHH" motion to her while she stares at him in bewilderment.*
Wright: *stops and glances up sharply at the odd noise. It's outside of his peripheral vision, so he turns towards the sound, from his angle seeing a baffled elderly woman staring at a shed-like building. As confusing as that image seems, he decides not to investigate and speeds up his pace walking away from the old lady and the noise*
Meekins: *gradually begins humming his own theme song as he slides along the side of the building and around the corner in Wright's direction-- but promptly trips over a watering hose and falls flat on his face with a THUD. He freezes for a second, then quickly rolls sideways behind a bush and crouches behind it--but he's so tall that the top of his head is visible. He resumes humming his theme song*
Wright: *his eyes narrow at the loud thud, which, without turning, he estimates took place more or less at the shed the elderly woman had been staring at. He takes an abrupt turn towards the nearest exit of the park. Unseen in the hoodie pocket, his fists clutch*
Meekins: *gets up to follow; or tries to. His tie has somehow gotten wrapped around a branch and causes him to pitch forward into the bush. Meekins flails and spazzes for a bit before emerging with bits of leaves and twigs stuck to his uniform. Struck by rare inspiration, he breaks off a few branches and holds them in front of him in an ineffective camouflage attempt while he follows Wright, occasionally ducking behind a tree when he thinks Wright might turn around, then hiding behind a too-short wall when he reaches the exit.*
Wright: *unfortunately--or rather, fortunately for Meekins, Phoenix doesn't so much as glance back at the bushes as he exits the park. Without really looking out for a passing car either-it's pretty late at night, anyway--he crosses the street, to where a number of two and three storey buildings are lined up close together. He heads into one of the small alleys between two buildings and disappears from sight*
Meekins: *still humming his theme song, he vaults over the wall and starts heading across the street, also not looking out for cars; but one happens to be coming at the time of his crossing. It screeches to a stop and honks loudly at him, and Meekins shrieks in fright. He quickly finishes crossing before the driver can start yelling obscenities at him, then forces himself to go back into STEALTH MODE once he's off the street, knowing that this is his big chance and he can't afford to mess it up no matter the danger. He resumes his humming and conspicuously presses himself against a brick wall, and starts sneaking sideways towards the mouth of the dark alley. Feeling like he's on the verge of a great achievement in detective work, he slides around the corner and into the alley, still holding the branches in front of himself.*
Wright: *the alleyway stretches some distance, dead-ending at a chain link fence. There are a couple of boxes scattered around, and trash and stray papers are stuck to the walls and ground. There are a couple of trash cans, and large garbage bins line one side of the alley. Of the hoodied man, there is no sign*
Meekins: *slowly walks into the alley, humming louder as he grows more tense and nervous. He tip-toes over to a dumpster and lifts the lid to peer inside, sees nothing but stinky trash, and closes it. As he walks towards a second dumpster right next to it, he walks right into a trash can and trips over it with a loud crash.* Oww... *picks a potato peeling off his arm as he stands up to walk towards the chain link fence, searching for signs of Wright*
Wright: *as the bailiff approaches the dead end, a couple of loud, rapid footsteps come thudding from behind him. Before Meekins has time to turn, a shoulder, followed by the rest of a fairly built body slam into him, tackling him into the fence*
Meekins: *screams and flails ineffectively as he's tackled, and hits the fence hard with an "OOF!", becoming dazed and partially slouching over his attacker.*
Wright: *grabs the man's arms from behind, and pushes him back into the fence. His eyes flash angrily--though also somewhat frantically--as he yells out* Who are you!? Why are you following me!?
Meekins: Unnn... I... I-I... s-s-sir! *starts to panic* D-don't hurt me, sir! Please! I-I-I was just on a secret mission, sir!! My wallet is in my left pocket, sir!! JUST TAKE IT!
Wright: *the wail is both piercing and piercingly familiar, and Phoenix falters for a moment, his grip on the bailiff's arms weakening. He glares at the man's facial features, and even in the poorly lit alley it's clear who the individual is* Offi--Meekins? What ... what secret mission? To do what?!
Meekins: Y-you're not going to hit me again, are you, sir? *sniffles*
Wright: No. *contemplates for a moment* ...No, not if you answer truthfully. *stops pressing him into the fence, and lets go of his arms--but stands ready in case Meekins tries to bowl him over to run away* Who sent you on this 'secret mission'?
Meekins: *rubs the bold fence-imprint on his cheek and turns to face Phoenix, slouching, but still several inches above him* I'm... I'm in training to be an ace detective, sir! *makes a half-hearted salute* Mr. Atmey said I could spy on you for practice and you'd understand. *sniffs*
Wright: *his right hand impulsively slips into the pocket of his hoodie as looks up to survey Meekins' face* Atmey... *blinks, then frowns again* Luke Atmey? How long has this been going on?
Meekins: I've been following you for approximately ten minutes, sir!
Wright: *stares at him, deadpanned* And before today?
Meekins: I-I haven't been following you before today, sir... (You look so intense, sir, don't hurt me, sir!)
Wright: *waits, but after a split moment he relaxes somewhat, backing up a little to allow Meekins his space. He runs a hand through his hair tiredly, now caught up in thinking*
Wright: *glances up suddenly--there's a rather fierce anxiety in his frown* Did Atmey tell you to spy on anyone else?
Meekins: *fidgets* U-um... I... uh....... n-n-no, sir! J-just you, sir! ...... *four psyche locks slam into place*
Wright: *his eyes dart up and around the taller individual, and even before the locks set, he's in the process of pulling out a small, brightly glowing green object, and flashing it in front of the bailiff's eyes* TAKE THAT!
Meekins: EEK! *raises his arms and cowers when Phoenix shouts, expecting to get punched*
Wright: *with a steady, but considerably more angrier voice than usual* Meekins. You're not telling the truth when you say that you're only trying to spy on me. *matter of factly* Atmey told you to shadow more than just one person.
Meekins: ...Urk! I.. I... s-sir! How did you............ *stares intently at Phoenix* Have YOU been spying on ME, sir? *one psyche lock poofs away*
Wright: *disregards his comment, the anger in his voice rising* Atmey told you to shadow more than just one person. He's trying to keep tabs on those who get too close to figuring out the truth.
Wright: That's why... you've also been told to track Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth!
Meekins: .....huh? I don't remember him ever telling me to follow Mr. Edgeworth, sir. Besides, sir, Mr. Edgeworth is scary! I wouldn't want to follow him even if Mr. Atmey asked me to, sir. But you're pretty scary too, sir.
Wright: *recoils back as if he has just given a mental punch to the face-- he nearly trips over an empty can in the process, and takes nearly a full minute to recover. Apparently, the error has taken a lot out of him, or else this isn't the first time tonight he's made such an error*
Wright: *he shakes his head, trying to ignore the dull and rising ache in his mind--it's starting to leave a slight ringing sound in his ears* *with some effort* M-Mike Meekins. Atmey told you... to shadow more than one person. *frowns, trying to think coherently*
Meekins: *fidgets* C-can I go now, sir?
Wright: *forcefully* No!
Meekins: *wilts*
Wright: Atmey... Atmey would want you to trail... *he blinks for a moment in realization* Someone totally unrelated to what I was thinking. ...He's still fixated on his trial, isn't he?
Wright: *with confidence* That means, the individual he told you to track... is none other than Ron DeLite!
Meekins: Eeep! *flails suddenly and tangles himself up in his handcuffs* *the remaining three psyche locks shatter immediately*
Wright: *sighs with relief, the pain in his head subsiding somewhat with the successful unlock-- that is, until he puts some thought into what he's just presented and proven, and groans*
Meekins: I-it was supposed to be a secret, sir! A secret mission can't be a secret if it's not a secret, sir! Please don't tell him, sir! Then I won't get to practice my detective moves!
Wright: I can't believe Atmey is still-- *glares at Meekins* Why are you helping him?! He's a criminal!
Meekins: He's... he's really nice, sir. And he has a lot to teach me, sir! Someday I hope to be a detective as great as him, sir! And I haven't been helping him with anything, sir. He's been helping me!
Wright: ...... *holds his head*
Wright: Look-- I'm sorry I pushed you into that fence, but I don't appreciate being followed around, despite what Atmey may have said. And I doubt. Mr. DeLite would either.
Meekins: I'll be sure to stay away from fences when I follow Mr. DeLite, sir. *salutes*
Wright: *stares at Meekins in disbelief*
Wright: Look... it's way too late to deal with this.
Wright: Just... stop following me around, okay?
Wright: *with a bit of a glare and a smirk* I can't guarantee I'll let you off so easily, next time.
Meekins: Y-y-yes, sir! ...T-that look you're giving me, sir, it's... it's disturbing, sir! If I were to call it "creepy", or... "not creepy"......
Wright: *knowing what's about to happen, he practically swats the bailiff's hand before he can reach for his megaphone*
Wright: Right, right. 'It's definitely the former.' But let's not wake up half of L.A. tonight with that announcement, alright?
Meekins: *twitches compulsively at not being able to spontaneously express himself through his megaphone* S-sorry, sir! Y-you're right, sir. I wish I was in bed asleep too, sir. My bed time was three whole hours ago!
Wright: *nods, looking quite drained himself* Go on, then. *steps aside, for Meekins to go ahead first*
Meekins: *He starts to move, but jerks to a stop and realizes his tie is caught in the fence. He pauses to untangle it.* Um... *carefully slides past Wright-- though he stumbles as his foot hits some debris* ...Have a good night, sir! *salutes awkwardly and flees the scene*
Wright: *sighs and rubs his eyes tiredly before he stuffs his hands back into his pockets. He's too tired to even rearrange his messed up hair before he trots off again, back to his apartment*