[SCENE] Ron, Phoenix and Gumshoe in "Full-Life Consequences"
Phoenix: *mid-afternoon, Phoenix wanders slowly down a sidewalk clad in hoodie, slacks and hat. He's got a rolled up employment magazine--the one Trucy picked up for him some time ago on a whim--tucked under an arm, and he looks somewhat tired. Reaching an intersection, he glances up, noting he's a few blocks from the police station. He thinks for a moment, mumbling to himself* A right on Davis Street...
Ron: *Walking towards Phoenix (and the police station's) direction is Ron. His expression is largely neutral, except he seems to be a bit lost in thought, and his gaze is directed at the sidewalk he's walking on rather than straight ahead.*
Phoenix: *lingers for a moment at the intersection, and glances over when an individual approaches the crossing. He looks slightly surprised when he recognizes who it is, and then abashed when this connects with the manner the man is walking and the mood he appears to be in* Uh-- hey. Hey, Ron. *his greeting is slightly awkward, and he knows it is*
Ron: *didn't realize Phoenix was there -- he looks up at him, startled, when greeted. He looks neither sad nor upset, and doesn't even notice Phoenix used his first name.* M...Mr. Wright. *doesn't continue*
Phoenix: ... *pauses for a minute himself, and rubs the back of his neck with a hand at the awkward silence* I didn't expect to run into you here. *trying to keep his voice upbeat* I was planning on going to your apartment soon actually... to uh... apologize for what I said from before.
Ron: Y-you were? *meekly lowers his head slightly, but doesn't avoid eye contact* I... I wanted to apologize too. I wasn't trying to make you angry. ...Well, no. I guess I only escalated things by getting angry at you which is a bad habit of mine, really; I need to stop doing that...
Phoenix: *strains to catch that last part, and shakes his head* It's alright. I wasn't in the greatest mood that day. *hesitates, studying Ron's features* You... okay? You look a little out of it. *shuffling slightly, still trying to keep his voice light* ..... I... hope you didn't take what I said personally.
Ron: *defensive* I-I'm okay! I-- well... *tilts his head, brows furrowed; he's not broken up over it, but he looks up at Phoenix with large, sad eyes* You know how... when you argue with someone, when they point out things about you that you know to be true, it leaves you speechless? That's all that happened.
Phoenix: *grimaces and clears his throat uncomfortably* I didn't exactly mean... *hesitates, and tries again* Uh... I wouldn't normally have said something like that... *his voice drifts off a bit at the end, in a manner mirroring Ron's from before*
Ron: *blinks* Sorry, could you speak up? I didn't catch that.
Phoenix: Err. *rubs his neck awkwardly again* I don't usually... lash out like that. *looking over at the man, clearly embarrassed* Sorry.
Ron: I-it's all right. Really. Everything you said... it's true! *speaks as-a-matter-of-factly, with no sarcasm* I didn't give you any occasion to respect me. And... *repeating a line from a conversation with Edgeworth he had not long ago* I'm an amoral, craven thief who needs to grow up. Right?
Phoenix: *blinks in earnest surprise* I wouldn't phrase it like that, exactly. *a pause* Well, you... do have a bit of growing up to do.
Ron: *chuckles a bit* Let's not argue semantics now!
Phoenix: *frowns slightly at that, looking slightly more alert in the process*
Ron: Yes, I do have some growing up to do, don't I? *smiling* "A boy only gets one chance in his life to become a man!" ...May I ask you another question?
Phoenix: *peers at him inquisitively* Sure, go ahead.
Ron: *doesn't look all that anxious about the answer* When you were defending me in court... Were you doing it to save me? Were you doing it to land the real culprit in jail? Or were you doing it to find the truth?
Phoenix: ...All three. *furrows his brow* I didn't believe that you did it-- the theft or the murder, for that matter. Which meant that someone else had done it, someone else who should be brought to justice. And the purpose of any trial is to bring out the truth.
Ron: *without missing a beat* But... When you have respect for your own client, it makes the victory that much sweeter, right?
Phoenix: *seemingly caught off guard* Sweeter? Well, I... I guess so? I really haven't thought about it that way.
Ron: *continuing on as though he had given this prior thought* Of course! I mean, after all, even if your client didn't commit the murder he was being tried for, and you won the case... You'd rather he be a respectable man than some low-life degenerate, wouldn't you?
Phoenix: *glaring a bit, though he really doesn't seem to know where this is going* If they didn't do it, they didn't do it. No matter what else they may have to their name.
Ron: W-well... *frowns* My point is, Mr. Wright, that I want to make you proud to have saved me! *looks down* It's the least I can do after all that you did...
Phoenix: You don't have to do that. You're... not the worst person I've defended-- not even close, really. *chuckling awkwardly a little*
Ron: *pouts* Th-that's not good enough! *overly dramatic* I'm going to win your respect... if it's the LAST THING I DO!
Phoenix: *holds his hands out and open, palms outstretched* ....... Okay, okay... no need to yell! *as he says this though, he's suddenly hit by a wave of dread* ... .......Uh... how exactly... are you planning to do that...?
Ron: *with a look of determination, he talks as though he's saying it to himself rather than answering Phoenix* I've made my decision, and I'm not letting anybody stop me! *with a bit of uncertainty* I-I'm not afraid of the prison!
Phoenix: *gapes for a good moment before he can find his voice* H-hold it! Prison!?
Ron: *continuing* In a few moments, I'm marching right into the police station, do what needs to be done... Um, fill out a few forms... *sounding more and more unsure* Wait. *too quiet to make out* Is this really the best way to... What if they... *shakes his head* No, I'm going to do it! I'm going to prove to you -- to everyone -- that I'm not some spaz who runs away from all his problems!
Phoenix: ..................
Phoenix: *grabs Ron's shoulder after (what he can hear) processes* H-hey! You were already acquitted of all the thefts you committed as Mask*DeMasque...Weren't you?!
Ron: *confused* Huh? *pulls Phoenix's hand off of him, annoyed* Of course! My criminal record is absolutely spotless! I wouldn't have even considered becoming a prison guard if I weren't cleared of all those charges against me.
Phoenix: *flatly* ...Right. That. *something seems to click* ...Oh. So you're going through with that prison guard idea. *sounding immensely relieved* For a minute there I thought you were going to turn yorself in for something or other you may or may not have done again....!
Ron: ...! *stares at Phoenix as if he wants to say something, but nothing's coming out*
Phoenix: *had been chuckling awkwardly again, but at Ron's staring, his laughing fades down* ...?
Ron: ...U-um! *Two Psyche Locks fly up!* *forced smile, rushed speaking* Sorry to cut this short, b-but I have to go do what... I have to do! Before I change my mind again...
Phoenix: *reaches into his pocket as if on instinct--but in the process drops the employment magazine that was wedged between his arm and his side. He looks like he isn't sure whether to look surprised, glare or facepalm, and ends up doing a combination of all three in quick succession* W-wait just a minute...! *before he does anything else, though, he ducks down to retrieve his magazine before it rolls away*
Ron: *It's unclear how he achieved this, but when Phoenix looks up, he is already gone*
Phoenix: ...... *blinks when he stands up again, hurriedly glancing around the street crossing to locate the man... and failing. He glances down to his magazine, then off in the direction of the police station, even taking a step towards that direction before he stops and grimaces slightly with a guilty look on his face* ...Dammit, Ron. *rolls up his magazine tightly and turns, continuing off towards to his destination, knowing that it's too late to stop whatever the man is about to do, and that he's probably going to hear about whatever it is later on the evening news...*
About 10 minutes later...
Gumshoe: *Detective Gumshoe is sitting at the front desk in the lobby of the local precinct department; true, it's not really his normal job but he's standing in for the usual officer there as a favor--and plus, he gets to lean back and eat donuts and drink coffee--so he can't help but feel a bit more like a 'real' cop in a way*
Gumshoe: *It's been a fairly slow day, all things considered, and the normally bustling and noise-filled lobby is surprisingly quiet and other than a few people there for whatever reasons, largely empty. He doesn't really mind though.*
Ron: *The front door opens a crack, and a foot juts in to prevent it from shutting. The door is then kicked open a little wider, and Ron wedges his way in with a cash register in his arms. He struggles mostly because of how awkward it is to carry rather than because of its weight, and with a quick walking pace, he carries it all the way to the front desk, letting it drop there right in front of Gumshoe with a "THUD".*
Gumshoe: *Gumshoe looks at what appears to be--from his perspective--a walking cash register with strangely familiar cinnabun hair poking out from the sides briskly striding towards him with confusion... and then sits up straight, startled as the heavy register crashes down on his desk and he sees the man behind it, recognizing his face if not his name* Oh! Hey!
Gumshoe: You're that... that, uh... Ron Delano guy, pal! *Gumshoe looks at the register in bewilderment* You uh, know this ain't a repair shop, right? This is the police station, see? ...I could probably take a look at it if you wanted, though. I'm pretty good with mechanical stuff, actually!
Ron: *rubbing his arms* I-it's DeLite, sir. *stands up straight, looks at Gumshoe sharply straight in his eyes, and speaks loud and clear* My name is Ron DeLite... a-and I've just committed a misdemeanor!
Gumshoe: Right, right, DeLite! *Gumshoe seems startled, perhaps as much by Ron's surprisingly determined and confident attitude as anything else* A... a misdemeanor? Nah, don't worry about it! Getting the police station confused with a repair place is just a mistake, pal, not a misdemeanor!
Ron: *slams his hands down on the cash register and leans over it, looming over Gumshoe in the process* PLEASE listen!
Gumshoe: *Gumshoe blinks once* ...okay!
Ron: *speaks slowly and calmly, so that Gumshoe doesn't miss a word* About two minutes ago, I walked into the wine and cheese store just a few buildings down on this block. I warned the man at the counter that in ten seconds, I'm going to rob him, and suggested he try to stop me or call the police. Ten seconds later, I stayed true to my words and walked out of there with his cash register. He didn't try to stop me with force, but I'm sure he's called the police by now. And now I'm turning myself in. *gets off the register and stands straight again. He holds out his wrists.* ...Please arrest me!
Gumshoe: *during Ron's speech, he'd reached over for another one of those delicious cinnamon donuts and taken a bite--and then freezes as Ron gets to the part about the robbery, chewing once or twice and then swallowing, putting the quarter-eaten donut down and brushing the crumbs from his chin before standing up, not entirely sure what the protocol was for a situation like this*
Gumshoe: Uh...! Well, uh... how bout that! *he scratches the back of his head, looking sort of confused* Uh... you know most thieves don't just... turn themselves in, right? You really stole this, then, pal? *he seems to recall something about thievery already collected to DeLite's name, but can't remember the specifics*
Ron: Yes I-- *stops himself and starts over, trying his best not to yell, still holding out his wrists. He's more conscious of his voice level now and wants to go about this in a respectable manner.* ...Y-Yes, I did. It was me. The cashier can identify me and... a-and I'm on the surveillance video camera, I'm sure.
Gumshoe: Well, you... you seem pretty sure! ...uh, so--you want me to handcuff you then? I can cuff you, uh... if you want. Or you could just... come with me...? *he coughs into his fist, not sure really what the best step is to do here, but with a growing sense of elation that he's once again helped crack down on crime!*
Ron: *raises his voice a little and shoots an impatient glare* I want to go through the whole motion! Please hurry up and cuff me and r-read me my rights!
Gumshoe: Well, uh... sure thing! *Gumshoe hurries around the counter, whipping out the cuffs on his belt, putting a large hand on the collar of Ron's shirt and pressing him against the desk he'd just been seated at--though gently, of course, since he's being such a great sport about this whole thing--and swiftly handcuffs the smaller man's hands behind his back*
Gumshoe: You have the right to remain silent, pal! Anything you say or do... *and so on and so forth*
Ron: *remains totally co-operative and nods the best he can while his face is pressed against the desk* Yessir. Thankyousir.
Gumshoe: Oh, no problem! It'd be great to have more criminals like you! This was real convenient! *Gumshoe relaxes his pressure on Ron, allowing the other man to stand up* Uh... if you wanna come with me into the back, we can get you processed. Really, you're being... a great sport about this whole thing! We appreciate it, lemme tell ya!
Ron: *stands up straight with his hands cuffed behind his back and gives an almost relieved smile* Not a problem at all. Thank you for the help, Mr. Detective.
Gumshoe: *he looks bashful in a way, before jerking his head in the direction of the large double doors to the rest of the police station* Just this way, if you don't mind! *once they're through the doors, Gumshoe bellows out "Hey! We caught a thief, pal!", which can clearly be heard even in the waiting room outside*