Inbox;

[flaredo]

"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"

[ Please specify VOICEMAIL, TEXT or CALL. ]

Comments

[prosecutory]

[That greeting was already a large improvement from the last time they spoke. He manages to smile, a little. But it's not a smirk, and it's a calm little smile.

Pess perks up and clambers off Yang to return to Edgeworth. Despite being a rogue of a border collie, he still scores a little pat on the head. Ugh, Edgeworth can't stay mad at his dog for long.]

I can imagine. How long have you had Zwei?

[flaredo]

Years? I can't remember how old we were when we got him, but it's hard to remember life without him.

[ He also doubles as a weapon. ]

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth nods, scratching Pess' ears before the dog decides that he wants attention from Yang again. Pess quickly doubles back to her.]

Then he must have been around for a long time. Pess, on the other hand, is only five years old.

[No pets allowed in the von Karma household, alas.]

[flaredo]

I can tell. He's still pretty excited. [ Hi, fluffbutt. ]

[prosecutory]

[Fluffbutt says hi again, begging once again for petting.

Edgeworth sighs, shrugging. He manages a slight, amused smile.]

Sometimes, he's a bit too excited.

[Maybe you should learn from your dog, Edgeworth.]

[flaredo]

He's a dog. I'm pretty sure they're supposed to be like that.

[ every dog owner knows this. ]

[prosecutory]

Point taken. I had a CYbuddy before, but it wasn't the same as having a real, excitable dog around.

[Even though CYbuddies were pretty close. It's a pity Edgeworth's was destroyed when his apartment was buried under rubble.]

[flaredo]

I'm glad yours showed up. It really isn't the same without them.

[prosecutory]

It isn't...but I appreciated my friend's gift all the same. She gave me a CYbuddy for Christmas.

[Pess will now curl up and lie down at Yang's feet. Don't use him as a footstool, pls.]

[flaredo]

Your friend? Just your friend?

[ Even listless, she has to ask. ]

[prosecutory]

Yes. [Edgeworth nods, completely missing the reason why she's asking.] She's a friend from home.

Did you ever meet Pearl Fey?

[flaredo]

... Mr. Wright said something once. Maybe that name?

[prosecutory]

She was only a child by my time. Here, I met her as a teenager from Wright's time.

[Timey-wimey shenanigans are crazy.]

[flaredo]

I've heard of that... people being from different times.

[ But that's a pretty big gap. ]

[prosecutory]

I'd be surprised if you hadn't.

[Edgeworth bends down to ruffle Pess' fur.]

But as far as I know, Pess is exactly how I remember him. [They're from pretty much the same time.]

[flaredo]

You probably wouldn't want a dog that's suddenly years older anyway.

[prosecutory]

On the contrary, even if he were older, I'd still appreciate his companionship.

[Even if they can't run and play as much.

Wow, who knew Edgeworth was this soft-hearted toward dogs.]

[flaredo]

Yeah, but he probably wouldn't be feeling as energetic. [ Old dogs break her heart. ]

[prosecutory]

[His expression becomes sadder. He knows sooner or later Pess will grow old and weak and eventually die, but he tries not to dwell on that too much and just enjoys his time with his pooch.]

No, of course not.

[And that reminds him...]

The downside of having him here, regardless of his age, is that he'll be exposed to everything we face.

...He isn't trained for battle.

[Except maybe a show dog battle.]

[flaredo]

... You could always just keep him indoors. They don't seem to mess with dogs as much.

[prosecutory]

I do keep him indoors. But I can't help but worry...after all, we never know what will happen next.

[Miles Edgeworth: Ace Worrywart.]

[flaredo]

Maybe not, but Zwei doesn't really get dragged into things either. [ And when he does, he can defend himself. ]

[prosecutory]

Perhaps CERES has a heart after all. At least, for dogs.

[He says this very dryly.]