The fundamental things apply

[hobologic]

Characters: Phoenix Wright and YOU
Setting: Room 4-20; dormitory floors; elevator; floors 14, 28, 32, 37
Format: Starting with prose, will match any format
Summary: Phoenix arrives in the tower and goes exploring.
Warnings: None yet. Will update if necessary.



Room 4-20 and dormitories:
After reading the letters, Phoenix sits on the bed for a while, thinking. It's a lot to take in. It seems like a joke, or a dream. It is, quite frankly, mad. Worlds destroyed? Magical towers? (And just when he'd been looking forward to a spot of nice semi-normalcy.) The problem is, as mad as it is, it feels real. He pinches himself. That doesn't work. He frowns. He doesn't know what to think, but whatever he thinks, it isn't good. Suddenly, he gets up. He changes into his usual clothes, sliding his arms into his hoodie and zipping it up, then pushing his hat on over his spiky hair.

Sitting around feeling upset and confused isn't going to get things done or solve any mysteries. He heads out into the hallway and down the corridors of the dormitories. He has to find out more about this place, and there is no time like the present. He makes his way down the hallways at an unhurried pace, every now and then stopping to examine a wall or a door, or even a suspicious patch of floor. There isn't much to examine here, but he does his best.

The Elevator:
So, it seems you're stuck in the elevator during the long trip down to the first floor. With you is a man wearing a beanie, humming to himself. Off key. He seems quite determined to keep humming, too.

Floor Fourteen:
Phoenix has gone through a number of floors now, and he could use a break.

Violet lemonade isn't grape juice, but he couldn't find any grape juice anywhere, so violet lemonade it is. He'll have to make do. He's brought two whole bottles with him into the media room. With his precious beverages, Phoenix has sat himself down in one of the room's many beanbag chairs. The setting as a whole might be unpleasant, but he does appreciate a good beanbag chair. He's currently playing a car racing game and is doing his best to handle both the game controller and his lemonade bottle.

It's not going very well. Not only are his scores atrocious and his crashes near constant, but the beanbag chair is in imminent danger of being soaked with lemonade. Still, Phoenix continues to concentrate on the game, seemingly unaware of the peril both he and the chair are in. (Or is he?)

Floor Twenty-Eight:
A musician ought to feel right at home on this floor. However, Phoenix isn't entirely at ease, much as he isn't entirely a musician. He gives the organ at the center a wide berth, but manages to find an ordinary looking piano that's more his speed. With a deep breath, he sits down and begins to play. The resulting sound could be called a song if it weren't so garbled and bewilderingly played. As it is, it's just barely identifiable as this tune.

Floor Thirty-Two:
He's surprised to see the outside floors. They defy all rules of architecture and logic. He shouldn't be surprised, he knows, not after all he's seen, but he is, nonetheless.

He makes his way out onto the floating island warily, but nothing happens. Nothing dangerous appears. He makes his way across the island, thoughtfully. He has a lot to think about, here. Playing video games and playing the piano haven't done much to relax him, and his investigations have come to nothing so far. Nothing but more weirdness. He keeps walking. He doesn't stop until he stumbles upon a cluster of plants, bearing fruit.

He pauses to study them. Grapes. There's something alluring about them. He knows, right away, that he shouldn't risk eating them. Nonetheless, he leans down to pick one, curious. He turns it over in his fingers. They seem like perfectly normal grapes. They smell good, too. Phoenix sighs. Now, this is just cruel.

Comments

Room 4-20!

[perceivesjustice]

Their situation is far from ideal, and yet there is a certain comfort in seeing a familiar face. At first, Apollo is terribly tempted to jump Wright right then and there. After all, if his world is destroyed, Wright shouldn't even be here. Right?

However, he settles for leaping in front of his boss/mentor-figure. It shouldn't help his image at all - the buttons on his vest are off by one, as are the buttons on his shirt underneath. His tie is loosely done, hanging a few inches below his collar, and his hands haven't been steady enough to let him gel his hair.

"M-Mr. Wright!" And once the words are out of his mouth, even he flinches at the volume of his voice. "Mr. Wr-Wright... I'm, I-- I'm so glad to see you! I mean-- How are you-- What's--? What's even going on?!"

[hobologic]

He was just trying to gather his thoughts together, when suddenly, Apollo. Loud and frantic. The yelling hurts his ears, but that's the least of his problems.

"Settle down there." Panicking isn't going to help. It's not that he doesn't feel any panic himself, but both of them in that state is only going to make the problem worse. He smiles, reaching out to put a hand on Apollo's shoulder. "It's okay." He can tell Apollo's in a bad state, so he doesn't have the heart to tease him. It's not a teasing matter, after all.

"I'm in one piece. Kind of like this bodysuit. As for what's going on..."

He takes a moment to decide what to say. Well, there's one good way to sum it up. "I don't know."

[perceivesjustice]

Apollo takes a few deep breaths, but he can't find the energy to smooth out his expression, let alone the rest of his person. He does straighten his back, however - that hand on his shoulder brings him back to earth.

"S-Sorry, sir." There are a few attempts to return that smile, and eventually he ends up with something crooked and sheepish.

He tries to keep it on as Wright continues. Rubbing the back of his neck, Apollo gives a shallow nod. "R-Right. I mean, there's no way you can know more than I do, right? Looks like you just got here, too..."

With a sigh, he adds, "I'm just thankful to see a familiar face."

Floor 32

[mysterical]

She saw that he was fingering those grapes from across the forest clearing, but the color seemed off from what she remembered a grape looking like. Tear made her way over, staff out and ready to cast a spell in case he really was stupid enough to each something he didn't know if it was deadly or not.

"I wouldn't do that," she called out when she was sure that he'd hear her. "I don't know if a Cure spell will work on this floor, and I don't have a Poison bottle to give you in case I can't cast a spell."

[hobologic]

Phoenix, unperturbed, takes the grape he's holding and tosses it into the air, catching it easily with his other hand. He turns to Tear with a faint smile.

"Ah. Don't worry." He looks down at the fruit again, balancing it on a fingertip.

"I'm just reminiscing. But thanks." They've even turned grapes against him here. The inhumanity of it all.

He takes in what she's said, glancing at the staff in her hand. "A spell?"

[mysterical]

Tear didn't trust anything she'd found on any floors in this tower. Even the levels that seemed to be set up for their enjoyment had something that could be turned against the occupants of the tower at a moment's notice.

"You're welcome," she said, making to go away. If he was going to be wise and not poison himself—a very painful way to die, by the way—she had other things she needed to do.

When he spoke again, she turned to look at him carefully. His clothes were strange and she didn't recognize them as anything from Auldrant, but that wasn't anything new since coming to the tower. "I'm a Seventh Fonist. I suppose that most people would call me a healer."

elevator because wow i'm rude

[mayatama]

You're humming off key!

[ Even Maya knows that he's doing it wrong and she doesn't even know the song.. ]

[hobologic]

[Phoenix keeps humming for another few moments, then falls silent, studying her. He's surprised to see her here, but he doesn't show it. In fact, he only gives a slight smile as he replies.]

No, I'm an innovator.

[One man's off-key is another man's musical genius, Maya.]

[mayatama]

[ ... what. There is just utter disappointment on Maya's face, can you tell, Nick? Because that was not funny in the slightest. ]

You're kidding, right?

Elevator

[imperialsun]

Yeap, this was going to be a long way down.

Fortunately, Naoya had been in far worse company, and the humming, while completely off-key, wasn't unwelcome either. Granted he thought he could sing a lot better, but he he hadn't seen this guy around, so he was probably new.

So he stood there, silent for the most part, his submachine gun over his elbow and the other hand holding his sword's scabbard on the ground.

He gives him a nod, if Wright ends up looking over.

[hobologic]

At Naoya's nod, Phoenix nods back. He's paying a great deal more attention than he seems to be, and he's not one to ignore a nod given in good faith. Yes, they definitely have some communication established. They've got a whole nodding thing going on. The elevator seems to be taking a while, and Phoenix realizes he has no idea how long it's going to take to get them to where they're going. Knowing this place (as well as he does so far), it could be a while.

He keeps up the humming until he decides to speak. "Nice weapons you got there."

Well, it's hard to miss them, anyway. Phoenix, for his part, is completely unarmed.

Room 4-20

[crouching_sin]

Naoya's sitting on his bed, reading, as he notices Phoenix wake up. He raises an eyebrow - roommates again. Whatever. He can deal with it.

He doesn't say anything or look in Phoenix's direction until he's dressed again.

"Yes, this place is real. No, you can't go back to how it used to be, according to rumors. The cafeteria is on the first floor. You can take the elevator if you want. Eat the oatmeal first so you won't throw up everything else. Watch out for the monsters. Any other questions?"

He might as well get the infodump out of the way.

[hobologic]

Phoenix listens to this terse speech with interest. It might not be the warmest welcome he's ever received, but at least it's informative. He files away all the information. Oatmeal. Monsters. Great. Two of his least favorite things.

What is with this place? Phoenix is more than a little upset, and he does his best not to show it, though it's hard to disguise the worry in his eyes.

"Hi there, roomie. Questions, hmm... So, is this like the worst summer camp ever invented? And is there movie night? Or at least arts and crafts? Honestly, I'm scared to ask about canoeing."

Hallways

[frilliance]

[A rather familiar-looking grumpy guy in a familiar and silly red suit and with his arm in a sling suddenly comes out of his own room while Phoenix is walking past.

He takes a quick glance around to make sure there are no monsters about and the man in the hoodie catches his eye. Edgeworth has seen new arrivals posting on the network, so...] You are new here, I presume? [While Edgeworth does not recognise Phoenix, he cannot help but have this tugging feeling that there is something familiar about this man.]

[hobologic]

[Phoenix, for his part, recognizes Edgeworth right away. For starters, who else would wear that suit? He's surprised, and he shows this by staring at him for a moment in silence.

He's so glad to see him. His first impulse, in his relief, is to rush over and give him a hug.

After brief consideration, however, he decides to wait to see how long it will take Edgeworth to realize who he is.]

That's right. Just got here today. How about you?

Floor 32

[knightime]

"Most of the shit on the floors aren't usually tampered with. There's even live game on the floor with the forest." Dave frequents the floating island a lot, himself. Today he's got Missy, his Ninetails at his side, hands shoved in his pockets. "You can probably eat those without kicking the bucket. Although, you wouldn't quite die here anyways. You'll wake up back on your bed if suddenly those grapes are filled with arsenic or some shit."

Dave leans over to pick one off. If Phoenix is too wary to eat it, Dave will eat one fine. Like some damn poison tester.

But he's never gotten any trouble for eating anything on the different floors.

[hobologic]

He takes in the sight of Dave and the Ninetails, and after a moment, smiles. They seem friendly enough and are definitely not the dreaded monsters he's been hearing about. "That's good to know." Phoenix can't let someone serve as his poison tester. That just wouldn't be right, so he boldly pops the grape he's holding into his mouth following these assurances and hopes for the best.

"Thanks for the advice. I owe you one." Or he will, if he survives his rash act of eating. The grape does taste good and very much like a normal grape, although it isn't quite the same as juice. He picks another.

However, he's doesn't eat it yet, still puzzling over one of the stranger things he'd just heard. "What do you mean, I wouldn't die? I'm guessing that's not a poetic metaphor." Though you can't be too careful. Some people like to overuse metaphors, he knows.

elevator;

[integrous]

[ Asahi was just standing there, waiting to go to another floor to carefully explore.. but she didn't expect to be stuck with someone else here in the elevator. So at first she just keeps quiet, but then that tune keeps going and going as they go up with the elevator.. but after a while she can't help but speak up if not just to hear something else for once. ]

What song is that supposed to be?

[hobologic]

[At the question, Phoenix stops his humming at once. He smiles at her.]

I'm glad you asked. It's actually one of my own creations.

[This is technically true. It's a random tune he'd invented for the purpose of humming in the elevator. He'd been making it up as he went along.]

I happen to be a musician. [He pauses, then adds, for honesty's sake:] Sort of.

Elevator! c: ... also idk I can't prose right now sob.

[semantating]

[ Just your luck to be stuck with a man more eccentrically dressed than someone who took and combined Edgeworth and Franziska and then gave them the world's most ridiculous attitude reminiscent of a certain Troupe.

In other words, here's a man with floppy sleeves, a doll on his shoulder, a cane in his hand, and white hair with a single (visible) red eye happily LEEEEANING way too close to you, Good Sir. ]

Oh dear, I had no idea the lift was already out of order--we shall all have a rather nasty death if it keeps making noises like this, I fear!

[ Your humming is terrible dude but he's just being a pain and being WAAAAY too in your personal space. ]

[hobologic]

[Now, this is one odd man, and Phoenix thinks that to himself as someone all too used to odd people. Odd people are a way of life for him, and he's odd, admittedly.

Still, he's not quite sure what to make of this man. He leans back.

He thinks of stopping humming in order to reply, but something in him wants to keep on, and this seems like something of a joke, so he nods instead and keeps up with the humming. Nodding has been working out well for him.]

Floor 28

[heavenscorpse]

[V/V frequents this floor, so she's around to hear Phoenix attempt to play.]

I haven't heard that song before...

[Either the original or Phoenix's 'rendition'.]

[hobologic]

[Phoenix looks up, without stopping his playing, though he softens it somewhat, and when he's not paying attention, oddly enough, his playing appears to get better instead of worse.]

You haven't? Well, it is an old one.

[And wait, this girl has wings. That's something he hasn't seen before. Not that it's the strangest thing he's seen here.]

Or it could be they don't have it where you're from. Too bad, it's a good song.

[And Phoenix's rendition of it isn't the best way to be exposed to it, he knows.]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Lancelot does not often use the Lift. But this day he has a sack containing medical supplies needed by his Master and cannot dissolve into a mist and appear swiftly at his destination while carrying it, as the sack and its contents are items with a physical reality.

With his height, the metal car is already cramped. It is also slow. That he must share the space with this insistently humming man adds insult to injury.

He raises an eyebrow in the man's direction. When it fails to have any effect, and after no little time, he is driven to speak.]

I must beg your pardon, for I do not know your name, but I must ask you to leave off your-- humming. I confess that I find it irksome.

[hobologic]

[Phoenix had started out blithely humming, passing the time... and then it became a much longer time than he expected, the minutes stretching out and adding up. How long is this elevator ride going to take? Here he is, trapped in an enclosed space with a strange, large man for an unspecified amount of time. He wouldn't exactly say he's nervous-- No, he is nervous. This whole place has him on edge. His humming takes on a slightly frantic tone, oblivious to raised eyebrows.

When asked directly, however, he stops at once. He does have some self-preservation instincts. It's best not to antagonize large men in small spaces.]

Huh? Oh right, I was humming, wasn't I? Ha ha, sorry about that. Didn't mean to irk you, big guy.