[ good morning and happy monday (?). apollo has finally changed out of his suit and is currently in jeans, a t-shirt and a jacket with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. while he's not entirely content with the whole vacation vibe, he seems to be leaning into it a little more given he's seated on top of a jungle gym structure at the playground with a thick book in his lap. he has an apple in one hand and he's flipping the pages with another, seemingly absorbed in what he's reading.
but he's still fairly perceptive (moreso when he's feeling uneasy), so once he realizes someone is in the vicinity he looks up and spots strohl. oh. that guy. well, he settles for giving a little nod of greeting. ]
it's a weird monday but it's a monday. strohl's looking around (taking, you say... a stroll....) with his hands in his pockets - he looks up to the apollo who is tall, hand over his brow. ]
Beats the ride here by a long shot. [ good naturedly, he peers up. ] What're you doing up there?
[ the only time apollo will be taller than most people, yeah. anyway, there's a faint little grin because yeah! yeah, it sure does beat the ride here. but he gestures to the book with his apple'd hand. ]
Trying to read up on any laws that might be in place in the city. So far I'm not finding much, so I switched to international law for a general overview.
[ there's a bark of a laugh, not really amused and almost tinging on bitter disbelief. ]
No, definitely not. [ strohl didn't know, but given apollo's background it's sort of a funny question in the way of "there's no way he could ever be." ] But I am a lawyer. It's my job to pursue the truth and make things right.
[ oh... well - it seems like he might apologize at first, wincing a little sympathetically, but as apollo finishes his sentence, he stops. strohl's expression changes - he'll see a smile dawn, and he huffs. ]
That's more 'noble' than any title, if you ask me.
[ and with that, he'll go ahead and pull himself up onto the jungle gym to sit next to him. ]
Never heard of a lawyer before, but that's something I can get behind. I don't think we got properly introduced, right? The name's Strohl.
[ oh, hello there. there is plenty of room on the jungle gym so apollo doesn't mind, shifting a little to make space before he nods. ]
Apollo Justice. [ he does not mind giving his full name. figures it's something that he should try to be proud of, because apollo justice is someone he's built himself from the ground up. he does not say "nice to meet you", but the sentiment is there. ] There are different kinds of lawyers where I'm from, but I'm a defense attorney. My clients hire me to defend them in court and prove their innocence. But, currently, I'm writing a list of all of the ways this entire thing is probably illegal.
[ oooh. oooooooohhhh OOOH the vibes are so bad. strohl after that is just staring at one of the signs, visibly shaking, and when he sees apollo move out of the corner of his eye he turns on his heel and marches right that way. ]
Justice. [ sharp, clipped - it's not angry at him, but it's definitely angry, the voice of someone trying very, very hard to keep himself in check, teeth gritted, hands curled tight into fists at his sides. ] What do we need to do.
[ hm. it may not be anger directed at him, but hearing the tone, reading the body language and being addressed by his last name in this tone does put him a little on edge. sometimes you are unintentionally reminded of something terrible. but it's strohl, so he doesn't take it personally as he puts another piece of tape up to hold his sign to the door. ]
A debrief first. Usually the prosecution would present the case to the court of what crime they're attempting to prove the defendant committed. It's an overview of what happened and the evidence pointing to the defendant. Then a witness is called to the stand, and the defense can cross examine. Before all of that usually the detective team investigates the scene for clues.
[ ... ]
Our prosecutor and our detective died on Tuesday, so I'm gonna have to wing it a little. I can start us tomorrow and explain how a trial works for everyone who isn't used to it, but then we'll have to see what we can find. Investigate for clues, start putting together pieces, and see if we can uncover the truth.
[ okay. okay, okay, okay. he is trying so - so hard to stay calm, trying so hard to listen, and even though just listening to this is making him want to scream, he knows, logically, he has to listen, he knows logically that apollo's right, but he's so angry. tunnel vision fury. louis in the soiree, sitting back with his smug little smile. oh, well, yes. some things have to be sacrificed. worry not, the people of halia did not die in vain. ]
We're not going to have any bloody witnesses - she was with me last night, if someone attacked her, she would have woken me up, or - I would have woken up.
[ his voice strains on the last phrase, some of that anger cracking away into its more obvious - into grief. ] Why didn't I wake up?
[ sometimes you just learn to compartmentalize your emotions while you're working on a case and that's not always a good answer either, actually. it's obvious he's pretty irritated with this chain of events, moreso because people were already dying, why did we need to add murder to the mix? and also, what was the motive?
still, the question nets strohl a short shrug. ]
The same reason the rest of us didn't? [ he was there last night, too. there were a good number of them, and he finds that equally suspicious. ] And the same reason we all fell asleep on the trip here, I'm guessing. The two of them have to be connected somehow.
[ but they don't have witnesses, that much is true. nevertheless... ]
This isn't going to be a conventional trial, but it's better than doing nothing.
he lets that bounce around in his head for a moment, staring down at the ground. it's always that. there's no saving what's lost. no lifting but there's... ]
... Whatever you need. [ he says, eventually - a little slower, now, on an exhale out, as some of that fire and anguish and grief hones itself to a sharp point of determination. ] To figure it out. Whatever you need, just ask, and I'll do it. Hulkenberg, too.
... we'll need to investigate where we can. Ema would be able to tell us where to start, but given the mess they found I think it's obvious what to check first. And the rabbit ran back to the market, which makes me wonder what's over there. We don't have a suspect, but unfortunately it means for now everyone is a suspect.
[ normally this is not what he believes, but. you know. ]
Kla—Prosecutor Gavin would normally have an autopsy report to present to the court. I'm hoping to negotiate with some of the robots to bring the bodies back. Not that it will work, but... [ he has to hope. ] If we're lucky, we'll be able to look and try to determine the cause of death. Not to mention find the rest of Fushiguro. And once we have that, it's sorting evidence to try and narrow things down.
...And we know where Vi started. [ he says, eventually, quieter - slowly letting the situation at hand percolate and unfold in front of him beyond the grief, grasping at clarity and finding it in what his purpose always has been - in justice.
it makes sense to him, the logical progression. the market, the rabbit. ] ...The rabbit went back to the market, and Fushiguro was... hit by one of those potions, right? That must be something. Hulkenberg said something about cheese.
[ which like if this was any other situation he'd be thanking GOD she didn't try to eat him but nothing is funny right now so instead he just jitters a little as the subject comes back to vi, as apollo trips over the name. (so forward... first names...) his heart lurches a little, both with weight from his loss and weight from the knowledge of apollo's, too. ]
If you need muscle with those blasted things, I'll help you negotiate, too. [ HE CAN BE BAD COP this is not a joke.
his foot starts tapping where he's standing. thoughtful, focused in. ] This injustice will not stand.
That's just another reason I want everyone in court tomorrow. [ it's not court? you don't have a judge, idiot. it's fine, he'll figure it out. ] It sounds like people ended up in a few places. I'd like to find out if we know where Fushiguro started. [ ... and a note, actually, that almost sounds like guilt. ] I should've gone back to our room last night to check on him.
[ but he'd been distracted, and while he and megumi weren't exactly super close, apollo is aware how young he was. the same age as trucy, and imagining something like this happening to her guts him in a way he can't think about too long. ]
It at least tells us he was there, if nothing else. I'd like to see if there are other rabbits, too. He... [ ... no, he'll save that for the trial. ] It's a start. But thanks. If they're so eager to serve us, maybe I can convince them I'll make the most out of my vacation by catching up on some work.
[ this is such a terrible joke. ]
If nothing else, getting everyone in one place should help us start to uncover other pieces. Maybe even find a link between what's happened already and what happened last night.
[ sets this bs (before swan) because he probably would've come to find apollo the next day relatively quick!!! he's coming down from the nice hotel looking refreshed and well rested for once, so spotting him, he brightens and immediately trots over. ]
Justice. [ a beat. ] Ruminate on that answer any more?
[ hiya. apollo is just leaving the restaurant with some coffee and his usual messenger bag full of case reports and books. he's dressed down in jeans and a hoodie, sleeves pushed up to his elbows and the gold bracelet still on his left wrist. his hair looks a little less pristine than usual but it's a lazy day.
(sort of.)
but he sees strohl and he stops walking to let him catch up. ]
Yeah, I think so. Pretty sure I have a good answer now. [ a pause. ] And if I didn't, I'd be a terrible attorney.
[ oh - good, the smile that just spreads across his face immediately, blooming with warmth as he catches up proper. ]
Attaboy. [ as he reaches out to clap him on the shoulder and give him a friendly jostle by it while they walk! delighted and genuine. thrilled!! ] Can't begin to tell you how glad I am to hear it - I was hoping that line of questioning might just do the trick.
[ because they are both Cause Driven tm.... pleased. ] You must have the hangover of the lifetime, in more ways than one. How're you feeling?
[ he normally gets more fussy with physical contact, but it feels familiar enough he doesn't push him off and instead he settles for a little grin. ]
You were on the right track even if it was really jarring to figure out why things didn't add up. But I'm fine. [ unfortunately being himself again means this may or may not actually be true, but he seems pretty okay. his brain hurts and he has a lot of things making him want to shrivel up and die, but he's fine! ]
What, the dying, or the remembering? Try to avoid the former for me, if not for Gavin and the rest...
[ SNARKY but very, very genuine - he grins a little, sympathetic but pleased, hands falling into his pockets. ]
Scared the hell out of all of us, honestly. I'd much rather see you up alive and breathing and as yourself. [ instead of flirty confident no baggage apollo... who was this. ] ...You remember much about it?
[ at the mention of gavin, he does frown a little. moreso when strohl says "avoid it for me" because he very distinctly remembers how he died. ]
... sorry about that, by the way. I didn't get to say it before. I didn't want to tip her off that I suspected something, so I couldn't explain it then. [ abandoning strip to go interrogate nathalie, he means. ]
But I'm definitely glad to be alive-ish and breathing and myself. [ the secret is that apollo wants to be confident so badly and has now backslid while thinking of everything he just did before and how he has too many issues to be that way. ] I remember everything if that's what you mean. Or at least I remember the fact I didn't remember anything at all.
[ natalie's terrible cough was much more familiar than he liked - a symptom of similar debris and dust, of ashes and destroyed villages, all those years ago. it caught his eye, but apollo's stroke of boldness caught it. though - he nudges him with his elbow and gives apollo a look, just-slightly-scolding, though it's good natured, big sigh and all. ]
But next time, let the guy with the big bloody sword get in front of you first, huh? I respect it, but still. [ what is!! a bodyguard kinda guy to do!!! but to watch his friends die in front of him!!! it's the worst!!! ]
... You were pretty stubborn. And... [ a beat. ] ...Everything, huh.
[ your soap opera. wincing a little sympathetically: ] Sorry about it.
I was going to get a closer look at the scuffs on her brace to see if they matched the rabbit scratches I had, but everything happened pretty fast. And I didn't think she'd go for scissors or that this place would have the bright idea to make things go wrong. Our cases are usually more organized.
[ so yeah, he really just didn't think about it and he feels bad. sorry!! for the survivor's guilt!! he sees that look and gives him a half-smile in return. he gets it. bad idea. but then... oof. ]
... yeah, everything. From when we came back to when I snapped out of it. [ weird experience. ] What's the likelihood of everybody forgetting everything because we're more focused on getting out of here?
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week 1, monday
but he's still fairly perceptive (moreso when he's feeling uneasy), so once he realizes someone is in the vicinity he looks up and spots strohl. oh. that guy. well, he settles for giving a little nod of greeting. ]
Took the trains long enough.
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it's a weird monday but it's a monday. strohl's looking around (taking, you say... a stroll....) with his hands in his pockets - he looks up to the apollo who is tall, hand over his brow. ]
Beats the ride here by a long shot. [ good naturedly, he peers up. ] What're you doing up there?
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Trying to read up on any laws that might be in place in the city. So far I'm not finding much, so I switched to international law for a general overview.
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[ curiosity piques in his voice - he wanders over to lean on the jungle gym with one hand, drawn in. ] Are you a noble?
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No, definitely not. [ strohl didn't know, but given apollo's background it's sort of a funny question in the way of "there's no way he could ever be." ] But I am a lawyer. It's my job to pursue the truth and make things right.
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That's more 'noble' than any title, if you ask me.
[ and with that, he'll go ahead and pull himself up onto the jungle gym to sit next to him. ]
Never heard of a lawyer before, but that's something I can get behind. I don't think we got properly introduced, right? The name's Strohl.
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Apollo Justice. [ he does not mind giving his full name. figures it's something that he should try to be proud of, because apollo justice is someone he's built himself from the ground up. he does not say "nice to meet you", but the sentiment is there. ] There are different kinds of lawyers where I'm from, but I'm a defense attorney. My clients hire me to defend them in court and prove their innocence. But, currently, I'm writing a list of all of the ways this entire thing is probably illegal.
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…Justice. Really?
[ the tone here is like - surprised and mutedly… delighted by that name, actually. ]
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Yeah. That's what they told me, anyway.
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week 1, friday
Justice. [ sharp, clipped - it's not angry at him, but it's definitely angry, the voice of someone trying very, very hard to keep himself in check, teeth gritted, hands curled tight into fists at his sides. ] What do we need to do.
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A debrief first. Usually the prosecution would present the case to the court of what crime they're attempting to prove the defendant committed. It's an overview of what happened and the evidence pointing to the defendant. Then a witness is called to the stand, and the defense can cross examine. Before all of that usually the detective team investigates the scene for clues.
[ ... ]
Our prosecutor and our detective died on Tuesday, so I'm gonna have to wing it a little. I can start us tomorrow and explain how a trial works for everyone who isn't used to it, but then we'll have to see what we can find. Investigate for clues, start putting together pieces, and see if we can uncover the truth.
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We're not going to have any bloody witnesses - she was with me last night, if someone attacked her, she would have woken me up, or - I would have woken up.
[ his voice strains on the last phrase, some of that anger cracking away into its more obvious - into grief. ] Why didn't I wake up?
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still, the question nets strohl a short shrug. ]
The same reason the rest of us didn't? [ he was there last night, too. there were a good number of them, and he finds that equally suspicious. ] And the same reason we all fell asleep on the trip here, I'm guessing. The two of them have to be connected somehow.
[ but they don't have witnesses, that much is true. nevertheless... ]
This isn't going to be a conventional trial, but it's better than doing nothing.
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he lets that bounce around in his head for a moment, staring down at the ground. it's always that. there's no saving what's lost. no lifting but there's... ]
... Whatever you need. [ he says, eventually - a little slower, now, on an exhale out, as some of that fire and anguish and grief hones itself to a sharp point of determination. ] To figure it out. Whatever you need, just ask, and I'll do it. Hulkenberg, too.
[ don't just volunteer her (but it's true) ]
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... we'll need to investigate where we can. Ema would be able to tell us where to start, but given the mess they found I think it's obvious what to check first. And the rabbit ran back to the market, which makes me wonder what's over there. We don't have a suspect, but unfortunately it means for now everyone is a suspect.
[ normally this is not what he believes, but. you know. ]
Kla—Prosecutor Gavin would normally have an autopsy report to present to the court. I'm hoping to negotiate with some of the robots to bring the bodies back. Not that it will work, but... [ he has to hope. ] If we're lucky, we'll be able to look and try to determine the cause of death. Not to mention find the rest of Fushiguro. And once we have that, it's sorting evidence to try and narrow things down.
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it makes sense to him, the logical progression. the market, the rabbit. ] ...The rabbit went back to the market, and Fushiguro was... hit by one of those potions, right? That must be something. Hulkenberg said something about cheese.
[ which like if this was any other situation he'd be thanking GOD she didn't try to eat him but nothing is funny right now so instead he just jitters a little as the subject comes back to vi, as apollo trips over the name. (so forward... first names...) his heart lurches a little, both with weight from his loss and weight from the knowledge of apollo's, too. ]
If you need muscle with those blasted things, I'll help you negotiate, too. [ HE CAN BE BAD COP this is not a joke.
his foot starts tapping where he's standing. thoughtful, focused in. ] This injustice will not stand.
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[ but he'd been distracted, and while he and megumi weren't exactly super close, apollo is aware how young he was. the same age as trucy, and imagining something like this happening to her guts him in a way he can't think about too long. ]
It at least tells us he was there, if nothing else. I'd like to see if there are other rabbits, too. He... [ ... no, he'll save that for the trial. ] It's a start. But thanks. If they're so eager to serve us, maybe I can convince them I'll make the most out of my vacation by catching up on some work.
[ this is such a terrible joke. ]
If nothing else, getting everyone in one place should help us start to uncover other pieces. Maybe even find a link between what's happened already and what happened last night.
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week 2 friday!!
Justice. [ a beat. ] Ruminate on that answer any more?
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(sort of.)
but he sees strohl and he stops walking to let him catch up. ]
Yeah, I think so. Pretty sure I have a good answer now. [ a pause. ] And if I didn't, I'd be a terrible attorney.
[ hi. he's back. ]
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Attaboy. [ as he reaches out to clap him on the shoulder and give him a friendly jostle by it while they walk! delighted and genuine. thrilled!! ] Can't begin to tell you how glad I am to hear it - I was hoping that line of questioning might just do the trick.
[ because they are both Cause Driven tm.... pleased. ] You must have the hangover of the lifetime, in more ways than one. How're you feeling?
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You were on the right track even if it was really jarring to figure out why things didn't add up. But I'm fine. [ unfortunately being himself again means this may or may not actually be true, but he seems pretty okay. his brain hurts and he has a lot of things making him want to shrivel up and die, but he's fine! ]
Can't say I ever want to do that again though.
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[ SNARKY but very, very genuine - he grins a little, sympathetic but pleased, hands falling into his pockets. ]
Scared the hell out of all of us, honestly. I'd much rather see you up alive and breathing and as yourself. [ instead of flirty confident no baggage apollo... who was this. ] ...You remember much about it?
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... sorry about that, by the way. I didn't get to say it before. I didn't want to tip her off that I suspected something, so I couldn't explain it then. [ abandoning strip to go interrogate nathalie, he means. ]
But I'm definitely glad to be alive-ish and breathing and myself. [ the secret is that apollo wants to be confident so badly and has now backslid while thinking of everything he just did before and how he has too many issues to be that way. ] I remember everything if that's what you mean. Or at least I remember the fact I didn't remember anything at all.
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[ natalie's terrible cough was much more familiar than he liked - a symptom of similar debris and dust, of ashes and destroyed villages, all those years ago. it caught his eye, but apollo's stroke of boldness caught it. though - he nudges him with his elbow and gives apollo a look, just-slightly-scolding, though it's good natured, big sigh and all. ]
But next time, let the guy with the big bloody sword get in front of you first, huh? I respect it, but still. [ what is!! a bodyguard kinda guy to do!!! but to watch his friends die in front of him!!! it's the worst!!! ]
... You were pretty stubborn. And... [ a beat. ] ...Everything, huh.
[ your soap opera. wincing a little sympathetically: ] Sorry about it.
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[ so yeah, he really just didn't think about it and he feels bad. sorry!! for the survivor's guilt!! he sees that look and gives him a half-smile in return. he gets it. bad idea. but then... oof. ]
... yeah, everything. From when we came back to when I snapped out of it. [ weird experience. ] What's the likelihood of everybody forgetting everything because we're more focused on getting out of here?
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