//

[hearing that brought a warm smile to her face.]

you’re a good man for doing that. i can’t imagine where she’d be if she didn’t have you.

[a simple nod was her response, and now she’s sitting down behind a desk. there’s a nameplate on it, ‘april may’ chiseled into the object.]

all i can say is you’re now in the right place. please, have a seat.

[she peered over to look at the photo, perking an eyebrow up.]

aww she’s adorable. love the get up. but uhh……what do you mean she’s your daughter?

[it was a few moments later that the door opened up, the pink-haored woman on the other side. she flashed a little smirk, not saying anything smart though.]

hello, welcome to edgeworth and co. law offices. come in, please.

[she then stepped aside for him to enter.]

not that i’m familiar with, no.

[somehow that didn’t faze her, and all she did now was stand up on her feet.]

i know more than you realise.

[she reached into her pocket, pulling out a small pink wallet that she drew a business card from. it read “edgeworth and co.”]

give us a call if you change your mind.

[and now she’s gone.]

[a simple nod of the head.]

thank you, i really appreciate it.

[raising an eyebrow. that wasn’t supposed to happen was it?]

you see yourself as a von karma? not an edgeworth, like your father?

do you think he would be proud of you if he saw you like this?

[apollo. that’s a new name she hadn’t heard of before.]

okay. okay, i understand.

……is that really what lawyers do? is it really their goal to win? or is it something else?

[her voice was getting a bit more stern now, but it was still gentle with him.]

you don’t have to worry about that, i will take just about anything i can get. i can also do anything you ask of me. just say the word and it’s done.

[is this a side effect from being under redd white’s control for so many years? maybe. but it’s what she’s used to.]

[she shook her head to his words.]

not everyone out there is a criminal. some people get wrongly accused and they need saving.

actually……that is something i wanted to talk to you about.

over at bluecorp i was his secretary.

i was wondering if you needed something like that over here.

[now she’s offering a warm smile, pulling back one of the flaps of her top, showing off a badge of her own. one that looked a lot like, oh. it looked a lot like his father’s.]

have you……considered being a defense attorney?

meh, it’s all in the past. we can’t change that. i’m just glad you were able to put him away for good.

[hands come up to gently hold his face, thumbs wiping away the tears streaming down his cheeks.]

it looks to me like you’re not happy being under him. is that really worth staying where you are?

yeah, he kinda had me under his thumb, so even if i wanted to talk back and not take part in his schemes, i really had no other choice.

+ your own way? follow your own path?