Seventh Case [Text and action. Anonymous for text]

[frilliance]

To anyone else who has 'regained' a pet at home, please tell me this:

Are they actually our pets or are they just another glamour imitation because of our captors' sick sense of humor?

If anyone can tell me the truth, I would be eternally grateful.

[Edgeworth can be later found on the hidden floor, sitting at one of the tables. A brown flat-coated retriever can be seen sitting at his feet, her tail between her legs. Sometimes, she tries to nudge her master. In response, Edgeworth raises a hand to stroke her...

Suddenly, he remembers that she might not be real and places his hand back on the table, going back to his notes which he has been writing in. The dog gives a little whine and lies down.

The prosecutor looks gloomier than usual.]

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

I can't just tie up her mouth, can I? You wouldn't do that to your dog either.

[Lancer takes his hands off of Liath Macha to give Pess a scratch behind the ear.]

[frilliance]

I think I can get Pess to not bite things without putting something on her mouth, thank you. [So you can totally get horses to do the same, right? RIGHT?!?!?!

And Pess tries to lick Lancer's hand as a sign of affection in return!]

[puppy_lancer]

[Pess's gestures are innocent, but Liath Macha is still quick to take offense. She thinks that Pess might be trying to take a taste of her master, so she snorts and snaps and Pess. Lancer has to circle around and block her view of the dog to get her to stop snapping.]

Woah, girl! The dog's friendly!

[He throws a quick look at Edgeworth.]

How did you do it?

[frilliance]

[Pess gives a shocked yelp and runs back to her master. Once she is beside him, she looks at the horse.

Suddenly, Pess stares at the horse in the eyes and then growls.

Stunned that his dog was doing a thing, Edgeworth quickly pulls her back with a firm voice.]

No!

[Pess whines in protest for a second but goes quiet, choosing to look at her master instead of the horse.]

[puppy_lancer]

[Meanwhile, Lancer is wrestling his horse back, since she's snarling and bucking. He even has to hit her upside the head a few times.]
]
No! Down, girl! Down!

[The horse continues to struggle for a bit after Pess turns away, but since she can no longer feel the other animal being aggressive, she finally stops.

[frilliance]

[Pess has finally calmed down. Her master stands there with a dumbfound expression.] Er.....

[He is still shocked by his dog growling.]

[puppy_lancer]

Sorry. Really.

[Lancer chuckles nervously.]

I'll keep a better eye on her.

[frilliance]

Er.......I'd better keep an eye on Pess as well. [Which is sort of an apology. Because THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING!]

[puppy_lancer]

...It'll be fine. Just tell me how to keep my horse as well behaved.

[frilliance]

Well, um......[Now.....how to do this?] I.....suppose you can say "No" to her firmly? [Which is what he says to his dog.

In other words, Edgeworth doesn't know shit about horse-discipling. Especially as he has conveniently tried to forget his terrible experiences trying (and failing) to ride a horse.]

[puppy_lancer]

Firmly. Got it.

[He wonders if he should try cowing the horse with his killing intent next time.]

[frilliance]

W-well, if it works for Pess then I don't see why...um....it won't work for your horse.

[puppy_lancer]

[He nods again, and then falls silent for a while as he focuses on his horse, making sure it's calm.]

...So, how's Pess adjusted to the Tower so far? Any floors you've taken her to?

[frilliance]

I haven't taken her anywhere yet as I have only just woken up.

[puppy_lancer]

Then do you wanna come with me? I'm gonna go graze Liath Macha some more anyway.

[frilliance]

[Unfortunately, Edgeworth's not in the mood at the moment.] Perhaps later. My apologies, but I have a few things to do. [As in make up his mind and come to the conclusion on whether the dog beside him is actually Pess or not.]

[puppy_lancer]

What sort of things?

[He looks toward the pile of papers.]

Writing letters to someone?

[frilliance]

Er.....yes, that's what I'm doing!

[He may be calm and collected most of the time but Edgeworth's still a pretty piss poor liar.]

[puppy_lancer]

Oh? Who? Not love letters, or are they?

[frilliance]

[And he just gives you this deadpan expression. Because what a ridiculous notion.]

[puppy_lancer]

Hey, if it's a girl, I can even give you some advice.

[He trusts himself to be an expert in this.]

[frilliance]

[Smoking womanizer versus asexual workaholic. This is gonna be a great conversation.]

May I advise that you take that absurd idea out of your head and throw it back in the trash can you found it in?

[puppy_lancer]

Hey, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. Anyone can fall in love. Even you.

[frilliance]

I'm not embarrassed. Because your ridiculous assumptions are mistaken.

[puppy_lancer]

Why else would you write a letter on a secret floor?