Homeless and confused

[miafey]

So, you woke me up at one in the morning and told me to be your muse and go talk to strangers because you're bored and you have a crush on me?

I suppose I'll say I'm flattered, but you're an odd girl! What do you plan to do with me, now that I'm here?

Comments

[truthsnomiracle]

I regret to inform you, Ms. Fey, that despite the vital importance of the truth, you may yet regret asking that question.

[miafey]

Oh? Do you know something about this?

[truthsnomiracle]

I'm not familiar with this specific case, merely with the general patterns involved. Those who find themselves in this position are typically subjected to bizarre situations, sometimes merely through writing prompts known as "memes", sometimes also through being forced into long-term arrangements dubiously known as "games".

[miafey]

I... I see. What sorts of bizarre situations, exactly?

[truthsnomiracle]

Those will vary depending on the tastes of the perpetrator. I can only hope that yours, like my own, is relatively clean of mind. Despite frequently being weighted toward both romantic and, er, adult fare, bakerstreet remains the unassailable singular hub for those who wish to subject us to memes. Perusing a few pages of that can allow one to gain insight into that aspect of what you may find yourself subjected to.

[miafey]

Ah, then it's as I thought. I was dragged off to that exact location at approximately 1:15 am this morning. I assume I can expect more of the same.

You mentioned "your own," Mr. Edgeworth. Am I to understand that your extensive knowledge of these sorts of cases is, in fact, first hand?

[truthsnomiracle]

I've been caught in this situation for almost precisely three years, yes.

[miafey]

Three years?!

[Even for Mia, it takes some time to regain composure after that revelation.]

And for all that time, you've been subjected to these "memes?" Or perhaps one of the long-term engagements in a "game," as you mentioned?

[truthsnomiracle]

I know of a Wright who has been in this situation for far longer.

While on two occasions I've been placed within "games", neither proved to be the sort of experience my typist, as she insists that I call her, had been led to believe it would be. Indeed, she's largely given up hope that she might find a "game" of a non-traumatic nature in which one can be proactive in ways that don't involve physical combat and expect such actions to bear fruit.

[miafey]

The same fate for Phoenix, too?

Hmm, so games often involve combat. I'm not so sure I'd be suited to that, either. I suppose we're both more the "battle of wits" type.

[truthsnomiracle]

It would be more accurate to say that those which offer one the opportunity to take action at all typically involve combat. A greater proportion of them are little more than prisons, some pleasant and some not, in which one is expected to resign oneself to one's fate and engage in "slice of life" activities. Worse still, games of that nature enjoy such popularity that even those games which were originally intended to offer those trapped there the opportunity to do something other than simply interact with one's fellow captives and random occurrences often lose their active aspects as the players fail to have their pawns engage with such opportunities.

[miafey]

That sounds terrible. I can only hope my... "typist," did you say? I can only hope she doesn't choose to subject me to something like that.

Do you happen to know of any way to... get out of this arrangement altogether? You know, pull the plug before it gets too serious?

[truthsnomiracle]

Unfortunately, we have no say in any of this. I personally can count myself fortunate that my own doesn't wish to see me wallow in helplessness, subjected to psychological damage, nor forced to take up a weapon to have any hand in my own fate, but as it happens that significantly narrows the possibilities for games. The fact that she has no desire to force me into situations involving lust or love narrows the selection of memes I find myself in as well.

[gentleman_thief]

This sort of thing is par the course for these "mundanes". As is the fact that people may know a little more about you than you know about them.

[He extended out his hand.]

A pleasure to meet you Ms. Fey. You can call me Trilby.

[miafey]

Well, if you're going to be stuck in a situation like this, being saddled with someone who doesn't require exploration of trauma or especially strong emotions sounds like the best bet for you, Mr. Edgeworth.

[She's teasing, of course. But she also means it.]

[miafey]

That does match up with my situation, from what I can tell. She at least knows enough to say that she's "basically in love with me" and plans to "protect me from my future."

[She takes his hand and shakes it once, firmly. A practiced handshake, and a good one.]

A pleasure to meet you, too, Mr. Trilby.

[gentleman_thief]

That seems to be a running theme. We both have futures that have unfortunate consequences for us.

[He won't dwell too much on that right now.]

But I do know a little bit about you and your family thanks to my mundane. We share a knowledge about spirits. Specifically I work more as an exorcist rather than a Medium.

[truthsnomiracle]

Don't be too quick to jump to conclusions, Ms. Fey. She may not wish to see me damaged further, but she also has a certain taste for using situations that are uncomfortable to me due to my past as a means to the end of forcing me to grow.

[miafey]

An opportunity for growth is even better! I do have to say, I'm surprised to be having such a civil conversation with you.

[miafey]

Before today, I had no idea there were people who knew more about me than I myself.

Exorcism? I see. Despite my extensive training, I have little experience with spirits of a.... malicious nature.

[truthsnomiracle]

I did change considerably during the year after your, er, death.

[Yet something about the situation is clearly awkward enough for him not to want to discuss it further.]

[miafey]

A-ah. I see.

[She takes a moment to mull this over.]

This must be the future my typist mentioned. She wasn't very forthcoming about the details; just said she wanted to "protect" me from my future.

[truthsnomiracle]

I see... Er, well, suffice to say that I came to appreciate what had been lost well after the fact.

[miafey]

You can't possibly be trying to say that you missed me?

[truthsnomiracle]

Nothing so personal. I merely regret that I didn't appreciate the role of defense attorneys nor your skill within that role until well after your death.