I could put a catchphrase here but I refuse!!!

[shadower]

Don't you have something better to do than bother me? I get it, you're bored, but I was doing pretty great over here. Life's good, everything's quiet, and the sky looks amazing today. You could try going for a walk and enjoying some of that, too.

You know. Instead of tossing me into a world haunted by soul-devouring ghost things.

Comments

[shadower]

It's not superstition. It's a thing that exists and I can prove it.

[jurisimpudent]

Then do so.

[shadower]

[Alright, he puts his hands together in what looks like a mudra...]

[jurisimpudent]

[Edgeworth tenses, ready to defend himself if need be.]

[shadower]

[Nothing happens at first. Seemingly. But their shadows are now connected and Edgeworth's frozen in that stance. And when Shikamaru pulls his hands apart and raises his arms up, Edgeworth is forced to do the same.]

[jurisimpudent]

What -

[His face pales with terror. At once he begins struggling fiercely, wildly, trying hard to tear away from that control, even past the point of reason.]

[shadower]

[He can feel that, even if it accomplishes nothing physically.]

Whoa, hey, calm down or you'll hurt yourself when I release you.

[jurisimpudent]

Let - Stop it! Whatever you're doing -

[Shikamaru's warning only leads him to redouble his efforts.]

[shadower]

I promise I'll stop the second you stop fighting it, okay? Just breathe.

[jurisimpudent]

I won't - I will not -

[He can't give in. He can't let him...But he knows that he has no choice. Maybe this boy is telling the truth, and that he will let him go if he relaxes - or, maybe, the moment he relaxes, that's when he'll give him enough leeway to kill him. He feels trapped, and so panic hammers at his throat and his ribcage, but he knows - He looks at Shikamaru, his eyes narrowed with genuine fear, and examines his face - and finally, finally, he forces himself to trust him. He forces himself to relax, to breathe, even though those breaths are shaky and harsh.]

[shadower]

[He releases the shadow and immediately steps back, anticipating a violent reaction.]

[jurisimpudent]

[His only response, though, is to step back himself, pressing his face into his shaky hands, gritting his teeth as he struggles to breathe normally.]

[shadower]

...I didn't hurt you or anything, I promise.

[jurisimpudent]

[He forces his hands down to glare at Shikamaru, though his face is still pale and his manner still shaken.]

Yes. It's all very funny to you, isn't it?

[shadower]

I'm not laughing. You wanted me to prove it, so I took control of your chakra.

I didn't... mean to upset you.

[jurisimpudent]

[He presses his eyes shut and clenches his jaw.]

It's - Fine. It's - foolish. A very stupid thing.

...You proved your point.

[shadower]

I shouldn't have done it.

[jurisimpudent]

It's fine, I said!

[He hunches his shoulders and feels guilty upon seeing Shikamaru's guilt, and then he tells himself how stupid it is to feel that, and he just generally feels like a foolish sentimental mess.]

I'm just - I'm claustrophobic, I guess. It's very stupid, and you didn't know, and you shouldn't be held responsible for things that are so utterly stupid.

[shadower]

It isn't stupid.

[jurisimpudent]

Of course it is. It's a weakness, and all weaknesses are stupid.

[shadower]

Sometimes you're scared of something because you have good reason to be. It's an important reaction.

[jurisimpudent]

Right. And did you hurt me?

[shadower]

No, but I could have. And I really shouldn't have done that just to prove a point.

[jurisimpudent]

[He hunches his shoulders and glares, nearly as ferocious in his defense of Shikamaru's behavior now as he had been of his own.]

I asked you to do so.

[shadower]

Still... I'm ashamed of my pride.