I'm a little teapot short and stout

[jurisimpudent]

CHARACTERS: Annie Sawyer and Miles Edgeworth
LOCATION: The kitchens
WARNINGS: There is going to be an indecent proposal
SUMMARY: ...that indecent proposal is "would you like a cuppa"
NOTES: T


[He'd be speaking to this young woman even if he didn't have an ulterior motive. She'd wanted information about the ship at large, and so it was his duty to provide information about the ship at large; no matter that he might feel ill-tempered, misanthropic, anything, he still was obligated to help out the passengers on the ship - particularly the new ones - in any way he could.

But the ulterior motives were there. The ulterior motives had been there, in her hand. Tea. Proper tea, properly cured, not the weak stuff he plucked from the gardens and, inevitably, misprepared - no - real tea, black tea, fermented and roasted...

Of course he just wanted to help her. But there was nothing outright wrong with...getting a few benefits.

So he waits for the young woman in the kitchen, arms crossed, frowning slightly - looking a bit intimidating, but hopefully not too much so. He wants to seem serious, but he most certainly doesn't want to scare her off.]

Comments

[invisibilitea]

[It takes her a while to get there, because she's been - well, Mitchell scared her. It's taking more to scare Annie, these days, but Mitchell knows how to do it.

She shows up anyway, however, a tea bag in a mug in hand, kettle in the other.]

Hello-oh, hello, are you- you must be, hello, I'm Annie.

[jurisimpudent]

Miles Edgeworth.

[Every once in a while, he'll sound cool when he says something. He sounds cool now, he thinks, arch without sounding particularly haughty, intelligent without seeming stuffy. And he offers her a bow of greeting, then straightens up, gesturing to a chair.]

A pleasure, ma'am. Please, have a seat.

[invisibilitea]

[Ma'am. Like she's old or something. But it doesn't matter because she ignores him as she starts to get the water going]

Just a moment, let me at least get this-

[It's nervousness, the need to make tea, and habit, and the desire to be normal and human all at once.]

[jurisimpudent]

Ah - All right.

[He furrows his brow slightly and steps back. Perhaps he'd come across as too intimidating? He often messes up beyond the first few moments, but those first few moments he's usually pretty good at seeming gentlemanly...Well, no matter.

He steps back, not going to sit down until she does.]

[invisibilitea]

[It's not a lot of work but she busies herself by making it seem like more anyway.]

So, ah, how long have you lived here?

[And a pause]

Is that what people say? Lived here? Or how long have you been here, is that more polite?

[jurisimpudent]

[He was about to answer, without offense, but then he considers a moment and answers:] The latter is better. Lived seems to imply some sort of choice.

Eleven months.

[invisibilitea]

[She turns, and she looks clearly surprised, eyes wide, and sets down a mug for Edgeworth. The tea is steeping]

That's quite a long time, isn't it?

[jurisimpudent]

Longer than most; not as long as some. [He gives a slight nod towards the tea and says:] Thank you.

I've seen a great deal by this point, so I hope you'll give my word some weight.

[invisibilitea]

Well, Mitchell's only been here a little while.

[She takes a seat]

Yes, of course.

[jurisimpudent]

Right. Mitchell.

[He sits now that Annie is seated, frowning slightly.]

Your apartment-mate.

[invisibilitea]

[The term is....jarring. Apartment-mate.]

Yes, my housemate.

[She pauses for a moment. Was that rude? Maybe.]

Er. That is. We live in a house.

[jurisimpudent]

[He lowers his head in an apologetic half-bow. Inwardly, he is of course wondering why the hell the correction matters.]

Forgive me. Your housemate. I did not mean to offend.

[invisibilitea]

It's all right, it's not...offensive.

[It matters because she's a house-ghost not an apartment ghost]

Are you enjoying your tea?

[jurisimpudent]

Ah - right -

[He lifts the cup to his lips, takes a sip. He nods firmly.]

It's lovely.

How did the two of you meet?

[invisibilitea]

He lives in my house. That is, I own the house. It was flatshare scheme. You know, I asked for flatmates, and he responded.

[Not really but that's the best way to put it, after getting cornered by Mitchell.]

[jurisimpudent]

I see.

[Well, that's...disappointingly plausible. Damn it all. He was hoping for something exciting.]

I inquire, you'll understand, because certain things which he's said I've found a touch worrying.

[invisibilitea]

I-

What?

What did he say?

[Grumpyguts, what did you do?]

[jurisimpudent]

Well -

[Edgeworth frowns slightly; maybe the fellow just likes to discuss philosophy - and maybe that philosophy is aggressively nihilistic - but - ]

About the universal evil of people. All that. I was curious whether he's always like that, or whether he's been driven into despair by the ship.

[invisibilitea]

[She's quiet for a moment, scowling just a little. But only a little]

That's not despair from the ship, he just needs good company.

[jurisimpudent]

[He lifts his eyebrows very slightly.]

And is good company you?

[invisibilitea]

Well I can be good company, yes. Don't you think so?

[Smiiiile?]

[jurisimpudent]

[That catches him off-guard; he clears his throat - ]

Ah, well - y...yes, naturally. I meant specifically in regards to, erm, him.

[invisibilitea]

[Oh my gosh, Edgeworth, why so cute? She gives another smile]

He's my best friend. He gets into moods, it's nothing to worry about.

[jurisimpudent]

[He clears his throat to banish the last of his embarrassment, then gives her a worried look.]

You're certain? Because I don't want to find him - in a bad state.

[invisibilitea]

What-

What do you know?

[Now she's trying to be subtle, as if it's possible with Annie. People see through her like she's glass]