[Video]

[godotblend]

[The video feed is live, but the visibility is terrible. The tablet's owner sits in the near-dark, three stripes of red light where his face should be. Diego's spent much of his initial week in as much solitude as the circumstances allowed, an ear tuned to the chatter streaming over the network.

Best to test the temperature lest you burn your tongue on the first sip. That's what he always says.

But there's a matter that needs to be addressed, and urgently.

When he speaks, his voice is gruff, drawling:]

This world seems determined to serve up one cup of bitterness after another: monsters, mayhem, missions to the past.

[The red light flashes when it's briefly obscured by his knuckles and the handle of a mug as Diego puts it to his lips. The contents are choked down with a scowl that's barely readable in the low light. ]

I was happy to swallow every drop until I tasted this sewer water. They call it "coffee", I call it an abomination.

If there's a single tolerable bean in this city, I want it. Name your price.

Comments

video;

[bratworth]

[ Yes, the video's not exactly high quality, but the image of this man leaving the courtroom is one of Edgeworth's last memories before arriving in Exsilium. He couldn't forget that easily.

So, that just leads to one important question: ]

Armando, what are you wearing?

[godotblend]

[Familiar face, but still unfamiliar enough that Diego suspects another instance of timeline shuffling.]

You'll have to be a bit more specific, amigo.

[bratworth]

On your face.

[ Clear enough? ]

[godotblend]

Good boy. You might make a prosecutor yet.

I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about my face. I don't expect you to know a fashion statement when you see one.

[bratworth]

Excuse me? I ask a simple question and you insult my dress sense. [ Wow someone sounds annoyed. ]

[godotblend]

Don't expect manners from any man until you've been taught to mind your own. That's what I always say.

[bratworth]

All that I am expecting is that you answer my question.

[godotblend]

Fair enough.

They're my eyes. And as one cool dog said to another pretty face in red: they're the better to see you with.

[bratworth]

...So what you're saying is that they're a particularly ostentatious pair of eyeglasses.

[godotblend]

You've got it, ace.

[Another less than enthusiastic sip as he studies Edgeworth.]

Say. How old are you?

[bratworth]

[ One of his least favourite questions! ]

Twenty. What does it matter?

[godotblend]

[It's not difficult to place Edgeworth in the timeline given the facts.]

After the Fawles trial, I take it. [The kid did appear to recognize the man who'd sat at the defense bench, after all.]

[bratworth]

[ His gaze drops slightly, looking away. ]

That very day.