#<- YESSS🫂🫂🫂 as soon as I finished aai2 like specifically got to the bit where Simon is like ‘well what was all /this/ for then?’ Oughhhgg

[knightley-gambit]

[ *> Horace turned back around to continue what he had started, setting up the chess board on the table. ]

[ *> He hadn’t planned on playing a game right then, but it still felt wrong to leave it as disheveled as it was when he found it. He began to set the pawns in place, not looking at Simon. ]

[ *> Upon hearing his question, he just shrugged. ]

”eh, dont know. Maybe!”

“Why’d you ask? aww, Simon, didya miss me?”

“Were ya looking for me in the audience?”

[ *> Horace rattled off a few taunts at Simeon. of course, he knew why he’d missed Simon’s little circus act, such a shame too. He really was looking forward to it. ]

[ *> He’d pieced together that little bit of his plan since he’d popped open the secret compartment in his pocket chess set to find a small chisel come tumbling out. ]

[ *> Maybe he hoped that Simon had actually missed him in the audience, maybe he hoped that Simon regretted what he did, just a little. Horace was never one to enjoy seeing Simon squirm, so he figured he just wouldn’t bring it up for the time being. ]

[ *> If simon wanted it to be, everything could be normal for now. Just for him. ]

{POST AAI2–BEFORE SIMEONS TRIAL/IN THE HOLDING CELLS [horace’s old cell in specific if you wanna go that way<3] also!! i typed a lot, you don’t need to match me, i wanted to set the scene a bit :] }

[ *> ‘krrshhh..’ ]

[ *> The wooden sound of a few blocks—no, pieces? rolled onto the floor just across the cell. ]

[ *> It sounded like somebody was tampering with something they shouldn’t have been, and had made a mess. ]

[ *> The pieces on the floor rolled around a bit. tumbling around. like somebody were trying to pick them up, yet was failing miserably in their task.. ]

[ *> Simeon was alone in his cell, wasn’t he? He should’ve been, and he was last time he had checked. ]

[ *> Even so, to maybe suggest otherwise, a faint teal glow emanated from the desk just across the cell where the pieces were still being shoved around and away from whatever what disturbing them. ]

— @knightley-gambit [ooooo spooky ghost horace, haunting simeon<33]

[also also, unsure if you got the notif or not but i did reply to that other thread we had going, if you didn’t wanna continue it then thats fine, disregard, i just can’t tell for my life <3]

((I DIDNT GET THE NOTIF MY BAD. AUGH.))

Simon looks up from where he was wallowing, snapping out of his daze.

Truthfully, he wouldn't have paid any attention at all if the situation were not so bizarre. He made no effort to talk to anyone at his new home other than Dogen, and even then he attempted not to embarrass himself by being too vulnerable. Being alone allowed him to process his life after he had been driven by fury, paranoia and mania. He could take things slow- and even then, it seems his heart would start to race once more. Life never truly stopped tormenting him, huh?

He slowly got up, using his experience to tiptoe without a peep. He was a child at the orphanage again, hearing some people talk about their wretched plans. Truthfully, he had never gotten rid of his overly-paranoid habits and he didn't plan to. Not now, especially not now. Everyone was out to get him in one way or another- including whoever this was.

Simon approached. Carefully, slowly, silently, until he could peek and see where this strange light was omitting from.

"...Who's there?"

[people-can-be-tamed]

"Well, of course I missed you, Horace! You're my only friend."

That wasn't a lie. Simon's face faltered slightly, but he kept his persona up.

Seeing Horace’s obliviousness, he allowed himself to relax, his shoulders slackening. Everything would be okay. If Horace knew the truth- if he knew that his best friend had orchestrated his death- he’d be screaming at him, cursing him and his stupid murderer of a dad.

What did it matter that Laguarde was kind of tricked into doing it? She still pulled the trigger herself. She was a wild, manic woman, and if Horace hated her for it, he had every right to. Simon wasn't at fault. He wouldn't allow Horace to know that he did it.

"I... really missed you. Even if the performance didn't actually go through, it would've been better if you were there."

His voice wavered ever so slightly, becoming softer. What if Horace had been there while Edgeworth found him out? Knowing his loyalty, he could have come up with an alibi for him, backed up his claims. Horace was his Knight, he said so when they were kids. Simon could only picture the stupid grin Horace would have as he watched him perform.

{POST AAI2–BEFORE SIMEONS TRIAL/IN THE HOLDING CELLS [horace’s old cell in specific if you wanna go that way<3] also!! i typed a lot, you don’t need to match me, i wanted to set the scene a bit :] }

[ *> ‘krrshhh..’ ]

[ *> The wooden sound of a few blocks—no, pieces? rolled onto the floor just across the cell. ]

[ *> It sounded like somebody was tampering with something they shouldn’t have been, and had made a mess. ]

[ *> The pieces on the floor rolled around a bit. tumbling around. like somebody were trying to pick them up, yet was failing miserably in their task.. ]

[ *> Simeon was alone in his cell, wasn’t he? He should’ve been, and he was last time he had checked. ]

[ *> Even so, to maybe suggest otherwise, a faint teal glow emanated from the desk just across the cell where the pieces were still being shoved around and away from whatever what disturbing them. ]

— @knightley-gambit [ooooo spooky ghost horace, haunting simeon<33]

[also also, unsure if you got the notif or not but i did reply to that other thread we had going, if you didn’t wanna continue it then thats fine, disregard, i just can’t tell for my life <3]

((I DIDNT GET THE NOTIF MY BAD. AUGH.))

Simon looks up from where he was wallowing, snapping out of his daze.

Truthfully, he wouldn't have paid any attention at all if the situation were not so bizarre. He made no effort to talk to anyone at his new home other than Dogen, and even then he attempted not to embarrass himself by being too vulnerable. Being alone allowed him to process his life after he had been driven by fury, paranoia and mania. He could take things slow- and even then, it seems his heart would start to race once more. Life never truly stopped tormenting him, huh?

He slowly got up, using his experience to tiptoe without a peep. He was a child at the orphanage again, hearing some people talk about their wretched plans. Truthfully, he had never gotten rid of his overly-paranoid habits and he didn't plan to. Not now, especially not now. Everyone was out to get him in one way or another- including whoever this was.

Simon approached. Carefully, slowly, silently, until he could peek and see where this strange light was omitting from.

"...Who's there?"