#gumshoe is still his absolute number one fan

[fraeuleintaka]

I love how impressed Gumshoe is by literally anything Miles does. Even if it's something that Miles considers completely obvious or simple himself, Gumshoe thinks it's impressive. He's such a wonderful well of positivity and considering the pressure Miles grew up under from von Karma and the pressure he constantly puts on himself I think it's absolutely essential that he has someone at his side who he doesn't need to prove anything to because he already thinks he's beyond impressive just the way he is. Not that it'd stop him from putting unnecessary pressure on himself but I still think it has a positive effect on him. Often Miles actively ignores Gumshoe's opinion or theory but other times he also values and follows it so I like to think a part of him definitely feels flattered by how much Gumshoe admires him.

[baratrongirl]

I have difficulty seeing him as a trans man for purely practical reasons. He became famous as a singer at 17. If he came from a country where you can't access cross-gender hormones until 16 or later, his voice would still be breaking (unpredictable squeaking) at 17. Similarly, he is too well-built aged 17 not to be full of testosterone.

You could argue that he came from that wonderful world where he was able to access puberty blockers as a child and never had to go through a female puberty, and was able to get cross-gender hormones extremely early - but I am literally aware of ONE such case. (Jazz Jennings, who insisted that she was a girl as soon as she could speak, and was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at the age of 5). There may be others but they aren't often talked about.

So, I see him as AMAB, and clearly queer as fuck from the way he flirts with Apollo. The fact that he started a band because he "wants women to look when he walks down the street" suggests that his sexual orientation is bi or pan.

But the fascinating part is in the difference between Klavier as represented in Japanese and Western art. In Japanese art, he is almost always presented as simply a very pretty cis man - a typical bishōnen. Men who look like him are usually intended to be straight in the original media, and are only written as gay or bi in yaoi or BL manga aimed at a female audience. In comparison, gay and bi men are presented very differently in geicomi (gay manga aimed at a male audience) - much more muscular and rugged. Think of a Dick Gumshoe body type. (Ref e.g. https://www.nypl.org/blog/2019/06/17/beginners-guide-lgbtq-manga )

In Western art, there's something extremely "gendery" about Klavier. He has a feminine face and soft, pretty hair. I've seen a number of Klapollo drawings which turn them into an F/F couple, and the characters look almost exactly the same - Apollo has longer hair, Klavier has longer eyelashes, and they both have boobs. No other changes are needed.

And there's something about his not strictly appropriate for court attire that suggests he'd enjoy dressing in ways that conservative people would find provocative. The man has his shoulder blades, the top of his pecs, and his belly button out in court, for gods' sakes - even though he's a rock star and you KNOW all his clothes are tailored just for him.

Between his lack of concern about which garments are strictly appropriate in a given situation, and the strong similarity between "male" and "female" Klavier, it's not unusual to find him drawn in a skirt or lingerie in Western fanart. He looks incredibly good in a mix of traditionally male clothing and skirts, lingerie, and/or high heeled shoes, even as an ostensibly male character.

So I absolutely get where people are coming from with their headcanons of him as non-binary. I'm not going to try to guess what PARTICULAR kind of NB he is (though my personal headcanon is bigender because I am bigender, and I can see him as a person who is content with being perceived as male for the majority of the time until suddenly she wakes up having a girl day and EVERYTHING is wrong).

I'd just really like to have a conversation with a bunch of Japanese/East Asian fans, and see what their opinion is. Because I'm very sure that he's a cis man to most of them, like the ridiculously pretty men in manufactured idol groups like BTS.

I’m working on a paper on this topic and it got me thinking so I made a poll. This won’t be used in my paper but it will satisfy my curiosity. I’m including the main ones I’ve seen around here on tumblr and on Ao3, but that obviously won’t be all-inclusive so feel free to pick “other” and give me an essay in the reblogs or replies. I want to hear the people’s thoughts!

I’m impatient so I’m only leaving it open for a day so pls share if you vote

[way-too-obsessed-gamer]

This is gonna be a long post, and since tumblr sucks and won't let me put a read more, you have my condolences

Ah yes, this is a long time coming. Not a long time coming in the sense that I will murder the person who murdered my past life's fiancee, no, we're not talking about Fallout today. Today, friends, family, and assorted acquaintances, we're talking about the Random Encounters Phoenix Wright the Musical... musical.

Now why, you may be asking, am I doing this? Why in the world am I writing such a long, unneeded essay on a musical that's like, 5 years old? Well, dear reader, that's a simple question, with a simple answer. And that is that I really just want the person who played Edgeworth to be recognized. What a sweetheart. Superb singing, and the bloopers are great. That's it. That's why. I really want people to watch it after they read this, with flaws in mind, and just enjoy the talents that went into it. So, let us begin.

So if you aren't super fans of Random Encounters (RE for short), they make musicals for games. Very good ones in fact. I really enjoyed "Finding Mister Midnight" And all of the undertale ones. And Phoenix Wright, obviously. I haven't watched their recent stuff (I don't really watch the musicals of games I don't already know or like, aside from Phoenix Wright (yes the musical got me into Phoenix Wright)) but I just might see what they've done because I always enjoy the bloopers and such.

Now

Phoenix Wright the Musical (no relation to Turnabout Musical)

What a superb, fantastic, blessing that is absolute garbage (in the nicest way possible). Like literally, let's dive into this

Flaws

Larry is the victim. God I wish he would die, but he won't. Cry about spoilers all you want, this musical is 30 mins, Larry isn't actually dead.

"My Best friend of several years is dead? Welp... That sucks"

Edgeworth openly admits he's "an amenable prosecutor", which he would never give Phoenix the satisfaction of knowing if it were true. I get that that's KiNdA how miles is, but he's still a stubborn bastard at the bench

Maya in the games does have quips and jokes, but honestly the judge would have threatened contempt of court if she kept talking like she did in the musical

Gumshoe isn't a very aggressively nice and loud person in the musical, it's more like a younger version of him I suppose

I can't tell what ages they are supposed to be. Say it's after Dual Destinies, the last game that came out before this musical, Phoenix just got his badge back and has a daughter... Except no because his suit is more the one before Apollo Justice and they never mention trucy. Aight, Trials and Tribulations era. But wait, didn't Edgeworth already say in that game "this is my first and last trial as a defense attorney "? No way he'd do it again so close. Plus, you know, other things (such as time and place) that will make this point too long.

Speaking of Defense attorney Edgeworth, they really just... Let that slide didn't they... Game Miles did all that work just for it to turn out that he didn't even need to.

Larry is alive

"When the night guards found the body," They apparently didn't bother to check if it was a real person oh, I dunno a blue freaking badger-

Who... Let "Doctor Hotti" Look at the body for the autopsy. It's funny but... How did this happen. Franziska shoulda whipped him

I understand that this musical is suppose to be welcoming to newcomers. But... "Everybody got trauma" Is something people should know! Don't mention DL-6, or Gant, Manfred, Morgan, Kristoph, Yanni Yogi. That's not what I mean... Just... Man, Edgeworth is a mess! Phoenix is a mess! Let them be a mess!

Maya was allowed to assist in the investigation, when she's the suspect... Ok?

And many more...

Now you're waiting for me to defend it and tell you it's strengths. But unfortunately... That is exactly what I'm gonna do!

Strengths

Every actor is a great singer. A special shoutout to Edgeworth and Franziska's actors 👏🏻👏🏻

The story was easy to follow and engaging enough to make me watch an entire play through of all the games (specifically I watched Nicob)

Almost every actor was perfect for their role and really sold it, may I once again point out miles and franziska, as well as Payne this time? Everyone did a lovely job

The twist was something that had never been done in aa to my knowledge. Though it might have been funny if Rise from the Ashes ended like that instead.

I criticized Miles being a defense attorney for an hour but I enjoyed miles and Maya interacting. Like yes miles, protect your basically daughter.

I can pinpoint the exact moment I became a narumistu shipper to the end of the musical, where Edgeworth and Phoenix were discussing the case, and Edgeworth said "Wright, a defense attorney does not sleep in his office". This line isn't romantic, but I remember 13 year old me whispering "what a good boyfriend"

Larry is likeable. You think I'm joking? I had high Expectations for Larry after watching this musical. Game 1 delivered, the rest did not. He is actually a good character in this musical.

I rewatched this musical for this post, but I didn't even need to, I could quote this musical like the back of my hand. It doesn't help that the lines are so quotable. "better the devil you know, Wright" And "it's half past shut your face and leave me alone! ...Pacific daylight time" Are personal favourites.

Grape juice

They had gumshoe. I miss you gumshoe. Come back to the newer games

The music is a blessing. "Wright is Wrong" And "The Loser Song" Are personal favourites, but I could jam to any of them (even oldbags sleazy jazz number)

And many more!

Look, it's not perfect. It's not anywhere close, especially if you are a fan of ace attorney. But it's a darn good watch if you have half an hour to kill, or just wanna hear some damn good singing.

Also, listen, John I think your name is? Person who played Edgeworth. Honestly pls sing more man, or audition for an Edgeworth part of a dub, pls man I'm begging you you're amazing.

[fraeuleintaka]

How excited Gumshoe gets just watching Miles beat someone else in an argument! I get the feeling he has a lot of fun doing that in general, just watching Miles do his thing secure in the knowledge that he helped him find the evidence and information he uses to beat other people's arguments. And ready to do whatever else he might ask him to! (Even absorb whip lashes, I'm sure, but Miles would never seriously ask that of him. Though Gumshoe considers Miles to be stronger than Franziska's whip anyway.) It really seems like Miles, specifically working together with him, is a big part of why Gumshoe enjoys his job as much as he does. I'm sure he enjoys it anyway (as he does when Miles is away) but it's only really how it should be, how he loves it most, when they're working together like this.

[fraeuleintaka]

Oh Gumshoe. Why are you so happy about being given literally anything as long as it comes from Miles? You're too adorable! (And maybe a tiny little bit too enamoured with a certain prosecutor but I love you for it.)

Now I wonder what kind of birthday and Christmas gifts Miles usually gives him. Hopefully some good ones or I'm gonna be mad at him!