#thanks edgey

[edgeworthscowlick]

Ho ho ho!!

[dizzybizz]

he's wasting perfectly good coffee 🙄

[todayisafridaynight]

Did you know your friend Jess is an actual bitch 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 🇦🇺 Love her

you got some cahoonas coming into my inbox calling my friend a bitch WHO ARE YOU

[norvicfiddler]

Miles Edgeworth / The Truth OTP

[sinnabum45]

Signal Samurai trio 🥺

[Image description: Fanart for Ace Attorney characters: Phoenix Wright, Larry Butz, and Miles Edgeworth. First image: Larry, Phoenix, and Miles are sitting with their school desks pushed together. Larry and Miles are watching Phoenix play with his game console. Larry and Phoenix are smiling while Miles is watching in silence. Miles’ desk has his books, pencil, and eraser. Later, Phoenix and Larry are hugging. They both stare at Miles and Miles is surprised. Miles gives Phoenix a handshake instead of a hug while embarrassed and looking away from him. Phoenix is happy, exclaiming, “ GASP! Handshake!” Larry is laughing with his hands behind his head and says ���You’re funny, Edgey!”

Second image: sketches of Miles on Christmas in his pajamas sitting on a couch. Text: “December 25, 2001” He is opening a present that his father gifted him. Miles: “Thank you for the present, father.” Gregory, chuckling: “ You’re welcome, Miles.” Miles opens the box and is shocked. He starts bouncing and holds up a game console. He exclaims, “ Wow! A GBA?!” Gregory: “ You mentioned that your friends have one, so now you can also play with them.” Text pointing at Gregory’s speech bubble: “Happy that Miles made friends” Miles: “Thank you, father!”

Third image: Miles is holding his console, smiling warmly. Gregory is patting his head. Text: “I can’t wait until break is over.” Bottom of page, Miles is imagining Larry, Phoenix, and him playing their games together. Text: “Then we can all play together!” End of description.]

Happy Pride month! Please consider doing what you can to help Palestine, Sudan, etc.! I linked some fundraisers you can donate to below:

Links to help Palestine and other resources! 🇵🇸

[Plain text: Links to help Palestine and other resources! (palestine flag). End plain text.]

They're all so BABY!! Maybe one day they can all play games together again 😭 I imagine that they'll just fight in Smash or something tho LOL

[arainmorn-art]

Okay, on the topic of artstyle let me say something about Ace Attorney Investigations. Edgey there looks so much prettier than in the original trilogy.

Take a look at this ugly ass ear in the original and refined pretty ear in AAI, for example, and a more precise lines for neck muscles. Nothing to say about much more competent shading and lineart.

It's still cool to see how original trilogy's artstyle was clearly influenced by oldschool anime with its expressions and especially proportions.

And that's where AAI struggles the most.

While I love Edgeworth's face in Investigations, his body proportions are killing me. Original trilogy gave him cupboard wide shoulders and yaoi shovel hands, BUT IT WORKED as Edgeworth's head was also more stylised.

It DOESN'T WORK when you draw Edgeworth in a semi-realistic style. And as a professional artist myself I guess, that at first Edgworth's shoulders were drawn in normal human proportions until there weren't some artdirection notes to redraw them in this laughably bad way.

How could I know? Because the gorgeous motherflipping Lang was drawn from scratch with proportions of an athletic wide-shouldered man - and this bs wasn't happening!

The same goes to Badd. He is very wide, but he doesn't look unnatural.

Come on, guys, Edgey already gave a flirty bottom energy near this hot mess, wider shoulders woud not help his twinkiness.

Ahem. Also, jeez, can we appreciate the way how masterful the drawings of hands are?

And this von Karma. Goddamit. Even if I am very vanilla, this is some hot daddy dom material. The facial structure, the precise shading, the detailes, the wrinkles, the hair, the smirk, the stare, daaaaaaaaaaamn that's a sexy drawing.

While here he looks like a f*cking toad.

That was my TED talk, thank you for reading.

[muzyoshi]

The quicker the person is found innocent the quicker the case ends and the quicker Wright can go back to eating ramen in Edgey's house at 3am and borrowing his clothes

you had so many good points here. thank you for bringing this to my attention

[madelynhimegami]

Schezo Wegey Guide

Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that these summations are based on my understanding of the characters, and what I've observed of them within the games. Sometimes, that comes with a little bit of extra analysis and headcanons, which are inherently interpretive. Those headcanons are not to be taken as the Absolute Authority on the characters. These entire guides are not meant to be Absolute Authority. They're about giving a good look at the characters as they're shown to us, based on what I know.

Also, follow-up questions are always welcome.

That out the way,

Schezo Wegey is motivited entirely by a never-ending desire to gain more power. So he says.

First thing's first, let's discuss his accidental double-entendre's. While it's extremely tempting to try to force as many of them as possible in his dialogue (I know I've been guilty of it), he doesn't make those slips that often.

Generally, his freudian slips happen when he's excited, flustered, or irritated. Or in other words, when he's not taking the time to actually think about the words he's saying.

(He is, after all, trying to break the habit) (via practicing his speech to a handmade doll) (that he made himself)

The slip-ups are of greatest effect when he forgets to say a word, or says the right words in the wrong order, or mispronounces something (as opposed to, for instance, saying the word "come" with weird emphasis)

One good example that actually comes from Puzzle Pop (despite how he is in the rest of the game): "If you don't feel capable of doing this yourself, I'd be happy to play with [Carbuncle] myself for this next match."

Most importantly, it's unintentional. That's the whole point.

Amitie (and perhaps Lidelle) doesn't know what the word "creeper" means, but since Arle calls Schezo a creeper, she does too. It's more of an affectionate nickname than an insult, coming from her

Schezo's age is unknown. Granted, most of the cast's exact age is unknown, but Schezo stands out in that there's not a clear frame of reference of how old he is beyond "older than 14 and younger than Satan," which encompasses a rather wide range of possible ages.

Other characters usually address him as a young man-- which is noteworthy, since Satan looks like a young man but is immediately pegged as a geezer.

(Personally, I read him as in his early- to mid-twenties)

A fairly common interpretation (at least in my circles) of his history is that Schezo's mind/personality was corrupted as part of the process of inheriting the power and title of Dark Mage from Runelord.

This corrupted Schezo was the one Arle met at the start of Madou 2: Schezo with a body count, Schezo with minions, Schezo looking to abduct and murder others for the sake of harvesting their magic from them.

This interpretation continues that, thanks to his interactions with the core Madou cast, Schezo eventually overcame the corruption, resulting in the Dark Mage we know now.

Either way, it's a fact that he's not quite the edgey boy he used to be, and is aware of that fact.

He is still interested in becoming powerful, but is significantly less inclined to taking power by force, preferring to instead earn or win it.

But more than that, what he really wants is a life of peace and quiet. He will never get it.

And even more than that, he wants to keep close to Arle, Rulue, Witch, and (to an extent) Satan.

He once admitted to Arle that he needs her in his life. Arle just assumed he was trying to say "I want your power" again.

Perhaps he is scared of succumbing to corruption again in their abscence?

Schezo's preferred habitat is cave.

The cave in Primp Town that he's squatting in is one that used to be frequented by Klug (as seen in Fever 1). It's full of crystals that can be used for magic.

Despite living in a cave, he's still able to cook and bake as he feels a need to. How he manages it is an excellent question.

He adores cuteness and cute critters, but tries to not let it show around others. Acorn frogs, onion pixies, Carbuncle (sometimes), fish-mode Salde, palm-sized elephants, and Amitie's hat (with or without its power) are known subjects that endear him.

He and Witch are close, especially after Schezo saved her grandmother. And then declined to steal her magic immediately afterwords because of her weakened state.

They tend to bicker and/or try to exploit each other when they do bump into each other, however.

Schezo is analytical and observant, able to get accurate reads on people he spends time around when he cares to. It was he that figured out Ringo's fear of ghosts had nothing to do with them being "unscientific."

He also has powerful magic sensing ability, able to accurately detect how much magic power someone or something has on sight.

He can also determine the source of ongoing magical effects, if he's familiar with said sources.

He is able to communicate telepathically with the Dark Sword, though how often they communicate is unknown.

He's only ever silly as a means to an end. Anything beyond that is either an accident or concentrated sarcasm. Usually he has no patience for shenanigans, especially from other people.

He's not very patient about being around other people in general. This is a result of both introversion and social awkwardness (he does not know how to respond to positive interaction in the slightest).

The most likely of the regular cast to complain about the damn kids today (without being one of the damn kids himself).

[gaykarstaagforever]

RIP Roger Corman (1926 - 2024)

Hollywood, and pop culture at large, would be utterly different without him, in good ways and bad ways. But at least you can say that he found a way to make money filming the edgey and oddball scripts he often wrote himself, his way.

Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979) is my favorite one that he produced, and it only is as cool and weird as it is because he had the freedom and wisdom to let the young people working for him try something new and strange with what little money and time he gave them.

Fans of MST3K owe him more than anyone. Because while few of his movies were good, at least they were never boring.

He made this one, Night of the Blood Beast, about a giant space parrot impregnating a man with its shrimp babies, in 1958. That was the same year the rest of Hollywood was still releasing G-rated Westerns and big musicals starring Danny Kaye.

American art would be a far dryer place without him.

Thanks for that, Roger.

[krisnixprisonwedding]

Saw ur tags abt endgame krisnix and I'm 👀 curious. Cuz personally I'm a huge fan of their divorced vibes n the way they Cant work out, so I'm So curious as to what endgame krisnix would look like to you

hello and thanks for your ask! before i answer it, i am going to lay down three (3) disclaimers that might end up being longer than my answer itself.

1. i exist in the shipping multiverse, where any number of ships could work out or not work out in my mind depending on the conditions. i have very few "endgame" ships (fradrian and gumworth pan out in most of my universes), and the rest of the ships i like live in some schrödinger's state of existence for me.

2. i love to play with possibilities. exploring possibilities is the real fun of fandom for me - that's what makes fandoms transformative! the ace attorney canon is also so goofy and impossible that i love to think of what conditions could make a ship happen while still technically not contradicting canon.

3. i am, above all else, a playful contrarian. i started this blog because i'd have several people tell me that only one ship, a certain very popular one, had any chance of being "endgame." to which my lightly salty response was to make a blog called "krisnix prison wedding."

now that we've got those out of the way, here are my thoughts on endgame krisnix:

how it happens

- all of my long game kristoph ships take advantage of the fact that kristoph is never mentioned again after aa4. they threw him in the basement so i'm dragging him right back out again while capcom doesn't even notice 😂

- all of my long game kristoph ships take advantage of the fact that miles edgeworth has canonically pulled the strings of the justice system before in the service of people he knows and cares about. i'd argue that if klavier went to his boss and begged him not to have the state execute his only apparent living relative, edgey would find a way to commute his sentence. (bonus points if phoenix and edgey are in a relationship, and phoenix also begs edgeworth for clemency despite what kristoph has done)

why it happens

- you bring up a good point about kristoph and phoenix having divorced energy. think how much more potential for married-divorced energy there is if after all the insanity of the 7YG and aa4, kristoph and phoenix are still addicted to each other and, more importantly, still attracted to each other.

- midnightbrightside once tweeted something to the effect that kristoph and phoenix knew each other on both an intimate and mundane level over 7 years, and so they actually probably know more about each other than phoenix and edgeworth do bc of the amount of time they spent together. there is a force of habit but also a comfort and familiarity of having someone be present and stable in your life for that long. phoenix is a chronic attachment issues girlie and while i know he wanted to see kristoph punished for his actions, i'd be surprised if he wanted him out of his life permanently. kristoph would DEFINITELY take much longer to come around after his pride was shattered, but phoenix is patient and kristoph can't fully resist someone who gives him attention

what it looks like (partially a joke, but i'm not saying which parts)

- prison date visits with phoenix's sweetheart, much to the chagrin of literally every other AA character. apollo punches phoenix's lights out when he finds out that phoenix is back together with the guy who phoenix manipulated him into imprisoning

- kristoph showing progress in court-ordered therapy by gritting his teeth and saying to phoenix, "it is hard for me to admit when i feel vulnerable." he looks furious, but one of the black psyche locks breaks and that's good enough for phoenix

- house arrest anklet is the perfect accessory for date night!

- later, when the wounds have healed, they can laugh and banter about it! it makes everyone uncomfortable at parties when they tease each other about all the heinous and unethical shit they pulled to take each other down!

a final, more heartfelt note

idk, i like to think of how characters can grow and transform! kristoph is so interesting and tragic to me because he doesn't seem to know how to experience intimacy outside of his weird games. he wants to be close to people, but he doesn't know how and his paranoia won't allow him to. phoenix seems to struggle with the same thing minus the control and manipulation issues. i like to think about what post aa4 growth and closure would look like for them in a series that refuses to give it to us.

thanks again for the ask!

[chaifootsteps]

I'm back, accounting anon, just to reiterate my point.

No, people don't want Viv to lose all her money, we want her to be held accountable for her abuse. Viv has used her power to be a predator. She hires inexperienced animators, people trying to get their foot in the door, and people struggling to make ends meet just to treat them like shit and underpay them. Is everyone collectively ignoring a testimony Erin gave? She worked full time at another job just to barely make ends meet to pay her bills. She was very overwhelmed and stressed. Oh no, we get Viv trying to blacklist her in the industry and Viv sending her lawyers after her too. Trust me, predators never have one victim, they always have many and search for their next prey.

I just had to stop myself since I was going to list more shit Viv did, but I'm sure your followers have already seen them.

Onision used his platform since 2006 to 2019 before Chris Hansen came after him, to target and lure victims to him. His fan base was composed of young preteen girls cause he made edgey parody videos. Onision has a big list of victims that came out because Chris Hansen gave them a platform for it.

Let's look away from YouTube and look at other stuff. What about Bill Cosby? A lot of allegations floated around until a swarm thanks to the me too movement came out. He was known for so many family friendly things! People saw him as their tv uncle/dad!

Did anyone watch the news late last year about Danny Matterson? Fucker used scientology during his that 70's show time to SA women that the church hid. Allegations came out but were ignored and thanks to the me too movement they finally got the attention they needed. Danny is in jail right now where he belongs.

I can go on and on, but we don't have all day/night. What I'm getting at is predators NEVER have one victim. They always have more than one and spend their time trying to find new victims. None of that bullshit Viv is running a business since the first thing they teach you at business college is a company needs a framework for their employees. Viv just has her sister, her besties, and a few other people she's cool with get a lot paid more. No HR, which is so cool! God. I'm like Chai, I hope someone powerful comes after Viv, whether it be for her business malpractice or victims speaking out cause someone gave them the platform for it.

Well said. Viv might not be a sexual predator, but she's a predatory employer and person just the same, and her list of victims is longer than most people realize.

She chews people up and spits them out and relies on her batshit fanbase -- and more securely paid SH employees -- to keep them quiet. It'll catch up with her one day.

[axolotlsupremacyowo]

nrmts first kiss!!

Hi hi! Thanks SO much for the ask! I loved it so much and I loved writing it! This ended up 275 words.

Here it is!

The relief had washed over Miles the moment the words “Not Guilty” had left the Judge’s lips. Confetti flew all throughout the air, and cheers came from the gallery members. He hadn’t killed his father, the weight of years of guilt being lifted up from his shoulders. He was a free man now. And it was all because of Phoenix. That man, he believed in Miles, even when nobody else had. A man that Miles had dreamed to meet again for years. The same man that was in the defendant lobby, with that big dopey grin that Miles had become fond of. “Must be a relief, huh?” Phoenix remarked. “Yes, it is.” Miles paused for a moment, then adding awkwardly. “Thank you for defending me, Wright. I am so grateful for you that I could kiss you.” Shoot, he didn’t mean to let that slip. Instead of disgust on his face, Phoenix grinned. “Then do it!” “Wright…” “Hey, I’m not joking! I mean, you probably don’t have the balls to kiss me, but-” Phoenix was cut off when Miles suddenly grabbed him and kissed him. He was surprised for a moment, but he then melted into the kiss. It felt right, being in the embrace of the man who had so valiantly fought for him only minutes ago. “NICK?! MR. EDGEWORTH?!” The two separated from their kiss, only to be met with Gumshoe, Maya, and Larry all staring at them in shock. “Damn! Edgey gets acquitted and the first thing Nick does is make out with him!” Larry said. “Love sure does move fast!” Gumshoe added. Miles turned a bright red crimson, and Phoenix laughed.

[realmsalot]

Turnabout Ablaze Screenshot Dump!!!

I'm going to try not to put any screenshots that I've posted already but that's not guaranteed

Ah yes, this is TOTALLY not an excuse to nerd out on Steel Samurai tapes! He's just VERY THROUGH GUYS!!!

and here you can hear Edgeworth's heart shattering in real time

SIBLINGS!!!!

Edgeworth, you don't have to say it that plainly...

Edgey did you cry during the play!? Did you have to bring out your handkerchief?!

Edgeworth hating on a girly with a successful acting career...

Oldbag please respect his boundaries. He may be touch-staved but he's also touch adverse to like almost everyone... (except maybe that man)

I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't really end up liking Lang that much for whatever reason but.... I agree with this... I love that he did this. Thank you for petting the dog for me Lang.

More praise for the dog! The highlight of the chapter!

Larry that is NOT the achievement that you think it is!

Thank you, Franziska for whipping him for this. Larry, NEVER say the words "sexy beam" again!!!

What are childhood friends for if not to call you a blight on humanity while bailing you out of trouble!

He was sooooooooo mad that Larry played the Steel Samurai. I bet he would have reacted better if it was a certain bluffing attorney...

HELP-- THE WAY I LAUGHED WHEN THIS HAPPENED!!!

I can't believe that Larry redefined a phrase with the word fool for Franziska...

Are we sure these two are grown-ass men??? Because they're acting like children right now!!!

I love them <3

[jotunvali02]

Playing Ace Attorney, Rise from the Ashes part 7

"I'm sorry Lana. I didn't know. And I've treated you so badly all this time…" "It's not too late. There's still plenty of time to make up..."

Like you and a certain baby prosecutor, Feenie??

Married Objections.💙💞❤️

OMG! My baby's trying to comfort a person who made him feel betrayed again! 😭

"Just relax, and enjoy the sound of the noose tightening around your neck." ^q^ Yes…

Shibari, Daddy.🔥

First baby Edgey, now baby Ema… like has this world no care at all about children?? Does it mean nothing at all in this world? That world rly SUCKS!

"GUILTY"???

Guilty of what?? Forging evidence 2 years ago or Goodman's murder???

So pursuing the truth is NOT what I should have done here?? Taku, did you purposely tried to fuck us up here??

And HOW Ema's fingerprints on the cloth prove SHE was the killer? I bet GANT put her hand on the vest while she was unsconcious!! And she only crashed a vase on Marshall, she never touched him!!

And Edgey tells me off cause I shouldn't have pursued the truth too far, while bitch YOU kept telling over and over that the truth is the only important thing here, "no matter how tragic it might be"!

Oh. I just had to lie about the evidence to have Gant telling the truth. Huh. Sneaky and low, Taku. Sneaky and low.

Wait. Wai-wait So when I presented the handprint the 1st time (and got the guilty verdict), everyone knew instantly it was Ema's.

But now we need it to be sent to the labo??

So, to get a guilty verdict, the court or Edgeworth doesn’t need actual scientifically proven evidence?? WTF??

Ok, pfff. In both choices, we prove the handprint is Ema’s but we can say there is a contradiction in one choice but not the other while they’re eventually the same choice??! WTF???

"You and me we’re the same."

He’s NOTHING like you rotten asshole!! He’s a sweet pure baby!!👼😭 A baby you beat up and had beaten up endlessly during 3 fucking days because he’s too much of good and righteous sweet baby to your taste!!

«I can hear them singing a melodious melody!»

Like this?

But wait.

WHY did he kill Neil Marshall ????

And is Lana going to get harsh penalties for HER forged evidence?

Oh. she's... beautiful when she smiles. O///O

Yeah, you feel for him, but can you at least say "Sorry I'VE put you in deep shit?"

Baby Edgey: "It was nothing! Baka."

Shut the fuck up.

"I was worried all this might break you." Careful, girl. CAREFUL!!! "But you rose above it and guided Mr Wright to victory."

Yes. Bc he's the best husband!! 😭 😭 ❤️💞

Wait. He basically wanted to prove you guilty in the beginning!

"No one can change the past. The only thing we can do is making up for our mistakes. So we find the way back to our rightful path. And walk towards a brighter future."

Phoenix,... are you sure you're ok???

"At least, that's how I felt looking at the two sisters."

No.

No....???

No no no!!!

"Edgeworth?"

*hyperventilates* scared as fuck.

"I'll be going now."

NO!!!!! ♫ Ne me quittes pas, il faut oublier...♫

♫ Je ferais un domaine où l'amour sera loi... ♫

"I hope you don't blame yourself for what happened."

Bitch, he has a fucking DISCIPLINE WHIP instead of thoughts!

"It's too late for me..."

Bitch. Shut uuuup??

"I can't correct my mistakes."

But baby... 😭

Oh, Fee-Fee says the same!

Mama Lana to the rescue!

"Contrary to Gant or Von Karma, YOU weren't alone." 😭 "You had your husband Fee-Fee Wright." ♥

"Come on! Show Mr Edgeworth what Lana is talking about!"

What? His love? His lips? His plan to propose?

"It was destiny, Mr Edgeworth." #starcrossedlovers

"If you'll excuse me, there are still some """"loose ends"""" that need """wrapping up""""

OMG. SHUT THE FUCK UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP !!!!!!

Oh God! Feenie's holding him back!!

"You can let what happened kill the prosecutor in you or let it help you grow."

Why did have to pick THOSE words, Phoenix?? Why THOSE specific words???????

"I owe you my thanks too, Wright."

What? "thank you for making me realize I have to kill myself so everything is good and right again??"

"What I face now is MY problem."

Bitch, I assure you Phoenix will make sure it's EVERYONE's problem!

"Edgeworth... I'll be waiting for you at the altar in court." He said, caressing then kissing his beloved's cheek.

Serisouly, WHO says that except a lover??

"As for the sisters, I had faith, their lives had just begun. As for me..."

Shut up.😭

Edgey as the last person we see in Feenie's flashback? Hmmm.❤️❤️

And it's the tea boy who fins the cursed letter.

[soadscrawl]

i love ur little comics and headcanons!! do you write fics? i would love to read stuff based on your hcs because you GET THEM!!!if not do you have any fic recs?

awaah this is so kind thank you! I am currently working on a fic, this drawing i just posted is actually inspired by it. I'm not sure if/when I'll finish it but I do have some fic recs that are some of my personal favs!

To Brighter Days by speaks, this one is about Lance trying to work up the nerve to ask Keith to go on an exploration mission together, short and sweet and really good characterization.

Just Come to Me Once by laallomri (i was rereading this one every couple of days for like 2 weeks lol)This one is essentially a rewrite of the entire flying back to earth in the lions arc, i really love the different planets and cultures this one comes up with, they feel like real places they characters couldve gone in the show. I also appreciate that this one doesnt take keith too seriously, like they do a rlly good job of making him feel very real and fleshed out and like an actual teenage boy and not just an edgey angst machine like they poke fun at him and i appreciate that.

never saw you coming by dimpleforyourthoughts, i really love the progression in this one, again the characterization feels really realistic and this one does the whole "one of us sacrifices ourself for the other and romantic drama happens post healing pod" thing but it does it in a really unique and interesting way i really like!!!

these are all KL also lol. hope u like them!!

[tact-and-impulse]

Narumayo Week 2024 Day 4

Now, we get the other side to the Soulmate AU I wrote last year!

Prompt: Soulmates

The strange sensation had started outside Engarde’s mansion and it wasn’t going away. It felt like something was pulling inside Phoenix’s chest, not painful, but it was hard to resist. It was like his body was being drawn to the cellar door, and the pull strengthened. The odd butler dragged him out with surprising force, a dangerous aura emanating from the scarred face. That was when his mind kicked in and he escaped with Pearl. They had to find Maya.

He didn’t give the weirdness another thought, until he realized she had been in the cellar. He sprinted back, but while the pulling restarted, it was much fainter. Vaguely, he thought he could follow its direction, before he had to go to court. And when she was finally safe, the tension released.

He noticed it more often afterwards. It only happened when Maya was just about to walk in or was on her way out. It seemed to align with her presence, and he could tell where she was, like detecting a blip on radar. Not that he told her, he chalked it up to his subconscious after spending so much time with her. And it wasn’t a bad thing, he actually grew to anticipate it.

A year later, as he watched the flames devour the bridge, he felt the pull at its most intense yet. A connection, directly to Maya. And this time, he followed it with his entire being.

***

To thank them and to catch up after the Hazakura Temple case ended, Larry insisted on taking him and Edgeworth out for drinks. As expected, it became about reassuring a wasted Larry instead.

“I was so sure this time, that we were sharing the same dreams!” He bemoaned.

“Why are you fixated on soulmates anyway?” Edgeworth asked, sipping his glass of wine. “People still have relationships without being soulmates.”

“I want guaranteed love, Edgey! And it’s not just me, soulmate advice is everywheeere. Come on, Nick, back me up! Aren’t ya curious about your soulmate?”

In the past, Phoenix wasn’t interested in discovering what his soul ability was. His parents hadn’t made a big deal out of theirs, and in college, well…his girlfriend at the time didn’t believe in soulmates at all. Anyway, he was then busy with studying law and work. It wasn’t until Pearl mentioned it in front of him and Maya, that the topic came up again.

He deflected. “I don’t think it’s like in the movies, where you instantly know.”

“Huh? How do you…? Wait! You know?!” Larry’s jaw dropped, and even Edgeworth managed to look mildly interested.

He downed the rest of his drink, and the liquid courage loosened his tongue. He spilled the details. “But I’m not totally sure, I mean, I didn’t feel it when she was physically in court but channeling someone else. Or is it different with spirit mediums?”

Edgeworth mused. “Perhaps, it’s because her body is housing the deceased spirit, but her true self is elsewhere?”

“That actually makes sense.”

“Have you discussed this with her? Especially given her thoughts about her soul ability?”

“No, I haven’t.” His voice lowered. In his periphery, Edgeworth gave a very slight nod in understanding.

Larry interjected. “But why not? Soulmates are the ideal relationship, you two could be-” Abruptly, he tipped over in his chair, and the conversation came to a screeching halt.

Truthfully, Phoenix was waiting for her to bring it up. Her side of the soulmate topic was more complicated, and he wanted her to be comfortable talking about it first. There was no rush.

***

And time slipped away, almost a decade before soulmates were mentioned again. It came up at the wedding they attended, that Sorin and Ellen recognized they were meant for each other since her first day at the Sprocket household. Phoenix had glanced at Maya, though she didn’t seem to notice.

The reception lasted well into the night, and Trucy coaxed him to the dance floor, for one of the songs that shouted every move they were supposed to do. When the music changed to a slower song and people began to pair up, he followed the string’s pulling. He caught Maya by her elbows, smiling down at her pink face.

“Hey, Nick. Are you stealing me for a dance?”

“If you’re up for it, I’d like to.” He returned her grin, gently taking her hands and leading her through the steps. They swayed to the rhythm, perfectly synchronized. He remarked. “This is nice.”

“Yes, all of today was. It was a lovely ceremony.” She lapsed into silence. “Soulmates, huh?”

“Yeah. Can you see their strings?”

“Mm-hmm, theirs are strong. And I do see a string from me…to you.” Her gaze locked onto him, her expression now sober. “I think you can feel it.”

His heart slammed in his chest, right where the pulling sensation was. “How’d you know?”

“I thought so, since you crossed the burning bridge for me.” Her smile was strangely bittersweet. “But then, things got crazy with your badge and my training. I thought it’d be worse if I brought it up.”

“And I was waiting for you to mention it, because of your family’s attitude about the strings.”

She let out a short laugh. “Oh, wow. We really do think alike.”

“Guess we’re meant to be.” He casually said, but his mouth ached from smiling. He drew her closer, of his own volition. She was warm and trembling, as her arms encircled his neck.

There was hardly a breath left between them. Her expression was immensely fond. “Aren’t we lucky?”

“Absolutely. And now, nothing will stop me from being wherever you are.” He promised, and he was certain it would be the first of many.

It wasn’t like in the movies. The revelation of discovering a soulmate was like coming home.