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[takethat]

[There's a man in a cheap blue suit quietly losing his cool in the castle's lobby this evening. To the passer-by, it may seem as though he is compulsively pulling cushions from chairs, removing drawers from decorative end tables, and generally making a mess of things for no reason.

In reality, he is looking for something.

He hasn't been here long; upon arriving in his room and realizing he was missing something very important, he has been slowly searching every open room he can find.

Periodically, he takes a seat on the lobby floor, cracks open his journal, and studies it for a few moments before getting back to his search. During one such break, he mutters to the pages.]

Bad enough I don't know where I am or how I got here, but how could I lose that, too?

Comments

[silentrunning]

[Chell almost drops her journal. There's a voice she recognizes very well, and one she has missed... A LOT. Her Magikarp even opens one eye to listen, and the dog she just adopted sits up with a scrabble of claws. There's a soft gasp of surprise, but then Chell speaks up.]

N-Nick? Is... Is that you? Where are you?

[takethat]

[The man blinks in surprise at the journal. The girl talking to him referred to him as Nick, but she didn't sound like Maya or Pearl or anybody else he knew.]

Who's there?

[silentrunning]

[That doesn't take Chell too off guard. After all, Nick hadn't ever heard her say too much before he was yanked away by the Castle. So she'll answer in writing.]

Chell.

[And then she answers in speech.]

Castle take your memories? And where are you? I can explain things. If you tell me where you are, I will find you.

[She doesn't mean it ominously, but it could possibly sound that way.

[takethat]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[He's trying to keep his voice level, but there may be a hint of trepidation there, if she can catch it.]

Who's "Castle"? And why should I tell you how to find me, anyway?

[silentrunning]

[Chell headdesks at herself.]

The castle... I'll explain. I don't mean you any harm. But you... once knew me.

[Now's the point she wished the journals had cameras.]

[takethat]

Your name's Chell? I don't remember anybody by that name.

[But it's possible he's just forgotten some old college acquaintance or something like that, so he amends his statement quickly in an attempt to be less rude about it.]

...but, er, maybe you've just slipped my mind?

[silentrunning]

I have.

[She asays with sureness.]

This place took your memories. It does that.

[And then there are the sounds of her boots on the floor as she leaves her room, her as yet unnamed mutt following behind her, and starts her search for Nick. Nick-hunting can be a tedious sport.]

As for where you are, you're in Castle Wonderfuck... Or more accurately, Caer Paradisa, but Wonderfuck's what a friend of mine calls it.

[She'll let you chew on that for a few seconds.]

It takes people from their homes, or wherever they were, and dumps them here. I can prove I know you though. You're a lawyer. You like the color blue. And you have spiky hair that has always fascinated me to no end. And you and I both once knew a girl called Maya who was here.

[takethat]

[He had returned to digging through knickknacks and searching the floor for his missing item, but when Chell begins rattling off facts about him, he stops.]

W-well... okay, so you know who I am. But that doesn't mean you really know me. Anybody with a shred of intelligence could learn those things.

[Still, she's got him nervous again.]

[silentrunning]

You also like interesting pictures of nude men...

[She remembers his porn preference.]

I found your magazines once when you were here last.

[Chew on that, Nick... But now she's found her way to the lobby and she's spotted you.]

Hello. THERE you are!

[takethat]

[He doesn't have time to dignify that with any more of a response than a slight twitch of the eye before she's speaking to him in person. He sizes her up, all scrutiny and the kind of consideration he devotes to crime scenes, his lips curling into a faint frown.]

I'm positive I've never seen you before in my life.

[silentrunning]

[She grins at him.]

You have. But you don't remember it. So maybe it'd be best to start fresh.

[She holds out her hand.]

I'm Chell. No surname that I know. Welcome to Paradisa. I'd happily show you around if you like.

[Yes. Do not mention the porn. Do not mention the porn. Her dog, tail wagging, wanders up to Nick. He's a medium-sized dog of indeterminate breed with a white circle around his eye, and one ear that perpetually droops over. But he looks friendly.]

[takethat]

[The girl seems pleasant enough, if not thoroughly confusing, so Nick returns the handshake.]

I'm Phoenix Wright, but I guess you know that already. ...Paradisa?

[His eyes dart to the dog, and a smile flickers across his features briefly. It's no Missile, or Pess, but the dog brings back a couple of good memories he does have, from home.]

[sworn]

[While making her way toward the kitchen, Vereesa happens to take notice of this man and his seemingly endless search. She continues walking at first, but something about his presence tells that what he's lost is quite important. She turns around and walks toward him instead.]

Can I help you find something?

[whistles_the_blues]

[Have a robot with a bad hairdo and sunglasses walking by as you're taking a break in the lobby. He'll just stop and stare for a moment before asking.]

Something wrong?

[takethat]

[He stands up and dusts off his pants (to little avail), before turning to face her.

And takes a moment to collect himself, having never seen anyone quite like her before.

(They must be filming a movie around here or something...)]

Er... well, I've lost my badge, and I really need to find it. Have you seen a small coppery... button sort of thing around here?

[takethat]

[The sunglasses might call up memories of a certain badger from Phoenix's own world, but he doesn't have a lot of time to think about it for now.]

Yeah, I misplaced my attorney's badge and I have really got to find it.

[whistles_the_blues]

It's just a badge right? That doesn't sound too urgent. What do you need it for?

[takethat]

It's extremely important! It proves I'm a defense attorney! I can't even practice law without it...

[whistles_the_blues]

I don't believe that'll be a problem so long as you're here.

[silentrunning]

[And congrats, Nick. The dog licks you. He's friendly, if a tiny bit overenthusiastic from time to time.]

Stop that!

[Chell says to her dog. And then to Nick.]

So. Where would you like to start your tour?

Dictated

[not_mafia]

[Oh wow, is this...? It is! He hasn't heard this voice in forever! (Okay, so that was true of.. pretty much everyone here since his loss occured, but still!)

... except, huh, he doesn't know where he is? He must not have remembered yet...]

Welcome back to Paradisa, Phoenix.

Dictated

[takethat]

Welcome... back?

[He's answering the voice coming over the journal without much of a second thought, really.]

Have we met?

Dictated

[not_mafia]

Indeed, during your previous stay here. Although, I was younger then. The name's Tsuna.

[takethat]

...how do you mean?

[takethat]

I have no idea. Any suggestions?

Dictated

[takethat]

I don't think I've ever been to this place before. You must have me mistaken.

...but it's nice to meet you, anyway. [And nice to hear someone friendly talking to him, too.]

Dictated

[not_mafia]

Phoenix Wright? You tend to like wearing blue suits?

Dictated

[takethat]

[A pause.]

...huh. That's pretty accurate, yeah.

Dictated

[not_mafia]

People who return to the castle often forget their previous stay, and only remember once they have been here for awhile again. Though... it's also possible that you may not end up remembering at all.

Dictated

[takethat]

But how could memories just completely disappear like that? Shouldn't I be able to at least remember the place, even if I can't remember names...?

[whistles_the_blues]

Last I checked there was no real law system in place around here.

[silentrunning]

The kitchen?

[She suggests with a grin. Hey. It's one of her favorite rooms in the Castle. And then a beat...]

What were you looking for? I wonder if the Castle took it from you.

[sworn]

[She's been in her room for a greater portion of the day, and she shakes her head.]

I'm afraid I have not. How small is this button you're searching for?

Dictated

[not_mafia]

That's the power of the castle. It seems, oftentimes, to be more of a curse than a blessing.

[takethat]

No... law? What happens if somebody murders another person?

Dictated

[takethat]

This is ridiculous. I mean... you sound like you know what you're talking about, but how am I supposed to believe this?

[takethat]

It's just about an inch across, but it's really, really important.

[takethat]

I'm looking for my badge.

[He sighs, and glances to the upturned cushions nearby.]

It's pretty small, but it's wildly important. And I need it back soon.

[sworn]

Something that small will prove difficult to find. The castle is quite large. Might you enlist the help of a mage or a seer?

Dictated

[not_mafia]

[He pauses.] You've lost something. Would it happen to be an item of much significance to you? Practically irreplaceable?

[whistles_the_blues]

Haven't really seen it happen here yet to be sure...

[Aside from the crazy spaceship from hell, but no one was in their right mind for that.]

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[silentrunning]

Oh no!

[Chell's eyes widen.]

You can't practice law without your badge can you? I'll try to help but that might be your loss... When people come here, the castle takes something valuable from them. Maybe yours was your badge. I hope not.