[The text comes at the appointed time, outside the courthouse:]
Look up and to the left.
[And there’s Edward on the rooftop of a nearby building, waving hello before he jumps off, doing a flip in the air. A few seconds later he pops out of the alleyway with a cheery whistle, none the worse for wear, and jogs up to Neuvillette.]
So I’ve a lovely collection of rings right here in this pouch. [All of them look rather antique, and none of them are bloodstained. Edward checked. He promised Jun he wouldn’t tell Neuvillette shit about his crimes and so he’s been much more careful than he usually is.] Just pick the one you like best.
[Neuvillette regards him with a look that's very similar to how the neighborhood busybody looks at the trainwreck of a fight happening next door: a grimace of vague concern, but also deep fascination. He's not sure if what Edward did was legal, but today he endeavors to, as people have urged him to, loosen up.]
Antiques? [Why do you have so many? Is this a style thing? Neuvillette comes closer and peers over them, picking out a pair of plain gold rings - practical.] You are a collector?
Aye, I work at Vergil Vittore's antique shop. He's been quite helpful.
[Both of these are true statements. Edward simply doesn't tell him that these statements are not in fact related to how he acquired a not insignificant number of these rings. He told Jun he'd be as innocent as a blushing bride on her wedding day, and while that's not a level he can reach, he's still gonna try anyway.]
I used to have more than these, and a far more robust collection of works of art, but I left them in my time and my world, and there's no easy way for me to return there.
[He should probably beg off and say no. He likes to collect antiques, he's not an expert in them, unless they're weapons from around the 18th century, in which case he has had personal experience with them.
He should do that.]
I would be very glad to take a look at your collections!
[He is not doing that.]
Although I do believe your best bet is to consult Vittore. [See, he's even sneaking in a little promotion on the side.] He's more of an expert than I am, as I only came here directly from 1721. Any antiques from later than that, I'm not certain I can identify with any surety.
[That being said, he holds his hand out for Neuvillette to take. Neuvi might notice that he wears a bracer, and strapped under his arm is a little contraption known as the hidden blade, currently snug in its housing. He's not going to spring it on anyone, though, and indeed just gives Neuvillette a little smile.]
Another antique that I was given a few years back. It's good for opening cans and cutting into cakes.
Majority of my collections are older than that, do not fret.
[Considering he's been collecting Stuff since what, the Roman Empire, the only problem he can see here is trying to get things shipped to Kaisou...
He slides the ring onto Edward's ring finger, and peers curiously at the contraption. Now, Neuvillette is certainly not lacking in knowledge in the weapons department, having carried concealed sword-canes most of the time, but he also takes a lot of things at face value.]
Fascinating. [Humans truly are ingenious creatures.] We can use it later at the bakeshop.
[Neuvillette smiles at him, full of sincerity and longing for cake.] It is not far - we can go through the courthouse and come out of the other side. Shall we?
[Oh boy it's a good thing he works for Vergil because he's going to need lessons in how to sound like he knows antiques older than he is.]
That's exactly why I brought it! [The time-honored traditional blade of the Assassins, used to...cut a wedding cake that doesn't even belong to Edward. Altaïr ibn La'Ahad is spinning in his grave.
He nods, and offers his hand once more. You know, for holding. Thankfully for Jun's sanity, Edward has left his other hidden blade at home, in the dim awareness that most people don't actually walk around armed to the teeth.]
From my own memory of when I went courting, you linked your arm with your fellow so that the nature of your relationship would be obvious. So shall we?
[Neuvillette stares at that hand for two more seconds further than polite before realizing oh. Yes. Holding hands. Arm? It has been several hundred years since he had gone courting. The Furina of this world had foisted upon him Tinder, Grindr, and several more single-word apps, all of which had only required Neuvillette dropping an article of clothing in the way of courting.
He reaches out - to straighten Edward's collar - before linking their arms together. Several people around them stare. A runner holding coffee nearly hits a lamppost.
Neuvillette does not seem to notice any of this. When they start walking into the building, he inclines his head at nearly everyone.]
[There’s an intimacy to getting his collar adjusted by a fellow who’s really quite easy on the eyes that still makes Edward’s breath catch right in his throat for a second. This is not going anywhere, of course, because Edward has been upfront about his intentions if not his past—this is business, nothing more. Still.
Everyone around him gawking at him and Neuvillette makes him preen a little bit, as he walks arm in arm with the man. Then Neuvillette springs that question on him and Edward considers possibly throwing down a smoke bomb and booking it in the direction of a rooftop no one can reach.
He does not do this, because Four Hundred Dollars An Hour.]
I’m afraid not! The closest I’ve come is signing a few papers, taking care of some messy legalities. [He hasn’t been in this courthouse, this is true. He simply doesn’t mention he has been sentenced as a pirate in a different court, one a few hundred years back and a thousand miles away.]
I’d be pleased to see it, though. [So he can figure out where best to climb and hide from sight.]
[Neuvillette pets his hand like how one would pet a dog. It is clear that he is Kind Of Weird, but earnest, and well-liked. The way he talks his way through the 'tour' is reminiscent of one pointing out rooms in his own home. Here is the foyer, here is the guest bathroom, here is Archival Room 44, here is the sunroom, here is Courtroom 5 where we are going to try someone with 236 charges of syndicated fraud.]
I have not seen someone with such a great number of fraud changes levied against them in a century, or so. [He doesn't say any identifying information, of course, but he muses on it out loud. Small talk, and everything.] Curious.
[Edward briefly tries to recall if he knew anybody who could’ve committed that much fraud. Probably one of the Templars, fraud on that scale requires resources and knowledge that the pirates of Nassau didn’t have access to and usually wouldn’t bother with anyway. Why bother, after all, when you could terrify someone into submission instead?
Neuvillette is so bloody strange, but in a way that doesn’t make him feel uneasy. He’s a sweet fellow, obviously well-liked, and he loves his job and believes in it, in the rightness of the law. If Edward were a better man he’d feel guilty and call off the whole con here and now.
Alas, he is not a better man, and he wants to be paid.]
Oh? When was the last time someone was arrested for that much fraud? I’ve not seen many trials myself, and those that I had seen tended to be quick, and ended in the defendant hanging in a gibbet on the docks.
[This is true. He simply leaves out many, many details.]
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text > action
Look up and to the left.
[And there’s Edward on the rooftop of a nearby building, waving hello before he jumps off, doing a flip in the air. A few seconds later he pops out of the alleyway with a cheery whistle, none the worse for wear, and jogs up to Neuvillette.]
So I’ve a lovely collection of rings right here in this pouch. [All of them look rather antique, and none of them are bloodstained. Edward checked. He promised Jun he wouldn’t tell Neuvillette shit about his crimes and so he’s been much more careful than he usually is.] Just pick the one you like best.
action
Antiques? [Why do you have so many? Is this a style thing? Neuvillette comes closer and peers over them, picking out a pair of plain gold rings - practical.] You are a collector?
no subject
[Both of these are true statements. Edward simply doesn't tell him that these statements are not in fact related to how he acquired a not insignificant number of these rings. He told Jun he'd be as innocent as a blushing bride on her wedding day, and while that's not a level he can reach, he's still gonna try anyway.]
I used to have more than these, and a far more robust collection of works of art, but I left them in my time and my world, and there's no easy way for me to return there.
no subject
[He slips the ring on his own hand, and holds out his hand afterwards, for Edward's, expectant.]
I admittedly have not been organizing them as I like.
no subject
He should do that.]
I would be very glad to take a look at your collections!
[He is not doing that.]
Although I do believe your best bet is to consult Vittore. [See, he's even sneaking in a little promotion on the side.] He's more of an expert than I am, as I only came here directly from 1721. Any antiques from later than that, I'm not certain I can identify with any surety.
[That being said, he holds his hand out for Neuvillette to take. Neuvi might notice that he wears a bracer, and strapped under his arm is a little contraption known as the hidden blade, currently snug in its housing. He's not going to spring it on anyone, though, and indeed just gives Neuvillette a little smile.]
Another antique that I was given a few years back. It's good for opening cans and cutting into cakes.
no subject
[Considering he's been collecting Stuff since what, the Roman Empire, the only problem he can see here is trying to get things shipped to Kaisou...
He slides the ring onto Edward's ring finger, and peers curiously at the contraption. Now, Neuvillette is certainly not lacking in knowledge in the weapons department, having carried concealed sword-canes most of the time, but he also takes a lot of things at face value.]
Fascinating. [Humans truly are ingenious creatures.] We can use it later at the bakeshop.
[Neuvillette smiles at him, full of sincerity and longing for cake.] It is not far - we can go through the courthouse and come out of the other side. Shall we?
no subject
That's exactly why I brought it! [The time-honored traditional blade of the Assassins, used to...cut a wedding cake that doesn't even belong to Edward. Altaïr ibn La'Ahad is spinning in his grave.
He nods, and offers his hand once more. You know, for holding. Thankfully for Jun's sanity, Edward has left his other hidden blade at home, in the dim awareness that most people don't actually walk around armed to the teeth.]
From my own memory of when I went courting, you linked your arm with your fellow so that the nature of your relationship would be obvious. So shall we?
no subject
He reaches out - to straighten Edward's collar - before linking their arms together. Several people around them stare. A runner holding coffee nearly hits a lamppost.
Neuvillette does not seem to notice any of this. When they start walking into the building, he inclines his head at nearly everyone.]
Have you been inside the main courthouse before?
no subject
Everyone around him gawking at him and Neuvillette makes him preen a little bit, as he walks arm in arm with the man. Then Neuvillette springs that question on him and Edward considers possibly throwing down a smoke bomb and booking it in the direction of a rooftop no one can reach.
He does not do this, because Four Hundred Dollars An Hour.]
I’m afraid not! The closest I’ve come is signing a few papers, taking care of some messy legalities. [He hasn’t been in this courthouse, this is true. He simply doesn’t mention he has been sentenced as a pirate in a different court, one a few hundred years back and a thousand miles away.]
I’d be pleased to see it, though. [So he can figure out where best to climb and hide from sight.]
no subject
I have not seen someone with such a great number of fraud changes levied against them in a century, or so. [He doesn't say any identifying information, of course, but he muses on it out loud. Small talk, and everything.] Curious.
no subject
Neuvillette is so bloody strange, but in a way that doesn’t make him feel uneasy. He’s a sweet fellow, obviously well-liked, and he loves his job and believes in it, in the rightness of the law. If Edward were a better man he’d feel guilty and call off the whole con here and now.
Alas, he is not a better man, and he wants to be paid.]
Oh? When was the last time someone was arrested for that much fraud? I’ve not seen many trials myself, and those that I had seen tended to be quick, and ended in the defendant hanging in a gibbet on the docks.
[This is true. He simply leaves out many, many details.]