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[He smiles at her, something caught between a grin and a smirk.]
Are you offering to go with me?
[Honestly, he wouldn't say no if she was willing. With the HAT-2 launch so close, Clay isn't likely to have time for traveling, and Apollo figures having someone who knows the area would be helpful. It would spare him the pain of flipping through those unhelpful vacationer guidebooks, at least.]
Are you offering to go with me?
[Honestly, he wouldn't say no if she was willing. With the HAT-2 launch so close, Clay isn't likely to have time for traveling, and Apollo figures having someone who knows the area would be helpful. It would spare him the pain of flipping through those unhelpful vacationer guidebooks, at least.]
[Careful not to drop the kitten, Apollo passes him over to her. Once she has him, Apollo steps back with a relieved sigh. Unusual client and "job" this was, at least he's accomplished something for the day. Though he might keep this quiet and spare himself the experience of Trucy and Phoenix both laughing at him.]
Everything all clear, miss?
Everything all clear, miss?
[Apollo protests immediately, his voice surprisingly loud for someone his size. Chords of Steel: activated.]
Dad, that's not fair. You can't judge someone's talent by their age!
Dad, that's not fair. You can't judge someone's talent by their age!
Of course! Who else could give you the grand tour?
[ A pause. ] Why? Are you going?
[ A pause. ] Why? Are you going?
[Phoenix is startled for a moment and then he makes some placating gestures at the angry little bird.]
Okay, okay, I get it. In that case, why don't you show me some of this talent first?
Okay, okay, I get it. In that case, why don't you show me some of this talent first?
[He lets out a short laugh, proud that it sounds more amused than bitter--it's a step up from how he used to be with reminders like this, he thinks.]
Maybe in a few years. I get by alright on my own, all things considered [especially when you considered how many cases the Agency took pro bono] but a vacation to Europe isn't really one of my top priorities right now.
[He smiles at her crookedly.] Think your offer will still be on the table when I work something out?
Maybe in a few years. I get by alright on my own, all things considered [especially when you considered how many cases the Agency took pro bono] but a vacation to Europe isn't really one of my top priorities right now.
[He smiles at her crookedly.] Think your offer will still be on the table when I work something out?
[Immediately, Apollo seems to cheer up, pressing a finger to his forehead as he thinks deeply.]
What kind of magic do you want to see?
[He asks, as if his magical repertoire is beyond just a few tricks at this point.]
What kind of magic do you want to see?
[He asks, as if his magical repertoire is beyond just a few tricks at this point.]
[ Well at least they have a lifetime's supply of salty ramen? ]
Of course. It's not like I'm leaving the agency anytime soon.
[ Because that's the only way, in her mind, that she'd rescind her offer. ]
Of course. It's not like I'm leaving the agency anytime soon.
[ Because that's the only way, in her mind, that she'd rescind her offer. ]
Um...
What do you got? [Why do I sound like I'm in a drug deal?]
What do you got? [Why do I sound like I'm in a drug deal?]
How about this? [An excited bounce on his feet before he attempts to calm down and be Serious for this show of magic.
There's a whoosh of air before, suddenly, there's yet one more figure in the room, just beside Apollo.]
Good day to you!
There's a whoosh of air before, suddenly, there's yet one more figure in the room, just beside Apollo.]
Good day to you!
[Apollo could do without the ramen, to be honest. Or at least without 80% of the salt that goes into the broth.]
Good. [He nods approvingly.] It's nice to have another face around here. Especially now that Mr. Wright's got his badge back, too.
[It's like they're a real agency now, who would have thought???]
Good. [He nods approvingly.] It's nice to have another face around here. Especially now that Mr. Wright's got his badge back, too.
[It's like they're a real agency now, who would have thought???]
[Phoenix is quickly startled and steps back as he beholds this figure.]
Wh-what is that?! [He does manage to hold himself back from throwing a shoe at it.]
Wh-what is that?! [He does manage to hold himself back from throwing a shoe at it.]
This is Sir Hat! Dad said it was a pretty good trick. [Apollo tells Phoenix proudly, smiling at his reaction.
"Sir Hat" moves his wooden mouth as Apollo manipulates the controls under his cape.]
And don't you forget it!
"Sir Hat" moves his wooden mouth as Apollo manipulates the controls under his cape.]
And don't you forget it!
Great. [Now all that's left is getting out of the dumpster. Apollo grips the top of the container and hauls himself up with a grunt, his shoes scrambling against the sides for purchase. Somehow, he manages to escape the bin without too much damage to his person, and he breathes a sigh of relief.]
I may be in need of a bath myself. [He admits sheepishly, rolling up his sleeves.] Do you want me to walk you to... [he trails off, waving a hand weakly. "Wherever you're going" seems to be what he's trying to convey over here.]
I may be in need of a bath myself. [He admits sheepishly, rolling up his sleeves.] Do you want me to walk you to... [he trails off, waving a hand weakly. "Wherever you're going" seems to be what he's trying to convey over here.]
For lunch--oh, you mean at your friend's place.
[Honestly, he should be back at the Agency manning the fort, but no one's come in all day, and he just went into a dumpster to rescue a kitten. If this isn't a day he deserves some kind of break, he doesn't know what is.
Finally, he smiles at her.]
Give me ten minutes. You really don't mind waiting?
[Honestly, he should be back at the Agency manning the fort, but no one's come in all day, and he just went into a dumpster to rescue a kitten. If this isn't a day he deserves some kind of break, he doesn't know what is.
Finally, he smiles at her.]
Give me ten minutes. You really don't mind waiting?
[Don't mind him stumbling in surprise over here.]
Er, that's really--I'm not--
[He squints at her suspiciously.] You're just teasing me, aren't you.
Er, that's really--I'm not--
[He squints at her suspiciously.] You're just teasing me, aren't you.
I've learned a lot with Mr. Wright. I've read his cases but they're completely different in person. He bluffs so convincingly that even I almost believe him.
[He actually snickers a little.]
I read about his old cases, too. You think the bluffing is bad? He cross-examined a parrot once.
Still, you can't say his methods aren't effective.
I read about his old cases, too. You think the bluffing is bad? He cross-examined a parrot once.
Still, you can't say his methods aren't effective.
Yeah, I don't think I'm quite on the cross-examining-a-parrot level of bluffing.
[ She teases him, but she does respect him. ]
Still, he found the truth when everyone stopped looking for it.
[ She teases him, but she does respect him. ]
Still, he found the truth when everyone stopped looking for it.
Yeah. That's the important part.
[He smiles at her warmly.]
Finding the truth is what you're doing now, too. You held up pretty well in court these past few days. Between the three of us, things should start looking up.
[He smiles at her warmly.]
Finding the truth is what you're doing now, too. You held up pretty well in court these past few days. Between the three of us, things should start looking up.
[ Aww now she's blushing. ]
You think so? I mean, of course I'll do my best! Help make the Agency the best it can be!
You think so? I mean, of course I'll do my best! Help make the Agency the best it can be!
You're the one with the good hearing. [Now the smile gains a teasing edge.] I think you'd be able to tell if I'm just humoring you.
[In Apollo-speak that means, "Yes you did well, young Padawan."]
[In Apollo-speak that means, "Yes you did well, young Padawan."]
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