[He's silent. The truth? The only truth that he knows right now is that...he has no idea what he's supposed to do with this. Part of him wonders if he'd subconsciously recognized her at the concert, feeling drawn to her and her music. Either way, he's not going to make a decision just yet.]
Trucy seemed happy. [He offers that instead, looking away.] Can you...keep this from her? I don't want her to know I'm upset about this.
[Losing Zak recently must have hit her hard (though he was missing for a good chunk of her life), and having her mom back would cheer her up. I don't want to ruin this for her.]
I imagine that she must be. [It's a very different situation for her. Thalassa was there for Trucy until she lost her memory, after all. In the end, it really did end up being like a disappearing trick.
Phoenix definitely does not want Trucy to be burdened so soon after something so joyous. He does know it can't last forever, though, given how perceptive Trucy can be.]
Don't worry. I won't say anything to your sister about this, Apollo.
My sister. [Finally, a smile appears, banishing some of the darkness in his eyes.] Wow...yeah, I guess she is.
[Apollo's quiet again, but this time it's more of a thoughtful silence than a weighed down one. Whatever his feelings on Thalassa are, it's obvious the thought of having Trucy as a sister doesn't really bother him.]
It's crazy. I went over twenty years of living on my own, and then I run into my sister and my...my mom without even knowing it.
[The movement catches Apollo's attention, and he knows what's inside that locket. Of course, he thinks. Mr. Wright never meant to take Trucy in as his daughter, but look where they are now.
Another thought makes him freeze. His daughter.]
If Trucy's your daughter, and I'm her brother... what does that make you?
You're joking. [Apollo's voice goes flat with disbelief. Somehow, "Papa Wright" sounds even worse than "daddy" and there's also no way in hell that's happening.]
On second thought, why don't I just stick with "Mr. Wright" for now?
[Har har. He should've known better than to leave that opening for Phoenix to take.
Apollo catches Phoenix's gaze again, this time without wavering, the slightest smile pulling at his lips.]
Thanks. [He pauses.] Mr. Wright? I don't really know what it's like to have parents.
[His words are straightforward enough on the surface, but the underlying meaning--"I don't know what it's like to have a dad." It might be too soon to call Phoenix "dad" or any variation of that, but maybe some day.]
I know. [He smile grows warmer. He can't really imagine for himself what it's like, having come from a relatively ordinary family background. But he feels like he has a pretty good secondhand impression, with all the people he's met over the years from families that were splintered or non-existent in some shape or form. Including Apollo himself.
He claps a hand on the younger man's shoulder.]
And I know firsthand how great you've turned out despite that.
Apollo... You can figure out how much you want to learn about that for yourself. As for me? I don't see any reason to hold you to any obligations. I mean, it's a little late for me to actually raise you, you know?
[Unconsciously, Apollo straightens his back, actually wanting to deserve that praise. It's just another sign of how much things change in the blink of an eye. In his teens, he would have been thrilled just to be talking to Phoenix Wright, only to punch the man out of anger when they finally did meet. And now...well, annoying as Phoenix could be--tries to be?--no other man fought harder for justice and truth in the courts.
There's a wry twist to his smile this time.]
I don't know about that. Mr. Gavin [he still can't say the name without a grimace] was my boss first, but I learned a lot more working for you.
[Like how to not be cruel and manipulative, for starters.]
Well, you were the only one suited for the job. It was definitely a rough start, but you rose to it admirably. I... guess you just might be the closest thing I have to a successor, Apollo.
[He shakes his head, and his smile goes wry.]
Except for one thing, but maybe one day you actually will learn how to really throw a punch.
[Apollo actually flinches a little, a denial already at his lips. Then, he pauses, remembering the spiritually-powered magatama his boss holds. There's almost no point in trying to keep a secret when the office is full of lie-detecters.
He looks away, fiddling with his bracelet with a sigh.]
Not...a lot, but I know more than I would have liked.
[Apollo looks like he's about to pull a face at him.]
I've thrown a few punches before, but most of the stuff I know's just to help me get away if I'm caught in a bad place.
[Apollo shrugs, looking away. There's a reason he doesn't like talking about this.] The group home I grew up in wasn't bad, but we were right next to some of the rougher areas in the city. You pick up that kind of knowledge pretty quickly, learn not to stay out of the fights if you can.
I see. [He says with a thoughtful frown, and he nods.] Sorry... They don't sound like memories you like to revisit.
[Here I thought that Apollo was a lover, not a fighter.
And it's easy to draw the connection between that and the original topic of conversation. This is what Apollo was left with without his parents. But Phoenix feels that doesn't need to be pressed aloud. Rather, he just makes a light smile.]
Just try not to show me those skills anytime soon, alright?
It's fine. [It's uncomfortable talking about it, if only because he doesn't want his coworkers to judge him on his background. He's worked hard to get where he is today, and there's no shame in that.
Apollo returns the smile, though it's slightly strained around the edges.]
As long as you don't give me forged evidence again, I think that's one promise I can keep.
[He knows Phoenix's reasoning for everything that happened then, but forged evidence is still forged evidence, and not something Apollo would stand for. He thinks Phoenix understands that, too.]
[Now Phoenix looks down, a little ashamed. Now that he's come so far and redeemed himself, he can't turn away from the fact that he sullied his hands to do so. It was like an eye for an eye. He knows he'll never do it again, but he'll never forget it, either.]
I won't give myself forged evidence again. Please, trust me on that much.
[Not even a twitch from his bracelet. Apollo's smile turns a shade warmer than before.]
I think I can.
[This is more like it. He might have been a little rough around the edges when Apollo first met him, but Apollo thinks he can see the man that he'd idolized so much in his childhood now. It's a nice change.]
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Trucy seemed happy. [He offers that instead, looking away.] Can you...keep this from her? I don't want her to know I'm upset about this.
[Losing Zak recently must have hit her hard (though he was missing for a good chunk of her life), and having her mom back would cheer her up. I don't want to ruin this for her.]
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I imagine that she must be. [It's a very different situation for her. Thalassa was there for Trucy until she lost her memory, after all. In the end, it really did end up being like a disappearing trick.
Phoenix definitely does not want Trucy to be burdened so soon after something so joyous. He does know it can't last forever, though, given how perceptive Trucy can be.]
Don't worry. I won't say anything to your sister about this, Apollo.
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[Apollo's quiet again, but this time it's more of a thoughtful silence than a weighed down one. Whatever his feelings on Thalassa are, it's obvious the thought of having Trucy as a sister doesn't really bother him.]
It's crazy. I went over twenty years of living on my own, and then I run into my sister and my...my mom without even knowing it.
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He gives a light, warm smirk.]
Life is full of those and unexpected turns, Apollo. There's always more people out there for you than you think. [He touches the locket on his suit.]
But don't sound too surprised. The two of you have been as tight as siblings practically as long as you've known each other.
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Another thought makes him freeze. His daughter.]
If Trucy's your daughter, and I'm her brother... what does that make you?
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I've given it a lot of thought... and I've come to a decision, Apollo. One that I hope that you'll respect.
[A beat.]
You can call me 'Papa Wright'.
[This is not a gagtag.]
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On second thought, why don't I just stick with "Mr. Wright" for now?
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He had silently agreed not to make off-color jokes when discussing Apollo's mother.
But when it came to himself? That's a whole different ball game.]
I will accept 'Mr. Wright', though. I'd welcome you to the family, Apollo, but I feel like I've done that a long time ago.
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Apollo catches Phoenix's gaze again, this time without wavering, the slightest smile pulling at his lips.]
Thanks. [He pauses.] Mr. Wright? I don't really know what it's like to have parents.
[His words are straightforward enough on the surface, but the underlying meaning--"I don't know what it's like to have a dad." It might be too soon to call Phoenix "dad" or any variation of that, but maybe some day.]
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He claps a hand on the younger man's shoulder.]
And I know firsthand how great you've turned out despite that.
Apollo... You can figure out how much you want to learn about that for yourself. As for me? I don't see any reason to hold you to any obligations. I mean, it's a little late for me to actually raise you, you know?
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There's a wry twist to his smile this time.]
I don't know about that. Mr. Gavin [he still can't say the name without a grimace] was my boss first, but I learned a lot more working for you.
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Well, you were the only one suited for the job. It was definitely a rough start, but you rose to it admirably. I... guess you just might be the closest thing I have to a successor, Apollo.
[He shakes his head, and his smile goes wry.]
Except for one thing, but maybe one day you actually will learn how to really throw a punch.
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Can you blame me for doing that? You were being a huge jerk. [Crossing his arms with a scowl.] And my punch was fine.
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Oh no, I don't blame you. Even I would have punched me in those circumstances.
But it did feel like an amateur punch. Like I told you back then, just saying 'Take that!' would have added a lot.
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[He's not thinking when he says it, but the one little phrase probably gives away more than he would've liked.]
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[Aren't they like courtroom fights just with actual hitting thrown in?
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He looks away, fiddling with his bracelet with a sigh.]
Not...a lot, but I know more than I would have liked.
[Finally, he answers truthfully.]
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Phoenix leans forward slightly, looking onwards curiously.]
It sounds like firsthand experience. Way to go, Apollo! You have some more experience than I give you credit for.
But is it experience in dishing out the punches, or receiving them?
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I've thrown a few punches before, but most of the stuff I know's just to help me get away if I'm caught in a bad place.
[Apollo shrugs, looking away. There's a reason he doesn't like talking about this.] The group home I grew up in wasn't bad, but we were right next to some of the rougher areas in the city. You pick up that kind of knowledge pretty quickly, learn not to stay out of the fights if you can.
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[Here I thought that Apollo was a lover, not a fighter.
And it's easy to draw the connection between that and the original topic of conversation. This is what Apollo was left with without his parents. But Phoenix feels that doesn't need to be pressed aloud. Rather, he just makes a light smile.]
Just try not to show me those skills anytime soon, alright?
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Apollo returns the smile, though it's slightly strained around the edges.]
As long as you don't give me forged evidence again, I think that's one promise I can keep.
[He knows Phoenix's reasoning for everything that happened then, but forged evidence is still forged evidence, and not something Apollo would stand for. He thinks Phoenix understands that, too.]
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[Now Phoenix looks down, a little ashamed. Now that he's come so far and redeemed himself, he can't turn away from the fact that he sullied his hands to do so. It was like an eye for an eye. He knows he'll never do it again, but he'll never forget it, either.]
I won't give myself forged evidence again. Please, trust me on that much.
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I think I can.
[This is more like it. He might have been a little rough around the edges when Apollo first met him, but Apollo thinks he can see the man that he'd idolized so much in his childhood now. It's a nice change.]