Open for Business

[dekillerqueen]

Who: Open to all!
Where: A nice little bakery in the Virgo district.
Summary: There's someone new working at the shopping ward. He looks a little weird, but his sweets seem pretty appetising...
Warnings: None that I can think of, save for Shelly being kind of creepy as usual Probable Dual Destinies spoilers in the thread with Bobby!

Maybe you're a regular at this bakery. Or maybe you've never noticed it before. Either way, there is a new face selling baked goods here! A kind old man with a white streak on his hair is taping a few flyers to the window, announcing some appealing new deals and brand new desserts for sale.

Come a little closer, and you may catch his eye. You may also notice the line of stitches running down his face.

But with a smile like that and delicacies like these, who wouldn't want to come right in and buy something?

Comments

>8]

[dekillerqueen]

And how would accepting my free samples be unjust...?

Mr. Detective, do you suspect me of anything?

[spiritofjustice]

[Oh, did he accidentally insult the nice baker? That wasn't what he was going for at all.]

No, not at all! It's just that I can't let myself become biased. You know how it is.

[dekillerqueen]

... Is that so.

[It barely sounds like a question. Shelly doesn't like this - either the detective is lying, or something is wrong. He needs to figure out which is the case.]

I am curious about something, Mr. Detective... What sorts of cases have you dealt with in the past?

[spiritofjustice]

[The problem with having very little emotion and empathy is that he has trouble reading other people's emotions too. The way he perceives a person's reaction is very analytical and superficial. That's why most of Shelly's suspicion is going straight over his head right now.]

Homicides, for the most part! It's my job to find killers and make sure they face the iron fist of lady justice!

[dekillerqueen]

Killers? How terrible.

... What kinds of killers?

[spiritofjustice]

What kinds? ...Terrible kinds. People resort to taking the lives of others for all sorts of selfish, desperate reasons. It's truly sad!

[dekillerqueen]

[Wow tell him about it.] Petty murderers, then? Not an ounce of honour to be found...?

[spiritofjustice]

Not even a tiny little shred!

[Of course, anything that 'Bobby Fulbright' says on the matter carries a strong note of irony that he's perfectly aware of.]

[dekillerqueen]

... Shall I get your free sample from the oven? You may accompany me, Mr. Detective. I insist.

/SCREAMING

[spiritofjustice]

[Hm. Is this baker just being kind or is there something else at work, here? Bobby's not quite sure. Then again, what motive would he have for planning anything questionable? He's just some baker, most likely from a different world.]

... Well, alright.

[dekillerqueen]

[As he heads into the back, gesturing at Bobby to follow him, he says one more thing.]

Have you ever been injured at work, Mr. Detective? By a criminal, for instance?

[spiritofjustice]

[As the baker walks away from the counter to head for the back, Bobby catches a glimpse of something on his apron. A small symbol, like a conch shell. He must've seen it before, because it's stirring a distant memory, so he tries to run it through his head to figure out the context. A shell... Shelly... De Killer? The notorious assassin?

No, it couldn't be. The symbol might just as well be a similar one. Even so, Bobby's hand finds its way to his watch as he strides after the baker. If something happens, he'll be ready to react.]

Injured? Hahaha, I'm sure there's plenty of criminals who'd like to get their hands on me after I found the decisive evidence that got them convicted, but the iron bars of justice are keeping them locked away securely.

[dekillerqueen]

[That's enough, the baker thinks.

As soon as they are in the back room, he shuts the door and draws a knife in quick succession. Wait, where was he keeping that...? Oh well.]

You are not being entirely honest with me, Detective Bobby Fulbright.

[spiritofjustice]

[The moment the door is shut, he realizes he walked into a trap. A very poor trap, but a trap nonetheless. The sight of the knife stirs something inside the Phantom- perhaps an aftereffect of his recent breakdown and the following assassination attempt- but the emotion is suppressed just as quickly as it came.

He won't even bother to keep up the charade too much. Bobby Fulbright is a weakling who would let people with knives get the upper hand on him, but the Phantom is not. His hand is still on his watch and his eyes are on the knife's blade. The expression on his face is blank, almost unimpressed.]

I think it would be in both our best interests if you put the knife away, Mr. Doe.

oh mAN I'M SO PUMPED

[dekillerqueen]

[Something definitely seems off now. He didn't think the detective would be able to keep his cool like that - unless he was prepared for this, which is a possibility.

No. No, there is something inconsistent here, and although Shelly can't quite put his finger on it, maybe things are about to start making sense.]

And why is that?

Me tooooo

[spiritofjustice]

[In a way, it kind of rubs the Phantom the wrong way that someone as meaningless as Shelly de Killer (if indeed it is him) has forced him to break character. He never enjoys resorting to this. Breaking character means moving out of his comfort zone and being someone he doesn't identify with.

Still, he needs to make it perfectly clear to this 'John Doe' that the man's in over his head.]

You have no idea what sort of opponent you're facing. [Though, as he says it, the wild notion strikes him that maybe Shelly does know. That he was sent by one of the many organizations who wants to see the Phantom dead. ...No, that's ridiculous. There's no way that's possible, is there?]

[dekillerqueen]

[Meaningless? Were Shelly privy to the Phantom's thoughts, he would be offended. His name means a lot, thank you very much. Harrumph.

... Not that he isn't already annoyed by all of this. This man isn't Detective Fulbright, is he? It would make sense, Shelly supposes.]

In that case, pray tell, who are you?

[spiritofjustice]

[Oh please. If there's any notion the Phantom disagrees with, it's gunmen for hire. Why would you trust someone else to take care of something as tricky as murder? If you do it yourself, you can be sure it's done right.]

Someone you don't want to challenge. Especially not with a flimsy knife like that. [His gaze moves to the blade again and he raises an eyebrow at it. The back of his right hand prickles uneasily. He's sure nobody will succeed in taking his life with a knife like that, but that doesn't mean it can't cause painful injuries if he becomes careless.]

[dekillerqueen]

[Murder must be a much simpler matter for people who don't experience emotions normally, indeed. Shelly's clientèle is wide and varied, though - many people who hire them are only human. Some can hardly bear the guilt after the deed is done. He knows, but it's not his job to worry about that.]

When I attacked Detective Fulbright, he seemed far less confident. [Plus, you wouldn't believe the things Shelly could do with a knife.] But if you insist... I can use my bare hands.

[spiritofjustice]

[He takes note of John Doe's wording- honestly, how could he not?- but opts to ignore it. He'll neither confirm nor deny whether Detective Fulbright and him are the same person. The way he sees it, it doesn't truly matter.]

For what reason? I don't recall ever causing you any harm. Or are you perhaps being paid to handle this little confrontation?

[dekillerqueen]

I requested to hear the truth, and you are not being forthcoming.

... If this were an assignment, I wouldn't be chatting. [And the knife hasn't moved.]

[spiritofjustice]

[The word "assignment" is basically a confirmation that the man he's facing is indeed Shelly de Killer. It's such a small world, isn't it?]

The truth? There is no truth that concerns you. Lower your weapon or I'll be at liberty to use self defense.

[dekillerqueen]

I do not appreciate dishonest men. [He does slowly lower his knife, though.] You're not Bobby Fulbright, are you?

[spiritofjustice]

[Dishonest men, hm? That's awfully hypocritical, coming from the assassin who's pretending to be a baker and who lured him into a back room under false pretense.]

You're not John Doe, are you?

[dekillerqueen]

[HEY HE DIDN'T START IT (ASIDE FROM THE BAKER THING) (THOUGH HE TECHNICALLY IS A BAKER)]

No, I am not. As Detective Fulbright should know... unless he's terribly forgetful.

[Like... Prosecutor Edgeworth was, he supposes? Then again, he never hit Edgeworth...]