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

[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...]

[spiritofjustice]

...Who knows? Maybe I am. Maybe I'm suffering from a severe case of amnesia.

[This is a tactic he's used before. It worked wonders in the courtroom, where only evidence could disprove his wild claims. Outside the courtroom and in a musty back room, his lies likely won't be overlooked so easily, but that's not stopping him from trying.]

[dekillerqueen]

[Musty? PLEASE, THIS IS A QUALITY BAKERY.]

It must be quite the selective case of amnesia.

[spiritofjustice]

That's not unheard of.

[This guy sure is tenacious. Not that the Phantom's about to throw in the towel; he's got enough patience to last him a lifetime.]

[dekillerqueen]

No, but it is certainly convenient.

Besides, if it's true... How did you come to the conclusion that I am not John Doe?

[spiritofjustice]

The symbol of Shelly de Killer is quite notorious. That's the thing with having a calling card.

[dekillerqueen]

And your alleged "amnesia" left this knowledge intact?

[spiritofjustice]

I'm a homicide detective. It's my job to know these things.

[dekillerqueen]

[Shelly is... really, really not buying it.]

I am no fool, Mr. Detective.

[spiritofjustice]

That claim is subjective at best. However, I'm sure that you are a reasonable man at the least, so here's how this is going to work. You will continue to address me as Detective Fulbright and stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong. In turn, I'll continue to address you as John Doe.

[The need for self-preservation is strong within him and he's sure that much is the same for Shelly. The conch shell is his calling card, sure, but what's also notorious is that Shelly de Killer is a man of his word. If there's any assassin up for making deals, it must be this one.]

[dekillerqueen]

[Indeed, were it not for self-preservation, Shelly would likely pull out the knife again and teach the "detective" a thing or two about humility.]

... And if I choose not to, you will denounce me to the police?

[spiritofjustice]

And leave a dangerous assassin like you alive in custody? That'd be awfully careless of me, wouldn't it? Hm... What's that saying again? [He feigns a thoughtful expression for a moment.]

Oh yes. Dead men tell no tales. I think you'll find there's an unfortunate accident around every corner.

[dekillerqueen]

[For a moment, it almost looks like Shelly might laugh. He keeps himself as composed as always, though.]

That's hardly the "just" thing to do, Mr. Detective.

[spiritofjustice]

[His mouth quirks into a wide smirk- perhaps a reflex of some sorts as he hardly feels amused. Sometimes, it's hard to tell where the Phantom ends and one of his personas begins.]

"Justice" is also a subjective term, when you think about it. Either way, the choice is yours.

[He's still ready to attack at a moment's notice, should he need to. In fact, he's already considering various scenarios in his head. He could use the wire of his grapple hook to strangle Shelly, or use it to pull over a nearby storage rack and have it collapse on top of him. He has his pistol too, of course, as well as the smaller gun in the guise of a lighter. The latter is a preferable choice, because it produces much less noise when fired.]

[dekillerqueen]

[Shelly de Killer is always ready to counter-attack, even when he's doing nothing but shopping for groceries.]

If that is how all detectives think, then it's no wonder our legal system is the way it is.

... In any case, I am willing to cooperate. But should I have any reason to suspect you plan to turn against me...

[spiritofjustice]

[Shelly seems willing to keep his mouth shut. That's never a guarantee, of course. The Phantom doesn't trust this guy as far as he can throw him, but covering up a murder is always tricky business. He'd much rather avoid such things if he can help it. Besides, murders are committed by the Phantom, while he decided to dedicate his life in Hinoto-Ri to Bobby Fulbright.

His smirk eases into something that looks far more genuine- far more like something the real detective Fulbright would produce- and he laughs. He just laughs.]

Ha ha ha! What reason would I have to turn against a humble baker? None! I'm a guardian of the innocents!

[dekillerqueen]

[...]

You are a very odd man.