aworldwithoutboxes | Ace Attorney CMO

[What Ema can't pay, though, Vera does her best to provide. Being an artist isn't easy, even if she does have some renown after... everything, and she is an on-call forgery expert, but mostly her income just means there's enough to buy the wide assortment of liquids and powders their lives call for in addition to having an apartment and not going hungry.

Her current project is an illustrated advertisement for one of Trucy's shows, which is just about the best job she can think of? She's been working super hard on it, so she doesn't actually notice Ema's back until she speaks up, but once she does Vera shoots her a small smile.]

He's working you hard again?

[ Try to keep the forgery thing on the hush-hush when your girlfriend is a detective, dear.

Still, though, the ad looks stellar; she supposes that's probably to be expected, given how passionate she is about magicians. She's probably pouring her heart and soul into it. ...Moreso than usual.

It's a sweet smile that Vera gives Ema, and if she were a cheesier person, she'd probably say that seeing it makes going through Klavier's bullshit at work totally worth it.

But she's not a sap. So she'll say it only makes 99% of it worth it. She still has the right to complain about the other 1% of it. ]

It can't be helped. He always puts me on the weirdest cases...I swear, one day he'll stick me on a normal, straightforward murder, but that day's not today. It's because he knows I'm the only one with the stomach for them...

This one was a fucking locked room, though, if you could believe it. Like, who does this guy think he is, Agatha Christie?

[For the police!! She helps catch them now, she's not about to go doing any more forgery after the whole trial where her dad was killed because she did a forgery once.

She laughs, just a little - she might be better at the whole "expressing emotions" thing after the poisoning, but Vera's still a fairly reserved person even around Ema.]

He knows you have the talent for them. We technically met because of a locked room murder, after all. And I think that one turned out okay.

[Vera you were poisoned and are the literal only person to survive atroquinine.]

[ Look Ema doesn't know what you do when she's not home, maybe you're some kind of black market forgery master to make ends meet-- ]

Don't kid yourself, Vera, it's not a talent thing, it's because I'm basically all the services of a forensic scientist at detective price. ...But you're right, that turned out much better than it could have, yes. But mostly because we got hit with one bit of good luck after another, rapid-fire.

That, or you're some kind of amazing miracle worker. Maybe it's a little bit of both. ...But either way, I think I'd rather this one not end up like ours, just so I don't end up tearing my hair out over it...

[ She reaches into her bag and pulls out her practice exam book... ]

Last thing I need is a difficult case when my exam is so close.

I said talent and I meant it, Ema.

[Luck and being on the... Wright side of the law.]

I'm not a miracle worker, I'm just an artist. And you're on your way to acing your exam.

[And to totally prove it, she sets down her palette, grabs her notebook from nearby, and draws an A+ with a smiley face next to it.]

[ ayy ]

Only if you help me study. If I do it on my own again, I'll flunk it for sure.

[ Though the smile she gives to that seems pretty genuine. How adorable... ]

I am starting to feel good about this attempt, though. I just have to make sure I don't get stage fright...

You got it.

[She'll go to grab the flash cards, but first... a quick kiss to Ema's forehead.]

I believe in you. We'll get you ready, and you'll pass.

[ Oh gosh, a rare Vera kiss... ]

...Yeah. And the very first thing I do with my nice, fat forensic scientist paycheck is get you the biggest, baddest easel you've ever seen. One of those really fancy ones! And you'll get a huge canvas, and paint everything you could ever want! Sky's the limit!

[She knows how to encourage her girlfriend, what can she say? And boy, speaking of motivations...]

That would be nice. My very own in-house patron.

[She pulls up another stool once she has the flash cards.]

Ready?

For anything! Don't hold back on me!

[ She, at the very least, looks pretty prepared! Though, who knows how it'll work out when she actually starts studying... ]

Of course not.

[... the flaw here is that I don't know much about forensic science so. She asks her first question! An easier one, of the bunch.]

[ THANKFULLY NEITHER DO I but she actually seems to know what she's doing! She's come a pretty long way since they first started; she stumbles on some of the more complex compounds, but she isn't just taking stabs in the dark, or, if she is, she's faking it pretty well!

When she doesn't know the answer, though, she seems to start munching on Snackoos for a while until it comes to her. ...Not exactly the healthiest habit... ]

[It's not that Vera's one to talk about nervous habits, but...]

...They're probably not going to allow Snackoos in the test, right?

Edited 2016-10-03 02:50 (UTC)

I-I can't help it...

[ munchmunchmunchmunch ]

It's like they're brain food, you know? Whenever I don't know the answer, they help jog my memory...

[ Ema, don't talk with your mouth full-- ]

Maybe it'd be better if we ordered in...if I did this on a full stomach...

[ Excuses. ]

[Vera frowns.]

Okay, but... after that, we'll go through everything again and no eating Snackoos, okay? Then before your test we can go out for a nice big meal together to help you prepare, if it works.

You say that like eating Snackoos is cheating...it's not like they have the answers on them or anything, Vera.

[ Rude! ]

Besides, I'm doing really well, aren't I?

It isn't! But if you need them to remember some of the answers and they don't let you eat during the test, then...

[She's biting her nail now, oops.]

You know your stuff, I'm just worried.

[ ...Geez. Ema's made this something of an impulse, to grab Vera's hand whenever she sees her start to nip at her nails.

It's really just her being irrational, but, Ema really doesn't like the sight of her doing that... ]

...Look, if it helps you sleep at night, you can hold onto the bag from now on. Just as long as you don't get mad at me when I eat the whole thing once you give it back.

[It's something Vera appreciates, actually, considering she so rarely notices herself start to do it and... well, even if she never got poisoned doing it again the memories can come back when she realizes she's at it.]

Just until you pass the test. Not forever.

Geez, you sound like my sister...

[ She huffs...but still, she hands the bag over. Goodbye, sweet Snackoos... ]

But I'm gonna need some collateral for this. You're gonna have to get my mind off craving them somehow.

It's only fair I get to take care of you once in a while.

[... people who are good at reading cues like that, though: not Vera Misham.]

Like what?

I dunno. You might have to surprise me.

[ She's not gonna spell it out, but... ]

You can figure out a way, can't you?

[... okay, well, she got it. But Vera's a creative type - an artist, you know, and all that - so she feigns ignorance while scooting her stool a little closer.]

I don't know, I might have to take a second or two to think about it...

Don't take too long now, you know I'm not a very patient girl...

[ She's just teasing, though; she catches Vera scooching in, but she doesn't say anything about it. She is looking awfully smug, but... ]

And it's kind of rude to keep a girl waiting, isn't it?

Hey, you know what they say. Don't rush an artist.

[Has literally anyone else heard Vera Misham take a teasing tone? Signs point to no. There's not an incredible amount of tease to it, admittedly, but it's clear she's trying.

But she will go ahead and lean forward to plant a kiss on her lips... and break away a second later to giggle just a little, mouth no more than an inch away from Ema's.]

You taste like them.

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