What's The Time Where You Are?

Hikaru Suzuki

Well, now the cat's out of the bag - or part of the cat, the whiskers at least - the atmosphere in here has changed somewhat. Hikaru doesn't seem to have changed his attitude much, though. He's just more determined to look for answers.

And there's someone who might have… an answer, at least. Upon spotting Andrew down the corridor, he raises his hand in a little wave, making it obvious he wants to talk.

"Couldn't help but notice you have a watch on. Any chance you got the time when we woke up, or even just now?"

Andrew Edgeworth

Andrew had simply been giving the odd machine at the back of the warehouse a cursory examination when Hikaru drew his attention. Whatever Sylas had going on had "distracted" him the first time and it seems someone has the intention to do so again. Fine enough, it wasn't like he was going to learn anything about this machine until he spoke with a warden. If the wardens even had the answer…

He turned to look at the man who spoke to him and…cycles through a brief, but rough, sequence of emotions. Shock, confusion, and then realization, in that order.

He promptly collects himself to answer Hikaru's question. "Unfortunately no, my watch doesn't work anymore and has been stopped on the same time since I woke up."

Hikaru Suzuki

It would make sense that anyone would be a little on edge here, but Hikaru does wonder a little at Andrew's reaction. Seems like a lot for just being asked the time.

"Ah, well. Always too much to hope for a good thing, isn't it? …What time did it stop on, if that's anything helpful?""

"Also, I'm Hikaru, if you care for introductions, instead of just reading each other's tags."

He seems to have dropped the 'nice to meet you's as the situation has progressed.

Andrew Edgeworth

Andrew lifts his arm to show him the watch face, and it is indeed stopped. "4:18 PM, on the dot. Do let me know if that means anything to you…Hikaru."

"Not particularly, but I appreciate it anyway. My name is Andrew." He wasn't exactly in any place to make judgements about, but Hikaru had a bit too skeevy of a look for his liking.

"Any reason you needed a time, or just curious?"

Hikaru Suzuki

Hikaru hums in thought, and then shrugs, that thought apparently having come to nothing.

"…Not really, no. I suppose you're American? That does mean we didn't get taken at the same time - that would be the middle of the night in Japan. But… Probably not that useful to know."

He supposes it is fair enough to explain to Andrew why he just came out of the blue and demanded he answer a question.

"I was wondering if there was a chance that any of us might have heard of any of these supposed murders before we ended up here, independently. Which wouldn't happen if we were all taken at the same moment. But also I guess it would require the deaths to be newsworthy, which." He shrugs again. "No guarantee of, either."

Andrew Edgeworth

So this group wasn't all kidnapped at the same time. Clearly it was all intentional, but trying to gauge to what end was going to be a fruitless endeavor at the moment. "We certainly need all the information we can get…this may even come up later, who knows."

"That is correct, though more specifically Chicago." He brings his hand up to his chin, exhaling through his nose. "Mine was certainly very public, but it seems like that was not universally the case if you're choosing to ask me. I also don't recognize anyone else from a murder in the news, either."

Hikaru Suzuki

Chicago, that's somewhere Hikaru has heard of, though he couldn't place it on a map. Still, he nods in recognition, and then agreement. "Even the most trivial thing could end up being a hint, we never know."

Very public, though? Woah, that was not what he had expected from Andrew, who came off as rather an unassuming guy.

"I mean, it's rude to ask, but I'm curious now. A public death? Like… in public, or just publically known, or 'Hikaru, stop sticking your nose into this stranger's business'?"

At least he's self-aware about his nosiness. Usually he'd be more subtle, but Andrew had kind of dangled a delicious hint-shaped piece of bait in front of him.

Andrew Edgeworth

Andrew raises a brow at Hikaru's forwardness.

"All of the above, though you'll find out the details soon enough depending on what this 'projection' business is about. You don't appear particularly concerned with your own, asking these pointed questions; if it's not just a surface-level facade." He, too, can play ball.

Hikaru Suzuki

"Ehehe, fair enough. Sorry, I hear the start of a story and I just want to hear it out until the end. But I suppose I can wait."

It certainly looks like there will be plenty of time and opportunity for him to satisfy his curiosity in here, so he's not in any hurry to press people for their secrets.

"Well, my case is… I don't know. I don't have the slightest idea what sort of thing they could show, to be honest. Both in general and related to what I did. So… No use spending all my time being worried about something I both don't know and can't control."

He might be a little worried, just a little. But that's nothing Andrew needs to know.

Andrew Edgeworth

"You wouldn't be the first, a so-called pirate is ahead of you in line." Andrew almost rolls his eyes.

"…I suppose that's respectable in its own way. Prioritizing your time." Then he looks back to Hikaru, simply gauging his reaction. "What did you do with that time before coming here? Eventful, I imagine, for you to not know what your projection would show in any aspect."

Hikaru Suzuki

Hikaru snorts a little laugh, amused. "Ellie? Yeah, I could see that." He was one of the few people she hadn't directly asked about their crimes face-to-face, but the earlier group gathering gave him enough of an impression for him to agree.

"Ah, I was a pretty busy guy, alright. Bar work doesn't lend itself to sociable hours, particularly when you spend your days off at darts tournaments. And you? Judging by the straightjacket they set you up with, I'm guessing something smart."

Actually, the suit puts him in mind of an estate agent. But all the estate agents he'd met would absolutely preen at the idea of their job being smart, so Hikaru sticks with the generically positive guess.

Andrew Edgeworth

Bartending and darts, this guy was certainly entrenched in the party scene. Obviously not where Andrew himself could ever be seen, but he was curious about what people got out of that lifestyle. "…does the thrill of the night life dull when it's your job?"

"Banal is more like it. I was an accountant for an entertainment company."

Hikaru Suzuki

"…Eh, good question. Maybe for some people. I still like going out, though. It's nice to be able to actually enjoy the music and the atmosphere. Plus when you know the people working, nights out become very affordable."

Who needed guest list entry when the bouncers were your friends, after all? The vague description of Andrew's employer piques Hikaru's interest, though.

"'Entertainment', now that's a broad category. Are we talking TV, music, theatre? You don't seem like the type to be in the casinos or festivals type of entertainment."

Andrew Edgeworth

"Lucky enough to work in high-end bars, is it? Really did have a thing going for yourself."

He exhales through his nose, amused. "You'd be correct, but the answer may give you further whiplash. Bright Future and Co.; a lot of theme parks and toys, but its main focus is around animation for children."

Hikaru Suzuki

Hikaru may not have said that in as many words, but he's more than happy to let Andrew make and keep that assumption.

"It had its perks, for sure. I like meeting new people, and it's the perfect place for it. This, on the other hand, is… well, not the location or situation I would've picked, but I'm still meeting people, aren't I? So might as well make the most of it." Is that why he's managed to stay so chipper this whole time?

That is pretty unexpected, though, and Hikaru 'ooh's appropriately in surprise.

"Aw, that's kind of fun, though! A serious-looking guy working for something cute. You a fan of that kind of thing, or just happened to grab the best-paid job going? No shame in either."

Andrew Edgeworth

"How glass half-full…" 'People person' certainly had a wide range of expression in this prison. "Hope you're getting you're getting your socialization in, then."

Andrew waves his hand dismissively. "Just happenstance. My brother was the one who actually founded the company while I kept it going. He was quite the anime fan and wanted to start something adjacent in the United States. I'm simply good with numbers." There's something complicated about the way he says this, the way his voice sounds ever-so-slightly strained.

Not necessarily in the way that he was hiding something, but that it was a loaded statement.

Hikaru Suzuki

Hikaru chuckles and shrugs.

"Doing pretty well so far. Let's hope they don't suddenly decide this is the solitary imprisonment sort of lockup somewhere down the line."

The strange undertone to Andrew's voice doesn't go unmissed by Hikaru, who quirks an eyebrow, trying to suss out what could be running through his mind.

"Yeah? That sounds pretty alright. You always know where you stand with a family company. For good - but also for bad, I guess…"

He sounds like there might be some understanding there, but also doesn't seem to want to make Andrew dwell on such things if he doesn't want to. Instead, another easy quip.

"Wish my maths skills went any further than calculating a good checkout. I'm really really good at my three times-tables, though!"

Andrew Edgeworth

"…I wouldn't rule solitary confinement out just yet, with that singular chair in the so-called projection room."

Andrew turns his head in a kind of half-shrug.

"It's less pure math and more balancing. The computer can do all the raw calculation, but it means nothing if you don't make sure everything's in the right place. Adding something is always going to take away from something else, and it's a domino effect of disaster if every single exchange isn't written down somewhere." He waves his hand in a little swivel while explaining; bro is Not beating the fruity allegations.

Hikaru Suzuki

That does earn a nervous grimace from him. "Yeah, well… That's a bridge I'll cross if I get to it. Hopefully not! Ehehe."

Hikaru nods at Andrew's explanation with the very obvious look of someone who has very little academic smarts. At least he's explaning it in a way that makes sense to Hikaru's small, uneducated mind. The concept of one thing going wrong and leading to another is one he understands pretty well.

"Ahh, but being able to do that is pretty damn impressive, too. It's like being able to plan out your next few shots in pool, but in real-life. And with a paycheque attached."

Any fruity allegations would pale if Andrew stood next to Hikaru for all of a minute, given the latter's tone of voice, body language, and… generally everything.

Andrew Edgeworth

"Not sure in what world a place for solitary confinement would be labeled the 'Projection Room,' so we're probably fine on that front."

Well, it's good that Hikaru gets the idea at all. Something about this feels uncannily familiar, though-

His train of thought is interrupted by the sight of several people going into the dining room. "As illuminating as our discussion has been, it seems we should get going - else we miss some…fine cuisine."