bakerstreet | No need to rush

little steps

No matter how much they care for the other person and want to be with them, some people simply can't dive head first into relationships. Little things that form intimacy and romance, little acts we take for granted - being close, holding hands, kissing, showing affection in public - they won't or can't do...at least not right off the bat. Something in their past, their experiences, their trauma, or even their personality holds them back. For both them and the person they're "dating," as it were, this can lead to a frustrating experience.

Still, steps can be taken towards letting the walls fall down. Little, tiny steps, but those can mean the world all the same.

The People
One With the help of a partner, one person warms up.
Two Both sides of this couple are learning how to be in a relationship and to be open.

The Actions
Talking → A relationship can't exist if there's not some communication, so either learn to use your words or become so close you can speak without them.
Spending Time → Even such mundane occurrences as watching TV or cooking together is new ground.
Touching → You might just find you enjoy reaching out and touching them.
Kissing → Another kind of touch, when you think about it.
Cuddling → ...at least they're warm and, hopefully, soft.
Sleeping → You're at your absolute weakest when you're asleep. It shows trust to doze off around this person.
Public Display → It's one thing to be in love in private, but showing you care in public is a different story.
Kind Words → Three little words (more or less) are all it takes. Why, then, are they so hard to get out?
Sex The ultimate stumbling block to some. To be laid blissfully bare is to truly let your guard down.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I did, yes... [Even more reason he wishes he'd known the truth from the beginning. If she hadn't been trying so hard to save Dahlia's soul, if I hadn't been so naive, maybe...] Not too much, nothing like Edgeworth's case in 2016. But the defendant's a teenager, I've got to handle this one with care.

A teenager? [Oh dear.] What happened? I hope it's not too serious. [Like murder. But then it's almost always murders. ~~Even that damn vase.~~]

The usual. A dead body, the poor boy was at the wrong place at the wrong time. [Phoenix sighs, going over to the little stove to heat up water for tea.

Sometimes he really doesn't understand the legal system, or police procedures. That is, he knows how they work, but rather doesn't understand why they work that way. If someone's within even a foot of the crime scene, they get blamed. Never mind if they're a child, a teenager, the elderly, probably never used a weapon in their life, or the victim was a loved one.

He hesitates to say this out loud, though, because even if the whole world agreed with him, it was hard to change what had been in place since before he was even born.]

Oh no. Poor thing! [She lays her basket down on the table. The legal system is indeed flawed. At least in her case, it was understandable. She did not kill anyone but she was caught tampering with the body and it did look like she killed someone.]

Have they set a trial date for him yet? [Having enough experience with what Phoenix does, she's aware that there's a good chance that said trial is tomorrow.]

The day after tomorrow. They've at least given me one extra day to prepare, but I don't know how much that'll help. [At least he knows he'll be up against Edgeworth, who may be a tough opponent but at least he's honest and doesn't attack the defense. It's a miracle Phoenix can even look at a cup of coffee anymore after dealing with Godot.] I went to visit the kid at the detention center, and he's freaking out. He's convinced his parents will hate him forever even though they're the ones who hired me...they're so sure he didn't do it.

[Iris shakes her head. Ouch. Once again, poor kid. On the plus side there's that extra day.

Iris then looks at Phoenix and smiles. She puts a hand on his shoulder.] Well, it does look like you've been bought a little extra time at least. And if anyone can get that boy rightfully acquitted, it's you, Feenie. I have faith in you.

[The touch of her hand calms him instantly, and he smiles. Every now and then he wishes it could have been like this from the beginning, that he'd always known it was Iris and that Dahlia...well, she was good at spoiling things, but maybe he could have helped Iris stop her.

But it's as they say, better late than never. She's here now, and Dahlia's out of their lives...and she believes in him. With a case like this, every vote of confidence counts.]

Thanks, Iris. I think tomorrow I'm going to bring his parents with me when I visit him in the detention center...that should help him.

[Ah, the kettle's whistling. He's no tea expert, but he knows how to put two bags in hot water, so he'll do just that...]

[Iris would still blame herself. If she was more assertive in getting that bottle back, maybe her sister would not have killed again and died for it. And Phoenix would not have suffered....but maybe that guilt will always be with her to some extent. No matter what, she is still glad the way things have turned out the way they did.]

I think it probably will.....[And a thought comes to her.] Is there anything I can do to help with the case?

[She doesn't know why she said that. She's got no experience in detective work but the offer just came out. However, now that Iris thinks of it, she might be able to do something. It might be fun as well!]

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