candybox | Ace Attorney voicetest/call me out post

[He raises a brow when Nahyuta went off on a tangent. More of the real Nahyuta shown through that facade he had built up for himself. It's a strange comfort just knowing he's still there, fighting within himself. It pained him though, to see him try to conceal it, to see what Ga'ran has done to his boy. It frustrates him more that he couldn't do anything to help him at this point. All he can do, is stay true to his conviction, for both his son's sake. So he smiles in defiance to his claims.]

That won't happen, not when we haven't found the real culprit. Have you ever fought against him in court, Nahyuta? He may not look it, but Apollo's a tough kid. He's not going to yield until the truth is brought to light. [He said it with such confidence, eventhough he could feel the doubt and regret sitting in his heart. He was still taking a huge gamble with his own son's life, and it disgust him to his core that he would allow this. But he can't falter now, everything has already been set in motion and he could only give Apollo all the support he can give.] Oh and you should know, Apollo made the decision to defend me himself, I didn't tell him to do anything.

[He shifts in his seat, what little he can. He was going stiff from sitting in this uncomfortable chair. He sadly won't find that sweet spot and will give up not long after with a sigh.] Now what's that question have to do with anything? Or could it be that you've missed us?

[Nahyuta's expression only hardens. If he can bear to even speak to him, he'll have to do whatever he can to dissuade Apollo from defending Dhurke. Maybe it's already too late to change his mind, but...]

Nothing of the sort. You're charged with assassination of the Minister of Justice. [Just as he was charged with the murder of Queen Amara all those years ago... though that painful memory should go without saying.] My purpose here is but to safeguard the good of the kingdom. If Her Eminence is under threat, or the stability of Khura'in imperiled, I must know.

Then you're wasting your time with me. You should be talking to Her Eminence, about how she's been permitting murder and hostage taking under the crown.

[There was movement behind him as the guards gave Dhurke a nasty reminder that they were still present. They had their guns aimed at his head, telling him to watch his mouth. He just shrugs, undaunted by their empty threats. He knows they can't do anything to him, not yet. Still, it's probably best to reel it in a little in case they decide to get physical.]

The Defiant Dragons have always taken a bloodless stance in this battle. We'd never take the lives of another, so I see no reason to answer your question.

Peace. This criminal will receive his punishment in due course. Slander of Her Eminence shall be added to his many crimes.

[Nahyuta raises a hand for the guards to stand down. Grudgingly, they lower their weapons. The distrust in their eyes even as they obey the order is plain to see, but there's little to be done about it. No matter how loyal Nahyuta is to the queen, the fact that the accused is his father will taint this case right until the end.

Then, he addresses Dhurke.]

It will go easier on you if you admit to your crimes now. When your deeds are exposed in court tomorrow, and you are proven both a liar and murderer twice over, a traitor even to your own cause, and your revolution will perish. You cannot claim even now to espouse the ideals you have so plainly violated.

...Sorry, but that's not possible. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I admitted I was any of those things that you claimed that I am.

[The hand that carried the dragon tattoo, it desires to reach out and grab Nahyuta. All he could sadly do though was clench his fist.]

And you're in no position to tell me, that I betrayed my own Defiant Dragons.

[Dhurke's words cut deep, and Nahyuta can't meet his eye for the shame of it. Still, he has a reply at the ready.]

... Whether you believe you're a traitor or not is irrelevant. You will be found guilty, and your reputation will be in tatters. Your movement will wither and die. But if you confess and explain your motives, your followers will at least be at ease in the knowledge that you sinned for the revolution -- that you did not try to mislead them with claims of innocence.

[Nahyuta isn't even sure why he's spelling this out. Any care he held for the revolution died years ago. And he knows his father will confess to nothing, no matter the risks involved in pleading not guilty. So why... His hand moves to grip the black cloth concealing his own right hand, in a seemingly unconscious force of habit.]

Are you so eager to throw away all that you've worked for, only to salve your own pride?

Ha, if you think my comrades will find such comfort in half-baked lies, then you underestimate their conviction. They are not so easily taken in by the so called justice that you and the rest of this kingdom have resigned to. I will not yield to these false accusations, and as long as Apollo stands as my defense attorney, my innocence is assured. A revolution will come, in fact it's already happening. Her Eminence's days as Queen are numbered.

[There's that absolute confidence again. The guards felt uneasy once more at the mention of Her Eminence. It'll be a tough fight, but at least a battle will be had. A chance for the truth to finally come out. No, the truth will be brought out. Justice will finally be given to the one truly responsible for all the pain and suffering the people of of Khura'in have felt all these years, to what had been done to him and his family. Even if everything is stacked against him, if there is hope, then there is a way.

He leans back in his seat, what little he could at least.]

It has nothing to do with pride, though I'm not exactly the one who needs to answer that. I haven't given up on doing what is right for this kingdom afterall. [He said pointedly as he observes Nahyuta grip the black cloth. Someone isn't being truly honest with themselves.] ...I don't know what led you down this twisted path, but for your sake, I will keep on fighting until the bitter end.

[Nahyuta can only clench his jaw in response. Why is Dhurke so confident, even knowing what he's up against? For all his father's talk of conviction, all Nahyuta can picture in his mind's eye is Dhurke and Apollo's very public executions. And if Nahyuta so much as lifts a finger to stop it... No, even if he tried, he couldn't do that much. He is, after all, powerless.

All he can do is carry out his duty in the courtroom. He moves around Dhurke to stand behind him, where he doesn't have to look at him, and snaps at the guards.]

W-well? You heard the suspect. [...The snappishness isn't very convincing with his voice wavering like that.] He feels no remorse, expresses no guilt, and he would threaten our Queen before her husband's very blood has cooled.

I have heard enough. Take him to his cell.

[The guards move to unfasten the restraints -- at gunpoint, of course -- and haul Dhurke to his feet. Nahyuta remains where he is, with his back turned, as still as a statue. He's keenly aware that this is the last conversation they're likely to ever have together... And he has nothing more to say.]

[He heard those hurtful accusations from his son, but they didn't have the impact on Dhurke like they should. He hid his face from him, leaving his words lacking in assurance. All he heard from Nahyuta was that he had doubts on whether he could do this to his own father.

And so, as he turns to face his son's back, he decides to put in a few words before they part.]

Make sure you do your best tomorrow, son. Your old man's going to have front row seats afterall. And once this is all over, we need to properly catch up on things over a nice hot meal at our old favorite hangout. Me, you and Apollo!

[And just as they brought him in without incident, he shows no resistance being escorted out once more. With his head held high, he had a smile on his face as he passed Nahyuta. With both his sons at the defense and prosecution bench, he's confident they'll create the revolution he has worked towards for so long and finish it for him. This was not what he wanted for them to go through, but this was what fate had decided. He will stay strong for them both, for as long as he can stay in this world without endangering Amara at least.]

[Nahyuta's initial reaction is silence. He knows he should deny Dhurke's proposal, throw it back in his face as an idle fantasy. Instead, even against his will, his father's words still have a way of worming their way into his heart. He can only nod quietly, some of the tension in his slender shoulders seeming to ease.]

... I will.

[Even then, he doesn't sound too sure of himself. But whatever happens, he has to try.]

[The promise of a nice meal with his family unfortunately never comes to pass. The trial led to his innocence on both accounts of murder, but he wouldn't be there to see that victory.

He had already returned to the Twilight Realm before the verdict arrived in order to protect his wife. Since that time, he hasn't been channeled again, and so his last memories was escaping the courtroom and leaving Amara. When he does find himself being channeled once more, it's no surprise he arrives a little disoriented. It was just like that time in the tomb, only he wasn't covered in blood and standing over a dead man. He was standing in a new room that was neither the tomb or the courtroom. Checking his surroundings, he vaguely recalls this particular room could be found somewhere on the royal grounds. This was a room meant for spirit channeling.

Examining himself, he sees the channeler has been courteous to dress him appropriately once more. He is now left to wonder why he has been called, how long since his last channeling, and the current state of the trial. In a mirror's reflection, he sees he is not alone in this room. He turns around to properly face his guest with a look of uncertainty.]

Nahyuta...? [Having no idea what has happened, he isn't sure what to make of his son's presence here. The only thing he's certain of, is that his son knows his father is no longer of this world now.]

[It had been Amara's idea, to give her children a chance to speak with their father before allowing him to return to the Twilight Realm. The thought had not crossed Nahyuta's mind -- if anything, it only filled him with misgivings. He had worked tirelessly to shoulder both his mother's former duties as regent, and his father's legacy in the revolution, in bringing justice back to the courts. And yet, perhaps Amara had noticed how he was still plagued with guilt by all he had done, that there were still things he never had the chance to say or do.

So she gently advised him to put aside his anxieties, and persuaded him into the channelling. He agreed, if in large part because he would never dream of refusing his mother's kindness. As the channelling begins, he's seated on a cushion on the floor, eyes closed in silence so as not to break Amara's concentration. It's only when he hears movement -- and that distinctive voice -- that his eyes open. He takes a breath to steady himself, taking in the sight of his father before his eyes once again.]

...Yes, Father. It was Mother who called you back here.

[He'll give Dhurke a moment for the implications of that to sink in. They have much to discuss, but it would be best to take one thing at a time.]

[There was silence between them as Dhurke processed the information that had been presented to him. He could feel that there was no sense of urgency in this meeting. Nahyuta himself was giving off an aura that was different from their previous meeting in the interrogation room. He even addressed him as father in a sincere way. For Nahyuta to be here and not in the courtroom, the trial must have already ended. For Amara to able to channel him once more that meant....no, he's getting ahead of himself. He should hear it from Nahyuta.

After just idly standing there, he'll see a cushion had also been prepared for him at his feet. So he seats himself, facing Nahyuta with a solemn expression.]

Looks like my big secret came out, during the trial I'm assuming.

Y-yes... That is correct. It was Apollo who discovered the truth, armed with the evidence you left behind, and his own determination.

[Nahyuta pauses for a moment. The grief is still too raw. Even if things ended on an ultimately positive note for all involved, that didn't change the gaping sense of loss left behind, now staring him right in the face. But he knows he needs to soldier on through his explanation--]

Queen Ga'ran was found guilty of both crimes. All of Khura'in knows of your innocence now, Father.

[So Apollo worked it out as he had predicted. He closes his eye for a moment, feeling a sense of guilt and regret. He could only imagine the grief and despair they both went through when they learned the truth. He wishes this isn't how it has to be, leaving his kids like this after he was barely in their lives.

But there is no more time to change that, he's run out of chances. So he does what he always did, put on a smile and take on things as they come. The news of Ga'ran's being declared guilty is indeed something to celebrate about afterall.]

That's wonderful news! See I told you Apollo would be able to prove my innocence and bring that witch down. [Saying that eventhough he knows he was worrying.] More importantly, that means everyone is ok now, right...? [His sons, his wife...his daughter. Their entire situation must have turned for the better after that trial, right?]

Yes, everyone is fine. [He won't mention Amara being shot -- she's recovering, after all, and it would serve no purpose besides causing undue worry.] Once Ga'ran was deposed, I persuaded Apollo to remain in Khura'in. We have reopened your old office together, and we will give all we have to repair our broken legal system.

Rayfa has ascended to the throne, and will receive tutelage from Mother until she comes of age. Until then, I will reign as regent. Our family is back together again, except for...

[Nahyuta's hands ball into fists and he sighs. Except for Dhurke, of course, who gave everything he had -- including his life -- to take that tyrant down and bring them back together.]

...I must apologise... for losing my way, and succumbing to Ga'ran.

[No doubt Dhurke has questions about that, too; he'll brace himself to offer an explanation.]

[He began to relax his posture once he learns that his family is safe. He closes his eyes for a moment as he smiles, relieved by the news. It was like a great weight had lifted from him, that everything he had worked towards finally came to fruition and he had not died in vain. He never admitted this to anyone, but as the years continued to pass, the more he began to doubt what he was doing. He still only managed to hold on, just barely for the sake of his family, and for those he had rallied to his cause. He could not bring himself to fail them.]

I'm glad to hear that you're all safe. [One thing he didn't actually expect that surprised him.] And Apollo...he's really working at my old office? [It had been just a dream of his, for Apollo to take up his office after him. Never thought he'd actually do it though. Really after everything he's done, or lack there of with his sons...he really didn't expect them to do anything for him.

With all of the joyous news, Nahyuta's sudden apology left him confused, until he remembers their last conversation.]

I never believed you ever truly fell under that witches spell. I saw that you still held onto what I've taught you, the dragon was just buried somewhere beneath that putrid form Ga'ran had forced onto you. [Ha, see what he did there?] ...So you must have had a good reason to resign yourself. To protect her.

He is. [A small smile passes across Nahyuta's face then. He'd missed Apollo all those years, and after he'd been sent away to the States and Nahyuta had committed to the revolution, he expected that for Apollo's own safety, they would never meet again. Nahyuta's honestly as surprised as Dhurke that he was willing to stay.] It was a personal request, with Khura'in being so short on attorneys. And though it was a difficult decision for him, he decided to remain. There is no one I would trust more to have at my side in this.

[Nahyuta pauses, then, looking down at his hands, and the tattoo etched into his palm.] ... I believe you and Apollo knew me better than I myself was willing to. Had I not cooperated, she would have undoubtedly killed Her Benevolence, and caused more suffering for Mother than she has already been forced to endure...

[And no matter how much he cares for his father, even for Apollo, to put his mother and sister in danger was unthinkable. Dhurke and Apollo, on the other hand, were there by choice, no matter Nahyuta's attempts to persuade Apollo to stay away.]

I... thought I had killed the dragon inside me out of necessity. Once again, I have you and Apollo to thank for aiding me in realising the truth, Father.

Ace Attorney voicetest/call me out post

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