Wide Knowledge Of The Late, M A D N E S S [Lucas]

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

The light turned green but Luke was still looking at Phay, waiting for her to say something. She took her time. Luke wasn’t going to press. They still had enough time the next day before he had to meet with the judge during which they could discuss every detail, but he at least hoped she would take his words into consideration and make up her mind in the morning. He looked away from Phay and resumed driving. It was then she spoke. Luke ignored her grateful words. He was never interested in a thank you; it was not why he’d chosen this career. He didn’t care how nice she seemed either, but he would have to talk to her about keeping that whole aura up at the trial. The image of that picture of Phay in the file after she was caught after the murders popped up in his head suddenly. Despite himself, he had to admit it was really hard to believe that it was the same girl he’d met tonight. But Phay continued on and, this time, she got Luke’s full attention. He didn’t take his eyes off the road, but he didn’t need to. She explained herself and it matched what he’d read in the file. The tone in her voice was much too sorrowful and once more Luke found himself thinking she was telling the truth. Of course, it didn’t ultimately mattered whether he believed her or not, but it did make the case more interesting if she was being honest.

He kept driving, eyes ahead, his mind racing, even when she turned to look straight at him. She had addressed him quite seriously but Luke merely tilted his head in her direction while his eyes lingered forward. What Phay said next he really was not expecting. It took a second for him to register what she had said despite the clarity in her voice and his head finally shot in her direction, his brow creased slightly, only for a beat before returning to its initial position.

Well now that was information he needed to process.

He had had guilty pleas before and even then Luke managed to free a lot of those defendants. However, what Phay’s question conveyed, to him, was that he wanted to let her take the punishment. She hadn’t specified anything, but he knew it. What bothered him exactly, he wasn’t sure. It wasn’t precisely the idea of losing a case or the blurry definition of guilty concerning somebody who wasn’t aware of committing a crime and was, at present, a person incapable of committing one. Well, she was asking him to promise. Poor thing had no idea what the word of a lawyer meant. But either way, Luke probably wouldn’t even have to break his promise to win the case, so… he could promise it. If she was guilty, she could own up to it. He wasn’t promising to let her do time.

It took him a while to reply and he was casual when he finally did, all reluctance gone from his voice.

“Alright,” he shot her a glance, “Promise.”

A few minutes later they had reached Luke’s street and they entered his building’s parking. Luke allowed himself to rethink the situation one more time before officially offering Phay a place to stay –temporarily- only to remember there were no other options at least for that night. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d a guest; not that that’s what this could be called.

"You'll spend the night here and... tomorrow we'll see," he announced to Phay as he turned the engine off and got out of the car.

^{ooc: psssh it's fine C:}

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

((ooc: I just figured he lives in an apartment building, all the lawyers on the movies do XD but if that's in correct I'll fix it C:))

Phay stepped out of the car after him, more then a little surprised at his notion as she watched him retreat into the apartment building. She ran to catch up, following silently behind him. Keeping her head down still feeling slightly ashamed for causing him yet more grief. No one needed to spell it out for her; she was possible a killer, who wanted that in there home. Then again...he could have just as easily left her at the prison so she should be thankful.

She made no noise as they made there way to his home, though she did glance around every now and then. When they finally got to his home, she waited for him to unlock the door before stepping inside herself. She paused in the porch, quickly pulling off her shoes which in fact were two different types of shoes Phay stepped fully into the house as he went on to do whatever he had too. Phay looked around in awe...everything looked, expensive...and clean.

Phay gulped, looking down at her grubby self. She was almost afraid to touch or step on anything in case a mound of dirt fell of her. When he didn't come back for a few minutes Phay decided to look around. She enter the closest place which was in fact the living room, she stared at the furnishing and electronics. Still a little to afraid to touch anything Phay took notice to the large sofa. Walking over she looked at it curiously, poking the material. Quickly looking around, Phay took a seat. Smiling slightly as she bounced on the soft material before lying down. She curled up into a ball, cuddling into some pillows and to be honest it wasn't long before she was out like a light.

-----

The next morning Phay awoken early, yawning a stretching with a smile on her face. The morning sun flooded through the heavy draped curtains coloring the living room in a soft hue. Now that she could get a better look at her surroundings Phay decided to explore a little more. First place she found was the kitchen, at which point she smelled something delicious. Getting on her hands and knees much like a dog Phay sniffed the ground, crawling around until she heard something that made her jump slightly.

Turning to the source of the noise Phay noticed that it was the coffee pot, but she always thought you need to start those yourself in order to get coffee. She crept over, gingerly sniffing the pot; well that was what she smelled. Suddenly the pot hissed causing Phay to jump back and hid behind the island in the center of the kitchen. Peaking back up at it Phay hissed back, pouting slightly deciding she didn't like coffee pots anymore.

Then suddenly Luke popped into her head...just were was he anyway? Well she figured he was in bed but where exactly was that? Slowly Phay crept down the hall making sure to not make a sound. She found Luke's room at the end of the hallway, the door slightly ajar making sneaking in easier. Crawling over to his bed, she peaked up at him. Shuffling over slightly to poke him...when she didn't get a response Phay figured that maybe it was best to wait for him to wake up. By then though she had remember someone telling her it was always nice to wake up to a smile and since Luke had been so nice to her she had to a least try and replay him back. So very quietly Phay crept onto the bed, till she was straddling him but without actually touch him. Putting her hands down at each side of his head till she was basically on top of him. A big smile on her face and a cheery good morning waiting on her tongue for when he woke up.

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

_{ooc: i was lauging sooooo hard reading that last part!!}

Luke had resigned himself to go through with the impromptu plan by the time he inserted the key into his apartment door and stopped thinking so much about it as he guided Phay down the hall. Once inside, he closed the door after Phay and strode in feeling it unnecessary to ask her to make herself at home. It had suddenly occurred to Luke that, although the guest room was always ready, he had absolutely no idea what he was going to be doing about the clothing issue. Aside from an old oversized t-shirt he’d never worn, there was nothing, at all, in the entire apartment, that could dress a young girl. Or any girl for that matter. The only piece of feminine clothing Luke had was a thong somebody had left by the foot of his bed once. And that wouldn’t do. He loosened his tie as he entered his bedroom, removing his jacket off his shoulders and placing it casually on a chair. Then he stood in the middle of the room and pondered the situation for a few seconds. Eventually he decided that the old oversized t-shirt would have to do at least for the night, the priority being that Phay got out of (and burned, if possible) what she was currently wearing. The next day he would be able to do something about it. Slipping out of his bedroom after a moment, Luke headed toward the linen closet down the hall and grabbed an extra blanket for the guest room before walking out into the living room to lead Phay toward the guest bathroom.

Except when he found her, Phay was already asleep. On the living room couch and in her same clothes. Luke stopped. With a sigh he discarded the idea of moving her to what would be her actual bed for the few days ahead, deciding not to interrupt her now that she was resting. So, turning the light off, Luke went back to his own bedroom, got undressed and, opening Phay’s file and scattering its contents on his bed, he sat on it with enough light on to go through every little detail.

It was close to dawn when his eyes started hurting. Ready to try to get some sleep, he gathered all the documents and put the file in his drawer before turning the light off, keeping the door slightly ajar in order to remain alert. It still took him fifteen minutes or so, during which he went through all the pieces of information he was delivered that evening, but Luke finally got to sleep.

It felt like only minutes later, though it was probably a couple of hours, when Luke began drifting out of his slumber. He was lying on his back and attempted to shift to rest on his side… Something stopped him. Something… he remained in the same position, opened his eyes and tried to focus.

The deep short scream Luke let out the immediate moment he realized there was a face right in front of his own was enough to wake him up fully and forget if he had been even dreaming. It didn’t take long for the events of last night to hit his mind like a brick. Luke jumped up to a sitting position, his heart still pounding and his brain digesting. His right hand flew instantly toward the handle of his night stand drawer, where he kept a gun. He didn’t open it, however, upon realizing it was Phay, from who he was not taking his eyes off (initial murder-related concerns crossing his mind).

“What are you doing?!”

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Phay screamed in union with him, never expecting him to react the way he did. She jumped back blinking as he demanded to know what she was doing. She looked around, seemingly had forgotten why she was there, before suddenly remember. "Good morning!" Phay beamed at him, her feet getting caught in the blankets as she attempted to get off his bed. Leading her to falling flat on her face, a groan escaped her lips as she stood up. "Well I'm gonna go take a shower kay?" Twirling on one foot, Phay was out the door before she peeked her head back in suddenly. "Hurry up Luke we got a big day ahead of us!"

The sorrow from last night seemed to have all but vanished as once again Phay was in high spirits. She had to believe that she wasn't the killer and find out who was...no matter what. Phay made her way into the washroom, locking the door behind her as well. Turning on the water till she managed to get the temperature she wanted. Phay quickly stripped off her dirty clothes and stepped in.

The water felt good against her skin, god it had been so long since Phay remembered hot water running down her back. The dirt pulled down her skin and into the drain, showing off how pale she really was. Phay a lot of scars most she didn't know where they came from and apart from that Phay was also underweight. Dumpster weren't exactly five star restaurants and sadly enough most of what Phay ate...really wasn't worth eating at all.

She drowned her hair, the build up grease from it making it almost waterproof but she managed to get it wet enough, she let the shampoo lather in her hair for several minutes before rinsing it out and proceed to do the same with the conditioner. Once she was finished Phay stepped out smelling...clean. Sniffing her armpit for good measure- no nothing. Phay gave a look of surprise, and then looked down at her dirty...smelly cloths.

There was just no way she was gonna dress back into those smelly things yet...maybe she could cleaned them. Phay grinned yeah that's what she would do. Then it dawned on her she can't have nothing to wear. Peaking out of the bathroom door which happened to be in the same room as the spare bed had been. Making sure Luke wouldn't be in eye candy sight, Phay noticed the large shirt folded on the bed. Grabbing it quickly, Phay put it on. It reached down to her thighs and was twice her size, it was a stale blue plan shirt but Phay didn't mind. It was clean at least.

Gathering up her cloths Phay looked for a washer, she quickly found one. Tossing the clothes in...she would learn how to use it later but right now...she was hungry. Phay's stomach gave a hard growl which Phay whined back at it. Maybe she could look for some food? While she waited for Luke to finish getting ready. Creeping into the kitchen, the tiles cool against her bare feet as she looked around. But then it dawned on her that she had no right...to do this. So taking a seat on the stool by the island Phay sighed resting her head on her palms as she waited for Luke to appear...she just hoped he get her something to eat.

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

_{he's not a morning person => o.O}

Luke couldn’t but stay seated in bed and completely immobile except for his eyes, the pair of which followed Phay carefully and astonished as she simply, brightly, greeted him, announced she was going to shower and leave with an enthusiastic remainder of the work they had ahead of them. He was left staring at the door of his bedroom, his hand still touching the drawer handle and his mind going over each and every little thing he’d read about Phay Cortez the night before. He had already decided that they would have to go to see a doctor about that amnesia of hers as one of the first steps in building this case, but after her little good morning number more than ever it was imperative that they did. Also, that they found her a place to stay. He would need to bring the subject up again with the judge that afternoon. First and foremost, and on this Luke knew ‘his honor’ wouldn’t find ways to disagree, her staying with him and having access to his bedroom could be misunderstood if the other team found out and deem his whole defense invalid and make claims of unethical behaviour. Second… he still had absolutely no idea just where they would be able to send Phay without it being prison. He’d gotten her out of that; he was most certainly not going to take back his first step forward on the case by sending her back.

After a deep breath and relaxing his shoulders, Luke got out of bed and walked toward his bathroom. This time, choosing to risk the rest of his apartment blowing to pieces due to a well-intentioned attempt at cooking breakfast without supervision, Luke locked the door to the bathroom; just in case Phay decided she would thank him for his pro-bono work by just popping up out of nowhere and offering to rinse his hair. He was quick, cooking attempts fears in mind, and hurried getting dressed before stepping out of the bedroom.

It was more relieving than it should have to walk out to find Phay, all cleaned up alright, the apartment intact and her just… sitting there. Waiting. Much like a time bomb, but still, just waiting. Luke noticed she was wearing the t-shirt he’d layed out for her for a lack of anything more appropriate to wear and made a mental note to buy her some clothes her size before the doctor and before anything else. How he would manage to do that and avoid her going out on the streets wearing that old shirt of his was another mystery.

“Ok. Ground rules,” announced Luke as he walked up behind her, entering the kitchen and rounding the island over to where his coffee awaited, “My bedroom is off limits.” He began pouring himself some of the hot drink; it briefly, only briefly crossed his mind to offer some to Phay, but that thought was quickly dismissed when it occurred to him that she was already hyper enough. “Unless you’re dying or there’s a fire, you don’t go in there.” He paused to give her a look that allowed her to know he was serious before taking a sip of his coffee.

The rest of his speech about rules was interrupted, however, as he realized, watching her sitting there like that, that she probably needed breakfast. Luke rarely ate at home. He didn’t like cooking and rarely ever had time anyway. His fridge contained but a carton of milk, beer and few other random items he couldn’t name to save his life. But he was (thankfully) sure that he’d bought cereal recently. Turning around to grab the box along with a plate and the milk from the refrigerator, Luke continued,

“Also–no going out unless it’s with me… or unless I say it’s ok, which I probably won’t,” he said as he placed all the items in front of Phay on the counter.

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Phay gave a mocked salute to Luke. "Yes sir!" She beamed. Phay was in to far a good of mood to let Luke's stern rules get to her...that or she just couldn't understand it. She noticed him drinking the cup of coffee and she scowled hissing at it. Blinking a few minutes later as he laid a plate and carton of milk and some weird looking box that she had never seen before. A look of pure confusion crossed the young girls face as she reached out to poke it. She looked up at Luke for a moment then back down at the box.

She guessed it was food so slowly Phay opened the top of it, sniffing it like a dog. While most people would find this act usual for most people. For the homeless it was a common thing to do, you smelled your food before you ate it. Especially if you don't know what it is. Phay looked down at the box. "Co...co puffs?" She stared up at Luke see if he could shed some light on what exactly where they. Poring it out on too the plate, Phay picked up the milk looking at it with a similar confused look as if she had never seen these things before. For the past two years Phay had been eating nothing but garbage. Lucas hadn't seen it yet but Phay was underweight and extremely malnourished.

Poring the milk in with the cereal, Phay stared at the plate then down at a spoon. She had seen spoons before, only she had used them for digging not for eating. She picked it roughly holding it as if she were a toddler learning. Slowly Phay used the spoon to pick up the the cocoa puffs. She gave more more hefty sniff before plopping them into her mouth. Chewing for a moment her face suddenly let up, picking up the plate Phay shoved down the food in seconds. She sighed happily leaning back slightly. "That tasted amazing, I've never had something so good."

Phay looked up at Luke happily. "Thank you!" She chirped, hopping down from the stool Phay went to explore the rest of the house. She re-stumbled upon the living room, making her way across to look around some more Phay suddenly felt something underneath her foot. She hardly had the time to figure out what she had stepped on when, the large t.v in front of her turned on. Phay's eyes widen as she jumped backward onto the couch, pressing herself deep into the cushions.

People were moving inside the box in front of her. A look of utter shock and confusion filled her face. She slowly reached down for the remote, staring at it. Her eyes caught hold of an arrow shaped button and she pressed it, the channel changed to something else. Phay flinched back again before becoming curious and pressing the button again. She did it again and again, a smile spreading on her lips from pure amazement. Phay stopped however at one channel, it was some sort of little kids show.

Time passed and Phay had managed to get herself completely in warped with this one channel as she stared at it in awe. "Can you find the balloon?" Phay jumped to her feet, pointing frantically at the screen. "It's there It's there!" She giggled when the girl finally found it. "Uh no it's Swiper, we have to say Swiper no Swiping. Say it with us!" Phay scowled at the bad fox holding her hand out, completely assured she could scare him away. "Swiper no Swiping!" She yelled in unison with the girl and monkey. Luke momentarily forgotten in her mind as she was far to busy helping out Dora and boots get to rainbow mountain.

((ooc: yeah...>> I watch way to many kid shows XD, this is gonna be funny for Luke to walk into lmao))