Ace Attorney Trash Plus Other Stuff

Muffled whispers and rustling came from behind the steel, its muted blue opening to reveal polished red and monochrome.

“Oh, thank you! I’m afraid I uh– I don’t have anything to tip you with.”

You leaned in, catching the teasing glint in Ashveil’s eyes, "I can think of something.”

His finger caught your chin, “Really now?”

“Mhm.”

You left a simple kiss on his lips, something short and sweet that he couldn’t help but deepen as you parted.

“End scene,” you bowed, drawing a chuckle from him before you walked in.

Two table lights were positioned on one of the large office desks, papers strewn about its surface. They cast a white glow over the drying ink of Ashveil’s notes, the detective coming to collect them and make small talk as you unloaded dinner.

Until he noticed the packaging, at least.

“Christie's? Did I forget something?”

“Do I need a reason to spoil my partner?”

“You’re deflecting.”

“And you’re sniffing down the wrong trail.”

He watched you with blatant suspicion, taking the seat across from you as you got ready to dive into your meal.

He wasn’t actually far off this time, at least with his conjecture. You only ever had Christie’s on your anniversary, or to celebrate something major. It was a pricy, rare treat to savor and indulge in once or twice a year – never more.

You shrugged off your coat, placing it over the back of your chair as Mister N hopped out of the Agency’s closet.

You nodded toward the small pile of bananas on the desk, “I stopped and got something for you too.”

“I appreciate it.”

He winked at you after jumping to his spot, and your pulse eased. He was the only one who knew of your plan, and who encouraged you every step of the way. After watching how tenderly you and Ashveil have treated each other over the years, he was more than happy for your love to become permanent.

Conversation flowed naturally as you feasted, cutting into juicy steaks and stealing bites of each other’s sides. You discussed everything grand and mundane about the day, from silly encounters to new prospects and clues. Rain continued to fall beyond broad windows, droplets racing down the glass as if the building itself were crying. Your wallet was surely doing the same after ordering this dinner, but the satisfied smile on Ashveil’s face held more worth than any number or bill.

His happiness was something you fought to cultivate, through years of isolation, self-destruction, and insecurity. You had plenty of your own issues back then, still do most days. Yet you learned, shared different perspectives, and most importantly led with your actions. Holding quiet or full spaces, tending to wounds and needs, offering companionship and another steady presence despite the lack of pay.

Little did he know being beside him was payment enough for you. Being allowed to know the truth behind every light and shadow within him.

With enough time, the seeds you planted began to flourish. He accepted more easily, giving back in equal measure. He revealed more facets of himself, allowing them to sit in the open rather than be hidden away in dark corners.

You bore no expectation of him, and that assurance was what finally did him in.

He was no genius nor fool, merely a man with a plethora of observations and experiences. He knew you kept coming back because you were just as lonely as him, channeling your care into everyone but yourself in hopes they would deem you useful and worthy and allow you to stay. He refused to feed that pattern, instead giving you just as much as you provided for him.

A stable presence that would remember every detail you shared, laugh at every story no matter how many times you already told it. Offer somewhere quiet to tune out the world for a little while. Teach you how to hone your intuition so you’d always be the first to draw. He’d learned plenty of skills and lessons over the years, imparting each one onto you casually as if he wasn’t slowly entrusting you with every piece of himself.

It felt only natural, then, that after five years of giving and learning you had finally gotten together.

And now, another five down the line, you still filled each other's cracks like meltwater over a dry river bed.

Clinking broke through your thoughts, a glass of whiskey landing in front of you as Ashveil brought his chair next to yours. He smiled, taking a sip as he lounged and looked out over the city lights.

“So… are you finally going to tell me what all of this is about?”

Your pulse spiked and you downed your glass in one go.

“Whoa! Pace yourself, it can’t be that serious!”

You cleared your throat, “It is, Ashveil.”

Your coat swished as you grabbed the box from your pocket, setting your glass aside. A tape dispenser had been shuffled nearby by Narrator before he left, giving you the privacy you needed.

Still, you didn’t doubt that the Agency door was slightly ajar.

The detective’s eyes widened as he registered what you held, his hands shaking the lightest bit as he set his own glass aside.

“So it is,” he joked, breaking the tension in your shoulders.

“I know neither of us are the best at putting our feelings into words, so I’ll make it simple, like everything between us has been,” You opened the box, pulling out a thin strip of paper, “I don’t care for money, goods, or anything material you could ever give me. All I’ve ever wanted is you. Your kind heart, your silly spirit, your weary bones, and every horrid and beautiful memory that clings to them. You’re the fiercest and gentlest man I know, and I love you more for it everyday. I don’t have some grand ring, just my own heart and soul in this little paper.” You took his hand, finding nothing but shock, affection, and a touch of water in his eyes, “Will you marry me, La Mancha?”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

You wrapped the slip around his ring finger, placing a thin piece of tape over its ends as it found a new home on his finger. His hands warmed your cheeks, his lips crashing into yours. His kiss was deep and lasting, exactly like the commitment he was so ready to give. His forehead rest against yours, the city lights painting his face.

“I’ll love you until my last breath.”

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So for strokes the signs are abbreviated BE FAST. Balance loss, Eyesight changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, -> Time to call 911.

Had I known those MAYBE I would have figured it out but my symptoms were a little mixed. I was reading (fanfic!) in bed because it was a sunday morning and i had nothing pressing to do and suddenly got dizzy. I put my laptop aside because my eyes were blurring (Eyesight changes - symptom #1), and laid down, thinking it would pass, it didn't, it's a little vague how it progressed because I'd been having headaches and neckpain for about 3 weeks leading up to it so I was like 'idk is this a migraine?' (headaches can be a stroke symptom so symptom #2) but i got nauseous and eventually got up and to my utmost surprise I immediately fell over as if I was the drunkest of frat bros. The room literally spun before my eyes as I fell to the floor (Balance loss - symptom #3). I have had some Nights and I had never been that unsteady before. I crawled my way to the bathroom, threw up (nausea - not a common stroke symptom) , took 800mg of ibuprofen, and crawled back to bed.

if you know anything about ibuprofen you might know it's a mild blood thinner and that's a high dose. I may have inadvertently helped myself with that one. I was just feeling like shit and thinking 'idk this might help'

At this point I still thought we were still in Normal Land. Sure, it was a weird morning, but Surely There Was A Reason. (Yes There Was) Anyway, as I'm lying there willing my body to stop suffering I realize my arm is going numb (stroke symptom #4) and I switch positions, because weird, but it doesn't go away, and I gave it a good little while. I'm on a medication that can make my limbs tingle but it usually just does it to my fingers and it dissipates quickly but this wasn't dissipating, and then I realized one of my legs was also going numb. Then one side of my face is going numb.

(at the time I did not look in the mirror but I had a drooping eyelid - symptom #5)

Those all seem bad. I grab my computer and google 'when to go to the hospital for dizzyness' as that felt like the worst of my problems. and indeed the list I found highlighted that if you are also experiencing loss of balance, blurred vision, nausea, and limb numbness, you should see a doctor. That seems like far too many symptoms to be having all to be listed. I grab my phone (thankfully plugged in and by my bed), and start layering on more clothing because it's about 10 degrees out and i'm in a pajama dress. The very nice man at 911 talks with me and sends an ambulance, I tell him I don't think I can get out the front door of my building on my own and he asks if I can get to MY apartment door to which I say yes and he assures me that's fine they will have keys to my building.

(I have been since informed they love to chop down doors but no, I could get that far)

I wait by my door laying down on the ground and they arrive pretty quickly. They see to me in the hallway, which is more of a lobby in my building and the only place with room for me to lie down (I cannot stand unassisted at this point) they ask me a bunch of questions, take vitals, and ask me where I would like to be taken. Me, having never had to go to the fucking hospital in an emergency before, simply go 'wherever is close' because I again, I am having a stroke and do not have the wherewithal to think through these things.

A big firefighter helps me down the stairs (it's only a half flight and I still almost did not make it) and we get underway.

At the hospital they wheel me into triage and I mostly lie there gratefully and answer some questions and respond to some tests (grip strength, following a pen with my eyes, that sort of thing) and then I hear what is great when you've been at urgent care for two hours but what is Very Bad when you just arrived in an ambulance and that's 'She's next'. I jumped the line for a CT scan and an MRI. I was there less than ten minutes before I was actively being scanned. honestly closer to five.

The archives were silent—something not unusual to one of its two regular occupants.

Dan Heng sat at his desk, the light from his monitor reflected on his face. The solar system displayed behind his laptop shone brightly as ever, the planets as unmoving as ever. The young man’s fingers flew across the keyboard, making quick work of what had been assigned to him.

He was going through the Data Bank and updating it with the day’s adventures. It was his job to update the Data Bank while Xiulan’s job was to keep a written note of the day. Their teamwork was what kept the archives up and running. Without them, the Data Bank would be empty as a wasteland.

A yawn nearly escaped the ravenette’s lips, but he suppressed it, shaking his head.

There’s still work to do. Sleep can wait.

His cursor sat at the edge of the screen while he reviewed a recent entry, his eyes threatening to close as he did.

“...Snnrk.”

Dan Heng paused, his head shifting slightly to check where the noise came from. His eyes landed on Xiulan—who was asleep.

She’d finished her work quite early and decided to take a nap. Somehow, that nap stretched into hours, and Dan Heng just left her alone, thinking that she needed some rest.

The albino was sleeping on the only bed in the archives—a simple pillow and blanket thrown onto the floor. Dan Heng had never had a proper reason to get an actual bed. Even though both he and Xiulan technically occupied the archives, Xiulan usually went to sleep in March’s room.

Lately, she’d been just falling asleep on the floor.

Dan Heng thought that it would be bad for her back, so he got a mattress. It didn’t help very much, but Xiulan still appreciated the thought.

Now, she was sleeping soundly on the thin mattress.

Just let her sleep. She needs it.

And you don’t?

A small voice echoed in his mind, insisting that he finally get some sleep for once. Dan Heng shook his head, turning his attention back onto the screen in front of him. He propped his cheek up with one hand while he continued scrolling through the Data Bank, trying to keep his mind off the thought of rest.

But it didn’t last for long.

Another snore echoed through the room, making Dan Heng’s eye twitch.

His gaze wandered back to the sleeping woman, a sigh escaping his lips.

Maybe for a bit. Just a bit.

The man saved his work before shutting off his computer and walking towards Xiulan. He hovered over her for a few seconds, his eyes taking in how peaceful she looked. “Peaceful” was never a word to describe her or his dreams. Whenever one or the other fell asleep, they would usually awake from nightmares. But tonight wasn’t one of those nights.

He crouched beside the “bed”, taking note of a few stray strands of pale lilac hair. On instinct, his hand moved to brush them aside. Xiulan shifted slightly, making Dan Heng freeze.

She remained asleep.

Dan Heng let out a small exhale of relief. He didn’t want to wake her when she was probably getting a good rest for once. He glanced at the empty space beside her. He would’ve thought that there wouldn’t be enough space for two people since only one person ever slept there, but there was surprisingly a decent amount of space left.

He carefully slipped in, gently wrapping the blanket over himself. As he lay down, the blanket stretched, just barely fitting both of them.

It was... surprisingly calm.

The ravenette shut his eyes, finally ready to drift off into sleep.

Before he could even think of having a nice dream, something nudged against his shoulder. He opened his eyes, taking a peek at what it was.

Xiulan had moved a bit closer to him, her eyes still shut. It seemed she had no sense of personal space while asleep. Her forehead was pressed gently to his forearm, and one of her hands was tightly clutching his shirt.

A smile nearly crept onto Dan Heng’s face. Nearly.

She shifted again, her head ending up on his shoulder completely. This time, a real smile made its way to the ravenette’s lips. He gingerly moved the blanket, adjusting it to rest on Xiulan’s shoulders.

Perhaps getting some sleep isn’t a bad idea.

I’d do it more often if I could spend every night like this.

And with that, Dan Heng shut his eyes once more, sleep finally catching up to him.