may as my beloved kay mutual what do YOU think she does after the events of aai2 (-tybalt @transryunosuke)
YES TYBALT TYSM I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO TALK ABOUT HER
under the cut for length, slight AAI2 spoilers, niche headcanons, etc.
Okay, so: a huge part of my vision for post-AAI2 Kay comes from this conversation at the end of The Grand Turnabout:
Kay:
How should I put it...? Until now, I've always been chasing after my father... ...so that I could become a Great Thief, just like him!
Edgeworth:
(Like the previous Yatagarasu, I suppose...)
Kay:
But... watching you, Mr. Edgeworth, made me think. Maybe, instead of chasing after my father, I should find my own path. ...I mean, you didn't become a defense attorney either.
Edgeworth:
(Chasing after a parent's shadow isn't the only path in life for a child, after all...)
Kay:
I'm going to aim to be a hero in my own way!
Edgeworth:
...That sounds good.
Kay:
But of course, that doesn't mean I'm gonna throw away the name of the Great Thief Yatagarasu!
We see that she’s ready to let go of her ‘Great Thief’ persona (though not by getting rid of The Yatagarasu! We’ll get to that later). Or, I suppose a better way of saying it would be that we see them letting go of chasing after that part of her father. We also see her express a desire to help people in their OWN way, one that isn’t influenced by Byrne. She directly compares their own situation to Edgeworth’s, saying she doesn’t need to be a thief (or a prosecutor, for that matter!) to save people, as Edgeworth didn’t need to become a defense attorney, like his own father.
So with all of that in mind - I personally head canon that after AAI2, Kay becomes a defense attorney. It might seem a little out of left field, but this was honestly something that grew on me the more I thought about it. Being a defense attorney would allow them to help people while still walking their own path, not influenced by her father’s title as prosecutor OR the Yatagarasu. It would also keep her connected to Lang, Fran, etc. and let them continue to work as the Yatagarasu on the side.
I also like to think to think that Kay mentors under Ray and works as a DA in the Edgeworth law offices. This (a) gives the office another employee, because honestly the thought of Ray working alone makes me really sad, (b) lets Ray and Kay get up to all of the hijinks in the world (because they are, in fact, a disaster duo and love making Edgeworth miserable), (c) gives Kay a job that allows her to do what they want to do (saving people), fits her unique experiences and strengths (since she was only Edgeworth’s assistant during his pseudo-defense attorney phase, and we see her leap to defend people multiple times throughout the duology), and (d) would just be really funny. Could you imagine having a thief defend you for murder? Or hell, even burglary?
But of course, that’s not all! There’s also the issue of the Yatagarasu - something that’s also extremely important to Kay. This is, of course, in part because of their father; but I’m sure it’s also because she recognizes the need for it. And if she really WERE to become an attorney, the need would become even more obvious. We all know the trio is made of up a defense attorney, a prosecutor, and a detective. So not only am I propositioning DA! Kay, I’m also putting forth the new Yatagarasu as such: Kay as the defense attorney, Sebastian as the prosecutor and Ema as the detective.
A big reason for this being that, honestly - it’s an absolute crime that these three didn’t get to interact more. But I really do think it would work. They’re all similar ages and already canonically know each other, plus they each fit a designated role.
Even without the context of the Yatagarasu they’d be so funny together. Like, seriously, can you imagine it? Kay and Seb as (friendly) rivals? Ema and Seb and detective and prosecutor? They would be SO funny. Not to mention Kay and Ema on (technically) opposing sides as attorney and detective despite being canonical friends. They’d sort of give me Gina and ‘Oddo vibes. Different dynamic, especially if you romantically ship them, but still. Similar vibes.
Anyway, to make a long story short:
Pros of Kay becoming a Defense Attorney:
• Lets them, “be a hero in [their] own way,” as she wants.
• Different enough to be her own path and not be in her father’s shadow, but similar enough to let her feel connected to him.
• Ray and Kay on crime scenes. Ray and Kay in court. Could you IMAGINE.
• Plently opportunity for her to see to see Lang, Fran, Ema, Seb, etc. again (I’m a sucker for found family. What can I say).
• Edgeworth and Co. gets a new employee! Ray is no longer talk to a dead man all day. Mental health win, I guess?
• Kay and Sebastian as rivals. Funniest match-up to ever exist.
• Lets her work as, and WITH the Yatagarasu, in a way that it’s not the focus of her life or the primary way she helps people. I personally feel that’s how she wanted it.
Cons:
• Ace Attorney: Kay Faraday will never be a real game and everyday I am burdened with that knowledge. It hurts.
But yeah, sorry if this doesn’t make sense. I’m really not the best at getting my thoughts across. Semi-related, but I also drew my own time skip design a while ago. It’s old, but I still kind of fuck with it. The design(s), at least.
ANYWAY Capcom please let Kay out of the basement. This way would work best with canon I think. You don’t even have to think about how to fit her back in. You can use it without credit, Capcom, please. I just need to see her again everyday that goes by she isn’t in a new game is absolutely torture. Please Capcom ple
