James Devine

James Devine is a character that appears in *Trinity of Justice*, *The Returning Past*, *Mask of Deceit, Beginning of the End* and *Web of Mistrust*. James is a high school student who lives in Wintermarble Village, a snow-covered town in the mountains. Unknown to most people, however, he is secretly the masked hero known as Cat Noir, fighting crime alongside the police.

 Leitmotif: James Devine ~ Hopeless Romantic (Official Name: Love's Vagrant from *Bravely Default*), Reminiscence - The Boy Behind The Mask (Official Name: Reminiscence - KG-8 Case from *Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth*)

# Appearance

James, in his normal clothes, has beach blonde hair and green eyes. He has a singular ear piercing in his right ear. He wears an aqua jacket with blue jeans and brown fur boots. He wears a white ring on his right hand, said ring allowing him to turn into Cat Noir.

In his Cat Noir outfit, James has his earring removed and his ring turns black with a green pawprint in the center. He wears a black leather suit with a golden bell on his chest. He has a long belt that hangs out like a cat's tail, gloves with claws on the fingertips, and boots. He has black cat ears and a black mask covering part of his face.

In his *Reconnecting Bonds* redesign, James' hair is dyed sky blue at the tips. He wears a white dress shirt and baby blue bow tie under a black tailcoat, which his attorney's badge is pinned to. He wears slim black trousers along with black shoes. He wears white silk gloves on his hands. Despite wearing gloves, he wears his ring over the top of them.

# Personality

James is a flirtatious young man, often coming up with pickup lines to use on women as a unique way of greeting them. He is laid-back and goes with the flow of many situations. Nothing can stop him from teasing other women playfully. Many of them think that he does like them, but it's just his own way of making friends. Despite his flirting ways, he is fully devoted to his relationship with Wood. If she grows uncomforable with him flirting with another person, he respects her wishes and stops.

His personality changes slightly when he is Cat Noir. He has a strong sense of justice, which is more easily seen in his Cat Noir persona than James. In this form, he is even more devoted to flirting with women, handing out a rose to every girl he comes across. He is determined to keep his alter ego a secret, but sometimes lets slip small details like people's names. James is also more proud in his Cat Noir persona; he enjoys to brag to others about his heroic deeds and becomes upset when he is ignored.

However, he didn't always behave this way. James adapted his flirty personality from his older brother Albert when he disappeared when James was 10. Before his brother's disappearance, James was a shy and quiet boy who got embarrassed rather easily. He didn't much like talking to people. James copied Albert's flirty personality to remember him by if anything happened to him. However, upon Albert's return, James remained the Casanova he was when he was first introduced in *Trinity of Justice*.

# History

## Before the Story

James was born into a middle-class family in Wintermarble Village. He grew up living with his grandparents, parents and older brother. When James was 10 years old, his father Richard Devine suddenly went missing. Unbeknownst to the Devine family, he had been kidnapped and killed by the Shinokage, since he was a lawyer. James' older brother Albert, 15 at the time, left home to look for his father. The shock and grief of losing her husband and her oldest son consecutively caused James' mother Diana to pass away. To remember his brother, James decided to copy Albert's personality and became a flirt.

## Trinity of Justice

In case two, **Ye Olde Turnabout**, James meets Niamh Wood outside of the village's hotel. He begins the conversation with his usual flirting tactics, although they fail and Wood describes his flirtatious personality as 'gross'. The two become fast friends and James discovered the passageway through which Wood's friends were being held hostage by the Shinokage.

In case three, **Turnabout Backstabber**, James was casually walking down the street when he was attacked by an assassin, who would later be identified as Essentia Emsthorpe. Essentia demands James to tell her where canon character Miles Edgeworth is. James protests that he doesn't know and is thrown to the ground. James then meets with Bridget Anahita and learns that Edgeworth's life is potentially in danger, accompanying her to the Rivera and Co. Criminal Defense Offices. Upon arriving at the office, James meets the assistant Severa Punnishant and immediately fell in love with her. He had no idea, however, that Severa was planning the murder of her boss Emily Rivera. When James got in the way of the plan, Severa assaulted him with a table clock and framed him for the murder. Later, when the Shinokage make their move on the office and Essentia breaks in, Severa reveals the plan and her motives: the Shinokage promised her fame and riches if she successfully killed Ms. Rivera. When Severa was suddenly killed by Essentia, James was horrified. Her death did not put him off of his flirty ways, however.

In case five, **Turnabout in the Shadows**, Wood drags James along to visit the Council of Six Headquarters, where she was invited by anonymous letter. Even after being warned of the potential dangers, the duo decide to go anyway. Upon their arrival, the two were attacked by the Shinokage. Upon losing consciousness, James was separated from Wood and taken into a different room, along with the other hostages such as Edgeworth and others. The group panicked over Wood's well-being, James commenting on hearing screams multiple times. When Anahita rescued the group from captivity, they immediately began searching for Wood. They found her on a higher floor, brutally attacked and covered in blood, along with the bodies of her father and the Shinokage's leader. James later visited Wood, where he learned the severity of Wood's eye injury. He suggests a way to cover up the injury, which was to cover the eye with her hair. The two said their goodbyes to one another shortly afterwards, when a police car arrived to take Wood home.

In the epilogue, James mentions something he wanted to tell Wood, but couldn't remember. It is likely that this 'something' was the romantic feelings James felt towards Wood, but didn't get the chance to tell her.

## The Returning Past

James makes a brief appearance in case one, **The Well Deserved Turnabout**. James noticed Wood falling asleep in class and snaps her awake. The two are thoroughly bored with the lesson until a school announcement tells them that all students needed to go home. Wood and James leave class together, but Wood is intrigued by the police entering the building and decides to investigate, leaving James to go on ahead without her.

James' next appearance was in case three, **Turnabout Heir**. He arrived at the Prosecutor's Office after hearing of Wood's sudden departure from the trial. He introduced himself to Sora while meeting her in that brief moment. Later, when Ghastly and Cotoli went to visit Wood at the detention center, James was already there. The four talked about the crime, along with RW-0, and Cotoli managed to break the Blue Psyche-locks that Wood had over her heart. After a comical debate over whether or not James was Wood's boyfriend, the four part ways to prepare for the trial the following day. James attends the trial, excited about the not guilty verdict. Wood, however, was having trouble controlling her nerves. James was upset that he couldn't sit with Wood during the trial, but was interrupted by Ghastly's arrival. At the end of the case, the two celebrate Wood's freedom and take up Ghastly's offer to celebrate with ice cream.

In case four, **The Reopened Turnabout**, Wood receives a note, apparently from Ghastly, asking her to meet him in his office at a certain time. Too nervous and confused to go on her own, Wood asks James to go with her and he agrees. They arrive at the office and are ambushed by Rocerous Amm, who had mysteriously escaped from prison. James was knocked unconscious while Wood's eye injury was attacked again. Amm was desperate to kill her, strangling her and leaving her for dead after he stabbed her in the stomach with Ghastly's knife. James woke up later, claiming to have no memory of the event. However, upon making a deal with Toby Erikson, James gladly shares what he knows about the crime. Before the second half of the trial, Tenniswood asks James to shed some light on a possible motive, to which James heavily refuses, claiming that multiple lives will be in danger if he says anything. Court is called into session at that moment, giving James the chance to escape. James visited Wood in the hospital several times. When Wood woke up, James explained that Ghastly was arrested for the crime, which causes Wood to start crying. James leaves the room to change into a cat outfit and burst into the room, hoping to make Wood feel better. Wood bursts into laughter and says he looks 'absolutely ridiculous'.

In the epilogue James appears with Sora and Ghastly, asking about Wood's recent behavior. Sora tries to tell him not to worry and that Wood will tell him eventually, but Ghastly tells James the truth, despite the latter not really understanding it.

## Mask of Deceit

James first appeared in *The Defensive Turnabout*. He requests the help of Tenniswood and Yuri to defend 'an old friend'. The three headed to the detention center to meet the client, who turned out to be the boss of another local law office, Edward Kenway. Edward had been accused of murdering a journalist in his office, the weapon bearing his fingerprints. The trio then decide to investigate the crime scene, James reminiscing about the office. He was interrupted by three voices, which belonged to Leon Wakuta, Amanda Wakuta and Tia Pennydrop. Tia explained that she and the victim had wanted to ask the lawyers at the law firm about a case. This unnerved James, prompting him to ask if she was talking about a case called HL-3. Tia denied this, and James quickly left the scene in emotional pain. The next day, James arrived at the defendant lobby to watch over the case from the gallery. Tenniswood asked him if he knew anybody called Richard, to which both James and Edward reacted negatively. The trial began before either of them could give a proper answer. Halfway through the trial, the Masked Gentleman burst into the courtroom and wasted no time in taking someone from the gallery. This ended up being James, as he awoke in a chair, the Masked Gentleman being sat across from him. MG asked James about a photograph of the lawyers at Kenway Law Offices, the latter replying that one was his father. MG replied that both his father and an individual named Albert are dead, much to James' horror. James was released at some point and fled to the Prosecutor's Office, where Wood found him crying. After some persuasion, he told her about his father disappearing in the HL-3 Incident, his mother dying of a broken heart, and about Albert, who was revealed to be James' older brother. James eventually decided to return to the crime scene and carry on with the investigation, Wood encouraging him. He arrived at the office before Tenniswood and Yuri did. The prosecutor on the case, Polly Bloom, would have kicked him out of the crime scene if not for Anton Burke's intervention. The team finally meet Xavier Thurman, who Bernadette Rivera suspects of carrying out the current murder. James snuck out of the office while nobody was looking, in order to return to his own home. He spends the rest of the chapter reminiscing about his brother. James arrived at court the next day, requesting to help the defence team defend Mr. Kenway. Xavier was called to the witness stand, although claiming to know nothing about the case. James objected when Xavier lied about not being involved in the CT-2 Incident. Once this was proven to be a possible motive for the murder, Xavier grew angry and began to yell at James, insulting his deceased father. Eventually Xavier admitted to his guilt and was arrested. Once the trial ended, Anton tried to comfort James, as the latter had lost all confidence in himself. After hearing some of Anton's encouraging words, James decided to pursue his goal of being a defense attorney like his father.

James maked a very brief appearence in the fourth case, *Turnabout Business*. He was watching the trial of Peko Pekoyama and was witnessed by Buddy Bradshaw leaving the courtroom in a hurry. He muttered something orders, but it was not elaborated on.

James has a bigger role in the fifth and final case, *Turnabout Regrets*. He appears in the first stages of the investigation and requests that he be allowed to assist Cotoli in the investigation. James presented a golden mask which had been found in the prison, such mask being the calling card of the Masked Gentleman. James was investigating the crime scene when he chanced upon a white silk glove on the ground. The glove was stained with a speck of blood, leading James and Cotoli to believe it to be related to the case. They asked Julia Kirigiri and her new assistant Felix Griffin to examine the blood. The two then decided to investigate the scene of the assualt, where they met up with prosecutors Wood and Roberto Shield. A bloody message is discovered at the crime scene, saying Chrysalis' name. James stood with Cotoli in court the next day, with James and Wood exchanging comments about the autopsy report before Julia is called to the witness stand. Wood announced that it was in fact the victim's blood that stained the glove James had discovered, which greatly upset him for a reason unknown. It wasn't long before Nevada suddenly confessed to committing both the murder and the assault, which confused James as he did not know about Wood's multiple personalities. After court was adjourned, James claimed that he wanted to investigate the crime individually for a while, to which Cotoli agreed. James was speaking to Mondo Owada when Cotoli and Chrysalis arrived at the crime scene. The defense duo showed concern about James' recent behaviour, although he denied anything being wrong, unaware that Cotoli and Chrysalis could see his Psyche-Locks. When James left the scene, he recieved a call from Wood who panicked about being held in detention. Felix later found a ring covered in fingerprints, which James asked to keep. When asked why, James told Cotoli and Chrysalis the story about his family; his father, mother and older brother. Cotoli eventually concluded that James' older brother Albert must have been present at the prison on the night of the murder. On the second trial day, James did not show up to watch the court proceedings, but he did appear mere seconds into the trial's start and claimed that he had evidence to present which could point towards the real culprit. Before James could expose the meaning behind the evidence, the Masked Gentleman interrupted the trial. He attempted to disprove what James was claiming, although Cotoli helped prove the thief's guilt with the help of the silk glove. With no other rebuttal, the thief removed his disguise and admitted that he was, in fact, James' older brother Albert Devine. Albert explained that Raymond Templeton was his accomplice; he had taken Albert in six years prior and had suggested becoming the Masked Gentleman, also assisting in all of the heists. Albert also confessed to the killing of the victim and was arrested for his crimes, with Chrysalis offering to lighten Albert's prison sentence. James begged his brother not to leave, although Albert promised to return one day. James was still crying after the trial was over, so Wood escorted him to his grandfather's car to recover from the events.

In the epilogue, James was with Anton talking about how Chrysalis helped Albert receive a lighter sentence and much less time in prison. James expressed his disappointment that Albert's return wouldn't be immediate, however.

## Beginning of the End

At the beginning of *Turnabout Romance*, James and Wood visited the Happy House Carnival for Valentine's Day. The two announce that they have something important to announce to the other (James about his crush on Wood, Wood about her multiple personalities). They are about to do so until they hear a scream. The two discover the body of a teenage girl in a nearby tent. Wood faints upon seeing the spear, and James is arrested for the crime. Tenniswood and Victoria von Graye, a new lawyer at Morix Law Offices, visit him and tell him that Nicoletta, one of Wood's personalities, asked them to defend her, although James did not know who Nicoletta was. When the trial began the next day, Wood proved that the victim was supposed to meet with an unknown female; a claim which ruled out James as a potential suspect in the murder. Wood is about to call the witness, Kimberly Yaeko, to the witness stand, but was interrupted when Amanda Wakuta insisted upon testifying. Victoria proved that Amanda was lying when the latter claimed she saw the defendant fleeing the scene of the crime. Lacking any other evidence, the trial was adjourned for more investigation time. Before the second trial session started the next day, James learnt of the death of previous witness Amanda Wakuta, who had been impaled by several spears. When court was in session, Phoebe Otha was called to the witness stand. Her fingerprints had been found on the switch that triggered the spears to kill Amanda, so naturally she was under suspicion. Phoebe testified that she didn't touch the switch, but Victoria pointed out her nervous tic to prove she was lying. Phoebe eventually snapped, dropped a black card of sorts and fled the courtroom, multiple bailiffs chasing after her. The bailiffs returned and announced that Phoebe had escaped, to which a masked teen boy who called himself Cat Noir appeared. In his arms he held an unconscious Phoebe, who he caught and prevented from escaping. After giving her to the bailiffs to arrest, he disappeared and became popular all over the media. What nobody realized, however, was that Cat Noir was actually the heroic alter ego of James himself. After James had been given a not guilty verdict and had changed back to normal, he was greeted by Wood with a hug. James finally told her about his feelings towards her and expected to be rejected, but she felt the same way. With a kiss and a hug, the two begin a formal relationship, but not before James noticed the black card that Phoebe Otha had previously left behind. Wood refused to speak about it and dragged him out of the courthouse.

James, in his aforementioned Cat Noir form, appeared briefly in case two *Turnabout Pop*.

## Web of Mistrust

James makes a brief appearance in *Web of Mistrust*, in case three **The Theatrical Turnabout**. James and Nevada visit Chrysalis in the detention center, whereupon the two girls fight. James eagerly attempt to calm them down, but to no avail.

In the epilogue, James describes Nevada's anger in what would seem to be **The Theatrical Turnabout**, mentioning that she even slapped him. He says that it was worth it to see her smile, and such thought made him happy. This suggests that James has romantic feelings towards even Nevada.

# Relationships

## Albert Devine

James looks up to his older brother above any other person in his family. The two were inseparable. Wherever Albert went, James would not be far behind. When Albert disappeared, James was distraught and decided to copy Albert's personality to remember him by.

## Wood Quintet

James and the Wood Quintet get along incredibly well. They go almost everywhere together and are rarely ever apart. They get upset and worried if the other is hurt in any way. In *Beginning of the End*, the two (James and Wood) start a relationship, but James has to hold back his flirting habits with Wood as they make her slightly uncomfortable.

## Anton Burke

James and Anton are rather good friends. Whenever Anton is uncomfortable or upset about something, he will often turn to James for comfort when he is around. It is unknown how the two became friends or met in the first place, but it is likely that they met through Wood. When they first met, James mistook Anton to be female, leading James to flirt with Anton before learning that Anton was male. In his Cat Noir form, however, James has no problem flirting with Anton knowing full well the latter's gender.

## Chrysalis Starr

It is unclear how James and Chrysalis met, but it could have been through school in some way or through Wood. After Cotoli discovered about James' alter ego, he requested that James be one of Chrysalis' protectors, thanks to her dangerous role in the Oracle of the Law project. The two get along well and are good friends, and Chrysalis is one of very few people who can put up with James' flirts for a long time.

# Quotes

- "My name is James Francis Devine. Although you, my lady, can just call me James." *(introducing himself to multiple women)*

- "My, my, is there trouble in paradise?" *(to Niamh Wood)*

- "Let me stay awhile. I'll protect you from all manner of murderous evil!" *(to Niamh Wood)*

- "See? Covers it up perfectly!" *(helping Niamh Wood with her eye injury)*

# Trivia

- James was inspired by the character Ringabel from 3DS game *Bravely Default*.

- James shares a remarkable resemblence to Adrien Agreste, a character from animated television show *Miraculous Ladybug*. This is why James was given the Cat Noir alter ego, like Adrien does in his respective television show.

- James, in his Cat Noir form, has a variety of abilities that he does not possess in his normal form. He is more athletic and can avoid incoming attacks. He possesses a staff that he uses as a sword to fight and can extend infinitely. His power, Cataclysm, can destroy anything James' ring hand touches, although he transforms back to normal after five minutes of using Cataclysm.

- James was originally without parents and an only child, but this changed throughout the development of *Mask of Deceit*.