#trucy too but like i already really liked her after 4

[satsuha]

sharing this tweet from my priv from when i went to the fanthful booth at a local con... see i have faves that i can sense from a mile away and then i have faves that take 10 working days to fully grip my brain and the latter usually ends up hitting me worse

[the-bar-sinister]

Chains of the Dragon (59149 words) by VickytheSnake, thesavagesabretooth

catch up here

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October 4, 2028– 12:30 pm 

After almost two more hours of study with the princess, Trucy rubbed her temples. She'd been letting Rayfa quiz her on terms and procedures– and thankfully, getting a lot of it correct. 

Studying with Rayfa had been interesting, that was for sure. The young woman was well versed in the court, and its various intricacies like the divination seance– but it seemed occasionally that she’d falter on important words and the occasional concept.

Mostly, it seemed, when it came to the defense.

Still, she approached it with a kind of determined-to-help excitement that she seemed to try and quash into reservation at every opportunity. 

It was fascinating in its own way, and honestly a lot more fun than studying alone had been. But admittedly by now, she was losing focus. Even though she didn't want to admit it.

Her body betrayed her though– in a quiet moment, her stomach growled loudly.

Rayfa’s head snapped up, and her fierce and intensely alert eyes stared Trucy down for a strangely tense moment before she spoke. 

“I..” She held her hands up “I have been terribly rude, Attorney Wright. You’re hungry, are you not?” 

Trucy balled her hands into fists. 

"I can keep going! I'm tough!!" her stomach growled again and she hung her head. Honestly, she was feeling a bit dizzy. "Okay, maybe I'm a bit hungry."

Rayfa stood suddenly and offered her a hand up.

“L-let me take care of that. I’ll take you to the royal kitchen and have someone whip you u–” She paused for a moment, and twisted her looped braid around her finger. “Or is it more polite for me to cook it myself? Either way, please, follow me.” 

"Oh! Do you cook?" Trucy asked cheerfully. "Its something I've kind of been wanting to learn to do, myself. My daddy's great but he's a really lousy cook."

“Barbed head cannot do something as elementary as cook? Tsk…” Rayfa shook her head with a huff as turned and bent down to grab her cloak, buttoning it around her shoulders with a prideful smile. “I shall wow you with my cooking prowess, Miss Wright! Follow me! Perhaps you may learn more than just law in my company!”

With that, the young princess pushed out of the study.

Trucy happily followed Rayfa out into the palace halls, wondering if there was a way she could manage to tease her dad with 'barbed head' when she got back.

"I sure wouldn't say no! Maybe I could teach you a magic trick or two if you wanted. It's okay to share secrets if it's with an apprentice magician,."

Rafya walked with her hands folded behind her cloak, sneaking peeks at Trucy with wide and curious eyes that she tried to hide. She flushed and ducked her head. 

“Apprentice magician, me? ...mother would say it was a waste of my time when I haven’t learned all there is to know about leadership…but…”She bit her lip “yes? Yes please.” 

"Awesome!" Trucy bounced on her heels as she followed her. "We can do an exchange of skills. But– how come she'd say its a waste of time? I mean, if you wanted to tell me…"

Rayfa’s eyes glanced around…there were some guards in the hallway, who she looked up at with a slight downturn of her lips before she lowered her voice with a shake of her head.

“An exchange of skills seems amenable to me.'' She turned down a hall, past a tapestry of Khura’in’s…it looked like maybe a founding, going by the faceless woman and the masses…and a few old weapons kept free of dust.

“Mother gets disappointed when I become distracted,” she started in a quiet voice to Trucy. “I’ve already wasted too much time being raised as a…a spoiled housecat…when I should have been learning to carry the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. The responsibility of the people– their hopes and wishes for this country.” 

"That sounds like a ton of responsibility," Trucy murmured. "Is she a good role model? She must work herself to death, huh?"

“Of course it is!” Rayfa sniffed– the thought that it might be derisive died when she sniffed again “It’s what I was born to do, even if my father lived in disgrace, I was born to lead this country and give everything I had to the people.”

She placed her hand on her chest and intoned “What you want does not come first. Or second. Your people come first. The country comes first. That is the duty of a princess or a queen.”

The words didn’t sound like hers, not with how practiced they were, or the way her voice shook when she said them. “....” she fell quiet for a moment before she said “my mother works very hard…preparing me for the crown. She’s abdicated from the throne, however. Her time is spent undoing the m…mistakes of my fath—false parents.” 

"Oh." Trucy was starting to get the sense that there was a lot to unpack here. The question was, where to start. "Um…false parents?"

Rayfa hurried along, until they came to a dining hall, and shut the door behind them with a word to the guard to leave them be.

She took a deep breath. “Do you remember Queen Ga’ran and Inga? The victim and prosecutor of that case you attended.” 

"Yeah, I do remember them," Trucy said, biting her lip. "A little anyway."

“I was raised by them.” Rayfa said with a chilly coldness to her tone. “...Queen Ga’ran took me from my mother, and tasked her to raise me as a nanny…and Inga took me in as his daughter.”

"You were going to call him your father, weren't you?" she asked as she looked around the dining hall with curiosity. "A minute ago."

Rayfa jolted and her hand went once more to her heart. 

“N-no, of course not. I..He…” The young queen-to-be was shaking as she gripped her chest, “he spoiled me like a housecat , and left me struggling to prepare for the burden of rule. He was an evil man. Mother says…” 

Uhoh. This is above the Trucy Wright paygrade, but we're gonna fake it til we make it. This sounds a lot like when Mr. Edgeworth gets upset…

Trucy carefully approached Rayfa, and put her hands on her shoulders to steady her. "Rayfa… um, by spoil you, do you mean that he was nice to you?"

Rayfa jolted slightly, but she took soft, shaking breaths as Trucy’s hands settled against her quivering shoulders.

“Ah..yes. He was kind to me…he’d bring me things for my garden and for my room. He’d let me make him medicine and tell me all sorts of stories…he acted like he loved me, and cared for me…I thought he was a hero…but…but mother…” 

"Rayfa," she said her name again to ground her, hopefully. "Rayfa that's how a dad is supposed to act. He did that cause he's your daddy, no matter what else he was, okay? Blood isn't the only thing that makes family."

Rayfa sniffed softly, and Trucy heard her hiccup. 

“He was always there when I was upset. I didn’t know. I didn’t know what he was doing as the Minister of Justice.” She reached up slowly and wiped her eyes. “That is correct, Miss Wright. He’s my daddy. but my mother, she says he’s r-ruined me. That his s-spoiling made me unfit to do my duties without atonement and sacrifice.” 

She looked up at Trucy with watering eyes.

Trucy bit her lip. "Your mom– the one who's saying this…. she didn't like your daddy, did she?"

Rayfa shook her head. “n-no, Miss Wright. She did not. Even less than her sister, who she…she seemed to believe in until that…that verdict was handed down.” 

"I don't like to say this, but I think maybe some of her words here are coming from jealousy, or bitterness, Rayfa. That doesn't mean she doesn't care about you or anything like that. But those sound like destructive, tearing down words, not supportive, confidence building words."

Rayfa brought her balled up fists to her mouth “...destructive, tearing down words…?” 

"Words that make you feel bad about yourself, and tear down your feelings, instead of words that help you grow and learn," Trucy said patiently. She was no expert. It was above her paygrade. It was all pulled from daytime talk shows, things she'd heard Mr. Edgeworth saying, and old psychology books left around the apartment that she was pretty sure had been gifted to her daddy from Kristoph Gavin and ended up in her room as part of a… joke.

Rayfa straightened a little under her touch, her hands pressed over her mouth as she took another deep breath. 

“...I …I see.” She swallowed, Trucy could feel the way her back tensed before she said “My feelings are secondary to my duty as a queen, Miss Wright. I…I have to simply grow and learn no matter the s-sorts of words mother is fond of using.” 

"Well, I mean, we all have to grow and learn," Trucy said. "but your feelings shouldn't be secondary. I do get that being a queen is a huge deal though. Probably more important than even being a magician…"

Even being a magician as important as a Gramarye. But somehow she could still relate. Her conversation with Vera came to mind once more, the talk of responsibility and the weight of a legacy.

She knew how heavy that could feel on a girl Rayfa’s age, even if the weight couldn’t begin to compare.

“My feelings are secondary.” Rayfa said sharply, though Trucy heard the way it warbled without conviction “I’m secondary! Tertiary! It’s the country, the people…our faith that comes first. J-just like your magic, yes?”

The girl turned and looked up at her with watering green eyes “it’s my legacy, Miss Wright! I’m a queen first..”

And a person second. She didn’t finish it, but it was clear what she was trying to say. 

Trucy bit her lip so hard it almost bled. "And I'm supposed to be a great magician, not a lawyer," she said finally. "What do you want to be, Rayfa?"

Rayfa looked down, quickly and obviously trying to shut down her own answer. “it’s n-not proper of me to speculate on such things.” 

Trucy squeezed her shoulders. "Well, not everyone's proper all the time…"

Rayfa looked up at her with a quiver to her lip. She took a deep breath before she whispered 

“I don’t know for sure…but I am fascinated by the techniques Miss Skye performs.” Her head hung low “...I started to daydream about being like her…using s-science to solve mysteries and help others find justice outside of the divination seance.” 

"So, you want to be a forensic investigator?" Trucy said brightly. "That's so cool though. I totally love watching Ema– Miss Skye work too. Like I said, I'm supposed to be a magician, but my daddy… he's inspiring too, you know?"

Rayfa nodded shyly. 

“or something like it, yes…” Her hands twisted together, but something like a smile crossed her face again “i-isn’t it cool? Miss Skye is impressive…inspiring. J-just like my big brother on the prosecutor’s bench…or Mr. Apollo Justice when he defends. But I w-want to be like her. With the chemicals and the determining time of death and everything!!”

She took a breath, having not taken one in since she’d managed to speak her wish for who she’d want to be into the world. She composed herself before she smiled curiously. “...you are supposed to be a magician? I remember you talking about magic tricks when I ran into you…but you’re studying law…because of your daddy? Mr. Wright…”

"Yeah…" she fussed with her hat. "It's a pretty complicated situation actually. I'm supposed to be the heir to a great magician legacy. The greatest ever, really. And I'm supposed to carry on the tradition."

Trucy had wanted to. For a long time it was the only thing she had really wanted. To live up to the Gramarye legacy. To make her father– her magician father– proud of her in his absence. To be the person she'd been born to be. 

But lately the only thing she thought about when she thought of the Gramarye legacy was how much pain it had caused. Not just her– but everyone.

Mr. Reus had talked about them like they were a curse, and no matter how hard Trucy tried to find the joy she once felt… and the urge to make her birth father proud… all she could see was the blood and loss. Magnifi’s scheme, the division between ‘brothers’, abandonment… Thalassa… secrets, they were all part of a legacy of pain.

Rayfa watched her with big, green eyes. Her hands were clenched before her, balled into fists against the clasp of her ornate cloak as she listened and nodded. 

“...that’s a heavy legacy to bear” she murmured “...the greatest magicians ever…I would imagine it would leave you no time to follow in your daddy’s footsteps too, no?” 

She shook her head thinking about it. 

"No, not if I wanted to live up to the legacy. It'd be my whole life. It's been what I've been working toward for years, but…" Trucy shrugged. "There's a lot of bad stuff in the history that I've found out about."

It wasn't something she'd opened up about with anyone yet. Not her daddy. Not Pearl. Definitely not the De Famme sisters. Maybe it felt safer to tell a near stranger. Maybe there was just something like herself she saw in the sad young princess.

“Bad stuff in the history…” Rayfa’s fingers tightened around one another “yet it’s supposed to be your whole life. Meaning the burden of that bad stuff would fall upon your shoulders, yes?” 

Trucy let go of her, and she leaned heavily against one of the counters, sagging. "Yeah. And… everybody's done a lot of bad stuff to uphold this legacy. I'm afraid I'll start… doing something like that too."

Rayfa bit her lip “it’s a frightful thought, Miss Trucy Wright. A heavy thought, too.” She inched over and tentatively put her hand on her arm. “I understand the fear well…” 

Trucy leaned into her a little and nodded. "I bet. Seems like we kinda have a bit in common. If you don't mind me saying."

“I don’t mind in the least…” Rayfa flashed her a sad smile “it isn’t often I meet someone who understands. Much less one I can talk to so easily.”

She put her fingers to her chin, looking down, “If you don’t mind me saying, you’ve taken to law no? Does that mean you’re turning away from that difficult legacy?” 

Trucy hesitated. Did it mean that? She'd only volunteered to help out Apollo and Klavier– it wasn't as if she had any real intention of being a lawyer– did she?

She remembered all those times in court next to Apollo. The tension. The excitement. More surprising than a magic trick.

"I…" she began, and then closed her mouth. She couldn’t help but think about the view from behind that bench, the evidence making its grand debut to turn the case around. It was thrilling…and in the end, justice was done with a cloud of confetti and the smile of someone who came out the other side of the worst day of their lives.

And wasn’t that beautiful? The time she was in their shoes, standing behind the podium as a man told her she deserved to burn for the sins of her grandfather…she couldn’t help but compare. The Gramarye Secrets in their locked little book brought smiles to the faces of the crowd, and blood to the hands of those who kept them. How long was it until the legacy fell to her? Would Bonny and Betty become jealous of the secrets within the book?

Would Apollo? Or would yet another person her grandfather hurt crawl from the darkness to tear her down?

It was all she could see anymore when she thought of that grand stage.

“W-well…”

Rayfa was looking at her with a furrow of her brow and a small and worried pout. She had to say something.

Daddy had always been so supportive of her, and her magic acts. They had even helped support them while he was disbarred. But… he wasn't any more. He was a lawyer again.

Would he be proud of her, if she wanted to follow in his footsteps.

The Gramaye legacy. It was a legacy of cheering applause in the name of tricks and illusions. Smiles brought to people's faces, all while there was scheming and blood in the background that the audience would never know.

Except sometimes they found out anyway.

What would a Wright family legacy look like?

She thought of the marvelous turnabouts in court, and the smiles on the faces of the defendants whose whole lives and livelihoods her daddy and Apollo, and Athena had saved.

That happiness wasn't a trick, or an illusion.

She took off her hat, and put it on the counter beside her.

"Yeah. I– I'm turning away from that legacy," she said quietly, as her hair fell in her face. "I want to be more like my daddy– my adopted daddy– than the family legacy I was born to follow."

“Oh..” Rayfa’s hand suddenly touched her arm, thin fingers giving it a squeeze. Trucy could feel she was shaking again “that is very brave of you, Miss Trucy Wright.”

She took a soft breath “...Mr. Barb– Wright, I had many fights with him while he was here, but he helped me understand a truth that saved my brother and my country. To follow in the footsteps of your adopted father rather than the legacy you were born for takes strength…but I think in his footsteps, you will make an amazing lawyer.”

 "Thanks, Rayfa," Trucy murmured gently, leaning closer to her again. Her heart was beating fast, but there was a kind of lightness in her chest. Like a weight had been lifted.

The moment would have been more somber if her stomach hadn't growled again.

Rayfa leaned just the slightest on her for a moment…close enough that she startled when she heard the growl. She hopped back up and bowed deeply. 

 “O-oh! Ah…sorry…I had gotten so invested in our talk that I neglected the reason we came here.” Peeking over her shoulder at the kitchen, “I’ll prepare you the finest meal I can, please… have a seat. As thanks for telling me your story.” 

Trucy was grateful for the talk. And for her own resolution

But she was also deeply grateful for the distraction, too. She had a lot to think about.

"Thanks for telling me yours, too, Rayfa." She rolled up her sleeves. "Now!! Let's get cooking! You can tell me the stuff you need and I'll get it for you."

The young woman seemed to have a lot on her mind as well…there was a thoughtful furrow in her brow even as she put her hands on her hips with a broad smile “Alright! Be prepared! It shall be the finest meal you have ever laid upon your tongue!”

Her smile turned suddenly sheepish as she declared “I don’t know how to make anything but herbal teas and a simple curry. But it’ll be the best you’ve had! I swear!” 

Trucy laughed. "Herbal tea and curry sounds great!"

October 4, 2028– 12:40 pm 

Apollo noticed that none of them were letting each other out of their sight as they headed back into the palace together, and he wasn't exempt from it. He stayed close to Ema, Nahyuta and Kalvier as if they were a pack– as if an attack could come from any direction.

It really felt like it could.

I'm really not loving this whole random violence, 'Pollo.

Yeah, me neither… Do you think Klavier's nose will be okay?

Worried it's going to ruin his pretty good looks?Ema looked twitchier than usual– he noticed she was reaching for the pocket he knew she kept her cigarettes in, her fingers twitching nervously as she walked closer to him and Nahyuta.

Everyone was on edge…even Nahyuta. His expression was clouded, but why wouldn’t it be? His father’s movement was turning against him piece by piece.

Apollo wasn't surprised. Especially about Ema. Especially with what they'd been talking about, and what she and Clay had been talking about before.

As they passed through the quiet hallway, Klavier asked "So what do we do now" at the same time that Apollo had leaned over to Ema to say "We should have that talk."

Ema pulled out her cigarettes and tapped one out to place between her lips with a nod. 

“Yeah, we should.” She spoke up. “Nahyuta…we gotta talk to you in private.”

Nahyuta was silent, still staring off into the distance as he walked. Lost in his own head. 

Apollo startled– he hadn't expected her to want to include Nahyuta immediately. But he realized he shouldn't be surprised. 

"'Yuta?" he repeated, trying to shake him out of his head and back Ema up. He noticed Klavier cock his head with interest. Probably wondering if he was invited too.

Ema pulled her lighter out and looked at Klavier to whisper something to him. Klavier seemed to brighten, and nod.

Nahyuta shook out of it, blinking quickly to look down at him with a subtle smile. “Pollo…sorry. I was just thinking about the schism.” 

Apollo grabbed Nahyuta's hand. "Yeah, I thought so. Look– I think we should all regroup and talk about this stuff. Does that sound right to you, 'Yuta?"

Nahyuta sighed, and pushed his hand through his hair with a nod “....yes, I believe that’s for the best."

"Maybe somewhere a little more comfortable than an office, ja?" Klavier suggested. "Or at least less formal?"

“Less formal than an office?” Nahyuta closed his eyes. “...alright, I’ll take you to my bedchambers.”

“Forward, Yuta.” Ema puffed at her cigarette, the smoke curling into the bright blue sky above “sounds like a date.”

"Sadly not as much of a romantic mood as I was hoping earlier in the day," Klavier sighed. "But still, who knows what the day will bring?"

"We've already proven anything could happen," Clay grumbled. Apollo winced a little as it came out of his mouth. But he wasn't wrong.

Ema laughed sharply, and exhaled her smoke. “Yeah, we sure goddamn have.”

Nahyuta gave them a tired smile, and led them back to the palace and towards his room. 

A few minutes later they were settled there in the couches around the tea table. Apollo had sat himself next to Klavier, feeling bad about his nose and everything else, and Ema across from them with Nahyuta.

Ema gave Klavier another look of worry— made sense given she had a front row seat to the bruising that was setting in, before she took a deep breath. “so we all agree things are going to hell, right?”

“I would not put it quite so direly,” Nahyuta said as he folded his hands on his lap. “but they aren’t good.” 

"Mein prinz, I have to say public brawls with government officials over public policy is pretty dire," Klavier said.

Government officials?

He means us, 'Pollo.

Ema laughed tensely. 

“Yeah, it’s pretty dire when the brawls start, Yuta. Tempers are rising, you know?” Her fingers tightened on her lap “I think it’s time we had a frank talk about the viability of the system as it stands.”

Nahyuta sighed quietly “...I was afraid that was where this was going.” 

"It's hard not to talk about it," Clay said, rubbing the back of their neck. They felt sore– their own bruises already starting to form over their face and chest. "Especially now that the politics have come up."

Ema nodded slowly, rubbing gently at her forehead. 

“There’s a contingent of communists who want to rid the country of monarchist rule. Which, given the monarchy before you guys, I can see why they’re unhappy.”

Nahyuta frowned. “Yet we deposed Ga’ran and they didn’t speak then– they have waited until Rayfa has settled into her rule and escalated into violence.” 

Klavier raised his hand. "Ah, I was not here so forgive me– but did they have an opportunity to speak then? Were there perhaps messages that were ignored or intercepted, or anything like that?"

Apollo made a face. It was a fair question. "I have no idea."

Nahyuta’s eyes closed “I didn’t receive anything of the sort, though I admit…when the change in rule occurred, I was tasked with my prosecutorial duties and that sort of correspondence was handled by other parties. Interception is possible.”

Ema leaned her head back. “Great…which makes them think they’re being ignored, which makes them violent.” 

Apollo rubbed his chin. "Yeah, a lot of the stuff at the palace was being handled by clerks and things. Some of whom have been around a long time. It's possible they just… got rid of that kind of stuff, assuming we didn't want to see it. It wouldn't even have to be, you know, ill meaning."

"Just typical government paperwork, ja?" Klavier sighed.

“Precisely…” Nahyuta hummed quietly. “Which as Miss Skye stated, leads them to feeling ignored and thus more likely to take drastic measures.”

Ema gestured to Apollo and Klavier. “Which they’re already starting. Who knows when it’s gonna be something bigger than a fist to the face.” 

"Could be any time," Clay murmured.

Klavier leaned forward, putting his hands together. "So what do we do about that?"

“Weather the storm and reassure the people. Find a way to extend the branch of peace to the schism dragons” Nahyuta murmured “for the safety of Rayfa and her future.”

“Yuta, babe…” Ema spoke up. “...this could lead to Rayfa and you being executed if it gets bad enough.” 

"We already talked a little bit about that, didn't we?" Apollo murmured, leaning toward him. "We have to be realistic, politically, 'Yuta. You talk about weathering the storm, but what are we going to do? Put 50 Dragons who used to be our brothers in jail? Cause we can't let them run around inciting violence."

"For wanting political reform," Klavier added quietly.

Nahyuta winced, his lips tightening and his eyes staying closed as his arms crossed delicately over his chest.

“I don’t wish to imprison any of them for wanting reform…I don’t want that to be necessary.”

Ema tented her fingers “nobody wants to…but they’re inciting violence sure…but it is in the name of reform.” her voice shook a little as she continued “Nahyuta, I think we need to talk seriously about abdication. I KNOW you and Rayfa have been suffering these last few months. I know you don’t want this either!” 

Klavier cocked his head. "We spoke a little of this earlier, ja, Nahyuta? 'Yuta is a cute nickname by the way– may I?"

Nahyuta flushed very slightly and finally opened his eyes with a nod. 

“...of course. I’d like it if you did.” He took a deep breath “but we did…and I admitted you had a bit of a point.” 

Klavier smiled, and probably only Apollo and maybe Ema would notice the nervous edge to its bright gleam. 

"'Yuta– I'm an outsider here. I know that. But I have to say, things don't look good. You and your sister are being asked to run the whole country. Your clerks and administrators are full of people you're not sure if you can trust to pass on important messages. The people who supported you once are not stepping up to help you run the country, and half of them want you out of power. You really only have three ways this situation can go."

Apollo didn't like it, but he had a point. "Three ways?"

"First," Klavier said, "You can resort to tyranny. Lock up those who disagree with your regime. Use force where words will not do. Show them that your resolve and your regime is strong and unyielding. Make them bow to you as a leader."

Nahyuta’s fingers balled into fists against his sides as he nodded. “my aunt’s preferred method, yes.” 

"I am not suggesting its route, but it is effective," Klavier said. "It possibly the only effective route to cement your monarchy against those who want to abolish it, mein prinz."

"Okay, what are our other options?" Apollo asked. He could tell Klavier was putting on a show. Might as well help him out.

"The second option is that you continue as you have been. You continue to attempt to rule fairly and justly in a position in which you have no allies, and too much work, where your enemies are closing in on you and you refuse to raise your hand to them out of mercy, ja? That is the course that you are suggesting, mein prinz, and it is… unsustainable. It will come to a natural end, one way or another."

“You’ll fucking die.” Ema spat in frustration, her head still laid back against the back of the couch.

“Either through overwork or revolution, yes…” Nahyuta sighed, twisting his braid around his hand. 

"The third option is that you abdicate while the abdicating is good," Klavier said. "It is not as bad as it sounds. These communists– you say that they were your brothers until recently, ja? So you must have some trust in them. If they want so badly to run a free government, let them have it. Mein engel, it should not be on the shoulders of one brave man and a little girl to rule a whole nation, no matter how romantic the idea is in stories. I have read many of these stories, and so many of them end with brave dead men, and weeping little girls."

Klavier was in fine form. His words send a shiver through Apollo. It was amazing how much of a performer he was. How much weight his words carried.

Apollo didn't want to face any of this, but when Klavier said it, it sounded obvious.

Ema tensed, and her shoulders shook as she took a deep breath. 

“The glimmorous fop is right. I’ve been scared that was how this would all end since the first batch of dragons refused to help you defend or prosecute the other cases.”

Nahyuta was struck. At some point he opened his eyes, and at some point his fingers rested over his heart. “I…see.” he murmured in deep concern, “brave dead men and weeping little girls…”

"I don't know what Dhurke would have wanted in this situation," Apollo murmured plaintively to Nahyuta. "I don't know what he would have done– because he would never have been in this situation. But he's not here. I want to carry on his will, his dream, of returning Khura'in to its glory– but I don't know how to do that. Do you, 'Yuta?"

They realized with a start that there wasn't a meaningful distinction between Apollo and Clay right now. There had been earlier– it had been obvious, broad. But now Clay's feelings were his, and his feelings were Clay's. Apollo couldn't summon up the suicidal– yes, suicidal– willingness to die for Dhurke's cause now. Nor could Clay summon up the will to just… get up and leave.

Nahyuta’s cool demeanor wavered for only a moment, a look of terror and dismay in his eyes before he stilled it with a deep breath “...Dhurke would have continued fighting for the glory of Khura’in…I..”

His body went rigid as he muttered “I do not know how to do it, Apollo…but a dragon never yie—”

“The dragon fucking DIED!” Ema almost shrieked as she flung herself up from leaning her head back on the couch, looking over at him with wide eyes. “he died and dumped all of this on your laps without anything to support you!” 

"I– he didn't– that wasn't his fault," they sputtered. "Dhurke didn't know that the Defiant Dragons would fall apart like this,"

Klavier put his hand on Apollo's shoulder. "Ja, but they did. And you have to face that. If you want to fight, Apollo, 'Yuta– they you're going to have to actually fight. That is what I am saying." 

He stood up from the couch as he continued speaking, and he raised his chin. "It is not good enough simply never to yield. If you are under attack you can fight, or you can run. But you two are talking about simply waiting for the jaws to close around you as if that were noble. I like to think that I am a good man, justitia knows I have faltered, but if you bring out the tanks and the guns, I will lay down my pretensions to sainthood. I will support you if you choose to fight and refuse to yield. But I will not let you just let yourselves drown!"

Ema sighed and smiled up at him with a nod “that’s right…that’s damn right. You two can’t just sit here and drown. That’s not going to do anything for you, for Khura’in, or for Rayfa; It’s fight or run, and I’ll support you no matter what you choose.”

Nahyuta’s surprised eyes widened. They watered as he took a sharp intake of breath. “Fight or run.” he murmured quietly to himself. His whole body shuddered for a moment before he managed to speak.

“I will not let myself become another tyrant for Rayfa to suffer under.” 

Thank goodness.

They felt themself shudder as Apollo felt Clay– separate from him again, and triumphant– while all the air had rushed out of Apollo. There was a thickness in his throat. Had they really come all this way to let Dhurke's dream falter?

That's not what we're doing, Apollo. At a basic level Dhurke's dream has already come true, and you've done all that you can to support it. Let someone else take over now.

I guess. But it feels wrong.

Do you want Nahyuta and Rayfa to be killed? Do you want to be killed?

Me? You know I've thought about it.

I don't want to die again, Apollo. And I don't want you to die. Nahyuta won't fight– and he's right to turn from bloodshed. So we'll run. It's not our responsibility. It's not our mess.

Am I a coward for this, Clay? I feel like a coward.

You're no coward, my love. You're a hero. You're helping save their lives.

Apollo thought of Rayfa's fear and sadness under the assault of her mother's words. He thought of the dead flowers. He thought of Nahyuta hunched at his desk, and the time they;d been unable to spend together.

"For Rayfa's sake," Apollo croaked out. "Yeah. Yeah. We– we can't let her be used as some political token. We can't go to war to keep her in power for a position that's already killing her."

Ema nodded. “We’ve seen the way she’s been wilting, right? Between he way Amara’s been treating her, and the weight of the crown…she’s still a kid, dammit. And YOU Nahyuta…you’ve been crushed under it too.”

Nahyuta grit his teeth…a trail of tears leaked out from under the pale fringe of his hair as he took another deep breath. “I refuse to allow it. She’s had enough of being a tool for others to keep hold of this country. If…if abdication is the only way, then I will support it if the alternative is becoming a monster like my aunt– a woman twisted by this legacy of fire.” 

Apollo watched Klavier move toward the other couch, and he scrambled up as well, hurrying over to put himself practically in Nahyuta's lap as Klavier collapsed gracefully into a kneeling sit on the floor in front of the couch.

Apollo put his arms around Nahyuta's shoulders without a word.

"She deserves better than such a legacy, ja, mein engel," Klavier murmured. "and so do you. Let the communists have the country, ja? And you can have your own life. You are worth your own life."

Nahyuta looked in pain, Ema draping over his side with a plaintive look as he took several deep and steadying breaths. His fingers rested against his beads as tears flowed down his face in uneven trails, as if they had no well trod path to follow on the normally stoic man’s face..

“...We…we should speak to Rayfa.” he said in a low voice as he looked down at Klavier, leaned into the embrace from all sides. “If you all insist, if Apollo will yield…then I will yield as well. But we must speak to Rayfa.” 

Apollo held Nahyuta tight, his own breath hitching in his chest. "Should we do it now? Before we have time to change our minds? I– it hurts, 'Yuta. It hurts to think about. But all we've done here is be crushed under the weight of the world. I want to… I want to let Klavier win this one. And Ema."

Klavier, still on his knees, smiled gently. "Let us take you away from all this."

Ema nodded and squeezed his arm. “I promise, you’ll be happier. I know how much you love learning new stuff, Yuta…I saw how much fun you were having in LA.”

Nahyuta nodded “It hurts…very much.” He murmured “but let’s go now before I start to second guess. It’s true…I already miss travel, and the joy of experience.”

He offered a hand to Klavier to help him up with a quiet smile, framed by tears “I’ll accept this offer of salvation. Thank you.” 

Apollo wiped traces of tears from his own face as he stood up, and let Klavier help Nahyuta to his feet. "Yeah… thanks, Klavier."

"Any time. Promise." Klavier smiled as he pulled Nahyuta up, and Apollo let himself half rest on Ema's shoulder.

Apollo swallowed. "Let's go find Rayfa."

[atopearth]

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Part 5 - Episodes 1-4 (AA4)

Episode 1 - Turnabout Trump

I bought the trilogy so yayyy, I am up for this! I hope I like Apollo😊 Apollo is pretty cute though, lol when the defendant called him Mr Fine hahahah. OMG that beanie guy is Phoenix?!??! I'm flabbergasted, super shocked! Lmao at Payne's jab "better than a defence attorney who can't defend"😂😂😂 LMAO at Payne saying the witness is hidden because she probably got scared of Apollo's demonic-looking horns HAHAHA. I love spikey hair😂 Lmao at Kristoph's calm face telling Apollo to not embarrass him every time Apollo objects and says Phoenix didn't do it because he would never do such a thing😂😂 An authentic Russian borscht restaurant where it's freezing cold and they serve cold borscht?! I agree with Apollo, I never want to go there😂 OMG, Phoenix has a daughter?!l Olga Orly changing her personality and everything after recess was interesting😂

I didn't expect things to turn around to make Kristoph the killer especially since Phoenix and him are supposed to be friends. I guess that means he is somehow related to why Phoenix lost his attorney's badge 7 years ago? But yes, now we can see why he wanted Apollo to defend him, not only because he wanted Kristoph to be caught but he also needed someone who pursues justice above everything. I assume there's more going on about this Shadi Smith. But man, I've really forgotten how fun the Ace Attorney games can be! I fully enjoyed how much of a rollercoaster everything was, the constant twists and turns and everything haha. I think it was also very enjoyable because it felt nice to see Phoenix even if he's not an attorney right now. I was thinking that Bloody Ace card evidence was way too convenient and it was admitted so haphazardly into evidence even though it came from unknown origins so I'm not surprised if it really was forged evidence. Anyway, this episode was a nice warm up to get into the groove of things again. I'm not sure how to feel about the current Phoenix Wright but I'll admit that I'm quite interested in Apollo and his journey now haha!

Episode 2 - Turnabout Corner

Ooh so Phoenix's daughter is called Trucy. I thought so already but considering she's 15 years old and Phoenix is 33, he probably adopted her somewhere. Well, after being a defendant, he is now a client to Apollo? How? Lolll. Okay, it was a joke hahaha. Anyway, Phoenix getting hit by a car and hitting into a telephone pole but only getting a sprained ankle is hilarious, what a guy. Dr Hickfield is a creep and I REALLY did not need those hand movements OMG. Sniffling Samurai with the booger flick attack?! LOL. It's wonderful how this noodle guy has a bowl for a hat and his hair looks like noodles😂 Why are there stolen panties as a part of this case too and Trucy's?! Omgg Ema Skye?? She looks so mature now! LMAO when Trucy did a magic trick and said her panties are an extra-dimensional space and that anything fits in there😂 Tiala wanting to quit her job and marry the Kitaki son to live the good gangster life was so funny 😂 Umm this Mr Gavin looks exactly like Kristoph Gavin?? Ema just randomly munching on food because it's snack time😂😂 Ohh Kristoph's younger brother, Klavier... Hmmmm... Seems suspicious😂 Very interesting how the guy died btw, pulling the noodle cart?🧐

Oooo, Klavier is a prosecutor! Interesting! Lmao I love his air guitar movement😂 Lmao at Stickler talking too much and the judge is like we hope to finish cross-examination sometime this month😂😂 It's so funny how Klavier and Trucy chime in with how they have a recording and a magic show to get to after this trial😂 I did not expect some random to come and take Trucy hostage??? Like how did that happen without anyone noticing? Wild trial lol. I guess a magic trick should have been expected hahahaha. Apollo was so cute when he was so relieved that Trucy was actually okay. I'm not sure how to feel about the Perceive ability thing but I guess I can fly with it. It was obvious that Stickler viewed the crime from the other side but is he a thief? OMG the panties thief, of course!! Lol. LMAO when Klavier asked Apollo how many panties he's carrying with him since he keeps taking them out as evidence😂😂 Alita is definitely suspicious especially since she's the only one that probably could have stolen the pistol.

Klavier was the one who stripped Phoenix of his attorney badge?! Lmao at the footprint analysis thing where you use a hairdryer😂 legit died😂 Klavier, a 17 year old prosecutor???? Danggg!! LOL I didn't expect the noodle hair to be a wig and that Mr Eldoon actually looks normal when he dons his doctor persona lol!! Btw, I'm still sad that it never clicked to me until they revealed it that Eldoon is just noodle backwards lmao. I didn't think Wocky's time would be that limited that he's basically going to die soon if he doesn't get operated on asap. Hmmmm I'm not sure if I like the conclusion to this case, especially since it was obvious what Alita's motives were, and I did enjoy the idea of Meraktis needing the noodle cart to carry a body without anyone knowing and that Alita was the victim first but...Meraktis is a doctor! How did he not realise she wasn't actually dead? And why did he leave the gun with her in the noodle cart? She threatened him with it so wouldn't he have thought he needs to hide that too? But yeah I think him not realising she wasn't dead was more unbelievable considering he's a doctor, and even if it was because he was all panicky and stuff, it's still difficult to understand considering he needed to prepare all these things to transport her body, so he would have had some time to calm down, he would have carried her and noticed whether she was just unconscious or dead imo. Anyway, definitely a weak case for me but lmao at the Kitaki head's puppy dog eyes, I mean I knew he was a softie for his son but loll the eyes😂

Episode 3 - Turnabout Serenade

Lmao at Klavier sending them his concert tickets for 20% off😂😂 Couldn't even let Apollo the poor guy have them for free😂 Does Lamiroir's language actually mean something? Because lmao at the letter that looks like a person doing a hadouken😂😂 A burning guitar and a dead manager🥲 Lol at Ema and her Snackoo-ing Apollo all the time😂 Anyway, the Blue Badger doesn't give me good memories😂 The ladder vs stepladder thing will always be funny, lmao at ladder discrimination hahaha. I assume the speakers had a role in this and the victim wasn't shot at the same time as the concert otherwise how could we explain this disappearing killer? Or was the victim able to fire the gun before he died to alert people? But it seems like there's a dying message so probably not hahaha. I didn't expect The Gavinners to be full of people related to the police, so Daryan is a detective with criminal affairs hmmm~ Lmao at the song name "My Boyfriend Is the Prosecution's Witness" hahahaha. I have no musical sense apparently because I could not find the missing cue hahahha!

The moment they decided to leave the room ignoring Ema, I knew the body would disappear but I'm curious as to why🧐 NO WAY LeTouse is only 35 years old lol!!! It was so funny when the cross-examination was getting delayed because of talk about autographs from Lamiroir, and Klavier then gives his to the judge😂 How was it possible for Machi to carry the body all the way to the stage and take it up that ladder? Why does no one question the logistics of this? Also, if the recoil from the gun is so bad, how could a child hit the victim without sustaining any sort of injury? Lmao at Ema calling Klavier a diva because he keeps complaining about losing his keys, his guitar getting burnt to a crisp etc etc. Anyway, nice to know that the one who is supposed to blind isn't blind and that Lamiroir can speak English which was to be expected. I guess someone was smuggling that egg cure to save the Chief Justice's kid.

Anyway, I forgot to say that I love Klavier's office, just filled with guitars and music hahahah, and some evidence lying around and on screens of course. I knew that gigantic case that can fit people in it was going to be important but I didn't think it would be a place for Lamiroir to hide from someone trying to kill her. It's so crazy how no one cared about finding an interpreter for Machi and was ready to just give a verdict without him speaking lolll. Lmao at Trucy telling Apollo that he's the defence so he needs to believe in his client even if they're lies😂 I liked when Trucy said Apollo was pretty cool for a moment because I agree! When he refuted Klavier so confidently, I felt so proud of him! I can't😂 whenever Apollo takes out some new contraption and the judge keeps saying is it a new-fangled phone that's come out without him noticing😂😂 Ohhh, it took me a while to piece together some of the details because I couldn't understand why Lamiroir would hear something from the air vent but then I realised I forgot about the disappearing magic trick hahaha. I was always skeptical about that dropped brooch's position so I'm glad that it was actually because she dropped it from the air vent, and as expected, there were two Lamiroir's for the performance. I can't believe I missed the vacuum sealed guitar part to smuggle cocoons! Definitely a great idea hahaha. The last bit was pretty obvious and I feel like Daryan was quite a weak culprit but I did enjoy how things proceeded. I kinda wished I had the musical sense to understand and notice the stuff with the mixing board but it was not to be I guess. I definitely enjoyed the walking in the ceiling thing, it just felt so enlightening when it clicked! Accusing the poor kid of murder was still slack though lmao.

Episode 4 - Turnabout Succession

A trial simulation of the jurist system is interesting, mainly because it's not a simulation and is an actual trial hahaha. The defendant is an interesting girl. I knew Drew Misham was a forger but I really didn't expect to see those three rough sketches be of Apollo's previous cases. The x-ray machine was kinda fun since you got to see it slowly form into a surprising picture. Aww Vera was so cute for drawing a smiley face to give expression to her thanks to Apollo for taking her case. Honestly, I have to agree with Klavier that people should not lick stamps in this day and age😂 I have always found it so weird and unsanitary, and if the victim died because of this, then it really goes to show that we should all really stop this practice if we want to save our lives😂 LMAO when the judge started getting influenced and getting into the way the Bruschel guy talks and was like the stamp is a ticket straight to the afterlife, end quote hahahaha. Btw I'm still disappointed that this trial jurist system has not made any impact but I guess we'll see if it does anything later. But yes, I'm glad Klavier finally brought up the why would the victim use a stamp he knew was poisoned lol. It's quite amazing that Vera was so talented at the age of 12. Even more crazy that not only could she forge paintings but forged evidence as well like signatures, fingerprints etc?? I can't believe it was a stamp of the Troupe Gramarye!

Awww a tiny Trucy is so cute! Klavier looks better with short hair I must say. Ooh the music feels so nostalgic! I'm very happy to finally see the trial seven years ago! The case seven years ago was the death of their master Magnifi Gramarye?😱 I wonder why Zak had a reason he couldn't refuse Magnifi's order to kill him and why specifically at 11:05pm? Hmmm, was it really because of they needing to wait for the doctor to do the IV and then getting the bag at 11:30? Well, that was a rollercoaster with the fake evidence and Drew Misham appearing to say it was a fake he made. Zak disappearing during court before his verdict was declared and then to never to be seen again is interesting. I guess that means we'll see him again soon? It's so sweet how reliable eight year old Trucy was to take care of Phoenix and say she'll take care of him hahaha. I think it was sweet how much Trucy's existence saved Phoenix, but at the same time I'm sure Phoenix also saved her when she had no one else. Btw, it's so nostalgic to see the law office again! Lmao at Meekins getting fired from being a police officer but taking the uniform with him as he works as a bailiff😂 But I never thought Mr Hat was so relevant that he was the reason why Zak could escape from court!

I can't believe it didn't click when I first saw Zak that he's actually Shadi Smith from the first case! Lmao at Kristoph's fancy gaol. Little Vera smiling and talking about Troupe Gramarye was so cute, she really can smile so happily. I knew Thalassa (Trucy's mother) being Magnifi's only daughter would be significant but I didn't think that their popular shooting performance actually killed her..that is terrible.. I knew there was something familiar about Thalassa's portrait but I didn't expect Apollo to actually be her child from her first marriage and that his powers and Trucy's powers are from the Gramarye bloodline basically! To think that Apollo and Trucy were half siblings all this time. I mean their relationship dynamic won't change but I think it would really help Trucy to know that she's definitely not alone anymore. Btw, I'm really enjoying the Mason System, initially I didn't know what to think about it but I actually really enjoyed seeing the past and present and how everything linked up. I most definitely had a rollercoaster of emotions with Valant. Disappointed that he killed Magnifi although he did treat both his disciples badly, then relief that he didn't actually kill Magnifi and then disappointment again when he admitted to the IV fluid thing to push this "murder" on to Zak. I assume Kristoph's reputation as the best defence attorney was built on forged evidence but I guess we will see his reasons.

For once, I did pretty good at figuring out Vera was poisoned through biting her nails on that nail polish given by Kristoph but I still feel bad for Drew. He wanted to save his daughter and have Kristoph stop manipulating her to do his bidding with the "good luck charm" but he ended up dying using that stamp that Vera kept. Btw, I forgot to mention that I never expected Mr Brushel to be such an integral witness and character in this whole fiasco from seven years ago until now. This guy is relentless for sure haha. I guess I underestimated Kristoph, he only did forged evidence once hoping to guarantee his win but then got dismissed by Zak so he used it as a trap on Phoenix to "punish" him for taking his rightful spot as the defence attorney for such a high profile case with the Gramarye. I finally understand what else felt familiar about Thalassa's portrait, I thought it looked like Lamiroir but I couldn't see a reason why. But I realised I forgot they said they never saw Thalassa's body, and she has the bracelet, so really, she was alive all this time but with no eyesight and no memories of the past. It's kinda crazy that she had such talent for both magic and singing though haha.

Overall, Apollo Justice is an all right game. Apollo is fine as he says, and I have a soft spot for Trucy and Ema but I think Klavier definitely lacked impact as a prosecutor even though I liked how he was a guy committed to justice. His brother Kristoph was also disappointing. Even though Phoenix isn't the Phoenix we're used to, I think the last case really makes you remember about the Phoenix you love so it's all good haha. The first two episodes were all right, third was better but I really wasn't good enough to tell the difference in music etc and the fourth as the finale was great. It was nice to see the first case set up to be something more important down the line which was obvious but I never realised the relevance until they talked about it haha. The second case was rather boring but the highlight was Ema imo. The third case was interesting in the sense that I enjoyed seeing how everything developed and how Lamiroir was involved, but I really didn't like all the flashbacks and I was basically incompetent when it came to listening for differences so that made me like it less because it was difficult for me. But I think the fourth case more than made up for everything. Seeing Phoenix having gathered evidence seven years ago to the present was really cool because that Mason System did very well showing how the past interacted with the present and how relevant everything was. I love the combined effort of everyone to take down Kristoph (even though he was a weak and disappointing villain). I also liked all the reveals and how everything clicked and was right in front of my face but I just missed it hahaha. It was enjoyable watching everything unravel with the magicians and the mysteries of the deaths. It was intriguing and definitely the highlight of the game. Even though I prefer the previous games more, this game has definitely rekindled my love for ace attorney so I'm all in for the next two!

[gotapenname]

Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (1785 words) by TeenagerForever Chapters: 4/7 Fandom: 逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Garyuu Kyouya | Klavier Gavin/Odoroki Housuke | Apollo Justice, Garyuu Kyouya | Klavier Gavin/Odoroki Housuke & Auchi Takefumi | Winston Payne Characters: Garyuu Kyouya | Klavier Gavin, Odoroki Housuke | Apollo Justice, Auchi Takefumi | Winston Payne Additional Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Klapollo Week 2023 Summary: Klavier sturggles with Family day.

Herr Edgeworth had insisted that entire office take family day off. Herr Edgeworth had made whole speech about work place balance, but Klavier figured he did want pay anyone overtime. While Klavier did not like to be alone with his thoughts, He also did not want to intrude on any one's plans. Klavier cursed his past self for being too diligent in his paper work. If had not already done it could be using this time to get done. Instead he was stuck inside his apartment, hate liking his colleague's Family day photo's with Vongole by his side.

It seemed every one had family day plans except for him and Gaspen Payne. Klavier shuddered at thought having anything in common with that guy. Then he looked at picture he could not help but could only love. It was a picture of Apollo and Trucy at Eldon's noodle stand taken by Phoenix. Trucy was fellow showman who got in ways other do not. Apollo was well Apollo. Apollo was the greatest person ever known. Klavier could stare into those pretty brown eyes of Apollo's forever.

Klavier posted by accident “ I wish I was there.”

“SchieBe.”Klavier thought to himself.

“Then come over , Silly.” Trucy had written in response.

It did not matter that his own parents would not call him, or that his own brother would not accept Klavier calls, from prison, or how much Klavier wanted to be there, Klavier would not impose on family time.

“Family time is for family. Apollo & your dad are your family I am sure they would not want me to intrude.” Klavier texted back.

“Your are like a brother in law to me. ;P” Tracy posted in response.

It was a funny little pun that most days. Today however it only severed as reminder, One day Trucy would have a real pseudo brother or sister in law, that would not be him. The kind of person Apollo would end up with would be brave, humble, and not afraid of being vulnerable. In others words everything Klavier was not. These thoughts made Klavier hand clench and heart ache. Vongole noticing his owner's distress leaned up against Klavier and gave a small moan of sympathy. Klavier gave Vongole a scratch behind the ears.

“Oh don't worry about me. I am just fretting over things that have not happened, yet.” Klavier told Vongole .

“It is really okay if you join.” Apollo had posted

Trucy had worked her magic to get Apollo what she wanted him to do , Klavier thought with a smile.

“Is it okay if Vongole comes along?” Klavier posted.

Both Trucy and Apollo agreed.

“Look like We have family day plans after all.” Klavier said to Vongole putting on leash as Vongole wagged his tail in response.

[wowowwild]

Apollo and Klavier go over Christmas plans. Klapollo week 2023 day 4: family

Christmas was a bit of a touchy time of year for Apollo. It hadn’t been Klavier’s favorite for a while either. The first year they spent together, it had been just the two of them, healing and finding comfort in each other’s company. They’d gone to the Wright’s party of course and made a brief appearance at the Prosecutor’s office event, but this year they were really ready to throw themselves into it.

“I asked Trucy about it. They haven’t planned anything yet, so if we want to be the hosting house this year, it’s ours.” “Fantastich! First we should sort out the guest list, ja?” “Ja. Did you want to, you know, invite anyone…”

Apollo was doing his best not to state what he meant directly in case that made Klavier feel pressured to do something he didn’t want to. Apollo had met the other members of the Gavinners a total of once and at this point figured meeting Klavier’s parents was out of the question. He still wanted that option to be available, though, in case his boyfriend felt like reaching out.

“Nein. Maybe we should focus on your family?”

Apollo recognized that tone as one that meant he didn’t want to talk about it right then. They had talked about it before and undoubtedly would again, they were very good at the whole communication thing after the initial stumbles, and Apollo knew there was a time and place for certain topics. That was fine. But he also recognized this made his boyfriend incredibly sad, and he hated that more than anything. Klavier was loved and he deserved to know it.

“They’re your family now, too, you know.”

Klavier felt that this was something he had known theoretically, but hearing it said aloud by someone else…

“Ja, they are, aren’t they.” “Ja. So let’s invite our family. Trucy is going to be so excited to hear about your new music, and Mr. Wright was interested in that smuggling case you picked up. Of course, if the Wrights are coming, so are the Feys and Mr. Edgeworth. Athena will want to show Juniper off to you, so add two more. We can’t leave Ema out, and she’ll bring Kay. And we’ll need to invite Debeste and Blackquill. While we’re at it, we should see if Miss von Karma and Nahyuta will be in the states. And if we’re inviting that many people anyway, we should invite the Gumshoes… Am I missing anyone?” “Would you be up to inviting your mother… ?”

Klavier had gotten along very well with Apollo’s mother, but that was before he knew everything that happened and that she was in fact the mother of the man he loved. He could understand Apollo’s apprehension. Just because someone was agreeable, even if they were a fantastic person, that didn’t necessarily mean they were a good parent. Not that he necessarily thought she was a bad one either, it was just complicated. He knew Apollo wanted to try getting to know her, mostly for Trucy’s sake, but at least a little bit for his own. It was especially odd for him not having known her until he was already an adult.

“I guess we should, huh? I’ll never get to know her better if I keep avoiding her. We should tell her to bring Machi, too.” “This time of year really has you charitable.” “… I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want anyone else to, either.” “You won’t ever be alone if I can help it.” Apollo blushed and turned away. “You’re such a sap.” “But you love me.” “No. And I love you.” Klavier blushed a bit himself. “Now who’s being a sap?” “Shut up.” Apollo kissed him gently. “Now if we’re filling this big ass house with people we’re going to need enough food to feed an army, so I was thinking we could have everyone bring a dish. We’ll cook the ham, obviously… Actually I think we’ll need two.” “Mm. We should also provide some of the drinks. A couple bottles of wine and sparkling cider.” “That sounds good. With everyone here should we have games for people to play? Clay’s family always did this saran wrap ball thing and pin the nose on Rudolph. We sent Mr. Terran a card, right?” “We did. I think he sent one back in the mail on the table.” “We should probably start actually looking at the mail when we pick it up, huh?” “That would probably be smart, ja. I think games are a great idea. Sebastian and Kay are fond of trivia, I believe.” “Trivia would be fun. I think almost everyone is competitive enough to really get into it. Maybe we should do one of those jars where you have to guess how many candy canes are in it or something?” “Great idea, Schatz, though I'm fairly sure Herr Blackquill will win. He has an uncanny ability to guess the exact number of items inside other items.” “That’s like the lamest superpower ever.” “Maybe so, but it wins him gift cards whenever we do it at the office.” “I guess any super power can be useful in certain situations.” “Like increased perception of when someone is lying or being able to hear someone’s emotions?” “Both of those are incredibly useful!” “They are, but they are also their own weakness.” “Hmm… I guess there aren’t really any downsides to being able to guess how many things are in other things… So what’s your superpower?” “Being charming enough to catch mein Häschen.” Apollo blushed and turned away slightly. “That’s not a superpower, Klav.” Klavier scooped him up and nuzzled in. “Then it was a miracle. A Herculean feat. And the best thing to ever happen to me.” “Aw, gee. It’s the same for me, you know.” “Obviously. I’m Klavier Gavin.” He flipped his hair. “Alright, moment over. I’m gonna get some more coffee.” He slipped out of Klavier’s lap and grabbed his mug off the table. “Me too?” Apollo smirked. “I dunno, Klavier Gavin must have a ton of people lined up just dying to get him coffee.” “Schatz,” he whined. “Yes, I’ll get you coffee,” he chuckled in response.

[heaven-s-black-box]

Winding down- cafe Recht Chpt.8

Return to File

Recovery date: September 21st, 2020

Description: Miles owns a cafe with Franziska, and Phoenix and Maya are famous actors. Their daughters go to school together, so what happens when they want a sleepover?

Notes: A entry series involving a descendant of a traveler, following the death of her mother it was determined Sky would be better off staying with Miles Edgeworth. This is an OC insert, the fantastical technobabble is just for looks

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Word count: 718

Back to directory

“Hey Klav, when’d you get a kid?” Daryan laughed, when Klavier entered the studio with Sky in tow.

“Haha, very funny. She’s my boss's daughter, her uncle is babysitting.”

“And she’s here, why?” The bassist asked.

“Hello, sorry for asking everyone here on such short notice,” Ray said, as he came in shortly after Klavier and Sky. “I’m watching my niece tonight, I hope that’s not a problem,” Klavier started laughing as the rest of the band looked surprised, “now, let’s get started. I just want to make sure the music sounds good before you do the final recording.”

“Ooo! Pretty guitar!”

“Sky don’t touch anything!”

---

“Mr. Edgeworth!” Phoenix called across the restaurant as he waved Miles and Franziska over. 

Phoenix and Maya were already seated at a table in the back, and there were four waters. Miles took a seat beside Phoenix, and Franziska sat to his left.

“Please, Miles is fine. I’m surprised you had time tonight for a dinner, I thought you were still filming.”

“We are, but Maya and I aren’t needed tonight. And please, call me Phoenix, or Nick,” he smiled, before turning to his menu.

“In that case,” Franziska started, “wouldn’t it be best to spend time with your families?”

“Normally we would, but Pearl's big sister is in town so we figured she’d want some time with the kids alone. She doesn’t see them often, but they get along like family.” 

Franziska looked a little sad when she asked, “Oh, are you and Mr.Wright-” before she could finish, they had both choked on their water.

“Oh god no,” Maya laughed.

“Hey,” Phoenix whined. “You don’t have to be so mean about it.”

“Nick’s like my big brother!”

“Yes Franziska, I don’t know why you’d get any other idea,” Miles said mockingly, “Trucy did call her aunt Maya. Or were you too busy g-OW!” Miles yelped as Franziska stepped on his toes.

Before Maya and Phoenix could ask, a waitress came over to take their orders, and they ended up talking about their children , nieces, and nephews.

---

“So, what would you three like to do?” Iris asked, as she and the children stepped out of the apartment. “Nothing too crazy, you all have school tomorrow.”

“We could go to the roller skate arena on Anderson street. It’s only a few bus stops away,” Apollo suggested. Trucy and Pearl looked like they were thinking before coming to a unanimous decision.

“We’re hungry and we want ramen.” Iris laughed.

“Well then, why don’t we go for a walk and get ramen, then go roller skating. I know somewhere with really good ramen. Is that alright?” Everyone nodded, and they started off towards Iris’s favorite ramen place.

---

“You know, I know some people who would happily come take care of those cameras,” Tyrell grumbled, as he walked into the staff room. The paparazzi and fans were still camping outside the hotel.

“They aren’t hurting anyone,” Byrne hummed, looking through some documents. “Although I think Ema might.”

Tyrell slumped down next to him and sighed. There was a reason Byrne and Lana dealt with clients most of the time. It wasn’t that Tyrell had a bad temper, he just tended to scare people off both intentionally and unintentionally.

Byrne and he started this hotel when they retired from their respective careers. They’d invited Lana aboard after a particularly harsh scandal ruined the poor girls chances at having a credible career. 

---

“So,” Miles asked, as he and Franziska returned to the cafe after dinner, “Are you going to do something or continue pinning?”

“Miles Edgeworth,” she hissed, smacking his arm, “I am not pinning. And just because her and Phoenix Wright, aren’t a thing, doesn’t mean she likes girls.”

Miles shrugged, “I don’t know. I think anyone who likes men is an idiot if they haven’t at least thought about kissing him.”

“And what makes you think she hasn’t, fool?” Franziska huffed.

He unlocked the cafe door as he said, “She seemed very adamant that they are only siblings, if she had ever felt anything, I’d assume there’d be some hesitation.”

“Hmph, goodnight fool! And this conversation goes nowhere!” She called over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs. Meanwhile, Miles went to pack Sky’s lunch while he waited for Ray to drop her back off.

[khytal]

Um, hi hello there! I just found your blog through your Turnabout Powers AU and I'd like your AU is just so awesmazibgly cool! =D Also if it's okay with you, can you list down who has dangerous powers or counted as one? I only know Phoenix, Apollo and Van Zieks so far but not much =\ Also can someone be born with more than one powers? And if so, who? Again sorry to bother but like I said, your AU is just so interesting =D

hi, no worries! glad you enjoy it! :D

-I’d say that kristoph’s ability to manipulate lava is definitely the most dangerous one outright (and probably the most dangerous power out of all of them, really)

but technically anyone's powers can be used for harm if trained to that level of control (ex.: when agitated, kazuma's protective whirlwind inflicts tiny cuts on anyone who gets too close)

fire's just the element most associated with danger (also they are in california in this au. excluding dgs of course) since it only takes a spark in the right place to inflict devastating damage

most people with earth powers can only cause slight tremors after basic training--it takes a large amount of effort and practice to trigger a large earthquake and even then it’d be a 4 at most on the richter scale (still big but for the most part not too damaging)

edit: gant’s storm power would not be able to cause significant destruction

basically natural disasters are more dangerous than someone’s powers (ex.: it’s not possible for someone to create a hurricane or a tsunami, because that would require an extreme amount of focus to maintain it while covering such a vast area)

and sometimes damage isn’t visible: for example, franziska has the potential to inflict hearing loss, and trucy’s/lamiroir’s pure light can blind people

additionally some powers aren’t inherently harmful, but can be used to assist in causing harm; such as klavier manipulating metal into sharp weapons, kay literally slipping into the shadows to launch a surprise attack (which she wouldn’t do with the intent to hurt, but it’s entirely possible), gina using her “telekinesis” to fling rocks at people, clay manipulating the weight of his arms to create more momentum when throwing a punch, and so on

-you can only inherit one power; if parents have different base element powers and by chance you inherit both, it becomes a fusion

if parent A already has a specialized or fusion power while parent B has a base element power, you can’t inherit a new fusion (the possible outcomes are: A’s power, B’s power, or B’s base element mutates into a new specialized power)

[baratrongirl]

Character headcanons

Klavier Gavin from Ace Attorney!

1: sexuality headcanon

Bisexual. Possibly pansexual, but I’m going with my usual personal definitions here where “bisexual” = “attracted to more than one gender” and “pansexual” = “attracted to all genders”. I can’t see Klavier being attracted to uber-butch or very masculine people - no 6′5″ weightlifting lumberjacks with loads of body hair and big beards, for example. I think he is attracted primarily to people who are cute rather than gorgeous, and falls in love with people based on their brains.

2: otp

Klapollo. Surprise! Though I also very much like Klavier/Apollo as a romantic partnership with Ema Skye as their aromantic best friend and fuckbuddy. I do also like Klema as long as there’s a good reason why Apollo isn’t involved (e.g. he’s straight, and he and Klavier are very close friends but can never be a couple because of incompatible sexuality.)

3: brotp

Klavier & Simon Blackquill. They kinda have a lot in common. They’re both prosecutors, they both have a sibling in prison, they both have a public persona which isn’t very much like their private personality... They may have even been friends when Klavier was 17/18, before Simon went to prison to protect Athena.

Klavier & Miles Edgeworth. They have both been under a lot of pressure for too long, having become prosecutors so ridiculously young. They both speak German to some extent. (Word of God states that Klavier isn’t actually German but spent two years studying there, so he must speak the language well enough to be able to pass the bar exam). Their personalities might seem like opposites - flamboyant, extroverted Klavier vs reserved, introverted Miles, but that isn’t necessarily a problem. Most of my friends (and both my partners) are introverts.

Klavier & Franziska von Karma. The handful of stories where the two characters appear together usually have the vibe that Franziska has no respect for Klavier at all because of his “fake” German accent. But I did read the most awesome story where he asks her how she knows that she’s “really” German, and goes on to explain that his parents were German but he was born in the US, and his brother forbade him from ever speaking the language after his parents died. So he feels weirdly trapped between cultures, and isn’t even properly fluent. It’s great and a fantastic headcanon if you like Actual German Gavin brothers.

Klavier & Trucy Wright.  They’re both performers and can learn from each other. They both understand the public persona vs private personality thing. They both care for Apollo.

Klavier & Phoenix Wright. I actually love the idea that Phoenix forgave Klavier years ago for his part in the disbarment process - that he realised that some 17 year old newbie couldn’t possibly have acquired a vendetta against him, and that it was all Kristoph all along. I like the idea that despite their mere 7/8 year age difference, Phoenix still sees Klavier as one of his “kiddos”.

Klavier & Kristoph Gavin. Yeah, I like his actual brother as a brotp. There is one (1) 4Koma comic strip which suggests that Kristoph was manipulative and gaslighting towards Klavier even from his early teens, but those comics are supposedly not canon. Since people are, in real life, far more nuanced than simply wearing black or white hats, I genuinely like the idea that Kristoph was a bad person but a good brother.

4: notp

Klavier & Clay Terran. Klavier/Apollo/Clay as a polyamorous triad is done a fair bit and I really hate it, no offense to those who do ship it.

Klavier & Nahyuta Sahdmadhi. They have the “terribly pretty men/NB people” thing in common, but I just don’t see why Klavier would overlook the Apollo that he knows and trusts in favour of his sibling. It makes no sense.

Klavier & Trucy Wright. Too much of an age gap even assuming that Trucy is already over 18.

Klavier & Athena Cykes. There’s a bit of an age gap too, but honestly, my main objection is based on personality. Athena is so gods damned perky and Klavier has a serious melancholic/introspective streak. Also Athena has highly sensitive hearing and Klavier likes to play his music loud. I can’t see them even managing to share a house, let alone have a romantic relationship!

5: first headcanon that pops into my head

He’s a terrible flirt but doesn’t know how to cope when he’s flirted with. If Apollo actually starts flirting back, Klavier.exe will stop functioning.

6: one way in which I relate to this character

Like... Everything? I mean, I’m not famous, nor a prosecutor, and I’m certainly not beautiful like he is. But he’s very intelligent, he’s extremely passionate about what he does, he loves rock music, he’s a huge nerd...

7: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character

17 year old Klavier in court with his dark glasses and arrogance. Oh gods, make it stop!

8: cinnamon roll or problematic fave?

Cinnamon roll with spikes.

[bookreader013]

(Warning, spoilers for aa1-4)

You are giving me a lot of ideas. The dark timelines would be fun to play around with. I have some things I am curious about though. If Theodore Bronev is left by himself, does that mean he basically goes down the Descole path? Except a bit different, to suit his character. Maybe he went into archeology like Des did but put all his dark thoughts on hold because he met Claire at Uni, and fell in love. And after losing her, he fully goes Dark, and spirals more after discovering everything about Targent, and his father and all the other horrible things going on. Maybe he had to do horrible things to survive after his parents got kidnapped and his brother adopted.

There are so many things that could go wrong in Phoenix’s life. Both he and Layton are already partially disillusioned. Layton doesn't quite trust the police, and Phoenix has had to resort to dirty tricks to win trials multiple times. Such as when Mia had to resort to blackmail to win the trial in 1-2, or when he lied to Tigre in court about a bottle containing poison. And he's been tazed in the police station. But it's so easy to make it worse.

Maybe the class trial goes as before, and Phoenix still becomes a lawyer, but things don't go well. He's already lost part of his faith in the system because Dahlia was never stopped until far too late. Redd White was allowed to control so many people with blackmail, all unhindered by anyone. And the only reason he got taken down was also through blackmail. And then, Von Karma comes in. Phoenix fails to save Miles. Maybe Von Karma gets off on a technicality, or maybe Maya fails to take the bullet after being tazed by him. The outcome is the same. The guy who's been allowed to use his dirty tactics for 40 years, been a horrible father and has murdered people goes free, unpunished, while Miles is jailed instead. It's unfair, but there's nothing Phoenix can do.

He's once again assaulted in a public space and nobody does anything (2-1). The new prosecutor is allowed to whip him without consequences. And in 2-4, without Edgeworth's help, the trial does not quite go the same. He has to make the choice, save Maya, his friend who is miraculously still there, or justice. There's really only one option he can choose, but he hates himself for it.

Then Godot shows up. A guy who hates him and is allowed to take that hatred out on him, with nobody to stop him. And then the Tigre case, where he is impersonated with a cardboard badge of all things. The guy isn't even similar to him. His belief in the system really tanks.

Without Edgeworth to take his place in Hazakura, Iris gets sentenced. With no one to stop her, Dahlia succeeds in killing Maya. Pearl might even die as well. By the time he finds out the truth about anything that happened, it is already far too late. He has lost everyone but Larry. Only his job remains.

And even that is lost once Kristoph frames him. The tip that doomed him is so suspicious and even a little investigation could prove it wasn't him. But no one does anything. Of course they don't. He already knows how things work.

Maybe he refrains from adopting Trucy because he's lost too many people and doesn't trust that he won't lose her too. Or maybe he does and Kristoph poisons her by accident instead of him. Maybe there is no one to defend her when she eventually gets arrested. Or maybe one of his other enemies hurts her. It all ends the same way, with him alone.

With her dead, there is no one to give the forged ace to Apollo. Phoenix is aquitted, but Kristoph goes free (or if Trucy is still alive/available, it goes wrong in a different way). Apollo doesn't live long enough to participate in the MASON system and the project fails. Kristoph does not leave loose ends.

With Edgeworth dead, a lot of horrible people are left in power. There was no one to help Phoenix with Gant, the Chief of Police. There was no one to remove Blaise DeBeste, the corrupt Chief Prosecutor. Yew, Kristoph and Von Karma all go free. Phoenix is just one man, and he doesn't even have the influence of a defence attorney anymore.

(And this is even without touching aa5 and aa6. Wow.)

(Maybe the DC act would spread, given that there was no one to combat the dark age of the law. Or maybe not. Also, nobody noticed the Phantom infiltrating the police for years, which is another hit to hope in betterment).

At some point, Phoenix breaks. He contacts Shelly De Killer, like the man told him during the 2-4 trial. Maybe he orders some hits, to at least try to remove some of the bad people with too much power. But with nothing to pay, the only thing he can offer is intel, help with his other targets. Or maybe to become an apprentice, since the man is lacking one and is getting on in years.

There's so many ways Phoenix could spiral :)

And the majority of this can be accomplished just by taking the bullet from Maya when both she and Phoenix are unconscious after Von Karma tazed them, with perhaps a nudge or two on the way.

Dark Layton and Dark Phoenix might find each other, two broken men. Or maybe they only meet in Labyrinthia.

Sorry for all of this. I love theorizing about stuff and coming up with ideas. If you want me to stop, or tone it down, let me know (I'm pretty new to actually using tumblr, so I don't really know if people do stuff like this).

Idea dump 2, credit to @bookreader013 for a decent chunk of this.

Fanart not mine. It was made by Eyugho on Devienart :)

Hawksy boi gets a hold of Dimitri's and/or the Azrans time travel technology (the latter canonically has it, hence is why Layton and co. are brought back to life in the Azran Santuary) and goes back in time to get Hershel Bronev to go with the Layton's and leave Theodore Bronev by himself.

That and Labyrinthia drugs, ba big ba boom, Dark Layton. But really he'd just be Theodore Bronev.

And let's say, let's say, they did something similar for Phoenix. They went and fucked some shit up, the class trial, Dahlia, Mayas abduction, falling off the bridge, something.

That and Labyrinthia drugs, bada bing bamcboom, Dark Phoenix.

I think I want the dark forms to be separate beings from normal Layton and Phoenix, so like sorta dopplegangers.

[browniefox]

The One with the Motorcycle

@wrightfamilyweek day 4 - Free day! Which I took to mean 'shove my headcanon here'. At first I wanted to do something with Ryuunosuke, but I still haven't finished tgaa so uhhhh sorry my boy. Also, you can find this on AO3 here.

In which Trucy and Phoenix decide they need to find a more reliable method of getting around. Luckily, Phoenix already has a vehicle registered under his name.

oOo

“Does this mean that when I turn sixteen, I’ll get a motorcycle license?”

Trucy skips alongside her Daddy as they walk through the aisles of the storage facility. They pass locked garage after garage. Trucy has always known that her Daddy had somewhere he stores a bunch of stuff that doesn’t fit in the office, the stuff he used to keep in his apartment back when he had one, but this is her first time coming along with him.

There’s been a lot leading up to this. Now that Trucy’s getting a little older, there’s more things she wants to do, or go to, and Daddy seems to be getting a little busier too. He’s started going down to the library more often, and having some kind of meetings for lunch, and getting calls by people Trucy doesn’t know. They’re both getting busy, and buses and taxis only get them so far. Daddy had declared, in an almost resigned-sounding voice after they missed a bus and had to wait underneath the bus stop in the pouring rain for another thirty minutes, that perhaps it was time to find a more reliable method to get around.

“Dessie says she’s running a little late, but she’ll be here soon.” Trucy is in charge of the phone while Daddy frets over the pieces of paper in his hands, crinkling the edges up in his nervous hands.

Daddy doesn’t reply to this either, just keeps walking forward. Trucy frowns to herself. Daddy’s been kind of weird about this whole thing. From getting the Learner’s Permit, to the practice drives and lessons with Desiree, to his final test, but now if anything he seems at his most awkward and strange as they approach the storage unit.

They final come to a stop, and Daddy pulls up the metal door.

If old case files in the office were little glimpses into who Daddy was before Trucy knew him, this place was an in-color photograph.

There’s cardboard boxes with ‘sketchbooks’ scrawled on the front. There’s a dead plant in the corner. There’s a stack of picture frames, an old couch shoved into a corner, and a small wood table with rings from the ghosts of old drinks, a few splashes of paint marring the surface. There’s some art supplies shoved off in a corner that Trucy immediately goes over to, and piles of books Trucy hasn’t read before, and Trucy wants nothing more than to stay here all day and look through everything and anything in sight.

In the middle of the storage unit, however, is what they’ve come here for.

It’s a lilac-colored motorcycle. There’s an unhealthy-layer of dust on it - there’s a layer of dust on everything in the room - and Daddy brushes his hand over the seat and handles, sending a plume of the dust into the air. He starts sneezing and coughing over it and Trucy laughs a little at that. She stops in a moment, though, because of the almost-grim look on Daddy’s face as he stares at the bike.

They’ve been building up to this for months, in reality. Trucy realizes this now, that everything up to this point has been to get this motorcycle out of the garage and back onto the streets, because it was a vehicle Daddy already owns, and he wouldn’t have to go through the hassle nor money involved in getting a new one. But it’s also all conflicted with Daddy’s attempts to distance himself from the past.

Daddy wants to move forward in life, she gets that, but it makes Trucy sad anyway to see how nervous and resigned he’d looked about so much as calling the Delites for help. Like doing that much is losing something.

“So this is Aunt Mia’s bike?” Trucy asks, going over to it as well. She doesn’t know anything about things like this, but it looks like it’s in okay condition. It’s certainly not as shiny as Desiree’s, but it’s not bad.

“Yeah, it’s been a while. Sorry I haven’t by.” He says, and she can tell he’s not talking to her. His eyes are fixed on the bike like sometimes he’ll stare at Charley for what seems like hours on end; it’s never for that long, but it feels like it might be at times. He tilts her head to Trucy and explains, “I used to come by and try to keep it clean and stuff, but things have gotten… complicated. I’m sure Mia’s upset I haven’t done more to maintain this since she’s been gone.”

Ah, it’s one of the days where he’s talking about Aunt Mia in the present tense. It’s hard to tell if that’s ever a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe it’s just A Thing he does sometimes. Even after four years, there’s still so much Trucy hasn’t figured out about her daddy. Sometimes, he talks about Aunt Mia as the dead person she is, gone and out of this world, a deceased but loved person, just like Trucy’s mommy was talked about. Other days, though, it’s like he expects Aunt Mia to walk through the door any minute.

“Alright, well, let’s see what we can do before Desiree gets here.”

Daddy’s temporary license, the edges of which are almost torn up by his worrying hands, is set aside on top of the sketchbook box and he grabs a towel from one of the other boxes, setting to work on a more thorough dusting. Trucy searches through Daddy’s phone for the list of what to check for that Desiree had texted him and passes it over to Daddy.

Trucy picks a stool out from the mess of things and rifles through the sketchbook box, finding one and flipping through it. There’s mostly little doodles and the like on the pages, or realistic portraits of faces Trucy doesn’t recognize. She wonders if, were Daddy not so determined to distance himself from the past, she’d know any of them. There is a picture of Miles, and she knows him, so she smiles at that picture and lightly brushes her hand over the pencil markings. Miles looks really angry in the picture, and scribbled right next to him is ‘I’ll save you’.

And Daddy did.

“Alright, let’s see what we have to work with today!”

Desiree announces herself, carrying her own box of tools

“Thought you might not show up for a moment.” Daddy jokes, but it’s one of his hollow-sounding jokes. Desiree laughs anyway.

“Oh please, I’ve been waiting to get a look at this beast for myself ever since you told me about it!” Desiree says and starts going over the bike. She talks about oil and gas and spark plugs and batteries, looking over everything and digging through her stuff and checking things. She says they’re going to need a new battery, and definitely replace just about all of the fluids. Luckily, Desiree is well-capable of doing all of that, she assures them, and they’d be able to get it up and moving enough to get it to her shop where she could do some of the rougher things to do.

“How much do I owe you?” Daddy asks, and Desiree waves her hand.

“We can discuss that later, let’s focus on getting this beauty out of this dusty-old place and back here she belongs, huh?”

Desiree has said that every time, so far, that Daddy asks about price. Trucy can see that it means Desiree doesn’t really want to make Daddy pay for any of it, but it seems to put Daddy more and more on edge every time Desiree says it. He’s waiting for something bad to happen, and his tension over it bleeds into Trucy, even though she’s not worried. Desiree is a nice lady who likes to chat to Trucy and can talk a mile a minute about motorcycles. When she’s not talking about them, she’s talking about her husband, Ron

They walk the bike out of the storage facility, Desiree filling the space with chatter about what the make and model of Aunt Mia’s motorcycle is, and the pluses and minuses of it, and how it’s lucky that it already has a backseat for Trucy. Daddy says that he used to ride with Aunt Mia sometimes, eyes trained on the bike still, as if he expected it to fall apart at a moment’s notice.

Desiree’s red-hot bike is parked out front and she tells them to meet her at her shop. She’ll be able to finish up there, where the rest of her supplies is.

“Don’t worry, she should be able to get you there just fine. And anyway, you can tell me if anything starts sounding worrying!” Desiree says as she climbs onto her bike. It’s been what Daddy has been practicing on, what Daddy even passed his driving test on just yesterday, and the rumble of it had just started to become familiar. Trucy feels like she’s going to miss it, but she’s excited to see how Aunt Mia’s bike works out.

Desiree peels out and leaves Daddy and Trucy standing on the side of the road, Daddy regarding Aunt Mia’s bike like it’s a python that’s going to bite them.

“... maybe this was a bad idea.” Daddy says five months too late.

“You worry too much! C’mon, Dessie’s waiting for us!” Trucy hops next to him, excited to get on the bike. Daddy sighs, turning his helmet over and over in his hands. Trucy has her own, bought a couple months ago, but she hasn’t been allowed on a bike yet. ‘Not until I get my official license’, Daddy had insisted. Now is the time, though.

“But what if something happens? What if I crash, and you get hurt?” He says. Trucy feels a ripple of shock run through her and she looks at Daddy’s face. His expression is grim and an open wound of his emotion. Of worry and fear, “What if I crash and I ruin her bike? What if-”

“Daddy, you’re being dumb” Trucy informs him. Daddy looks at her, and she can already see him starting to close off again, but she steals the last few moments of honesty she can, desperately, “Daddy you can do this, okay? We’re going to be okay. Even if we have to go five miles an hour to get there.”

“I think I’m actually worse at driving slow.” Daddy grumbles. Trucy grabs his hands.

“Then we’ll go really fast. We aren’t giving up on this just because you’re scared.”

Daddy sighs and then ruffles her hair.

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. It’d be stupid to give up right now. It doesn’t matter how long it’s going to take.”

They put their helmets on and climb onto the bike. They both hold their breaths when the engine first starts, and then it roars to life. It’s different than Desiree’s although exactly how, Trucy isn’t sure. She wraps her arms around her daddy’s stomach as they get going, keeping her eyes open. She isn’t scared, she can’t be. She needs to seem sure and trusting over this, for his sake, for their sake, so that they can make it through here together.

Things don’t change a lot with Daddy. They’ve lived in the same place for all this time, and Daddy’s worked at the same bar, and Trucy’s worked at the same bar, and they have the same routines day to week to month to year. This is new, this is change, but it’s a good thing.

They roar down the streets for the first time, Daddy is shaking, Trucy can feel it with how tightly she’s holding onto him. The air roars past them, chillingly-cold.

He did this for me, Trucy thinks, and then, no, he did this for us. For family, so that we can keep moving forwards .

If they had stood still, they would’ve been alright with buses and taxis and rides from friends. But they are moving forward in life, they need the ability to do more, be more independent, further their own things.

And help, here they had help, from Desiree, and from the thoughtfulness of Aunt Mia to leave Phoenix to her bike, and Ron had told Trucy before that Phoenix had helped them (Trucy had already known this, she’s read that case and every other case what feels like a thousand times over, her illicit self-read bedtime stories) and that they’d been wanting to do something for the man ever since they heard about The Disbarment.

It’s sort of funny, how independence and getting help seemed to go hand-in-hand.

Trucy and her Daddy roar down the streets, and her grip loosens as she gets more comfortable, and Daddy stops shaking so badly as he gets into his groove, because he’s done this before and has been training and practicing, and he knows how to ride a bike now, and Desiree has taught him how to maintain it, and now, now they are going towards a new normal, a new schedule, a second half of the darkest time of their lives (of course, Trucy doesn’t know this, and neither does her daddy, and now it seems like the shadows is simply where they will always be living) and they prepare to meet it together.

[collabwithmyself]

*(wakes up to see country boy Phoenix - cracks knuckles)* “Let’s do this.”

Likely got best of both worlds seeing that he and Miles went to the same school - I’m thinking farm was in the country on the edge of a big city, Miles was big city, school was somewhere in the middle in suburbia... either that or his family moved to the city right before he entered that grade so he was already ostracized as being ‘that new farm kid’... I love the first because there are southern big cities (there’s a difference between southern and country), and honestly the idea of Miles also having a little bit of an accent from being in a city close to the country gives me life - but also the second one with the move fits with the plot better

Either way I’m saying his parents either still have or got a new farm and he gets his best thinking done while riding a tractor. If they’re within a reasonable distance he’ll sometimes be visiting, helping with the chores, and then all of a sudden “Sorry Mom and Dad, gotta go!” because he had an epiphany on a case in progress.

First time Miles and Larry get invited over as kids, Larry is offended that none of the chickens will let him hold them, but he’s just too loud and fidgety. Miles, however, is calm and quiet and within a few minutes has one in his lap letting him pet it. (If Phoenix’s little baby crush wasn’t solidified already, it is now. Chickens are great judges of character, and he loves seeing how gentle Miles is with them.)

Also during disbarment his parents are concerned about him and continually suggest the idea of him coming home, maybe not even to work on the farm (although nowadays many farm owners also have other jobs) but maybe the courts will be lenient and let him be a small town attorney (especially now as a parent he needs a more stable job to support Trucy). Phoenix resists however because 1) Trucy is going through enough changes; he doesn’t want to put her through a new lifestyle and take her away from what she is familiar with, 2) he truly believes he will find a way to prove his innocence, and 3) [the sass comes out] “I want to help defend the innocent - not the deadbeats who want custody of their child even though they never have food in the kitchen or a steady job”

He gets personally offended by Jake Marshall. Like, dude... did you spend one day in Ft Worth (the most stereotypical Cowboy City in Texas) and decided that was what the whole state was like? No one talks and acts like that (or maybe that’s just me projecting)

Most people can’t tell Phoenix is from the country, but he does have certain mannerisms and a practiced lack of any accent that people can tell he’s not native to big city life. Honestly the biggest tell is when he refers to anyone (especially those with authority, but anyone he’s trying to be polite to) sir or ma’am. He’s become careful, especially since some people will take it as an insult about their age (“oh I can’t believe I’m old enough to be referred to as sir/ma’am”) but when used at the right time it has won over a few individuals because “they aren’t used to talking with someone so cordial and polite”

Lotta and him butt heads, and I don’t think she catches on that he’s a country boy from the beginning, but in 2-4 he gets really heated at Miles and she overhears the accent slip out “Maya is kidnapped, I’m bein’ Blackmailed into goin’ against my beliefs and seekin’ the truth, and ya decide Now is the time to Waltz In and let me know YAINT ACTUALLY DEAD!” After that she has a bit more respect for a fellow country folk just trying to make it.

Also, to the one ask that suggested they knew each other, I’m imagining if he moved to the big city right before he met Miles, what if she was from before the move? They finally get talking over a couple of beers about growing up, she calls him out on being a country boy, and they realize that they were classmates up until 2nd grade or something but had changed so much they didn’t recognize/remember each other.

Body built for working. He’s not the type to work out, but he’s strong from just general biking into the city, fence mending, tree limb clearing, etc. Can also cook (and eat) well. Knows all the secrets to making a good roast, and will get offended if you refer to a cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers as a barbecue (it ain’t a barbecue unless the meat is smoked and slathered in sauce)

Also knows a lot about plumbing and electrical from making a room in the barn to be a laundry room. Just has a bunch of random skills where at the office something goes wrong and Mia says something like “I’ll call someone to fix it” and he’s asking her if she has any tools because he thinks he sees the problem and can fix it if she has even a basic toolkit. She pulls one out that hasn’t really seen the light of day in years (new office present from someone), and sure enough Phoenix gets it fixed.

Has boots and a hat somewhere, but really only wears them if majorly working on the farm or attending a country event like a rodeo or something. Although he does have quite a few plaid button-ups and jeans he’ll wear on more casual days. First time Miles sees him in that, he somehow becomes 10% gayer. (BOY LOOKS GOOD IN PLAID)

*(crashes back asleep)*

Holy SHIT, Azal.

[cosmicfurby]

okay gang it's that time of the day

oh yeah

it's time for a ✨fic update✨

i decided this afternoon that i really needed to finish writing the first chapter and so the gods delivered, because HABEMUS FIRST CHAPTER! i am going fully insane, this is the first time I've ever felt this good about something I've written, let alone a fic. it's around five pages long, full of typos and i love it with my soul because I'm writing for FUN and not for anyone's approval and it's GOOD on my book which is all that matters

so this may very well be the last update before the fic is actually published, which is exciting! the chapter is already written, all i have to do is add a couple details and improve the writing before it's ready to go out into the world. you know, what i call "polishing" the text. hopefully the final product is acceptable to my beloved audience *like three people clap*

as i have established before, the first episode is basically trucy and kay looking around in their attic and finding things related to ryuunosuke + the letter from kazuma i shared a post or two ago. basically, I'm setting the scene for the "now" part of the fanfic, which will take up much less than the "then part". i am still debating whether to put kazuma's letter before or after the actual episode, but I'm pretty sure it'll go before. still unsure about that though, I'll figure it out

if i actually get to work and manage to edit it well enough first try i might publish it tomorrow?? EXCITING TIMES i have to choose a good time of the day tho lmao time zones are A Mess

the main problems, or rather, questions to solve i have as of right now are as follows:

1. make sure the characterization of trucy isn't off and is more upbeat because i tend to make my narrators a bit stern and calm and trucy is not exactly like that

2. be careful with kay's characterization (i have not in fact played the investigations games but i hope i can do a decent job, she doesn't appear much but i do think she's a key player and it would suck for her to be a bore)

3. add a few elements i absolutely forgot and only remembered like. hours after I'd closed the document dw these things happen it'll be alright, i think narratively I've said everything i wanted to say on that episode

4. maybe, just maybe, i will add a bit of narration by ryunosuke in the end. i think it will be useful to help establish the three main narrative stages i have set up –letters, the now and the then– and it will be a good exercise on narrative tones. if i get fancy i might alternate between trucy and ryunosuke, though that might be a little whiplash-ey of me. i don't know, still thinking about that one

also! i may or may not have gone absolutely overboard and crafted a Spotify playlist with the music i listen to while i write 👉🏻👈🏻 i am just a little nerd with my little nerd soundtracks

as i said it's mostly soundtracks and instrumentals that have the right vibes ✨ this playlist has single handedly destroyed any semblance of normality my Spotify wrapped could've had but anyway you win some you lose some

that's all we've got for today's fic progress update! hopefully I can start publish as soon as possible this story has been with me for more than a month now and i can't wait to put everything into words. so that would be all ^^

"It was a collar pin in the shape of a spark.

unless you want a sneak peek.

do you want a sneak peeeeek? come on i know you do don't run away take the sneak peek take it take-

"It was a collar pin, shaped in the form of a little spark.

And spark something it did."

[ronsenburg]

HELPPP THAT FAKE MARRIAGE FIC IDEA IS *SO* GOOD FKSFKKWFKKEFKOEFMKWKFKWKKEKFOSKDME THE THING IS APOLLO HAS LIKE 122203277822 BACKSTORIES BUT THEY DIDNT SPECIFY WHAT THE FUCK WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON THAT WELL SO NOW WE HAVE UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT IT FKKSFKKSFKKSFn anyways I am really curious as to how you would go with how klavier and apollo actually get together in this potential fic. Like do they get fake married after dating?? Do they get fake married before they are even a thing? They dont have to live together necessarily but they are both dumbasses so do they do that? IT HAS SUCH A POTENTIAL VSMMFMEFMW

I thought about this EXTENSIVELY. The story is 14 chapters of varying lengths, each detailing a day leading up to Apollo’s deportation deadline. Here is the outline:

Chapter 1: Apollo’s No Good Horrible Very Bad Day. 

Our story opens with Apollo receiving a phone call early one morning alerting him to the fraudulent nature of his immigration documents. 

“Polllllllllllly,” Trucy whines from the doorway where she stands rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, “What’s with the Chords of Steel? It’s only seven am!”

Frantic phone calls to Datz, resolving nothing except that it’s a miracle he made it this far in the legal world without someone noticing. 

Phoenix Wright literally thatsroughbuddy.gif around the rim of his coffee mug.

Venting at lunch with Klavier Gavin, who Apollo is sort-of-friends-with and also sort-of-mildly-in-love-with-but-won’t-ever-say-anything-because-how-stupid-is-that :)

Only for Klavier to suggest, with such perfect seriousness and composure that Apollo can’t tell if he’s being messed with, that they get married ala The Proposal (2009) starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Jokes about prenups and celebrity extravagance are made.

“Think about it,” Klavier replies with the kind of wink that should be considered illegal in most civilized countries.

And, despite his better judgment,  Apollo did, so incessantly that the rest of the day seemed to speed by in a blur of noise and color that barely registered in the distracted recesses of Apollo’s brain. 

Marry Klavier Gavin? Yeah, right. 

Chapter 2: I Guess You Leave Me No Choice

“Okay,” Apollo says, sixteen hours and three moral crises later.

Klavier blinks. “Okay?”

“Let’s do it.” Apollo nods.  “Let’s get married.”

This is how I imagine the proposal goes.

“Well, Forehead? Are you sure you’re ready?”

Chapter 3: Apollo Breaks the News

SKEPTICISMS 

“It would be more convincing for the immigration officials if you were living in my place, ja?”

Klavier sleeps shirtless, Apollo gay panics the first morning when he wanders out of the guestroom :)

Chapter 4: Trucy and Athena Plan A Wedding!

Wow, it sure is difficult to pretend to be in love with someone who is actually your courtroom rival! Especially when your Not-Kid-Sisters are dragging you all over town to pick out things like flowers and table linens!

Definitely should not actually get super into it and have to remind yourself several times that this is all an act!

Chapter 7ish: Maybe This isn’t As Platonic As We Initially Imagined

This post, BUT ALSO THE TAGS SPECIFICALLY which I will copy and paste here for your viewing convenience:

WHAT IF KLAVIER WENT ON A TALK SHOW AND THEY ASKED ABOUT IT????

AND THEN KLAVIER STARTED TO TELL THE STORY OF HOW THEY MET AND WHY HE FELL FOR APOLLO AND ITS ACTUALLY ALL 100% TRUE STUFF?

AND TRUCY CALLS APOLLO OVER ALL ‘OHHHHH YOUR FIANCE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU ON TV~~~~!’

BUT BY THE END APOLLO IS JUST GAPING AT THE SCREEN AND TRUCY HAS THIS SHOCKED LOOK ON HER FACE 

AND ATHENA IS LIKE: ‘Holy shit. Either Prosecutor Gavin is an even better actor than I thought or he's totally actually into you’

and apollo is just like ‘OH.’

but also, later, “no way. he’s klavier gavin. there’s no way. is there...?”

Chapter 9ish: Is it Fair To Go Through With This When You May or May Not Actually Love Your Fake Fiance?

MORE MORAL DILEMMAS!

Mood Matrix Shenanigans???

Anyway, I think right before (and I’m talking right before!) the wedding, Phoenix and Thalassa will break the news. “Gotta be honest with you, kiddo, I didn’t actually think things would go this far.” etc etc etc. But by then, they are actually in love, of course. 

By that time, everyone is already there, everything is set up, it’s beautiful, etc. Apollo goes to call off the wedding and can’t figure out why Klavier’s laugh is so forced and why Apollo feels so empty in the wake of it. 

Can’t decide whether they don’t get married and it’s: 

“Klavier Gavin,” Apollo asks, still down on one knee, “do you want to date me, maybe?

Or, if it’s not just about Apollo anymore, Klavier’s public declarations have them too committed, his image will suffer if they don’t go through with it and it’s:

“So Klavier, marry me, because I think I'd like to actually date you.”

Either way, the epilogue is them getting married for realsies.

And they lived happily ever after, THE END.

[inspector-montoya-fox]

let’s talk about the criminal mistreatment of Athena Cykes

Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies isn’t really big on women. They’re either dead, fully motivated by self-interest, or on the wrong side of the law. And in the wacky world of Ace Attorney, the game seriously lacks in original wacky female characters. And then there’s Athena Cykes; Phoenix’s new, cute! protégé with a brand new skill for some fresh gameplay and a seriously messed up backstory to captivate the player. Here’s the problem: that pretty much sums up Apollo’s character and reason for being introduced literally one game prior. So why introduce this new character when she wasn’t even needed?

(major spoilers ahead)

Let’s start by pointing out that, throughout Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice, Athena only handles one case on her own. And that case (Turnabout Storyteller) is a mess, imo. We don’t get to investigate as Athena, her skills as a rookie attorney are being constantly diminished by everyone, even her client, and she relies on Blackquill to bail her out when shit hits the fan. In the original trilogy, Maya also helped out Phoenix when in need, but Phoenix was literally the main playable character, having enough cases to redeem himself after stumbling once or twice. Athena is given only one chance throughout the span of two games.

If Athena was the only new character, tackling only one case on her own would be more acceptable because, with the absence of Maya, she’d play the pivotal role of Phoenix’s assistant, aiding him. And that would actually be ideal. Imagine Athena being introduced in Dual Destinies as Phoenix’s assistant, investigating with him and providing advice during the trials. The game would wrap up nicely by having us explore the Space Centre and have her backstory unravel. That’s basically the first game’s premise: Maya is introduced in Turnabout Sisters and by Turnabout Goodbyes we explore part of her backstory (mainly Misty Fey going MIA) via Edgeworth’s trials.

What really screws up Athena’s chances of succeeding as a new character, are the other new characters, Apollo Justice and Trucy Wright. Apollo Justice was literally supposed to be a reset for the franchise. Bridge to Turnabout wrapped up all the story arcs of the trilogy in such a masterful way that there wasn’t anything more for Phoenix and Maya to do. The 7 year time jump and the introduction of Apollo were supposed to kick off a new trilogy and showcase a new era of the law, a time in which the system started failing, despite the fact that it was already messed up. I go into detail about why Apollo Justice failed in this essay no one bothered to read (yea i’m bitter, bitch) but basically, to sum up, Capcom didn’t have the balls to strip the series of its main character and due to backlash, brought him back one game after.

I 100% believe that Dual Destinies tries its hardest to be what fans wanted Apollo Justice to be. As a result, it has too much on its plate. Giving Apollo a new backstory, portraying Phoenix’s return as an attorney, trying desperately to sell the Dark Age of the Law and repeating ‘the end justifies the means’ about a million times, delivering interesting cases with interesting witnesses (at which it fails miserably, imo), all the while introducing Athena and exploring her backstory, which includes the new prosecutor and new detective, whose final twist, although unexpected, doesn’t save the game. That’s a lot, like too, too much.

What was the reason for Athena’s introduction? As I mentioned above, Apollo was literally introduced one game prior to Dual Destinies, providing the writers with countless opportunities for interesting storylines. What we got instead were interesting storylines which were never to be revisited again, e.g. Apollo and Trucy being Thalassa Gramarye’s children, and the jury system. What the fuck. Instead of progressing Apollo’s saga as a rookie attorney taken under Phoenix’s wing, he gets sidetracked for the sake of Athena, but as we soon find out, that isn’t even the case. Actually, Apollo as a new protagonist gets sacrificed for the sake of Athena, and in turn, Athena gets sacrificed for the sake of Apollo being a sidekick. Again, what the fuck.

After Apollo Justice, the games try and fail to course-correct Apollo’s character. Dual Destinies tries to shoehorn Apollo and Athena’s backstories into two cases (The Cosmic Turnabout and Turnabout for Tomorrow), while wasting such an opportunity with its first three cases (no, Turnabout Academy’s rushed exposition on Athena and Juniper’s friendship doesn’t count). And I’m being blatantly honest when I say that I literally couldn’t give less of a shit about Clay Terran and dArK Apollo with a bandage over his eye. I literally don’t care because the game doesn’t do the work in order for me to care. It just dumps a bunch of new info on Apollo and Clay’s friendship at the beginning of a trial for which there isn’t even an investigation. That’s just lazy. Instead, I’m much more interested as to why the robots at the Space Centre recognize Athena.

Athena’s backstory, although redundant and painfully familiar, is pretty interesting. Why is it redundant and painfully familiar? Because Maya Fey also lost her mother due to an incident with an upcoming prosecutor and eventually was misled into thinking she was the culprit, the truth being revealed by Phoenix at the end. Despite the similarity, the details surrounding Metis Cykes’s murder are so captivating. Aura Blackquill is introduced, a mysteriously sexy tech gyal whose dialogue on Metis seems to suggest that they were romantically involved, Blackquill’s imprisonment is explained, there’s hostages involved, and the Phantom is revealed. Turnabout for Tomorrow isn’t my favorite case but in terms of setting up Athena’s backstory, it does everything right.

I honestly love Athena. I love that we have another female attorney alongside Mia and Calisto Yew. I love that she introduces psychology into the trials. I love her yellow suit and her narration, and her moon earrings and relentlessly joyful attitude. She’s such a joy to have around. That’s why I hate how Dual Destinies handles her character, having Apollo ask her questions on who she is and what she does during The Monstrous Turnabout’s investigation and waiting until Turnabout for Tomorrow to continue her exposition. Instead, Apollo gets most of the attention. If Capcom wanted games 4-6 to be Apollo’s trilogy, they should’ve done that. Not dilute Apollo Justice by including hobo Phoenix, not introduce Athena and have Phoenix return in Dual Destinies, not do anything they did with Spirit of Justice. I really wanted Dual Destinies to be Athena’s game.

Spirit of Justice handles Athena even worse than Dual Destinies. She is quite literally reduced to a side character and, even though we get to play her first solo case, her character gets absolutely zero development. Whereas Phoenix is reunited with Maya and resets the law in a foreign country via a revolution in which Apollo is caught in the centre of, Athena babysits Trucy (another female character who is given nothing to do). Also, Athena being sidetracked, getting turned from a new attorney to just a character without a purpose becomes so obvious when she’s literally rendered obsolete once Maya returns in Turnabout Time Traveler, during which she becomes Trucy’s lab rat... ???

I literally feel bad for Athena because she was created unreasonably but created with care nonetheless. Dual Destinies tackles too many story arcs and themes all at once, and if the writers removed some of them to focus more on Athena instead, she could have been the next Franziska: a young lawyer with drive who rises to the ranks of the best but not without her flaws. But, um, we got an Apollo Justice Lite, instead.

[gaycodedvillainy]

Ok I have now finished Dual Destinies, so my thoughts:

- “Dark Age of the Law” being caused by Phoenix sort of forging 1 thing one time and immediately getting caught, and Simon Blackquill of all people (I’m sorry but what was Gant then? MVK? Redd White who allegedly owned the courtroom via bribery???) I call so much bullshit.

- Athena’s courtroom therapy thing is straight up concerning. At best it’s leading the witness? And it gets used in really irresponsible ways (like outing a trans highschooler in court... which turned out to be completely irrelevant regardless because Robin would still have the exact same voice????)

- they actually had no reason to suspect the phantom was wearing a Bobby mask given that none of them had ever met the real Bobby Fulbright... like that could have just been his face, and imagine slashing a guys face up in court in front of everyone with a sword....

- why is Simon given a sword? Like they clearly don’t trust him, he’s given really inhumane treatment and electrocuted several times why a sword???

- the body doubles theme was fun but we did already have that in AA3

- Phantom was a fun concept but not remotely fleshed out enough... I think honestly that would have hit harder had we had to deal with him for another case after learning his identity (as the phantom) and how that impacted Simon? Simon’s weakness being a very strong all or nothing loyalty (as we saw for Athena too) could actually make Bobby *hurt* as a villain, instead of being like “ah so they made you weird on purpose, I see”

- for a game that is allegedly about emotions in the courtroom, people are weirdly reserved about showing any emotions. Like even when Trucy was kidnapped Phoenix seems a pretty average level of alarmed rather than the actually frightened mess Phoenix we saw in 2-4? Simon has this moment of expressing how betrayed he was by Bobby, and then immediately goes “lol JK” like a minute later?

- Miles Edgeworth arguing that of course Athena killed her mother when she was 11yo, she saw it in a dream Phoenix, cuff her. And I stare into the camera like it’s the office.

- “badguy is bad because has nonstandard emotions” umm.... I’ll pass.

- Aura is excellent and needs a hug

- Tenma has easily become best defendant tbh. What a man. He’s perfect.

- when Apollo is all “ok he trust you again Athena.. lemme take off my eye patch so I can read tells again” he also takes off all his bandages from the bombing which happened the day before and idk how to say this but please put those back??? I’m concerned.

- This:

I guess I would say that the writing was awful, but I loved almost every character despite this somehow...

[scarlettlawyer]

This is fanfiction of a fanfiction! Specifically, the Phantoms and Mirages fanfiction series by Meowzy (renegadewangs on tumblr), which can be found over at AO3! This post’s fic contains SPOILERS for the series up until the end of Lifting Spirits, the fourth installment. If you have not read the Phantoms & Mirages series up until at least the end of Lifting Spirits, it will not make a lick of sense to you either! So I would highly recommend checking the series out first if you would like to give this post a read. I would still recommend checking it out if you don’t want to give this post a read too! :P

Anyway here is the little thing I wrote just in case others would like to read it :)

-------------------

Date: December 25th 2028 Time: 10:14 AM Location: Wright Anything Agency.

It was Christmas morning, and it had been six days since his client had been handed down the death sentence in court.

The execution had already been carried out, he’d heard. Just as swiftly as the court’s verdict promised.

Phoenix Wright wasn’t feeling especially festive, but it was Christmas, so putting a smile on his face and doing his best to carry on as usual was the least he could do. He had to, at least for Trucy’s sake. It wouldn’t be fair to let recent grim events detract from her celebrating and enjoying today.

But he supposed he couldn’t act like this was just like any other Christmas, either. They’d rarely seen Athena in the past few days – she had taken the outcome of the trial especially hard.

And Apollo…

There’d been friction as of late. That was undeniable, and impossible to avoid. He’d starkly disagreed with his and Athena’s actions starting back when they’d acted as the Phantom’s defense team, but he’d soon learned afterwards how that had all been a ploy, and then Apollo had quickly understood, any discontent completely washed away.

It had been for a good cause, after all – to ensure that the spy known as Mirage was caught and faced justice. The Phantom’s role in that trial had only been relevant insofar as it had furthered that goal; it had nothing to do with Phoenix and Athena actually supporting him or advocating on his behalf outside of that. Once Apollo realised that, he’d been at ease once more and all was well.

The trial for Alexander Luster Jr., though, that was different. There was no ploy; it was a completely genuine and earnest attempt to seek a second chance to be granted for a man to turn his life around for the better, and for him to have a future. Athena and Phoenix had actively chosen to stand by that man’s side and fight for his second chance.

And that core stance was the source of the fundamental and insurmountable disagreement between Apollo and the two of them. Apollo could not, and would not understand their decision to advocate for that second chance. Phoenix couldn’t entirely blame him, and it would be unfair to expect Apollo to understand.

It didn’t matter now; they’d lost, in the end. Alexander Luster Jr., the Phantom, whatever you wanted to call him, was dead now. Apollo’s stance had ultimately won out and it was the one that the court system had officially endorsed. 

—————- 

Date: December 19th 2028 Time: 12:04 PM Location: District Court – Courtroom No. 4.

He continued to stand by the defense’s bench in the wake of the verdict, motionless and paralysed, as his client was carried away screaming, forced towards his impending death. 

There was nothing Phoenix could do but stand there uselessly. His mind was blank as the chaos went on around him.

And just like that, his client had been taken away, but the impact of the day’s events was still unfolding everywhere in the courtroom.

Whenever he was involved in a case, the court had never really come to the wrong decision before. Even when losing a case, there hadn’t been any issue because it was the correct and just outcome. The only other time the outcome of a trial he’d defended in had felt so utterly wretched and bleak and wrong was when he’d lost his badge.

His badge…

A very dark moment passed over him. If he couldn’t ensure a just outcome, if he couldn’t protect his client, then what was the point? Why stand in court?

He stood frozen, and the sudden mad urge to tear off his badge subsided. There was no way he could cast it aside so easily, not after everything he’d been through. That wouldn’t be right either. He couldn’t do that to Trucy. And Edgeworth had done so much to help him and to get it back.

To throw it all away… it was something he felt that he probably would have done many years ago, if he hadn’t been able to bring Matt Engarde to justice. But this situation wasn’t quite so dire, and back then he hadn’t had a daughter and two apprentices to think about. Back then, he’d never experienced having his badge taken away from him either, hadn’t suffered so much and for so long before he could get it back again.

But ultimately, what did this symbolic representation of his membership to the legal profession even amount to? He’d been proven useless in the end. It was all futile. He was supposed to act as an agent of the law to ensure justice for all. It was supposed to result in justice for everyone, but… Phoenix wasn’t so sure what to think about that anymore.

Still, he had duties that he was bound by. Duties to the people around him, and to carry on with his work… he just needed to make sure he didn’t suddenly find himself entrapped by the very things that used to feel freeing.

Time passed, and the courtroom grew to be practically empty. He didn’t know how long he’d been standing there, but it must have been a while.

He started to walk. It was an aimless gesture with no real intent, hardly paying attention to where his feet might be carrying him.

“Daddy, there you are…! Polly and I, we found-”

“-Athena,” Phoenix said automatically upon catching sight of her. She was looking quite the worse for wear, and Apollo was standing by her side, awkwardly trying to offer support.

“Hey, it’s okay, I’m here for you. It doesn’t have to be like this. You don’t have to be sad. There’s no use crying over him - think of how much the Phantom has taken from us all. He can’t hurt anyone anymore, now. It’s over and it’s best we all move on… There was never really any other way. This was necessary for-”

“You don’t GET to decide when someone’s life ending is NECESSARY, Apollo!”

Apollo started back in shock, Athena’s sudden fierce tone forcing him into silence as she continued.

“Do you think that his death will magically make the past better? Can it undo anything that’s already been done?! Who are you to decide that a human life should be offered up as some kind of,” she waved her hand about wildly, “sacrificial stepping stone for your own personal development to make you feel better? Execution doesn’t bring back the dead. It only adds to the death! Another lifeless body thrown upon the pile.”

Widget had turned from dark blue to red in a flash at Apollo’s words, before reverting back to a deep blue once more. Evidently, Apollo hadn’t expected his attempt to console her to be met with such defiant anger. After a few moments, his response came, unusually quiet, but firm and resolute.

“You’re right. It’s not for me to decide. It’s for the courts to decide. And a conclusion has already been reached for this case. It’s not about feeling better – it’s about what’s right, and what needs to be done. It’s about justice. The sooner you see that, the sooner you can heal.”

“You think-,” she broke off, her voice struggling with the effort it took stave off sobs. “You call this justice? Lex – didn’t want – to h-hurt anyone! He just wanted - to live! He was a – new person, and-,” she then shook her head, breathing heavily. “I’ve gotta go.” At that, she rushed out the door.

Apollo sighed, his expression dismayed and stern. “She’s too far gone,” Phoenix heard him mutter to himself.

“Apollo-”

“No, Mr Wright. Do you expect me to feed the idealistic fantasies she’s constructed? Because I can’t. It’s not healthy… For either of us. I just can’t- I mean, don’t you think… things have been hard enough as it is? Every now and then, I still find myself checking my phone on occasion, expecting to see a new message from Clay… Out of habit. Even thinking about that… Phantom is a constant painful reminder. I’m sick of it - I don’t want to have to hear about that killer anymore, and I shouldn’t have to.”

Apollo paused to catch his breath and calm down somewhat, and Phoenix let him.

“’Who am I to decide’…? Who was the Phantom to decide that ending Clay’s life – anyone’s life was necessary? There’s no use… distorting things into such a one-sided picture, because life doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter who you are, in the end. What’s done is done, and everyone needs to be held to equal standards of accountability for their own actions. Isn’t that what justice is? No one is so special that they are above the law, yet even you seem to need reminding of that right now. She should know – and we should know this better than anyone. We’re lawyers. This is how our legal system works!”

Alexander Luster’s final, terrified and desperate screams that had filled the air as he begged and pleaded for his life before he was dragged from the courtroom were still ringing in his mind, branded deeply, haunting him with the horror of a life knowingly about to be cut off. The inherent horror of the awareness there must be, that it was your life at its end, your life that you barely knew.

This is how… their legal system works.

This can’t be right.

It shouldn’t have ended like this. It was his fault. He could have prevented this. He could have done more. He could have saved a life, if he’d just tried harder.

It was all… wrong.

“…I’m sorry, Apollo. This is one case where… we won’t be able to see eye to eye. We don’t have to agree on this; you don’t have to understand. Right now, I think we should just give each other space.”

Apollo’s mouth set in a grim line. “Fine. Next I see you, I hope you’ll have actually regained some of your senses.” And with that, he stormed off.

Maybe Apollo was right, in a sense. Maybe the system was working exactly as it was supposed to. The courts would swallow up input, spit out a result, and whatever that result happened to be the citizens are demanded to gaze upon it and call it “justice”. If it pleased or displeased the masses, then so be it. Maybe, on some level, the idea was that the result didn’t have to make sense. Maybe there just had to be one, so that everyone else would then be free to go home and carry on with their lives, their legal truths set in stone.

—————-

Date: December 25th 2028 Time: 10:21 AM Location: Wright Anything Agency.

The next he did see Apollo after that, neither of them had said a word about the incident.

It would be wrong for Phoenix to hold Apollo’s feelings about it all against him, and he didn’t. Apollo had lost his best friend. And Apollo knew that the verdict had dealt a blow to both Athena and Phoenix. Even if he clearly disapproved and thought that the Phantom wasn’t worth anyone’s time up until the very end, he made a point of doing his best to not say anything that would exacerbate the strain that was present or add any unnecessary grief, after that instance gone awry. It was an unspoken intent to keep the peace amongst them; neither would voice any of the internal thoughts that may upset the other when in their presence.

Lessons had been learned when Apollo had unintentionally overstepped, but Athena had been the first one to apologise when they’d crossed paths the next day. She apologised for yelling at him, and he apologised for unintentionally making things worse, and they were able to leave it at that.

Even so, their interactions had been rather stiff as of late. After all, there was still the uncomfortable fact hanging over the three of them that Apollo was pleased with the very same verdict that had left Athena crying out desperately, even attempting to stop the Interpol agents from taking the former spy away. So much for the Wright Anything Agency all coming together for Christmas…

So there it was: Apollo was happy with the outcome. Athena was devastated. And Phoenix, well…

Phoenix still personally disagreed with Apollo and could not internalise the Judge’s decision as the right one.

So here he was, still a lawyer, on Christmas morning. He was acting cheerful, and so was Trucy. She’d loved her presents, just as Phoenix had hoped, and hugged him enthusiastically as she’d thanked him. But Trucy was a smart girl and must have known not everything was currently as well as it could be, and that relations among the Wright Anything Agency had seen better days. Maybe, to some extent, she was actively injecting enthusiasm into her demeanour for that reason, too.

He just needed to keep staving off the depressing thoughts. He had time… time to come to terms with the verdict, and what it might mean, on some other day. Today was for focusing on family.

Suffice it to say, given everything, he hadn’t been expecting Athena to march right through the door with such lightness and energy to her demeanour.

“Merry Christmas!” she exclaimed, a bright grin settling on her face. She dumped a bag on the floor which Phoenix could see contained some wrapped gifts.

“Merry Christmas, Athena! Good to see you,” Trucy beamed.

“So what’s the go, Boss? I sure hope you’ve got a big Christmas lunch on the way, ‘cause I’m hungry!”

Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck and grinned sheepishly, a little taken off-guard. He hadn’t even had the chance to greet her yet! “W-wait, but if you’re hungry, didn’t you have anything this morning?”

Athena reached up to tap at her earring, causing it to sway. “Well, I did have brunch just earlier with Simon and Bobby, but… The point is, I know I will be hungry once it’s lunchtime!” She thrust a peace sign in Phoenix’s direction and continued, “Big meals are an essential part of Christmas, anyway!”

Phoenix might have thought that she was forcing some kind of cheerful act, were it not for the fact that Widget was glowing green with genuine happiness. But even if it wasn’t for that, he would have been hard-pressed to deny the essential truth that her high spirits seemed to ring with.

“So, um… Where’s Apollo?” she asked, her tone softening a little.

“Ah,” was all Phoenix offered in reply.

“Maybe… you should give him a call? Invite him over. That’s- if he’s not busy with other plans, that is. We can’t have a Wright Anything Agency Christmas party without him, after all.”

“Hah, there’s nothing Polly could be too busy with that he can’t drop it all at a moment’s notice to see us! Isn’t that right, Daddy?” Trucy urged.

“Ahaha, I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

—————-

Date: December 25th 2028 Time: 1:34 PM Location: Wright Anything Agency.

As it turned out, although Apollo was involved in other plans and couldn’t leave immediately, he had promised to be there in the afternoon. He should be arriving any minute, now.

It was strange; Phoenix really hadn’t thought they’d be able to salvage the day to this extent, but here they were. It was just as it should be – everyone was upbeat, Apollo was on his way over, and they could all forget any troubles. Phoenix didn’t need to pretend to be upbeat as they played makeshift games and unwrapped more presents. It was just a shame that Edgeworth wouldn’t be arriving until a bit later, too, but once he did, there’d still be all the rest of the afternoon and the evening to spend together at the Wright Agency Christmas party.

Speaking of which, he’d needed to leave the main room to take a phone call from Edgeworth. It had gone on for longer than planned, and he stopped himself just before stepping back into the room once the call was over, not wanting to intrude on the solemn exchange of words that seemed to be taking place between Athena and Trucy.

“-was so worried. You’re sure you’re okay?” Trucy was saying.

Phoenix hadn’t meant to overhear that, but in truth, this had been nagging at the back of his mind as well. It seemed odd for Athena to have bounced back to normal so quickly… And the worst of times are when lawyers have to force their biggest smiles.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine, I promise.”

Trucy nodded. “…Alright, I believe you.”

“Besides, today’s not the day to go around being gloomy… But thank you. It’s touching that you care.”

And when Trucy left the room to get some materials prepared for an elaborate magic trick so it could be ready for Apollo’s arrival, it was Phoenix’s turn to speak to Athena one-on-one.

“I’ve been meaning to ask. You said you had brunch with Blackquill and Agent Fulbright this morning, didn’t you? How… How are they?”

“Ohh…” Athena seemed to think carefully for a moment, searching for the right words. “I think… they’re going to be okay. I think they’re going to be just fine.”

“Hmm…” I’m sorry, he wanted to say, I feel like I let them both down. And I let you down, too. But there was something holding him back. “And what about you?”

“Me? Come on, Boss. I know you heard what I said to Trucy earlier – you’re not that subtle with your eavesdropping, you know. I’m alright, and how could I not be? It’s Christmas Day and I’ve been spending it with my friends.”

Ahh, caught red-handed, it seemed. “But, aren’t you… sad?” he tried. Something still didn’t seem to add up.

“Of course I’m sad–”

… Interesting.

“-but there’s a time and a place for sadness. I don’t want to be all miserable right now. I don’t want to focus on less pleasant things. So, let’s continue enjoying the rest of today. …Mr. Wright?”

“R-Right! You’re right.” His phone beeped. “Ah… Apollo will be here in five minutes.”

In actuality, Apollo arrived in three minutes’ time, bearing presents of his own. After responding to Trucy’s enthusiastic welcome, there was a brief awkward silence when he caught sight of Athena.

“…Hey, Apollo,” she said, holding out a present done up in shiny red wrapping, “got you a gift!”

“Athena! Mr. Wright said you were here, but I thought-,” he shook his head. “…Thank you. Merry Christmas.”

Just like that, everything felt so normal again, among everyone.

It was a crazy thought, but

…Maybe, somehow, everything had all worked out in the end. There was something about Athena’s demeanour that put him at ease, allowing him to trust that all was well… it allowed him to trust in justice.

Maybe, he didn’t quite have the full picture. That was alright with him; he didn’t need to pry any further.

In this case, just the idea of it was enough.