Layton and Phoenix drink tea. :)
Fresh air blew against his face as a cool breeze wafted lazily by. The streets of London buzzed with activity, but gently so. People went about their day to day, not a care in the world, no rush to get to their destination. Everyone was happy where they were, in the moment, in the now. The city was bright and clean, perfect even. Blue skies held up light fluffy clouds in the air with the utmost care.
Phoenix sipped his tea, breathing in the relaxing atmosphere. It wasn't often he could lean back and enjoy the scenery with Maya. Professor Layton's tea recommendation was brilliant as always. The four of them sat outside a cozy shop around a small table, delicate china and delicious baked sweets laid out before them.
The stress of his day to day mishaps seemed to all but vanish, as if it were simply a distant memory. Phoenix couldn't remember a time he felt so at peace with the world, surrounded by friends no less too. Layton, of course, sipped at his tea quietly as Maya and Luke chattered about mysteries and adventures and this and that.
The lawyer let out a happy sigh, looking up to the bright blue sky with content. His muscles relaxed, his back felt better than ever. It must be heaven here in London for Layton. Phoenix was actually considering moving here one day if only to live nearer to this bliss.
He closed his eyes and let his mind wander, floating high above with the cushiony clouds, letting them take him wherever the breeze blew. In the back of his imagination, he heard an orchestra playing a wondrous song, passionate and brutal. Eh? Brutal? No, that wasn't quite right. It was passionate though, a beautiful song played for a mysterious man. The song seemed to get louder and louder in his mind, however, and that didn't seem right.
Wait, this wasn't in his imagination at all! Phoenix's eyes snapped open and he jolted up, his back cracking unpleasantly in the process. A man cloaked in the finest of silks stood before them. Phantom of the Opera blared loudly, causing Phoenix's ears to ring. His eyes were hidden by a hand crafted white mask, similar to a mask that one might find in said opera. His mouth, however, was clear for all to see, curled in a smug grin.
Layton continued to sip his tea, as if the man didn't even exist. Luke, however, was clearly doing his best to keep his eyes forward, away from the strange man. Was no one going to talk about this? Maya was interested, of course, thrilled by the mysterious man.
"Uhhh…" Phoenix finally mumbled gracelessly. "Can we help you or…?"
"Hahaha!" The man cackled, flipping his cape mysteriously.
"Just ignore him." Layton said, teacup never leaving his lips. "Try not to make eye contact."
Wait what.
"Haha!" The opera fan laughed manically again. "Layton, Layton, Layton! It seems we meet again! Under such dire circumstances, no less!"
Dire circumstances? It was a pretty good day today. Well, at least it was.
Layton didn't react in the slightest to the strange man. In fact, he seemed pretty relaxed. "Quite the wonderful tea, wouldn't you say, Mr. Wright?" Luke was trying his best to mimic the professor's calm demeanor, but clearly struggled.
"Uhh…" Phoenix stumbled over his words again, sweat forming around his brow as the masked gentleman's eyes pierced holes into his skull. "Yeah? Yes?"
Without warning, the stranger flipped the table, china, tea, and baked goods crashing to the pristine sidewalk below, staining it a mess of clashing and muddy colors. Layton didn't even react! His legs stayed perfectly still, teacup never showing even the smallest sign of flinching.
Phoenix, however, was not nearly as composed. "What the heck!?" he yelled, startled. Maya was simply laughing and clapping her hands together as if he were a mere street performer that didn't just completely ruin their snacks. "Who are you!?"
That set something off in the man. Something wild, something terrifying. He raised his arms up high into the sky with dramatic emphasis. "Hahaha!" He laughed again, bringing his face much too near to Phoenix's, intimidating and frightening the lawyer to no end. "I am Descole! Fuck yoooooooooou!" he cried out as he scampered away through the streets, laughing and bringing his opera music with him.
Once the orchestra music finally faded away into the distance, Phoenix felt safe to breathe again. His tea and snacks were completely destroyed, dashed, and ruined. His heart was racing, and he could swear his back was actually in worse shape than it was back home now somehow.
"Wow, Nick! Did you see that guy?!" Maya asked dumbly, pink cakes stuffed in her mouth as she chewed openly. Oh, of course her tea and snacks were spared.
"Yeah… I saw him," Phoenix replied, just as dumbly, wondering how in the world no one else seemed to be phased by this. Well at least it was over. Maybe he could still—
"Curse you, Laaaaaaaaaayton!" A harsh voice called out. Oh no, not more of this. "I've finally found you!"
As before, the professor wouldn't even give the stranger the time of day. Or maybe he generally just didn't notice? Phoenix could not tell.
An older gentleman stood before them now, his head a shiny bald marble with a sword like nose attached. His mustache was pruned to perfection and was the very definition of 'dastardly.' He kicked one of the cakes already on the ground uselessly, as if that made things any worse. "Your arch nemesis, Don Paolo, is here to ruin your day!"
"My, my, on beautiful days like these, I'm reminded of the most wonderful puzzles," Layton said pleasantly, an endearing smile on his face.
Don Paolo didn't take to being ignored quite like the last fellow, however. He frowned. "Layton! It's me! Don Paolo! Surely, you remember me right?! Your arch nemesis!"
"Luke, my boy, if you could be so kind as to pass the biscuits?" Layton asked gently.
The young boy finally broke. There were no biscuits left he could hand to the professor! They were all on the ground, after all! What could he do?
"No, no, here let me!" Don Paolo insisted, reaching into the store for but a moment and returning with a fresh plate of baked goods. "I've got you some new ones, Layton!" he was practically whining, begging for attention.
"Hmm," was the only sound that left Layton's lips, staring at where the table used to be.
Don Paolo took the hint. In a flash he picked the table off the side walk, dusting and cleaning it to perfection and adding his own new china filled with delicious tea. He placed the biscuits down in front of Layton, smiling nervously. "T-there we go! Biscuits and tea! The very finest!"
The professor nodded and smiled, but never quite noticing the man. "Very good."
The 'arch-nemesis' nearly leaped with joy at that tiny sliver of attention. "Oh, of course! Thank you so much, Layton! I hope your day is going well, and I'll be happy to see you again! So long!" He bowed politely before running down the streets albeit a bit nervously.
Maya was absolutely thrilled to get new sweets. Phoenix, on the other hand, was remembering just how much better home was after all. Just who was scarier? Layton's enemies? Or Layton himself?
Maybe this was a puzzle best left unsolved.