December 24th, 5:44pm
Wright Anything Agency
"This is a lovely party, I am thankful I can finally attend it." The sentence shook Trucy out of a revery, startling her into alertness. Trucy and Lamiroir had spent the last half hour talking, which started off with the singer asking a lot of details from her in regards to Trucy's life, how everything was going. Maybe from someone else, it would have felt weird but Lamiroir was so warm and kind that Trucy didn't mind treating her like family. But as the musician began to tell Trucy about how her career had been doing lately, Trucy's mind had begun to drift. Even though it had been half a year since Apollo left them all, it still weighed heavily on her mind, she couldn't look at this party and wish he was there to spend the holiday with them.
Despite only knowing each other for a few years, Trucy and Apollo had clicked perfectly, in a way she'd never felt with anyone else in her life. She loved teasing him, making him show some humanity instead of just being Mr. Lawyer all the time. But he'd also been there for her, supported her, through some of the worst moments in her life. And now, he was across the world, starting his own business, building a new home. A home without her.
They'd called each other and done video chats at least three or four times a month since he'd gotten on that plane, but it didn't feel the same as having him there with them. Realizing she hadn't said anything to what Lamiroir had remarked about the party, Trucy opened her mouth to reply, only to stop and close it when she saw the woman's face. She was looking at Trucy with naked sympathy. "You miss Apollo, don't you?"
In her own opinion, Trucy easily had the best poker face of anyone she'd ever met, and could count on own hand the number of times she'd cried in her life. She was all about putting on the brave face and dealing with things herself. But she almost broke, in that moment. She wanted, so badly, to just collapse onto the songstress's shoulder and sob about all the pent up feelings she'd been storing. Instead of doing that, she just gave her a shaky smile and asked, "Is it that obvious?" When she got a nod back, Trucy let out a sigh. "I just...I'm happy for him. I really am. I just...wish he was here."
Lamiroir put a hand on Trucy's shoulder and their eyes met, a connection easily forming that Trucy couldn't put a name to. "Sometimes, when someone you love is gone, it feels like a part of you has died, and it will never recover." That certainly described how Trucy was feeling. "But the thing to remember, even when it feels untrue, is that we do not know what the future will hold. One day, your path and his will reconverge. Perhaps it will be for a short, splendid time, but it could also be a return to home, either his or yours. Keep that hope in your heart, and move on with your path, as he has with his."
It was after the third old story about her boss from Ms. Fey that Athena finally allowed herself to actually relax. Despite her disarming demeanor, it was hard at first for the young attorney to let down her barriers, considering who she was talking to. Not only was she now the Master of Kurain, but she was also Mr. Wright's original assistant, the one who stood by his side through his golden age of lawyering. At the very least, she was glad to be feeling more comfortable before the conversation was turned over to her by Ms. Fey asking, "So, what crazy stuff was Nick up to while I was gone?"
That surprised her, and Athena couldn't resist quickly firing back with, "Wait, he hasn't told you?"
The spirit medium rolled her eyes. "I mean, sure, I got some vague summaries. 'We defended a wrestler.' 'Athena won her first case.' 'We helped catch a spy.' Things like that." Ms. Fey's impression of Mr. Wright's voice cracked Athena up, mostly because it was so completely off the mark. "Ooh, tell me about that last one! I actually think I saw a headline in Khura'in about it, so it must have been a pretty big case."
Athena froze like a deer in headlights. She made an effort immediately to control her breathing, steady herself, not to freak out. After all, wasn't the whole point of that case to move on, and get over her trauma? But, then again, Athena was a psychologist, and she knew better than that. Trauma didn't just disappear. So, over the course of a half hour or so, Athena told the whole story. Her childhood, Apollo's friend, Simon's wrongful arrest, all of it. "So...yeah. We definitely helped catch a spy, I guess." It was a lame attempt at levity after all the heavy stuff she'd just unloaded on Ms. Fey, but Athena felt the urge to try anyway.
Once the story started getting serious, Ms. Fey began looking at Athena with tears in her eyes, clearly overcome with emotion from everything that had happened. Reaching up to wipe away her tears once she was done, Ms. Fey let out a hollow laugh. "Wow, looks I just walked right into a grief landmine, huh?" But after taking a moment to collect herself, the older woman gave Athena a tight smile. "Well, I know what it's like, having your worst memories and family drama getting dragged into the courtroom. I know it sucks. But you seem pretty strong, so I know you'll get through it okay." It was good to hear that from someone who'd been in a similar circumstance, and letting herself hope what Ms. Fey had said was true, Athena started telling her about the soba noodle case, for some levity.
When Bonny De Famme was cornered at the food table in the Wright Anything Agency by a scary woman with silver-blue hair, she did what she always did when we was scared: freeze. "So then, you are Ms. Bonny De Famme. Is that correct?" The magician gave a shaky nod. "From what I understand, you have become quite close to my niece, Trucy Wright. Tell me more about yourself."
Completely blindsided by the idea that this well-dressed, fierce-looking woman could be the aunt to Trucy, who was the brightest and happiest person Bonny knew, she found herself telling the woman random pieces of information about herself. Stuff like how she also did stage magic, and that she and Trucy were good friends, and how she was still really sorry about what had happened with the TV Special.
That last detail had quickly caught the woman's attention. "Ah, yes, I had heard about this incident. While you were largely unaware of it, your sister played an integral part in framing Trucy for murder, is that correct?" Quickly and fervently, Bonny nodded her head, making her floofy hair shake. To her surprise, the scary lady smiled at her. "Well, considering she has invited you to this party, I assume she holds no ill will, so neither will I. My name is Franziska von Karma." The woman extended a gloved hand, which Bonny meekly shook, only for the woman to purse her lips. "What is your opinion of your sister?"
Bonny's first reaction was to grimace at the mention of Betty, but then she screwed up her courage and told Ms. von Karma, "I know she did some bad things, but Betty isn't a bad person! She's mean sometimes, saying rude things to people and not always treating me as well as she could, but I know that she cares about me, and Trucy too. I just hope one day, I can help her get more comfortable with showing it."
Realizing she'd just kinda ranted at someone who looked very intimidating, Bonny shrank back, but then was shocked when Ms. von Karma gave her another smile. "I have some experience with what you speak, though I am reluctant to admit that I more resemble your sister, and you have more in common with my little brother. But your instincts, I think, are correct. Your help will make a difference one day, I believe. My brother's did with me, after all."
After managing to avoid him for the first half of the party, Phoenix's trip to the hallway to hide was interrupted by the cocky laugh of the man he'd been trying to get away from. "Ah, Herr Wright!" came the rock star's voice, approaching Phoenix with a smile etched into his face. "There you are! It's been some time since we last had a friendly chat, ja?"
Of course it had, Phoenix thought to himself, they'd never had one before. As much as Phoenix appreciated all the help Klavier had given them in recent years, the young prosecutor still rubbed him the wrong way. Putting on his best pleasant poker face, Phoenix replied to the greeting. "I suppose it has, Mr. Gavin. How's your brother been doing?"
The comment was meant to nudge the prosecutor into feeling uncomfortable and leaving Phoenix alone, but if the tanned blond took any offense, it didn't show. Instead, his grin just got wider, and he flipped his braid over a shoulder and leaned in close like he was about to share a secret. "Oh, I forgot, you haven't seen him since the trial. I'd recommend giving Kristoph a visit, it's good for the soul, ja? After Herr Forehead and I found the truth together, and his full crimes were exposed for all to see, Kristoph has lost all his privileges. No bookshelves, no armchair, no delicious dinners. Now, he sleeps on a thin mattress with an even thinner blanket, and his own arms for a pillow. My Eltern and I went to see him last week, it was quite the sight. He's still trying to keep up that air like everything's fine, but he's much worse at it."
Hearing that...Phoenix didn't know how to feel. He'd hardly thought about Kristoph after the case had ended, and Phoenix's name had been unsullied. Part of him found the idea of his onetime friend wasting away in prison cathartic, evidence of victory. But another shivered at the thought. The luxury he had lived in before was a little over-the-top, but Klavier made it sound like the conditions were...inhumane. "I'm...sorry to hear that," he told Klavier, honestly. "He may have done some awful things, but I think even he deserves a little more than that."
Rather than continue that line of conversation, Klavier shifted gears with an ease that impressed Phoenix a little. "So, how do you feel about Herr Forehead leaving the country? I must admit, I'm a little sad that the first time I come to one of these parties is the one he can't make. If I start crying, please look away, Herr Wright." The complaint sounded genuine, but with Klavier being the one saying it Phoenix couldn't be sure. If it was his real thoughts, Phoenix had to feel a little bad for him. After all, he'd heard Apollo complain non-stop about this guy for a few years, and bowed to Apollo's insistence he not be invited to the party last year.
But that wasn't really Klavier's business to know, now was it? Instead, Phoenix thought about what had been on his mind for half a year. "It's bittersweet," he finally said. "I'm sad to see him go, obviously. Hell, he'd just proven he was a better lawyer than I am. But that's also why I'm glad he's on his own now. As much as I loved working with him, he needs to spread his wings and fly solo, at least for a little while." Of course, Klavier made some joke about it being a silly platitude, but Phoenix knew it was true. In the end, he'd needed Apollo far more than Apollo had ever really needed him.
December 25th, 7:56pm
Justice and Co. Law Offices
For the first time since moving to Khura'in, Apollo Justice felt completely relaxed. Well, maybe not completely relaxed, but he wasn't stressed out of his mind anymore. It had been a hard half a year of taking case after case after case, working to reform the justice system of this country from the ground up, and missing everyone he'd left behind. But now was a holiday, even if it was one completely foreign to Khura'in. His meager office was decorated in the best knock-off decorations he could find, giving a vaguely holiday-ish atmosphere to the place. But what really made him feel better were the people there with him.
Nahyuta Sahdmadhi, the brother he'd missed for most of his adult life, sat at a table doing his best to carefully decorate some sugar cookies. He and Apollo had faced each other in court more times than he could count since the move, but there hadn't been any animosity between them anymore. Now, they worked together to find the truth, as it always should have been.
Sitting across the table from him was Queen Rayfa Padma Khura'in, technically the monarch of the country and also technically Apollo's sister after the discovery of her birth parents was revealed. She'd been busier than any of them, trying her best to learn to be an effective monarch and working hard with her mother to fix their broken systems and improve international relations. But right now, she just got to be a kid, sneaking cookies away from her big brother when she thought he wasn't looking.
Sitting on Apollo's ratty couch was Ema Skye, happier than he'd ever seen her before in his life. This year had been a great one for her, on the whole. She'd achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a forensic scientist, instead of just being a police detective, and these days she was working for someone who actually improved her self-confidence, rather than the person who'd done nothing but irritate her in the States. She was doing the thing she loved, and she was surrounded by people she liked. It also helped Apollo, having someone around who reminded him of Los Angeles.
Sitting next to her on that couch was Datz Are'bal, who'd changed a lot now that he didn't need to be a soldier anymore. After nearly twenty years of working as part of a militant resistance force, Datz was returning to civilian life as best he could. There was still some hiccups, it was hard for him to completely drop the paranoia and quick reflexes that had once kept him alive. For now, he was working as Apollo's bodyguard, which had proved pretty useful against the Garan loyalists who still wanted him dead.
The last person at the party was Ahlbi Ur'gaid, the plucky kid who'd found himself as Apollo's assistant. He was a bit flighty at times, and naive, but he'd been doing good work, and sometimes said things that made Apollo wonder if he'd take up the defense attorney position at some point. For now, he and his dog were splayed out on the floor, playing with some tinsel.
It wasn't like everything was all sunshine and roses for Apollo, though. He still missed his friends back home, especially Trucy. His job was stressful, and being the boss felt pretty different from being able to fall back on Mr. Wright. But, this was also his office. He'd made it, his own place in the world. He wasn't relying on Dhurke, or Mr. Gavin, or Mr. Wright. It had been a while, but Apollo had always loved that independence, when he could get it. Even if he came back to the States, he wasn't sure if he could go back to working under Mr. Wright again. But all of that was just him thinking too much, he reminded himself. It was a problem he had. Right then and there, he just wanted to relax, destress, and take pride in the place he'd built for himself.