Wright Anything Agency

September 7 - 11:33 a.m.

"Nick." The whisper ghosted passed the shell of his ear.

He meant to turn to the source. His path halted forcefully by the hand cupping his lower jaw, planting him firmly in place. His neck caught in a vice grip to remain forward and demanded to keep his eyes in the direction. He knew it was Maya. Yet, Wright was caught by surprise. The face he stuck with blocked out the reason as if he returned back to the card table, although with less finesse. He was unsure of it being whether she was planning something or how tightly she pressed against his back.

"Look." A curl of mischief in her tone. He can feel the sneer forming on her face just above his shoulder. He couldn't help, but obey.

This was definitely interesting. His sapphire eyes pulled away from his workload and onto the show in front of him. This looking glass was unempathetic and unadulterated. Pearl was currently rutting her lovey dovey nails onto another poor soul. This time, Apollo served as the victim and he was glad that his younger employee had this mantle to bear instead of himself. Apollo shuffled to different areas of the office, hoping to occupy himself away from Pearl's self-imposing love inquisition.

No one ever expects Pearl's Love Inquisition!

It wasn't the first and who knows if it'll ever be the last time Pearl would glue together two unsuspecting victims together. With Pearl's bubbly personality and years of tutelage of seeing the world bloom with hearts and flowers, the probability was more than likely. In all honesty, he couldn't blame the girl. Surrounded solely by females all her life and not a single counterpart for any of them except the infrequent visitors to Medium Valley were rarer than the Hope Diamond. He can tell, as soon as the doe grey eyes of this tiny medium came by this rare creature called man, at the time which was himself, it was going to be a large impact. That is until she ran away at first like he was some sort of alien. He surmised perhaps that she may have gotten Trucy on her little scheme, but the magician was much better at hiding her grand plans in the background compared to Pearl's gaudy declarations. If Trucy were, she's not telling. At least, not yet.

He was hoping with his little confession to the very same medium a few days ago about his adoration towards Maya would perhaps deter both their advances from the very first matchmaker couple Pearl ever established. Hopefully his argument would hold water.

'Can't beat 'em, join 'em.'

The medium hid her sinister giggle behind Wright's spikes. "Oh no, Pearly has him."

His poker face cracked slightly. A smidgen of a smirk cropped onto his face.

"Looks like we're not the only ones Pearly got to." She spoke once more.

Wright offered a small chuckle in reply.

"I'm not sure if it is more punishing that Apollo is receiving all the fire." She shifted to his other shoulder, minding the javelin darts of his hair.

He hummed in agreement, feeling her travel around him with her dark veil of hair ticklishly brushing ever so softly and often.

"Or maybe it is like how she scolded you for not going after me?" She quipped, "the apple doesn't fall far from the court."

He exhaled nasally, muttering low enough for her to hear without peeping towards her. "You're not out of the loop either, Ms. Oblivious. Pearls upped the ante on you, too."

She huffed, mock playfully digging her nails into his jacket. "You're the most air headed when it comes to that topic. I always knew what I felt."

It was benumbing to acquire Maya's attraction, but much more blooming when his heedlessness came crashing down like a fifty pound sledgehammer. It didn't make his shoulders tingle any less like they are right now when he returned said feelings to the person over him at the moment. He silently thanked the medium for being one of those persons who enlightened him.

Deep deep down, something else was reveling and sprawling that such a connection has been established.

Maya fluttered whimsically, bouncing from one ear to the next. Unsure whether playing devil or angel or perhaps an amalgam of the two consciousness, he was smitten to listening to the sprite.

"You think if Athena was here, that Pearly's job as Cupid would get louder?" She asked teasingly.

Phoenix felt his facade crumble. A wicked grin stuck onto his visage, which he was more than safe to assume his 'conscious' hovering around him shared. "Without a doubt. 3 Month's Fiancé would come by if Pearls had the chance to call the TV network."

"I bet I would need those ear plugs again," Maya chimed. "But I think I'll let my ears bleed just to hear them squirm out horrible excuses of how 'wrong' Pearly is."

"They may be lawyers," Phoenix drawled. "But I don't think they can come up with a defense on their behalf when Pearls is drilling them. Puts all the other prosecutors to shame."

Now Maya couldn't get the image out of her head - Pearl throwing hands onto the benchtops while she grilled questions and evidence towards Athena and Apollo for sinfully hiding their true feelings from the public. She would bring about some mysterious evidence and witnesses, which he could only speculate that he and Maya would land on such a list, to thwart their not guilty pleas. And knowing very well that the judge would fall for any cute guest in the court with glitter eyes would fall apart and automatically side with them faster than he would for his grandkids.

Yeah, it would be louder.

"Hold the phone," Maya perked upon listening esoterically. "Win her back? From who? That crazy samurai prosecutor guy that you said blew up a courthouse?"

Wright shook his head. He was more than sure that letter he gave her about the court bombing a year back was not devised by Blackquill.

"No," he corrected. "I said the court blew up from another person, but it was not done by that prosecutor. The one that was at the door earlier."

It was strange how he could feel her pulse rushing through his clothes, like a tempered river, while she conjured some otherworldly idea in that brain of hers.

"Either way. I don't know if Pearly means winning her back by mortal courting or mortal combat. I'm sorry, Apollo, but I don't think you'd make it if it was combat." She throatily giggled.

Another airy chuckle escaped from Wright, mingling with Maya's. 'This time, I have to agree with Maya.'

Maya tapped her chin in thought before breaking apart. Her excitement rolling into his ear, "do you think he actually has japanese steel somewhere?!"

Wright slightly blanched, "I don't know and I don't want to know. Just be happy they don't allow weapons in the courtroom."

"It hasn't stopped people before. The court did go BOOM." Maya pouted before grinning once more, "you think he likes the Steel Samurai?"

Wright leaned back in his chair, fancying the idea. Maya's giddy fingers gripped, as he answered, "it wouldn't surprise me."

"Another tall, dark, and fiersome likes the Steel Samurai." She deduced.

Wright's brows knit together, "what other are you talking about now?"

"Who else, but Edgeworth!?" She announced proudly in their bubble, "he practically screams 'I own season one to fifteen on 4K Remastered.'"

"Now that I think about it…"

Shuffling into his memory, a year back Edgeworth seeked Wright's help on a hint towards discovering who was the Phantom. Entering into partially considered enemy territory of the Prosecutor's Office was considered time-out from the courtroom woes for in need of cooperation. The taste was not of his palette, but it artistically, it was refined to fit the setting of persecution of the pursued. It was definitely better than the decor of the courthouse. He should ask Edgeworth's decorator to spritzen the halls of justice sometime.

Entering his office for a long needed discussion and minor celebration of returning to law, Wright could finally speak with Edgeworth in a much more proper manner. It was far too long. Finally, Wright could speak with his longtime childhood friend as once again a proud defense attorney and not as the forger he was framed to be. After a brief handshake and a true men's hug, he got to sit down and admire the Chief Prosecutor's swanky office. Giant mahogany desk, sleek tiles, his first suit framed displayed proudly on the wall and - hold the front door - what is that? He could not confuse that statue with any other franchise. The steel samurai statue, posed perfectly in a battle ready position right under the display frame. Wow. It would not surprise him if it was actually made out of steel, but most likely it was harder than porcelain. Edgeworth's love of the show started with old Signal Samurai and moved towards the Steel Samurai. Maya would be jealous if she saw it and mostly likely borrowed it if she saw it in person.

"I think he does have a statuette in his main office of the Steel Samurai."

"Case solved." Maya pumped her fist. She crumpled back again behind Wright before keeping silent.

It appears Apollo somehow managed to survive Pearl's line of fire. But for how long? Nobody knew.

"Mr. Wright…?" Apollo's statement dragged onto a question.

Wright inwardly mused while keeping his neutral expression as Maya mildly vented herself behind him, stifling a giggle. Not exactly caught, but not entirely innocent, he replied, "Yes, Apollo."

"...I'm going to see if anyone might need the Agency's help." The tension that was currently bottled up hidden partially away from Apollo's voice.

"Alright. If you see Athena..." His voice partially interrupted by a silent chuckle over his shoulder. He could feel Apollo falter a bit with just the mention of the lucky contestant he was recently brandished with, confining the mutual pleasure emitted tucked away. "Let us know what she's up to."

Apollo winced, feeling the smaller medium's unfaltering gesture behind him, unsure how to respond. "Alright!"

"Seeya around." Maya emerged with a playact blameless wave somehow believable enough before Apollo left the office door.

This was a familiar ambience. He could not put his finger on it immediately until he saw the red tailed younger lawyer speed off from the younger medium in training's devious yet innocent intentions as if it were the rabies virus incarnate. It was just Maya, Pearl and himself occupying the same office. That was it. Though years later, the nostalgia of being the only lawyer surrounded by the mediums came rushing in like warm water. Albeit sometimes reluctantly pushed and harrassed by said spirit summoners. It was their exotic antics, specifically Maya being the captain of those horrid adventures and Pearl instigating them somehow draining him as soon as his victory from his cases came to fruition. Scratch that. Before, during, and the most draining; after the case. The wallet itself looked later at him like a deflated whoopee cushion and nearly entered his pocket with the same comic relief. Yet, he could never say no to them. He was wrapped tighter around them than that sash around Maya's waist.

Speaking of waist, he could feel that brush of her sash barely grazing at his elbow, crooning over him and his desk. She eyed the work dubiously, eventually coming to terms with 'too much, don't want to read.'

"Whatya doing, Nick?"

"Before you interrupted?" He tried to add merit to his papers, but the face she was giving him showed no remorse. "Finishing up the paperwork for my last case."

"Which was…?" She waved for emphasis. 'Details! Details!'

"Ms. Spectre's case." He pointed pen in hand, haphazardly.

"What was she charged for again?" Maya keened over upset.

"She was arrested on suspicion of assault. By my notes, there was someone else there who confronted the victim besides her. No weapon or reason for attacking the person was pinned on her besides defending herself. She did not inflict anything on the victim that landed him in the hospital." He summarized, eyes skimming from paper to her.

"I think this is one of the few cases you ever got that wasn't murder, Nick." Maya mulled, "count your lucky stars..."

The medium escaped from behind the desk. She bellowed happily, "and mine! Thanks again for saving the Madam!"

'Maya… you don't have lucky stars… You have more strikes than you can count on a hand…'

"So they never caught the guy, huh?" She returned from her cheery stretch.

"No." He jotted down on the document. "It's technically under Criminal Affairs' Department now."

"Not entirely a relief…" Maya slammed the desk causing Wright to grow wide eyed at her. "Whoever did this is still out there! We normally always catch the bad guy and throw them in jail all in one go."

"I know what you mean. It's very different…" Wright agreed lowly.

'But the work, stress and a few grey hairs are prevented.'

"That hasn't stopped us from looking for this person ourselves," Maya summoned a demur grin.

"We defend our clients, Maya." Wright stammered, "we don't exactly look for the perp unless Affairs asks for help."

"Do you hear yourself, Nick?" She guffawed. "We investigate, defend and arrest the bad guy in one go. That lawyering gig plays as detective, cop and almost prosecution all at once. All you need to do is take the guard keepers job too and you have the whole cake!"

He was about ready to open his mouth and protest, but dang it she was right!

Not only does he have the initial hassle of discovering clients that are borderline demonized from public view of the court hearing and by the Criminal Affairs' to Prosecution Department, detective work tended to somersault the responsibilities onto him. Half the time he does better detective work on crucial evidence and misplaced clues compared to certain patrons at the crime scene. He didn't want to give any names, but his early years tend to ring bells. He begged that some evidence could give him the edge; unfortunately, practically all unearthed evidence throws the necessary ammunition for the prosecution to fling at him like a heat seeking missile. Albeit, more of a metaphorical one, in comparison to every other object on a person or courtroom can be used as a weapon to throw at him. Scratch that. It's arguably literal. Include occupation of victim, too.

The best part about receiving any official benefiting evidence was seeing the absolute look of upcoming defeat on the prosecution's face. For once he hoped, in other words: he constantly deludes, that this would bring about a somewhat quick, satisfying solution and end to a case. But he was gullible. Too gullible. The gavel rattle of Not Guilty never came and the one question that always comes out of the mouth's of either the prosecution, judge, and once in a while - witness, never failed to violently have the rug pulled right under him.

'Then who did it?'

Someone ought to give the judge a bit of a memo on the subject of finding the real lawbreaker is on the prosecution's part! The prosecution is the one that took on the case and convicted. If somehow his client they believed was not the criminal, should that not mean they have to go after the true culprit?! Ironically befitting of him, he has to somehow find and prosecute the actual crook all in one go.

Then when the nail biting, teeth grinding truth is finally established without a doubt within those courtroom walls, by a miracle, the true criminal can finally be put behind bars. If the scores were tallied, he had to humbly put it that he did indeed prosecute and arrest on top of his primary defending career in a span of three days. Sometimes less!

"Guh…" Was all that spilled in a defeated guttural groan.

"The only real downside is you not getting four salaries," she shrugged. "Bummer."

Phoenix could feel the curvature of his spine descend more as the weight of that thought materialized that this unfiltered medium brought up. If he didn't fix his posture now, the divot might become permanent. All he needed was this medium to deliberately point out the kyphosis marginally apparent would indicate his 'old age.'

"Well… technically you do receive four salaries." She pointed towards the empty office.

"Hm?" He finally looked at her encouraging orbs.

"You have Apollo, Athena, and Trucy." She suggested, "they help out around here. So, there you go."

Of course, he couldn't leave out his co-counsels. Whether it be Maya, Athena, Pearl, or whomever may be at his side. However, it wasn't for their salary. At least they make it worth the effort in a semi congratulations and their presence. It would be their perplexing way of thinking or quirky strategies to assist in twisting things around. Maya was the sole proprietor for the bizarre. In the pits of ludicrous concepts, there was an ingenious one she'd pluck out and hand it to him like an unwrapped package. Ultimately, he was ever grateful that they would endure the grit along with him. One of his very first, currently affixed onto, enamored and once spirit medium in training - Maya Fey.

'How do you destroy and lift my spirits at the same time…?'

"Yeah, I do." He admitted humbly, a small grin now stuck on his face.

"So hurry up with those papers, will you?" She pointed over his desk like an office manager holding back a scolding.

"I would've been done much earlier, ma'am," he hid the playful grin. "But I've been interrupted from my work a bunch of times. Give me a break."

"No excuses," she wagged again. "This place doesn't need slackers. Only the best!"

"So that would mean I am the best," He grinned at the paperwork. "I started this place."

"No, you did not," Maya tapered jocosely. "A Fey started this office and a Fey might have to maintain it because someone is messing up."

"...!"

"So hurry up!" She continued chastising. "I don't want to spend all day in the office staring at you doing paperwork."

Wright was well aware Maya was playing, but he could only sigh. Just a few more signatures and a couple more details and he'd skim off the major detailed sections where he'd inscribe charge of murder in previous cases. That would remain vacant. Thank goodness.

"Don't think I forgot about that little incident you told me about." Maya's expression became stern.

"What incident?" Wright wrote off his signature.

"Your little battle from what I heard." She slammed his desk, "we should try to find this person, Nick!"

"Edgeworth is already looking into it."

"You just had to get the special executive help." She hinted. "But we tend to go faster!"

"As much as I want to know who, I prefer not to end up in the hospital again." He acquiesced.

"Fire extinguisher or not, this is now personal!" She bellowed.

"When is it not for you, Maya?" He continued writing.

"I'll be asking the questions." She pressed, "do you remember who did it?"

"No…"

"You think it was the same person who assaulted the guy on this case?" She prodded the paper on his desk.

"Maybe, but we can't assume." Wright corrected.

"Still a hunch, Nick." A glimmer in her eye sent a dangerous shiver down his spine, "they always return to the scene of the crime."

"This isn't the same scene," the pen clicked in his hand before collecting the sheets and stacking them properly in place. "You just want an excuse to leave the office."

"No and yes!" She retorted. "We should go together."

"Yeah! You two should go together!"

Their necks twisted towards the announcement. It was none other than the matchmaker from Medium Valley. She giddily tipped on her sandals and clasped her hands together.

"Take out Mystic Maya, Mr. Nick. She came all the way from Kurain just to be with you and you haven't taken her out yet!" She patronized, "she's on vacation. Don't dally on it!"

'This little minx jinxed us. Now it's on us… knock on wood.' He mentally drawled as his knuckle kissed the desk a few times before retreating.

Maya tsked hearing his signal waver her unintended magic. 'You're the one who's going to buy me a coke later, Mister!'

"But my paperwork isn't done." He half lied.

"No, no! I'll organize the rest." Pearl slammed a hand on the desk. Gosh this poor object is being punished. "Go out now! And make her feel special."

"But…" He faltered. Guess his little argument about admitting his feelings only dug him worse into the grave, cremated and threw out the mausoleum key.

Before he can finish protesting, Maya grabbed his wrist and ran out the door like a freight train. Pearl giddily jumped before exclaiming, "in case anyone comes in, I'll take down their name."

The medium shook her head, "The nerve of him. I think Maya is the one who, 'wears the pants.'

Now vacant in the office, she ran to Wright's desk. Sitting in the main comeback king's seat felt grand. It's not the first and it definitely won't be the last time. She tucked herself in that swiveling chair on wheels.

"I'm the boss." She giggled. 'Someone should get me some tea and dumplings.'

Her eyes darted curiously on the utensils and desk arrangement, fascinated by the smallest of devices. Looks like she had two jobs to do and she was going to fulfill them beyond satisfactory.

"Ms. Regina Fate Spectre." She read aloud, almost angry. "She would never do that!"

Pearl could use her own phone, but she could resist the one on the desk. Her tiny fingers gripped that office phone before scuttling several dials on the surface.

She sat there contentedly until the line cut and went straight to voicemail.

'That's weird…'

She skirted across the surface once more. The same dull cutoff droned. She pouted in defeat.

"She's not picking up." She thought, 'let me try…'

A couple hums in and a stern voice commanded from the other line. "Talk to me…"

She jumped. "Mr. Cheshire, don't do that! You sound scary."

"Ah... Hello, little lady." His voice lightened, faint of the apologetic side. "I didn't recognize the number at first."

"Sorry. I decided to use Mr. Nick's office phone since it was here."

"I see." Cheshire noted.

"Are you off today?" Her dangly legs kicked happily.

"No, I'm working. Man's got a job."

"Is Ms. Regina with you right now?" She fluttered on the chair, bouncing several times on wheels.

"She's not with me."

"Awww…" Her shoulders lightly faltered. "I thought she was with you all the time."

"Not all the time. Sometimes…" He voice actually faltered lowly.

"Do you call her?"

"Once in awhile."

"I tried calling her but she's not picking up." She surrendered partially.

"Her phone is probably dead again."

"She should really watch her phone and charge it."

"She forgets sometimes…"

"I'm always caring for mine because in Kurain, we never get any cool phones."

"How about you?" He piqued.

"I'm okay. I just finished helping with Mr. Nick's office."

"That's good." He added, almost as if ready for any extra details.

"Mr. Nick and Mystic Maya are out together right now." Pearl grinned widely.

"Really?" He sounded surprised.

"Yeah. It's by time they get some time together." She chastised, crossing one arm.

"He just walked out like that…? Let me guess, she scooped him."

"Mystic Maya always has to push Mr. Nick to do things. He can be so. So. I think Mystic Maya used the term blockheaded."

She heard a strong single laugh before continuing. "You're alone...?"

"Yes. I'm watching over the office while everyone is out."

"Bad. I am not judging him out loud…" He inferred.

"I can watch the office on my own." She oriented highly.

"It is not about that."

"It's not the first time I've done it."

"If so, hold down the fort for me, then."

"I will."

"Good girl."

"I'm not a little girl anymore! I'm eighteen!" She detonated.

"...I'm sorry-" she cut him off.

"-Fully grown adult, Mister! I've watched the village without Mystic Maya and I've watched the office without Mr. Nick, Mr. Justice and Athena! I've also got evidence without any of there help when they needed it!"

"Alright!" He surrendered to the angry medium.

"Call me lady… like last time. Or call me woman." She imposed.

"Good woman…" He growled.

"Promise by it!" She pointed at the phone.

"You want me to what?"

"Hand up and promise."

"You can't even tell if I would." He skeptically enlivened.

"Do it." She commanded.

The man gave off a long drawled sigh. "I swear…"

"Promise?"

"Yes…" He gave in.

"You keep working. I got to watch over the office." She happily boasted.

"Bye."

"Bye."

Her hands placed down the phone before patting her hands triumphantly. 'I got duties to do now.'

File near complete, she peered to see the charges once more and simply finished the required areas that wouldn't need Wright's signature. A few boxes there, editing involving parties here. If it were up to her, she'd throw the papers into embers and pretend like it never happened.

'Ms. Regina is far too busy making wishes and working to do such a thing!' The pen squeezed in anguish.

She scanned the residing prosecutor - Gaspen Payne. Never has she met him, but she was happy her adversary by proxy did not have a face to attach. Almost as if he didn't have one or... disappeared.