Hey, there. I'm back. Gosh, I had one HELL of a sh*tty month. Well, I'm still glad because I officially passed my first tests. Although the price had been MANY hours of work. (When it comes to such kind of things, I can really become a control freak – there is almost no difference to Franziska! xP) This had been the main reason I had no time to write.
Originally the topic of the chapter had been another one. But I recently took some time and watched the movie "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993) since I wanted to catch up my Shakespeare knowledge. And, wow, the whole intrigue about Hero did not interest me at all BUT I adored the scenes with Benedick and Beatrice! The way they argued – I just can't get enough of love-hate-relationships. And this movie had been the inspiration for the chapter.
I used a scene of the play and created a version for Nick and Franny. I'm sure the ones who know Shakespeare's story recognize exactly which one I took here.
Btw, this is also set in the future. Enjoy! ;)
"There are lots of things I can used to live with…" Phoenix muttered to himself. "But THIS is the end of reason!" He watched over the others who gave Apollo their graduations to his engagement with Kay Faraday. Seriously… how could that happen? This two just felt head over heels for each other in less than a few seconds!
And the worst part was yet to come! Now almost all of his male friends were married. First it hit Gumshoe years ago with his love for Maggey Byrde. Well, that woman might be an unlucky wretch but she had a kind soul. The next had been Godot when he met Adrian Andrews for the first time. Phoenix remembered that even Mia helped them to get together when Maya challenged her. Oh, talking about his assistant (since Athena helped Apollo out, Maya took in her old place)… She and his childhood friend Edgeworth managed it to become a couple! The complete universe must have gone crazy! Even Klavier and Ema were dating now!
"Am I supposed to be the only bachelor for the rest of my life?" He ignored Larry since he had no intentions to compare his life to Larry's ambition to get it on with every pretty girl. "To be honest, I have not such an interest in getting married… I already have adopted and raised a child. I did my work for the population!"
He walked down the street while talking to himself. Normally he would just thinking about all this stuff in silence but the whole situation just frustrated him! "I won't mention my last girlfriend who tried to kill me! Dahlia, yes, she was the devil himself. Not comparable to her sister. Most woman I like seem to have dark intentions. Looking back to Dee Vasquez. I remember that I was mesmerized by her beauty for a few seconds but we all know how that case ended! Maybe I truly am a masochist? I thought about Angel Starr being pretty after she threatened the crap out of me… And how in the seven hells could I think that Franziska von Karma – the one who swore bitter revenge on me and never misses a change to argue with me – was cute? I'm still hoping that it was just the fever… Even though, she trulyis…"
The defense attorney laid a hand on his forehead. Such ridiculous words! "I digress. The main point is that I can't understand how a man – who always made fun of other lovers – can act like a true fool when he, himself, is in love." Yes, he planned to use that word on purpose. He heard it hundreds of times in court when Franziska was the prosecutor. "I will never act like this!" he said.
Phoenix heard that the others came closer. He was simply not in the mood to chit-chat with them right now. Nevertheless, he was curious about the news since they seemed to talk about something else now. He decided to hide behind a wall. So he could hear them but they couldn't see him.
Unfortunately his plan was doomed to fail right from the beginning. The others already knew that Nick was there. So they started the "Big Plan". This one was nothing else than managing the impossible – to bring Phoenix Wright and Franziska von Karma together. All the others were included, too.
When Edgeworth, Apollo and Gumshoe passed by, the detective said loud enough for Phoenix to hear: "I still can't believe it, pal! Your sister has a crush on him? Mr. Wright!?"
To this, Phoenix almost tripped over his own feet. "What!?" he whispered.
"I couldn't believe it either!" Miles answered true to the script. "Although she would never confess it, it's quite obvious! Maybe she acts like she wants to rip his throat out but actually she just wants to hide her true feelings."
"But how do you know!?" Apollo asked like they prepared the whole talk. "Don't tell me that she actually confessed that!"
The prosecutor made a snoar. "Of course not! But I grow up with her and I see the way her eyes light up whenever his name is mentioned. But as soon as she talks with somebody or even – especially him, she desperately tries to cover her admiration with the best acted loathing! Even then it's undeniable that she just can't stop caring about him! And there are lots of other hints, too!"
"What kind of hints!?" Gumshoe asked suddenly. Apollo and Edgeworth glanced dangerously at him since that was not part of the script! But, oh well, improvisation never killed anybody…
"Well…" Franziska's brother thought a few seconds about it. "She never actually speaks that low about him as you might expect from her… And when someone made fun of him for losing his attorney's badge once, she almost sounded defending when she talked to this person… And… but this you can never ever tell somebody! When they are telephoning, she draws little hearts on a paper. But only as long as she does not get mad about something he has done with the case." He cleared his throat. "You see… This might not be the world but compared to her, it's like… the scene in How The Grinch Stole Christmas when the heart finally grows." After that the prosecutor bid his tongue. This was by far the most stupid thing he had said in years! … Gumshoe's fault! He did not follow the script!
Phoenix feared that his eyes might jump out of his head. If Apollo wouldn't be there, he would be sure that this was a joke! And how did Edgeworth know the Grinch!?
"Anyway…" Miles continued. "She would rather die than telling him! You know how proud she is and to know that he knows about this would probably kill her… or she would freak out like never before."
Apollo nodded. "I agree." His voice became louder. "And Phoenix would mock her! I recently saw a tape about their first case and everybody would just have shout up about her failure! But not him! He naturally used her own words against her and blamed her this way!"
"Yeah!" Gumshoe shouted. "That man has as much tact as an elephant!"
To this, Phoenix almost jumped up. WHAT did they thought about him!?
"And he should know it better!" Edgeworth started the last thing for the defense to her. "He and his face should be happy about every woman they can get! There ae not many girls who could get that insane!"
"You dumba-" Phoenix stopped himself from cursing before they heard them. But luckily they finally were about to go.
When the trio was out of reach, they started to laugh. "Come on!" Edgeworth said. "Let's search my sister and ask her to invite Wright to the Welcome back-party for Payne this evening. She still owes me something for the last case she had."
The defense attorney did not hear anything about the last part. His thoughts had been too distracting anyway. Franziska… had a crush on him!? "Well, it's not like I don't enjoy that or even thought about the possibility of it before. But it seems so unreal… that it must be true! She kinda acts a lot nicer around me than years ago. But, the hell! Why does she have that kind of feelings?" He walked back to his office and that gave him enough time to think about it. "Sure. It's undeniable that some part of me also laid eyes on her. She is unbelievable smart, beautiful beyond all means and… let's say she has a very interesting character."
A walked around the building where he could see his reflection in a store's glasses. "And who can blame her. I am clever, too. I even defeated her various times in court… But I should never start a possible date talking about that. My face is okay. I have no clue what they were talking about. And besides of some flaws in my past, I am actually a good companion." He thought about it again and he made his decision. "Fine. I will take her before she gets totally desperate. It's also not like every man could handle her and we can actually get along when we are not arguing. And I will show the others that I won't make fun of her! I, Phoenix Wright, will woo for Franziska von Karma! … And she will kill me in less than a second for it."
He decided to go back to the main street that leaded to his office. "There is nothing to be afraid of- Oh, crap! There she is!" His first instinct had been to cover somewhere but there must be a reason she walked in the direction where he worked. Perhaps she wanted to visit him? Nevertheless, he had to stay cool. So he sat down on a bank and read the newspaper that luckily laid there. It just took a few seconds more…
"Mr. Phoenix Wright!" she sounded annoyed. Or maybe she just tried to hide her excitement to see him? Gosh, that woman was a total mystery!
"Oh, Ms. von Karma!" he said just like he saw her right now. He looked up to meet her gaze. "How delightful to see you again!" Hell, no! That sounded a way too sarcastic!
She rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately I can't say the same about you! My little brother asked me, against my will, to invite you to this foolish party for this foolishly foolish prosecutor who comes back after a long stay in hospital." She already turned away.
It would not be effective if she'd leave right now. "Thanks for telling me!" he returned. To this she faced him again. An awkward silence surrounded them. Especially when he smiled at her and she just became more confused. "It's not a big deal, fool. If it had been a struggle to invite you, I wouldn't have done it."
"So… you like it?" He knew he acted like a fool. It surprised him that she hadn't used her whip already to keep him silent. "To invite me?"
Her eyes narrowed him. "Oh, don't act that foolish! I like it as much as you try to thank me." Sounded like she did not realized that he truly meant it. He really wanted to return something but she was already gone.
When she was out of sight, he repeated the talk once again in his mind. "My little brother asked me, against my will, to invite you to this foolish party." And then he nodded with a content grin. "This has a double-meaning!"
She was in a rage.
How could he dare it to act that foolishly around her? Did he do that on purpose!? That kind smile and his warm eyes whenever he was talking to her? She tried to be mean and he just spoke to her like she was a friend. Oh, this man just confused her!
Before she walked to the prosecutor's building, she saw Maya Fey, Adrian Andrews and Trucy Wright talking on the sideway. They seemed to be totally excited about something. "So it is true!?" Maya jumped up and down. "I can't believe Nick has feelings for Ms. von Karma!"
It didn't even took a second for Franziska to stand still. The words echoed through her head. No way! She might misheard his foolish assistant! But soon Trucy continued. "I couldn't believe it either! But I am his daughter and I just see those things!"
She already hated herself when she, the prodigy, hided herself to hear more. "No man would spend that much time thinking and talking about a woman like her if he hasn't any kind of feelings for her." Trucy said.
"Yeah, but this two?" Maya shouted excited. "I just can't believe it! They are as different as day and night!"
"Opposite attraction, perhaps?" Trucy helped. "Well, at least from his view. You know, daddy would never confess that to her. I think he knows that she just would use that knowledge against him. Who knows how Ms. von Karma would react?"
Now it was Adrian's turn. "You're right. Even though Franziska is my best friend, I actually feel sorry for Mr. Wright."
Maya played the shocked one. "What are you saying? Why?"
The blonde cleared her throat and raised her voice since her words were the important part for Franziska to hear. "Because that woman would not even recognize a man's love for her when it is written all over his face! To be honest, I don't think Phoenix will try it that long to get her attention. She would never allow herself to get a deeper look into the heart of someone – her pride is far too extreme for that." And now the last comment on it. "She doesn't even see that emotions like hate or this little care she feels are actually closer to love than indifference. I think she is just not mature enough to be in a relationship. And that woman should be lucky about any man who is actually foolish enough to fall for a neurotic, imperious miss-all-grown-up like her!"
"Adrian Andrews, you bit-" She bit her tongue before they heard her. How could they even dare!? Some part of her prayed that this was a joke! But this trio – as various as their characters might be – should really know it better than making fun of such a thing. So the only conclusion that remained was… they told the truth.
The other were already gone when Franziska thought about it. "This fool! How can he become even more foolish than he actually is!? Did he lost his mind? I try my best to treat him like an idiot and he dares it to fall for me!? Have I use my whip one time too hard on him and now something's wrong with his foolishly foolish head? … How can he be that stupid! He and me – that's ridiculous! Even I wouldn't like myself if a clone of mine would stand right in front of me!" Her voice pitched. It was not because she dislike the thought… Actually, she feared for her sanity when she mused that she indeed liked it.
"An outstanding person would really complain about it – that I could catch someone better. He's foolish, naïve, obsessed with cleaning, too kind for his own good, foolish, owns a very complicated past where all of us are in some way included and… did I already mention that he is a fool!?" Just then she sensed that she was walking around without a reason. "But... on the other hand… he is loyal, devoting, a challenge, smart enough to stand up against me, caring and just… him." She rolled her eyes. "And then he is so foolish to pick me! Phoenix Wright and I are arguing, complicated and… Oh, no! The worst part is that we could even work as a foolish couple! It's strange enough to be successful."
Her mind listed all the reasons why this was wrong. Secretly she welcomed it. "Fine." She confessed. "I will give it a try. What other woman could handle a foolishly foolish fool like him? Perhaps our different personalities are just what we need? Who knows! It will be messy, a chaos and still…" She bit her lip. Not because she became nervous – it should stop her from grinning like one of those foolish girls with a foolishly foolish crush on a foolish man. "I do believe there always had been a thin line between us. And now, maybe something more will develop."
She took a deep breath. "Hmm… I need a new dress for the party to show this fool what a perfect catch he will make – even though I definitely won't make it that easy for him. I'm sure Adrian Andrews will lend me one of her pretty dresses – what reminds me to talk with her about her view on me later on. A neurotic, imperious miss-all-grown-up!? That will have payback – I still have photos with her and Lana Skye from her 26th birthday party to show Godot – How drunk have this two fools actually been!?"
It was getting dark and she still needed to get ready for the party. "So I should go. Many things are going to be settled tonight. And it's gonna be perfect."