Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman

Chapter Four: A Southern Screw

The four friends were standing there in a nonspeaking four-person wall for what seemed like eons. But in actuality, the stunned eight-eyed stare down at the two recently arrived prosecutors only lasted about a few seconds. Surprisingly, Larry was the first to recover.

"Edgy, my man!" He lunged forward with his usual gusto and grabbed Edgeworth's hand, frantically shaking it up and down as if pumping for water. "Long time no see! And Franzy! Looking good as usual!" He then lurched towards the infamous whip-wielding lawyer and crushed her against him in the world's most awkwardly suffocating clasp.

Franziska visibly cringed at the unexpected and obviously unwanted contact.

"Unhand me, you fool!" She hissed. Amazingly enough though, she didn't reach for her ever-ready weapon to enforce her command. Instead, she just looked helplessly about her, the desperation in her eyes so acute that Maya couldn't help but pity the other woman, in spite of everything. After all, who wanted to be smothered against The Butz?

"Mr. Edgeworth, no apologies required. Better late than never right?" Maya dragged together the rags of her composure and wedged herself firmly between her friend and his companion, who was still locked in The Butz's stifling embrace.

The act had the required effect of forcing Larry to loosen his clutch so the German woman could wrench herself away. Franziska stood there, panting slightly and looking simultaneously relieved yet winded, while Maya put her arms around the comely prosecutor for a quick, though nowhere near as unwarranted or inappropriate, hug. Edgeworth returned the friendly gesture readily, albeit somewhat stiffly. Despite his fondness for Maya, he had never been the fuzzy, physically affectionate type with anyone, despite the fact that they all knew he was a big softy under his occasional lofty exterior.

Turning then to his companion, Maya put on her most disarming smile, as if being congenial to the woman who had twice tried to have her wrongfully incarcerated for murder and then showed up impromptu at her milestone birthday was the most natural thing in the world.

"Miss Von Karma, so glad to see you after all this time," was her gracious greeting to her unwelcome guest. "While this is the most pleasant of, ah, surprises, we've always believed in 'the more, the merrier' concept. Haven't we, Nick?"

The gentle prod had the desired outcome of Phoenix finally snapping out of his gaping stupor and looking sheepishly at the two. "Absolutely," he agreed heartily, shaking Edgeworth's hand and flashing Franziska his most shit-eating grin. "Welcome, guys. It's been awhile, huh? We were just getting ready to order. You look lovely tonight, Ms. Von Karma. Is that a new dress?"

So he's not completely incapable of giving compliments to women, it would appear. Maya reflected grumpily, all the while hating herself for being so uncharacteristically catty about such things. Just me apparently. I don't want to be so spiteful as to not acknowledge the turquoise knit dress makes her look less intimidating than her customary black garb. Nevertheless, it's a conservative, long-sleeved, turtleneck design! I'm dressed to kill...and even wearing a push-up bra! Yet still...nada. Not even a second glance.

Everyone seated themselves at the table, and Franziska smiled stiffly at Phoenix's earlier praise, as if the motion was unnatural for her. Actually, given her tumultuous courtroom history with the defense attorney, a snarl was probably much more customary, though in this instance, hardly appropriate.

"Danke, Phoenix Wright," she replied coolly. "It is something new that I picked up in Germany a sennight ago. While it is also spring over there, the weather is still chillier than here in Los Angeles this time of year. Although, considering the arctic temperature of this place..." she added pointedly. "I am most glad to be covered up somewhat, unlike your poor companion there, who is practically nude in comparison and appears to be morphing into a Smurf before our very eyes. Did you not think to tell her she may need a cover-up in this kind of environment?"