Blew Into Town

Franziska set down her carry on bag on Miles' desk before pausing to look around his office. As formal and stuffy as ever. She wasn't looking forward to working here. Perhaps she would redecorate, something stark and open, airy in a Spartan kind of way. Miles wouldn't be pleased, though, and she couldn't risking not having an office at all. Smugglers were a nasty piece of work, and Franziska didn't need any additional troubles.

Perhaps she should call Miles. Her assignment had brought her here rather suddenly with only enough time to alert the Chief Prosecutor that she would be comandeering the office. But on the other hand, a surprise would do Miles good. Having a routine was one thing, but he seemed stuck in a rut. Smirking, Franziska selected a book from one of the towering shelves, and perched herself on the edge of the desk to read.

Mia knocked on the door to Edgeworth's office tentatively. 'I sure hope he's back from his lunch break...I only have fifteen minutes to spare here...And who knows what Phoenix is up to at the office...'

Franziska looked up from the book, when she heard the knock. She cocked an eyebrow. Miles wouldn't knock, he'd just come in, same with that Gumshoe buffoon. Kay wouldn't knock either, or use the door, for that matter. A client, perhaps? Franziska wasn't sure how normal prosecutors got their assignments, she always just lurked around the precinct until something juicy came in.

"Edgeworth isn't here right now," Franziska announced, opening the door to find an older woman. "Oh, Mia Fey, correct? Defense attorney?"

Mia was taken aback, but regained composure quickly. "Hello, Ms. von Karma. Do you know where Mr. Edgeworth is? We were supposed to discuss a case today."

'I hope she's not the prosecution on this case...she'll kick me out faster than Diego can drink a cup of coffee...At least Edgeworth is a little bit more lenient...' she thought to herself.

Somthing juicy had just knocked on the office door. "I'm afraid I don't know where Miles is, I just arrived in town about an hour ago on INTERPOL business. Sorry, you said you were to discuss a case? I'm fairly certain that neither you nor Miles do out of court settlements, which means you're here to discuss a trial. Is that even legal in this country?" A wolfish smile spread over her face as she talked.

Mia felt herself redden, "Ms. von Karma! I don't believe my business with Miles is any of your concern! It could very well be an out of court settlement I'm here to discuss. You know what they say about assuming."

'Calm down, Mia, it's not as though she has any definitive proof that you and Miles are...or does she? Did Edgeworth leave something laying around? I desperately hope he hasn't. He wouldn't, he's too careful...'

Oblivious to the conversation already happening, Apollo went on with his second job, a delivery man. He sighed and remembered just why he was doing this. He felt somewhat uneasy about entering the prosecutions building, let alone their offices. His hair horns were covered up by a hat as he stepped onto the floor of Miles' room holding a box. He approached the door to see the two women standing there.

"Uh...Is Mr. Edgeworth here? I've got to deliver this box of Steel Samurai silverware to him."

"Apollo?" Mia looked at him, stunned. "Why aren't you at the office with Phoenix? Is he there alone again? You know what happens when Phoenix is left alone at the office!" She groaned in disapproval. "Honestly, maybe if you took up more cases, you wouldn't have to play delivery boy for the prosecutors."

"No..." Franziska grinned. She crossed one arm across herself, and with her other hand, tapped a finger to her chin. "This isn't the kind of flustered one would become over something having to do with court. My, my, what has my little brother been up to in my absence?" Stepping back from the door, she gestured graciously. "Please, Ms. Mia Fey, won't you come in? I'll make us tea."

"Ms. Fey? What are you doing here?" His jaw slightly dropped as his hat bounced off of his head as his hair horns flew up in surprise. "And for your instance, it's not that I'm not getting any cases, I've just made the world such a great place that no one's doing anything bad."

Plus, I'm doing this because Trucy wont stop bugging me about the new Steel Samurai costumes...Why she won't use her own pantie money is beyond me..."

"I'm here to discuss something with Mr. Edgeworth, Apollo." Mia turned her attention back to Franziska. "Sure I'll come in to have tea with you, Ms. von Karma. Though there isn't anything going on between us. At least, nothing that you can prove," she blushed deeper.

'If Franziska finds out about this...She'll be sure to tell everyone!' Mia swallowed nervously.

Franziska's eyes narrowed. "I can prove anything. Especially when the suspect confesses." She crossed to her bag to pull out her own special tea (she'd been rather disappointed in the first class stewardesses that she had to bully them into giving her plain hot water with which to make her own tea on the plane) and set to work at the coffee-tea machine. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

"Yes, Ms. von Karma," Mia sat down on the couch facing the bookshelves, watching Franziska as she made tea. "What sort of tea are you making?" She was extremely wary of any tea made by someone other than herself, as a result of her aunt Morgan's green tea that was forced upon her throughout her childhood at Kurain Village.

'C'mon, Edgeworth! Show up already!' she mentally willed him. 'She'll back off if you're here...right??'

"It's a Bavarian tea," Franziska smiled. "Rather strong, but not bitter. Would you like milk or lemon?"

Mia was so uncomfortable, it was wonderful. Franziska couldn't wait to see her squirm when she had Mia and Miles together.

Miles was returning to his office after his usual lunch break. While heading to his office he felt something was wrong. He tried to ignore it but by the time he was standing outside the door he was almost afraid to open it. Against his better judgement, he did.

He didn't expect what was waiting for him. "WHAT. IS GOING. ON." He looked at the array of people in his office.

"Ohhh, brother, you've come back too late," Franziska mock pouted. "I'm afraid I haven't made enough tea for three." As the tea brewed, she returned to her bag to dig for something. "But really, is that how one greets one's sister who's been abroad for some time?"

"Hey, Mr. Edgeworth right? Your shipment of Steel Samurai silverware came in today." He said as he picked up the box and hurried it over to Edgeworth. "I never saw you as a Steel Samurai fan..."

Mia sat silently in the office, watching everything happen. She frowned a bit as the new defense lawyer spoke, wondering why he wasn't at the office with Phoenix. She bit her thumb anxiously, looking from Miles to Franziska, terrified of the conversation that was sure to come from this.

Franziska stifled a laugh. "Steel Samurai silverware? Is that really appropriate for a man in your standing, Miles?"

Miles glared at Franziska while he took his box of cutlery. "Now leave, courier boy, before you get involved in something you have no idea you are starting." He advised Apollo.

"So what's this I hear about a case?" Franziska asked Miles and Mia, leaning back against the desk. By now, the tea's aroma was wafting through the room.

Mia frowned, "It's nothing, Franziska. Just an out of court settlement, is all." She looked sideways at Edgeworth, willing him not to say anything contradictory. She inhaled the scent of the tea, forcing herself to regain composure.

Franziska raised an eyebrow, but said only, "Milk or lemon, Mia Fey?" For herself, she poured a dollop of cream.

"Milk, please, Franziska von Karma," Mia smiled at Franzi. "Um, how long are you planning on having me here? I mean, I have a law firm to run...and I'm sure you two are plenty busy being prosecutors..."

Handing Mia her tea, Franziska smiled. "Oh, just until you finish your tea. Try it, it really is quite good. But, didn't you and Miles have something to discuss? Don't mind me, I'll just be looking through some files for the work I'm doing." True to her word, she pulled a folder out of her bag, but immediately, she dropped it unopened on the desk beside her and settled in to drink her tea.