route_1065 | Lovestruck Romeo, sings the streets a serenade

Entry tags:

Lovestruck Romeo, sings the streets a serenade

Who:

cheapblusuits and

smilegonnakillu , as well as

miniworth and

justicepuns being the best ninjas ever.
Where: Smack dab in the middle on Route 30/31, but slowly progresses towards Violet City. Probably.
When: November 9th, in the early evening (5:00 or so?)
Summary: After sneaking out of Violet four days ago (namely, on the 5th) with only his bag, two of his Pokémon and the clothes on his back, Phoenix Wright finally meets Dahlia Hawthorne face to face. Be prepared for a lot of wibbling, manipulation, and dramatic irony. Miles and Apollo have also followed him from Violet, as well, but neither Phoenix nor Dahlia are aware of this.
Rating: PGish. Depends on how sick you feel reading Dahlia's posts, mmkay. ALSO UH, SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST CASE OF TRIAL AND TRIBULATIONS.
Log:

The feeling wasnt unlike what one would feel when they're about to embark on their first date.

Phoenix had a feeling this was probably NOT a good thing; he was 25, not 15, and it wasn't as if he should be excited about this. Which he wasn't, just...nervous. Incredibly nervous. And scared.

He hadn't told anybody he was leaving. There was a flash of guilt and he sighed, digging his hands into his pockets and continuing to trudge forward across the grass, thinking back to his friends that were probably worried sick about him back in the city. Larry, Edgeworth, Trucy, Maya...but he knew that, if he'd breathed a word of what he was planning to any of them, they would have stopped him in his tracks. You can't do this, they would have said. This is stupid. You can't do this alone.

...they were probably right.

He hadn't seen Dahlia in four years. When she'd been arrested, he'd been too much of a wreck to attend her seperate trial -- and, afterwards, he'd been too much of a coward to visit her in jail. What if she'd been lonely, he thought, glancing up at the sky that was being lightly tinted by the beginnings of evening, a trickling orange bleeding out over his head. What if she'd been lonely?

Maybe he was trying to prove something, setting off on his own like this. He'd been told so many times that what had happened all those years ago wasn't his fault, but just because people said it...didn't make it true. He felt guilty for not protecting her enough, even if she had been in the fault. He felt guilty for not visiting her in the four years since, and felt guilty for trying to forget when he wasn' even completely gone yet. And more than anything, he felt guilty for whatever he did that had made Dahlia hate him.

Even if it was the fact that he'd done nothing that had made her hate him.

...it was all very confusing, and Phoenix didn't want to get a thobbing headache right before he met up with his ex-girlfriend. Pausing at their meeting spot -- a large, low-branched tree smack dab in the middle of the route -- he gestured for his two companions to come to him.

He'd decided to only bring Butch and Pidge on his trip. If something...did end up happening, something that made his stomach churn and his hands sweat with fear and unease, he would need someone to send the message back to Violet. Hence, the Pidgeotto. And Butch...well, he was Butch. The Quagsire could never be persuaded to stay behind, and so come he had. Phoenix had appreciated the company, too.

"Alright, you two." He kneeled down so that he was eye level with Butch, who had paused next to him and was looking up at his trainer with a quizzical expression. Pidge, who had swooped down with a loud "Piii!" when he'd called, hovered near Butch's head, also tilting her head as if to ask him a question. "Pidge, I want you to stay hidden. I--no, don't give me that look, I told you this before we left -- I need you to be able to fly back to Violet and warn the others if..." He dwindled into brooding silence, apprehension beginning to make his hands shake -- but Phoenix quickly shook it off and turned to Butch, after Pidge's objectionable squawks had tapered into resentful consent.

"Butch, just...stick close to me, alright?" He rubbed the Quagsire's head affectionately, and recieved a fond "Quaa!" in return. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"Qua quagsire. Si sire."

"Good to hear." Another grin.

...slowly, he straightened up, gesturing for Pidge to go into hiding as he leaned back against the tree, his loyal starter taking up a laxidasial position next to him. After a flurry of feathers and several loud chirps, the Pidgeotto was nowhere to be seen, and...it was quiet. But for the incessant backgroud music, that is.

And Phoenix waited.

[ooc; What is verbose. AHAHA. S-sorry I talk too much. And apologies for typos, I suck at proofreading my own shit.]

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Dahlia hadn't spent much time in Cherrygrove before leaving and making her way to Violet. Her "boyfriend" was in Violet, along with several others from their world, and he was her main priority. He was from after the trial of the murder she tried to frame him for and, obviously, her plan of putting him in jail and silencing him forever failed.

Even if she despised the man, she would rather stick close to him in order to keep him from letting out information she'd rather have kept quiet. No one suspected her of any crimes in this world. She wanted to have it stay that way.

Her Venonat, Daphne, followed closely behind as they traveled down the path. The sun was beginning to set and the last signs of sunlight were beginning to fade. As Dahlia decided to stop for camp, she noticed something, or rather someone, off in the distance.

There was no longer a need to hunt her "boyfriend" down, it seemed. He had walked right into her hands. He was so predictable. Dahlia was moderately surprised she hadn't run into him sooner.

She allowed a soft smile to grace her face as she approached her "darling" Feenie.

"It's so nice to finally see you again in person, Feenie. It's been so long since we've last met face to face."

She wasn't aware that, to him, it really had been a very long time.

And here Phoenix had thought that seeing Dahlia's face on his Pokégear was the most surprising -- and gut-wrenching -- thing he'd ever experienced.

He was wrong. Seeing Dahlia in person was oh so much worse.

When her voice rang out, he flinched and almost froze on the spot, like a deer caught in headlights. Everything around him just...it seemed to just stop, and the effort he had to take to force himself to turn towards her was startling, frightening. Was he really so hopeless that he would freeze-up at the sight of his dearest Dahlia?

...yes. Yes, he was. Because that look, soft and sweet and just like he remembered, it cut him like a knife.

Because the last time he'd seen her, she'd been practically cursing his name.

He screws his eyes shut and exhales a breath he wasn't aware that he'd been holding, slowly opening them to eye Dahlia with a look that was a mix of gratitude and fear and love, yes, because despite the mess she'd left him in back at home, he still loved this woman so goddamn much. It rocked in his chest, made it ache.

"...Dahlia."

It was all he could manage, with the sudden lump he felt settle in his throat, taking a hesitant step forward with an air of awkward caution. Simultaniously fearful and hopeful, god, so hopeful, because while Phoenix was hoping to find the truth hidden behind Dahlia's eyes...this could be his second chance.

He didn't want to screw this up, not again.

He was so easy to read. She could tell that there was a range of emotions running through him. And if she had been working him right over the last few days, love would be one of those emotions.

"Oh Feenie," she said as she finally reached him. "You didn't have to meet me out here. I was going to come find you in Violet City! But I suppose it doesn't matter now. I'm just glad to see that you're alright."

A small blush appeared on her face as she took another step closer to the lawyer. Playing Phoenix was just too easy, even if it wasn't actually her doing the seducing the majority of the time.

"I'm also glad that we're finally together again."

Part of it was certainly due to Dahlia's acting, of course. But...larger an influence were the remnants of that trial, still so elusive and confusing in Phoenix's mind. He never had closure, never had the chance to ask Dahlia why, why, if that had truly been her on the witness stand, if it had truly been her saying those things...

"I didn't want you to travel by yourself," he murmured, still looking at anywhere but at Dahlia. "It's...sometimes it's not safe. _{Those ledges...}"

When Dahlia steps closer, he stays still, finally forcing his gaze back to her, conflict in his eyes as part of him is urging him to RUN, RUN, but the logical side of his brain had always been trumped by his feelings, always his feelings.

And his feelings were telling him that what happened at home didn't matter. This was Johto. A whole new world, with new people and new experiences and maybe this Dahlia was pure, untainted. He would never know unless he tried...right?

Besides, playing along might just be his safest option. At least that part of his mind was shouting loud enough for him to hear.

...he nods. It had been so long since he'd seen her, and despite everything, he could say this truthfully; "I missed you."

Quiet, almost a whisper.

"Oh, you're so sweet. Daphne has kept me safe...but I wouldn't mind having you around to protect me either."

Hook. Line. And sinker. For the moment, she had him in her grasp. All she needed to do was gain his confidence and loyalty back and things would go according to plan.

"I've missed you too. It's so lonely on these roads. I'm happy to have my Pokemon as company but I've missed having the company of another person."

Urrrrk. Phoenix glances to the side once more, this time out of embarassment rather than awkwrdness, beginning to blush, just a bit. He's matured a lot since his college days, and now, even simple words of affection can make him light up like a fire hydrant. "W-well, as long as make it back to Violet safetly."

At the lonely comment, he nods with understanding. He'd travelling for three days all by his lonesome, and needless to say, he'd enjoyed some company after he'd reached Cherrygrove.

He hands, previously situated in his pockets, worm their way out and hover by his sides, futzing with the fabric of his navy pants. Maybe he wants to hug her? He isn't quite sure himself, really.

_{[ooc; Ah, also! When do you think would be a good time for Stalker and Co. to hop in to this? I was thinking after Phoenix's next comment, not this one, but the one after. :3]}

"I'm sure we'll have no problem as long as we're traveling together."

She should tell by his body language that he was tense and torn between something. This could be the crucial point needed to win him over completely. Shyly, she closed the distance between them and brought her hands to rest gently on his chest. After a moment of standing there in silence, she looked up at him with a charming smile on her face.

"I love you so much, Feenie."

And with that, she leaned on her toes and placed a soft kiss on his lips. The kiss didn't need to be forceful or demanding. Dahlia had learned over the years that gentle actions and a caring face won people over very easily.

Another nod. Phoenix wasn't usually this quiet, but as wrapped up as he was in his own thoughts, this was only natural.

And as she stepped closer, he thought, Can I trust her?

...he shouldn't.

He shouldn't trust her, not after what she did, not after what she said and what she shattered and what she ruined.

He shouldn't be feeling so goddamn happy to hear those words he knew he shouldn't trust, yet he still did anyway.

And suddenly his arms reach up to wrap around her middle back, clutching her like a drowning man to a lifesaver as he gently kissed her back.

He'd missed her so much.

Being the awkward, PDA wary proper adult that he was, it's only a moment before Phoenix pulls away, still holding Dahlia close and feeling embarasment color his face with a light flush. He didn't want her to see him embarassed like this -- so he drops his head to her shoulder, his grip tightening, just a bit.

"Dahlia..." the name ghosted past his lips before he could stop it, and a prickle of something tinged the corners of his eyes and he scrwwed them shut, willing himself not to cry. Don't cry, don't cry.

Dahlia wraps her arms around him as he places his head on her shoulder. This simple action from the man convinced Dahlia that she had won this battle. It really wasn't hard to break down a man and make him into a sniveling lump of flesh.

But that part only worked more to her advantage.

"There there Feenie," she whispered into his ear. "We're together now. Everything will be alright."

Maybe, somewhere dark and deep and cynical, somewhere in a little corner of his mind he never listens to, he knows that this isn't a good idea. His sirens should be going off; Phoenix liked to think he had pretty good intuition, especially as of late. Hadn't he made it his policy to only defend innocent clients? He needed that, that gut feeling that would tell him if he could trust someone or not.

But that little part of him was quiet. Subdued. He couldn't rely on that to help him now, not when his turmoil of feelings had taken him up in full sway.

His grip loosens, only enough to let him raise his head and take a small step back. He knows he's blushing, and he selfconsiously looks away, a bit of a smile -- a sardonic grin, almost -- quirks the sides of his mouth and he mutters, "Yeah. Yeah, it will."

It'll be alright.

Phoenix knew that. He would make it alright, one way or another. He wouldn't let this pain hurt anyone else.

Dahlia brought her hand up to cup the side of Phoneix's face and tilted his head so he was looking at her. Gently, she caressed his cheek with her thumb. She could feel the slight heat of his skin from his blush under her hand.

"It's getting dark, Feenie. Perhaps we should stop and make camp for the night? It's probably dangerous wandering these roads at night."

He takes a moment to close his eyes, let himself, for an instant, drift to someplace where the only thing he can feel is that gentle touch, that soft caress, unladen with fear and worry and fear. A few seconds of bliss, before he sighs wearily and, begrudgingly, brings himself back to the not-so-pleasent reality to nod in agreement at Dahlia's question.

"Yeah. You can't see where you're going at all, even with a flashlight." Phoenix backs away from her completely, hands, no longer having a home, retreating back into his pockets as he glances around for a suitable place to pitch camp. Maybe near that batch of trees a little ways away? He could have sworn he saw them move, though...

Dahlia giggled softly at the comment, as if what Phoenix said was slightly humorous. Both of her hands returned to supporting her umbrella and she watched Phoneix closely to see what his next move was. She would let him figure out where they would stay the night.

"Do you have a good place in mind, Feenie?"

...he could have sworn those bushes had moved. He narrowed his eyes, both curious and a little wary, but instead of saying anything, he just shrugged. He wouldn't want to alarm Dahlia, after all.

...not to say that he wasn't a bit curious.

"Well, that grove of trees over there doesn't look half bad." He pointed towards them, grinning a bit. "What do you think?"

Butch, for his part, voiced his agreement with a loud

"It looks like a nice spot to me."

She would rather not have to camp out in the wild, but she hardly had a choice in the matter. The nearest inn was still a few days away and there didn't seem to be any roadside rest areas anywhere.

Dahlia had noticed a sound coming from the area that Phoenix was pointing at, but it could have been many things. She had come across many wild Pokemon hiding in the bushes while traveling. She wasn't too concerned about what it could be.

After all, she was probably the most dangerous thing out there.

It was safe to say that he did not understand this crazy concept of love.

After witnessing Phoenix's reaction to Dahlia's arrival, Miles Edgeworth had done some investigating. He had spoken to Larry, and he was sure that Larry's story was more true than Dahlia and Phoenix's could ever be. He thought he now understood the look in Phoenix's eyes when the man spoke about Dahlia. Phoenix's blue eyes donned a strange, dull shine whenever Dahlia was on his mind, reflecting hurt, fragility, and fear. But there was longing.

There was that one spark of longing and caring and affection that Edgeworth recognized - how many times had he watched that spark light up in his mother's eyes? - but never understood.

When Dahlia closed the distance between her and Phoenix, Edgeworth had instinctively turned his eyes away, knowing, somehow somewhere in his ten-year-old mind that, even if Dahlia Hawthorne was planning to hurt Phoenix Wright, this wouldn't be the moment, and this wasn't a moment that he should be allowed to watch. He was also close enough to hear the woman mutter her words of affection, and he also (barely, but doubtlessly) heard the man softly utter her name, his voice threatening to crack. Edgeworth could somehow feel the emptiness of Dahlia's words, perhaps an assumption of his own after what he'd discovered about her true nature, but Phoenix--

Biting his lip, Edgeworth turned to look at Phoenix and Dahlia, his heart and stomach sinking when he saw how desperately the man was holding onto his lover. The scene only reflected pain, in Edgeworth's young, ignorant mind, and even if there was love, it was one-sided, unreciprocated, and Phoenix was only setting himself up for pain. And he was sure that Phoenix knew it. But even then, Phoenix still longed for her and cared for her and was obviously trying, trying so hard, to believe in the girl's kindness that nobody else believed in. He loved her, despite the obvious pain she was causing him just by being there.

It made no sense to him.

Edited 2010-11-06 00:19 (UTC)

Apollo is used to prying into people's lives, laying it all out in the open in front of a crowd of people. But that was only because he had to in order to save someone's life. This...this just felt wrong. He doesn't regret coming, he isn't rethinking his plan, but he is wishing that he couldn't hear what they were saying.

When Dahlia gets closer, he sees Miles look away, but he can't. He has to watch for any little tic, any movement that would indicate a desire to harm. All he sees so far is a desire to manipulate. Words as weapons. Apollo almost wished that she had tried something with her Pokemon. He could've protected Phoenix from that.

The moment she says "I love you," his bracelet tightens. And then Phoenix reacts like it's something he's always wanted to hear.

Dahlia Hawthorne was so much more dangerous that he'd realized.

Edgeworth looked up once he heard Dahlia speak again, wishing - wishing so desperately - that Phoenix would not agree to let her join them. But that was... there was no way he'd refuse her.

Edgeworth lowered his gaze for a moment, thinking back to when his father was still alive. Hadn't there been laughter, smiles, and happiness? He didn't see any of it between Phoenix and Dahlia. Just pain. Lots of pain.

"He looks so sad, Mr. Apollo."

He grasps his sleeve, gripping it tightly.

"She really doesn't love him, does she?"

"No. She's lying."

Apollo grips his bracelet. But how could he convince Phoenix? 'My bracelet told me' isn't going to cut it, not with the way he just fell into her arms like that.

Part of him is waiting for Phoenix to snap out of it, to give some sign that he's only pretending to fall for it. He's waiting to see some of the Phoenix he knows come to the surface. But he knows it's not coming. Phoenix is lost; she has her claws in him deep now.

"What should we do?"

For a moment, Edgeworth doesn't answer Apollo's question. And then;

"I don't know."

Edgeworth wished for there to be someone, anyone that could convince Phoenix. Who would the man listen to, be able to pull him out of Dahlia Hawthorne's trap?

He clenches his teeth and draws in a breath. It was hard to breathe, for fear of the woman and or his friend was like a fist tightening around his whole body.

"If we do anything now, he will only trust her more."

He looks over at Miles. Apollo really wishes Miles didn't have to see his friend like this, that he could have conceivably left Miles in Violet without being followed and subsequently yelled at. This was hard for him; he couldn't imagine what it was like for Miles.

"We just have to wait for her to slip."

Apollo touches his bracelet. Come on, I need something! Anything!

At Apollo's words, Edgeworth nods.

"Wright wants to know the truth," he whispered, not really to Apollo in particular, but knowing that the lawyer would be able to hear him. "He will ask.. he'll ask her, what really happened. There is a chance she might show her true colors then."

He reaches into his pocket and fingers Pess' Pokeball. His Growlithe was weak. If Phoenix was his opponent, she would lose without a doubt - but this was Dahlia. She'd been here much less than he had, and Pess's fire had an advantage.

"When she slips up."

Apollo isn't so sure. This girl was definitely an expert. And even if Phoenix wanted the truth, would he recognize it when it came out? Or would he keep seeing what he wished for, what he hoped for? So far, it was looking like it would be the latter.

He's still watching what's going on, trying to focus.

"We'll be ready."

Edgeworth just nods again, his eyes glued on Phoenix and Dahlia.

"We will be," he muttered in affirmation.

And ready he will be. He tightened his grip on his sleeve and bit his lip, his eyebrows furrowed. He was going to make sure Phoenix was safe. Even if the man ended up despising him--

Dahlia wasn't going to hurt Trucy Wright's father.

The moment she talks about setting up camp, Apollo realizes that Phoenix is really, truly going to stick with her. How were they going to separate them? What if he tries to get her to travel with everyone else? Phoenix is clearly blinded; he's putting everyone in danger.

Did...did Phoenix just look at them?

"I think he's noticed us. We should move."

Phoenix Wright was a hypocrite. He had said that he wanted to keep everyone safe, he'd said that when he was fighting those Missingno, when he was talking to Edgeworth about Dahlia Hawthorne -- and he was going back on those words. Inadvertently, of course; there was no way Phoenix would purposely put his friends, his daughter, in danger--

.....Was there? He was blinded by that "love" he felt for Dahlia, some unreciprocated affection that he clung to. Edgeworth wasn't sure anymore what, exactly, Phoenix was capable of doing.... if Dahlia said the word, would he turn his back to them to be with her?

And then Phoenix turned his head towards the trees they were behind. He was going to set up camp here.

At Apollo's words, Edgeworth nods. "Let's hurry, before he gets too close."

Phoenix definitely noticed something, but Edgeworth was sure that, in this darkness where even he could barely make out the man, he wouldn't have recognized them. After all, the only reason why he could see Phoenix was because of the flashlight.

Apollo starts moving carefully and slowly. He's trying to make as little noise as possible. If Phoenix finds them, there's going to be trouble in so many ways. They need to find a better hiding place. Because there's no way Apollo is going to leave Phoenix alone at night miles from civilization with his murderous ex-girlfriend. (Or was she his girlfriend again now?)

Edgeworth follows Apollo's movement, keeping his eyes on Phoenix and Dahlia as he does so. He's careful not to be caught by Phoenix; not only would the lawyer be mad... he'd really be taken by Dahlia.

".....He said he wanted to keep everyone safe, Mr. Apollo."

Apollo stays quiet for a moment, watching Phoenix and Dahlia to make sure they haven't noticed. Once he deems themselves safe enough, he answers:

"I'm not following his logic, honestly."

Phoenix seems to have just made it worse. He was ensnared by the woman he was trying to protect everyone from.

"There is no logic to this."

The words come out as a bit of a harsh whisper. Startled by his own voice, Edgeworth takes a few deep breaths to keep himself from losing his calm; this was no time to act on his anger, he had to stay calm and make sure Phoenix didn't get hurt -- his anger could come later.

"He probably has his reasons. Maybe he wants to keep an eye on her, or he plans to stay with her, alone, so she wouldn't come near everyone." That sounded like something Phoenix would do. Narrowing his eyes, Edgeworth almost glares in Phoenix and Dahlia's direction.

"We can worry about that later."

There was no way Phoenix was getting away with this without a nice long conversation with Apollo after the fact. He had done something incredibly stupid, so stupid Apollo had lost a lot of trust in him. Apollo had never realized that what had made Phoenix a great lawyer also made him so vulnerable. Maybe that was one of the lessons the Phoenix from his time had been trying to teach him-- the world is full of people who will take advantage of you and betray you, so don't wear your heart on your sleeve.

Apollo stops moving. They're probably safe for now. He listens carefully to what Dahlia is saying. They need to know where Dahlia and Phoenix are going to be camping. Not that he think Dahlia would hurt Phoenix now, not when she has him wrapped around her little finger. But he has to be sure.

Edgeworth doesn't reply, silently sitting down beside Apollo, his eyes still on Phoenix and Dahlia.

Phoenix was stupid. Stupid stupid - so trusting, gullible. He was always like, had always been like that. But he was also trustable, reliable, and Edgeworth had looked up to him after meeting him here in Johto. When the Missingno. attacked, he'd been angry at Phoenix for playing the hero, but there was also a feeling of admiration and respect for him. Phoenix, then, was almost like Gregory Edgeworth.

And he still was, really.

"He reminds me of my father, sometimes."

Edgeworth only hoped that Phoenix wouldn't end like Gregory.

"That sounds like an insult to your father."

Apollo tries not to shuffle around too much. Honestly, he's starting to wonder if he's insulted by being compared to Phoenix so many times before, and he suspects someone else would find it an insult after this stunt.

"I'm not talking about this," Edgeworth mutters, gesturing towards Phoenix and Dahlia.

His father never would have done something like this. His father may have been idealistic and overly trusting, but he wouldn't do something that would put others around him danger. Never.

"The way Wright tries so hard to maintain his faith in her. My father was a lawyer too, and he was honest and said he believed his clients, always."

Edgeworth pauses.

"He was smarter than Wright, though."

Edited 2010-11-10 22:24 (UTC)

"Faith in your clients is important. But there's such a thing as too much faith. I think this qualifies."

Phoenix seems to have noticed them again. Apollo feels even more on-edge now.

"Stay very still."

".....Perhaps he'll learn from this."

And Edgeworth stays still, as instructed.

"I hope so."

Phoenix needs to learn about having too much trust. His friends can't look after him all the time. Apollo just hoped that he learned this lesson now, before something happened.

Edgeworth had a nagging feeling in his stomach that Phoenix was the kind of man who would sacrifice himself for the sake of others. He hoped that Phoenix would learn not to trust Dahlia, or anyone, blindly, but he also hoped. He hoped that, if Phoenix came to not trust Dahlia around him and the others, he wouldn't try to take Dahlia away by deserting them, absconding into the night--

-- similar to what Edgeworth and his mother had done, after that incident.

Even if something were to happen to Phoenix, he hoped it wasn't that. As the night's chill crept over him, he shifted closer to Apollo and watched in silence.

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Lovestruck Romeo, sings the streets a serenade

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oh my god this is so twisted

I love it so much~

Oh god me too. IT IS MY CAFFINE.

<3

♥!

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where the hell did this go gdfjhfj S-SORRY

Tis fine~

/hopping in

/completes the stalker brigade

/we the super ninjas awwyeah

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