Should Oldbag Acquaintence Be Forgot

[bewrightback]

Who: The Ace Attorney cast, any of their CR, and maybe gate-crashers?! Curious neighbors and other passersby won't be turned away.
When: January 1st
Where: The Wright apartment.
What: It's never too late for a new years party, except when it is.
Rating/Warning: Nothing out there just yet

[A new years party had been in the works for a while now. But the incidents with the Santa attacks plus time suddenly skipping ahead to January 1st had caught everyone off-guard. But Phoenix was convinced to go ahead with the party anyway. It's one way to help keep spirits high after what had happened the night before.

Invitations were dispersed amongst the group of people from their world (except for a certain elderly murderer, sorry Von Karma) and the friends they've made in Cerealia (and everyone is open to invite other people as well). Everything's happening at Phoenix and Trucy's apartment, which has some simple New Years banners set up alongside some surviving Christmas decorations. The Christmas tree is still up too, just in case... but all of the decorations and ornaments featuring Santa and his reindeer have already been destroyed.

Entertainment includes a karaoke machine which plays music normally when people aren't using it, and an assortment of food is set up, with people being free to have brought their own dishes and snacks. There is some alcohol there too, including the customary champagne, but likely the local adults will be trying to keep things down to small champagne samples; Phoenix prefers to respect his original world's drinking age, after all.

And, as they near midnight, the intention is to try to countdown to January 2nd as if it's the new year countdown!]

Comments

Karaoke

[bewrightback]

[Everyone line up to sing your hearts out! Others can be free to react to whatever ends up being sung.]

[spiritpearls]

... What should I sing?

[ Pearl thought about it the whole time she was in the no doubt lengthy line, but still has no clue. ]

[bewrightback]

[After he's had a few drinks and probably been pestered by others, he approaches the karaoke machine and raises a finger.]

Alright, fine. One song, and that's it.

[psycholawgy]

[ Athena's one of the earlybirds, and is off to the side, reading a magazine as she snacks on some cookies. Since there aren't much people around, she can just stay by herself. Right? Right??? Ha ha... Nothing is wrong, and this is totally something Athena would do... ish.

When more people arrive, she'll be welcoming them (shoving Phoenix out of the way as she always does) with two arms up and a loud "Happy New Year!" greeting. And that's about it from her. No hugs today!

When not greeting anybody or socialising like a professional (well, there ARE lawyers in here, after all! Gotta do what the lawyers in those tv dramas do. Be formal and have fancy gatherings!), she can be found by the Christmas tree, fixing the decorations without Phoenix's permission. They all have to be one branch apart to look nice! ]

[swordboning]

[Nope, she can't stay by herself. A certain servant is just going to drag a chair, drag it over to Athena, and plop himself down.]

Busy?

[sagemodes]

Yo!

[ There's at least a familiar face in here as Naruto greets Athena with a smile. After that mess, he figured it'd be nice to check up on his friends, right. Even if Athena is kind of the only one he knows out of this group... ]

Fixing the decorations?

[ might as well start with the basic conversation starter. ]

[bewrightback]

[The tree probably does have some odd gaps from the Santa/reindeer/elf-related decorations that were removed, so it's not the most irrational action for Athena. Still, Phoenix eventually pokes his head in.]

What are you doing, Athena?

[failures]

[Larry's completely taken off guard when he's greeted by none other than Athena as he arrives to the party!]

Athena! Hey, Happy New Year! [All of this is said in a very confused tone.] What're you...?

[Wait a second, Phoenix and Trucy mentioned an Athena, right? So does that mean this is...]

Oh...!

[Yep, he's finally realizing it.]

[journaler]

[ As tired as she is from... well, absolutely everything, Leia still thinks this "belated" New Years' party is a great idea. She has fond memories of the sleepover, and unlike that time, Athena is the first face she sees. There's color there. She looks so much better, and Leia couldn't be more relieved. ]

Athena! Happy new year!

[ She grins, returning her greeting juuust as enthusiastically. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

Athena!!

[here comes the box girl, and she's a very excited box girl today!]

[she's wearing her box, but... carrying another box (folded up)?]

I have something for you!

[shacklebreaker]

[Blackquill arrives with more champagne to contribute, which they'll probably need if Athena winds up inviting her many friends along. He's brought Taka, too, since it would be wrong to usher in the new year without his faithful hawk at his side.

When it's close to midnight, he speaks up from where he's lounging on one of the sofas.]

So, how many of you plan to make new year's resolutions, only to inevitably break them?

[Call it the morbid curiosity of a psychology student.]

[prosecutory]

I don't.

[Edgeworth never saw the point of new year's resolutions. To him, it's yet another silly tradition.]

[roboticists]

[ A new year, huh? New year, new life, new Aura.

Does she want to change? Well, this was a first step to it because normally she would turn an invitation to a party down. But it was from Phoenix Wright and... well, he wasn't a bad person.

She's with a whole box of Christmas crackers. Fun little things that never got used that she just picked up from work. Now just to find a place to set them that isn't covered with decorations already or food or drink.

Aura may even be amenable to opening a cracker with someone. ]

[shacklebreaker]

[Ooh ooh baby brother wants to open a cracker PICK ME]

Care to open one of those crackers, Aura? Just hold it out and I will see to it.

[Why does he look like he's preparing to slice it in half...]

[cardboard_journalism]

[It'd been a crazy past few days, mostly consisting of "hiding", but it was nice to be among... friends?]

[For the moment, Scuttlebutt hid in her box on the edge of the room, inconspicuous to all. Or... not. Very likely not.]

[swordboning]

[Sorry, Solid Snake. Totally lifting up that box. WHERE IS THE "!"??]

[failures]

When did Nick and Trucy get this weird box...?

[Larry's crouched in front of the box, reading the labels on the front. Huh. It's kind of gaudy, even for his tastes.]

[journaler]

[It's not hard to spot her, of course. When Athena and Leia both mutually get distracted, Leia gets herself a drink and starts to wander in Myriam's direction in the corner.

She speaks very loudly and... yeah. It's probably obvious she's playing around.]

Gosh, I wonder where Myriam could be. I'm just so tired, I guess I'll have a seat on this box until I can find her.

[SHE'LL DO IT, TOO--]

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth's contribution to their party is...tea. That's right. He brought a few varieties of tea leaves plus a couple of large boxes of scones.

So you will find him either brewing the tea (and having some of that too), taking his pick from today's buffet, or starting a conversation about current events in Cerealia. He's not a particularly festive person, even after otherworldly closure with his father and finally rediscovering the fun of Christmas. He even got people presents, see. Plus, he'd rather talk about more relevant things than how he spent Christmas (and DL-6) and anything about himself.]

Strange. Were all of us unconscious after the last event, or did a glitch suddenly accelerate time? [Edgeworth thinks it's probably pointless to ponder the logic of these happenings, but it's...one conversation topic.]

[psycholawgy]

[ That's one thing she hasn't heard in a while. ]

The glitches again...! You think that might be it?!

[feytality]

[And here's the force of nature that likely needled Phoenix into going ahead with the party, eying that champagne (Maya no) and otherwise bouncing around the party to greet everyone and check up on everyone else]

[What did she bring? Her appetite]

Let's hear it for a brand new year, free from time loops, Santa cyber-bullying and evil robots!

[No one is safe.]

[psycholawgy]

[ Why Maya, you shouldn't have brought anything..

With Maya's speech, Athena can't help but hold up her glass. This seems like a good reason for a toast. ]

Yeah! You said it. Let's toast to it!

[failures]

[It's a safe bet to say that what just happened the last few days was rough on everyone, and Larry is no different for sure. As if he hadn't dealt with killer Santas enough before being chased by another one on an equally killer sleigh.

But it's over now, and Larry's doing what he does best: trying to move on and pretend like it never happened. He's doing that today by hanging out with everyone! He can be found practically everywhere, chatting and trying to catch up. Time is so weird in Cerealia, after all. He's even meeting people from the future! How crazy is that?

Eventually he settles down on the couch with a drink and his sketchbook, and starts sketching random moments going on in the room, or random partygoers. Feel free to ask him what he's drawing...or request one! He's always up for requests.]

[bewrightback]

Hey, Larry...

[I am going to regret asking this.]

What are you drawing?

[stagewright]

[ Trucy is wearing a blue dress! ...But not her usual one. Instead, she's got on a flower-patterned sundress and has left off her magician's hat. Pearl helped her do her hair up, so that's a thing that has been done. Not that anyone should suspect she doesn't have a thousand magic props on her, because she almost definitely does. Mr. Hat is undoubtedly somewhere on her person, and probably her actual hat is as well. That's just how she rolls.

The younger Wright seems to be in excellent spirits, though, cheerfully opening the door as people arrive and letting them in, or refilling snacks and drinks or just chattering to anyone. She'll take on all karaoke challenges and will occasionally invite people to dance with her.

And she'll be hanging out with her cat cybuddy a lot... ]

Isn't he cute?! I haven't picked a name, yet, though. What do you think it should be...?

[ It's easy to catch her at any time doing whatever, so make up your own prompt if you want! ]

[spiritpearls]

You haven't named him yet? Oh, the poor dear!

[ Pearl will set down her own penguin, Tux, who she brought along to play with Trucy's cat. Because birds and cats are known for their fierce friendships. ]

What ideas do you have?

[spiritpearls]

[ Pearl, like Trucy, is wearing a different dress than usual for the sake of party, with a white cardigan and a snowflake instead of a bead on her lock of hair. She also brought her penguin cybuddy, Tux, along with her.

The tiny Fey will be doing fortunes at some point, likely approaching you with a, ] Would you a fortune for the new year?

[ She'll also just be around chattering and probably be there the entire time. She will also cover everyone in glitter confetti at midnight, via balloons that Trucy let her set up that she got from the party supply store. You're welcome. ]

[prosecutory]

A fortune?

[Is this going to be as real as spirit channeling or is this just going to be a mall gimmick? And he doesn't remember Pearl liking penguins that much...]

[fairbrook]

[I. Albeit one of the early arrivals, for those who don't know Integra Hellsing, you may be asking yourself why she even bothered to come at all-- yet alone dress up for the occasion. After all, who comes to a party and chooses to read certain depressing Russian novels? Talk to her? Hopefully she won't be too obstreperous.

At least she's brought refreshments! Alongside the provided champagne, she's set out two punch bowls of hot wassail (one in non-alcoholic flavour for the childrens, ofc). Go on! Drink 'responsibly'...

II. Once the initial rush for karaoke has petered out, Integra finally rises from her seat of her own volition, and picks up a small case that's been sitting beside her feet. Opening it, she removes the violin from inside, and proceeds to play a possibly familiar tune. Feel free to sing along, or simply watch. It's clear there is little capable of breaking her concentration.

She takes requests.]

I

[failures]

[Larry visits the refreshments setup for two reasons. One, to try some of that lovely-looking wassail. But more importantly two, to meet the also lovely-looking woman who set the drinks out. He doesn't know who she is at all, but he guesses she must be someone Phoenix knows from the future. He's been meeting a lot of future people lately, so he figures it's a good guess.

He practically slides into view beside Integra, holding a sketchbook under the crook of his arm and reaching for a glass to fill with drink.]

Hey! Uh, I'm Larry. You having fun so far?

[He's totally nailing this what are you talking about.]

[bewrightback]

[Phoenix is trying his best to the host with the most. Even though he usually hobos it up around the house, tonight he's wearing his usual suit for the party. One place to find him is the kitchen, where he helps to prepare some of the food and snacks while wearing a pink apron.

Or you can find him quick to shout out "Welcome!" at incoming guests, or just crashing in an armchair when he feels tired. It's been a long two days, after all. And he'll be drinking some champagne throughout the evening as well, although don't expect him to get very hammered.

Once it's near midnight, he raises his glass for a toast.]

To everyone who's here tonight... and everyone who's not. To all our homes that will be waiting for us again someday. May the next year see us celebrating new years back in the places where we came from... Cheers!

[stagewright]

[ Around midnight, and after his toast, Phoenix will get a daughterly kiss on the cheek. ]

Happy New Year, daddy!