002. [Action] - Backdated to slightly after Kissing Phoenix.

[makethemguilty]

What is the meaning of this?!…What the hell is wrong with this place? What are they putting in the air?!

[That…Phoenix had gotten a taste of the von Karmic perfection—quite literally—was like him drinking from the ambrosia of the gods, it was…forbidden! How could this be?! Why? What madness had overcome the both of them. He's evidently not pleased with the results, because he's currently isolated himself to a corner of the library.

The fact alone that he had kissed a defense attorney was a kind of relation that transgressed legal, moral, and professional norms…"Fraternization with the enemy", in effect.]

I will not allow this ridiculousness to continue!

[Of course after that entire mess he went to stalk the length of the castle corridors furthest from Wright as possible, vowing to never again seek out his company.

Little was he aware that nutcrackers abounded in this part of the library where he'd chosen to go, and that he'd done nothing to prevent encounters from happening with the other residents. It doesn't occur to him in fact, because he's having a rare moment in which his composure has slipped.


Manfred von Karma's s situational awareness was indeed lowered slightly, and despite the decorations of lights, tinsel, and other appropriate holiday fare, he stands right in the vicinity of the library where the nutcrackers happened to loom like little terrible dolls of ruination.

And with that, the dictation ends, for he's currently busy trying to recover his dignity.]


[ooc: Open to all for Kissmas things here, planned and unplanned!]

Comments

[silvertree]

[ A bored look settled in Celeborn's gaze as he regarded this flamboyantly dressed man. He seemed a tad flustered; surely caused by the recent hilarity to unfold here within the castle. While Celeborn himself has done well to stay clear of such mindless shenanigans, it would seem that today will be quite...interesting.

Giving the unhappy gentleman a quick glance, Celeborn couldn't help but chuckle somewhat. Whatever transpired prior to here must have been quite horrifying to win such a reaction from this fellow. The Elvenlord was almost tempted to inquire about it. ]

[makethemguilty]

T'ch...Of all the insufferable.

[He was so engrossed in his thoughts evidently that Manfred's reaction was not immediate in regards to the elfin man who approached. His footsteps were so light in fact, and his own mind distracted that he hadn't taken notice of him that very moment.

In fact, his appearance nearly startled him as he glanced up to note his presence. But he recovered enough of his senses to know when to cease speaking, and instead ended up raising his brow and tapping his foot, trying to quell the disturbance that was quite evident in his face.]

...

He's reminded, at least, of that strange blonde man he'd met before several weeks prior, the one who claimed he was from Middle Earth. Legolas? Yes...That was his name. While he doesn't speak in regards to this stranger his gaze locked onto him, mouth quirking. He doesn't appear pleased in the very least. A bit like a cornered cat with no place to go.]

[silvertree]

[ Judging by the way the man glowered at him, it would seem that Manfred already met another like him before. This doesn't surprise Celeborn since he knew others from his realm took refuge here in the castle. However, he's particularly curious as to whom it was that the prosecutor has met.

Tempted to ask, Celeborn decided to indulge himself with a little bit of conversation. While his wife could easily speak with nearly anyone in the castle; Celeborn found it rather difficult. He's more reclusive in nature than his dear Galadriel, more true to their aloof Elvish nature. More content to observe rather than speak, the Mith'quessir typically prided himself in his silence. ]

You're quite frazzled.

[makethemguilty]

[Taciturn...? Then they were men of a similar calibre, only Manfred differed in that he was a human man with human concerns, whereas the elf may not have been so amused to realize this. (Then again that's where some source of amusement tends to come from for them, from "foolish mortal men".) His observation is an unwelcome one that may earn him the former prosecutor's ire should he choose to provoke him further, only that Manfred stays his anger mostly out of intrigue.]

....Who are you to make such a judgment? You know me?

[Though there is a slight...strain to his voice. Yes, he is frazzled.]

Dictated forever!

[righttrack]

What on Earth happened?

Dictated.

[makethemguilty]

Lunacy. Utter lunacy. This is a wretched place indeed. I never willingly went along with this. I never asked for it.

Is it truly this castle's tendency to force acts of atrocity upon its residents?

[Someone is flustered.....very flustered.]

[righttrack]

I'm sorry, I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about.

[radiantwingedone]

Hard to, likely due to castle.

[ Duke doesn't know exactly where this speaker is, nor that there are any of those terrible dolls about, so he might be walking right next to a book case to try to avoid him.

He's got an armfull of books to return, otherwise he'd be in hiding too. ]

[makethemguilty]

....Mnnn.

[He harumphs, frustrated and then slowly turns about, realizing that the sound of that voice is...far too close to be just coming from the journal.

To his chagrin he knows that the other's words were not entirely untruthful.]

Why? Does it aim to humiliate or does it simply take pleasure in the misfortune of others?

[radiantwingedone]

Common opinion is that it survives due to the variables in moods and emotions; distress is an easy way to gain power. So the second, in a way.

[makethemguilty]

And you...have you experienced any of this as of yet? Is there a way to counteract the effects?

action forever (you ordered a creeper? :3)

[madetosin]

[Muraki himself is one of the few that is not concerned in the slightest by this particular trick of the castle. While he isn't entirely thrilled with being controlled like a puppet (and wasn't that an appropriate analogy, under the circumstances?), he isn't at all adverse to the effects.

He isn't doing much at all, other than looking for reading material to help pass the time waiting in the clinic, and doesn't entirely notice or care about the decorations either.

Manfred's appearance does catch his eye, and while he doesn't really care one iota what has upset the man, it's at least interesting enough for him to comment]

Something wrong? I would ask if you'd seen a ghost, but...

action forever (xD <3 Absolutely. )

[makethemguilty]

[Normally Manfred himself wouldn't have reacted in such a manner but for the person whom he'd been made to kiss. Phoenix Wright, the horrible wretch! His mouth still tasted of...that cloying sweetness!

He's clutching his shoulder when the stranger approached, the prosecutor nearly hissing in reply. However, he does steel himself enough to muster a less frazzled response.]

....I feel ill.

[He muttered, not completely having reigned in his emotions yet.]

[madetosin]

[He tilts his head with a feigned look of sympathy]

A pity to hear that. Anything I can do to help?

[makethemguilty]

T'ch. Not, unless, I suppose you are a doctor. Or have a...means to ward away attorneys from existence.

[A sardonic reply, given his mordant sense of humor.]

[kalinda]

[Can they meet by the legal books? Can that be a thing? Because that's where this particular is lingering... contemplating borrowing said books if only to remind her of home, or at least to see if anything was different law-wise here that she would have missed. Loopholes were always good, after all.

But when she sees this guy...]

Something on your mind?

[makethemguilty]

[Yes, of course. That's where he was standing. Because it's only natural. As if by instinct however, the moment he spots the woman he manages to at least muster some semblance of dignity long enough to address her question.

Why...oh why do people insist on asking him that. He really doesn't want to talk about the traumatizing event that just occurred.]

I would rather not...speak of it.

[takethat]

[Phoenix isn't too thrilled with the fact that he just macked Manfred in the lobby, either, and he's decided to go somewhere he can find some peace and quiet. It's rare for Phoenix to retreat into the library, but Miles has taught him well, and so he's wandering the shelves of books now.

Trying to forget.

Unfortunately for the both of them, when he walks around one shelf, there is Manfred once again. He groans, far too loudly for a library.]

Again?!

1/???

[makethemguilty]

[What...what is the...meaning of this!?! ]

2/???

[makethemguilty]

[This cannot be. This can't be happening. Because he is not going to allow it.]

3/3

[makethemguilty]

Don't.

[He was rather taken off guard, but it didn't appear there was going to be any easy exits for him. Unfortunately.]

Don't come any closer! Not a step further.

[takethat]

What makes you think I want to? I came here to get away from you!

[He's considering scaling the shelves now.]

...Yep.

[cantacquityou]

[Miles had learned of the "Kissmas" nonsense from Phoenix several months back. He had almost forgotten about it until he stepped back into the Castle, following a visit to the City Royale, to witness a few pairs of unwilling smoochers in the distant end of the corridor.

Horrified, he rushed to his room on the fifth floor, shielding his face with a book in an attempt to evade any possible encounters. But there were simply too many people about. Kissers on the stairs blocked the path to the third floor, prompting Edgeworth to settle for the nearest sanctuary - the library.

He sought what he normally thought to be the quietest, most secluded part of the library, and sure enough, it appeared to be as empty as usual. Upon arrival, he lowered the book from his face with a muted sigh of relief, only to swallow it back in a gasp.

Sure enough, there was Manfred...

...In his preferred corner.]

Oh my~

[makethemguilty]

[Manfred, likewise, would have done everything in his power to take preventative measures against the violation of his personal space. To his misfortune however, there were but little signs to give warning to its happening, and hence by the time he'd realized the cause it was far too late for him to avoid unwanted lips touching his own.

By this point he'd been far too caught up in all of these instances that he hadn't even realized...another was in his presence. Weary and more than just vexed, von Karma scowled. And not just anyone. Miles Edgeworth, his former pupil.

Given their first meeting, he hadn't thought Miles to be...quite so willing to repeat the experience so readily. But, no doubt neither of them had counted on this.

If they were lucky nothing would come of it. A by-chance meeting. But of course that was never entirely how things panned out, in the end.

He'd at least managed, in all that time, to recover at least...a portion of his composure. His dignity was a bit more compromised than he'd have liked, especially after the incident with a certain attorney...Really, he desired no repeat of the phenomenon to bewitch him again.]

...You. What are you doing here?

[He nearly hissed, brows furrowed and his body tense, his hand clutching defensively at his shoulder. He's not pleased with the results, and no doubt before long...what may very well transpire.]

[cantacquityou]

[He raised a brow before expelling the response from his lips in a near-hiss of his own.]


...Existing.



[Had Edgeworth been a tad more crude, he'd add, "Do you have a problem with that?" Never had he dreamed that he'd exercise that sort of sarcastic tone with his once-revered mentor, but the frustration and the compounding sense of dread threatened to chip away at those walls of feigned courtesy. Then again, it wasn't as if there was much of a chance to back then...Manfred having technically been dead and all.]