skycourt | THE ONE IN WHICH THERE ARE FRIENDS

Franziska von Karma was seething. Not only had she been temporarily pulled away from her own burgeoning career in Germany, she hadn't even been provided a proper reason for the occurrence. Her father had simply given her some codswallop about it being 'beneficial for her learning', which Franziska had immediately dismissed, because since when had he cared about such matters, insofar as they related to her? She'd passed the bar on her own terms, hadn't she, with barely a nod of acknowledgement from Papa?

And when she'd interrogated Miles Edgeworth on the matter he had simply smiled one of his enigmatic smiles and... to be honest, Franziska didn't really remember what he'd said. Just that she hadn't cared for it, didn't want to listen, and that she was furious.

Whatever. They were both out of the house today and that meant Franziska could do whatever she wanted. It was decadent and leisurely, but she had decided to go to the beach; it would be fine as long as her father and brother did not find out, and she was sure they would not, because it would require them to be paying attention. And why would they? They were busy, busy in way Franziska could not be, and she hated that too.

Swimwear. Sunscreen. Hat. Lunch. She had everything she needed.

It would be a long walk, but Franziska was determined.

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Kay Faraday was also at the beach, but for entirely different reasons. Her mother's relatives, with whom she had stayed since her father's death, had decided that they would all go on an outing for the day for no reason at all except that the weather was too fair and fortunate to be spent indoors. They were like that occasionally for Kay's sake, knowing that the scars of the second KG-8 Incident wouldn't completely heal even after a couple of years. Kay was still wary of defense attorneys and a little anxious whenever she went to court to visit Detective Badd or anyone else she knew, but her nightmares were becoming fewer and farther between.

Sometimes, it became suffocating. Her family came off as overprotective and overbearing when all Kay wanted to do was grow up, move forward (no matter how hard it may be) and wait for the day her father's murderer would see justice. Better yet, wait for the day when she could finally do something about it. But for now, she would put up with an excess of special treatment from her relatives. At least she knew they cared for her and genuinely loved her.

Kay found a window of respite from her family when she realized that she lost something while they were on their way to the beach. The parking lot was a bit of a walk away, but she didn't mind. Clad in a lacy white sundress over a pink swimsuit, she doubled back, not knowing that she would find more than just the straw hat she probably dropped while lugging the rest of her things to the beach.

The figure walking toward her looked familiar. The posture, the hair and its color...as Kay drew closer, she quickened her pace. Where had she seen this girl before? Wait...

She breaks into a sprint to meet Franziska in the middle of the path, halts in her tracks before they could collide, and she beams at the sight of her, the lost hat forgotten for the moment.

"Whip La - ah, Miss von Karma!" Kay exclaims. "You're here too?"

Edited 2019-02-17 14:12 (UTC)

While she would loathe to admit it, Franziska was very much lost in her own thoughts as she continued down the final path to the beach. So much so that she's certainly not expecting anyone to bolt towards her, let alone call out her name. She doesn't know many people in Los Angeles - at least, people who were not acquainted with her father and brother. Fear briefly clenches in her gut before she dismisses it as useless. There is nothing to be scared of...

... and is that Kay Faraday? And is she smiling at her?

Franziska comes to a stop as her mind works in overdrive, trying to come up with a justification for her presence here, at the beach, participating in a leisure activity. She comes up with nothing, and decides to simply own it instead. So what if she decided to go for a walk? She can do whatever she wants.

"Kay?" Franziska says, not even bothering to hide her tone of surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm on vacation with my family," Kay answers automatically, still smiling. She looks over Franziska, headed in the direction Kay had come from. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Franziska was equipped for the beach and was going to it. And Kay is going to get straight to another point.

"What about you?"

Were the scary prosecutor, or Gummy, or Mr. Edgeworth with her? The thought of seeing Gummy or Mr. Edgeworth excites her; it had been quite some time, and surely the two men could also use a holiday after working so hard. The scary guy? Not so much.

"We don't take vacations," Franziska promptly answers with no lack of smugness. It, however, doesn't explain her supplies, so she comes up with a justification. She'd always prided herself on her quick mind. Gesturing to her beach bag, she adds, "I simply decided to take my learning outside." She says it as though it's the most obvious thing in the world.

She pauses, looking Kay over once more. "...Just where is your family now, anyway?"

"Oh."

That was Kay's only reaction to Franziska pointing out that they didn't take vacations, although her expression flickers briefly into something between puzzlement and curiosity. If the von Karmas truly scorned vacations, then what was Franziska doing on the beach? Ah - well, Kay wouldn't put it past Franziska to want a change of scenery in her studies. Though she was a prodigy, there were certainly some things the young prosecutor would still have in common with other teenage girls.

When asked about her family, Kay jerks a thumb over her shoulder. "They're already on the beach. I went back to look for my hat." At that, she starts glancing this way and that, hoping an errant breeze hadn't decided to carry it away.

Franziska looks this way and that, following Kay's gaze. It's a warm day, and a hat is nothing short of sensible. With that in mind, Franziska's next decision is resolute. "I'll help you look for it," she declares pompously. With Franziska von Karma on the case, they'll find the hat in no time. "Can you describe it for me?"

"It's a straw hat with a wide brim and a baby blue ribbon...and one of my cousins pinned a pink lollipop on it. Not a real one, a charm - "

Kay stops. Her gaze rests on Franziska's bag instead. While she has no doubt that with Franziska, the case of the missing hat should be solved in no time, she has a few other concerns that have nothing to do with her missing accessory.

"You don't mind?" Kay asks suddenly. "You're not gonna get tired carrying all your stuff around while we look for my hat, are you?" She certainly appreciates the help, but she doesn't want Franziska to tire herself out lugging her things about.

Franziska makes a show of jostling the bag on her shoulders, as though to convince Kay that carrying it is effortless and easy. Privately, she's starting to think she'd overpacked, not that she'd tell the other girl that.

"Nonsense," Franziska assures her with a wave of her hand. "If anything, it will only make me stronger."

This part, at least, is said with complete earnestness.

"O...kay," is all Kay can say in response, before quickly adding, "If we get tired, we can always find a bench to sit down for a while." Even if lugging around her things would make Franziska stronger, it doesn't stop Kay from being concerned.

Mentally Kay wonders if she should've asked for money before leaving her relatives just so they could buy some cold drinks. Oh well.

"I hope my hat just got blown off around here."

"I'm sure it can't have gone too far," Franziska reassures the other girl. "Did you walk here or drive?" The answer will help them retrace their steps.

She doesn't acknowledge Kay's bench remark, because Franziska is a von Karma and they do not stop for rest.

"We drove and parked over there," Kay said, pointing toward the direction Franziska had come from. "I remember getting off the car with my hat, so I probably lost it while walking to the beach." If they finish this investigation quickly, then maybe Franziska can finally rest.

Kay is already considering treating Franziska to an ice-cold drink after this, confident that Franziska will be able to help her - notwithstanding the load she's carrying.

"Let us begin by heading in that direction, then," Franziska declares, following Kay's gaze. It is fortunate that is not a windy day, thus limiting how far the hat could have travelled.

"Right!"

With a plan of action, Kay's face lights up with a smile, and she resolutely begins marching the way where she had pointed. The area was not very crowded, with several vacant parking spaces in the midst of the cars. There were benches and a few trees, and Kay has already begun to peek under the cars and the benches to search for her hat.

THE ONE IN WHICH THERE ARE FRIENDS

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