Kurain's Master and Burger Enthusiast

I learned so much in the process, it was so impressive to watch my friend work. It's beautiful and it's mine. I'm so excited!!!))

@xmfxne When Maya first traveled to the Kingdom of Khura’in to begin her training to be the Master of her village, she had flown coach. 

At the time, the village did not have the funds for even a one-way ticket in business class. Following the events of her trial for the murder of Tahrust Inmee, where she had to prove her mettle as a Spirit Medium for all to see--suddenly, she was a first-class ticket holder on every subsequent flight to and from the foreign country. Gone were the days where Kurain Village was expected to fund her trips. Now, the Royal Family of Khura’in paid for all of her travel, food, drink, and lodgings. After all, she was a respected spirit medium and a member of Queen Rayfa’s team of tutors.

Christmas and the New Year came and went. Maya spent the entire time in the village with Pearly. She sent her gifts with her cousin to the WAA holiday party, along with her deepest apologies that she couldn’t be there herself. There was too much preparation for her next trip back to Khura’in. 

After checking her bags and going through security, Maya made her way towards her gate. As she pulled her suitcase behind her, she noticed a familiar pair of horns attached to a very familiar face. Apollo! She thought excitedly.

Maya made her way over to the gate counter and greeted the attendant with a smile. “Good afternoon, my name is Maya Fey. I was wondering if Apollo Justice is on the manifest for this flight. He’s a friend of mine.”

The attendant nodded and typed something on the computer. “Ah, Ms. Fey. Welcome back to iFly Airlines. I see you’ll be flying First Class with us today! And...Mr. Justice is, in fact, on the manifest for today’s flight.”

“Is the seat next to mine available?” Maya asked. “And if so, would you be able to bump Mr. Justice into that seat? As a favor to me?”

The attendant clicked on her computer. “Looks like we had a last-minute cancellation, so you’re in luck! I’d be happy to upgrade Mr. Justice’s seat assignment.”

    His brows jut upwards - hoping in vain to understand the punchline that has Maya Fey beaming so brightly, expectantly at him.

    “…Of course it has no atmosphere, Ms. Fey - it is on the moon.”

    “Furthermore, how could one classify a restaurant as mediocre, when it serves, as you say, ‘great food’?”

    Oh no, oh no.

“I-it’s a joke, Mr. Edgeworth. You’re supposed to laugh...” Maya didn’t know where she had gone wrong. Luckily, she had plenty of jokes up her oversized sleeves.

“Okay, let’s try again. Before my surgery today, the anesthesiologist said I could be knocked out with gas or he could just hit me over the head with a canoe paddle. So I guess it was an ether/oar situation.“

Maya Fey loved Halloween. Despite being 30 years old, she adored everything related to Halloween. Growing up in Kurain Village, she hadn’t had the opportunity to learn about the holiday as a child. In fact, she didn’t even know about Halloween until her sister moved to the city to become a lawyer. 

During her time as Phoenix’s assistant, she always insisted on decorating the office with weird and scary decor. She always dressed up. It was just a given. 

Ever since she moved back to Kurain permanently, things had gotten dull. This was her chance to spice things up. Costume shopping would be the perfect opportunity. Of course, Halloween was coming up soon, so the pickings were bound to be slim.

“Frown lines. You have too many. You sir, are in desperate need of a bad joke!”

She hums thoughtfully for a moment, then smiles. “Did you hear about the mediocre restaurant on the moon?”

    Miles was silent in response, having just re-realized that any preferred restaurant of Maya’s was certainly the sort of establishment he wouldn’t be caught dead patronizing.

    The consternation shows plainly on his face as he thinks it over. She loves…burgers. She’s obsessed with burgers. So maybe…steak? Would she appreciate a filet mignon? Had she gone vegan since they last spoke?

     “Steak!” He announces, mouth catching up with brain. “I mean– Steak house. A steak house. Will that do? Perhaps they will even serve your, er…favorite.”

    Miles frowns heavily, feeling no small amount of guilt at driving Maya’s little companion away with his outburst. “I…I apologize. I don’t think I am helping you enjoy your time here…” He announces with comedic gravity, both to Maya and to the calico that is still regarding him intensely, tail swishing about.

    “Biting to show affection…tsk.” This time it’s a little more reprimanding, directed at his tiny attacker. Perhaps he’d gotten lucky with Pess, who was an angel amongst canines, and calmer than most ( perhaps he’d momentarily forgotten about a certain sister who exhibited similar behavior… )

    “They’re certainly interesting.” He replies, watching the calico furiously press her face to his finger. What on earth is it doing? Cats - as all animals - were somewhat of a mystery to him, but he did appreciate their need for independence, and how they patiently regarded you from across the room. Much like himself, they seemed adept at sizing people up, preparing their interaction…

    But he’d never experienced such enthusiastic affection from a feline.

    “Very well…” Miles cautiously but dutifully perches his fingers behind her ear. It’s delicate work, but judging by the cat’s insistence, he must be doing something right…

    Then she nips him.

    “Nghooh!”

Maya is so startled by Edgeworth’s sudden yelp, that she nearly drops the cat in her lap. The cat is also startled, and jumps down, wandering further into the cafe, presumably to seek out less...energetic company. 

    He’s unsurprised that Maya seems to hold her ancestral village in the palm of her hand, and the thought makes him proud. She’s come a long way.

    “I’m perfectly well, naturally. A chief prosecutor never rests, but things have been fortunately slow this week - so you’ve come at an opportune time. You’ll allow me to treat you to something more substantial than a street hot dog, won’t you?”

Maya grinned brightly at Edgeworth. As delicious as this hot dog was, she was not planning on turning down food paid for by a friend. This was the perfect opportunity to catch up with Miles, as well.

    “Ah–” His hand stretches forward, as though he could possibly intercept the mustard, and wonders if the befouling of her pure hood is some kind of ill omen…

    But of course, Maya has no such superstitions despite dealing with the supernatural on a daily basis. She’s all smiles, completely unbothered by the little things. Just as he remembers her.

    “I-It’s a pleasure to see you again, as well.” He replies with his customary semi-nervous honesty, ever-present when greeted with genuine friendship, “Though it seems you’re in quite a rush - do you have a pressing obligation in Kurain Village?”

Maya shakes her head and takes another bite of her hot dog. “Actually, no--for once I don’t have any pressing obligations. The Elders knew I was getting in this afternoon, so they gave me the day off and I resume my duties tomorrow.”

    “She’s…mimicking me? Whatever for?” He asks, half to Maya, half to the cat. But he takes her advice in stride; resettling in his chair, he leans forward upon his knees and blinks away his hardened stare…

    To his surprise, Kimchi blinks back.

    “Ah-ha! Ms. Fey, did you see that?” He turns to Maya, incredulous, pointing that invasive finger directly at Kimchi…who rubs her little face against it. Miles nearly rockets out of his seat.

    “My god!”

Maya grinned brightly. “See? What did I tell you?~” She said excitedly. “Aren’t cats fascinating?”

She had to admit, she was a little jealous. Kimchi was the most antisocial of the cats that took residence in this cafe. She had of course warmed up to Maya, as the medium was a regular here, but a lot of patrons complained that Kimchi was not easy to get to know. 

     Phoenix had waited patiently between knocking at her door– again not having any real expectation that she would be home and knowing he was dropping in. He couldn’t help the massive grin that split his face when she did open the door, wearing his heart on his sleeve, same as he always did.

    “Hi Maya!” he manages to school his expression down enough to pout, though his eyes betray him where the smile lines are still creasing his face. “Are you implying I always have a reason to come see you? Maybe I was in the neighborhood and wanted to see my friend.”

    Phoenix shook his head, holding up the bag that he’d been carrying and gesturing to himself, showing off the casual clothes.

    “I got thrown out of my office by my very loving daughter and told in no short order that I had to ‘go used my vacation time’. I wanted to come paint the mountains and I knew if I stopped by Kurain and didn’t at least leave a message for you that you’d riot. Though I almost figured you wouldn’t be here, you know?” He heaves a dramatic sigh, tipping his head back, eyes closed, and laying the back of his hand over his forehead in a way that is every bit the portrait of the dramatic theatre kid he was. “All grown up and leaving poor ol’ Nick.” He peeks out of one eye, grinning again. “Buuut if you have time I brought candy from me and Truce.”

Maya crossed her arms over her chest and listened quietly to Phoenix as he explained why he was at her door. She wanted to say something about how he could have at least called her before showing up unannounced--seeing as he probably would have had to stay in the manor during his visit whether she was here or not, seeing as the village did not have a hotel for guests.

She hadn’t even realized that he had vacation time to use. Perhaps Trucy had some sort of plan and needed her dad out of the house? She could respect that if it was indeed the case. Nick didn’t need to know that little detail, however. She could e-mail Trucy later.

Admittedly, it had been a while since she and Nick had spent some quality time together. She had been looking forward to her alone time, but...it would be awfully rude if she didn’t allow him shelter. He was her best friend, after all.

“Alright, alright, you can cut the theatrics, old man,” Maya said with a laugh. “I suppose you can stay here as long as you promise me that we won’t be getting caught up in any legal nonsense while you’re here. Vacation only.”

“Well, your preferred method of greeting could cause quite the stir in such a public setting, Miss Fey, and I thought you might wish to avoid that, not to mention I haven’t had the chance to do so yet regardless.” The prosecutor’s lips curled into a thinly veiled smirk, clearly offering no actual protest. “Still, if this is the only way we you shall allow us to proceed, I suppose I am ‘forced’ to comply with your terms. You’re a wily one, Maya Fey.”

His lips met hers, though, as predicted, their romantic moment did at least cause murmurs, though nothing quite so drastic as he had jokingly implied. Their relationship was far from a secret at this point, not that Maya could ever have been expected to keep such a thing close to the chest in the first place, at least not in regards to her cousin…and Pearl was rather notorious for letting things slip, so even if they had attempted to hide it, once Maya told Pearl, the gig would have been up entirely. 

“Does it look like I care if we cause a stir in public?” Maya asked. “I haven’t seen you in weeks--I think the three other people at this train station aren’t going to care.”

She was right, of course, and she got her wish as well. It was a shame that he had to make such a big deal over a little kiss, but at least he obliged her. They both had a fair way to go before they were fully comfortable with PDA.