[Couple's V-day Log] A Night to Remember; OPEN

[makethemguilty]

Who: Your Host, The Guests, & St. Cupid
When: After Sirens. 9PM and onward~
Where: The Grey Line, Reserved Dining Hall & Grand Ballroom
Summary: XEMC/AGI Valentine's Day couples' party, fun, dance, etc. for your enjoyment! Dine, romance, and dance the night away. Be warned though, not everything is as it seems. <3
Warnings: Put them in the tag line, ladies and gentlemen~ (Note: The chocolate, wine, and some of the desserts are laced with aphrodisiacs, but ultimately the potency/effects shall be left up to the discretion of the player.)

There's a ladylove or beau in your life you are aiming to please; You seek to prove your love, obtain their affections, or have them swooning off their feet by the end of the night. Or perhaps your intentions are less than pure…Either way, you know this, of course, because you've chosen to bring them here. The Grey Line is an elegant restaurant whose very atmosphere is a recipe for romance, and tonight, everything your special someone needs to have an evening solely dedicated to passionate desire between the two of you will be provided for, to enjoy at your leisure.

Tonight is going to be perfect. Tonight is special.

Let the siren's song of love overwhelm you as you enter; open the doors, and walk inside.

The staff will greet you as an old friend, and take your coats, their friendly smiles a gentle contrast to the elegant decor around them. There's a feeling of euphoria which flows gently through the air, basking all those who attend.

And why shouldn't there be? The very design of the Grey Line is a masterful one, the modernity and sleekness lending to its natural beauty, played up by the fact that the structure of the restaurant itself is set into a shallow bay, with wall to wall glass windows in the main dining room which allow for the majesty of the ocean to be seen with the coming of the tides. By night, underwater lighting installed in the rocks outside attract a strange array of monstrous sea creatures.

You'll be lead back into the grand ballroom and placed at a table of your choice, a live company of instrumentals set back on a higher tier in front which overlooks the dining area.

The colors from the City bleed from the sea with the tide sweeping up the sides of the glass, bleaching it a deep aqua color.

Quiet awe overwhelms you as the soft illumination descends and caresses the faces everyone inside, giving them a soft, gentle look that adds to the undercurrent of tranquil calm.

Now, you're ready. Seated, you can observe who else is here with you, or bask in the ambience of your surroundings. Baskets of wine and chocolates are set at each table, along with a centerpiece of roses.

"Anything that you desire on the menu, sir, madam? Please, order anything you like. Compliments of your host."

Comments

[shifting]

So you think it's a good idea to raise suspicion - maybe even get caught doin' something - when I'm here? With you? We fuckin' live together, Edgeworth.

[ergomaniac]

Well, I'm not going to be breaking in anywhere! I'm not "making trouble"! I'm just - seeing what I can find out! From listening and observing - I'm not an idiot!

[shifting]

Until you observe or listen to somethin' that catches your interest, and then I'm left holdin' the bag when AGI's security decides you're makin' a fuss.

[he shakes his head irritably] I just wanted a night out, away from the club. S'all I'm here for.

[ergomaniac]

[He looks away.]

I wouldn't do that to...

[And suddenly he goes pale.]

[shifting]

- What?

[ergomaniac]

I -

[He swallows hard as his eyes follow Von Karma's progress. Is he with them, then? Has he joined up with AGI? It did not take long for his corruption to make itself known...

Shock, fear, and hatred war in Edgeworth's face for a moment before he forces himself to look back to Sam, the lines of his face very tense.]

...Simply someone I know.

[shifting]

[Sam's jaw sets.]

...If you're gonna stand here and lie to me, I'll walk home right now.

[ergomaniac]

[Those words fall like a blow. That he'd accuse him of lying - that he'd threaten to abandon him - And that the blame for ruining his evening would fall on Edgeworth, when Edgeworth had wanted to spare him further distress by not discussing such dark matters - all of this strikes hard and devastating. And Edgeworth has two ways of reacting to hurt: he either withdraws miserably, or he strikes back harder and harsher than he was hit.

He goes the second way.]

That's the man who murdered my father. Better?

[And immediately he looks away, flushed, aware that both the way he'd phrased it and the words he'd uttered were completely uncalled-for.]

[shifting]

[he's ready for it. He's lived this long with Edgeworth to know that the man bites when he feels backed in a corner. He squares his shoulders, ready for a stream of denial and accusation -

- and what he gets punches the air out of him. For a moment, he's sure he hadn't heard him correctly. Couldn't have. Edgeworth couldn't really mean - ]

Where? [he stares out at the crowd, pale and still angry and - cringing]

[ergomaniac]

[He's glad Sam utters only that one word. It's hard to really sound upset in a single word, so he can convince himself it's a neutral question, and he can answer it neutrally.]

...The man in the blue jacket with the cane. [A slight pause in which he doesn't look up at Sam - ] I...didn't mean to say it like that.

[shifting]

[He sees him. It's no one he recognizes, but - the clothing reminds him of someone. He frowns, swallows down a lump of something he refuses to acknowledge as guilt. It's not his fault for bringing this up - Edgeworth had lied, dammit, and he is fucking tired of being treated with kiddie gloves.

...So that's the bastard, huh? Sam hadn't seen the face before, but you can bet he'll know it from now on. He watches the man darkly from over the rim of his glass, sparing Miles a short glance] You were just snappin' at me. It's fine. ...I'd rather know than not. Don't you know that by now?

[ergomaniac]

[Edgeworth looks up at Sam, and then looks away. He speaks quietly.]

...I know. And...I'm sorry. I should have told you about him before, but I didn't want to ruin...

[Ruin the happiness of being with you.

But a hesitation, and then he meets his eyes very seriously.]

I need you to stay away from him.

[shifting]

What's his name? [nodding absently]

[ergomaniac]

Manfred von Karma.

[He looks down and swallows, perfectly aware that Sam will make the connection to Franziska von Karma, his sister - and, in turn, to Edgeworth's own relationship to that man.]

[shifting]

- That prick? [with surprised familiarity] Franziska's dad?

[ergomaniac]

...Yes.

[He nods unhappily.]

The same.

[shifting]

Accidentally texted him durin' that virus thing. I didn't realize he was...

[Sam sighs.] So that's the guy who framed you. The one who raised you.

[ergomaniac]

[He nods, and then winces. That virus had been humiliating enough; to have texted von Karma...]

Yes. He is. And he is also the man who has sent countless innocents to prison through ruthless manipulation of the legal system - and the man who, if I am not mistaken, is now cozying up to AGI.

[shifting]

[yeah, it went real well. Karma insulted him half the time so Sam called him an asshole. Good times.]

He'll fit right in with the slimy bastards. [which is the problem, of course.] Is he gonna go after you?

[ergomaniac]

[Edgeworth draws in a breath and debates trying to hedge, but ultimately he just looks up at Sam and answers honestly.]

Yes.

[shifting]

[he'd thought so. It was the honesty he wanted. Sam sighs.] Then we'll do what we've got to.

First thing bein' we should probably find somewhere else to party tonight.

[ergomaniac]

[But he sets his jaw. Perhaps a bit surprisingly, considering his earlier crankiness, he shakes his head.]

I do not fear him, and I'm not going to run from him. I'm perfectly willing to stay.

[shifting]

You won't be able to relax.

[ergomaniac]

[Edgeworth's brow furrows guiltily.]

No. Sam, you were looking forward to this. You - dressed up.

[shifting]

So let's go somewhere else where it's all right bein' dressed up. [and he leans in, boldly tugging on Edgeworth's cravat] It's Valentine's Day - everywhere's gonna be a party.