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"Pollyyyy, I'm bored and hungry-" She was immediately shushed by her older half brother, making her puff her cheeks and pout. "It isn't often I get to go to this courthouse, Trucy. Look, I said I'll take you to Eldoon's after this." Well, more accurately he was ordered by their mother, Thalassa, that he had to take his sister along if he was going off into the city after another day of magic practice. They hadn't even changed out of their costumes. Bright blue and red magicians' costumes side by side paired with matching colored top hats and capes. As expected, they both stood out significantly among the rest of the gallery within the courtroom, but anyone who recognized their outfits would instantly know they were part of the renowned Troupe Gramarye. Since childhood, he had been trained in the ways of the performing arts. As he got older, he realized his passion just wasn't magic despite being proficient in it. No, he was really passionate about law, as he always used to follow the news about the former defense attorney Phoenix Wright. When Wright was disbarred for committing forgery, it had been a shocking and hard blow to the public and the world of law. Apollo's interest in law might have been completely tarnished if it weren't for another defense attorney that had been gaining quite the reputation for himself within Los Angeles not long after. He had brought up the subject of wanting to go to college and study law instead awhile back. To his immense surprise, Thalassa was very supportive of his idea, even Valant, who was a close family friend within their troupe, gave his support as well. His step-father, Zak, didn't seem to really care what he did, but just simply agreed with his wife to most likely make her happy. And of course, his younger half sister right beside him, Trucy, shared the same opinion as their mother and Valant. Though he was elated to know he had support, the only one who truly had any real say at the end of the day was their grandfather, Magnifi, the head of Troupe Gramarye. It was only natural that he wanted his two grandchildren to continue their family's legacy, and not bother with such "nonsense" like college and law school. But that was an entirely different situation that Apollo didn't want to think about right now, and he averted his attention back to the defense's bench. He could only see from where he was sitting in the gallery was the back of the lawyer's head of neatly groomed blonde hair and periwinkle suit. Despite this, Apollo knew what he looked like, remembering how he had seen him in the papers a couple times before. Shamefully, Apollo found himself slightly smitten. The man was far from unattractive, and even owned his own law firm further downtown that he knew of. What person wouldn't find themselves attracted to a such a talented and handsome individual? Right now the court was waiting for the next witness to be brought to the stand, and Apollo looks at the double doors that lead out to the lobby, back to the defense's bench, then the judge. Lastly, he glanced at the prosecutor's bench out of curiosity. His above average eyesight didn't need to show him twice how uncannily the prosecution looked exactly like the defense. He was grinning at the defense attorney across, leaning slightly forward. "We're only just getting started, Kristoph. Now we can rock and roll for real, ja?" The man air guitared for a brief moment as emphasis. Apollo couldn't help but grimace a bit at the unprofessionalism, and he could hear that the defense attorney mirrored his thoughts. "The courtroom is not a place for your antics, Klavier." He sternly responds, sifting through the documents he was intending to use during his cross examination. It was about another minute until the bailiff came back with the new person in tow. They walked up to the witness stand and the judge spoke. "Witness, please state your name and occupation to the court." Apollo was completely mesmerized during the cross examination. Both lawyers were like night and day, with the prosecutor tending to bang a fist into the wall behind as he objected to the defense's theories, only to be responded with a much firmer and leveled objection while keeping his hands folded behind himself. Much later, the judge said they will reconvene tomorrow, and that he wanted both the prosecution and defense to look further into the new matters that were presented today. The court was adjourned soon after, and the people sitting in the gallery were filing out steadily. They were now at the front entrance of the courthouse, and Trucy spoke up first. "I wonder who that prosecutor was? He looked like some kind of dreamy prince!" Her eyes practically sparkled as she sighed. Apollo felt his instinct as the older sibling come out. "That guy is much older than you, Trucy. You're too young to be thinking like that." "Well, I wouldn't say 24 is that old." A chuckling third voice suddenly said behind them. Apollo jolted and swiftly turned to face them. The prosecutor from earlier was now standing here. "I apologize for startling you, but I must ask, what brings two Gramarye kids to the courthouse today?" A pang of annoyance hit him. " 'Kids'? I'm 22, thank you very much." Apollo huffs. Trucy placed her hands on his shoulders, bouncing on her feet enthusiastically. "He wants to be a defense attorney someday! But grandpa won't let him-" "Trucy!" Apollo cut in. Though he was mad that his sister sort of blurted out his personal business to this guy, he felt maybe it was only fair to ask the question that had been lingering in his mind since he first saw him. "Are you related to the defense?" The man's eyes widened for a moment. "Kristoph? Ja, he's my older brother-" He stopped momentarily upon seeing the courthouse security pass by to start blocking the stairs leading up to them. They could now see that a small crowd was forming at the bottom of the steps, and the majority of them looked like they belonged to the press. The prosecutor shook his head lightly, sighing. "There's never a day where I'm not followed by the paparazzi. Ach, I'm sorry, I still hadn't introduced myself. Klavier Gavin, prosecutor by day, rockstar by night." He smiled and winked, outstretching his silver ringed hand to Apollo. This guy is famous too?! "I'm... Apollo." He shook his hand, hesitant at first. He made sure to stay in front of his sibling. "And this is my younger sister, Trucy." She clasped her hands together in awe at Klavier. "You're in a band?" He raised the chain necklace he was wearing, the pendant was in the shape of either a jagged six or "G", Apollo couldn't tell. "Lead singer and guitarist of the Gavinners. Started back in my teens and we managed to take off after our first hit single. Maybe you've might heard of it, "13 Years Hard Time For Love"?" It took so much willpower to not roll his eyes at the name. "I don't like rock music personally..." "Speaking of music, it does make me wish mom would sing more in our shows! I think she has a beautiful voice." Trucy says. "Oooh, you should totally come see one of our shows sometime!" She suggests. Klavier brushed a hand through his long blonde bangs. "Maybe in the future, I'm always so busy with work and the band though." He looks back to Apollo. "If I may ask... are you able to do one trick for me? It's not everyday I run into someone in your profession." Trucy practically beamed at his request. "Yeah! Do one, Polly!" Apollo had to refrain from groaning by being put on the spot. But he knew better than to weasel his way out, because his sister was relentless. "Well, I think we should move first so we're not blocking the stairs so much." He walks off to one side of the stairs and sits at the first step, prompting the other two to follow suit. He removed his red top hat and touched his brunette hair. His two prominent front hair spikes had been somewhat flattened from prolonged wear. "Ugh, I hate how my hat does that every time." He mumbles to himself. "Wie süß." The prosecutor's tone had noticeably changed to something akin to fondness. That definitely was not English, and it instantly confused Apollo. "Huh?" "Ah, nothing. What kind of trick will you show me?" Klavier already steered away from the comment. Weird... "Trucy? Do you still have your deck of cards on hand?" Apollo asks. She nodded and opened the pouch she often wore with her costume, passing over the deck to him. "Ooh, I know what you're gonna do. That's a classic one." She took her brother's hat to hold onto in the meantime. Apollo had to sit at an angle more towards Klavier, which the other also mirrored. This trick was basically second nature to him as he shuffled the deck. He fans out the deck of cards face down and held them in front of Klavier. He saw a camera flash in his peripheral from the bottom of the stairs. Either Klavier didn't notice or just flat out ignored it, but he guessed the latter since he must be used to it. He lightly clears his throat. "Pick a card." He chose one that was a bit closer to the top (or the right-side from Klavier's viewpoint), then took a few seconds to remember the number and suit of the card. Apollo held the top half of the deck away, subtly and quickly peeking at the bottom card of the top half in his left hand as the other was distracted. Klavier places the card back in the exact spot face down, and Apollo stacks, flips, and fans out the deck face up to start sifting through the deck for the prosecutor's card. It was right next to the King of Spades. Easy. "Yours is the Ace of Hearts, right?" "Ja, you got it." Klavier applauds him. He picks up the card again and held it closer to his chest. "Watch out, I might have to have you arrested for taking my heart." He grinned cheekily. His face felt like it had just been lit aflame by his words. Warmth flooded all throughout his body as he stuttered. "W-what?!" At this the man laughed, and wow, his laughter sounded so wonderful... "I'm kidding. You're really good, thank you." He says with sincerity. After he gives back the deck of cards to Trucy, he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, chestnut eyes averting to the concrete steps. "About earlier... I was here to watch an ongoing court case. I've been wanting to study law for awhile now." Klavier frowned a bit. "But your family?" It was a rhetorical question. "Yeah... everyone else but our grandpa is fine with it. I wish Polly could be allowed to chase his real dream." Trucy leaned on her brother's side. The prosecutor leaned back with his arms for support and crossed one leg over the other. "Suppose if you could right now, what was your plan for school?" It honestly felt so nice to finally have someone outside his family who wanted to hear him out. "For starters, major in Criminal Justice and get all my GE classes and whatever else out of the way at a community college before transferring to a 4-year university like Ivy. After graduating from there, I don't know where I would go for a law school though..." Without missing a beat, Klavier perks up. "Have you heard about Themis Legal Academy? I studied in their prosecution program, but they also have one for students who want to specialize in defense. The education, campus and faculty were all top notch, I honestly would consider them as one of your choices." He paused for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "Aaand... if you wanted, I could personally recommend you to the school faculty. It's not a guarantee, but you'd have a greater chance of getting admitted." Apollo was nearly at loss for words at his generous offer. "You... would do that for me?" Klavier sits up, even scooting a bit closer. "Sure. I can tell just from listening to you that you have the ambition and passion to become a great lawyer. The legal world needs more people like yourself, schatzi." From behind them the doors of the front entrance opened, and a irritated man's voice was heard. "So this is where you were. I said to wait for me in the lobby." Klavier looked over his shoulder, seemingly not phased by the tone of his older brother. "You sure took a long time." "I was speaking to my client." Kristoph finally notices Apollo and Trucy. "Why are you socializing with these people?" Apollo had quickly become uncomfortable from the wording he used, but the prosecutor raised a hand to signal to let him handle it. "It's not illegal to talk to certain people." Klavier patted Apollo's right shoulder. "This bright young man wants to be a defense attorney someday. I was offering him suggestions for schooling." Trucy was huddling behind her brother and whispered to him. "Polly, I don't why he feels scarier in person..." He had gotten the same feeling too, but didn't want to admit that he was possibly afraid of one of his role models being the opposite of what he had thought. A kind master of his craft. "I don't know either..." He mutters back. Even stranger, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the scar on the lawyer's hand. Maybe he had only imagined it, but it felt as if a small devilish face stared back for a second. "Oh, really now? A Gramarye magician aspiring to become a lawyer?" Kristoph folded his arms and pushed the bridge of his silver glasses. "You should aim for something more reasonable. A paralegal, perhaps?" Apollo felt himself swallow dryly. Was that... supposed to be an insult...? Klavier shot a borderline steely glare at Kristoph. "Halt endlich die Klappe." He nearly growled. The defense attorney looked back and forth between his brother and Apollo. "Pardon me, it was only a suggestion." From the subtle smirk he could ever so see curling at the corner of his lips, he was far from apologetic. "I'm leaving with or without you, your choice." Kristoph walked past the trio and descended down the stairs. Klavier cursed lowly. "Schiebe... I'm so sorry, I don't understand why he's like that sometimes." I guess not all your role models are heroes when you meet them... Damn jerk... "I have to go unfortunately. I'm really glad I met you two." He stood up and stretched a bit before offering a hand to Apollo to help him up. They walked halfway down the steps before Klavier stopped suddenly. He half turns to Apollo. "Is red your preferred color?" The question had been so random that it threw him off for a second. Apollo held up his top hat and touched the brim. "Yeah, actually it is." Even being a step behind and above Klavier, his tall height still managed to be at Apollo's eye level as he leaned in closer to his face. Those beautiful pools of blue that gazed deeply into his, and the soft looking blonde hair that laid over the left shoulder in a neat braid almost took his breath away. "I think you would look so stunning in a red suit, Apollo." Klavier admits softly, only loud enough for them to hear it. Apollo's face had instantly matched the shade of his costume. "K-Klavier...?" While Trucy gasped and cooed at the blatant context of their interaction, the chatter of the small crowd that had still been blocked by security had risen almost excitedly and in shock at witnessing their close proximity. Multiple clicks and flashes of their cameras had gone off right then and there, temporarily blinding them. Dear God, he was definitely going to appear in the celebrity tabloids now.
As the prosecutor left, more like ran to catch up to his brother and avoid the press, the crowd finally moved aside and hurriedly tried following him. He sure wasn't kidding about never being able to get away from the paparazzi. Apollo had still been standing in the same spot, clutching tightly onto his top hat and watched as Klavier got further and further away.
Trucy went to his side with an all-knowing teasing grin. "Don't worry, I won't tell mom you were totally flirting with that cute guy!"
Apollo hid his vermillion face behind his top hat. "I wasn't-!" He sighs exasperatedly and his shoulders sagged. "You still hungry or what?" He abruptly changes the subject.
Thankfully she dropped the topic and skipped towards the direction they needed to go to the local park. "Let's go already, Polly!"
He follows behind his sister and placed his top hat back on. His cheeks were relentlessly warm the rest of the walk, but he knew one thing for sure. He was most certainly coming back to the courthouse tomorrow.
And not just to watch a certain blonde prosecutor, Apollo reminded himself.