008; Voice

[andblockbuster]

 [Welcome back to another exciting adventure in the world of Topher Brink. There's a methodical clanking of tools and, once again, it seems Topher has turned his communicator on with the purpose of saying something, and then gotten distracted. Luckily, you're not stuck with ten minutes of dead silence with the actual sounds of someone working. In fact, it's only a few seconds before he starts talking.]

Sometimes I really think I'm the only one who doesn't spend an hour of every... relative day, I guess, thinking how bad I wanna go home. Don't get me wrong. I didn't get possessed by demons or nearly assimilated into a hive mind or chewed on by hellbeasts back home, and all of those things suck, but... It's not that bad. Everyone dies eventually, right? Why not die in space. ...Okay, so it's a touch cynical and I know- I'm terrifying the children. Cover their ears, ban that last bit from future broadcasts, whatever... The point is...

[There's a pause, followed by a pained noise, because genius here probably pinched his fingers or something.] The point is, uh... [Oh, did he have a point? He totally had one.]

... I don't remember what the point is, but I'll tell you something else. Hayley's post got me thinking about the whole... lack of dates thing. And I know it doesn't mean much to most of you, but it was, like... Late May or something when I showed up here and I've been here for eight months now, which means if time in space weren't so kerflooey, it'd be late January. So that means I'm 28 years old now, which... Yeah, that means exactly what I'm implying.

And this is not some big extravagant plea for gifts or attention or anything. I was just thinking about how this time last year, my birthday went by unnoticed and most of the time... Yeah, let's just say I've never had many people to celebrate it with. But here... If I said I wanted to gather some of my buddies up and sit in a common room and... I dunno, raid the library for something watchable and eat cake... It could happen. Not that I'm suggesting that either, because I have my doubts about whether the library has the best kind of bad science fiction when we're living the best kind of bad science fiction, but I could do it. And that means a lot to me.

Ah, I found my way back to the point. With all the bad stuff that happens here and the imminent badness continuing to loom over us and the fact that we miss the people we left behind back home... We can't forget that for some of us... This stupid ship has actually given us something. Fresh starts, the families we never knew we needed, friends, whatever. And that's a good thing.

[There's a thoughtful sigh.] I dunno. It does kinda make a guy wonder what happens if we do all go home. Sure, we lose all the bad things, but what about the stuff we actually wanna remember?

Comments

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

No one stays angry forever.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

Perhaps not. But for the time being I am, and I see no room for complaint from you.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

Okay, okay. [He sounds a little cowed, though, if only because... wow, Edgeworth never sounds so... Human.] You didn't have to say anything at all to me.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

Of course I didn't have to. No one is ever compelled to say anything; they do so from choice.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

Not really what I meant.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

Then what did you mean.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

You're angry at me. Most people when they're angry avoid the subject of their anger, because it keeps them from dredging up all the bad feelings and getting angrier. If you approach the subject of your anger in a nonthreatening and congenial way, you're basically saying, "Hey, we had a stupid fight, but I'm working on building bridges here." Which tells me that you, at least, appreciate our friendship a little.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[That's...a strange thought. Does he? Is it even a friendship? Edgeworth usually avoids such entanglements, but...]

...I don't think it was a stupid fight. The issues we were discussing were quite grave.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

And you circled back around again. God, it's like you don't wanna admit you have compassion.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[His brow furrows. His voice is uncertain.]

Compassion has nothing to do with it.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

You don't do anything without a reason, so... What's the reason?

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

Do I not have the right to simply assert myself?

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

Asserting yourself... By congratulating me on my birthday?

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[Edgeworth clears his throat, suddenly a bit embarrassed.]

I...thought you were referencing me declaring my anger.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

No, you've made that part clear. I'm totally not confused about that part at all.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

Oh. The birthday -

[He clears his throat and crosses his arms, feeling heat creep up the back of his neck.]

It cost me nothing, and it...seemed as though it would make you - glad.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

It did. It might mean a lot more if you ever decided to forgive me, but I can wait for that.

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[A frown, but - quietly and grudgingly - ]

You have my forgiveness. Such as it is.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

See? Was that so hard? [WAY TO MAKE IT SOUND INSINCERE, TOPHER.]

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[Edgeworth crosses his arms. That...really did sound very insincere.]

And you could grant the same.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

You didn't actually do anything to me except ask me questions, so... Yeah. Already forgiven. [At least he admits he was the one in the wrong here. THAT IS PROGRESS.]

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[He clears his throat.]

Very well, then.

[And, uncomfortably:]

Has someone organized a celebration for you?

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

I'm not gonna make anyone throw me a big party. I mean, I can't even prove it's January. A few people offered me cake and gifts and that's fine with me. I didn't have a whole mess of awesome birthdays back home. This is... surprisingly better. [Which is half a lie- his birthdays were awesome, but in retrospect, imprinting someone to be your ideal friend to spend a day with you is sort of sad and pathetic.]

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[There's a slight note of relief in his voice.]

All right. That is good to hear. [Aaand then Miles the Awkward realizes what he said - ] Er - not that they were lacking in - you used the term "awesomeness," I believe? I mean that it is good that your expectations are not so very high. [...No, that also sounds wrong, somehow, though he's not sure how.] You'll not be disappointed.

[voice]

[andblockbuster]

[With the vaguest touch of condescension.] It's so cute that you're trying, Miles.