ataraxion | [video]

[It's a rare video post from Edgeworth. He looks tired, but he seems less depressed than he did a few hours ago; he's focusing on his anger to carry him through.]

Security has a certain amount of the ship secured. These areas are the ones we patrol, the ones you're all accustomed to: the passenger quarters, the oxygen gardens, the medical bay, et cetera. The areas in which you reside. If you stay within those boundaries, we try to keep you safe to the fullest of our abilities; though our manpower is limited, we will do what we can.

If you stray, then we can do nothing. As I said, our manpower is limited, and beyond where we have secured, it is essentially enemy territory. So all of you, no matter how impressed you are with your survival skills and abilities, needs to treat it like enemy territory. It isn't a place to have a walk. It isn't a place to go out and search for monsters so that you can get your fun cracking a few heads. It isn't a research lab. It is a place fraught with danger, and if you go out there, you run the risk of death.

So if you go out, then you will treat it like it is enemy territory. You will not go out alone. You will not go out unarmed. You will not go out without notifying security. If you fail to do any of these things, then you should damn well compose your suicide note to your friends on-board, because you're very likely going to die. And while security isn't ever going to leave anyone to die, you can't treat this ship like an amusement park and expect to live to see the next jump.

[And he glares at the camera a moment longer - and then he glances off to the side, his lips relaxing very slightly.]

Condolences. To those who knew them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[he glances from the communicator and the paperwork when Edgeworth looks up quickly, and recognizes what it means; he shrugs one shoulder.]

A little more freeze dried space food, a little less monsters trying to kill us all.

[And Edgeworth answers in a tone that's somewhere between ironic and heavy:]

Reasonable.

You're from a...Well. I suppose "a standard world" is not precisely useful as a descriptor, is it.

Standard in my case.

[he says with a shrug, and has no idea how very wrong he is.]

The only monsters I know of are wild cats and criminals, nothing like what's been happening up here.

And there's no magic or any such nonsense.

[he pauses, just for a fraction of a second, and thinks of the images taken from the video store. two years ago, he would never have paused, and he finally says:]

If there is, it's a damn well hidden secret, because I've never heard of it.

[He nods in acknowledgment, not questioning that pause.]

For myself as well. It's...disconcerting, coming here.

You aren't used to it by now?

[that's a genuine question, and his gaze goes back to Edgeworth as he asks it.]

[Edgeworth hesitates, then shakes his head.]

No. Six months hasn't really been enough to negate twenty years of living in skepticism.

[his expression is point taken, a cock of his head and a nod. but, then he regards Edgeworth for a moment.]

This really isn't what you're used to. [he gestures to the room, the paperwork] In my experience lawyers aren't usually the ones trying to wrangle people.

I -

[For a moment, his expression becomes more guarded. Stilinski is on the security team, and therefore Edgeworth trusts him more than most people on the ship - and he's decent, and so he trusts him more than most people on security...But he's still -

Well. Edgeworth is only as effective as people believe him to be. To admit weakness, uncertainty, a lack of experience and competence...To admit those things would be, in a fashion, to erode his own ability to help people.

Still...It's been a really difficult few days. Sometimes you just get too tired to keep up the illusion of competence.]

No. I'm used to just...finding evidence and going after criminals. Doing what I'm told to do.

[there's a strength in admitting weakness, in admitting needing help. he thinks of all the times Stiles has inadvertently (and not so inadvertently) helped in his cases, when he had a team to back him up, when he had to come off strong and when they needed to see something more human in him.]

Guess that makes you one of a kind.

[he shifts his weight from one foot to the other.]

Nothing of the sort.

[He looks up again, his brow slightly furrowed.]

Everyone here has had to adapt to a different mode of thinking and of operation.

Not everyone can do that though.

[He gives a slight frown.]

You have, have you not?

[he cocks his head, gaze dropping briefly, and Stilinski considers the situation. considers the fact that his kid is up here, along with all of his friends; the dangers, the fact that he's all but stripped of his title, but still has the expectation to do his job.

he nods and his gaze comes back up.]

I take it day by day.

[And Edgeworth gives a small frown.]

So I suppose that is also what I do. I do my job as I understand it to be, and try to make it so tomorrow won't be quite such a disaster.

[and the sheriff smiles because that's as good an answer as anyone can give. he straightens, clapping Edgeworth on the shoulder before stepping away.]

Keep up the good work.

[he's about to leave when he pauses, turns back around.]

Is there anything you want me to do?

[Edgeworth starts to say no, but then he pauses.]

Perhaps...if you hear anyone proposing something foolish on the network - step in. I try my best to dissuade them, but I fear my reputation is rather unsavory, and people often will not listen to me. You might have...better luck.

[he nods.]

Will do.

[and then he leaves Edgeworth to his work]

[video]

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