ataraxion | voice

Entry tags:

voice

[...there's a second of white noise, because-- well, this is weird. It's like online chatrooms, which Mitchell has never been keen on, to say the least. One on one communication hasn't been so bad--better, actually, considering he's been mostly holed up in his room, avoiding human/werewolf contact. But, right--necessity--]

If people are going t' go through those tubes and get onto that other ship, do their phones keep on working? These devices, I mean. Do they go that far? If they do, and if this can be heard over there, I'm making a request. Space pirates had to have cigarettes on them, yeah, and I'm in need of cigarettes. Sanctioned looting can include a bit of personal stuff, yeah-- and it's sort of a, a desperate need. Please and thanks in advance.

[Like very desperate. Like the more he talks about it, the more strained his voice goes. Vampires with nicotine addictions, it's a hard life. A pause, then, he might finish there--but instead he sucks in a breath. Right. Normal.]

Actually, there's a lot of questions on how things work around here, and not all of it is out of our control. Like--so there's a cast of, what, a hundred plus of us, and we have t' trade for things that we need, if someone else has got them. But if you don't have anything t' trade, is it just-- begging for it? Hoping for a bit of Christian charity? Every man for himself? Not that I'd be much surprised by that one, given the... [Maybe it's better not to finish that one, in light of recent events, but given his low faith in humanity, and given his own recent exploints, none this is really all that surprising. So, wry once more:] ...given the situation.

[An awkward pause.]

Anyways. Thanks again.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, I'm aware that your duties are terrible, sir. Tell me: do they treat each other with respect?

Yes?

[GOD EDGEWORTH you are impossible to joke with]

And how have they earned one another's respect?

You... did hear the part where I'm a porter, right.

Because obviously you're the sort to keep your head down and pay heed to no one, are you?

[A blank pause.]

Yes?

...Er -

[He frowns.]

No you're not.

What I'm not is not sure of what you're askin' me anymore.

I'm-- Look, I really don't pay much attention t' the doctors. Or to anyone, really. I just-- do my job, do what I'm there t' do, and then I go home, and that's it. Respect, all of that--I'm not interested.

Fine. The point is that, when it comes down to it, respect is contingent entirely upon skills. Can you do the job, or can't you. Not age, not height, not appearance, nothing of the sort: just whether or not you can do the job.

So... you like surprising them?

[He scowls, but reins in his temper before he snaps at him.]

The only ones who end up surprised are the fools. Those who think that appearance and demeanor equate to competence. What I like is the expression on their faces when they realize how wrong they were about me.

...Which is really just a long-winded way of admitting that yeah, you like surprising them. You've as good as said it, y'know, you might as well just come clean.

Well, that - that sounds petty.

Well, you're only human, yeah?

I understand what you are driving at, sir, but my answer is in fact a resounding no. My job demands that I be above human weaknesses and foibles.

You don't consider yourself human.

I...try not to be.

And you really think your job is better served that way? I'm not sayin' you have t' be a bleeding heart, yeah, but-- it's robotic. Idiotic, actually.

[That hits a nerve.]

And what exactly gives you the right to stand in judgment over what I must do in service to my duties?

Nothing? It's an opinion. I'm not sayin' you even have t' listen to it, I'm just saying it. I don't see what's wrong with having... human feeling, whatever you want t' call it. Especially if you're going t' judge people.

[A scoff.]

Human feeling is precisely what you should not have if you are going to judge people. Emotion clouds logic, and decisions should be made purely along the principles of law. Allowing human feeling means allowing judgment to be undermined by hatred, or by weakness.

[He doesn't answer that one right away. Because that's what he deserves, right? Judgement without feeling, without appeals, without blaming something outside of him--anger, vengeance, what he is, what he has to do to survive and what he's driven to do--no one and nothing to blame but him.]

In court.

[It's a short question after that silence, and it's not even really a question.]

[And Edgeworth isn't sure whether or not to answer it as a question; in the end, he nods - ]

That's right.

So outside of that-- when you're done for the day, when you've clocked out, then you just pick up your human feeling and put it back on again? Can you do that?

When I'm done for the day, I just go to sleep so that I can do the same thing the next day.

[But that's a glib answer; after a moment, he shakes his head - ]

But - that is how it works, to an extent, yes. Is that so very hard to believe, sir?

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]