ataraxion | voice

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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.

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[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?

Mitchell.

[He corrects him, with a little more force than is perhaps necessary. A beat; he runs his fingers through his hair, trying to collect himself, to move out of this--]

So what you'd believe outside of your courtroom, and what you'd believe inside--they're that different?

[He pauses, then shakes his head.]

Not precisely, no. What I would believe is...consistent. The difference is that inside the classroom, it's my duty to set aside my beliefs in favor of arguing what I am impelled to argue.

Right. Yeah.

[He presses his fingers to his mouth, smiles bleakly against them.]

It must be easy, thinkin' like that.

[A pause, and a frown - ]

I think you are the first person who has told me that. But it's certainly simpler than taking one's emotions with oneself into the courtroom. Cleaner, as well. And more fair.

[He huffs a laugh.]

Thinking in black and white is always easier than thinking in gray. Anyone who believes otherwise--they're lying t' themselves. But more fair, ah, I don't know about that. Who's it fair to--the person you're judging?

That's right. Fair to them, and fair to the person for whom I am advocating. Look - [Since he said he didn't know about that - ] You have, in your life, no doubt, hated someone. Correct?

[His laugh this time is more bitter.]

There've been a few. Yeah.

[He doesn't ask.]

And say you were asked to stand in front of a judge and argue for them to be punished. Do you think it's particularly fair to them to stand up there and allow yourself to speak from that place of hatred? Or would you sooner rely on evidence? Logic? Reason?

And d'you think it's always that easy? Logic, and reason--that's grey thinking. Evidence, that speaks for itself.

What there is, is what's been done. What's been done t' people, and their families--their lives--and what they've done t' you. There's not always a judge in a courtroom. There's a judgement, but it doesn't go like you're saying. And it shouldn't. Not for some things.

Edited 2013-05-07 17:26 (UTC)

[And he hesitates. This conversation is suddenly straying rather too close to...certain topics...for his comfort.]

If there is no judge, then it is not proper judgment. Judgment must always be rendered by a disinterested third party with wisdom and a thorough knowledge of law, after being presented with two well-argued sides. It must be clean and civilized.

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[voice] did you mean to write classroom are you soulbonding right now

[voice] I am and have always been Miles Edgeworth

[voice] but are you married on the astral plane

[voice] Ummmmmmm we are married on the REAL plane. I found a person with his name and married him.

[voice] wait you got married on a plane?!

[voice] HAHAHAHA like I would set foot on a plane

[voice] but how will i see you if you don't set foot on planes

[voice] you'll have to come to me I suppose /flutters lashes