tvk | 06: [Video]

[Edgeworth is looking the part of the stern father and projecting a cold air of confidence, certainty, and determination to a level not many here have seen before as the video feed begins.]

Concerning the recent news, I feel it important to assure all of you that this case is not going ignored. Unfortunately, given the disposition of many within our ranks, I feel it necessary to spell out basic precepts of justice before anyone does something ill-advised and exacerbates the situation.

What I have to say is simply this: if you find someone who you believe to be the serial killer, do not simply kill him or her. Incapacitation prior to turning them in is acceptable, however. Even a criminal as abhorrent as this deserves to be tried and sentenced fairly, and it is my hope that the structure that currently exists is sufficient to the task.

Even if it is not, however, starting a cycle of vengeance is not the answer -- that would only reduce those involved to his level and erode what community we might possess. Now more than ever, we need to show restraint. I realize how foreign that concept must be to many of you given what apparently happened during my time abroad, but we have a responsibility to each other as kidnappees even more so than we would as members of a normal community.

I am not asking you to stand idle as such brutality takes place. I merely insist that any vigilantes keep firmly in mind that your role is not that of executioner, particularly not prior to any attempt to bring any suspect to trial. Even if you should catch them red-handed, steel yourselves against that temptation, capture the murderer if you're able, and do what you can to preserve the evidence. Prove that we can be better than a pack of wild animals.

[With that, the feed ends.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

Then find a path towards protecting others upon which you can succeed.

As time goes on I worry that path either does not exist or it is simply completely hidden from me.

With such an attitude, you certainly won't find it. Are Heroic Spirits so easily broken?

Don't you dare assume this is all it would take. And do not for even a moment assume you understand what I have been dealing with recently.

[And Edgeworth is unfazed by that reaction; better that Diarmuid be driven to prove himself, after all.]

Of course not, given that I've been abroad and have seen little indication of your activities through the network.

[And now a switch to a private feed:]

I assume that any explanation you may wish to share would be personal, though unless it directly pertains to the case I won't demand it.

Where do I begin? With the fact that I could not keep my mouth shut and confessed a selfish declaration of love when I had no right to do so? The fact that I kissed someone who wasn't Grainne, or the fact that I think any affection my wife may have ever have felt for me was a magically-induced lie?!

Perhaps I should just admit the fact that I am terrified of hurting even one more person with my mere existence and leave it at that.

All that happened in two weeks...

[Definitely not a question, that.]

Diarmuid. Perhaps this calls for further explanation when you're calmer and I'm not nearly as occupied with work. ...I apologize for not being able to help you here and now when you clearly need it, but my skills are more suited to the other problem at hand.

It's fine. I'm sorry for snapping at you like that, I wouldn't want to trouble anyone with my problems.

There are times when, like it or not, we must trouble someone with them.

...you're right. Still, I...hesitate to bring such things up to people other than Arturia and Issei.

You could have refused to speak of it if you so wished.

...yes, I could have.

I... do forgive you for the tone in which you did so.

...thank you. I'm sorry, I have been..somewhat strained lately. Not that it excuses losing grip on my stability.

You've stopped yourself from doing anything worse than shouting at me. Under the circumstances, that will suffice.

Yes, you're right. This...really isn't like me, lashing out in such a way. I worry I might be becoming more like my Shadow.

I wouldn't know; I only encountered my own.

He was...angry. Full of rage and hatred and lashing out at the world with cruel words. Like...like I was, at one point.

Perhaps I was the more fortunate of the two of us in that respect.

[Using his own life to explain hatred to Diarmuid had eventually meant talking about his own Shadow, after all... budding spite for all things supernatural and all. ~~Even if the thread never got there.~~]

Considering my own was quite intent on killing me, you're likely right.

Need I remind you that your existence is not a crime?

That does not change the fact that I have allowed myself to think so in the past.

If I might say so, you seem to be on the verge of believing so again.

...maybe. I really don't know what to think anymore.

Perhaps more of a discussion is called for at a later date than I first thought.

[video, private]

croibhristeoir - 2012-03-25 14:14 (UTC) - Expand

truthsnomiracle - 2012-03-25 16:32 (UTC) - Expand

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