[His eyes are fixed unmoving on the ground as he hears all of that. He tries to reserve judgment; he tries to hear all of that impartially. And yet that last statement stays in his ears -
Monsters aren't. Some of them deserve to be -
Isn't that how he lives with himself? Not monsters, but criminals. His responsibility is to see that through. His responsibility is - will be, when he finally sets foot in court - to see them to their deaths. The only difference will be that he'll be acting through the aegis of the state -
But that's all the difference. If you don't act through the aegis of the state, then you're a murderer.
Right?
God, he can't stop thinking about the dead people. The dead pirates. He's supposed to be happy that they're dead. He's -
He's still fighting to think through that; his next statement is listless, automatic, a statement that he doesn't even have to think through so many times has he said it.]
Self-defense isn't murder, and nor is using force in defense of another so long as it is not excessive.
[ it was excessive. it was excessive when he bashed ray's face in with a rock the first time, more so the second; the things he said, the terrifying thrill that came from cutting the wolf's head clean off its shoulders.
he doesn't say any of that, of course, because that's too much. it's none of edgeworth's business. ]
What does your court say about destroying peoples' lives?
[ the anger isn't gone, but it's softer now, turned inwards instead. but the bitterness is there, and that's for edgeworth and his stupid, rigid morals. ]
There are people who are dead because of me. Because of my choices, because of what I am. I turned my own wife into an animal; into a killer.
[ he should probably stop there; he doesn't, of course. he's fed up with all of this talk of right and wrong and the law as if it actually matters. ]
How about disposing of the corpse of a pureblood werewolf? Or hey, I know, resurrecting your best friend. What's the legal procedure for that?
[That penetrates his haze of uncertainty, at least. He lifts his head. He looked mad before; now he just looks sad and tired.]
The court has never been confronted by something like that before, and as such it has not had to come up with an answer to...either of those questions. If it were so confronted, it would adapt.
[ he's actually arguing it. edgeworth's actually standing here in front of him and arguing that the legal system would adapt to werewolves and resurrections, and if it weren't so offensively awful, it would actually be hilarious.
but he just cut himself open in front of edgeworth, and he's getting politics back. there's a moment where it almost tips the wrong way; the anger's an itch at the back of his neck, except it's more than that. it's the wolf, and it's got its own system, its own code; one of pack and family and doing whatever it takes. there's a quick flash of rage in his expression, carefully held in check as he clenches his jaw and forces himself to step back - because he has to do something, and if it's not moving back it's moving forward, and that won't end well.
he doesn't say anything for a moment, just fixes edgeworth with a cold stare; but then he's opening the door and stepping aside, and if the message wasn't clear enough: ]
[It's not even stubbornness that makes him stand there. It's a sort of stupidity. He's just not able to process this, and he needs the time to stand there and think about it and ask more questions. And now Josh is trying to usher him out. So, quietly:]
[ now he's back to incredulous. which is better than angry, at least, but there's a pause while he considers just shoving edgeworth out bodily. he runs a hand over his face in frustration and closes the door - doesn't slam it, thankfully. but it's a controlled sort of calm, which isn't much better.
he doesn't lean back against the wall again, just crosses his arms over his chest and closes his eyes for a second to regain some kind of balance. when he finally looks back at edgeworth, he doesn't look any less pissed off - but he's keeping it in check, so there's that. ]
Fine. But you don't know the first thing about my world, and I don't need your preaching.
[ he judges himself enough. it's a cheat, telling edgeworth he's not allowed, but he doesn't care. not right now. because he's not talking about his universe - he's talking about his world, the supernatural and the dark, and it has its own set of rules. if he tries to live by the ones he used to believe in, he can't even justify living. ]
[ it was a rhetorical question is what he wants to say, but even if it's true it sounds entirely petty. so he shelves it, just gives edgeworth a slightly disbelieving look.
he may not think he's preaching; maybe he's not. this is probably more about josh's skewed perspective than anything, and the fact is edgeworth is still here, even if he can't bear to look at him. ]
[ it's surreal to just be talking this out. he'd really rather not, actually. but edgeworth's insistence is enough to keep him talking, and he's starting to sound more tired than anything else. ]
I killed Ray to protect Nora. [ a pause, slightly less confident: ] But I was going to kill him before it came to that.
[ this shouldn't really be an issue anymore, because it's not like the cure stuck. but it's still something he hates, and the answer sounds a bit forced. ]
No. It didn't. It cured me, but it didn't... trickle down.
[ which sounds stupid, and he's judging himself slightly for describing it that way, even if it's accurate. ]
[ and it's worse this time. he leaves that part out, because that's more he'd have to explain. witches and purebreds, and he already feels insane enough with what he's confessed so far. ]
It's not our business to police individuals afflicted with werewolfism; we hold faith that you'll manage your condition unless it's demonstrated otherwise.
[ he should probably find that more endearing. he doesn't, not after everything else. he sounds tired, and he sounds bitter, and for some reason the sudden concern just raises his hackles. ]
Why do you care? I'm not a decent person. [ there's an edge there, echoing the language edgeworth had used over the network. ] I'm surprised you're even still here.
[There's a pause, and then, still not looking at Josh - an unhappy little shrug. Quietly, hoping that Josh is denser than he gives him credit for and won't read the full truth into this comment, Edgeworth mumbles in reply:]
I'm not exactly a decent person either.
[And then he shifts his gaze again - floor to wall.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I measure my successes in the number of <s and >s you end up having to use, actually
Monsters aren't. Some of them deserve to be -
Isn't that how he lives with himself? Not monsters, but criminals. His responsibility is to see that through. His responsibility is - will be, when he finally sets foot in court - to see them to their deaths. The only difference will be that he'll be acting through the aegis of the state -
But that's all the difference. If you don't act through the aegis of the state, then you're a murderer.
Right?
God, he can't stop thinking about the dead people. The dead pirates. He's supposed to be happy that they're dead. He's -
He's still fighting to think through that; his next statement is listless, automatic, a statement that he doesn't even have to think through so many times has he said it.]
Self-defense isn't murder, and nor is using force in defense of another so long as it is not excessive.
sighs loudly
he doesn't say any of that, of course, because that's too much. it's none of edgeworth's business. ]
What does your court say about destroying peoples' lives?
[ the anger isn't gone, but it's softer now, turned inwards instead. but the bitterness is there, and that's for edgeworth and his stupid, rigid morals. ]
There are people who are dead because of me. Because of my choices, because of what I am. I turned my own wife into an animal; into a killer.
[ he should probably stop there; he doesn't, of course. he's fed up with all of this talk of right and wrong and the law as if it actually matters. ]
How about disposing of the corpse of a pureblood werewolf? Or hey, I know, resurrecting your best friend. What's the legal procedure for that?
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The court has never been confronted by something like that before, and as such it has not had to come up with an answer to...either of those questions. If it were so confronted, it would adapt.
wow gj
but he just cut himself open in front of edgeworth, and he's getting politics back. there's a moment where it almost tips the wrong way; the anger's an itch at the back of his neck, except it's more than that. it's the wolf, and it's got its own system, its own code; one of pack and family and doing whatever it takes. there's a quick flash of rage in his expression, carefully held in check as he clenches his jaw and forces himself to step back - because he has to do something, and if it's not moving back it's moving forward, and that won't end well.
he doesn't say anything for a moment, just fixes edgeworth with a cold stare; but then he's opening the door and stepping aside, and if the message wasn't clear enough: ]
You should go.
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I - would prefer not to.
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he doesn't lean back against the wall again, just crosses his arms over his chest and closes his eyes for a second to regain some kind of balance. when he finally looks back at edgeworth, he doesn't look any less pissed off - but he's keeping it in check, so there's that. ]
Fine. But you don't know the first thing about my world, and I don't need your preaching.
[ he judges himself enough. it's a cheat, telling edgeworth he's not allowed, but he doesn't care. not right now. because he's not talking about his universe - he's talking about his world, the supernatural and the dark, and it has its own set of rules. if he tries to live by the ones he used to believe in, he can't even justify living. ]
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[He looks off to the side again, though, and pushes a hand uncomfortably through his hair. And, quietly:]
Did you have any alternative to these killings?
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he may not think he's preaching; maybe he's not. this is probably more about josh's skewed perspective than anything, and the fact is edgeworth is still here, even if he can't bear to look at him. ]
There's always an alternative.
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An alternative aside from watching someone die.
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[ it's surreal to just be talking this out. he'd really rather not, actually. but edgeworth's insistence is enough to keep him talking, and he's starting to sound more tired than anything else. ]
I killed Ray to protect Nora. [ a pause, slightly less confident: ] But I was going to kill him before it came to that.
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[ it's quick, but it's not purely defensive. he means it. ]
To break the curse. I thought it would cure her.
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Would it have?
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No. It didn't. It cured me, but it didn't... trickle down.
[ which sounds stupid, and he's judging himself slightly for describing it that way, even if it's accurate. ]
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Then you are no longer an individual with werewolfism?
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I wasn't. For almost two years.
[ he could leave it there, let edgeworth get the hint, but he's been doing enough of that. ]
I got... scratched, again. By a different wolf.
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[That could sound like a judgmental question, or an accusatory one. But he asks it quietly, without any intonation.]
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[ that coldness is back, but it's not directed at edgeworth. ]
He's dead.
[ not by josh's hands, but not for lack of trying, so it's semantics at this point. ]
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[Edgeworth looks off to the side; his mouth is grim. He assumes from that that Josh was in fact responsible.]
But you are not cured once more.
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[ and it's worse this time. he leaves that part out, because that's more he'd have to explain. witches and purebreds, and he already feels insane enough with what he's confessed so far. ]
I have it taken care of.
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[He's back to staring at the floor now.]
It's not our business to police individuals afflicted with werewolfism; we hold faith that you'll manage your condition unless it's demonstrated otherwise.
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[ it's half critical, half curious. the rest of this has felt like an interrogation, even if edgeworth hasn't meant it to. ]
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Because I...want to know how - you're doing. I guess.
sorry edgeworth
Why do you care? I'm not a decent person. [ there's an edge there, echoing the language edgeworth had used over the network. ] I'm surprised you're even still here.
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I'm not exactly a decent person either.
[And then he shifts his gaze again - floor to wall.]
The information is...relevant to me. That's why.
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