❮❮ 01; video. ❯❯

[godly]

[The video feed flickers to life, revealing the face of a young man decidedly still in his late teens. He's calm enough, almost professional, and his words will be spoken with the deliberation of someone who's put some thought into what they're going to say.]

I'm going to bypass what I assume are the usual comments concerning the... inconvenience of being brought here. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was either in the middle of something important or simply has more pressing matters at "home", so there's little point in being redundant.

[All-in-all, he appears to be taking this alright. There's only the slightest twitch, a furrowing of the brow -- but to anyone who claims to know Light well, this is merely an indication that's he a lot more irritated than he's letting on. (Consider it a blessing that no one really knows Light all that well.) He continues.]

My name is Light Yagami; I was a first year college student in Japan before my arrival. I understand that there are shared residencies here... in that case, if you happen to be one of my housemates, I'd appreciate you letting me know. I'd like to familiarize myself with your names, faces, backgrounds, personalities and et cetera, just so I can get a sense of [what he's getting himself into] who I'm living with and what daily life is going to be like. Just out of curiosity.

Secondly -- and this is directed to anyone seeing this -- I'd like some advice as to how to adapt here. This is a - [a pause because the notion sounds ridiculous but here he is] reality that isn't my own, so as far as I know, down could be up and up could be down. Explanations of do's and don't's are welcome, as is just general information if that's all you have to contribute. And yes, I know I've already been given a summary of what's supposedly happening; it's just that I wouldn't mind getting second opinions, or just meeting the people here.

[He looks as if he's about to end it there, and then, as if remembering something:]

Oh, and is the calendar on this thing right? February 26th? It's almost my birthday again.

Anyway, thanks for your time.

Comments

[godly]

Good. Then we'll have a household meeting -- once everyone is settled -- and discuss these rules as a group. Consensus decides which ones stay, and which ones are struck down.

[glassinine]

Not quite. Consensus decides which ones are valid and which ones are not. That is a separate concept.

[godly]

If a rule is determined to be invalid, then what logic is there to adhering to it?

[glassinine]

If a rule is determined to be invalid, it will be struck.

[godly]

Semantics. In a group of -- what, five? The difference between invalid and struck down is minimal at best. Majority rules.

[glassinine]

Not at all. Validity is a construct by which the majority agrees that something makes no sense. If I were to, say, put in a rule that everyone must wear their shirts backwards, you could eagerly point out that this impinges on personal choice without bringing anyone any material benefit. This is validity. Mere "majority rules" consists of people deciding what they like or don't like, with no reference to anything save personal preference.

[godly]

I know what validity is. [sheesh]

I meant that one will almost undoubtedly lead to the other. Unless you mean to tell me that, in the instance you provided, we would keep the rule of wearing one's shirts backwards despite finding it ridiculous or invalid.

[glassinine]

No. But then we come to the thornier example of cursing. You do not like it; others do not like it, find it silly. But can you deny the validity of my request? Can you come up with a solid, rational argument as to why my desire should be stricken from the list?

[godly]

[Flatly:] Because it harbors the potential to infringe upon others' right to express themselves freely in any given situation. Because it caters solely to your own comfort level -- with the mere assumption that everyone else would remain comfortable with it.

It would be different if you said "no swearing around my person". That would be an addendum I would not argue against.

[Actually he wouldn't have argued against the no swearing rule in general if Edgeworth hadn't ruffled his feathers.]

[glassinine]

Why? What's the difference?

[godly]

One is being respectful to another person's wishes. The other is a generalized rule that dictates everyone should abide by it even when you're not there.

[glassinine]

Weak.

[godly]

Excuse me?

[glassinine]

Your argumentation is weak. The line you draw is inconsequential. If you are, for whatever strange reason, so intent on defeating me in some debate, you'll have to improve your skills, young man.

[godly]

Inconsequential? I don't believe this. I provided a distinct difference -- whether or not you think it's consequential or not is a matter of personal opinion. The fact that you're dismissing me so quickly only lends to the feeling that you're, frankly, just being controlling.

[glassinine]

Ad hominem attacks. Weaker yet.

[godly]

[the hell man, what is this, the debate team]

Which are not always fallacious if provided with enough evidence.

[glassinine]

Incorrect. Evidence can be used to prove motive, and this is of value. But you did not provide motive. You merely slapped a label on me without any true support - and, compounding the sin, called this not a fact, but a feeling. I shudder to think how most professors of law would greet such folly at a recitation.

[godly]

I called it a feeling because I was being generous; I have no qualms calling it a fact if you really want me to. It's becoming clearer by the moment after all.

[professors of law?] Are you a lawyer?

[glassinine]

Call it a fact, and you become subject to greater demands of proof. Is that a path you want to wander down, Mr. Yagami? You cannot see deeper into the woods, and you do not seem to have the proper weapons to fight off the tiger.

[Still, he relents slightly.]

And yes. I am a lawyer.

i need more irritated light icons just for edgeworth

[godly]

[That would explain a lot, he thinks to himself.] You're quick to judge, Mr. Edgeworth -- the same thing you accused me of just moments before. You seem to be under the impression that I'm incapable of comprehending the logic you throw at me; whether this is sincere because you believe me "inexperienced" or you're just using it as a way to dislodge the conversation is something I haven't decided on.

But that's besides the point. The evidence of you wishing to display more than just a modicum of control over our living environment has already been presented to me; clear, concise, and numbered, in the form of your list.

Meanwhile Edgeworth has started to enjoy himself a bit

[glassinine]

So the fact that I have compiled a list is presented as evidence that I ought not have compiled a list. Does that seem like a solid bit of argumentation to you, Mr. Yagami?

what an old jerk. also i'm sorry for this tag

[godly]

No. It's the contents of said list that are telling, if you really bother examining it.

Rule number one, implementing a noise curfew. Three, four, and five, dictating overall cleanliness of the household. Ten, a chore wheel. [He pauses and then frowns -- he's doing this from memory right now, okay.] Six, clearly mentioning morality as if to persuade us further. And we've already discussed thirteen and fourteen; I suppose I could comment on the others if I wanted, but these come to the forefront of my mind.

By itself, it's strict but nothing is terribly unreasonable. Yet the fact that you have already drawn up a list -- a thorough one, too -- after only being here for two days... The fact that you've done so before even meeting your current housemates, before even knowing what their personal habits or desires or needs are, when everyone else in your position would still be trying to wrap their heads around what's really happening--

[A breath. What a wordy bastard.] That tells me that you prioritize order first and foremost. That setting rules and regulations in place that will make life more harmonious for you was probably one of first things on your mind when you were told that you had to share a living space with other complete strangers. Unless you're going to tell me that the very thought didn't make you the slightest bit uncomfortable?

oh my god never apologize please, you are SO GOOD AT LIGHT ugh

[glassinine]

[Edgeworth's response is butter-smooth.]

Better. But when you are presenting evidence, there is an order: strongest first, weakest in the middle, second-strongest last. Your flow of presentation is abominable.

[Then, transitioning easily, like the fact of him giving pointers isn't utterly absurd:]

And of course it made me uncomfortable. You were uncomfortable to learn of it as well. As was Ms. Harmon. Are you going to admit that you two are likewise controlling, or are you going to huff and puff and exert yourself to apply that insult to me alone?

aaah thank you tbh i've been a nervous wreck this entire intro post

[godly]

[There's a distinct frown at that little bit of "advice". But... oddly enough... Light doesn't protest against it. In that instance, Edgeworth just gets a:] I'll keep it in mind for next time.

[Light's transition is just as natural, it seems.]

Of course I'm uncomfortable. I'm uncomfortable about all this. But how I exhibit my anxiousness is the determining factor here. I didn't draw up a strict list as a way to guard myself against potentially disorderly roommates; it would've been the farthest thing from my mind. Personally I was hoping to get to know them first.

Maybe it's a coping mechanism. I don't know. I just know that a normal person wouldn't have already taken such steps to ensure an orderly and decidedly predictable living situation before anything else.

[Or be so stubborn about it, he wants to say. But he leaves that part out. For now.]