maskormenace | video.

[ when the feed clicks on, it's easy to tell that nick's in the kitchen, probably one that's similar to most in the issued residencies. his tone's a far cry from casual, but the fact that he's apparently wasting time at home at least offers some semblance of nonchalance. ]

My name is Nick Burkhardt. I'm with the Portland— previously of the PPB, currently with the... [ a pause, and extremely reluctantly: ] Heropa PD.

[ that's the formal introduction out of the way. which is the easy part; identify yourself, follow routine. going out of his way to make friends isn't something nick's done in a long time, which is probably going to be obvious in roughly ten seconds. his effort to drop the professional approach ends up sounding more neutral than genuinely amicable, but at least it keeps this from sounding like a full-on interrogation. ]

I wasn't planning on getting a tattoo, but given the choice I'd have gone for something a little less on the nose. And while I'm sure cops everywhere would appreciate the vote of confidence, something tells me this place is working with a flexible definition of the word hero.

[ definitely a judgement on what he's seen on the network rather than any kind of careful introspection. no offense. ]

Everyone's talking about whether or not we should register. I'm wondering what gives us the right to in the first place. [ a slight pause, and then he has the decency to sound a bit wry at his own expense. ] So on a scale of recycling to wearing spandex, how heroic do you think you rate?

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Hmph. And who defines "the right thing"?

[Not two turns into the conversation, and already it's turning into an interrogation.]

[ guess who hates being on this side of an interrogation: this guy. ]

I'm sure we can agree on a few baselines. But you know what, why don't we drop the definitions and argue specifics— what's going to stop a serial killer from registering and hiding in plain sight?

[Edgeworth's response is direct.]

If you wish. The answer to that is absolutely nothing.

[ nick's response is super annoyed. ]

Are you always this pedantic? [ that shot in, though: ] But as it stands, you're right. That's why we need to take precautions on the other side.

[Not dignifying that first question with a response.]

And do you have any such precautions in mind?

Yeah. Doing my job. [ or side-eyeing the hell out of everyone, to put it more bluntly. ]

We should disregard the tattoos entirely. People who register are probably doing it for access or because it's easy; people who don't are probably just wary. It doesn't have anything to do with heroism, whatever definition you feel like using.

[Dryly:]

What, we're not supposed to accept that those who unquestioningly promise to bow to an authority quite unclear about its motives are morally superior to those who don't? Radical notion.

You asked.

[ increasingly impatient, but dealing with people he dislikes is basically his day job, so he can keep it passingly civil. ] Not everyone's going to make the same assumption. Half the people here have never seen anything like this. Even if the culture shock doesn't throw them off, gullibility might.

Hm.

[And, abruptly - ]

What was your rank with the Portland PD?

[ again with the interrogation. ]

Homicide detective. You?

[ not with the PPD, obviously, but the lack of context is just returning the abrupt approach. that said, this guy kind of screams bureaucracy, so nick's assuming law or politics. ]

Chief Prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles.

[He doesn't take any great pleasure in throwing about his title; indeed, it makes him a touch self-conscious even mentioning it. Knowing how people will react to the title is, however, useful. (He suspects this man will react by being aggressively unimpressed; he waits to see whether his expectations will be fulfilled.)]

[ nailed it. there's a slight smile when nick replies, and it's somewhere between incredulous and smug. ]

And it all makes sense. [ not that he doesn't appreciate lawyers. police would be a bit pointless without them, in the long run; doesn't mean he appreciates the way they split hairs. ] They set you up with a similar gig here?

[Well. Less droll than Edgeworth expected.]

City prosecutor. On a probationary basis. Sure to fail said probation if I do not pledge my loyalty.

[ he's a professional, remember. ]

So you're still on the fence. Can I ask why you're not in a rush to sign up?

[ it's a blunt question, but the tone is curious, not challenging. ]

Hmph. Because I am a lawyer, and as a lawyer, I know that when someone attempts to rush you into signing a contract, and who threaten to use financial and social pressures to ensure you sign it, it's usually not a contract you should be signing.

Fair enough. Have you heard anything about downsides to signing up, yet? I can't see how refusing to register gives them any less of an upper hand.

No. I have not heard of any such downsides. I speak merely from suspicion, not from any empirical data.

Which is smart, but— what happens if you don't sign? You get pushed out of the system, right?

That's right.

[ and still keep your powers, as far as nick's aware. not something he's thrilled with. ]

It seems like putting up with paperwork is a small trade to get access. It's not perfect, and they're technically guilty of kidnapping, but right now this government is the only resource we have.

[ technically. it's the strangest kidnapping he's seen, but there's no pretending people came here of their own free will. ]

It's not the paperwork which concerns me, Detective. Of that you have my word.

Just the strings attached. But even if it does come with fine print, I'm wondering how they plan on strong-arming a population they just handed superpowers to.

I would think that the first step would be getting us all to promise to be loyal.

"Strong-arming" implies a certain lack of subtlety. If the first step of their plan is a pledge, then I don't think they're going to be very blatant about all of this.

But bought loyalty isn't real loyalty, is it? I don't really think registration guarantees anything from us.

If not, then why have they marshaled so many of their resources into ensuring that we register?

(no subject)

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