[video]

[glassinine]

[BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELTS IT'S GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE
by which I mean no, Edgeworth just has a quiet, calm, thoughtful little tirade for you all]

Good day. I'm acquainted with some of you already; for those whom I do not yet know, my name is Miles Edgeworth, and I work as a prosecutor here. I hope that you will indulge me in listening to a bit of a speech.

I understand that here, as in the previous city - and as in the homes of many of you - there is a tradition of vigilantism. I do not come today to decry vigilantes as criminals; I know that those of you who engaged in such practices almost certainly did so out of a desire to protect your homes, to fight crime that could not otherwise be fought, and the like.

But anyone who is considering returning to such practices here - who is considering becoming a vigilante and acting outside of the law - I beg you all to take a step back for just a moment and examine your actions with a critical eye.

I know that it is easy to resent the law. We like to think of the government as some meddling busybody keeping us from doing what is fun. But laws are never written out of spite. They're written for protection: of you, of your neighbors. At times, they're written to protect people from one another; at times, they're written to protect citizens from the government itself.

Laws are in place to protect people. So if you choose to act as a vigilante, to break the law, what are you doing? You're trespassing against others. You're resisting things that were put in place for the protection of yourself and your neighbor. Police cannot act as freely as vigilantes, but for good reason: they're held in check so that they are answerable to the people and to they cannot do harm to the people.

So I beg of you, any who would turn to vigilantism: consider instead working with the police. Particularly given recent events, the police force here needs those who have remarkable powers to help keep the citizenry safe. You will not be able to act as freely, perhaps, but you will be helping the city - and helping it in a way where you will not run the risk of overstepping your bounds and causing hurt.

Thank you very much for your attention. I welcome any disagreement or debate, and will freely and gladly engage any who wish to speak about this.

Comments

[glassinine]

I...No. How did you get that impression?

[dragony]

Well, if it requires no strength to uphold the weight of justice, then those who do have no more strength than those who don't, or who won't. In that case, they'd be just as weak-hearted as those without convictions at all.

[glassinine]

Ah. I see. Well, I truly believe that any person is endowed with equal ability to do what I do, or what the police do. All are equally equipped to uphold justice.

[dragony]

How long did you study law?

[glassinine]

Before I began to practice, or to date?

[dragony]

Both.

[glassinine]

Nine and twenty-four years, respectively.

[dragony]

And you truly believe that someone with zero years of study, compared to even as few as your nine, will be able to uphold a justice as prescribed by the letter of human law?

[glassinine]

I believe that, with diligent effort, they will be able to do so. I am a man of no remarkable gifts; any who is willing to work hard in the service of the law will be as qualified to serve it as I am.

[dragony]

They didn't live the life you did.

Maybe it doesn't sound like much, to say it like that, but you cannot measure all the world against only your own life. What your effort can accomplish is very different from that of anyone else. What takes no effort for me would be impossible for you. What has taken me years to accomplish, you could not in your lifetime, no matter how diligent your study.

You can't measure the capabilities of strangers solely by your own accomplishments.

[glassinine]

If what you say is true, then all that means is that you claim capacities which I cannot possibly have. While I do not necessarily believe that is the case, I do not know you well enough to be able to contradict you.

[dragony]

The point was, everyone has capacities that set them apart from one another. Claiming that anyone that tries hard enough can accomplish what you do is, it's falsely modest at best, and downright cruel at worst.

Like I said before, I'm not surprised, that you would choose this path, here. [ With all the inflection of a shrug. ] But I felt you should know, what you'll have to contend with won't be what you're used to.

[glassinine]

...Well, I am more flexible than most people give me credit for.

But I do thank you for your kindness in trying to prepare me. I do not want to sound dismissive; you're taking considerable time in an attempt to help me understand what is to come. I want to express my gratitude for that.

[dragony]

[ #bittersweet symphony aggressively gains volume in the background]

I can't say I'm acting out of kindness, but I understand your meaning.

[glassinine]

Then what motivates you?

[dragony]

Self-interest.

[ ... what. ]

[glassinine]

...Self-interest?

[dragony]

You're the one going on about providing resources for those who don't register, aren't you?

[ This is the worst dodge ever. ]

[glassinine]

I am. Do you have need of them?

[dragony]

It's possible; I don't have any intention of swearing loyalty to a system like this.

[glassinine]

Then you'll have them. It's certainly not dependent upon how well I like you.

[dragony]

I don't care whether I'm liked. [ It is, perhaps surprising for the words, plainly stated; apathy is not paired with anger. ] But you can't do well for anyone else, if you yourself are compromised. It's always a risk, of course, but I think it's better to know.