maskormenace | [video]

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[a pause, and then-- he laughs.]

Oh, come on. Yeah? And why's that, what makes it superior? Do they have harsher punishments here?

I mean - following the path of the law is superior to ignoring it. And it is superior not because of any punishments, but because of the way it protects people on all sides.

Yeah, and that's all great. When it's working, if it's working. You're asking people to put a lot of trust in that if.

But, hey. Good luck, man.

In court, you know, most things are hung upon proof.

[christ does he never shut up]

Yeah.

So do you have proof of the corruption of this system beyond easy, cheap cynicism?

I know enough about people to know how this goes. It's the same the world over.

So that's a "no."

Did I say 'no'?

You didn't have to. It's clear you have no evidence whatsoever. That's why you're just talking in these...nihilistic circles.

I've seen it. That's not evidence?

Not unless you provide specifics.

I don't have to give you specifics, I'm telling you: this is what people think of, when you're asking them to go along with this sort of shit. They think of what's happened to them, what they've seen.

Forgive me for pointing this out, but you sound quite paranoid, Mr. Mitchell.

Yeah? Take a poll. I'm not the only one that thinks this way. People don't trust like you seem to think they do.

I'm not asking what people's perceptions are. I'm asking what the truth of the matter is.

And what people have seen, and lived, there's no truth in that?

I'm not participating in a bloody court case. I'm telling you, people are going to be wary. I'm giving you advice, 'cause if you want this shit to get through to people, you're going to have t' take it into account.

Take into account some proposed fundamental belief in the corruption of the people around you.

Ask them if you don't believe me. Ask them how many of them come from corrupted systems, from shit like I've just told you.

I'm telling you to be sympathetic to this--Christ, is that too much to ask?

...No. It's not. You're right.

[he pauses, suspiciously. that was way too easy.]

I'm right about what.

You're right that I need to take that into consideration.

[another pause, as he scans that comment for any sarcasm, or anything that would indicate that Edgeworth is taking the piss but

no?]

Yeah? Well, good.

Quite. And I do thank you for your desire to help me, Mr. Mitchell; it was kindly done.

It's just Mitchell.

And yeah. Don't mention it. It's not meant as a kindness. It's-- [whatever. whatever angle Edgeworth is playing here, he can do what he wants, so Mitchell cuts himself off with a huff of breath that's nearly a laugh.] Yeah. Sure.

voice;

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