[video]

[glassinine]

[The thing about employing text is that when you start using it when all your broadcasts are in video, people tend to question why you've suddenly switched. So he makes the decision to instead compose himself as best as he can and use video instead.

Unfortunately, he always sort of overestimates his ability to compose himself. He certainly doesn't seem distraught, or panicked, or anything of the sort, but he's definitely shaky. This is definitely a far cry from his normal, slow, quiet, lengthy broadcasts.]

I'm leaving on a business trip abroad for...some length of time. I'm - not certain how long. Please don't try to contact me; I'll be far too busy to answer any messages.

Good day.

Comments

video;

[glassinine]

[Weakly:]

What?

video;

[connate]

The case you're working on.

[ ... alright, he'll throw you a bone. ]

Or is that confidential.

video;

[glassinine]

[Edgeworth seizes on that far too eagerly.]

It - Confidential. Yes.

video; private

[connate]

[ A slight pause, then he switches the feed to private. ]

What's going on?

video; private

[glassinine]

[The answer is quick.]

Business trip.

video; private

[connate]

Would you swear on that in court?

[ Intensely impatient. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

[He's quiet a long moment. Damn it.

Finally:]

I'm having...difficulties. With my power.

video; private

[connate]

[ Well, that's basically the last thing he was expecting. ]

Where are you?

video; private

[glassinine]

[Here, he looks up, jaw set.]

No. I'm not meeting with you.

video; private

[connate]

Then you have a plan.

[ For fixing whatever's wrong, not just running away. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

Yes. I'm going to get out of here as quickly as possible and stay away.

video; private

[connate]

[ for the love of ]

That isn't a plan. Are you a threat to yourself or others?

video; private

[glassinine]

Yes. I am.

video; private

[connate]

If you're a threat to others, then clearly you need to be put under arrest.

[ Not actually serious but

maybe a little bit serious quit being an idiot Edgeworth ]

video; private

[glassinine]

[In frustration:]

If that were a solution, don't you think I would have gone for it already? I can't even be touched to be put under arrest.

video; private

[connate]

Why? What does your power do?

[ Super annoyed that he doesn't know this already, btw. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

It -

[He's clearly ashamed.]

It causes guilt in people.

video; private

[connate]

Guilt.

[ Not entirely sure what to think of that. Not entirely sure what it means, actually. ]

For specific things?

video; private

[glassinine]

For anything. For everything one has ever done, with guilt out of proportion to the degree to which they have trespassed. Sometimes guilt for crimes they haven't even truly committed.

video; private

[connate]

[ A slight pause, because that's... kind of awful, actually. ]

And it's been going off accidentally?

[ Phrases it like it's a gun?? Sure why not. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

[Very quietly:]

Yes.

[A beat, and then - perhaps unfairly - ]

Is that the sort of thing you would kill for back home, Detective?

video; private omfg edgeworth

[connate]

[ Nick's legitimately stunned for a second, and his answer's sharp. ]

Of course not. You need help, you're not a killer who needs to be stopped.

[ So the latter thing, yes, definitely something he'd kill for. At least there's no lack of clarity. ]

video; private :')

[glassinine]

[He wishes he could laugh at that clarity. He can't.]

And if there is no help?

video; private

[connate]

Don't be so melodramatic.

[ Sensitivity training!! Something he missed at work, obviously. His tone is still short, impatient. ]

You're in a parallel America full of superheroes, I doubt this is going to be the one thing that isn't possible. But I can tell you right now that running away is just going to make finding a solution harder.

video; private

[glassinine]

Such inspiring words. And how can you be sure of that? Do you have a solution, Burkhardt?