[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; 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?

video; private

[connate]

We'll come up with something. [ So nothing right now, no. Except then he goes quiet for a second, actually considering it. ]

How does it work? Command, proximity, skin contact— be specific.

[ His tone's still too direct to be considered deliberately comforting. He doesn't sound like this is pure guesswork, either; Wesen play by some rules, at least, and he's drawing from those. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

It -

[He clenches his jaw. Nothing is going to work; it's all a waste of time - but people tend to be rather meddlesome and overbearing when he doesn't at least feign cooperation.]

Contact. Not skin. Through clothing as well.

video; private

[connate]

[ Not a great answer, but not as difficult as proximity. ]

So just avoid contact until we find a solution. You don't have to leave the country. [ A pause for thought, then: ] Where were you actually planning on going?

[ Like is Quebec the real plan or. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

[A slight hesitation, then:]

New Brunswick. For a little while. After that, I'll...cross back into Maine. There are places there that are sparsely populated.

[But then, more firmly:]

And I'm not staying here. I need to go.

video; private

[connate]

Leaving isn't going to fix anything.

[ Which isn't him saying not to leave, even it is voicing his disapproval. ] You need to at least let someone know where you're staying. Or stay in touch on the network— you can't just go into hiding.

video; private

[glassinine]

Why not?

video; private

[connate]

Because you don't need to punish yourself to keep other people safe. [ Keeping your distance is one thing, total isolation is something else entirely. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

[ He's quiet a moment. Finally: ]

You're still friends with Mitchell, correct? John Mitchell?

video; private

[connate]

[ Well that's an awful segue. After a slight pause: ]

I am. Why?

video; private

[glassinine]

You are going to need to...keep him from coming after me, perhaps.

video; private

[connate]

[ Edgeworth.... or maybe it's "Mitchell.....", we just don't know. ]

Why would he come after you? [ It's almost a rhetorical question, but better to hear the situation from Edgeworth's POV. ]

video; private

[glassinine]

I provide a service for Mr. Mitchell. I doubt he wishes this service to be interrupted.

video; private

[connate]

A service.

video; private shut up

[glassinine]

Yes. It is not my right to go into any more detail that that. If you are curious, you can ask him about it.

video; (8

[connate]

Fine. [ HE WILL. And after a slight pause: ]

We'll talk again soon.

[ Meaning he'll let Edgeworth run away in peace. Temporarily. ]

video; (8

[glassinine]

All right.