shoyu | [ IC CONTACT. ]

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[ click! as the device starts recording. a pause, before soysauce's voice comes on, sounding a little confused, a little curious. ]

Ah, is this how this thing works? [ beat ] I do wish it was a little easier to get used to these things.

[ some rustling noises as he shifts his grip on it. ]

Nonetheless, if this is functional and receiving messages as it's meant to, please feel free. I suppose I'll find a way to get to those messages somehow eventually.

Best wishes, friend.

[ a long, unintentional pause before he manages to cut the recording. ]

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[ oh no you don't. soysauce may not be that smart about law and such but he certainly knows you're hesitating about this issue, edgeworth. ]

Even if I were projecting these same faults from myself onto you, I would not be ashamed to confront these weaknesses instead of trying to pretend they do not exist. But I know that I'm not projecting. You're young, you feel you must be strong and invincible and perfect, and you most likely are afraid of failure.

[ a sharp, angry exhale -- before he calms down a little bit. his voice is muffled as he rubs at his face with a hand. ]

... this isn't an insult, it's an observation. Call me whatever you like, though, if you must feel offended about it.

[He clenches his teeth. He still feels...stupidly hurt. He did not, of course, accept the man's friendship, so it's not like this is coming from a friend. But it's still coming from someone who calls himself a friend, and...]

It sounds quite like an insult to me.

[ sigh. all out of steam, now. soysauce isn't used to being angry, and he sounds a little more apologetic when he answers. ]

... Mister Edgeworth, I've got nothing to gain by insulting you. I'm merely stating what I see, because I feel you're in very real danger of burning out quickly and crashing, like a poorly-constructed engine, which no one likes seeing happening to a friend. No one likes to hear their engine's in danger of catching on fire, but the problem cannot be addressed unless it's pointed out, first. Can you at least understand that from my point of view?

[A pause, and then quietly - ]

I'm not a machine. No matter what you're accusing me of.

That is not my point, and you're quite aware of it. Please don't act thick.

You do understand what I'm saying, don't you?

It is only those who are weak of will who "burn out," as it were. I am not weak-willed.

You're trying to avoid the issue. This has absolutely nothing to do with 'will,' and I've never once called you weak-willed.

[ sigh. ]

Please just answer me this -- do you understand why I'm concerned about you, and why I might feel that way?

[He's too uncomfortable answering that question, so he tries to wriggle out from under it again:]

You should not be, you know.

[ not dropping the matter so easily this time. ]

What I should or should not be feeling is neither what I asked, nor something you can control like that. Must I explain myself to you? I'd think you'd find that rather degrading, since I assume you're more than smart enough to know what I'm getting at.

I'm simply saying that such worry is deeply foolish. That's all. I don't burn out. I do what's necessary.

[ a little more harshly: ]

Please just answer my question, Mister Edgeworth. This is getting rather silly.

[He scowls - ]

Fine. You're concerned about me because you...think yourself my friend.

... do you have that much to gain by actively avoiding my point, Mister Edgeworth? I have to assume by now that you know precisely what I mean, and am dancing around it with all your might.

I answered your question! That's why you're professing concern for me.

Yes, I call myself your friend, but that's not the reason for my concern. The reason for my concern is that you care little to nothing about yourself as a human being, and only as some vessel of the law, completely ignoring your own needs and weaknesses instead of addressing them.

[ a little impatiently, ]

Do I need to repeat myself several times, or do you think you can understand this the first time around?

[With a scowl:]

Don't treat me like I'm stupid.

Not stupid. But very much in denial.

[ a really long sigh after that, and a soft groan. now that he's done lecturing edgeworth, it's like his head's going to split apart. have the sounds of soysauce flopping back onto his bed with a muffled, miserable groan. ]

I will apologize to Mister von Karma for my actions when I no longer feel like death. Is that satisfactory for you?

[He clenches his teeth even harder before struggling to banish his anger.]

I would sooner you didn't. He said it wasn't necessary.

... very well. I won't, then.

[ burying his face in his pillow, ]

If you wish to insult me or berate me, now would be a good time.

[He frowns again.]

Sir, I know you think me immature, but that's not the sort of thing I do.

[ have a dry laugh, only muffled by the pillow. ]

Nothing that immature about letting off some steam now and then, Mister Edgeworth. I'd rather you vent off any frustrations now, instead of this festering into a larger problem.

By berating you. That's foolish.

[ okay, he can't help but laugh a little more loudly at that. returning to his more fond, teasing tone of voice. ]

And this, Mister Edgeworth, is why I laugh when you claim you're a mean person.

...Sir, I just said you were being foolish. I don't understand what is not mean about that.

'That.' You said 'that's foolish.' Not 'you're foolish.' Quite different.