A Moment With My Missing Piece

[truthsnomiracle]

Who: Edgeworth and Diarmuid
Where: Diarmuid's hotel room (607), at least at first
When: January 23rd, afternoon
What: Edgeworth requests a few things of his new "father".
Rating: PG for possible weapons training.
Status: Closed

To be fair, Edgeworth had a practical reason to come see Diarmuid anyway. If not for that, he might have hesitated to bring mere emotional concerns to his father, however heavy they might be. As things currently stood, however, as long as he was coming for an extra lesson anyway, he might as well ask for some help clearing his head so he could actually concentrate on it.

Edgeworth knocked on the door.

Comments

[croibhristeoir]

[There is so much wrong with this it loops back around to being so right. Dammit Prospero y so crazy.]

[The glasses-wearing former Servant opened the door with a bright smile, cheerful and happy as ever. If not more so.]

Miles~ I was starting to wonder when I'd see you today.

[truthsnomiracle]

[And yet if there aren't also things right with it in the normal way...]

Do keep in mind that I am an employed adult, Father. That is the ultimate aim of a parent, is it not?

[croibhristeoir]

Of course, of course. How have you been?

[truthsnomiracle]

Er... if I might come in before we discuss personal matters?

[croibhristeoir]

If you say so. [Another smile, this time a little more playful.] I'd half expected you to go running off again, with how busy you always seem to be.

[truthsnomiracle]

As though work were something that simply materializes from the ether. [Have some snark right back, Father.] Nevertheless, thank you.

[The prosecutor enters, then seats himself in a chair.]

[croibhristeoir]

[THAT'S MY SNARKY KID. <3]

So what is it that brings you here, then?

[truthsnomiracle]

Two matters, to be entirely honest, one of which must be addressed before I can sufficiently concentrate on the other. [And his tone makes it sound pretty serious, too.] How aware of the circumstances surrounding the recent case of Miki Onimaru are you, Father?

[croibhristeoir]

I can't say I've heard very much, unfortunately. And I can't recall ever having spoken to anyone by that name.

[truthsnomiracle]

...I suppose the details of her crime are not particularly relevant to my concerns. What matters is that she was released yesterday, yet seemed to take a lesson contrary to society's best interests from her experience. I attempted to dissuade her from the path, but in my desperation made the error of bringing up my own past as an example of the dangers of her logic.

[croibhristeoir]

I'm listening. So what was it that happened after that?

[truthsnomiracle]

She... she insisted that I ought to face justice for my past sins rather than continuing to prosecute. ...I fear that she might be correct.

[He sounds a bit shakier than a loss of job would call for...]

[croibhristeoir]

Do you not think you are atoning in your own way for what's transpired? If one was to ask me, I would say you are accomplishing a great deal of things that might well be left unfinished if not for you.

[truthsnomiracle]

While it is true that my current path is far more just and that I've accomplished much since correcting my ways, I... fear that my reasons for continuing upon it may not be so noble. A-after all... to continue to walk upon the prosecutor's path at all, at least at home, requires that I be a hypocrite.

(Father... do you forgive me?)

[croibhristeoir]

But you're doing something wonderful, Miles. You should take pride in your accomplishments for what they are, rather than worry endlessly over details and reasoning.

[truthsnomiracle]

Have you forgotten that the very essence of my job involves details and reasoning?

[THAT DOESN'T HELP, DAD.]

[croibhristeoir]

No, I have not. But you apply the same mechanics where they need not be applied.

Do you really not believe that you have helped countless people through all that you've done?

[truthsnomiracle]

Of course I have, Father. That fact simply doesn't place me above the law. There is a difference between flaunting a law due to having no other recourse and doing so for selfish reasons.

[croibhristeoir]

If it should be a matter of facing justice, then...I think you have been prosecuting yourself ten times more harshly than you ever have any other.

[truthsnomiracle]

I beg your pardon?

[croibhristeoir]

I'm saying you're always much too hard on yourself, Miles.

[truthsnomiracle]

Than explain your logic, Father. Innocents were undoubtedly wrongfully convicted due to the man I once was; there is even the possibility that I'm responsible for at least one wrongful execution. How is it that avoiding punishment for crimes with such severe consequences is justified? Merely because I cannot envision finding satisfaction elsewhere?

[croibhristeoir]

Everyone does things they later wish they hadn't, Miles. Myself included. But listen to me now; you're not a terrible person. You're wonderful, and all that you've done was with genuinely good intentions at heart.

We can't change the past. But what we can do is keep moving forward and atone for whatever damage we've caused the best that we can.

[truthsnomiracle]

My time here has forced me to think about my past more than I would prefer -- as you say, the past cannot be changed. Normally, I wouldn't allow myself to ask these questions; it's a distraction from that which lies ahead.

The past can, however, be answered for. What is justice if not that? That is why I question whether I deserved the chance to proceed with my life to begin with. It isn't as though I knew that one day, I would save more lives than I could possibly have ended.

[croibhristeoir]

Whether you deserved the chance or not is irrelevant. You received a chance regardless, and it is what you've done with it since that matters.