Statute of Limitations, Part I - The Olive Branch (Backdated 12/26)

[cantacquityou]

[

"I have paid my dues, Miles."

Edgeworth absently tapped a porcelain pawn to the glass surface of his chessboard as he recalled the conversation of recent between himself and his former mentor. In his head, he scrambled to devise his defenses...possibly more so for himself than the pieces on the board.

"...and dues amass interest. What makes you so certain that you have paid in full?"

Miles Edgeworth was, by nature, a strategist, and his chessboard was a sort of material representation of his innate capacity to apply reason to everything. For the most part, it was a helpful habit for his profession. In some other matters, however, it was a handicap. He would oftentimes find himself mildly frustrated when presented with concepts lacking clean-cut lines of logic, and the current situation had naught.

His last encounter with Manfred von Karma raised far more questions than it had managed to answer. Von Karma sought a sort of civil reconciliation...or did he? It was an almost unthinkable idea, and yet, his suggestion belied a candour so seemingly uncharacteristic of Manfred von Karma that, to the unassuming person, it would have left no room for suspicion. Edgeworth, however, was not that person.

"Did I not sustain you, Edgeworth? Did I not school you, give you every means to succeed, and take you under my wing? Did you not go without want?"

With one of such dubious moral agency as Manfred von Karma, a keenly shrouded ulterior motive seemed more than plausible. After all, the last recollection of his mentor involved Manfred hurling violent threats at his adoptive son of fifteen years:

"I'll bury you with my bare hands! Death! Death!"

Those words echoed in his head now, a strong mental dissonance twisting the tenuous threads of the Then and Now in such a manner that Edgeworth began to question his own mental faculties. To consider this proposal despite the obvious misgivings, and to somehow reestablish some iota of trust after having it violently, and possibly irrevocably, betrayed seemed almost absurd, if not unnecessary. There is seldom a time Miles Edgeworth would prefer an appeal to sentiment over truth, but to reject outright an influence instrinisically embedded into one's sense of being as Manfred's 15-year influence had been on him was at this point... impossible.

Never was there, by the will of the castle, a more iniquitous conundrum than this. For here, where even logic is not immune to relativism, to simply accuse von Karma of insincerity does scant justice to the sublety and depth of the state of affairs. There were far too many factors involved, too many holes, too many open-ended testimonies...and not enough evidence. And Edgeworth required evidence. For one, Manfred may very well have been subject to a permanent loss influencing his behavior...

...After all - Edgeworth thought as he glanced at the photograph containing the obscured likeness of what was once his biological father - so was he.]

...


[Several minutes later, Edgeworth hesitantly writes a message to von Karma, in German.]





I have given your request further consideration.

[[DL-6 Anniversary two-part plot.]]

Comments

[makethemguilty]

[Given the silence between them you can imagine his momentary surprise by the time he received the flowing German script that appeared upon his journal pages, in which his own copperplate handwriting would appear, likewise, in German, as follows:]

And what have you come to decide?

[cantacquityou]

[He has yet to come to one, and he pauses momentarily before offering his response.]

...that I do not have sufficient reason to form a decision.

[makethemguilty]

[The boy lacked prudence, if he thought that a sufficient answer. He would not be baited if Edgeworth sought to pump him for information to further a "reason". However, patience…Yes, he needed to be patient, if he wanted progress.]

On what grounds do you lack reason? What is your basis for a lack of conclusion in all this time? Though I suppose, in the end, you will see that it would behoove you to choose…wisely as to who your allies are. I still have so much more to teach you.

I shall trust that you will thus find your reason? I expect a decision in no less than 48 hours.

[cantacquityou]

[How interesting, Edgeworth thought, that Manfred seemed to have deluded himself into thinking that he somehow retained some sort of control over him (ironically, the situation as is was a sort of testament to the fact that he indeed maintained some hold). A 48-hour ultimatum, is it? How incredibly typical of Manfred.]

...and if I am unable to come to a conclusion by then..?

[makethemguilty]

[A smirk would have been level on his mouth, and a slight swagger in his step if he'd been standing in front of Edgeworth himself, knowing he'd comply. But this wasn't the same circumstances, so there was room for doubt.

Instead, he decided, he'd leave it open-ended. Perhaps the anticipation alone would compel him to act.]

We will cross that bridge when we come to it.

[cantacquityou]

[Therein alone lied, to Edgeworth's chagrin, a potent reminder of Manfred's undying influence - that manner of speaking...that very phrase that he, himself, had a penchant for using...]

Very well. ...Though I would like to make clear that cooperation is not without cost.

[makethemguilty]

Is that so? I asked you before what it was you wanted, and you failed to answer the first time. I did not teach you to speak in circles.

[He, in effect, offered whatever he wished willingly, and now Miles had the gall to say such things after he'd refused?]

[cantacquityou]

You will have to pardon me. Having to encounter you once again was not what I had adequately prepared for at the time.

[makethemguilty]

A convenient excuse for your addled brain.

[Given they did, of course, share a rather...unexpected osculation.]

What "cost" are you proposing?

[cantacquityou]

["Addled" is probably right. Truth be told, he still wasn't adequately prepared. He must then come up with a way to detract from the fact that he had yet to come up with a concrete demand... The question, however, was not wholly irrelevant.]


...Are you aware of your loss?

[makethemguilty]

What loss?

[cantacquityou]

[So he isn't aware of losses...

For the sake of possibly bringing the ball into his court, he thought it better to refrain from explaining in full...just yet.]

What is the extent of the knowledge you have gathered of this place thus far?

[Of course, he realizes that Manfred may very well be inclined to withhold information just as much as he is...]

[makethemguilty]

[Or perhaps he simply refuses to acknowledge the possibility that his memories or mind should be altered in any way without consent. Manfred von Karma did not enjoy not being in control of the situation, as Miles should have realized by now.]

What does it matter? Stop avoiding my questions! Diverting my attention brings us nowhere. It is pointless.

[cantacquityou]

I would think you to know me better than to act without reason, sir.

[makethemguilty]

..Hn. Very well. But I hardly see why it pertains to the previous subject. You had best get to the point.

I am aware of Cair Paradisa and its reputation, how it is claimed to have sentience and supposedly feed off of our...emotions, in effect. And of how no physical evidence has been forthcoming to the reasons for its existence, nor its reasons for bringing us here.

Various testimonies speak of magic, of "great" power that prevents us from leaving of our own volition and of how the so-called sentient castle enjoys its petty torments…Though I am supposing whatever fool made these claims is just that: A fool! I find it curious indeed that no great number of the castle's residents do not seem to wish to find a way to leave, on their own.

Unfortunately a number of the details have been…less than exact—rather vague, in truth.

[The most recent incident alone had him questioning things quite avidly…Celeborn's words had been of great value, from what he recollected. But was there truly a need to reiterate? Other than to deduce how inadequate the resources he had at his disposal were…Such a reminder was not a pleasant one.]

[cantacquityou]

[Edgeworth watched with a tad more surprise each time a new word appeared upon the paper. He was not expecting Manfred to have been cooperative enough to divulge this much information. It briefly crossed his mind to directly inquire of Manfred's loss, but it altogether seemed itself to be a useless endeavor. Should Manfred have a memory-related loss, he would more than likely not know of it, and if by any chance Manfred was aware of his loss, he may very well not disclose it. Then, there was also the possibility that Manfred would feign ignorance of losses...]


I see.


[Even though German was second-nature to him by now, Edgeworth was still slightly less articulate in the language as he was English. He paused for thought before recording his response...]


...and did this "fool" inform you that the reason for the apparent apathy is that no one has ever been able to leave of their own will?

[makethemguilty]

...There is no perfect explanation nor excuse for this behaviour. Or did I not say that before? I have only been met by resistance in this regard, from others detailing how impossible it would be for me to find a way to leave, as you say. Ha! But as a von Karma I am not willing to believe for even a moment that that is all there is to this imperfect situation.

Hmph. "Cannot" or "Will not" leave, Miles. Have you ever seen it attempted or even applied an ounce of logic against these circumstances? I think it a more accurate term to say that they are Defeatists. Besot by the...atmosphere of this place. They have not tried hard enough. There is always a way, as you will come to see.

[cantacquityou]

["As you will come to see," indeed. Manfred's sense of self-importance never failed to astound...]

While I do not disagree with you on a few points, I'd like to point out that entire organizations have been dedicated to the cause of finding a way out of here. "If there is a will, there is a way," is tempting enough to want to believe, but the resounding consensus finds that although there is indeed a way, it is not by our own will. I have participated in one of these organizations. Ergo, I can safely say by observation that although it appears to be the attitude of collective defeatism, it is at least not due to a lack of effort. This, I can assure you.

Please, by all means, do not let me deter you from trying. It is not as though I expect to.

[makethemguilty]

[Edgeworth was certainly one to think so, what with his own sense of pride being something of notoriety. What of course with that very arrogance being bred into him from the day he left the womb. Manfred only took such grooming to the next level.]

I concede that I have not enough bearing on the situation to determine a perfect consensus myself, but, even you must admit that despite these findings they could not have discovered nor undertaken an investigation that would bring…a perfect solution. What is more, if what you are saying is to be taken as fact instead of theory, do you not thus admit to admitting defeat yourself?

Come now, Edgeworth. I did not take you to be so quick to admit failure.

[cantacquityou]

[...and it is that very sense of pride that influences his response.]

I shall not admit failure and I do not doubt the existence of a solution, perfect or otherwise. However, I do believe there to be some merit in the opinions of an assembly of minds far greater than my own.

[makethemguilty]

Heh.

[Perhaps he'd simply wished to incite that pride further, to press him on that point in order to see that side to Edgeworth that he had known, when he was his prized pupil.]

Ah, yes. I expected nothing less...

"Far greater than your own?" My dear Miles, such modesty.

[cantacquityou]

Being here has allowed me to better gauge my limitations.

[makethemguilty]

And you're saying I too, should observe these...so-called limitations?

Do tell me, what it is you would advise...?

[cantacquityou]

[Oh, how badly Edgeworth wanted to offer several sarcastic remarks...

Instead, he opts for an extremely condensed version of an awareness he had steadily gathered, and contemplated, since his arrival. This did not solely apply to Paradisans, of course, but it was a most humbling reality-check that the prideful Edgeworth has had to contend with for the time he's resided in the castle...]





...To recognize that every resident, in one way or another, is superior to you.

[makethemguilty]

What you ask is quite simply ridiculous. They give me no valid reason to think they are superior to myself, when they lack the very basis of rational thought that I instilled in you...Miles.

I have encountered little more than the rude bilgewater-speaking imbeciles who think themselves superior that to encourage their professed superiority would prove little more than folly.

One should never unjustly set themselves below others. It is no more than self-depreciation. Whatever has become of you?

[Ever since that day he lost to Wright, Edgeworth had never been the same...]

[cantacquityou]

[A response to be expected of a von Karma.]

Soon, you will come to find that each resident possesses at least one characteristic that gives them a far greater advantage over you. What they may lack in intellect from your standpoint, they will overcompensate otherwise. There are those who possess superhuman strength, the ability to fly, a myriad of supernatural abilities. You may even find your wit bested by those who are, or merely appear to be, decades your junior.

It is not a matter of self-depreciation, it is a matter of caution.

["Don't piss anyone off here or you might earn yourself a two-week vacation," is probably what he should say.]