(closed)

[bratworth]

Date & Time: January 4th.
Location: Crossing paths on the street!
Characters: Miles Edgeworth bratworth & Jesse Pinkman hostage
Summary: Jesse's recently been acquitted of murder but Edgeworth doesn't believe in innocence.
Warnings: will be updated as necessary.


[ The atmosphere at work was more dismal than ever, and Edgeworth found himself growing frustrated again -- surely there was something else that he could be doing, something that would be more useful than just scouring old records of this world's past to try and at least give their fledgling legal system a basic foundation in history.

At least they had come so far to be able to hold an actual trial; its outcome, however, had been anything but satisfactory. Angry and restless, Edgeworth had been spending more time on his feet, and as little time in the presence of one Mia Fey as possible. That was why he was already on his second coffee run of the day, one less cup in his hands than had been the usual last month; from now on, Ms. Fey could get her own damn drinks.

It's on his begrudging return to the office that Edgeworth spots an unpleasant reminder of the trial; the most unpleasant reminder, in fact: the defendant, a free man, going about his daily business.

Edgeworth knows that he shouldn't approach; that to do so, to do anything, is unprofessional - Pinkman has already stood trial, the matter is out of Edgeworth's hands. However, those very same hands are shaking now, dangerously close to spilling his coffee. Why should Edgeworth turn a blind eye to this?

He finds himself striding over before giving the matter any further consideration, calling out: ]

Pinkman.

Comments

[hostage]

Yeah? What's that supposed to mean?

[bratworth]

Don't play dumb - we all know what you're doing for the Initiative. It was mentioned at the trial, don't you remember?

[hostage]

[Jesse rolls his tongue around in his mouth while he considers Edgeworth for a minute. Then he jerks a nod toward the coffee mug in Edgeworth's hand.]

What's that?

[bratworth]

[ The question is off-putting enough that Edgeworth actually directs his attention to his mug -- knowing this place, he wouldn't be entirely surprised to see it had actually turned into a snake or something, so he looks slightly relieved when he sees that it hasn't, although his expression hardens again as he turns his attention back to Jesse. ]

Coffee. What's that got to do with anything?

[hostage]

That's 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, a psychoactive stimulant that antagonizes the negative modulatory effects of your brain's adenosine receptors on dopamine receptors, leading to the inhibition and blockade of adenosine A2 receptors and causing potentiation of dopaminergic neurotransmission.

What you got there is the world's most popular drug. And before you roll your eyes at me - the side effects?: dehydration, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, tachycardia, mania, depression, disorientation, disinhibition, hallucinations, psychosis, and death.

And you're going around drinking it like it ain't no thang.

[bratworth]

[ Jesse's warning comes too late -- Edgeworth's already rolling his eyes as the other man regurgitates his scientific facts. ]

I suppose that I am, yes. [ And with a renewed surge of confidence, he lifts the mug to his lips and takes a small sip, just to prove his point. ] Don't you even try to compare the two.

[hostage]

Why shouldn't I compare the two? Science does. Caffeine's one of the main drugs used to treat meth-heads, like the way heroin addicts switch to methadone.

But you wanna know what meth is used to treat? Because, believe it or not, it's FDA-approved, yo. For obesity, narcolepsy, depression, and ADHD. And it's used by the military -

[He sweeps an arm around, gesturing to the entire compound they're standing on.]

- to keep soldiers alert during battle so they don't die.

Asshole.

[bratworth]

[ He keeps his attention focused on Jesse, paying hardly any attention to the sweeping motions of that hand, and his gaze hardens again at the insult, no longer mocking. Just angry. ]

Is that what you told them? So that they'd support your this little venture of yours? Well, you can't fool everyone, Pinkman. [ A beat. ] You certainly haven't fooled me.

[hostage]

Ain't about fooling, 'cause it's the truth. But you don't know jack about chemistry, so what the hell would you know about it?

[bratworth]

I know of the effects it can have, the ones that you obviously omitted when you brought up your proposal with the Initiative.

[hostage]

I didn't omit shit. And they ain't stupid, you know. They got their own people testing it. But my product? It's pure. We ain't talking shake-and-bake motel crank here. My glass is Grade-A, world-class crystal. When I give you something, you know exactly what you're getting: the best.

[bratworth]

[ The way Jesse sounds just so pleased with his accomplishments makes Edgeworth scoff. Of all things to take pride in! ]

That's still no reason to bring your 'business' here. It's landed you into trouble once and it'll happen again. I can guarantee it.

[ He pulls his coat more tightly around himself and adds tersely: ]

People like you never change.

[hostage]

[Of all the things to take pride in, indeed. There is a part of him that's recoiling while the rest of him channels the man he despises. This is Heisenberg's persona; Jesse's only borrowing it because he has to, because that's how he's going to survive here.]

You don't know me. You think you know me, like I'm just another jibhead you sent to prison, but you have no idea. I'm a professional. And you are gonna have to work real hard if you wanna pin something on me, 'cause my business is clean - no matter what you think of it.

[bratworth]

[ This is going nowhere, Edgeworth starts to realize -- back home he would have had the backing of the courts, the system; this conversation would be unnecessary as Pinkman would already be awaiting sentencing.

However, this is Exsilium where there is none of that support, none of that structure, just foundations to be built upon. Foundations that must be built upon because otherwise everything he's worked toward in his life has all been for nothing. He makes a frustrated noise, face twisting into a sneer of contempt.

Edgeworth hates this man. Hates him, and not only him, but everything he represents -- the failure of justice. ]

Then it's just as well that I'm not afraid of hard work.

[ And that? That is a promise he intends to keep. ]

[hostage]

And I ain't afraid of you.

[With that, Jesse turns away. He's finished with this. It isn't Edgeworth he's really getting tired of, though. It's that he can't stand Mr. White's words coming out of his own mouth. Everything he's just said is a dogma he doesn't even believe in and he doesn't actually want to convert anyone to it. But he needs the meth, and he needs the lab, and he needs a reason for the Initiative to need him - because heaven knows he's worthless in any other role.]