♪ 02 ♪ voice

[snidepiper]

[a small wooden flute is tapping against the hand in the shot, a simple four-beat pattern]

Useless philosophical question of the day. Do you think people can change? Completely? A little?

[tap, tap, taaap, tap.]

For good or bad. Whichever.

[Tap, tap, taaap, tap.]

Personal anecdotes are nice.

Comments

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[enigmaestro]

I have, yes, information that he'll disclose to his lawyer.

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[snidepiper]

Okay--keeping in mind that all those kids seem pretty prone to violence, and impulsive across the board--[treading softly. Not stepping on the word disturbed, not the word crazy, even his whisper of a moment's tenure in an asylum gave him acute awareness of certain non-negotiable terms better left unsaid]--if their posts are anything to go by, I mean, and that can be used in evidence to point to a cultural tendency, I know you've thought of that if it's usable.

But compared to them, how bad does it look for him? Did he really kill Mitchell?

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[enigmaestro]

Cultural, not psychological. [They did have that conversation, and he knows what you're adeptly avoiding, Piper.] But yes, given that he's a juvenile who's had difficulty adapting to current societal norms, we're hoping for no more than a year with a stringent reformation program afterward.

Some people really think he did, yes. [Evasive!!]

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[snidepiper]

You really want to help him. [sounds satisfied. Dire situation or no, the we and the clear anticipation with which Eddie seems to be approaching this, in Piper's mind, proves him right, about reform. Maybe.]

A year in that Superjail thing? Can he handle that? Why isn't there an ImPort juvvie hall?

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[enigmaestro]

He can handle it, certainly. He'll be fine, he's a survivor. A conqueror. [Eddie paused.] And I believe there's a wing for the juveniles -- it's hard to say. Before the trolls came, this wasn't exactly an issue.

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[snidepiper]

Yeah, kids with powers killing each other. That's a pretty.... unique problem even at home.

I know you didn't put him up to this, but maybe you should downplay the conqueror thing.

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[enigmaestro]

It's innate to his very being, wouldn't it be dishonest to downplay?

[He's teasing, but he says this deadpan.]

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[snidepiper]

N--y... Trick question.

How's dinner sound? [two can play at that game]

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[enigmaestro]

I'm -- what?

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[snidepiper]

I'm paying. Obviously.

[beat] I think it'd do you good to get a break, Eddie.

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[enigmaestro]

I'm not sure what this is.

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[snidepiper]

[oh, he likes being on this end of things, however briefly]

That still doesn't sound like a "Yes, how thoughtful, Piper."

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[enigmaestro]

Perhaps because that isn't what I said.

[touchy!!]

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[snidepiper]

[perhaps unwisely undeterred]

All I want is the pleasure of your company... boss.

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[enigmaestro]

Where are you thinking of taking this?

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[snidepiper]

It's not a date.

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[enigmaestro]

I knew that.

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[snidepiper]

Eddie.

What do you want? Really.

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[enigmaestro]

You're hitting me at a bad moment, Piper. Good intentions aside.

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[snidepiper]

I know. And I figure Gothamites probably run on a combination of stress, trauma and pure human misery, but I want to help you. No strings attached.

If you really think that means just leaving you alone...