♪ 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

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

Can you tell me more about Eddie? And about this--thing, I need to know what I definitely shouldn't be talking about with reporters, and everything.

I know "pretty much everything" is always a safe bet, but it'd help if I knew what was going on a little more.

voice; encrypted

[viced]

Pretty much everything is the safest bet. I've made my statements, of course, but you know how the press is. A bunch of jackals. [ He says it a bit too bitterly. ]

Look, I can't tell you what not and what to say, I'm not going to do that. You're a member of the administration, and I trust you guys. What I can tell you, is that no matter what that little psycho said, Edward's ward didn't kill me. That's the line, and no matter how much the press tries to make it out differently, that's what we have to keep telling them until, I don't know, Paris Hilton flashes herself in public again.

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

I've worked on campaigns before, I don't think it's unreasonable to... downplay certain things. [maybe a little less honest about that than he would be on personal matters...]

Okay. I believe it, from you. I probably wasn't going to get a straight story from Eddie, and I can't say I blame him for that.

voice; encrypted

[viced]

No, I can't either. He's dealing with plenty already.

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

I know it's not really my business, but I want to help him.

voice; encrypted

[viced]

I'm not sure what you can do, honestly. Have you asked him?

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

Have you ever asked him?

[he keeps forgetting how to talk to his boss gdi]

It's all "I don't need help" this and "I'm fine" that. Gothamites are the most stubborn individuals from my world, bottom line. They can't show weakness, to anybody. It's--... the Rogues are like family. And the guys from Gotham are more like a ...loose cabal of geniuses and predators and psychopaths. And I'm pretty sure asking for help to them is like blood in the water.

[THE CHOIR. he's preaching.]

voice; encrypted

[viced]

Okay, okay, fair enough. I know they aren't the best, but maybe, I don't know. [ a noise. An uncomfortable noise. People, he does not get. ]

Maybe buy him lunch or something?

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

You think he'd take me up on that, really?

[pause] If I did something wrong during it and he fired me, would you rehire me or would that be the end of that?

voice; encrypted

[viced]

Mm. [ He drags it out for a minute. God, he's kind of a dick. ]

I think I could make sure you're retained.

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

Gee, thanks, I was on the edge of my seat there. [sweet christ MITCH]

I'll let you know how it goes. I think he thinks I'm asking him on a date.

voice; encrypted

[viced]

He'd probably be flattered anyway, if he did.

voice; encrypted

[snidepiper]

He's cute. But I'm pretty sure he isn't interested.

[whoops he can hardly believe he just said that kind of forgetting who he was talking to for a second] ......don't... tell him I said that?

voice; encrypted

[viced]

[ He just snorts ] Believe me, I wouldn't repeat that if I was paid to.