Commonwealth of the Non-Phoenix/Edgeworth Shippers vs. The State of Phoenix/Edgeworth
This got pretty epic, guys. I think you might be interested.
Riicchan and I, talking over AIM, were going to have a normal debate over Phoenix/Edgeworth... until she started the topic off with a courtroom joke. I ran with it, and... then...
Basically we spent three hours conducting a mock trial as to whether Edgeworth loves Phoenix or not. For the enjoyment of the comm, it has been reproduced in full below (with only slight re-ordering of statements, to make more sense in a non-AIM format). And now the verdict is up to you. :D
Commonwealth of the Non-Phoenix/Edgeworth Shippers vs. The State of Phoenix/Edgeworth
Rii: First, tho. *puts on a lawyer persona* Prosecutor Lyssie! What is this Decisive Evidence you say you have for Phoenix Wright's love for Miles Edgeworth?
Lyssie: XD
Lyssie: The prosecution admits that with regards to Phoenix's love for Edgeworth, the only evidence is circumstantial; however, it is our belief that the sheer amount of this evidence is compelling, albeit still open to interpretation.
Lyssie: Furthermore, as regards Edgeworth's love for Wright, the prosecution believes that the evidence is, in fact, decisive.
Rii: *slams desk* The defense wishes to see this evidence!
Lyssie: But of course. If it pleases the court, the prosecution would like to submit Iris's first psyche-lock; specifically, the dialogue that occurs if Edgeworth should present the wrong profile on the second lock.
Lyssie: Your Honor, if I may have a few minutes to retrieve the exact script.
Rii: Permission is granted. *folds arms*
Lyssie: Thank you for your patience, Your Honor. Here is the conversation, exactly as it transpires, from the moment Edgeworth presents any other profile than that of Phoenix Wright.
Edgeworth: Well, Iris?
Iris: ...Mr. Edgeworth. Is it just possible that maybe... you yourself have a deep, dark secret in your heart?
[swordstrike, music stops]
Edgeworth: ...! Why do you say that...!?
Iris: As they say, it takes one to know one.
Edgeworth: (How could she have known about that...? Is she peering into my soul!?) ... It's true that there is a deep-seated darkness in my heart. However, the only way I can get rid of it is to fully uncover the truth!
Iris: You mean... the truth behind my secret?
Lyssie: The prosecution would like to call the court's attention to a number of points in this dialogue.
Lyssie: First, the scene is clearly serious. No other psyche-lock error that the prosecution knows of is written without comic intent. Edgeworth's other possible error in this very sequence, in fact, is also presented humorously. This conversation is notably devoid of humor.
Rii: The defense understands this quite clearly.
Lyssie: Second, Iris's suspicions of a deep secret that Edgeworth holds are directly and explicitly confirmed by Edgeworth itself. Furthermore, it follows that this secret is something he cannot even allow Wright to know. Considering that Wright has already seen him at his worst and still counts him as a close friend, it would seem that the secret MUST pertain to Wright.
Lyssie: Third, it is directly paralleled to Iris's secret; indeed, she understands his because she is the same way. I am sure the defense is well aware of the nature of Iris's deep secret.
Lyssie: And last, Edgeworth claims that the only way to resolve his own secret is with the truth behind Iris's. It seems to be shown elsewhere in the case that Edgeworth suspects Wright is in pain because of Iris's unrevealed secret, and so it follows that at least some part of Edgeworth's secret involves a strong desire for Wright's happiness.
Lyssie: Therefore, the prosecution believes this sequence to clearly and decisively show that Miles Edgeworth is in love with Phoenix Wright.
Lyssie: We would very much like to hear the defense's interpretation.
Rii: The defense would like to say that the prosecution's argument is indeed well-crafted.
Rii: However, there are some parts I would, indeed, like to call into question. Namely, the "deep-seated darkness" Edgeworth refers to.
Rii: While it is true that this "darkness" may very well refer to love towards Phoenix Wright, in the context, I am more inclined to say that it refers to a non-romantic secret. Note how Edgeworth says that he must "reveal the truth" in order to "get rid of it."
Rii: If your claims are correct, than Edgeworth's feelings towards Phoenix are ones he does not particularly want to keep.
Lyssie: Objection!
Lyssie: Edgeworth is well known for his self-loathing tendencies and self-deprecating behavior. In this very case, he expresses deep shame over his continued fear of earthquakes, specifically the fact that he continues to harbor that weakness even after Phoenix did so much for him.
Lyssie: It is quite possible, even likely, given what we know of Edgeworth's character, that he might have already given up on his feelings as a hopeless cause, and want them to be gone simply so they will stop causing him pain.
Lyssie: Furthermore this man just chartered a jet on extremely short notice to be at Phoenix's side when he received the news of his accident.
Rii: (minor) Objection!
Rii: If I'm correct, he did fly a charter jet, but not to be by Phoenix's side. He does not even interact with Phoenix until the day after his initial investigation and day in court. In fact, the only things he knows about Phoenix's condition come from Larry. That's not exactly "at his side" is it?
Lyssie: Objection. From whom does he receive the badge, magatama, and other evidence, before he even goes to the detention center to meet with Larry?
Rii: *grimace* I can't seem to remember.
Lyssie: He says, and this is reflected in the court record, that he received them directly from Phoenix himself.
Lyssie: It is a fact that Edgeworth went to the hospital first, to see Phoenix.
Rii: The defense acknowledges this fact. *nod*
Lyssie: Has the defense any further objections on this point?
Rii: *background goes black* I have to think of something!
Rii: The defense would like to state that, while the evidence and theory thus presented by the prosecutor are compelling in her case, they are not decisive enough to be classified as anything more than a deep and caring friendship.
Rii: Shame of weakness, such as Edgeworth's fear of earthquakes, does not only have to apply to those of whom you have a physical attraction to. This may also apply to family members, close friends, peers, and authority figures.
Lyssie: The prosecution grants that point.
Rii: The defense would also like to state that physical attraction cannot be proven by concern shown for an injury or dire situation, even to an extreme extent that Edgeworth went through.
Rii: This may also apply to deep friendships and family, which may be classified as "love" but not exactly in the physical sense, as you are implying.
Lyssie: The defense makes a good point. It was not my intent to argue that these actions necessarily indicate romantic love, only that in the given context they support the interpretation.
Lyssie: Would the defense care to answer a question about an earlier point?
Rii: Gladly.
Lyssie: Thank you. Earlier, you asserted your belief that Edgeworth's secret is non-romantic, citing his comment that he must "reveal the truth" to "get rid of it".
Lyssie: The prosecution's question is simple.
Lyssie: What is the defense's theory as to what Edgeworth's secret actually is? Keeping in mind that it must be something related to Iris's, something that he wishes to get rid of, and something that he cannot tell to Phoenix Wright; while also taking into account that he seems to have no desire to end his friendship with Phoenix, and is in fact strongly invested in Phoenix's happiness. (Remember that he makes Iris promise to reveal her secret to Phoenix, for the sake of easing Phoenix's suffering.)
Lyssie: If it is work-related we hope the defense has a very good case for why this is so, as the prosecution believes there is basically nothing Edgeworth could ever have done in his career that is worse than what Phoenix already knows about or what Edgeworth willingly admits to him later.
Rii: The defense's response is also quite simple. It is a platonic admiration, and a fear of being rejected, should it be interpreted in the wrong way.
Rii: Repeatedly, Edgeworth has stated how he admires the trust that Phoenix places in his clients, as well as his capacity for forgiveness, as it is something he feels he lacks.
Rii: Therefore, a selfless act such as Edgeworth's in 3-5 might be regarded as an attempt at trying to show this admiration by emulating it. It is here that the defense would like to use herself in her argument.
Rii: There are a great deal of people that I know of, mostly online, whom I have a great respect and admiration for. My compliments to them are sincere, and it is an embarassing affair whenever I receive one back and don't rightly know what to say.
Rii: However, when speaking to these individuals, there is always a sort of nag at the back of my heart that I might be doing something that comes off as a little too admiring, or that I might outright embarass myself in front of them by making a mistake or presenting a piece of art or writing that they don't like.
Lyssie: The prosecution understands and sympathizes with the defense.
Rii: It is here that I present the argument that this platonic admiration is the secret that Edgeworth wishes to hide, as it makes him feel uncomfortable and (if you'll pardon my pun) on-edge when he knows that it should not get in the way of his duties.
Rii: Adding to the fact that he is very easily shamed by his weaknesses, this admiration would be positively mortifying, should he humiliate himself in front of Phoenix, despite the fact that Phoenix has been nothing but understanding of his varying situations. That alone may make it worse, because it's a trait that Edgeworth himself admires.
Rii: In my opinion, Edgeworth wishes for his admiration and desire to impress Phoenix to subside into something more akin to a cool respect between colleagues and friends, as it is much more in-tune with his disposition.
Lyssie: Th... the prosecution is still formulating a rebuttal.
Lyssie: I am forced to admit the defense's case is... plausible.
Lyssie: ... I feel there are two things worth noting, however.
Lyssie: First, is that Edgeworth's admiration usually does not interfere with his duties. One only need note how effectively he continues to prosecute against Phoenix to see this. Furthermore, his association with and admiration of Phoenix have indeed only inspired him to greater accomplishment, and in fact helped him to understand more clearly what his duties are.
Lyssie: Second, the defense has failed to address the question of how this relates so closely to Iris's secret. The writing parallels these quite clearly.
Lyssie: Iris's secret is not about platonic admiration for Phoenix, nor that she would be mortified if it came out. Rather, her secret is specifically that she loved and loves him, and is ashamed for having caused him pain by her own inability to carry out a simple task back then.
Lyssie: The defense's theory is very plausible, and may in fact be a part of the issue, but it hardly seems likely that the writing would parallel these secrets so very closely.
Lyssie: (For interest, in the original Japanese text her line about knowing read as "I know, because I'm the same.")
Rii: The defense would like to compliment the prosecution on her tightly-crafted rebuttal. However, she is adamant on answering the questions all the same, to the best of her ability.
Lyssie: Please, do so.
Lyssie: W-wait! If the prosecution can quickly amend a previous point before the discussion strays too far.
Rii: If the prosecution so pleases.
Lyssie: More specifically, with regards to Iris's secret, it is important to remember that Edgeworth believes his "darkness" will be resolved with Iris telling the truth to Phoenix.
Lyssie: That is all. Please, continue your response.
Rii: Thank you for clarifying. It had nothing to do with the question I was currently answering, but no doubt it may be decisive later on. *nod*
Rii: I shall continue as before.
Rii: On the subject of whether or not Edgeworth's admiration hinders his prosecution career, the defense would like to argue that this admiration is not entirely made clear until 1-4. Following that case, Edgeworth appears quite sparingly; consider his rather notable absence in most of PW2, and the fact that he is studying law abroad in PW3 until Phoenix's incident on Dusky Bridge causes him to return.
Rii: In relation to those cases, 1-5 is rather unusual in that the nature of the trial changes into one where both prosecution and defense were against Damon Gant, and that his incarceration was a goal of both Miles and Phoenix.
Rii: Therefore, Miles would have no reason for his admiration to get in the way of his work and his goals, as they were working towards the same result in that instance.
Rii: The defense would ask the prosecution not to press too harshly on the subject of PW2, as the defense has personally not played the game, and only knows the most basic of details.
Lyssie: Understood.
Rii: The defense understands that Edgeworth, following his various encounters with Phoenix in the court, changes his view of the court system as not an arena for him to win guilty verdicts, but as one where the truth must be sought out at all costs. This is a value that he shares with Phoenix, does he not?
Rii: If this is indeed true, then the defense sees no reason why this admiration of seeking truth in court would hinder Edgeworth's prosecution career.
Lyssie: Then the defense understands the prosecution's point.
Rii: Is the prosecution then siding with the defense on this point?
Lyssie: That Edgeworth's later admiration of Phoenix does not hinder his prosecution career? Correct.
Lyssie: It was the defense who earlier argued that Edgeworth's admiration may interfere with his duties.
Rii: Indeed. *ponders*
Lyssie: It seems we are now in agreement that it does not.
Lyssie: Which, if we may take this detour before moving on to the topic of Iris, brings another point to mind...
Rii: If you would please wait a moment -- in the instance of the admiration affecting his work, it wasn't so much the admiration itself, but the heightened sense of shame it would bring from failure.
Lyssie: Ah. The distinction is noted.
Rii: It is rather clear to see that, upon letting Iris out of his site due to an earthquake, Edgeworth was quite ashamed.
Rii: It is also a fact that Dahlia switched places with her during this incident, and Nick considered this fully when presenting that fact in the courtroom. He considered it almost "betraying" Edgeworth, as his disappointment has been seen before.
Rii: I'll conclude the argument of admiration affecting work by saying that admiration, in itself, is a two-edged sword. One one side, it drives you to do your best to impress the person you are working with -- but adversely, it crushes you when you humiliate yourself in front of them.
Lyssie: Understood.
Rii: Onto the subject of Iris, the defense is prepared to state her claims.
Rii: One could argue that it was a case of misinterpretation and overassumption on Miles' behalf; however, the nature of Iris' secret towards Nick seems to contradict this.
Rii: However, the defense would like to state how she viewed the situation of the psyche-lock while playing it for herself.
Rii: Considering that I was not spoiled in the finer aspects of the plot while playing it, I was thus unaware of Iris' relationship towards Nick, as well as her impersonation of Dahlia in the past.
Rii: However, her resemblance to Dahlia had me suspicious that Iris might have some sort of tie to her.
Lyssie: Objection - Edgeworth only vaguely recognized Iris, and didn't make the connection until he researched it and spoke with Phoenix.
Rii: The prosecution has a valid point.
Rii: The defense acknowledges that this instance may very well be the lynchpin to the prosecution's argument.
Rii: However, she must point out this one crucial fact:
Rii: That exchange in the game is entirely optional.
Lyssie: The prosecution is well aware of this fact, and actually feels that it supports our interpretation of the event.
Rii: The defense is curious to know how this is so.
Lyssie: It is important to remember that this exchange occurs in a videogame. Specifically, in the last case of the last game of a trilogy that has proven to be enormously popular. The character in question has also been established as consistently being extremely popular among the fans, in both languages.
Lyssie: It would be an enormous risk to establish in the main storyline that this beloved character is, in fact, homosexual and romantically interested in the protagonist.
Lyssie: Therefore, this exchange is carefully hidden. Only those who are curious as to what Edgeworth would have to say in this particular situation would bother investigating, as it is an incredibly easy psyche-lock to which the solution is obvious.
Lyssie: And the exchange has little to do with the lock, and no bearing on the main plot, despite its noted serious tone.
Lyssie: It seems to have been hidden away purely for the benefit of those interested.
Lyssie: Indeed, the prosecution has a pet theory that it may have been written in as an optional psyche-lock stumble purely because the player takes damage from stumbling, so that this device could be used to show how painful the topic is for Edgeworth.
Lyssie: Furthermore, this is not the only such hidden exchange!
Lyssie: While it is by far the stronger, there is another exchange that supports this.
Rii: The defense would ask that the prosecution does not keep such evidence from the court of shipping. =/
Lyssie: *flamboyant bow* My apologies. It had slipped my mind until just now. I will now present it, if it pleases the court.
Rii: *folds arms* The defense would appreciate that most certainly.
Lyssie: After the earthquake, when Edgeworth is brooding in the garden, Phoenix of course has the option to present evidence to him.
Lyssie: However, Edgeworth will give a boring stock response to all but two pieces of evidence. One of these is Iris's hood, which otherwise has served little purpose in the case.
Lyssie: There is no case-related reason why Edgeworth should react to this evidence, as it is minor and almost a red herring.
Lyssie: But he will react.
Lyssie: The prosecution would like to request another few minutes to see if she can find the exact script to this as well.
Rii: The defense will allow this.
Lyssie: Urk. Unfortunately, the script doesn't seem to be readily accessible. Exact text will have to be presented at such time as the prosecution can replay to that part of the case herself or bother a friend for the quote.
Lyssie: At any rate...
Lyssie: The conversation they have about the hood has nothing to do with the case. Phoenix asserts that wearing the hood helped his fever go down, and Edgeworth's response is very close to this:
"So you say, while standing there white as a sheet, cold sweat running down your face!"
"Anyway, it seems to me that there's something going on between you and that girl."
Lyssie: The prosecution would just like to note that this is a slightly odd response, and again that it also must be specifically sought out because it really has nothing to do with the case.
Rii: The defense would like to end this debate as soon as possible, and state her final claim.
Lyssie: The prosecution agrees to this.
Rii: The fact of the matter is that, while indeed these events are scripted and may be hunted down by fans of Miles Edgeworth, it defines the nature of this support of Edgeworth's love for Phoenix Wright.
Rii: The defense wishes to claim that this relationship may only exist if the player wishes to see it in that way. As the decisive evidence you have presented is only optional and does not pertain to the actual storyline, it may be brought into the argument as evidence for plausibility, but not for outright proof.
Rii: My final argument: There is extensive evidence that suggests that Miles Edgeworth has a deep-seated friendship, respect, and admiration for Phoenix Wright. Whether or not it is determined to be physical attraction or not is dependant entirely on the observer/player.
Rii: In my defense, I could argue that Miles Edgeworth genuinely cares for Maya Fey through his concerned comments referring to her while (they believe at the time) she is trapped within the sacred chamber. However, as these comments are largely optional, it only constitutes towards the evidence being only plausible at best.
Lyssie: If the defense is finished, the prosecution would like to make its final statement as well.
Rii: The defense rests.
Lyssie: Ultimately, all players will have different views of the subtext given in writing. I believe that while these exchanges are indeed optional, because of the very linear "visual novel" nature of the game and the fact that these exchanges ARE written in the text, they should be treated as intended canon once uncovered.
Lyssie: It is true that there is no evidence that clearly states physical attraction, however I feel that the emotions speak for themselves. There are, after all, only so many ways to give unambiguous romantic subtext, many of which would have gotten in the way of the story and indeed even been out of character for Edgeworth to express in the scope of the case. It is quite possible for deep-seated friendship to extend into romance, and indeed the emotions share many common traits and expressions.
Lyssie: The only other relationships shown to have any similar amount of weight are those between Edgeworth and Franziska and Phoenix and Maya, both of which are quite clearly stated in text to be familial relationships. Phoenix and Edgeworth's relationship differs thematically from these in many ways. And finally, the prosecution would like to leave the court with a small thought exercise - if either Phoenix or Edgeworth were a woman, and the script of the games remained otherwise unchanged, would their story come across as merely as an epic friendship with plausible romance, or would it instead be treated as an epic love story?
Lyssie: But either way it seems we can agree that the feelings involves are indeed epic, and it pleases the prosecution personally to think of this as a romantic attachment, which could well become a very beautiful romance.
Lyssie: The prosecution rests.
Rii: In brief response, the defense claims that gender has nothing to do with the issue, and her opinions do not change regardless of whether Edgeworth and Wright are male or female. *nod*
Rii: And so, we turn this to the lovely forum-jurors. Shall they decide the fate of this trial?
Let's have your verdicts :D
Riicchan and I, talking over AIM, were going to have a normal debate over Phoenix/Edgeworth... until she started the topic off with a courtroom joke. I ran with it, and... then...
Basically we spent three hours conducting a mock trial as to whether Edgeworth loves Phoenix or not. For the enjoyment of the comm, it has been reproduced in full below (with only slight re-ordering of statements, to make more sense in a non-AIM format). And now the verdict is up to you. :D
Commonwealth of the Non-Phoenix/Edgeworth Shippers vs. The State of Phoenix/Edgeworth
Rii: First, tho. *puts on a lawyer persona* Prosecutor Lyssie! What is this Decisive Evidence you say you have for Phoenix Wright's love for Miles Edgeworth?
Lyssie: XD
Lyssie: The prosecution admits that with regards to Phoenix's love for Edgeworth, the only evidence is circumstantial; however, it is our belief that the sheer amount of this evidence is compelling, albeit still open to interpretation.
Lyssie: Furthermore, as regards Edgeworth's love for Wright, the prosecution believes that the evidence is, in fact, decisive.
Rii: *slams desk* The defense wishes to see this evidence!
Lyssie: But of course. If it pleases the court, the prosecution would like to submit Iris's first psyche-lock; specifically, the dialogue that occurs if Edgeworth should present the wrong profile on the second lock.
Lyssie: Your Honor, if I may have a few minutes to retrieve the exact script.
Rii: Permission is granted. *folds arms*
Lyssie: Thank you for your patience, Your Honor. Here is the conversation, exactly as it transpires, from the moment Edgeworth presents any other profile than that of Phoenix Wright.
Edgeworth: Well, Iris?
Iris: ...Mr. Edgeworth. Is it just possible that maybe... you yourself have a deep, dark secret in your heart?
[swordstrike, music stops]
Edgeworth: ...! Why do you say that...!?
Iris: As they say, it takes one to know one.
Edgeworth: (How could she have known about that...? Is she peering into my soul!?) ... It's true that there is a deep-seated darkness in my heart. However, the only way I can get rid of it is to fully uncover the truth!
Iris: You mean... the truth behind my secret?
Lyssie: The prosecution would like to call the court's attention to a number of points in this dialogue.
Lyssie: First, the scene is clearly serious. No other psyche-lock error that the prosecution knows of is written without comic intent. Edgeworth's other possible error in this very sequence, in fact, is also presented humorously. This conversation is notably devoid of humor.
Rii: The defense understands this quite clearly.
Lyssie: Second, Iris's suspicions of a deep secret that Edgeworth holds are directly and explicitly confirmed by Edgeworth itself. Furthermore, it follows that this secret is something he cannot even allow Wright to know. Considering that Wright has already seen him at his worst and still counts him as a close friend, it would seem that the secret MUST pertain to Wright.
Lyssie: Third, it is directly paralleled to Iris's secret; indeed, she understands his because she is the same way. I am sure the defense is well aware of the nature of Iris's deep secret.
Lyssie: And last, Edgeworth claims that the only way to resolve his own secret is with the truth behind Iris's. It seems to be shown elsewhere in the case that Edgeworth suspects Wright is in pain because of Iris's unrevealed secret, and so it follows that at least some part of Edgeworth's secret involves a strong desire for Wright's happiness.
Lyssie: Therefore, the prosecution believes this sequence to clearly and decisively show that Miles Edgeworth is in love with Phoenix Wright.
Lyssie: We would very much like to hear the defense's interpretation.
Rii: The defense would like to say that the prosecution's argument is indeed well-crafted.
Rii: However, there are some parts I would, indeed, like to call into question. Namely, the "deep-seated darkness" Edgeworth refers to.
Rii: While it is true that this "darkness" may very well refer to love towards Phoenix Wright, in the context, I am more inclined to say that it refers to a non-romantic secret. Note how Edgeworth says that he must "reveal the truth" in order to "get rid of it."
Rii: If your claims are correct, than Edgeworth's feelings towards Phoenix are ones he does not particularly want to keep.
Lyssie: Objection!
Lyssie: Edgeworth is well known for his self-loathing tendencies and self-deprecating behavior. In this very case, he expresses deep shame over his continued fear of earthquakes, specifically the fact that he continues to harbor that weakness even after Phoenix did so much for him.
Lyssie: It is quite possible, even likely, given what we know of Edgeworth's character, that he might have already given up on his feelings as a hopeless cause, and want them to be gone simply so they will stop causing him pain.
Lyssie: Furthermore this man just chartered a jet on extremely short notice to be at Phoenix's side when he received the news of his accident.
Rii: (minor) Objection!
Rii: If I'm correct, he did fly a charter jet, but not to be by Phoenix's side. He does not even interact with Phoenix until the day after his initial investigation and day in court. In fact, the only things he knows about Phoenix's condition come from Larry. That's not exactly "at his side" is it?
Lyssie: Objection. From whom does he receive the badge, magatama, and other evidence, before he even goes to the detention center to meet with Larry?
Rii: *grimace* I can't seem to remember.
Lyssie: He says, and this is reflected in the court record, that he received them directly from Phoenix himself.
Lyssie: It is a fact that Edgeworth went to the hospital first, to see Phoenix.
Rii: The defense acknowledges this fact. *nod*
Lyssie: Has the defense any further objections on this point?
Rii: *background goes black* I have to think of something!
Rii: The defense would like to state that, while the evidence and theory thus presented by the prosecutor are compelling in her case, they are not decisive enough to be classified as anything more than a deep and caring friendship.
Rii: Shame of weakness, such as Edgeworth's fear of earthquakes, does not only have to apply to those of whom you have a physical attraction to. This may also apply to family members, close friends, peers, and authority figures.
Lyssie: The prosecution grants that point.
Rii: The defense would also like to state that physical attraction cannot be proven by concern shown for an injury or dire situation, even to an extreme extent that Edgeworth went through.
Rii: This may also apply to deep friendships and family, which may be classified as "love" but not exactly in the physical sense, as you are implying.
Lyssie: The defense makes a good point. It was not my intent to argue that these actions necessarily indicate romantic love, only that in the given context they support the interpretation.
Lyssie: Would the defense care to answer a question about an earlier point?
Rii: Gladly.
Lyssie: Thank you. Earlier, you asserted your belief that Edgeworth's secret is non-romantic, citing his comment that he must "reveal the truth" to "get rid of it".
Lyssie: The prosecution's question is simple.
Lyssie: What is the defense's theory as to what Edgeworth's secret actually is? Keeping in mind that it must be something related to Iris's, something that he wishes to get rid of, and something that he cannot tell to Phoenix Wright; while also taking into account that he seems to have no desire to end his friendship with Phoenix, and is in fact strongly invested in Phoenix's happiness. (Remember that he makes Iris promise to reveal her secret to Phoenix, for the sake of easing Phoenix's suffering.)
Lyssie: If it is work-related we hope the defense has a very good case for why this is so, as the prosecution believes there is basically nothing Edgeworth could ever have done in his career that is worse than what Phoenix already knows about or what Edgeworth willingly admits to him later.
Rii: The defense's response is also quite simple. It is a platonic admiration, and a fear of being rejected, should it be interpreted in the wrong way.
Rii: Repeatedly, Edgeworth has stated how he admires the trust that Phoenix places in his clients, as well as his capacity for forgiveness, as it is something he feels he lacks.
Rii: Therefore, a selfless act such as Edgeworth's in 3-5 might be regarded as an attempt at trying to show this admiration by emulating it. It is here that the defense would like to use herself in her argument.
Rii: There are a great deal of people that I know of, mostly online, whom I have a great respect and admiration for. My compliments to them are sincere, and it is an embarassing affair whenever I receive one back and don't rightly know what to say.
Rii: However, when speaking to these individuals, there is always a sort of nag at the back of my heart that I might be doing something that comes off as a little too admiring, or that I might outright embarass myself in front of them by making a mistake or presenting a piece of art or writing that they don't like.
Lyssie: The prosecution understands and sympathizes with the defense.
Rii: It is here that I present the argument that this platonic admiration is the secret that Edgeworth wishes to hide, as it makes him feel uncomfortable and (if you'll pardon my pun) on-edge when he knows that it should not get in the way of his duties.
Rii: Adding to the fact that he is very easily shamed by his weaknesses, this admiration would be positively mortifying, should he humiliate himself in front of Phoenix, despite the fact that Phoenix has been nothing but understanding of his varying situations. That alone may make it worse, because it's a trait that Edgeworth himself admires.
Rii: In my opinion, Edgeworth wishes for his admiration and desire to impress Phoenix to subside into something more akin to a cool respect between colleagues and friends, as it is much more in-tune with his disposition.
Lyssie: Th... the prosecution is still formulating a rebuttal.
Lyssie: I am forced to admit the defense's case is... plausible.
Lyssie: ... I feel there are two things worth noting, however.
Lyssie: First, is that Edgeworth's admiration usually does not interfere with his duties. One only need note how effectively he continues to prosecute against Phoenix to see this. Furthermore, his association with and admiration of Phoenix have indeed only inspired him to greater accomplishment, and in fact helped him to understand more clearly what his duties are.
Lyssie: Second, the defense has failed to address the question of how this relates so closely to Iris's secret. The writing parallels these quite clearly.
Lyssie: Iris's secret is not about platonic admiration for Phoenix, nor that she would be mortified if it came out. Rather, her secret is specifically that she loved and loves him, and is ashamed for having caused him pain by her own inability to carry out a simple task back then.
Lyssie: The defense's theory is very plausible, and may in fact be a part of the issue, but it hardly seems likely that the writing would parallel these secrets so very closely.
Lyssie: (For interest, in the original Japanese text her line about knowing read as "I know, because I'm the same.")
Rii: The defense would like to compliment the prosecution on her tightly-crafted rebuttal. However, she is adamant on answering the questions all the same, to the best of her ability.
Lyssie: Please, do so.
Lyssie: W-wait! If the prosecution can quickly amend a previous point before the discussion strays too far.
Rii: If the prosecution so pleases.
Lyssie: More specifically, with regards to Iris's secret, it is important to remember that Edgeworth believes his "darkness" will be resolved with Iris telling the truth to Phoenix.
Lyssie: That is all. Please, continue your response.
Rii: Thank you for clarifying. It had nothing to do with the question I was currently answering, but no doubt it may be decisive later on. *nod*
Rii: I shall continue as before.
Rii: On the subject of whether or not Edgeworth's admiration hinders his prosecution career, the defense would like to argue that this admiration is not entirely made clear until 1-4. Following that case, Edgeworth appears quite sparingly; consider his rather notable absence in most of PW2, and the fact that he is studying law abroad in PW3 until Phoenix's incident on Dusky Bridge causes him to return.
Rii: In relation to those cases, 1-5 is rather unusual in that the nature of the trial changes into one where both prosecution and defense were against Damon Gant, and that his incarceration was a goal of both Miles and Phoenix.
Rii: Therefore, Miles would have no reason for his admiration to get in the way of his work and his goals, as they were working towards the same result in that instance.
Rii: The defense would ask the prosecution not to press too harshly on the subject of PW2, as the defense has personally not played the game, and only knows the most basic of details.
Lyssie: Understood.
Rii: The defense understands that Edgeworth, following his various encounters with Phoenix in the court, changes his view of the court system as not an arena for him to win guilty verdicts, but as one where the truth must be sought out at all costs. This is a value that he shares with Phoenix, does he not?
Rii: If this is indeed true, then the defense sees no reason why this admiration of seeking truth in court would hinder Edgeworth's prosecution career.
Lyssie: Then the defense understands the prosecution's point.
Rii: Is the prosecution then siding with the defense on this point?
Lyssie: That Edgeworth's later admiration of Phoenix does not hinder his prosecution career? Correct.
Lyssie: It was the defense who earlier argued that Edgeworth's admiration may interfere with his duties.
Rii: Indeed. *ponders*
Lyssie: It seems we are now in agreement that it does not.
Lyssie: Which, if we may take this detour before moving on to the topic of Iris, brings another point to mind...
Rii: If you would please wait a moment -- in the instance of the admiration affecting his work, it wasn't so much the admiration itself, but the heightened sense of shame it would bring from failure.
Lyssie: Ah. The distinction is noted.
Rii: It is rather clear to see that, upon letting Iris out of his site due to an earthquake, Edgeworth was quite ashamed.
Rii: It is also a fact that Dahlia switched places with her during this incident, and Nick considered this fully when presenting that fact in the courtroom. He considered it almost "betraying" Edgeworth, as his disappointment has been seen before.
Rii: I'll conclude the argument of admiration affecting work by saying that admiration, in itself, is a two-edged sword. One one side, it drives you to do your best to impress the person you are working with -- but adversely, it crushes you when you humiliate yourself in front of them.
Lyssie: Understood.
Rii: Onto the subject of Iris, the defense is prepared to state her claims.
Rii: One could argue that it was a case of misinterpretation and overassumption on Miles' behalf; however, the nature of Iris' secret towards Nick seems to contradict this.
Rii: However, the defense would like to state how she viewed the situation of the psyche-lock while playing it for herself.
Rii: Considering that I was not spoiled in the finer aspects of the plot while playing it, I was thus unaware of Iris' relationship towards Nick, as well as her impersonation of Dahlia in the past.
Rii: However, her resemblance to Dahlia had me suspicious that Iris might have some sort of tie to her.
Lyssie: Objection - Edgeworth only vaguely recognized Iris, and didn't make the connection until he researched it and spoke with Phoenix.
Rii: The prosecution has a valid point.
Rii: The defense acknowledges that this instance may very well be the lynchpin to the prosecution's argument.
Rii: However, she must point out this one crucial fact:
Rii: That exchange in the game is entirely optional.
Lyssie: The prosecution is well aware of this fact, and actually feels that it supports our interpretation of the event.
Rii: The defense is curious to know how this is so.
Lyssie: It is important to remember that this exchange occurs in a videogame. Specifically, in the last case of the last game of a trilogy that has proven to be enormously popular. The character in question has also been established as consistently being extremely popular among the fans, in both languages.
Lyssie: It would be an enormous risk to establish in the main storyline that this beloved character is, in fact, homosexual and romantically interested in the protagonist.
Lyssie: Therefore, this exchange is carefully hidden. Only those who are curious as to what Edgeworth would have to say in this particular situation would bother investigating, as it is an incredibly easy psyche-lock to which the solution is obvious.
Lyssie: And the exchange has little to do with the lock, and no bearing on the main plot, despite its noted serious tone.
Lyssie: It seems to have been hidden away purely for the benefit of those interested.
Lyssie: Indeed, the prosecution has a pet theory that it may have been written in as an optional psyche-lock stumble purely because the player takes damage from stumbling, so that this device could be used to show how painful the topic is for Edgeworth.
Lyssie: Furthermore, this is not the only such hidden exchange!
Lyssie: While it is by far the stronger, there is another exchange that supports this.
Rii: The defense would ask that the prosecution does not keep such evidence from the court of shipping. =/
Lyssie: *flamboyant bow* My apologies. It had slipped my mind until just now. I will now present it, if it pleases the court.
Rii: *folds arms* The defense would appreciate that most certainly.
Lyssie: After the earthquake, when Edgeworth is brooding in the garden, Phoenix of course has the option to present evidence to him.
Lyssie: However, Edgeworth will give a boring stock response to all but two pieces of evidence. One of these is Iris's hood, which otherwise has served little purpose in the case.
Lyssie: There is no case-related reason why Edgeworth should react to this evidence, as it is minor and almost a red herring.
Lyssie: But he will react.
Lyssie: The prosecution would like to request another few minutes to see if she can find the exact script to this as well.
Rii: The defense will allow this.
Lyssie: Urk. Unfortunately, the script doesn't seem to be readily accessible. Exact text will have to be presented at such time as the prosecution can replay to that part of the case herself or bother a friend for the quote.
Lyssie: At any rate...
Lyssie: The conversation they have about the hood has nothing to do with the case. Phoenix asserts that wearing the hood helped his fever go down, and Edgeworth's response is very close to this:
"So you say, while standing there white as a sheet, cold sweat running down your face!"
"Anyway, it seems to me that there's something going on between you and that girl."
Lyssie: The prosecution would just like to note that this is a slightly odd response, and again that it also must be specifically sought out because it really has nothing to do with the case.
Rii: The defense would like to end this debate as soon as possible, and state her final claim.
Lyssie: The prosecution agrees to this.
Rii: The fact of the matter is that, while indeed these events are scripted and may be hunted down by fans of Miles Edgeworth, it defines the nature of this support of Edgeworth's love for Phoenix Wright.
Rii: The defense wishes to claim that this relationship may only exist if the player wishes to see it in that way. As the decisive evidence you have presented is only optional and does not pertain to the actual storyline, it may be brought into the argument as evidence for plausibility, but not for outright proof.
Rii: My final argument: There is extensive evidence that suggests that Miles Edgeworth has a deep-seated friendship, respect, and admiration for Phoenix Wright. Whether or not it is determined to be physical attraction or not is dependant entirely on the observer/player.
Rii: In my defense, I could argue that Miles Edgeworth genuinely cares for Maya Fey through his concerned comments referring to her while (they believe at the time) she is trapped within the sacred chamber. However, as these comments are largely optional, it only constitutes towards the evidence being only plausible at best.
Lyssie: If the defense is finished, the prosecution would like to make its final statement as well.
Rii: The defense rests.
Lyssie: Ultimately, all players will have different views of the subtext given in writing. I believe that while these exchanges are indeed optional, because of the very linear "visual novel" nature of the game and the fact that these exchanges ARE written in the text, they should be treated as intended canon once uncovered.
Lyssie: It is true that there is no evidence that clearly states physical attraction, however I feel that the emotions speak for themselves. There are, after all, only so many ways to give unambiguous romantic subtext, many of which would have gotten in the way of the story and indeed even been out of character for Edgeworth to express in the scope of the case. It is quite possible for deep-seated friendship to extend into romance, and indeed the emotions share many common traits and expressions.
Lyssie: The only other relationships shown to have any similar amount of weight are those between Edgeworth and Franziska and Phoenix and Maya, both of which are quite clearly stated in text to be familial relationships. Phoenix and Edgeworth's relationship differs thematically from these in many ways. And finally, the prosecution would like to leave the court with a small thought exercise - if either Phoenix or Edgeworth were a woman, and the script of the games remained otherwise unchanged, would their story come across as merely as an epic friendship with plausible romance, or would it instead be treated as an epic love story?
Lyssie: But either way it seems we can agree that the feelings involves are indeed epic, and it pleases the prosecution personally to think of this as a romantic attachment, which could well become a very beautiful romance.
Lyssie: The prosecution rests.
Rii: In brief response, the defense claims that gender has nothing to do with the issue, and her opinions do not change regardless of whether Edgeworth and Wright are male or female. *nod*
Rii: And so, we turn this to the lovely forum-jurors. Shall they decide the fate of this trial?
Let's have your verdicts :D