Aster: Move on, Ume. Valerian Nova is behind bars. Take the win and walk away.
Ume: So… what is this deal then?
Aster: We’re offering him a job.
Ume: A what?!
Aster: If he really was who you are accusing him of being, that means he has connections that can be taken advantage of. They’re going to take him on as a consultant for the International Protection Services.
Ume: That’s insane!
Aster: There’s not. You’ve fudged up so bad that this deal we’re cutting him is nothing more than a desperate attempt to get something from all of this mess.
Ume: I can–
Aster: Stop. You’ve got to know when to throw in the towel. Nothing good can come out of pursuing this any further.
Ume: What am I supposed to do then?
Aster: I don’t think you’re quite grasping the gravity of the situation here, Ume. Based on the evidence we have, Sirius Blossite was wrongfully arrested. The judge is going to have our whole departments head on a platter if we let this go to trial.
Ume: Isn’t there any other way? It seems so wrong to just let him walk…
Aster: Your relationship with the family isn’t helping matters either, Ume.
Ume: …
Aster: You should have never touched this case.
Ume: It still doesn’t seem right.
Aster: We’re cutting Sirius a deal.
Ume: You’re what? With everything that he’s done?
Aster: The problem is Ume, aside from what happened the day he was arrested, we don’t have anything on him. Even then it’s a stretch. Altair refused to press any charges against him… or to even testify as a witness. She saying it was self defense on his part…and since both of you fired your weapons… You can see where this is going, right?
Ume: We had Valerian’s confession. He admitted to hiring Sirius to dispose of people.
Aster: A confession that the only record we have of is your testimony after the fact. There’s no video, no report, no signed paperwork. For all we know it didn’t happen.
Ume: Shittake…
Aster: Sorry I’m late. The storm outside is pretty bad and the subway was delayed–
Ume: Aster? What are you doing here?
Aster: I’m the prosecutor assigned to this case. I thought you knew that?
Ume: Uh, no. They didn’t tell me anything.
Aster: I would ask if it was going to be a problem… but since it looks like this case isn’t going to trial this is likely to be our only meeting.
Ume: What are you talking about?
Aster: Oh no. They haven’t told you this either, have they?
Ume: Haven’t told me what?
Ume: I bet I know one thing that’s still the same.
Altair: Oh? What’s that?
Ume: Your tickle spots!
Altair: Ahhh! No, no! Mercy! [uncontrolable laughter]
Altair: What about the person I am now?
Ume: She’s growing on me.
Altair: [laughs] That’s promising, I guess.
Altair: Of course you wouldn’t. You’ve always been idealistic. Even when we were children. Everything has always had to be a certain way.
Ume: You say that as if it’s a bad thing.
Altair: I just… don’t see the world that way. At least not anymore. I like that I’ve changed. I don’t want to be the person I used to be before. She was… weak and selfish. I’d like to think that I’m a better person than that now.
Ume: I love the person you used to be.
Berrybloomsims 