008 - Pecan

[deadly_ned]

So.

As a first time Warden more or less mentoring a first time Inmate, there's this very important question that's been hovering menacingly near my head for the last few days like a demonic little helicopter and I would be remiss if I didn't at least ask it, even if I'm sure it's obvious to the more seasoned Wardens, Inmates, what have you.


...Is an Inmate's happiness more important than their graduation?

If you had to choose one, I mean.


And I think I should also ask to Inmates because I don't...like the unspoken divide and communication is usually an effective bridge over most divides..


What do you need from your warden to be happier?



[Private to Claire Bennet, Jesse Pinkman, the Marquis de Sade, and Megamind as a group]

Someone happened to tell me you're a dog person.

I'm trying to..rehome my dog, Digby. My Inmate is scared of them and it's probably best if Digby and I separated until my Inmate graduates. And I'd like to find someone to...borrow him, or take him, but if I don't find someone he'll have to go home and we've never been separated and I'm feeling a little...clingy.

Comments

private

[mattersverymuch]

Do you think someone can be happy trapped here? The choice isn't between graduation and happiness, it's between graduation and stagnation.

private

[deadly_ned]

I don't think my inmate wants to graduate.

I don't know if I want to force him.

[video/public]

[routemistress]

I reckon if I can't work on both at once I shouldn't be 'ere, meself. Some are 'arder than others, though. I don't know your bloke too well.

If I were you, Pieman, I'd work on makin' 'im feel safe. Get 'im to where 'e doesn't stop to wonder who's in 'is corner 'cause 'e knows it'll always be you. 'Appiness, graduation, they'll all flow natural from there.

[video/public]

[deadly_ned]

What if one is counter to the other? What if graduation doesn't make a person happy?

I am. That is, I'm working on safe. I have a plan for safe.

[with_my_teacup]

I don't think you can graduate if you aren't at least a little happy about something. Or at least satisfied with where you got to.

[deadly_ned]

Are you happy?

Audio

[fuckingvisions]

I think happiness is more important then graduating. If you get through but are miserable whats the point o' bein'?

Audio

[deadly_ned]

But you're still...dead. If you don't graduate. You're still stuck here.

[surrenders]

You think he won't be happy if he does?

[deadly_ned]

I hope he'll be happy if he does.

[private]

[megamind]

I'll be glad to help you with your dog. Angus would love a playmate.

[ A beat ]

And the answer to your question is more complicated than you can make it out to be, just so you know.

[private]

[deadly_ned]

Digby doesn't play much. He's a little neurotic. But he would like company.

I was afraid of complications.

[private]

[meanstwin]

...you don't think I can have both?

[private]

[deadly_ned]

I really, really want you to have both.

[buywithme]

Happiness--

[Pause.]

You can be happy for the wrong reasons. Like, if you never knew that anyone ever died, or ever suffered, or if you never felt empathy for those people, Comrade, I think you could feel very happy.

You wouldn't be happy with the world, though. You just wouldn't be a part of it.

I think, the question isn't whether graduation is more important than happiness, Comrade. The question is whether happiness is more important than truth.

[deadly_ned]

That.


Is a very good point.



I think I'd take truth over happiness. Even if it's the kind of truth that hurts.

[video]

[sir_drinksalot]

That's a tough question. Maybe it depends on what makes them happy. I'm sure slaughtering innocents would be frowned upon no matter how happy it makes someone who's lost their mind. Though I'm sure what you had in mind wasn't as dramatic as that.

[video]

[deadly_ned]

My inmate is not Genghis Khan.

[Private]

[most_feared]

The happiness of an inmate should always take second tier because usually their actions have compromised the happiness of other people. There's no reason they can't be made to be happy, too, but as long as their actions are directly or indirectly harming others...

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

I think my inmate harms himself much more often than he does other people.

That's only a preliminary estimation. I haven't known him all that long.

video

[theantiaya]

[Interesting. Borderline philsophical in a sense, except Aya is focused more in offering the answer that would most potentially benefit herself. Even if this individual was, clearly, not her own Warden.]

Happiness is Irrelevant.

It is a Warden's Duty to see to the release of his or her Inmate from this Inconvenience passing as a Prison Ship.

video

[deadly_ned]

I know. I know that's my duty, I know I'm going to...try and do it as best I can.


But shouldn't.

Shouldn't happiness factor into it? Somewhere?

Dog group filter.

[some_kinda_hero]

Ohmigod, Digby is such a cute name! I'd love to help you out, but does he get along with other dogs? I've an Australian Terrier and a chocolate lab; Chester and Izzy, respectively. They don't mind company, obviously. And can I see him? [She pulls her lips into her mouth to contain the anticipation, hands clasped against her chest.]

Dog group filter.

[deadly_ned]

Digby gets along with dogs, he's just.

Neurotic.

But he won't bite. Other dogs just...walk over him. He can't help the way he is.

I.

One second.

[And the Piemaker turns the camera on Digby, lying still on the floor. The dog's ears perk up but otherwise he doesn't move. Quite an old and quiet golden retriever]

[hatestriangles]

You really think the divide's unspoken?

[deadly_ned]

I think...I don't speak about the divide.