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]

It was an assessment. Your anxiety doesn't matter much to me. You've asked questions, I've provided answers, would you like me to lie now?

private

[deadly_ned]

No. No, I wouldn't like you to lie, that's...dishonest.

No, I mean. I can...figure this out. What I need to do. I'm sorry, I'm just...mostly talking out loud to myself in the event that one of my sentences will hold the answer and I can just reach out as it exits my mouth and grab it.

private

[mattersverymuch]

That's not how the world works. None of the worlds.

Are you a coward? [Not accusatory. Merely curious.]

private

[deadly_ned]

[The Piemaker had to think about the question for a moment or two. Finally he said,]

I don't think so. I'm cautious, and I'm nervous about starting new things or rocking the boat or upsetting the status quo.

But that won't stop me from doing dangerous things where needed.

private

[mattersverymuch]

If it's needed, do dangerous things.

Why are you so invested in your inmate?

private

[deadly_ned]

Why shouldn't I be so invested in my inmate? I'm here for him. Our...happiness, it's tied together. I want him to have...everything the world kept from him.

private

[mattersverymuch]

[He nearly says you're here for you,, but makes a calculated guess, instead.]

You identify with him.

private

[deadly_ned]

I might...change my deal to make it what he needs.

Instead of what I need. What I need can wait.

private

[mattersverymuch]

And, of course, you can always collect another deal later.

private

[deadly_ned]

My deal's not that important in the grand..scheme of things. There's a person here who wants to bring back a planet.

And I'm just here for a kiss.

private

[mattersverymuch]

How self-sacrificing of you.

private

[deadly_ned]

That was cruel.


But probably right.

private

[mattersverymuch]

Those are two words that describe me often, yes.

private

[deadly_ned]

I'm not a save-the-world sort of person. That's....not who I am. I'm a..


Piemaker.


That's all I do.

private

[mattersverymuch]

You're empathetic.

private

[deadly_ned]

Empathy can only go so far.

private

[mattersverymuch]

Precisely. It wasn't a compliment.

You're not ruthless or strong. I wonder why he chose you.

Perhaps for the empathy, so you might give yourself away.

private

[deadly_ned]

Do you think ruthless, strong wardens have a better chance of helping to graduate their inmates than the empathetic ones?

private

[mattersverymuch]

Graduates are weak-willed. Yes.

private

[deadly_ned]

So you....resent graduated Inmates for being weak.

And you resent wardens for taking away choice and for being selfish for being here for themselves despite...them not even knowing about this place if they weren't desperate to change things for the better in their lives.

....is there anyone you do like? I realize that's sort of a personal thing to ask, I'm just.

I want to understand.

private

[mattersverymuch]

I like people who are strong, clever, and dangerous. Sadly those are in short supply around here. Currently there are . . . two.

private

[deadly_ned]

I'm sorry. I'm only one of those things.

private

[mattersverymuch]

Clever.

private

[deadly_ned]

Not...particularly.

I mean.

I'm about average intelligence. I wasn't. I didn't get very high marks when I was in school and I'm not a super genius.

No, I don't think I'm clever. If I was, I'd have found a way to solve my problems that didn't involve coming to the Barge.

private

[mattersverymuch]

In that case.

How are you dangerous?