148 [Video, from Hospital Bed]

[impure_tale]

[And here is the Marquis in the infirmary; not dressed as per usual, his dark hair unbound and cascading lazily over his shoulders, his right arm in a sling to prevent causing himself further pain just because he feels the constant desire to use it. He looks tired, but better.]

I do believe this is the moment where I say that rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated. But from what I can see there were few rumors to begin with. Normally I am quite content to write my little monologues, addressing my fellow denizens in print rather than speaking. I am addressing you now as both a Warden and a former Inmate: 

For whatever injustice you think the Wardens guilty --

For all the freedoms you feel you are denied --

For all your proclaimed unity --

[He turns grave.]

The acts of violence.

The tortures.

The manipulation.

[He tilts his head to the side.]

The murder.

[Leaning toward the camera.]

All. Yours.

I have heard far too many times the fabled and honorable unity upheld by the Inmates. But the truth of the matter is that you are not. You have your outliers, madmen who scheme. It was an Inmate who broke into my cabin some days ago. An Inmate who broke my arm, killed my dog, and then burrowed into my spine with a simple, innocuous tool. Every attack and every death I have suffered -- including my first true death -- has been directly or indirectly the doing of an Inmate.

But of course, when one Inmate behaves abominably, or several -- then clearly, they are not the norm. They are not included. 

The Wardens are not afforded the same luxury, clearly. The mistakes of one are the mistakes of the whole but they dare not place that expectation on their charges.

The Inmates are not united. You were not during the last riot, either, and when others of your own objected? They did not exist. When they acted out of turn and showed your ugly faces for what they were, you ducked your heads and would not claim them.

If we the Wardens are to blame for the mistakes among our own then so, too, are you. I am also aware that it was an Inmate that saved me, Inmates that aided me. But there are Wardens, too, that saved you. So I have a choice to either condemn the lot of you, as a whole, for the crimes committed against me, or I may commend you for the good you have shown me.

I elect the good, and I will show you mine, because there has been enough talk of Warden mistakes, and not nearly enough of the good they do. I invite other Wardens to reply in kind, and I invite Inmates, who've the heart and the spine to see reason, to offer how they have been helped:

I am Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade, the Marquis. I have been the Warden of one Inmate since my graduation, and I shall be until his graduation. I have corrected his infractions firmly. I have done my best to nurture his impulses toward honorable acts. I have protected him, fiercely, against his attackers, and I have cared for him tirelessly when his health has waned, and I admit that once or twice, I have failed him, but will never fail him ultimately.

I am a Warden.

Comments

[subtlescience]

Well said.

Private.

[toldastory]

Bravo, Marquis. Can I get you anything?

Private.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

I do not suppose you could give me wine.

[requiresssacrifice]

How nice for you.

It was the wardens, not the inmates, who taught me I was beyond redemption, regardless of my actions. As far as I'm concerned, I don't owe either side anything.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

But you are not.

[raisedinabox]

After what you've been through, hearing you talk like that is quite inspiring.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

I do not say this to brag: I will have always lived worse.

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Who attacked you?

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Monsieur Arthas.

[gotgreenmagic.livejournal.com]

Did we proclaim unity? I don't remember proclaiming anything. All I do remember was one angry midget and a few people who were already wayyy too far into unmotivated violence.

Seriously, he killed your dog?

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

I have heard claims on numerous occasions, perhaps not from you explicitly, but from other Inmates, about "unity". It has been a common thread since before the last riot.

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

Comrade, if I may write you an alternative. Stock forms are a speciality of my world. I'll refrain from the newspeak.

I am [Insert name here]. I have been the warden of [insert number here. Use numerical digits if over five] inmates, and I will be until my individualist request from the Admiral is met. I have corrected his/her/their/it's infractions with the appropriate level of firmness to my individual conception of justice and to alleviate my sense of shame at not having predicted these actions. I have done my best to re-educate him to comply to the standards of an individualist society. I have protected him againt his attackers and cared for him tirelessly due to my own sense of territorality, and unwillingness to accept any incursions into my own personal territory, and will flail powerlessly against any such act. I admit that once or twice, I have failed him, because otherwise I'd look like a pompous, self-assured ass, and my own sense of pride would much prefer me to look like a decent human being than overly vainglorious. I am entirely oblivious to the system constructed around me, that I have allowed to manipulate me into believing I am doing good, whilst it continues to abuse me.

I am a warden.

Oh, and comrades! If you're an inmate, there's one for you.

I am [insert name here]. I have had [insert number here, unless you've stopped keeping track] wardens. I only care about graduating because it may be my only way out of here, back to my weak individualist life, usually driven by selfishness. In the interim period, I will proceed to absolve my individual, weak conscience of any guilt by fighting uselessly against the wardens, who must be at blame for everything. In doing so, I will force more individual, useless, flailing against a system which is unbreakable, both on the parts of myself and my warden. I am entirely oblivious that I am trapped within a system which has manipulated me into believing that I am doing bad, and either continue to do so through a sense of individual pride, or am forced into stopping through individual desire for privilage.

I am an inmate.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Now tell me about you, Comrade.

Fine, he can be the first.

[mightymorbid]

The Warden Iroh always talked to me when he helped out in the pub. He was never rude, or a bother, and he never seemed to be out for anything for himself. In fact I don't think the man has ever been angry in his life.

Roxy Harvey was the same when she was here. ...Only actually angry.

[empirical_data]

I travelled to the North Pole of early nineteenth century Earth for my inmate. I would consider that dedication.

[All because he didn't want to canon-puncture him with his book, because that seemed like it would hurt more.]

I have had little troubles with my inmate, however. I simply did my duty and he responded well to it.

[rass-bestie.livejournal.com]

Are you all right? Now, I mean.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Much better.

[lazarusrisen.livejournal.com]

Peter Petrelli taught me to be more careful if I want to do something that's under his nose. And Veronica Mars, though not my warden, taught me that even if you look like a good friend, you can still be a total bitch.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

And you are teaching me what it means to fool someone into thinking you are charming.

[acid_rayne]

They... Burrowed into your spine?

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

I am still not certain what he used.

[Audio]

[a-bit-put-upon.livejournal.com]

Unity in any mass is difficult to strive for, especially in a place such as this. I myself lose sight of it at times, but I've got you lot to remind me. Friends, regardless of rank.

I've been warden to a few, some wrongly so and much of the folly involved was rightly mine, but I've done my utmost to understand, protect and guide each one, as I do for her now. My choices are made in order to teach and respect her, and should she by chance fall ill or injured, she'll find me at her side to lead her back to health, as she'll find me when she takes a wayward path, to lead her back where she ought to go. As it stands here and as it should for all of us given to the responsibility, she is my ward and my world.

[Awkward pause. He pontificates too much, sorry.]

Thank you, monsieur, for your sensible words.

[Audio]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Always welcome, and thank you for yours.

[creatingalegacy]

Burrowed into your spine, killed your dog, beat you needlessly...and the wardens think I'm a sick fuck.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Some Wardens. We don't all know you.

[most_feared]

I'm used to working with a group. But I'm also not a fan of authority. I don't like being told what to do, how to do it, and where the fuck I'm expected to be if I know that there's already a better place for me to be and a more efficient way to get the job done.

The thing is... If any group of people works as a group, they go primitive. It's what we do. Groups are our defense, just the same as herding animals or a school of fish. Get us together in a panic or a rage and we'll follow each other like ducklings right into trouble or tear into each other.

Frankly, either side needs to think for itself, and not get so goddamn mad out of pride. I may resent authority, but I got the cool head to realize that sometimes someone else has something important to say and might have a point, and that goes for warden or inmate.

On another note, how are you feeling?

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Much better, as you can see.

[amagicalmystery.livejournal.com]

...maybe a month or two into my time here, I killed a man who...said things an' used words I never wanted to hear again, not in a place where I'm supposed to start over.

Iroh came to my room an' asked me why. I told him. He listened. I was expecting a lecture - it was a talk, though. Man to man. He said he understood, an' he said why he thought this would make things worse for me. He never acted like I had to accept that, when I disagreed. He told me to think about what job I wanted on board, and then he left.

I haven't been violent since - granted, I wasn't before, but it didn't become a habit. I'm not sure what I'd do if it happened today. But I've respected my Warden more and more ever since. And I trust him to respect me.

We never acted like we were one on this whole riot business. An' my problem's never been with y'all, not really.

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that, Monsieur.

i thought it was well written :3

[vfranklinmott.livejournal.com]

Bloody hell, do you lot ever stop with your speeches?

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Tit for tat, mon ami. Does your lot ever stop complaining?

[Private]

[terminates.livejournal.com]

Your Inmate's lucky to have you.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

I... [blinks in genuine surprise] Thank you, Monsieur.

[vampish_aleera]

My name is Aleera.

I have not yet tortured nor killed since my return.

This makes me a good example to follow.

[tadwizard.livejournal.com]

You're right. You're like...the best warden here. The only reason for Arthas to go after you is because he's blaming all wardens for whatever. Or because he's psychotic.

...are you okay? And Renate? Does she have to go through the death toll or...?

[darknessb4me]

So who cut your throat? Martha Jones?

[bybloodandhonor.livejournal.com]

... I am sorry that I didn't reach Arthas before he found you.