impure_tale | 148 [Video, from Hospital Bed]

[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.

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But you are not.

When the wardens spit in my face every time I try, it really removes any incentive to continue. And I'm sure I'm not the only inmate who feels that way.

By virtue of your position, you're supposed to act as guides. You're supposed to be... above the behaviors that landed the rest of us here. But you're not. That's why it's such an issue for the inmates when a warden behaves unacceptably and seems to receive no repercussions.

I'm not even interested in rioting, but I can see why they become angry enough to lash out.

You are missing my point, entirely.

When a Warden mistreats you, then you should never be ashamed to say so, or feel intimidated not to say so. But speak out against the Warden. Not all of them. If I may not hate you because one of you sought to -- [He pauses because he's uncertain he has the right word] -- paralyze me, then you may not hate me because another Warden spat in your face. I assure you -- there are plenty, much better reasons to hate me, that I will gladly own up to.

For as much as you have been ill treated, you have received kindness from Wardens in the past. I simply ask that you take a moment to remember and recognize that.

The Wardens who were kind to me either turned on me entirely when it became convenient, or they left. That's what they do. At least I know what to expect from Inmates.

In any case, I hate both sides equally. I hardly think the inmates are any better.

Edited 2010-11-07 23:17 (UTC)

[He actually looks quite sympathetic.] My dear boy, that is life. People leave. [A pause. Not something he enjoys, either.] People die. But you will live no life at all if you allow that to decide your existence.

[Pauuuuuse. He takes that in. And part of him knows that the Marquis is right, but Rex doesn't like not blaming everybody else for his miserable life. SO TIME TO LIE TO HIMSELF.]

I find my life satisfying enough, even with my beliefs. [In my lab. WITH MY TINY EVIL ROBOTS.]

Edited 2010-11-07 23:31 (UTC)

If it were satisfying you would not find reason to complain. Unless you simply enjoy complaining.

[SULK. How dare you use logic.]

148 [Video, from Hospital Bed]

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Private - HE FORGETS HE'S SCARED OF YOU LONG ENOUGH TO RANT

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