.033 | Voice.

[paradoxlol]

[Warden Filter]
I'm not big on speeches, so I'm going to make this quick.

[Arthur's voice is a frustrated growl right now. He sounds about ready to punch something. Also, he's hanging out by the entrance to Level 0 and keeping his voice somewhat low so Perry can't overhear. This also means that because he's by the entrance, anybody else looking to sneak past him to play with Perry while he's making this post... would have to be invisible and teleport through the door, I guess?]

To those of you having a laugh about Perry's big-screen debut-- [Have some condescension:] and I know some of you are, despite the big W next to your names-- you do realize that he wasn't just "beating up" Rex, right? That part, where he stops moving? He's not unconscious; he's dead. That's a snuff video. It's not a goddamn joke.

I don't give a damn how you feel about Rex. I don't care what he did to you-- and yeah, I was affected along with the rest of you. When you support something like that video, you're not just doing it at his expense. You're doing it at my inmate's. He's not your attack dog; he didn't kill Rex for any one of you, and it's not behavior I want encouraged.

You'd think that'd go without saying, right? I sure as hell thought so. I knew I had to expect some inmates patting him on the back for a major backslide, but I didn't think I'd have to worry about wardens doing it. Wardens sneaking around behind my back to give him positive reinforcement for his actions. Wardens trying to congratulate him. Wardens going against my explicit orders to leave Perry to me. Wardens making it so I've got to keep one eye open for them at all times, when I should be focusing on my goddamn inmate!

Yeah, I know I'm saying "wardens," but what I really mean is Loki, who I've had to chase away three times now. But hell, who knows, there could be more of you who think Perry did a big public service for you.

It takes a lot to turn a man into a calculated murderer. Perry wasn't one before he came here. Now it's my job to push him back to Square One, and I don't need you assholes undermining me and standing in the way.

If I hear about any one of you trying to sneak around to congratulate him, to give him a fucking prize for killing a man, I'll put a bullet in your goddamn head to give you a headache as big as mine. And the only reason I'm not telling your inmates this is I expect you to pass the word if you think your inmate's up to something with him. You know your inmates better than me, so you should be aware of any [Sarcastically:] "budding alliances". Anybody looking to turn my inmate into their personal attack dog better think twice.

Keep a tight leash on your inmates, while I try to do the same with mine. And any unpaired wardens out there might want to try their hands at keeping an eye on Loki, so I can get back to my job already.

[With a disgusted noise, he turns off the communicator.]

[OOC: I WILL NOT GUARANTEE RESPONSES TO THIS. Arthur just wanted to alert the other wardens to 1) Loki undermining him and trying to applaud his inmate's backslide and 2) the possibility that their own inmates will probably try to seek out an alliance with Perry now to take out their own enemies... although that part kinda got lost in his bitchiness :V Anyway, he's not up for playing ~barge politics~ right now, so that's why there may not be responses from him. BUT YOU GUYS ARE FREE TO DISCUSS WITH EACH OTHER, IDC.]

Comments

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

I... missed that he'd done that.

I'm fairly sure Elle wouldn't need to get involved with anyone else if she wanted to go after revenge. I'll still have a word with her.

And with him.

I do wish you'd all stop throwing around threats to 'put bullets in people's heads'. That's rather a serious thing to threaten, whether seriously or not.

[paradoxlol]

I didn't think Perry would team up with Crane, but people can surprise you.

Yeah, it is a serious threat.

...because eddie needs his bubble burst.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

...this really happened? Someone approving of someone else doing the murder? [Sorry, it's a weird turn of phrase, I know.]

And not even bothering to hide it?

[Warden filter minus Loki.]

If you can tell me more about him, I can keep an eye on him.

OH EDDIE :C I almost bought that book the other day

[paradoxlol]

Let's just say the victim wasn't very popular.

[Same Filter]
Are you familiar with Norse mythology? He's a recent graduate-turned-warden. Not that you can tell.

and because loki doesn't know when to stop...

[lotoftrouble.livejournal.com]

He tortured me! I think I have a right to be happy that Rex is dead!

Private

[ourlastbesthope.livejournal.com]

[Long pause. And a sigh.]

Arthur.

Private

[paradoxlol]

Capa.

privaaate;

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

I know you're upset right now, I just want you to know I'm on your side. So you don't have to keep that eye on me.

privaaate;

[paradoxlol]

I know. You're about the last person I'd expect to find murder "fun".

...thanks.

Private

[lotoftrouble.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, Loki's just kind of quiet cause he got whipped and he knows it. :c]

...I'll keep all that in mind. And rest assured, I will definitely stay out of you and your inmate's business from now on.

Private

[paradoxlol]

Oh, like you were going to stay out of our business before?

[private] [audio]

[young-idealist.livejournal.com]

[He was going to stay out of this. He has personal stuff going on and doesn't fancy making a lifetime commitment to being Loki's conscience.
Thusly, he sounds a little hoarse and irritated, but it's not really at Arthur.]

Is there something specific you'd like me to say or do? I don't have another assignment yet, so I have the time. I simply doubt the efficacy of this, and I've never been much for rules that treat the inmates like children who cannot survive scraped knees. Killing Rex wasn't a scraped knee. Loki talking to your inmate, no matter what he says, is more like that.

I'm sure I have some... influence on him, but the process here wasn't going to change his very nature. And he hates Rex a great deal, with some reason. The best I was ever able to get through to him was to leave the man alone, and those results were mixed. It'd be best for the entire universe if they could never see or hear about one another again, but we can't do that either.

That being said, if you think Loki's words to your inmate could undermine his progress, how much progress is he making? It wasn't Loki who put him up to the murder.

[private] [audio]

[paradoxlol]

No, you're right, a warden legitimizing what he's done is exactly like a scraped knee.

Get off your ass and do something about him, or go away.

[championoftime]

I'll be honest here... I've not mentioned it, as I've certainly had my fair share of speeches on how violence triggers more violence. But what was done, it hurt me as well. Worse than any betrayal from Rex. Some people might have seen what was intended to be due punishment. Some people might have seen an unfortunate victim being victimized. Me? I saw the worst in humanity happening before me. I saw a young man that I've come to care about quite deeply slaughtered for someone's entertainment.

All these... empty speeches. Violence is bad. Killing is wrong. Half-hearted attempts to understand what it is that drove Rex to do what he did over the course of a year. Right now I'm being selfish. I'm admitting someone that I've come to care very much about was made sport of. I've remained largely silent as I didn't want to seem as though I was being favourable towards him... But the fact is I love that young man and no one deserves to watch someone they love massacred and humiliated. No, Harper, if you hear this it's not that sort of love.

How does it appear from the outside? That humans are squabbling apes with no better control than to stamp each other out of existence, and gods laugh at their misfortune as it's suitable entertainment.

I'm certain there were those that felt similarly about Mr. Crane's abuse. When he was pushed forward and battered, that someone out there hurt to see it. I'm certain someone hurt.

This was no responsibility of yours, Arthur. I don't believe you could have stopped him. I don't even believe more strict security measures will help. So long as the repercussions of violence mean nothing, so long as no one considers that someone out there would be made to hurt for their gratification without them even knowing, then I'm not sure what can be done.

[paradoxlol]

[Aw, Seven. You're so good with JGLs, and your response makes Arthur drop the raeg.]

I know I couldn't have-- but I'm sorry. I really didn't think he'd do what he did, and I couldn't even imagine it would've gotten that bad. I know my dragging it all up again can't be easy for you... I think a lot of people, myself included, overlooked the impact that video had on the audience.

But I'm trying to work with him, trying to show that there's gonna be consequences, and it's already an uphill battle without wardens laughing and trying to give him a pat on the back, or completely dismissing the impact of even that act by comparing it to a [And he spits out, anger coming back, since Armand really pissed him off:] skinned knee.

If the wardens treat death like a joke, then what the hell can we even do for the inmates?

[strangehistorian]

I'm sorry, Arthur.

[paradoxlol]

[Since talking to Seven's calmed him down: YOU GET NORMAL ARTHUR.]

No, I-- I shouldn't have lost my temper.

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[paradoxlol]

Yeah, I know. [HOWIE ALREADY BEAT YOU THERE, BATS.]

[boughtitall.livejournal.com]

I enjoy this new side to you.

[paradoxlol]

Don't get used to it.

[blesseddumbfuck.livejournal.com]

Why is it equally or more acceptable for you to threaten us as a whole with murder than it is for one or two individuals to congratulate Perry for murder?

[paradoxlol]

I guess you missed the conversations where I admitted I let my temper get the best of me. I'm not interested in repeating myself, so say something else or get out.

[Private]

[aforger]

Should you need anything..

[A pause.]

Crane's staying with me for the time. I'm not entirely certain what to do with him.

[Private]

[paradoxlol]

Right now, I could use a vacation. Get far from this place and everyone in it. I can't even look at some of these wardens without feeling disgusted. You know one of these assholes compared what Loki's doing-- the whole 'actively going behind my back and trying undermine me, encouraging my inmate for making a snuff film' thing-- to a scraped knee?

[End mini-rant, but seriously, Arthur's so disillusioned with the Barge right now. He needs to go into dreamspace and shoot a bunch of projections or something.]

I don't know what to do with Perry, either. The two of them are clearly planning to meet when this is over.