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[untiltheend]

This is Sebastian Michaelis. I am unavailable at present, but please leave a message. Should a response be needed I will reply when time permits me. Please do keep your message brief.

Comments

[untiltheend]

[Hmm. You know what, even an extremist like Sebastian can agree that an existence like that isn't the same as living... less because it'd be miserable and more because a creature like that would likely be completely useless in such a state.

He hands the journal over.] Finished, sir. [With his assignment, like a schoolboy. Hateful.

In beautiful cursive:

They said disgusting things.
They were interfering with my lesson plans.
They kicked me.
They insolently referred to me by a pet name (x 4).
They created more work for me (x 632).
They expressed themselves in a way that gave me plausible deniability to act cruelly (x 24).
They annoyed me (x 396).]

...My apologies; this is not the detailed rundown that you requested since that would take far too much time, but I hope it provides a general picture nonetheless.

[epistemological]

Jon. Please. But thank you.

[ And then he's going to take a moment to peer through the answers, frowning thoughtfully at a few of the entries. ]

I'm very curious why 'interfering with my lesson plans' needed to be differentiated from 'created more work for me'. Are you particularly concerned with your teaching?

[untiltheend]

...Unfortunately, as I told Sir Trevor [the fact that he's using this term of address is quite important] already: I absolutely cannot entertain the thought of referring to a Warden so casually. I will stoop to "Mr Jonathan" at the very lowest.

I am not particularly concerned with such things, no. But I assumed you wished for specificity? To clarify: teaching, in the last few years of my life, has been an intermittent thing. Work, however, has been a constant.

[epistemological]

Mr. Sims works. I'll happily answer to that.

[ Glancing down at the list again. ]

Fair enough. I wasn't sure if you thought it was particularly egregious. That said [ now he points lower ] ' plausible deniability to act cruelly '. So you acted cruelly purely because you could?

[untiltheend]

[Sebastian nods.]

As I said, Mr Sims, I am a cruelty-inclined creature.

[epistemological]

And yet, you classified this cruelty as 'unnecessary'. Why is that?

[untiltheend]

Because even being what I am, I realise the difference between something that is necessary and something that I do for the pleasure of it.

[epistemological]

[ He just nods as the shape of this whole thing is starting to come into view for him. ]

Right. So. I think I have a good first hypothesis for what you'll be working on here.

[untiltheend]

[Sebastian tilts his head. Yes?

What could it possibly be?]

[epistemological]

...you're hardly the first monstrous inmate or even the first monstrous warden, monstrous being used as shorthand for predatory non-human with a morality system that is not compatible with the standard human ones.

[ A pause before. ]

But I think you might need to be less of a meanspirited egotistical dickhead.

[ Delivered with all the clinical matter-of-factness of a medical diagnosis. ]

[untiltheend]

[A look of mild affront. Such language from a Warden? Good grief.]

...And other 'monstrous' Inmates have managed this?

[epistemological]

[ A brief look of relief before a hummingbird-like nod. ]

It's largely how that sort of thing goes. No one wants you leaving here tortured and bemoaning your existence or any such nonsense, but being less prone to treat people like fun little toys for your amusement... entirely doable.

[untiltheend]

[Surprise, Sebastian has self-control! Perks of being old and having gotten all that out of his system decades ago.]

Well. I should clarify that I would not mind being tortured, should that permit me to leave sooner.

If I may, how have these former Inmates grown to think of other people, then? [I mean, compared to Sebastian, humans are basically insects... How on Earth is he supposed to learn to respect insects?]

[epistemological]

That isn't what I meant at all but really, I should have guessed...

[ Deep. Sigh. ]

Usually, it comes from a combination of examining their preconceptions and the filter through which they're viewing others, as well as gaining a greater and deeper understanding of them and, frankly, being exposed to a very different and varied group of people in an environment that is less prone to allowing one to keep one's head in the sand nicely isolated from new thoughts.

[untiltheend]

[He "should have guessed"? Was there something wrong with Sebastian's statement? He was just saying.]

Ah, well... As much as I realise I likely sound the same as the many ignorant, monstrous Inmates before their change in perspective: I have been around a variety of people for a very long time. I would say I know quite well already how people generally think, reason and act.

[epistemological]

Absolutely the same. It's like you've all got a script.

[ Just saying. ]

I'm sure you're positively ancient.

I stand by my statement.

[untiltheend]

Quite, sir. [How tiring, having to deal with being the only monster inmate with an accurate perception of other people. The things Sebastian has to put up with.]

What steps would you have me take, then?

[epistemological]

...I'm not sure you're up to steps. This isn't really a color in the lines sort of setup.

What do you think might work?

[untiltheend]

...What might work to make me think more highly of people in general, sir?

[epistemological]

...that's a bit of a stretch for right now, I'd imagine.

Perhaps... what sort of things make you more likely to find someone tolerable to be around?

[untiltheend]

[He considers for a moment.]

There are already characteristics that I find tolerable, even agreeable, in others. Your suggestion is that I should work on lowering my standards in that regard?

[That sounds incredibly backwards.]

[epistemological]

Did I say that?

[ Only a little annoyed, just the barest hint, because Sebastian, you're bad at guessing. At least with him.]

No, not remotely. If you have certain features and characteristics that you find tolerable, even agreeable' in people, I'd recommend making a point of trying to meet more people and once you find those you find that have those characteristics, prioritize spending more time with them.

[untiltheend]

[Um, excuse you? They were talking about expanding Sebastian's horizons - his guesses make perfect sense always.]

Well... unfortunately, I am only allowed one official job, and Mr Archer is reluctant to let anyone work several kitchen shifts in a row. I do not well see how I can spend much more time with those people I find agreeable.

["Spend time with" = "work alongside" in Sebastian-land, if that wasn't obvious.]

[epistemological]

[ Lol no. ]

And if I said 'work with them' I suppose that would be a problem. But no, spending time with someone is not just working with them.

Watch a film, play a game, discuss a book. Or, if you're like me and a bit of an introvert, find someone you can coexist with in the same space while you do your own activities.

Which, I will repeat again, do not and really should not be work alone. In fact, the majority percentage should not be work.

[untiltheend]

[.................

Sebastian gives Jon a Look. It is a Look of complete and utter bewilderment.

He. He did just utter the phrase "the majority percentage should not be work" like that makes any sense.]