IC Contact

[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]

[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.]

[epistemological]

[ And the look back is very expectant. Well? ]

...you didn't honestly think that any change was going to happen by you doing things exactly the way you usually do, did you?

[untiltheend]

Sir, I...

[Rubbing his temple with a hand.]

Of course I did not think that. [...He kind of did.] However, sir: please know that working a lot is not something I have always done. That has only been the case for the last few years, and it is not something I can just give up.

[His butler roleplay! It requires working.]

[epistemological]

Why?

[untiltheend]

I am a butler, sir. I cannot cease being a butler while my master still has need of me, and being a butler requires one to work hard, as it is a demanding job.

[epistemological]

Is your master here?

[ He's going to stroll right along. ]

Because if not, I would think that your most important work would be to return to him. No one is saying not to work at all, since I'm certainly you'd like to keep your skills sharp. But while you will be working, it will not be 'work' in the traditional sense.

I've just given you work to do that, as your warden for the time being, I think would help you towards that end. Unless you have some reason to believe that I'm leading you astray or am not acting towards that end, and given that you don't know how to leave this place or you would have already, I can't think of a reason for you, in your duty as butler, to shirk your duties in working towards your eventual freedom from this place.

1/2

[untiltheend]

[...]

[untiltheend]

...That reasoning makes sense, sir. [Bringing up Butler Aesthetics is 100% the way to motivate Sebastian to do anything.]

Being idle for most of the time and... playing games sounds completely counterproductive to me, but... I will give it my best attempt, then. Mr Archer will not have me in the kitchen for the next few days anyway, so I suppose it is as good a time as any.

[epistemological]

Right.

[ A quick smile. ]

And as I said, it doesn't have to be games. The point is socialization. Whatever form you find most interesting that doesn't involve harming other people. Preferably, you'd be doing so with more than one person.

[untiltheend]

[But... he likes working? And hurting people? What else is there?]

...Would you consider devising ways to endanger others acceptable, if it is in cooperation with another person whom I find agreeable?

The endangerment would be consensual, I should clarify.

[epistemological]

I'd consider it a good first step but would prefer if you do other things as well. And, if you find the whole thing insufferable...

[ He holds up the journal and holds it out to Sebastian. ]

I'd like you to write your honest thoughts in here, with an eye towards specificity of what you don't like or what bothers you.

[untiltheend]

...This, I will confess, makes even less sense to me, sir.

[He accepts the journal, but. Talking about one's feelings? In what universe does that accomplish anything?]

[epistemological]

...it's because this whole thing? Graduation? Is about what's going on inside you. It's not about how good you act or how well you behave. We've had rat bastards who graduated in a year and talented people who haven't caused a single problem take several. If you just wanted to smile and work the time away while absolutely nothing changed inside, you're on the wrong ship, I'm afraid.

Neither you nor I can get very good information on how to proceed from old data, inexact data, or lies. So we can go over the journal together and figure out more about what to do.

Make more sense?

[untiltheend]

...It does, yes. Although I will say: I do not tell lies, ever.

[That's a compulsive statement. From a person who's living under an assumed identity and name, yes.]

[epistemological]

Unless one counts lies of omission, avoidance, and talking around the question.

[untiltheend]

All of those are examples of working around having to outright lie, sir. With all due respect.

[epistemological]

And with all due respect, none of those will help with this process.

I'm not going to ask you to tell me everything and anything: we're not permanently paired. But if you would prefer not to answer something, I would prefer you simply say so. Consider that my standing preference.

[untiltheend]

I will keep your preferences in mind, sir. [And then ignore them.

Although... hrm.] Is that to say that a permanent Warden can request absolute transparency from their Inmate?

[epistemological]

Obviously, given how many times you've called me 'sir'.

[ Very very dry. ]

And of course they can, though just as obviously the inmate can tell them to fuck off.

I only meant that such a request could seem presumptuous given how short our association and that you may end up with someone else next month.

[untiltheend]

[In response to the first part, Sebastian just smiles wider. Like the passive-aggressive little bitch he is.






As for the second:] My apologies for not knowing the exact conditions of permanently paired Wardens and Inmates, obvious though they might be. But I am sure no one would want any presumptuousness, no.

[Like, for example, one person calling another a fussy toddler.]

[epistemological]

[ That would be presumptuous, had he done as such, but given that it was both a simile and only an option given on how one might choose to proceed as opposed to a descriptor used directly on Sebastian by Jon, perhaps the offense you feel has something to do with an unpleasant realization that is all you, Sebastian.

:)]

If you have any other questions or concerns about this place or how wardens and inmates work, please don't hesitate to ask.