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[young_idealist]

 [private to the Admiral]

Admiral, could you please restrict Dracula from being able to see Dr. Rex Lewis's entries and responses on our network. I would also like to protect Dracula's communications  from Dr. Lewis. Make them blind to one another on this device.

Also, more importantly, could you please return Dracula's ability to fly with minor

Comments

[whattheytellyou]

Haven't the foggiest.

How are things going with Dracula?

private

[young_idealist]

Well, he hasn't done as I wish about Dr. Lewis, but he hasn't killed anyone either. So about normal? He's resistant; I'm frustrated.

Re: private

[whattheytellyou]

Do you want some company? We could go for a walk.

private

[young_idealist]

Yes, please.

[private]

[feels_no_love]

...Because forced apologies are so genuine.

What a self-centered demand. It has nothing to do with trying to ease Rex or show me the error of my ways, and everything to do with your bruised ego getting some vindication RIGHT NOW. And of course, with your looking good in front of the other Wardens. Why on Earth did I ever respect you?

Very well, though, if you're going to make such a petty, spiteful fuss at me, you may take the letter I had already prepared to him. If the wording is not entirely to your liking, too bad.

After this I wash my hands entirely of the situation, and poor, mad little Rex. I am still deciding whether to wash my hands of you.

[private]

[young_idealist]

Despite what you think, it isn't about me. He deserves an apology. I know I won't convince you of that, so I won't even try beyond what I've said. I've simply told you what I expect, and the consequences for not obeying.

I'll read the letter if you expect me to, but I can deliver it for you.

Frankly, after this, it would do both of us some good to stay away from him entirely. We don't help him, and he isn't helping you at all either.

Doing things right deserves some recognition, too, but I am still completely unable to guess what you even want concerning that. Accepting that you are sane and civilized and trying to build upon that doesn't seem to work. Perhaps I'm wrong to think you're either.

Unless the Admiral re-assigns us, you are stuck with me, and I with you.

[private]

[feels_no_love]

It's entirely about you, Armand; your need to look good in front of the others as quickly as possible so as to regain your reputation and impress your friends. Forcing me to "obey" on a short timeline, when you knew the damned letter was already written and I was merely in debate over it, is purely your egotism and desperation. As is the tellingly drastic threat of consequence.

Rex deserves nothing. Neither does his Warden, and neither do you. Yet you will take your vindication by threat of humiliation, and pretend that it means anything at all. It does not. Your authoritarian blundering robs the regret expressed in this letter of its genuineness; I wrote ten drafts of it and I should still burn it. It would be a more honest gesture than what you force on me

[private]

[young_idealist]

You can throw words at me all you like. I'm not a habitual liar.

I'll pick up the letter. You are fired from the gardens. We can talk about another job for you when you feel like being cooperative.

I am regretting now my request to the Admiral about your flight. I wanted to show you it wasn't all about punishment, but I don't like the idea of rewarding this attitude of yours either. I won't rescind it for now, since it doesn't look like you are going anywhere you can exercise it anyway, should he grant it.

You don't care about anyone here, and lie to yourself that none of us care about you. That isn't true.

I expected the Borg Queen and Mano and Loki, an alien augmented by machinery, another alien, and a god respectively, to abide by the basic courtesies of society. Society is a construct of rules that allow people of all kinds to get along amicably. I would think you'd realize that.

You like to read? Perhaps something from my time will make an impression upon you. While you are in seclusion, I recommend to you the Declaration of

[strangehstorian]

[She sounds as calm as a zen cucumber.]

It is an emotion-based flood. Odd confidence, a compulsion towards arrogance. Solitude and quiet seems to help.

[young_idealist]

[As of old, Armand sounds a little doubtful, bordering on whiny.]

Emotions. That may not be a good thing for Dracula.

[Private]

[bargemods]

Done.