021 - How cheerfully he seems to grin, how neatly spreads his claws

[notdreaming]

[ Private to Dark Heart ]

Hello, Dark Heart. I don't think we've met properly. I'm Kara Zor-El, and I'm going to be your warden for the next month. I know your old warden just left recently, I hope it isn't too much of a shock.

Comments

[a_favor_now]

Shock? It's not like he vanished. He was rather verbose about his leaving.

[Someone is surly today.]

[notdreaming]

Did you know about it, before his announcement?

[a_favor_now]

Why? It doesn't make any difference.

[That would be a no.]

[notdreaming]

It might've been nice to at least have some warning.

[ Shocking, you see? ]

[a_favor_now]

I don't need anyone to be "nice" to me.

[Gross.]

[notdreaming]

I understand why you'd be upset. [ Tough luck, you're getting niceness. ] I hope you'll come to me if you need anything.

[a_favor_now]

I'm not upset.

[Liar.]

And you have nothing I want, girl.

[notdreaming]

You have no idea what I have.

[ Excuse you she has lots of things. ]

[a_favor_now]

Oh but I do. You've got an overblown sense of heroism and a misguided notion that you're doing "good" in the world, like at least half of the other wardens here.

[notdreaming]

[ She frowns. ]

No I don't. I mean, I try, but I haven't done a whole lot of good so far.

[a_favor_now]

And yet you keep at it. Beating your head against the wall of people who neither need nor want your help. If that isn't a hero complex then maybe you're just insane.

[notdreaming]

[ Her deeper frown looks suspiciously like a pout. ]

I'm not here because I believe in this system. I'm here because my family depends on it.]

[a_favor_now]

Really?

[He rests his chin on one fist. His attention is suddenly razor sharp and clearly interested. ]

Well, that is refreshing. A Warden who admits their greed. Tell me more, Kara.

[notdreaming]

[ It isn't greed - well, no, it is kind of greed. But screw that. Her parents would be proud, and that's all that really matters when it comes to morality. ]

My planet is gone. My cousin and I were the only survivors.

[a_favor_now]

So you're here to resurrect your dead planet?

[notdreaming]

Pretty much, yes.

[a_favor_now]

How selfish. I'm impressed.

[He's smiling now. It is not an endearing smile.]

[notdreaming]

[ Wow she totally hates you. ]

I don't care if it's selfish. It's still the right choice.

[a_favor_now]

[Go with your feelings, Kara.]

Of course it is. It's what you want. That's what's important.

[notdreaming]

It's what my people would want.

[ She makes it sound like a challenge. But really, who wouldn't want their planet and future back? ]

[a_favor_now]

I'm sure you're right. I mean look at all these people who were dragged here on the Barge, just delighted and grateful, jumping at the chance for a new life. Not a single one of them resentful.

[notdreaming]

Krypton wouldn't be held prisoner and subjected to bizarre floods and ports.

[a_favor_now]

Ah of course. It's not something to do to your people. Just the one's you're using to get your way.

[notdreaming]

There isn't any other way! I'd happily sacrifice the temporary comfort of a few for the future of billions.

[a_favor_now]

[He laughs.]

"Sacrifice the temporary comfort", I like that. Torture is such a negative word. You should campaign to replace it. Your term is much better.

[notdreaming]

[ She huffs. ] I know torture. This isn't torture.

[a_favor_now]

Yes, yes, I'm sure everyone agrees with you.

[Like he is, right now. Look, he's totally not being sarcastic at all.]

No one would call being poisoned into insanity, or made weak and thrown into life or death situations utterly unprepared except for a 'good luck' and some broken climbing equipment, torture. That would be ridiculous.

[notdreaming]

I would call it dangerous. I wouldn't call it torture. You have comfort, luxury, more freedom than any normal prison would afford you. If it were really torture you wouldn't have even that. Calling it torture is being overdrammatic and childish.

[a_favor_now]

You think not? There's a story about a king who fancied himself better than the gods. He killed his nephew and cooked him, then invited the gods to a grand supper. The gods tasted the flesh of a mortal and were horrified. The King was punished by being chained to a tree for all eternity, cursed with endless thirst and hunger.

But that was not the end of his punishment. On the tree was an apple, it hung right in his view, so easy to reach if he just tried. And there was also a river of cool, clear water, that ran by his feet. All he would have to do is bend down to drink. But every time he tried to raise up to reach the fruit, the branch would lift, just out of reach. Every time he knelt to drink, the river would recede.

The former, the endless thirst and hunger, could have been endured, accepted, understood. It was punishment. But the latter, that he might ease his suffering with what was provided to him, but kept just out of reach, that is torture.

[notdreaming]

[ She rolls her eyes SO HARD. ]

Now you're just being a snob. It isn't out of reach. Nothing is out of reach, you're just too set in your ways to do what needs to be done. I'm not.

[a_favor_now]

Aren't you? You've already said you have no qualms in forcing others to do things they don't wish to, so long as it accomplishes your goals. You have no need to change who you are. Your task is to force someone else to change to suit whatever parameters that qualify graduating.

You may do it with a smile and a sweet tone, Kara Zor-el, but you are a torturer and an opportunist.

[notdreaming]

Right now what needs to be done is taking care of your needs. And I'll do it, even though I'd love nothing more than to punch you out of or it, because billions of lives are depending on me.

[ That doesn't mean she isn't going to hate herself for the next week or so. ]

[a_favor_now]

Certainly you will. You'll do whatever you must to gain my confidence, my trust, so you can twist me around, bend me and reshape me to your needs. The best way to do that is always to give your subject something they want first. Softens them up, makes them beholden to you.

[He would know. It's his MO.]

[notdreaming]

[ As if to prove him wrong: ]

You're demented. No wonder your warden left.

[a_favor_now]

[Oh but he's in the zone, Kara. He's ready for this.

He grins, leans in towards the comm, and gives her a conspiratorial smile.]

Do you think that was me? I'm not even at my full power, so it's a nice thought. I'm flattered, really. But it'll take more than compliments to get on my... [A soft chuckle.] Well I don't really have a good side. It's sort of the point, isn't it?

[notdreaming]

It wasn't a compliment. And in a month you won't be my inmate anymore. In the mean time you know how to reach me.

[ She won't be answering any more messages. ]