whatthefoxsay | 5th Tail - Filtered to Wardens Only

Entry tags:

5th Tail - Filtered to Wardens Only

I've been thinking a lot about how I'm going to help Facilier.

Part of why he is the way he is, is because he's been marginalized. And while I can't say I've had as much direct experience as he's had with that kind of situation, my mother certainly has. He's made choices that grant him power over others because he's felt powerless himself.

I don't think menial labor is going to be a productive part of any rehabilitation I offer him, but I do want him to take on some form of responsibility in which he has to care for someone or something's well being even in some small degree.

I don't think he understands that loyalty and friendship and love of any kind can make a person inclined to act without expectation. That you can do things for other people without expecting to get something in return. I'm pretty sure these are the core problems, but I'm not sure how to go about addressing them.

Any advice, especially from wardens with a lot of experience, would be super helpful.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Do you know what his power can do?

He's an ongun. A voodoo man. Mostly he deals with spirits and makes bargains with them in exchange for power. He uses the power he gets for spells, and he's been using those spells to hurt people for a lot of different reasons. Because they have what he wants, or because they've gotten in his way, sometimes because someone comes along and pays him, I imagine.

I think he's seen what friendship and loyalty can do for other people. He just doesn't connect it with himself.

Could be he's just an asshole. You don't have to be marginalized to use other people or I would've met a lot fewer spoiled psychopaths.

But if it is to do with being on the fringes, you got a rough road ahead of you. Because when someone grows up deprived of what their culture assumes everyone's got-? Money, food, history, identity. family, whatever ... They learn to weaponize what they don't have. To turn people's expectations and fears and habits against them.

It's a kind of strength, breaking the unwritten rules. Taking a step back and seeing how people work instead of working as a person.

Lonely. And dangerous. But a strength. Sooner or later you see the loneliness as just another advantage you have over people who never had to doubt that they belonged to something, somewhere.

I don't think I'm much help, I just started this job. But, he'd have to learn that for himself. If any of those spells have healing then he could help with the infirmary under supervision, right?

The things that I'm sure of in my experience with him so far? Is that he has been marginalized - he's from New Orleans in the 1920's. Even if New Orleans was progressive for the time and region, it was still comparitively terrible. But while it plays a part, it doesn't excuse his choices, and he's wiley enough to use it as a justification, rather than being something to work through.

I don't think he really understands how friendship and loyalty work. To him, they're just another thing to barter, which negates any truth they have. He literally does not understand how anyone can pursue a course that isn't self-centric.

Learning for themselves is the key for all the inmates here. The wardens, though, have to provide the tools. But that's my opinion. Hammers can build houses, or be used to smash someone's skull in. I don't know that Facilier would benefit from being able to access his powers just yet. But I like your idea of him helping to heal others. I might speak to the folks in Medical and see if they'll accept him doing volunteer work. It just...if it's too menial, he'll resent it, and to be honest I'm trying to show him people don't automatically equate that kind of work with people of color anymore.

I can't sympathize.

[Beat.]

That was irony, by the way.

I've dealt with him. He's mercenary and he's looking to screw anyone who deals with him, yeah.

But do you actually understand just how much you're gonna be asking him to give up-? You're gonna need him to trust you-- trust anyone-- and in his book that makes him a sucker. If he's a sucker, he's helpless, and he knows what the world does to helpless people.

He's gotta figure out an entirely new view of the world before he can even start.

[Her smile is wry.]

That's exactly why I'm asking for help. I think he at least knows I understand some of what he's gone through, but he also thinks I'm clueless and naive about the darker side of how the world can work. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a full grasp of what I'm actually capable of. For now I want to keep it that way. I want him to think that pulling one over on me is feasible, for now.

People of color..? [He didn't look pink or something ridiculous when he saw him. Kylar's world doesn't have that sort of thing.] Never mind. Maybe apprentice him with someone of similar talent?

[Riddick gives a single approving nod. He wouldn't have recommended any other approach.]

If the day comes you have to step on him? Do it hard, fast, merciful. Don't pull your punches. Knock him down as hard as you need to to keep other people and yourself safe.

He won't like it. He already hates the power you do have over him, I'm guessing--but that's a pretty educated guess-- but he needs to know that his worldview is wrong. He's only going to learn from experience.

Now, if he's smarter than I was, that may not actually involve his warden knocking the shit out of him. He may actually be able to see where he's wrong before the assumptions he thought were so objective clothesline him. But... I gotta say, I didn't manage that.

He's already turned down kitchen duty, yeah-? Or is that tied up with historical earth's weird skin-colour thing?

[Oh, complicated.] People who come from different regions of my home have variations in their skin tone based on their region of ancestral origin. It was often common for the majority of a given region to marginalize, enslave, or utilize those who weren't like them as a low paid menial labor force. The struggle is complicated.

He's already skilled in using magic. I don't think he needs to be apprenticed to anyone, and I can't shove off responsibility for him on someone else. I'm his Warden, it's up to me to help him. Unless you mean something else?

[She winces.] Probably, yeah. And to be honest I don't want him anywhere near someplace he might have the means to make anyone sick with available ingredients, or be able to use them for his magic.

But someone else I've been talking to suggested routing his work detail in medical. I think that might be a good idea.

[There's an additional pause as she considers his words regarding pressing her authority. She nods, and while her tone is quieter, it is also confident.] I can do that.

[The thing is, only a few people seem to realize she can do that. Riddick's no doubt one of them.]

Oh. We had slaves before in Cenaria, but that was before I was born. There were tournaments for them to fight each other to the death. Death Games, they called it. Most were from the north, but after it was made illegal no one really thought of them differently. There are families that adopted slave kids after it was illegal. [He shrugs, those were the lucky ones. Others just joined the guild rats. Slaves could've been his parents for all he knows.] Some before then, too, I guess.

And I meant use his interest in gaining power to have him learn new spells that are beneficial, instead of harmful. If he's capable of it.

That's why I suggested it, actually. Because it would give him power, potential, make him less desperate-- it made me a little easier knowing I controlled a part of something vital. But if there's other issues ... Medical may be better.

...oh. The other thing. Try not to feel too much like it's your job to change his mind. That's his job. Be someone he can rely on, be someone he can't get out of his way, but don't try to convert him. Probably you figured that out.

[She will not deny that the idea of Riddick thinking she's competent and worthy of respectful regard isn't enormously satisfying.]

Do you think giving him a choice between the kitchen and medical would be a good idea? Make him feel like he's being accorded some control? Or do you think he'd view it like I'm contemptuously dangling a carrot and making it seem like he's getting a choice when he doesn't actually have one?

Oh wow, that totally sounds like the Hunger Games. [Who's a nerd? Kira's a nerd.]

I think that's definitely a possible step, but not one he's ready for. It's a good idea and it helps, even if it's one I can't enact right away, so thank you. [There's a tilt of her head and awkwardly,] Ummm, what's your name again? I'm Kira.

Don't offer him anything you're not willing to follow up on. If he wanted to work the kitchen, I'd be willing to supe him at breakfast and do the diligence to make sure he didn't drug anyone or wander off with poisons. But if you don't want him here don't pretend it's a choice.

I think you presented a valid point of why the kitchen could be good for him. I also think helping to heal people in medical might be a good start for helping him to understand that compassion isn't a detriment.

So maybe both.

Hunger Games? Do I even want to know?

Kyle Blackson. Well met, Kira.

Let me know if he jumps my way.

[Stiles hasn't actually talked to Facilier that much. Once or twice, and not for awhile. And he doesn't really have anymore experience with any of this than she does. He hesitates.]

How does he feel about dogs? Or...any animals, I guess.

I don't know for certain, but I imagine they're for eating or sacrificing and possibly serving as attack beasts. Basically there for function and not pets.

You think I should give him a pet?

[He grimaces at that. None of those options is really...pleasant.]

Well I was just thinking about how therapeutic animals can be. And I mean, dogs are super loyal and love people unconditionally.

[Thoughtfully,]

I see what you're getting at. I'm just worried that instead of bonding, he'd resent the dog.

[He considers that.]

What if the dog isn't his?

That makes him someone's servant.

It's a gamble. I want to start him with choosing between Medical and the kitchen. The dog could be added in a bit later. It's not a bad idea, just maybe not one he's ready for yet.

Oh, I didn't mean for him to take care of it. Just like, to bond with it. Under supervision, where it won't possibly be sacrificed or something.

[He nods though, at the mention of the other choices.]

Those sound good. Dean works in the kitchen. [She probably already knows this.]

I'm not sure I can add owt to what our Riddick said, to be honest. 'Is point about compassion being a weakness is a good 'un 'cause it's true. We all know it. It's just a weakness we choose to keep on account of it pays off.

'As there ever been anyone 'e cares about? Or does the barge need to provide 'im with a first?

One of the things is that I don't want him to feel like he's being forced to do menial tasks just because he's black. But come to think of it, everyone's pulling their weight in the kitchen regardless of the color of their skin. Maybe he needs to see that. Still, I think giving him a choice between the kitchen and medical allows him some control, and the whole reason for him being the way he is because so much of the society he knew took choices away from him. Problem is, when he chose anyway, he made the wrong ones.

I think the dog might be part of the plan, just not yet.

I...don't think that's really what Riddick said. That compassion is a weakness. If he did, I don't agree. It's easy to be self-centric. I know there are some philosophies that state it's Man's natural state. But I think compassion is a choice which requires strength.

I don't know that there's anyone he cares about. Not even his mother.

Probably not, given that it's entirely probable that someday we might actually get people here from that world.

Thank you for suggesting stuff, Kyle. It's been really helpful!

Right.

And sure, sorry it's not so relevant for the time being. I'm still kind of new at this. As in, today new at this.

[She waves a hand.]

I were summarising, Kira lovey, d'you think I don't know what the advantages of compassion and friendship are? My point is that Doctor Facilier doesn't. If 'e's only ever seen it as leverage it's going to be a very gradual road to open 'im up to them possibilities.

'Ow do you feel about 'im? On a personal one to one basis?

[Kira thinks about it for a while before answering.]

I feel sorry for him.

Wow, really? Well, we're all new once. I practically never left the deck when I first got here. Welcome!

Um, no, not exactly. I mean, thanks, but. I was an inmate here for a while already. A long while.

Yeah, that makes sense.

[He's never experienced that kind of prejudice, but he's smart enough to understand that it exists, and he understands why she's suggesting those options.]

Maybe the library could be another option? [He doesn't know, really. He's just tossing out ideas.]

I'm sure he's familiar of human culture's stories about self-sacrifice already... Would he simply never empathize with the particular mindset?

Mmm. That's a start. I'm not sure, at this late date, we can rely on the barge to put someone to love in 'is life, so it might 'ave to be you.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

5th Tail - Filtered to Wardens Only

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject