A prison for Shifters

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[Surprisingly for very few people actually familiar with Devon, her attitude regarding food rationing and obeying rules in general left her in a holding cell. She'll be there for a while - so if you're concerned about her feeling sad or lonely, by all means come visit!

Extra consideration: Devon's amplifier is gone so no Shifter shanenigans or summoning armor this time. At a first glance, she doesn't look too concerned about this, or pretty much anything at all. Too busy leaning against a wall opposite to the entry door.]

Comments

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

Huh. This is new. [Enter Van, a surprisingly dry tone to his voice.] Normally you'd be randomly walking in on me, not the other way around. What'd you do to get in here, steal food from the supply room or something?

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

That is exactly what happened.

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

Wait, really? I was just guessing... I'm kind of surprised, really. You don't seem like the sort to randomly take our food during a shortage.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

I take only as much as I need, which is less than the daily ration. This means the rationing is unnecessary - following it is meaningless. To adhere to it is to adhere to rules for the rules' sake.

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

Wait a second. So because you eat less than the rations, you ended up in here? [He pauses a moment, presumably processing the statement again.] So you were getting something outside the rations, then? I mean, that's the only possible way this could have happened!

And besides, even if you disagree with the rationing, it's still necessary. If we don't control our usage, we'll run out before we have a chance to restock. [Van learned something from his time in the desert before he joined the Chalice, and he was going to use it.]

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

I am here because this ship is run by those who follow the letter of their own rules, rather than its essence. Those who try to humiliate anyone with less petty beliefs than theirs.

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

[A few moments pass, Van obviously thinking about something, before he seems to light up.] So you refused rations for something smaller, and they yelled at you. That doesn't make any sense though... You're still only taking the small amount, so why should it matter how you take it?

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

The official reason is that I broke into the pantry, despite it being a limited access area. That is correct - I did so repeatedly, with previously issued warnings.

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

Oh. Well, yeah, you'd get in trouble for that. Did you try actually saying something to anyone? I'm sure Tsukasa and the rest of them could agree to make one less portion in exchange for something smaller.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

.. No, you miss my point.

This is not a question of food. This is a question of principles.

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but it comes back to principles on the other end too. If you'd just said something rather than using the whole incident as a protest, you wouldn't be in there right now. I know you've got a point, but now's really not the time to push it.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

This is exactly the time to push it.

[Stubborn mode is on, it seems.]

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

But that's... You're being held prisoner because of it! I know it's important to you, but isn't your freedom a little more important? You shouldn't push yourself like this! One of these days it won't end as well as you think it will, and you're going to get hurt!

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[Very slight hesitation.]

My being may be incomplete at the moment, but it heals quickly. Pushing myself is not an issue - compared to this, I have been in much worse situations. I survived and thrived.

[roarofliger.livejournal.com]

[Van's getting a little worked up.] That's not the point! Don't think so much about your goals that you forget about yourself! Aren't you even the least bit concerned about the effects of your actions?

[He gestures at the cell, speaking coldly.] This one ended with only a punishment. But if you keep going like this, you're just going to die a meaningless death. I'm not prepared for someone to sacrifice themselves like that.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[Getting stubborn again. Perhaps Van struck a nerve?]

I will not die. I have decided that I cannot afford it - so I will continue living no matter what.

Do you expect me to admit that my actions were incorrect?