I do, actually. Even besides the fact Dr. Sheehan and I are close, [which is grossly underselling it but still-] I've developed something of a rapport with Max as well. He's a more tender soul than his, er - his initial arrival here might have suggested. He was only trying to kill people because he thought this was another one of the Entity's games, a Trial, and that's how he was forced to act.
I-I'm not excusing that murder is awful of course, my own inmate was one of the victims, but- it comes from a much more complicated place than it first appeared.
Max is... sheltered. He grew up on a farm, helped slaughter cattle and farm animals from a very young age - and was consistently abused by his parents, and local law enforcement, for- looking as he does now. Unusual, in a way that- the small-town, small-minded people he was abused by thought was intolerable. Until Max killed them all to protect himself. Like they were cattle.
[There's sobriety in his voice, but no judgement. He's already on Max's side, so.]
It's not reasonable to punish Max for doing something that he doesn't even know is wrong. Until he believes and understands that humans are more than just obstacles he has to kill to protect himself. And Dr. Sheehan's frustration came from that very problem - that people were demanding to punish Max. Not to understand him.
'Sheltered' simply means 'unaware of how the outside world works'. It's not necessarily a state that means 'not abused'.
I wouldn't ask Dwight about anything regarding Max's abilities just yet. They spent too long in a dangerous situation together for him to make a reasonable assessment, nor is it fair to make him relive that to answer it.
If you want to meet with Max, I'd suggest talking to Dr Sheehan first to explain your motive, then to go unarmed if he says it's alright. I can promise you won't actually need to worry about Max hurting you as long as you show him the same basic decency.
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Re: audio
I-I'm not excusing that murder is awful of course, my own inmate was one of the victims, but- it comes from a much more complicated place than it first appeared.
Re: audio
[Her voice is gently playful. But she listens.]
I am...still confused as to why Dr Sheehan handled things the way he did. But what you said does a better job then what he said.
[She sighed. She could shake Sheehan sometimes.]
And I don't think he deserved to get hurt like that either. It was so messed up.
Do you think...if I brought my staff with me it would make Dwight or Max nervous?
I don't have a sword or a gun yet, and I'd rather use a sleeping spell then a stabbing stab.
Re: audio
[There's sobriety in his voice, but no judgement. He's already on Max's side, so.]
It's not reasonable to punish Max for doing something that he doesn't even know is wrong. Until he believes and understands that humans are more than just obstacles he has to kill to protect himself. And Dr. Sheehan's frustration came from that very problem - that people were demanding to punish Max. Not to understand him.
Re: audio
That doesn't sound like sheltering. That sounds like isolation and abuse.
It's...a difficult situation. And I think it was a bad knee jerk reaction on everyone's part.
Max, I still want to talk to so I can understand him. Dwight might have the best understanding of what Max is capable of, if pressed.
But it doesn't mean he knows him at his best either.
I'll bring my staff with me. But, he might think it's decorative. Because it's...girly, and light.
Re: audio
I wouldn't ask Dwight about anything regarding Max's abilities just yet. They spent too long in a dangerous situation together for him to make a reasonable assessment, nor is it fair to make him relive that to answer it.
If you want to meet with Max, I'd suggest talking to Dr Sheehan first to explain your motive, then to go unarmed if he says it's alright. I can promise you won't actually need to worry about Max hurting you as long as you show him the same basic decency.
Re: audio
I'm not going to be asking Dwight what Max is capable of, and I'm not going to make him relive it for the sake of my own understanding.
[She sighs. Her voice is gentle but firm.]
But I'm not going to ask Dr Sheehan for permission to meet Max. Max is his own person, and can decide if he can meet with me himself.
I'm not going to steamroll him. But he needs to make his own choices too. I am aware that Dr Sheehan is trying his best for Max- he wouldn't do less.
But I'm just there to make small talk. I'm there as not as a warden, but as a person.