I so rarely encounter disobedience in my servants, I’m afraid I may be of no use to you. Perhaps if you were more specific…?
“….. Well…..” he growled clearly attempting to force himself to calm down. “…. I have tried punishments for those who disobey and rewards for those who don’t, and yet they are still convinced that I am an unjust lord, and even those who are rewarded for their good work speak ill of me”
“Punishing disobedience and rewarding adherence has nothing to do with being just, dear brother. What, might I ask, are the policies you are failing to uphold with this disciplinarian method? I am simply bursting with curiosity,” he inquired smoothly.
He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm despite how obvious it was that his brother was toying with him. A favourite hobby of his it seemed. “…. My wraiths are displeased that Khamûl and I are being intimate – Believing that I am forcing myself onto him. Even before that, there have been ill words about me shared between them, calling me cruel and unfair. Adûnaphel requires gifts despite never doing her job properly and constantly being rude and unprofessional, Ji-Indur seems displeased with his choice to take the ring and is blaming his choice on me. There even seem to have been talks of assassination and I cannot trust any of them aside from Murazôr”
“Raising a fuss over another’s intimate relationships? Why, who would do such a thing?” His voice remained syrupy. “I can’t imagine anyone being so unfair to you, bastion of goodwill and honesty that you are. It’s not as though Khamûl is somehow contractually bound to obey your every command, thought, and desire, is he? It’s as if your servants think you to be some sort of fickle, demanding tyrant who holds sway over them with threat of vicious punishment, blackmail, torture, and control of their free will for hundreds of years… I simply can’t imagine what sort of grudge they could possibly hold against you.”
“As if you are any better, o Great Deciever – Lord and sir Abhorred” he hissed, pupils narrowing and eyes flashing. “Don’t you come here and play ‘holier-than-thou’ with me when you are guilty of the same crimes as I. We created the rings, offered them as gifts and they were accepted as such – Greedily and eagerly might I add. I grant them privileges and gifts whenever they do their job well! I only ever punish them when they are disrespectful or outright disobedient and treacherous! Murazôr suggests that I remove their free will entierly, and though it would be effective I am somewhat reluctant to so it still”
He sighed then, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “Think what you will brother, but I always ask Khamûl what it is he wants and ask permission before I ever do anything to him or with him. He claims he feels alive when he’s in my bed, and so I do not push him away. We cannot leave Barad-Dûr currently and I am reluctant to sleep with slaves – This alternative is far superior. He is… Sweet”
“To hell with holiness,” he snapped, gaze suddenly sharp and trained on his brother, all pretense gone. “If we laid the same traps and caught the same fowl, why are yours flying their coop? I do not accuse you of being less moral than I; I am accusing you of being ineffective.” His lip curled over his fangs.
“Your Witch is right. Either dispense with this absurd act of pretending you are worthy of your name, worthy of admiration– strip them of their free will entirely and use them like the pawns you made them to be, or else earn their loyalty, and complain no more of the unfairness of being called cruel by those whose love you have greatly abused.”
“Your Lord raised you to be a beast, and you treat your servants as beasts in return. If you truly wish to rectify this situation, you will listen to their claims and address their concerns, not merely toss treats from your table at whoever performs the best tricks. Loyalty and trust are the only means by which obedience is assured even when your eyes are elsewhere. Find what they want, what motivates them, offer them what they cannot get elsewhere, solve their problems, understand their fears– make them eager to please you.” This he nearly spat, looming close over his brother’s porcelain face.
“You have the most subtle, perfect tool for seeing into the hearts of men resting on your finger, and you are USING IT. LIKE. A. BLUDGEON.” The fist of his right hand smashed into the wall, shedding splinters of stone and rattling dust from the the firmament.
MisbehavingMaiar: Tumblr Archive 