#prison cw

The most charitable interpretation is that he has become a tool of institutional abuse. And he knows it but he excuses it because it's supposedly all for the sake of keeping the server safe. And for punishing the bad guy, Dream. And increasingly it seems to be about punishing Dream.

Perhaps because he feels guilt for being the person who almost helped Dream do this to others, particularly Tommy, who Sam happens to like.

Which, for the record, he SHOULD feel guilty about. People get on Techno's case for teaming up with Dream to fight a common enemy, but Sam was actively trying to help give Dream more power over the server, giving Dream the power to lock up anyone who resisted him. And Sam seemed willing to justify that because he liked the money and he enjoyed the challenge as an engineer. (Note that Sam was NOT poor either, he was one of the richest people on the server. It's not like he did it because he was desperate for money. And even of he was, get a less evil job ffs.)

(Also I believe he did also consider the potential power this would give the Badlands, let's be real. He absolutely has ambitions of his own. Maybe the thought even occurred to him that the prison could eventually be fully controlled by the Badlands. He just didn't foresee the Badlands kinda falling into shambles due to internal conflicts caused by the Egg.)

I think he HAS to believe that the prison is important and necessary because otherwise he would have to admit that he was so close to being complicit in Dream's plan to take full control over the server and to lock up any dissenters. And he has to believe that Dream deserves the abuse because otherwise he would have to admit that he was the one who agreed to make the prison that way. In fact he needs to believe that Dream deserves even worse than what he planned to do to others because that will make the original plans seem more reasonable in comparison. And because he needs to justify letting Quackity torture Dream.

Also, let's be real, it's hard to give up power once you have it.

And this is why you should never trust someone just because they're nice. Especially not authority figures. Get some actual proof that they'll stand up for you when you truly need it don't just assume that the niceness has no limits. Just because they give you pumpkin pie doesn't mean they won't punish you or sell you out to the system if you step out of line. Or abandon you if you're just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Look at what happened to Ponk, executed and mutilated for Sam's own carelessness. Look at what happened to Tommy, deemed less important than the security of the prison. Look at what happened to Techno, just for guilt by association. (Athough of course Sam and Techno were never particularly friendly so it's a less relevant example.)

It doesn't matter if he's a nice guy at heart, or if he's stressed and conflicted, these are his actions. And he needs to take responsibility for his actions.

I care deeply about this because people like c!Sam do so much harm in the real world and get away with it because they're serving the system and because they're nice and friendly and have families and pets. Cops, teachers, doctors, actual prison guards, politicians, bureaucrats, judges...

A seven by five cubicle, containing only a bunk bed and desk littered with someone else’s belongings.

“You looking to get stabbed?” Tate spoke casually, chewing a piece of gum and awarding his full attention to that.

Rynn shook his head and took a step backwards over the threshold again.

“So you’re a coward, got it.”

Rynn was stunned into another silence.

“Not a coward — just — maybe I’m in the wrong place.”

“You’re not. You’re the kid from death row,” Tate stated it as if it were common knowledge. “Rynn Harris.”

He blew a bubble with the gum and popped it before sitting up and looking directly at Rynn for the first time.

“Rumours true?”

“I — uh — I guess it depends on what you heard,” Rynn spoke softly and checked the number outside the cubicle. Eighteen. He was in the right place.

“Suppose that’s true,” Tate looked Rynn up and down carelessly. “You gonna tell me something worth my time? How’d you end up here?”

“Won my appeal. That’s all,” Rynn responded, forcing himself to enter the cubicle with more confidence this time, before dumping his possessions on the top bunk.

“Winning an appeal is hard work, especially for a guy on death row. Who’d you fuck to get a favour like that?”

“Nobody,” Rynn bit out. “I won because I didn’t do it.”

“It?”

“Kill my girlfriend and our kid. Want more of an explanation? I have time.”

“That’s plenty, Fiver, thanks. Sore spot, huh?”

“Fiver? I — like I said, I’m innocent.”