Heh. Well, true. I guess an unskilled, often unarmed intellectual aristocrat going around provoking blood-lust in every drunk swordfighter he can find in a fit of suicidal depression is a bit mad, true. Heh. I find the "madness" situational and even a bit put-on in Alec though, not clinical (for lack of a better word), but if you feel opposite, that is a perfectly reasonable reading of his character too. There is something about the determined, strategic, and complicated way he saves Richard at the end (yes, with Diane's help, but he does it) that seems the work of a fundamentally sane, collected Alec, the part of him that is masked under his rebellion and teen angst and depression and drugs. And he's pissed at his family for infinitely reasonable things...I just can't make him truly "mad" in my mind (I'm trying!). As for Richard being blind, etc. Lalala, can't hear you through this sequels-don't-exist hum. MMMMM. :D Just kidding. Actually, if I admit they exist for a BRIEF moment, then yes, I sort of agree that Alec might take up his position to get enough money to help Richard, but then I think he would ignore any real responsibilities of the job and run off to be with R again, and R wouldn't want him to do it for him anyway, and either way I cannot fathom why they would live apart. I do agree that they are crazy in love, of course. :D
(By the way, I truly am interested in this conversation...I hope I don't just sound all *foot stomp* I'm right! I've thought about these two way too much in my life, and never ever talked about them before. Fear the floodgates. I promise I will spare you as much as possible.)