Absurd. Correct. This "normalisation of deviance", to play their game, is all too common nowadays.
In my last case, I couldn't pin the burn-out on the CN, it is not yet a deniable request, but the discretion on top of that most certainly was. To add to the humour I was even asked by the CN if I would use discretion on my own duty to provide him with extra inflight rest. Unbelievable.
Needless to say the answer was no and I never returned to the flight deck once I was "free of all in flight duties". I have also unbelievably had strange frowns thrown my way for not returning for landing. 1) It is a contradiction of Ops A for you to continue to take part in the operation. 2) I do not want to be present nor implicated when / if a fatigue related incident occurs. Esp in a case of commanders discretion.