01 ⚜ Video

[restingstitchface]

[The video feed clicks on and shows a man with tidy hair, a clean face, a neat black suit and a pair of leather shoes. He doesn't speak immediately, but his gaze never strays - there's nothing behind it, no gleam in his eyes that betrays his fascination. He needs to understand the predicament he's in, and wants to hear what everyone has to say. Or perhaps he's just curious. He's a doctor and scientist, clinical and precise. He's not used to being away from his work. The people who'd brought him here had stripped him of his belongings, causing him to utilize other means - and he had to do it without drawing suspicion for as long as possible.

He offers a small smile. Witnessing facial expressions raises the level of group trust, he knows. He would rather have used audio, but this would give a better impression. Meanwhile, his blood bubbles under his surface; he wants to find those scared of being here. He has nothing else to keep him but work. His fingers were itching to insert themselves into everyone's dark places. He wants to understand them. He wants to see what makes them tick. He calmly hides his hands in his legs. His cold disappointment at being separated from witnessing the results of his fear gas flooding Gotham is nearly overwhelming.

He stares into the camera with sharp blue eyes. His tone has a slight lilt.

Anyway. Hello, you crazies in spandex. This is your unfriendly neighborhood psychiatrist. Perhaps you've met him before?]

I won't claim arriving here was my choice, but I'm aware that's not a unique situation.

Now.

I'm looking for participants in a clinical research study. My name is Jonathan Crane, and I need willing persons to discuss their experiences in this new... life... if you will. You will not be required to pay any bills, and will be adequately compensated for your time. I want to make this city safer. Whether or not you decide to volunteer is completely up to you.

[He's completely honest. Honestly.]

And it should go without saying that I wouldn't be so unkind as to ignore those in crisis. I'm a psychiatrist. In fact, I was a professor as well. Mental distress is something I am trained to deal with. Whenever you or somebody you know needs support, please let me know. I'm here to help.

Comments

text; comm tag is "Hiro"

[microbrobotics]

... what kind of study?

text;

[restingstitchface]

Investigative, mostly.

I aim to study the effect of translocation upon mental and physical health, via observation and statistical survey.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Ah! High time another psychiatrist ventured this way. A pleasure, Doctor Crane. I'm Doctor Frederick Chilton.

[restingstitchface]

[Huh. Another psychiatrist.]

Fascinating, Doctor Chilton. What's your specialty?

text;

[sizetwelve]

[ "I'm here to help." Sold. ]

Professor? Where at?

[restingstitchface]

Gotham University. Department of Psychology. I left to pursue private practice.

[And it was so private Arkham didn't know about it, till Batman dregged it up.]

[quinque]

How much

[restingstitchface]

$5 for simple paper forms. $10 for an hour's time.

It's not a medical trial.

[Yet. So don't expect too much money.]

[aggressiveapathy]

what do we get?

[restingstitchface]

Money. Or a free consultation.

[Money makes the world go round for some. Not Crane.]

video

[motherflocker]

Why, Dr. Crane. You're looking rather well.

And what sorts of things are you looking to study, precisely?

[restingstitchface]

The effect of translocation upon mental and physical health.

[That doesn't matter. The observation of his health? Overly familiar. He bristles.]

... Thank you for that marvelous observation.

text

[kanadian]

So you just want to hear about what we're going through here? That's a lot of sharing. For some of us, it's been a long time.

[ shut up kaidan you haven't even been here a year. ]

[restingstitchface]

That's unfortunate, and I'm sorry to hear it.

Opening up is frightening to some people. I understand if you don't wish to tell me anything.

text

[lyingheart]

Welcome to this world, Jonathan.

If you don't mind explaining... what are you considering adequate compensation for people's time for participating in your study at this point?

[restingstitchface]

Money or my expertise.

Do you require either?

video

[wayhot]

[Sup, Jonathan. Have a girl made entirely out of fire.]

So... you're looking for people to talk about what their life here is like, so you can help other people later? [Or... something like that?] I'd like to help, I think.

[restingstitchface]

[Fire? Now that's something that piques his interest.]

Excellent. You are correct, by the way. I want to help; I can't leave people suffering.

[Yes you can, Crane.]

video;

[bassriff]

[Grey-skinned girl with sharp teeth coming up, Crane.]

I think I'll pass.

[even after the lightning. especially after the lightning???]

[restingstitchface]

[He lifts his head. This is new.]

That's fine. I'm a busy man.

[He fiddles with the edge of his glasses.]

Should you reconsider, feel free to contact me.

video;

[braided_icarus]

As dangerous as this place can be I still think things back home were more.....lively. To put it mildly. But we're...compensated for sitting and talking to you about Heropa? That's it?

[And he thought desk jobs sounded boring. Not yet going into beginning to mention his own nightmares and issues, both around home and being here.]

[restingstitchface]

That's it. Unless you destroy my office, then no.

text

[rathercommon]

So...you've said you offer your "expertise." What's that consist of?

[restingstitchface]

Simple "expertise" is common. My talents are rarer than that.

Define your understanding of the word, and I can give a clearer answer.

[There's a small, confident smile. He suspects she's being sarcastic, but he'll wait on that.]

VIDEO.

[indenture]

... Dr. Crane?

[ Dr. Jonathan Crane? Well hm. ]

That's an awfully generous offer.

[restingstitchface]

[Oh the delicious irony of Crane being a two-faced snake. Sadly, he doesn't know this man. Yet.]

It's a rather nice deal, I know. These are special circumstances.

[And he's going to use them all he can.]

text.

[immigrantpunk]

sounds like a scam

[Sorry, he is very anti-establishment right now. :/]

[restingstitchface]

You are skeptical of my work?

[His former patients would disagree - if they were able to. Har har.]

video;

[hoboagogo]

[And in complete contrast to Dr. Crane's professional, collected, clinical manner, is a slightly-scruffy teen- Who, based on the angle of the camera and the background, is lounging on his stomach in bed while flickering through the network.

In the middle of the afternoon. On a weekday.

Long hair is pulled up into a messy ponytail, and his clothes are relatively plain- though visible across his shoulderblades and back is a thick length of smooth scales. It's clearly some sort of massive snake lounging about with him.]

...D'you mean you're asking how people find it here? [Sorry, Dr. Crane, it takes him a second to catch up with the professional tone and words to get to the meaning.] Or like-- how they think being here's different than from back home?

Sorry about the editing. Firefox is being an ass

[restingstitchface]

[His eyes examine the scene carefully. There's a low chance of this child providing him with an intelligent conversation.]

Both. I'm also interested to hear of physical symptoms; nausea and suchlike. You seem... well enough that those are no problem.

[walkingballpit]

So... this research thing. What's the end goal? 'cause if it's pretty statistics to fling at this fine, upstanding government, I'm in.

But if you're just looking for how the human brain adapts to the concept of a multiversity, nah.

[restingstitchface]

My aims are personal. Knowledge. Insight. Politics don't concern me.

Conversely, I understand politics concerns many people. [A pause.] I'm quite willing to make my work publically available to the right people.

video;

[bombshelled]

So... you're a shrink?

[ This is not Lana's way of admitting she could probably use therapy. Nope. Definitely not. ]

[restingstitchface]

A psychiatrist, yes.

[He hates that word, okay.]

Can I help you?

[beneathbluerafters]

You're paying people simply to talk to you?

[restingstitchface]

Well. As long as the information is of some use, yes.

text

[khajidont]

What kinds of results are you expecting to get?

[restingstitchface]

That depends.

Are you talking in the short to medium term, or over a protracted period?

video; from bruce wayne

[chiroptophobic]

I've heard that name before, haven't I? Jonathan Crane? Didn't they bring you in on the Falcone case?

[restingstitchface]

[Huh. Falcone? His brows shift up.]

Maybe. But that's a very dangerous name. Why would I involve myself with someone so violent?

[shuckit]

[ the factor of 'doctor' and specialization in 'mental distress' immediately has thomas tensing over this whole thing. mental distress, yeah, that's something he has a lot of experience with, given there was a whole organization of doctors forcibly triggering it in him for the sake of seeing his brain's reaction. it wasn't a fun time, and the reminder of it sets him ill at ease. ]

why mental distress?

[restingstitchface]

I respect the mind's power.

It's a rather simple motive, I know. But I enjoy helping people with their problems - I want to help my patients develop the tools they need to take control of their lives.

text; id reads "stephanie brown"

[quipper]

[ Jonathan Crane. There's no mistaking the name, but the face — it doesn't look like the Scarecrow, that's for sure.

All aboard at investigation station. ]

Can we still sign up if we're new blood?

[ ...this is a bad idea. ]

[restingstitchface]

[Yes it is.]

Of course. If you prefer a particular means of communication, I am quite willing to accommodate you.

text;

[infomodder]

[Boo, Chilton. Boo, he was watching that. Oh well, at least this guy's conversation with Mary and April stayed public. And Annie calling him by his first name, wow. It's all good. Probably not actually "good" but, whatever. Entertainment.]

It's about time we got another psychiatrist.

[Yay variety. There's gotta be variety right??? This will be fine.]

text;

[restingstitchface]

[Another text. One extra mind to explore.]

It seems this place could use my services, yes.

Are you a psychiatrist as well?