maskormenace | 01 ⚜ Video

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01 ⚜ Video

[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.

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I typically seek out individuals of a certain criteria, but some do come to me.

["Criteria" is something he'll keep vague; while he hasn't the fully fleshed criminal quality that he was able to sample in Baltimore, Chilton has keened an eye to those with aggressive potential.]

Two of my former patients -- from back home, mind, -- I no longer treat here, however.

[private.]

And if you don't mind, we'll continue this conversation under encryption. I suspect more than a few imPorts are watching us discuss.

Edited 2015-02-04 06:35 (UTC)

[Crane recognizes the hint, more or less. He's always getting his hands on those who have problems with their fears.]

It's an unfortunate thing, that we must leave people behind. But what we cannot do now can wait for another day.

Unfortunately, right now, I must get back to work. We can talk again at your convenience.

[Private]

Everyone's watching someone else. It's to be expected.

I'll be quite frank: psychiatry is often met with skepticism here. And while the neurotic tendencies that run more rampant err on the side of harmless, we do have the company of some dangerous people. [He clears his throat, aching with the subdued drama.] A man who calls himself Lunatic had killed a patient of mine, in fact.

[There's a long pause whilst Crane considers this. He finds some cold peace in speaking with another psychiatrist - and jumps on his new freedom to talk clinically.]

I certainly wouldn't want to lose a patient I'd spent my time with. It must have been a tough loss.

Diagnosis?

My patient is narcissistic, but not to a malignant degree, and has exhibited evidence of Borderline personality. [Chilton pauses, noting that he had used the present tense. Did Doctor Crane know that death was sometimes a temporary condition, here?] This Lunatic individual embodies delusions of grandeur, he is dissociative, and he is possibly along the schizoid spectrum -- but I haven't spoken with him more than once. He is currently incarcerated, his identity was recently revealed.

[His ears pick up on the difference carefully. He'll talk to Chilton later and ignore the patient for now - there was much to discuss - to focus on the actual criminal.]

Incarcerated, not hospitalized? [His regret was palpable. This man's mind sounded interesting to study.] What's his name?

This Lunatic appears to have been the same man as Yuri Petrov. If I may -- [He takes a moment, scouring through his communicator, before bringing up the address that Miles Edgeworth had presented.]

If I may redirect you there.

[Allow Crane to take his time to respond. There's a lot of information to sift through. The more he reads, the more he's confident and the more his curiosity grows.

He goes looking for open posts. Then he's offering his opinion.]

Everyone here seems quite polarized on the issue. Some appear delusional as well.

Edited 2015-02-09 22:51 (UTC)

His actions have reverberations. The ripple of trauma is... Interesting. He appeared rather beloved through one of his identities.

I suppose some don't want to see it.

Of course. Do you know why they don't want to see?

[He really hopes you do, Chilton. You seem a clever man. Do you respect the psychology of fear?]

It's because they're afraid. They're cowardly. They don't want to see that they, too, can be a bully lost in the pit of madness. Lunatic is a more hideous representation about everything they repress inside themselves than anything they can consciously acknowledge.

Edited 2015-02-11 20:09 (UTC)

They're afraid of the mirror he poses. [He agreed, engaging that word specifically. Chilton was still vying to impress Crane.] That all psychopaths pose. The only difference is a cluster of neurons that enable a little impulse control -- but there are a few ways to interfere with the more fluid synaptic connections between that.

What is your study truly going to expose, Doctor Crane? You're already an expert on fear and phobia, I imagine you would be bored by highly regulated research.

Edited 2015-02-14 02:38 (UTC)

[Clinical language. Respect for his work. Intelligence.

There's something about them all together that makes Crane happy. Conversation on this intellectual level was like a treat. He chooses to indulge. Oh, he knows it's a ruse and the other man wants to impress him. Doesn't mean he can't appreciate it.]

Yes. Well. Answering your question openly, for years I have been learning to understand and control fear. This is basic research, pure research. You must be familiar with the concept. I'm curious and wish to lay the foundations of my knowledge of this place.

[His voice was low and conspiratorial.]

Quite honestly, I don't see why a smart, intelligent man can't decide to utilize someone's restrictive controls. There's nothing wrong with using the safety they impress upon the more anxious cases. It convinces them of the safety of proper psychiatric care. Thus, they're more likely to seek it.

[He leans back, basking in his due respect, and smiles.]

[There was a whiff of something kindred in that conspiratorial tone, something that lured Chilton's attention more acutely. He noted the narcissistic wink of a phrase -- "smart, intelligent man" -- and the casual juxtaposition to control. The justification resonated with an appreciation of influence.

Now, while Chilton began to etch out the diagnosis of NPD, he did so without judgement. After all, how many of his peers had accused him of something similar? The personality disorder coincided with ambitious and insight. It was encouraging to encounter someone else who understood the greater vision.]

I don't disagree.

[It was lightly phrased; now was not the time to brag about what he had done to Abel Gideon, or to Danger. Not on a recorded device. But maybe, at some point, maybe.]

The phobic, the anxious. Do you like the neurotic? Do you enjoy how they squirm? Is it a matter of squeezing them at their most vulnerable, so that they cannot deceive themselves -- or you -- any longer?

[Questions that might tiptoe into analysis, if not for the polite, curious tone he maintained. It wasn't his soft-spoken psychiatric voice, sterilized yet subtly malicious.

Crane might enjoy the anxious cases, but Chilton thirsted for a different breed of mind.]

[Crane liked the anxious cases, yes. The fearful ones too. The neurotic ones were delightful to study and treat - that had been a good analysis on Chilon's part. He recognises the attempt. The questions hidden in affability, words apart. Examining his patterns, learning. Prodding him. Learning what makes him tick. The both of them are similiar, so similar.

His answer doesn't come for a while. He knows what his silence seems like - a deliberately crafted means of saying yes whilst not leaving himself feeling totally naked. His unspoken question is does his silence hide the truth, that he's an unethical monster, some would say a psychopath, or does it mislead and hide no truth at all?

His breath holds in his throat. He's amused. He's scared. He's thrilled. His mind is a rush of perfectly structured ideas and thoughts. But he's not going to say yes, not yet. He's going to spin this moment a bit longer. Plus it would only be a half-truth. He was much more complex than that. Chilton would realise that, if he seemed as good as he appeared.]

We're psychiatrists. You think you've got me figured out, don't you? Why don't you indulge me?

[He did what he did for science and learning. Who was analysing who? Who, exactly, was running this session? Would it continue in person, maybe? He would bet Chilton was dying for it. Maybe.]

Edited 2015-02-19 13:11 (UTC)

[That earned a pause of its own -- Crane was playing back, it seemed. Good. Crane knew his craft well, and that provoked intrigue. Chilton craved quality in his peers as much as his patients -- he solicited danger. The prime example would be Hannibal Lecter himself; Chilton had flattered the other psychiatrist, he had courted him, sought to be around him. And all in part because he knew Hannibal had been abusing Will Graham as a patient. Chilton saw a kindred spirit then, too.

What he hadn't seen at the time was the Chesapeake Ripper -- but at least he figured that out before Jack Crawford did, or Alana Bloom.

Habits, as Chilton might say to any of his own patients, were seductive. And Chilton was not exceptional to that seduction.]

I would rather indulge you in person. We both know how vital all communication is to the individual's narrative -- communicated willingly and otherwise.

[Two things: he said individual, rather than patient. Crane, while potentially insidious, was indeed a peer. And secondly, Chilton implied that Crane might communicate something unwillingly. That was less a bet and more a hope; Chilton doubted that someone as practiced and aware as Doctor Crane would show much of his interior intent. Crane was a professional, and Chilton took that into his calculation. This wasn't meant to be easy.

But great challenges often invoked great rewards.]

If you would do me the honor, of course.

[Crane tilts his head to the side. Oh, this mind is a sharp one. It intrigues him more by the minute. He can only think of what fearful problem he might explore. So why not show a little respect and interest if it gets him the knowledge he wants?

It's not that Crane respects the person Chilton is, per say. Some say he doesn't respect anyone. But he does respect intelligence on the rare occasions he sees it.]

That's an intriguing offer, doctor. I would be delighted.

[His brow arches as he considers further things - time and place, location and date. It's not that he doesn't want to choose. He will have more to learn if he gifts Chilton that particular honor instead. The good doctor will hand him another piece to analyse. Location, time, travel, behaviour - all were important in forming patterns.

The calmness in his voice is, hopefully, soothing.]

Well. Why don't you choose? Where would you like to meet?

Let us enjoy each other's company later in the month. De Chima. [Neutral ground. Chilton was not ready to expose his office to Doctor Crane, nor the basement imPort holding cells he had been devising. Not yet, not when the circumstance could be so mutable.]

I frequent that city enough. Perks of Registration, you see, we can port between the sister cities easily.

[And De Chima was the imPort-friendly destination closest to his former home.]

The dining is suitable. I am anticipating that you have elegant tastes, Doctor Crane, forgive the association. We can make it a fine evening indeed.

[And we could continue to thread here, or I have an open log ready!]

[Crane was willing to forgive the association. The elegant image suited him, helped him, and got him to eat the finest cuisene that he had the right to, once in a while.

He did, however, vastly prefer spending his money on books.]

Pleasant enough to beget artistic conversation, at least.

Now. Precise time and place, please.

[OOC: Open log's great. I'll tag in later.]

Il Siero. It's an elegant Italian restaurant located in the heart of De Chima. A bit old fashioned, with a fine bar. I've frequented it a few times, myself -- [While alone, of course.] -- and shall we say, seven o'clock? On the twenty-second?

[OOC - I know I have Solve on the log option, but we'll make this special for Crane.]

[OOC: Thanks and sorry for missing that. Was 50:50 about whether it was there or somewhere indistinct.]

Yes.

I'll see you there.

[And turn up early, just to spook you.]

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01 ⚜ Video

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