04 ⚜ Video

[restingstitchface]

[Pristine is how Crane appears when he flicks on the video feed; it's a lovely display of smoke and mirrors that he's pulling off, after the events of the last three days. He has a clean, elegant, ascetic appearance - and enough calm professionalism to mask his excitement.]

You're all handling this outbreak remarkably well. It seems you're all keeping to the boundaries of the law, as the Major-General expects you to. That's a good thing, mind. It would be terrible news to hear people have been shot for breaking quarantine.

Anyway, I am here to help if this event has caused you psychological distress. I am a doctor, after all.

[A pause, and he tucks in his chin and folds his hands in his lap. He half-closes his eyes.]

Fears and phobias are my specialty, and there is much to fear in this situation.

[His head comes back up. He's staring at the lens.]

Be that as it may, fear is something everybody needs. It keeps you safe and keeps you on your toes. It will do you all well to remember that. That it's good to know we must always feel a little scared. It's good to see that most of you haven't submitted to bravado and dagger-tongued bragging.

[The corners of his lips lift in a boyish smile. He tilts his head slightly. His voice is disarmingly gentle. His soft inflection on 'most of you' is meant for one person in particular.]

And I wouldn't like to think that those with guts would put everyone in danger. I trust everyone to make the best decisions for each other in combating this disease.

It would be terrifying to think we couldn't trust each other. Wouldn't it?

[He crosses his right leg and rests his hands over his knee. His graceful fingers smooth his trousers, and he waits for his audience to speak.]

Comments

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[abduxel]

I'm feeling a lot of distress, Doctor, because I've been eating "ramen noodles" for two days. What do you prescribe?

video

[restingstitchface]

Hire a nutritionist.

[Spoken like you're an annoying little shit, go away.]

text; comm tag is "Hiro"

[microbrobotics]

[ Ah. Crane. That's actually a welcome face; Hiro's lonely and bored and terrified, stuck here in quarantine and waiting to see if he's caught a deadly zombie disease or not. ]

everyone ive seen's been doing good so far. really calm and helpful.

text

[restingstitchface]

[Hello, you poor, lonely, terrified lamb.]

That's excellent news.

But I'm more concerned about your welfare. How are you holding up?

video;

[ferrisbuellean]

Creepy monologuing aside, fear is totally safe until you see a spider in the bathroom, slip on a wet tile and crack your skull open on the corner of the sink. Worst self preservation ever. And I swear this happened for realsies to a friend.

[restingstitchface]

[Crane rests his face against his hand, and his fingers tap, tap, tap his jawline.]

Of course.

[So much skepticism.]

I think your arachnophobic friend should've paid a visit to a psychotherapist, then.

[pushtheboundaries]

[Robert looks tired, more than afraid of anything. from damage control to lectures...actually, no, he may be afraid of figuring out his next lesson plan]

Thankfully, it's something else altogether to have others keeping an eye out for you.

[he may have forgotten what that was like. almost]

[restingstitchface]

[Crane has no experience of that, either. They could be friends!

Except there's one huge problem in the way. Crane's entire personality.]

It truly is.

You speak like you're used to working alone. Robert, was it?

[Look! He even remembers this guy's name.]

text;

[infomodder]

[be careful, he's dangerous, yeah okay

sure he'll be very careful...to not private this]

Do you want any dessert with lunch? They're having a special on brownies.

[he trusts u bb]

video;

[restingstitchface]

[Crane glances off-camera. Can he be bothered to eat?

That depends on the food. Who would provide the best meal? Will with his brownies and sandwich, or Chilton and his concern for his home-fellow?]

That would be nice. I'll be here all afternoon.

[It's not exactly thanks, but it's an opening. Crane would love some lunch, bb.]

video;

[flowerette]

[ Just so casually glancing over her freshly painted nails. ]

Are you taking appointments, Doctor?

video;

[restingstitchface]

Yes. No. Maybe.

[His speech is repetitive. Obsessively so, one might claim]

Depends who's asking.

[Is Raina investigating for herself? Or is she sniffing around for her date?]

voice

[hubris]

What do we do if we're experiencing a paradoxical reaction?

voice

[restingstitchface]

I cannot tell you.

I will suggest, however, what I would do. And what I would do is accept my feelings, frightening and uncomfortable as they are. I would let everything in - and thus accept my fascinatingly contrary nature.

text; comm tag is "Tadashi"

[tadeadshi]

[A few hours after this lovely conversation, Tadashi's sitting around waiting for tests to finish but - what. Excuse.

There are few things he dislikes more than strangers intentionally scaring his brother.]

When everyone works together, there's less to be afraid of, I think.

[He'll get to it.]

Text

[restingstitchface]

[Had Crane intentionally terrified Hiro? Of course.

Then again, he's intentionally scaring everyone with his post. Hiro's a special case, but perhaps not for the reasons - nerves, anxiety - Tadashi thinks he is. Or perhaps he is. Fancy that.]

Really? Are you certain? When everyone works together, there's a higher chance of things going wrong. Too many cooks in the kitchen is a saying for a reason, you know.

video;

[schrader]

[ What is wrong with bravado, huh?! It's AWESOME and so is he and he survived dragon fire (barely) and is totally NOT having more panic attacks or anything.

This post is less awesome. More creepy than anything, despite it somehow being an offer to help people. But hey. Shrinks. ]

Gee, who wouldn't wanna open up to that kinda sweet talk?

video;

[restingstitchface]

[Come on, Hank. Can't you see Crane's helping people by scaring them? That way they have to face their fears.

Not that he cares. He's in it for the thrill.]

You, if I'm not mistaken.

[Crane, you're such a charmer.]

audio

[braided_icarus]

[Really, Crane? Really?]

Hey. She hasn't shot me yet. And I've no intention of provoking her to. But I'm pretty sure most everyone is messed up with this virus. But how do you mean about trust? It's not like those infected wanted to be like this. It's just the symptoms making them angry, violent.....

audio

[restingstitchface]

Yes, keep telling yourself that.

You should know it's not the symptoms that make them terrifying - it's what they're frightened of. They'll do anything to avoid it, just like everyone else. A pathogen just makes the line between reality and imagination just a little too blurred.

[He'll just sit right here and watch them try to beat you up, Ed. What a nice doctor.]

video;

[hoboagogo]

'Fear keeps you safe', huh? [It's spoken neutrally-not disagreeing, and not wholeheartedly embracing the concept. More just turning it over in his head, considering it. Like pain, just a warning that things are dangerous or harmful and they should be wary of it.

Shinjiro glances back up to the feed, though, and-- he looks pretty good, despite the outbreak and all. Clearly at home, based on the background of the video.]

Safe doesn't always get things done, though.

permatext;

[restingstitchface]

[If Crane's not mistaken, this is his favorite patient.

And he's missed him. Terribly.

He's sticking to text; denying Shinjiro a face-to-face conversation as a means of punishment and regaining control. Let's try seeing if Shinjiro wants to go horse-riding that face to face meeting.]

I agree.

A ship is always safe at the shore - but that is not what it is built for.

[Forget this. He's going elbow-deep into the important stuff.]

Where did you go, Shinjiro?

video;

[kreiastophe]

[First he was forced to go cold turkey on a billionaire lifestyle, then he found out his new home was on the brink of an epidemic. His first week here has been awful, so Crane’s spiel is actually a little comforting, whether he intended it to be or not.]

That's a healthy mentality to subscribe to. Overcoming ones fear is one thing, denying it is quite another.

Doctor Crane, isn't it?

video;

[restingstitchface]

[Crane admittingly tilts his head.

He is happy to keep his calm manner and boyish expression. He's not... so happy about Krei's presumption what he was saying was healthy; he just wants to see people suffer.

His gaze turns cold. The fact Krei used his title is a blessing.]

Yes. And who are you, exactly?

[acclimatized]

I think you should get your facts straight before scaremongering. No one's going to get shot for breaking quarantine.

[restingstitchface]

[Scaremongering? Him?

How dare you.]

Yes. You sound so sure of that.

[This is his 'eat shit' grin, John.]

Well well, then. I certainly hope you trust the Major-General doesn't possess an itchy trigger finger.

[ video ]

[hostage]

Wow, this is super helpful.

[That's sarcasm. This is the least helpful post possible. It's just going to make people more afraid. Which is the point - Jesse gets the schtick - but, still. It bears commenting upon, and since he's keeping an eye on that conversation with Schrader, anyway...]

[ video ]

[restingstitchface]

Really? I'm glad you think so.

[... He says pleasantly. He's just an unassuming, awkward doctor, right?

But your opinion isn't his concern, Jesse. Truly, he doesn't care what you think.

video;

[givetheslip]

I don't actually disagree with you. [Which is mildly surprising to her, but fear has kept her alive a few times.] I don't know that now is the time to closely examine our emotions, though.

video;

[restingstitchface]

[Crane doesn't care if she agrees or not.]

No. I would have to disagree.

It's always a good time for self-analysis.

[darwinatrix]

Anyone who wants to leave the quarantine zone is free to do so. Getting back in is a different story.

Do you enjoy causing public panic, Doctor?

[restingstitchface]

[Who? Me?]

I'm just stating my opinion, Major-General.

Whether or not people panic or show understanding isn't my decision. Say whatever you wish, we're all afforded the inherent right to voice our opinions.

video;

[kingpawn]

You seem to be in good spirits.

[ Why is that, Crane? Why is that. ]

video;

[restingstitchface]

[Let's just say he let off some steam.]

Oh, I'm always in the best of moods, Walter. Though this situation brings me no pleasure.

[Except it does. And he knows Walt knows.]

video; ID reads Superman

[andaway]

[Aaaah crap.]

Fear and cauting are two different things. caution elads to being careful and not doing things that might put yourself or others in danger. Fear leads to panic. [Which is, incidentally, what he assumes Crane's true purpose is.]

Why would anyone get shot at for breaking quarantine?

[restingstitchface]

Don't you realize you've just answered your own question? [Crane isn't going to explain breaking quarantine gets you shot, as he's trying to make people think.]

In any case, fear is a human response to what is true. Caution lacks definition and belief; it is conjecture.

[Is he sassing Superman? Yes. Yes he is.]