maskormenace | 04 ⚜ Video

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know that. Why do you think I have Mae and the Lieutenant keeping an eye on her? We don't know there's no cure, that she will get that bad.

[He doesn't want to think on her guilt lingering afterwards otherwise. Even if he's used to fighting and violence, she isn't. She'd feel horrible afterwards.]

Convince yourself of that, if it helps.

[His voice is quiet. He's dispensing everyday advice, but the hidden suggestion of what he's saying is: prepare for the worst. You know it's coming. Let that fear in and don't hide away.

Those who know Crane know exactly what he's doing - but you can't convict someone [and have them shot!] by their tone and normal, everyday message.]

But I hope you are secure in your convictions.

I am. I'll figure something from here. We're all doing the best we can to deal with all this. There's no way I could let her get to that point. Not Winry. She's....the opposite of violent. She heals. She just wants to help people.

[It's how she got sick in the first place, of course. Trying to help.]

Edward, it's Winry's desire to be help people - and involve them - that got her into this mess, you realize? The greater the amount of people involved, the greater the danger. Are you willing to bear that weight on your shoulders?

I know that. But that's just how she is. How her whole family is and has been. Her parents were killed doing their duty as doctors in the middle of the war. Winry wouldn't let this stop her wanting to help even with the risk. Even if I did try to stop her.

I'm sorry, but you're avoiding the question. I suppose you're afraid to answer it.

Still. Are you willing to take on the burden of Winry's mistakes? Her actions have posed not just a risk to yourself and anyone from your world, but this entire community. Even if her motivations come from the heart, her choices have not reflected well on her intelligence. One can help without risking life and limb... or rather the lives and limbs of others.

You say that like she was the only one to get infected or try to help with her healing. I'm well aware of the consequences here.

[But the 'limb' comments do get Crane a bit of a scowl. Even if he knows it is just a saying. Because. Really.]

Of course. I suppose you'll be able to live with the consequences of your choices, no matter which way this thing ends.

[Totally spoken like a compliment. Because he's trying to act like a doctor, here.]

04 ⚜ Video

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