10 ⚜ Audio

[restingstitchface]

[Anyone who's familiar with Crane will recognize his compulsive need to study fear. But what's the curious thing, here? His approach. His voice is as soft and calm as it had been upon his arrival. It gives an impression of frailty that's deliberately misleading. There was nothing about him that sounded like the Scarecrow. And that's the frightening thing.]

Machiavelli once said, "And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."

I put his question to you all; is it better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved?

[He likes the idea of letting the piddling powers in this place believe he's behaving himself; listening to that silly therapist he'd encountered recently. Maybe his audience all be dishonest in their answers. Frightened. Scared. He indulges in a smile. He will have to confirm all of their opinions with an experiment, of course.]

Comments

permavoice

[restingstitchface]

[He inhales and draws back his shoulders.

When he speaks, he's using the voice he'd reserved for his students; those dumber than pond scum.]

My answer? There is no answer of mine. This is a question given to everybody hearing this post. I already know my answer and so I don't need to ask myself the question.

[rathercommon]

I see. So this is just self-serving as ever.

[restingstitchface]

If you need no guesses, I need give no answer. It saves my time.

[Your time too, but he gives no fucks about you.]

[rathercommon]

Okay. Then I'll give mine. Fear is useless and pointless. And those who cultivate it are just ruining their own lives.

[restingstitchface]

If fear is useless and pointless, why does it exist? Why have we not evolved out our primal, frightened states?

For someone who prides herself on her intelligence, you're not that bright, Miss Jones.

[YOU FAIL.]

[rathercommon]

And for someone who enjoys being cruel, that was an unimpressive insult. I'm not saying that feeling fear is pointless; I'm saying fostering it is pointless and wretched. I suppose you're having a hard time of it lately, though, haven't you.

[restingstitchface]

Posturing. Your resistance to the truth is tiring.

And I'm doing fine, thanks for asking.

[rathercommon]

They're looking after you? Taking good care?

[restingstitchface]

[He doesn't say anything for a minute. He has no real desire to discuss this matter further. So he avoids saying yes or no, and speaks softly.]

What right do you have to ask me that?

[rathercommon]

What right? It's a perfectly reasonable question.

[restingstitchface]

Yes it is. So answer it, if you would.

[rathercommon]

My question to you is reasonable.

[restingstitchface]

I don't need you to fight my battles, you know. Stop apppropriating something that doesn't concern you.

[GET BACK TO RUMBLR.]

[rathercommon]

Sure. So does that mean you're not satisfied?

[restingstitchface]

Not at all, Miss Jones. I love it. I'm getting exactly what I need.

[The "help" is non-existant, or might as well be. It's certainly threadbare. So what has him so pleased? It's simple, honestly. Mandated treatment would keep him locked away for much, much longer.]

[rathercommon]

Yeah? So - what exactly is it that you need that you're getting?

[restingstitchface]

The opportunity to conduct some research.

And also some peace and quiet.

[Till you turned up.]

[rathercommon]

Okay. But they are respecting your human rights, aren't they?

[restingstitchface]

What do you think?

They respect mine as much as I respect theirs.

[rathercommon]

That's a terribly low bar. Maybe be a bit more precise in your speech, Dr Crane?

[restingstitchface]

... Are you asking me to say yes or no, Miss Jones?

[rathercommon]

I'm asking you to describe your treatment. In absolute terms, rather than your normal weasel-words.

[restingstitchface]

What treatment?

[Such a facetious answer and yet... and yet. It answers everything she wants to know. Somebody as bright as Kitty purports to be ought to grasp what he's saying. The negative answer inherent in his question.]