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

[crapbearer]

Aw, come on, Callaghan knew what I was talking about. If teen drama isn't some kind of multiversal constant, then what is?

Or maybe it's a time thing. If don't mind me asking, what year were you born?

[restingstitchface]

[Oh, it's one of those shows. He's had his fill of real teenage drama, thanks. But that question. He could answer it to prove he feels no fear. He could cut him down to keep his past private. Or he could evade. Yes. That's it.]

Mmm. A while ago.

I also prefer watching the real thing.

[crapbearer]

Aww, you shy?

Listen, don't feel bad if you're getting over the hill. You know, life doesn't end at whatever mysterious age you're hiding from me.

But hey, if you really wanna get back in touch with your inner child, getting invested in real teenage drama is a great start. No one would dare mistake you for a mature adult then!

[restingstitchface]

[Well, this is better than being pitied. This doesn't hurt one bit.]

You speak like your opinion of my personality matters to me. Speaking frankly, I don't care. That topic is irrelevant. I'm only interested in what you fear, and today I want to learn your answer to my posted question.

[crapbearer]

Love, definitely. What's the point of being feared?

Though for future reference, I have a crippling phobia of expensive, high-end electronics. If any happened to show up on my doorstep I may just faint from terror.

[restingstitchface]

Yes, I suppose you would.

What is powerful enough about love for you?

[crapbearer]

Jeez, Crane. Warn us next time you're gonna follow up with an essay question.

I mean I could go all Care Bears here and wax poetic about the Power of Love, tougher than diamonds, rich like cream, and all that rock and roll. Instead I'll go ahead try to put this in terms you can understand.

Love's a mutual thing. You're supporting all these people, but they're supporting you back. It's like a braid or a net or something; If you put a strain on one link, the whole thing still supports the weight. It's way stronger than the string it's made of.

[restingstitchface]

Your analogy is flawed. A strain is different to a cut; a cut is different to constant erosion. Love isn't a mutual support system. It's an alliance of those respectively afraid; of being alone; of growing old; of having nobody to care for them in their old age.

[There's a short, curt pause.]

And that's Dr. Crane, if you would.

[crapbearer]

Well gee whiz, doc, you sure learned me some psychomatology.

[ His eyeroll is practically audible. When he continues, it's with the tone and enthusiasm of reading off a grocery list.]

Let's see. You opened my eyes, I'll never love or trust again, conceal don't feel, et cetera et cetera. Any other reactions you wanted from me, Doctor Flamingo?

[restingstitchface]

[Disrespectful children aren't smacked these days. That's all right. That's fine. It doesn't happen publicly. It's violence. It's showing weakness. He's not afraid. He replies quick enough that there's no time to analyse if he's been shaken. And he hasn't.]

Oh, now you're being a precocious child? Yes, well, I would indulge your childish urges, but you are not that fascinating. I don't have the time to spare when I have more important matters to attend. Run along to your guardian, now.

[crapbearer]

[ Max isn't sure if Crane means guardian in the broader sense, or if he's referring specifically to Norman. Doesn't matter; Max may be a motormouth, but he knows how play his cards and doesn't ask for clarification.

His response is equally fast and equally unshaken. ]

Well, as it so happens, I am a child. So hey, even if you didn't like my answer, you can go home and take comfort in the fact that you were right about something.

[restingstitchface]

[Too fast. Children's minds still have to form. He doesn't sniff about it. He reminds himself to scour the network later. Crane is a very nosy bird, Max.]

Oh, did you want something? I thought you were leaving.

[HE IS THE RUDEST. You'll never take his crown.]

[crapbearer]

[ Step off while you can, Crane. There are horrors on this Earth that stretch beyond your comprehension. You may be a supervillain, true, but Max doesn't need fear gas or psychological training to strike fear into the hearts of men.

He's a sixth-grader. ]

I never said that. You did. Good thing you don't actually care, though. Because how silly would you look trying to get the last word against a precocious child, am I right?

Happy Haunting, Doctor Seagull!