17 ⚜ Video

[restingstitchface]

[The feed begins to show Jonathan Crane the same as he was the last time: smart clothes, smart shoes, a clean tie and frames. Clean-shaven. Rational. Focused. He is calmer in his body language and more in his element.

He tries for a smile but finds it dropping off his face.

Irritating. If he is honest, he is all too aware of what lies before him. He fingers his tie, distracting himself. Then he gestures towards the camera.]

Hello. Can somebody please explain why it is I find myself stuck here? I believe that mismatched timelines stand corrected. Not for everybody, clearly. Though, perhaps the fact is... it's better for everyone that I'm still here.

[He furrows his brows, crosses his leg and steeples his fingers. Apparently he doesn't like being reminded of his counterpart, as his voice loses its calm tone.]

In the last few days I became aware of the actions of a terrorist who shares my face. I have no idea how he managed to commit his acts under your noses, let alone plan them in advance for months, but in the interest of transparency I want it known he was responsible for the videotape on the thirteenth of last month. Numerous people were hurt because of it. I imagine an explanation shall assuage your fears. He possessed a psychedelic power that produced psychological effects. A forced hallucination, essentially.

Come what may, I intend to heal the damage. And if anybody has an answer to my initial question, I would be grateful.

Comments

Voice; Private

[insinerate]

Aren't you a few months early to be playing trick-or-treat?

Voice; Private

[restingstitchface]

I imagine I would be, were I indulging in trickery.

I've never been possessed of an impish sense of humor, mind. Or tolerant of bad jokes.

Voice; Private

[insinerate]

Perhaps you would prefer to liken this to an experiment, then?

[hypodermicgurl]

Still warn and snug in our hotel?

[restingstitchface]

Very much. Thank you.

[hypodermicgurl]

Well, don't forget to visit the bar. We're all about community bonding for our long time guests.

video.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya just squints incredulously at the camera for a few moments before finally shaking her head. ]

What?

[ She sighs, running a hand through her hair. ]

You can't have seriously believed this would work.

[restingstitchface]

Well, I'm not attempting to trick you or anybody else, so I suppose not.

[He leans against the backrest and runs his hand further down his knee.]

I take it [he pauses for a moment] that you are skeptical of my intentions?

[glowsferatu]

Who wouldn't be? Your timing's all wrong, for one. Whatever happened last week's already ended, and the rest of us aren't affected any longer, it's doubtful you'd be an exception. And if you're trying to pretend you're a new iteration, the timing's still wrong, and you're far too familiar with things that don't carry over between iteration.

Just logistically, I have difficulty believing you're anything but Jonathan Crane making a rather weak attempt at pretending he's someone else. It isn't as though there's no precedent for it.

video

[glitterateur]

It might have been the porter messing up!

[Because surely this guy is a different version of Crane-- no part of this post involves being a snob about books, and a few people have come back with no memories and different experiences. Seems legit.]

You could ask the scientists at Cape Canaveral?

[restingstitchface]

[He could. He won't.

His head tilts slightly; there's no pretentious attitude; no shit-eating smile. He rubs his thumb and forefinger together, like he's missing a pencil.]

Well, that option's one I've considered often; though I'm afraid my reputation precedes me. It is apparent that my counterpart has caused considerable damage. At this point, approaching people and seeing to it that they understand we are not the same is fraught with difficulty.

[glitterateur]

But it's good that you're trying! This is a great first step. It's gonna be hard to get people to trust you, even though that's totally unfair, but I think eventually people will get it if you're sincere.

[Which he totally seems to be. Look at him, doing his best! ]

Text;

[exceptfebruary]

[ This is upsetting. It's why Julian uses text; he doesn't want to show either Crane or the Network any weakness. ]

You're still here.

Text;

[restingstitchface]

It appears so.

Happy Father's Day, Julian.

[There. That should keep him calm, right?]

[exceptfebruary]

[ He pauses. This version of Jonathan Crane didn't know about his obsession. It wouldn't be difficult to guess, but he hadn't remembered him. Hadn't known what he liked. And since neither of them are fathers... ]

Happy Father's Day, Dr. Crane.

action;

[idesof]

[Later, after lies and Sally and liquor, March makes his way to Crane's lovely room. He loosely clutches a leather binder under one arm, one more fitting for thick documents, new, sturdy, polished, has JPM engraved on the clasp. But there's nary a bit of paper of it. Not this time. He takes his hand off the pipe in his mouth long enough to knock and announce himself ("Mister March, Doctor. I'd appreciate a moment of your time") and then right back it goes, puff puff puffing away like a crazy choo-choo train, dressed down to his shirt, suspenders, and cravat, even.]

[restingstitchface]

[There follows a pause in which Crane collects his notes - his precious research - and his thoughts. He tries to imagine something that won't lead to March suspecting his behavior, but then, remembering their collusions, he remembers the secrets they'd kept for each other and decides there's little to risk, here. He stands, calls for a second, and then slowly files his work into his briefcase before walking to open the door.]

Good evening. How are you?

Video

[liverletdie]

[ He leaned forward at the camera, curious.

That is different. ]

You stuck around? After a temporary change event? [ He sucked in a breath. ] Did you notice anything unusual about what was happening? Around the time that everyone else changed back?

Video

[restingstitchface]

No. Forgive me, but I was preoccupied by the fact I was pulled to this world. I tend to keep to myself so I've spent little time around others. Plus, well, acclimatization comes easier to some than others...

video | id reads "power girl"

[boobwindow]

[ Like Kanaya, Peej is scrutinizing his very word. ]

Really now.

[restingstitchface]

[Ugh. This one.

He isn't unfamiliar with Power Girl; if honest, he finds her insulting and little more than an oaf, throwing her weight around. But he's found another way to direct his aggression. He even looks grateful to see her presence. And when he begins to speak, there's no recognition of their relationship, just some misplaced confusion.]

Oh. [Totally misplaced. Nothing suspicious here.] You're someone he met before, I take it?

[Video; Private]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi is, understandably, paranoid. He doesn't want to believe that creepy fucker Crane is gone, replaced by the nice guy that he had been talking to the last week. He almost writes off the post; hell, he'd find a way to block Crane if he could so he couldn't contact him period. But... well, if people can come in from different points in time, couldn't they come in from different universes too? It wasn't too hard to believe, but... ]

Are you being for real right now?

[ Fine, he'll try. If only because having someone to talk to, even for that brief moment, actually helped, and he hated it. ]

permaprivate

[restingstitchface]

[Oh hell, it's this loser.

Crane doesn't wear his thoughts on his face; he covers them with a nice, pleasant expression. Like he's pleased to see Adachi. Because he's somebody familiar, and he isn't entirely critical of this unsuspicious guy.]

Ah. Detective. I'm afraid it seems I'm stuck here, yes. Can I help you?

[Do you want to talk?]

text; private

[itistolaugh]

WHAT

perma both of those

[restingstitchface]

Dr. Kopski. How nice to see you again.

:)

[Crane is totally down with the youth.]