video; about last month

[restingstitchface]

[Crane's jacket is gone, as is his tie. He is peeling off a pair of disposable gloves when the camera broadcasts his image, almost every trace of emotion wiped from his face, with what little is left being bitterly suppressed, save for a twitch in his throat. His gloves snap off the ends of his fingers and drop into the trash. Though his voice is scarely above a whisper, it carries his audience. There is calmness in his tone; a slow and lukewarm drawl.]

You know how hard it is to apologize to someone's face. Perhaps you deserve it nonetheless; but I couldn't imagine anyone who would buy such a silly thing. If you ask me, I wouldn't buy it either.

[His fingers drum the table, clacking against mahogany wood over and over again.]

Whatever explanation I could offer you, it's not enough. I mean, I happen to believe P.G. Wodehouse was right: it is a good rule in life never to apologize. The act is done. What does saying sorry matter? All showing remorse does is lay one's head on the chopping block. [His hand on heart.] You see, I was raised to believe hiding one's feelings preserves one's dignity. I am not an emotional person. But having my thoughts exhibited like that was one embarrasing show, let me tell you!

[His casual inflection, injected with a little indignant fury, is smoothed by cordiality.]

You know, it's funny; for all that our secrets were fluttering in the air, they've fallen to the ground to find the best soil to grow. Except they're now thriving in a way I never intended. And I think that's a pretty unfortunate thing.

[The obscure apology hangs on the air as he ends the video.]

Comments

Video

[dun_moch]

I, too, have always believed in the dignity of maintaining one's composure. I cannot imagine how uncomfortable it must have been to have your inmost self exposed in such a raw form, Doctor Crane.

[The look in the Count's eyes suggests that actually, he can imagine it very well indeed, and he did not like it one bit. Thanks for nothing, Crane.]

[restingstitchface]

Thank you.

[Crane seems reluctant to continue. He clears his throat a little before folding his hands in his lap. He then begins playing with his fingers out of sight of the camera.]

If it makes any different, it wasn't intentional.

[dun_moch]

[Dooku snorts.]

I would be disappointed in you if it had been. It was all far too messy to make any kind of experiment.

I am interested in hearing how it happened, if you can explain.

encrypted video;

[cassassin]

[Her answer comes from the cave. The occasional chatter of bats, the flutter of wings, comes in the background, while she turns her attention from the Batcomputer to her phone.

There's a nod, as she considers. She gets what he's driving at, at least. It's an apology, even if it's a poor one, shrouded by his pride. The intent is there, so it's good enough for now. After all, Crane was just as affected by what happened, if not even more so.

Cassandra's tone is careful, measured. She isn't passing judgment on him. Not any more so than usual, at least. Crane knows Bruce Wayne is, or was, Batman, so she won't bother with the usual deniability. No hiding behind Batman or Batgirl for this. He may not have initially known who she was, those years ago, but he's surely put it together by now.]

Then... what did you intend? If... anything.

ditto;

[restingstitchface]

[He doesn't seem to mind the bats, but slightly straightens his spine with each flutter of their wings. The memory of hearing them flutter circles around his head again and again. It was difficult to muster up the energy to speak when caught by his fascination so tightly.

He feels so much about the Batman and so deeply that he's still finding the fact there's a whole cave of them quite bewildering. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes so he can better focus on the present.]

At this moment, I'm not sure. [He says, fingers rubbing his neck.] It's difficult for someone like you to believe, but I didn't intend anything.

[Point being, he hadn't known he was doing it.]

[cassassin]

I do believe you. [She shrugs one shoulder, relaxing a little into the chair. Cass presses her fingertips together, thinking.]

You're not lying. And you don't have... a reason to. So, next questions.

How and why? Any idea?

video

[girlybruiser]

[ Is... this supposed to be a sort of apology? It feels awfully choppy and... not so sincere, but that bit about hiding one's feelings calls out to Haru. She recognizes him from the grocery store, surprised to learn now he's an imPort. ]

I don't believe there is any harm in apologizing with words, but one's actions afterwards must try to make up for what wrong they have done.

[restingstitchface]

[Crane stares at Haru for a moment.

Then it clicks.

He picks up a pen and scribbles something on a notebook. Taking notes, he occasionally looks at her with a small smile. Then his pen is stopped from moving and he strokes his chin.]

If you say so. I'm not certain my actions alone will be proper recompense for the trouble I caused, however.

[girlybruiser]

[ She gazes back at him puzzled. What did he write? ]

Even if it was unintentional, all one can do is attempt to do better.

[ A beat. ]

Though there were a lot of clones who created problems without their true selves knowing.

[Video | Private]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ It takes a moment for Adachi to respond, because he doesn't know if he should or not. Crane was a jerk, and even his half baked attempt to apologize and explain what happened (or lack of explanation) came off as even more jerk-ish. Still... been there, done that, and from his tone he had the feeling that even if Crane explained, there wouldn't have been much he could do about it. ]

You sound like me, after everything that happened back home.

ditto

[restingstitchface]

[Though Adachi isn't the person he wanted to speak with, he doesn't turn him away. He doesn't bother to look at him but only because staring is wrong. His face remains a stony mask but he scratches his chin and affects a light tone.]

Please explain.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Funny, Adachi's responding pretty much the same way, having trouble looking at the screen. ]

I think I told you once. I hate apologizing. It just serves to stroke your own ego, and doesn't actually help anyone you've affected.

[ He snuck a peek at the screen. ]

...not being afraid to say as much is kinda an apology on it's own, though.

Video

[exceptionalthief]

[Well now, that's certainly a different side to Crane—but then, that seems to be the case every time he shows his face on the network lately; a slew of personas all quite different from the Jonathan Crane he'd spoken with several times in person. Although granted, it's been a while.]

Generally, when one makes a public apology, there's usually some mention of what it is they're apologizing for.

[He had, for the most part, been unaffected by any doppelgangers, so that explanation does not leap readily to mind. He'd hate to make any assumptions.]

[restingstitchface]

[For a long moment, the only sound is the ticking of the clock from Crane's office. The only response is Crane folding his arms across his chest and seeming calm, despite the cause behind everything.

Which really isn't something he can avoid, now.]

Last month's mess, if you must know. I, for one, happen to believe in taking credit for one's actions, even if they were unaware of them. [Which he was.]

[exceptionalthief]

You caused the poop monster rampage? 'Mess' is right.

voice, private

[pummelgranite]

That one was yours huh?


I've been to worse parties.

[restingstitchface]

I've heard that before.

[A shrug.]

Still, I guess I should accept that as a compliment, coming from you. At least you had a good time?

[pummelgranite]

Nuh uh. I've just been to some really shite parties.

So what's up with you and genuine human emotion? That's new.

[andtherevolution]

Wait, hold on. Explanation for what, exactly?

[Is he saying what she thinks he's saying...?]

[restingstitchface]

Last month's... accident. The matter is my own problems happened to be the cause. It's not something I'm looking to repeat.

[He's trying to apologize in his own way, but it's really, really awful.]

[andtherevolution]

Wait, you caused that?!

[She takes a deep breath, sighing]

I'd be mad, but... well, to be honest, it sounds like you had just as much fun with this as everyone else did.

[Meaning: none at all]

video

[nextsymbol]

Um...I'm not entirely sure what happened--

[He was the freshest of meat during all those cloneanigans and lucky enough to not have any rumors about him to begin with, so all he knows is basically from the news and whatever's on the internet.]

But I don't think it's true that saying sorry doesn't matter, just because the act you're apologizing for is already done. That'd be like saying you shouldn't rebuild a house because it collapsed in an earthquake, right? It doesn't change what happened in the past, but ... it's building something new for the future, I think.

[restingstitchface]

[He blinks and raises a brow.]

It might well be; but comparing a personal apology to an accident of nature is hardly comparable, you realize? One involves questioning a breach of social protocol. The other questions nothing but your own competence.

voice

[hellrisen02]

[hey Crane; it's been a while]

Why am I not surprised?

...At the lack of control, I mean.

[restingstitchface]

I might venture it's because you're always skeptical, in so far as I'm concerned.