[40] - [Voice]

[doctor_j_crane]

[Sounding irritated. And is so oblivious to the fact he's been gone for a while, but has noticed quite a few new posts. Even if Crane hasn't bothered to read them.]

It's amazing how much all of you can talk in one day. This is some kind of flood, I assume?

[Added later. Angry Crane is angry.]

Oh, good show, Admiral. I'll keep in mind that abrupt disappearances are now one of the many punishment options that you offer alongside floods, ports and zero. Bravo.


[Private - Eddie]

Are you in the infirmary? [That fear toxin was heavy stuff.]

[Private - Hayley]

I had to use that toxin for other purposes. It wasn't anything personal.

[Private - Eames]

We need to talk. [Added later.] Did you know that the Admiral was going to do that?

Comments

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

"I was worried you wouldn't remember. I'm.. glad you didn't choose to leave." [It was an honest admittance.]

"Well, I didn't-- Wait, what?" [She had begun to reply, then realized that something didn't make sense. Hayley didn't even know he was back yet; why was he at her door, mentioning what she'd said before? It didn't logically fit.] "What are you talking about? I didn't even know you were back."

[With a sigh, she stepped aside, gesturing for Crane to come in. She had a feeling this was going to be a longer talk and she didn't want to have it through the doorway.]

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Unless I was assured of where I was going and actually wanted to go there, it's highly unlikely that I'd leave willingly. [Crane still wasn't entirely convinced that graduation wasn't permanent death.]

[Crane stepped into the room before replying, but he didn't hide his confusion at Hayley not understanding his reference to their previous conversation.] We spoke over the journals. You asked me something, then when I asked for clarification you broke of the connection. I had assumed that you were upset?

[Considering their last interactions before he left, that didn't seem unlikely.]

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

[Hayley scoffed as she closed and locked the door behind him. Then she moved into her room, sitting on the edge of her bed near the computer chair. Her room looked much the same as the last time he had seen it, excepting the sunflower with magical sunlight over in the corner.] "It was probably my twin.. I have one now. She's older and seemed pretty passive and boring. I mean, I already told her we'd be dividing up friends and I claimed you as a friend, so.."

[Awkward pause as she recalled their last conversation and suppressed her relief. The girl's expression shifted back to something less than pleasant.] "But I'm still upset with you, yeah. I'm giving you a chance to explain why you didn't dose and kill yourself before I kick you out and stop talking to you for good."

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

[Crane was staring at the sunflower and magical sunlight in the corner. It was one of the most disconcerting things he'd seen in his life. He wanted to ask Hayley who she'd gotten it from, but now wasn't the time. He walked over to Hayley's desk, standing awkwardly.] A twin. Like Capa is for me. [He hated the idea of it.] Is she a warden or an inmate?

[But quite aside from that, and all the disturbing things it implied, it was obvious that Hayley was still angry with him.] I was still in the process of thinking about your offer when Nygma came to me. We had a fight, he was threatening me. It was a matter of self defense. [One that Crane still wasn't entirely comfortable with.]

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

[Hayley noticed him staring. If she wasn't trying to emphasize how serious she was, she might have told him about it. About Capa giving it to her, about she and Dick planting it in the garden and Loki bringing it back to her with the ray of sun. Instead, she ignored his interest entirely and snapped out a simple:] "Warden."

"I never heard anything about him being dosed." [She shrugged up at him, then looked away, near the door.] "I don't.. care about your excuses. I know you made more than one. If you really mean it, you'll figure out a way. If you don't? Well, I'm not really interested in being friends with someone like that."

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

He wouldn't have mentioned it. [Crane frowned, looking at the ground.] It's embarrassing for a warden. I disappeared before anyone had the chance to find out about it and the subsequent punishment.

[He was sure that Eames would have something to say about it. Crane had an odd twisted feeling in the pit of his stomach when he reflected on how easily he'd dosed Eddie instead of just asking for assistance or trying harder to escape the situation. He'd taken the easy way out and it didn't sit well with him.] It was my last dose as well. [You could hear the regret about that in Crane's voice.]

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

"Then where's the rest of it?" [She asked evenly, a hint of frustration hiding within her tone. Hayley really wished he would just do it and get it over with so they could go back to being friends. Much like Loki.]

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Stolen by Arthas and taken by my warden. [Crane crossed his arms, obviously uncomfortable. He hated that he'd lost all of that toxin so quickly after working so very hard to get it. Between this and Hayley, the stress was building up.] I'm stuck. There's no way to make more and even if I did, my warden isn't stupid enough not to suspect something.

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

"Then tell your warden you need it to experiment on yourself or something. Either that? Or just kill yourself right now and I guess maybe that could be enough until we can get more. You can even stay here while you're recovering." [She spoke with a sweet tone, the kind a teenage girl used when trying to talk her father into buying her something or a boyfriend into giving in to doing something that he perhaps didn't want to. It was all too natural to her.] "Otherwise? Leave. And don't talk to me."

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

[Crane had the sudden realization that if Hayley were one of his patients, she would have been one of the most disturbed people that he'd ever treated. Even so, that didn't mean that they weren't friends. Crane was hardly in a position to judge.] Given that you said before that I couldn't do an alternative action instead, I don't see how alternative method counts. Would you be satisfied if I tried to make more toxin? [That would buy time, at least.]

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

"Because it's not alternative. It's half now and half later. Which, okay, isn't quite as good, but I'm willing to compromise as long as you still get both halves in." [She gave a small shrug.] "I mean, obviously you can take all the time you need trying to make new toxin or whatever? But I don't really see why I should talk to you in the meantime when you could just be lying to me."

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Hayley, if I say I'll do it I will do it. It's not like I don't have new formulas that need testing. [That was the half of it that Crane was more interested in. Hopefully there would be a way of making a toxin and then pretending to suffer its effects. If not, was experiencing the effects first hand really so bad? It would be a valuable research opportunity, to see the effects through educated eyes. Crane continued with a bit more enthusiasm.] There would be formulas to make, of course. But it may be possible.

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

"If you're serious about it, then why won't you kill yourself now? It's just a few days of misery. Then I'll even help you test new formulas or whatever if you want." [Hayley shifted, looking up to him again. She hated that Crane, like Loki, seemed adamantly against it. In the real world, she wouldn't blame them, but here it was harder. There wasn't as much to lose when people knew your secrets, so death became unpleasant instead of the easier path. Then again, she hadn't really threatened to tell anyone, because Crane was still her friend. Despite part of her brain screaming to run the other way sometimes.]

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Because if I have to do it, I'd rather have some scientific benefit. [Being honest with Hayley was a risk, but one Crane had to take. Even if there was the chance that she'd turn against him. A large chance.] If I use a formula on myself I'll get a better perspective on what it does. You'll get your 'justice' just as you specifically want it. Everyone wins.

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

[She stared at him for a moment, dropped her head, then looked up again.] "The whole point of this is that you're doing it for justice and to try to begin to make amends. That it's not for science. So, whatever.." [Hayley stood from the bed, moving over toward the door.] "Obviously I misjudged you, so.. Why don't you just go? You'll be happier, Capa will be happier. It'll be a win-win for everyone."

[The Best Spam Ever]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

[Crane didn't move to leave. He just spent a few seconds watching Hayley's reactions before he began to speak again. Crane was painfully aware that he needed to handle this very, very carefully. It was time for a change of tact.] So, what? That's it? I offer a solution and you just decide that it isn't enough? Is that really how little all of this meant to you?

[The Best Spam Ever]

[everylittlegirl]

"First of all? I already told you. Until you dose and kill yourself and prove that you actually give a fuck about the things you've done? I don't want to be friends. Second, I offered you the chance to do half now and half later. If you want to put it off? That's your choice. What you offered wasn't a solution. It was a delay. So, go head and delay. I'll be here, not talking to you." [She replied frustratedly, shoving her hands down at her sides, hands balling into fists. Hayley let out a sigh of irritation before continuing, willing to give a little honesty in return.]

"I want to be friends with you. I shouldn't want to and I shouldn't be and I know that half the people I know hate it and hate you, but I still defend you and like you and I don't even know why, because you're turning out to be exactly what Harvey warned me about." [And going against Harvey's advice was something Hayley never rarely did.]

[The Best Spam Ever] - this sounds oddly like they're dating. ._.

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Harvey Dent doesn't know a thing about me. [Crane snapped, crossing his arms.] You can't act like he had some grand insight. I want this to work, Hayley. But there are lines. You have to compromise on something or else it isn't going to work at all.

[He paused, taking a moment to gather his arguments.] I'll make a formula, Hayley. I might use it on myself if I decide to. You can either choose to talk to me or choose not to. The balls in your court.

[He moved towards to door, but paused before he left. Waiting to hear her response, if any.]

[The Best Spam Ever] - I love it. xD

[everylittlegirl]

[Hayley was loitering near the door, so she took a step back when he got closer and frowned at him.] "I'm sorry, what compromising have you done exactly? I already gave you a different option that compromised. All you've done is suggested you may or may not do something you were already supposed to be considering.. at a later point in time. Oh, and after you wasted my fear gas on Nygma."

[The girl crossed her arms, not wanting him to go yet but knowing she couldn't reasonably make him stay if he didn't want to.] "I've offered a different option and I gave you time to give a different idea, but you haven't given any except putting it off and expecting me to stand by your side while you delay indefinitely. Give me a deadline, agree to kill yourself, or.."

[She sighed, suddenly sounding as genuinely hurt and upset as she was.] "Or just walk away like they all do, because why should you care anyway, right?"

[The Best Spam Ever] - :D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

That's not fair. I couldn't have expected what happened with Nygma. [He'd seemed unstable, but not that unstable. Crane was going to have to ask him what exactly went on that night. Because it certainly wasn't indicative of someone acting with a sound mind.] For the rest of it, it's not like you're asking me to do an errand, Hayley. This would have serious consequences. Deciding to do it should carry serious weight.

[Crane paused. He'd come up with a different angle, which would hopefully work. He didn't like seeing Hayley as upset as she was. It was awkward.] If anything, isn't the fact that I'm giving this due consideration and not just doing it casually I sign that I do care on some level? [As always, the disclaimer was there. Being straightforward wasn't something Crane enjoyed doing.]

[The Best Spam Ever] <3

[everylittlegirl]

[She would have liked to have said that it didn't matter what reason he used the fear toxin, but it really did. Using it in self-defense was justifiable because it was the prevention of greater evil (an ironic action for Crane to perform). All she needed was for him to agree to kill himself and do it and then this would all be over and she wouldn't have to worry about it again.]

"It should have weight. I appreciate the fact that you're considering it, but I don't actually know if that's because you care or if it's just about you not wanting to die." [She replied honestly, some of the hurt and frustration still evident in her voice.] "But, okay. If you've given it sooo much consideration, why don't you want to temporarily die for your crimes?"

[The Best Spam Ever] <3

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

I just did that. [Crane pointed out, more than a little bit of his frustration with the Admiral creeping into his voice.] The Admiral stole sixteen days from me and I don't understand why. Who knows. Maybe he agrees with you. Maybe he was sending me a signal.

[Crane crossed his arms, his body language showing reasonably clearly that he was obviously very uncomfortable. He didn't understand what the Admiral had meant by his disappearance, but Crane didn't trust it in the slightest.] For all you know, I could have really been gone. How can you ask me to do the same thing again, Hayley?

[The Best Spam Ever] <3

[everylittlegirl]

"Because it wasn't your choice. It has to be your choice to mean anything. I've lost a few days before I know how creepy it is. I do. But I'm not asking anything more or less than I was before and I'm asking because.." [She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice level throughout.] "..because I still want to be friends with you because I still like you and care about you and the only way I can do that is if you prove that you want to make amends and that you're willing to go through what they've gone through."

[Huff.]