[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

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

I'd prefer to call it swapping notes. [Crane shrugs. He liked professional gossiping.]

You're watching the effects, I trust? [Crane paused, considering.] You'll have to attempt some type of therapeutic action as well if you want to see a real difference.

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

Watching Roman drool on himself isn't the most thrilling of activities.

[But it is mildly amusing.]

I'm well aware of that. The medication is merely repressing his socially unacceptable tendencies. And grounding him in this reality, which he seems to be having difficulties with, much like you did.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

[Crane would watch that. All day.] I'm sure that isn't the only effect. Look harder, Nygma.

[Crane looks uncomfortable at the mention of reality, but shrugs.] The reality of the barge issue doesn't make him insane. If anything, it makes him saner than most people here if he's really question this place existing.

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

[Deadpan:] He also slurs.

[Here, Eddie tips his head in the slightest bit, thinking.]

I managed to convince him I was his subconscious in order to get into his room. That isn't classified as sane in my books. [He fiddles with his wrists cuffs.] It's desperation. He needs grounding.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

That's rather common. Most patients dislike it, to put it lightly. [It tended to undermine their confidence, something Crane had liked.]

It's sane. There's a logical system he's using. This is his mind, so we're parts of it. You should keep on going with the subconscious angle. It can still help. Just think of it as nontraditional wardening. [Crane had to stop and smile at that.] You're rather good at that sort of thing, aren't you?

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

[Eddie was wondering when you would be your creepy self again, Crane.] Encouraging psychosis would be more detrimental that helpful.

[His expression narrows in the slightest bit, mostly out of confusion.] Traditional wardening? I never knew we had such a thing. Abnormal methods of wardening seem par for the course around here.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Not all psychosis is detrimental! [Just most of it.] You would be helping his development. He'll be more open with his open subconscious than with you.

[That gets a smirk out of Crane.] I suppose you're right. But if there is a box, you're outside of it.

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to pry open his inner-sanctum on your advice. Or anyone's advice, for that matter.

[Now that sounded like a compliment.

Eddie's lip twitches, quirking up.] I am known to be innovative. Useful quality, I would think.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

That's what wardens are meant to do, isn't? Aren't you curious about what's inside? [Crane paused. He was about to suggest some fear toxin assistance, but decided against it. Rose wouldn't have approved.]

I suppose you could say that. You seem to be able to talk yourself out of just about any corner you end up in. As that fear toxin business proved. [Crane was wondering how exactly Eddie had done it.]

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

I sated those curiosities as The Riddler. [He spent years being around what that man is.] We were acquainted, in Gotham.

Mm, I don't frequently drive myself into corners, but thank you. The fear toxin incident was a minor set-back. It'll be dealt with in time.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

How well acquainted? [Endless curiosity, it is here.] I don't have an equivalent, as far as I'm aware.

If you say so. [Crane wasn't so sure about the fear toxin incident being dealt with, but it wasn't worth really arguing the point. There was another issue at hand.] I trust the effects of the last vial weren't too traumatic for you?

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

We're not the best of friends. [And that's all you're getting.]

Traumatic? Certainly not. [Nope. Eveything's Good, Jon. No horrific nightmares on this end. None whatsoever. Really.] I'm not entirely desensitized to the aftermaths of your toxin, but I won't bemoan a single unpleasant experience.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Of course not. He is an inmate after all. [Cue slightly cold look. Awkward.]

That's both good and bad. Good that you weren't overly effected, but disappointing that the toxin wasn't as strong as I had intended. Perhaps an issue with the formula. [Crane frowns, thinking through the chemical equation that he'd used to make it.]

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

Bitter, are we?

[Edward makes an effort to appear nonchalant.] The small amount I breathed in might have been the issue. I'm not going to encourage further experimentation now that you've got a competent Warden who nonetheless makes horrendous choices, but it was extremely refined from my end.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

[Crane shrugs, before saying rather neutrally.] You might find out what it's like one day. I'm sure the other wardens wouldn't approve of you having that fear toxin.

[Crane had listened to Eddie's explanation, watching his reactions carefully. There wasn't much to pick up on. It did raise another issue though.] Does not encouraging further experimentation mean no experimentation in the future at all?

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

[There's a tense beat of a silence before a thin tone arises.] That's a very unlikely outcome. I have contingency plans in place, to circumvent discovery.

[Eddie then cups his chin thoughtfully.] It depends on the outcome of this current predicament. I was hoping to move on from toxins, honestly. You're practically a walking chemist. It would be wise to further develop your prowess in the lab.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

I think the last few weeks have proven that there's truth in that. [Crane's noticing the tone. Time for a subject change!]

[And oh ho ho, Eddie said prowess. Crane thinks that's accurate, because according to himself he's basically one of the best chemist ever.] Well, yes. While the fear toxin is obviously my primary interest, developing it on the barge at this time just isn't feasible. I should move onto other projects in the mean time.

[SPAM] 8D

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

[Jonathan Crane cured cancer in the comics, so naturally, Eddie thinks highly of his skill.]

There are plenty of synaptic pathways to choose from. [He places his fingers together.] I would suggest pursuing experimentation with Serotonin and Norepinephrine as a small, harmless project. It would enable you to see people enact their dreams. Much less damaging to the subject.

[SPAM] 8D

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

That's very true. [Crane paused, considering what he'd read about those particular chemicals and their effects. The experiments that had been done with animals were very interesting, to say the least.] Even with the lesser damage done, I doubt that the other wardens would be impressed. If they found out.

[The 'if' was a major factor. It would be hard to hide something like that and Crane doubted that many people would see the distinction between the dream enacting experiment and the fear toxin, despite the lack of trauma.]