[42] - [Voice, so painfully public]

[doctor_j_crane]

I would like to apologize- [He stops, because he sounds sarcastic. It's like a natural reflex. He continues on more normally.] I would sincerely like to apologize to Hayley Stark for dosing her with a highly unpleasant fear toxin last July, according to the calendar that the Admiral has inflicted on us. It was unwarranted in her case.

[Added later: Crane sounds exasperated.] And in the case of anyone else who was affected at the time.

[Added even later: Crane's getting used to it.] Including people who were directly killed as a result of it, otherwise indirectly impacted or generally traumatized by the experience. At the time I clearly needed to work out who was deserving of what.

Comments

[private] I LOVE IT.

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

What you do. It's the most important part.

[private]

[aforger]

I pretend to be other people.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Which makes you either an actor or a conman. Or both.

[private]

[aforger]

Not quite, but you do flatter me.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Most people don't consider being called a conman a compliment.

[private]

[aforger]

Once you move past the dishonesty, it's a rather admirable profession. Much like your own. It's a greater dedication than most actors have and demands more skills. Plus I'd imagine anything illegal comes with more risks.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Most people don't think it through like that. It's almost enough to make me suspect that you've done something like it at some point in your life. If you did, you must have spent a large amount of time working out excuses to justify the behavior to yourself. [Crane loves an opportunity to shrink.]

[private]

[aforger]

If I had been a conman, then defending the profession would be obvious. It doesn't leave much in the way of imagination. I rather enjoy giving professions that are normally condemned a second chance before judging them so quickly. [He's talking about your profession, Crane.]

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

[Crane catches that.] Quite. I'm unsure about whether that makes you a good warden or not. I suppose the opinion of the other wardens matters more than mine.

[private]

[aforger]

Only in some things. About whether I'm a good warden or not, I'd expect your opinion to be the most relevant.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

I think you're a decent warden. [Pause.] You've clearly improved my rate of survival on the barge.

[private]

[aforger]

Thank you, Jonathan.

A difficult task indeed. [He's joking. Mostly.]

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

It's not my fault that Perry Dawsey is so unstable.

[private]

[aforger]

Mm.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

It's not. [A+ for persistence.]

[private]

[aforger]

I never disagreed.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

You didn't agree either.

[private]

[aforger]

You are not capable of controlling Mr. Dawsey's temperament. Satisfied?

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am. That wasn't that hard, was it?

[private]

[aforger]

Since you wanted elaboration: I do believe you quite capable of provoking him.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

I wasn't provoking him. I was attempting to- [Pause. Because of the lying rule.] I couldn't have known what his reaction was going to be.

[private]

[aforger]

Next time, provoke someone less angry and prone to violence. It's not the provocation I mind so much as your chances of death.

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

If we're basing this on chances of death, can I take this as permission to provoke Rex as much as I please?

[private]

[aforger]

Who's his warden and why do you want to provoke him?

[private]

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

I was joking. I don't actually want to do that. [Because Hayley told him not to.]