maskormenacelogs | [closed] You’ll sometimes find this fellow in a field of grain

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[closed] You’ll sometimes find this fellow in a field of grain

WHO: Edward Nygma & Jonathan Crane
WHERE: a small, independent coffee shop, because Jonathan's a hipster
WHEN: while the Volcano dating show is happening
WHAT: Harley asked Edward to check in on Jonathan, so they are going out.
WARNINGS: Gothamites talking, but nothing specific. Will update as need be!

[At six pm, just as agreed upon, Edward enters the coffee shop. Coming earlier is just as much a waste of time as coming late, so he tends to be punctual instead and after surveying the shop, he sits down at an empty table, expecting Crane to arrive any moment. He doesn't strike him as someone who would dilly-dally.

Either way, he fills any wait time there might be by scribbling in a little notebook.]

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[Crane doesn't approach Edward from the front of the shop; he meanders around occupied tables and crowded customers from the back. He picks up today's newspaper from the rack, claiming it before anybody has a chance, setting it on Edward's table so he could shake his hands.]

The noise the hand dryer makes! I swear it's just made this grey, depressing day even more of a complete waste.

[Hello, by the way.]

Charming.

[Hello right back. Edward closes his notebook and moves it into his inside pocket, nodding at the man in an ever so slightly more formal greeting.]

Is your life so lacklustre without the ever charming Dr Quinn?

Oh, no, it's always this pleasant.

[After greetings, he rests his bag on one of their table's empty chairs, showing little reaction to Edward's nod other than to slightly lift a brow. He doesn't change out of his tweed jacket and folds his hands in his lap.]

Or at least it isn't as boring as she makes it seem.

I imagine very few things are as boring as she makes it seem, she has a penchant toward superlatives.

[He leans forward, his hands folded on the table as he smiles at Crane.]

So, what have you been up to as of late?

[He's already reading the menu. Edward's smile attracts no attention as he flips to the other side.]

Deliberating a few choices. Yourself?

Something equally vague, rest assured.

[Ah, conversing with Jonathan Crane. A lot of input to receive minimal output. The things he does for Harley.]

I'm intrigued by the judicial system here, so I've been doing some research. There's really not that much of a deterrent, is there? An interesting platform for experiments.

[One of his eyebrows raise, but it only lasts a flip second. His great-grandmother had made him explain himself to the bottom line. He preferred not to have to explain himself to anyone ever again.]

I don't think there's really that much of a risk, if that's what you mean. [He is reading the menu as he speaks, keeping himself somewhat removed.] Well, that's not to say there are no deterrents of the non-legal type to bear in mind. Vigilante justice. Public perception being irrevocably changed. Both can affect research in other ways. Limit our options. Restrict our movements.

Primarily, I would be accounting for the rest of the heroes here who believe they're above the law before conducting any further research, honestly.

Is that what is keeping your research between four walls and behind closed doors for now, doc? Because I assume a scientist in your field would benefit from a larger focus group every now and then.

[Just a mildly educated guess, especially given how much of the network, public and not so public records and assorted other information he has studied since coming here.]

Personally I'm still a bit aimless in my research.

[He looks at Edward over the menu for a second. Then he clicks his tongue in his cheek and returns his attention to deciding which is better; Irish coffee, French press or Turkish. Decisions.]

Well, has it ever occured to you that all you require is the correct material? If you own the right resources, the work almost makes itself. [The more frightened his patients, the better.] Large volumes of qualitative data are tougher to analyze but there is a particular benefit to accomplishing in weeks what would need months. I'll be returning to larger sample sizes when they're necessary.

[Edward has already made up his mind regarding his order, but he is in no hurry, so he takes no issue with Crane taking his time to make up his mind.]

That has occurred to me. So I assume you have the material required right now? [Stands to reason.] Well, I look forward to seeing you at work some time, doc, if I should get so lucky.

[Crane lays the menu down now he's done using it to delay conversation a little while. He drums the table a few times; deliberating something before folding his hands in his lap.

He seems to dislike compliments.]

Well, whether you do; that's on you. [He leaves it at that and glances at the serving counter.] Ready to order?

[Edward's more interested in Crane's research than in anything the man has shown so far concerning personality, given he hasn't shown much of the latter and he has managed to find out a good deal about his research through various sources, but obviously the man isn't about to discuss it, so he simply nods.]

I'm ready. [Which is why he waves the nearest waiter over and makes his order, then leans back while Crane makes his own. He waits for the waiter to leave before looking at Crane again.] By the way, I'm going to be spending some time in your apartment over the next few days, Harley has offered me her room while she is gone. You will barely even notice I'm there, I simply need to conduct some research of my own.

[After ordering, Crane leans against his chair and makes it his own by draping an arm. He begins scratching the hairs beneath his chin, scraping skin with his fingers. He has no way of knowing what Harleen and Edward had discussed in private. What he does know is he has the capacity to decide.]

Excuse me? You cannot invite yourself into someone's home like that. [A pause.] When I'm working elbow-deep I sleep in the office. Since you clearly don't like the idea of that, why don't you go and pay rent for a hotel like everyone else?

[He drums the table again.]

Or will you be telling me there's some other problem behind this? You don't feel uncomfortable sleeping at home, do you?

Technically I didn't invite myself. Harley invited me. However, if you are that resistant, you are right, I can easily find accommodations elsewhere.

[It's the instinctive response, because he's not really about to be needlessly dramatic about this. Not when there is so much else he can be needlessly dramatic about.]

But, yes, there is a problem behind this, otherwise there'd be no need to even consider taking Harley up on her offer. I have to figure out some things before I can go home again.

[One of his eyebrows raise. There's no point in avoiding the issue when it's right out in the open. Low-hanging fruit lying on the windowsill; that's what this is.]

Oswald? [That's the problem, right?] The both of you have a tempestuous relationship. It would hardly surprise me were some harsh word spoken in anger.

[He would prefer to remain out the line of fire. But if he can jiggle those lines from all the way in the back? Sure.]

[It's a shame the fruit analogy wasn't said out loud, that paradox of a play on words would have tickled his fancy. As it is he sighs and lifts his shoulders a little.]

Nothing like that. He-- He confessed feelings. He believes himself to be in love with me. I didn't react in a way he'd have envisioned. Generously I'd describe my reaction as clumsy.

[Stupid, idiotic, a lot of descriptors come to mind.]

[Crane does an admirable job of keeping all emotion off his face. One was satisfaction in Edward having a hard time, second was boredom; he didn't particularily care for love as a subject.]

Well, I'm sure Mr. Cobblepot would say the same thing, especially because he knows you much, much better than I.

[The server slips past him, setting down their orders as he goes. He arranges himself in his chair for maximum aesthetic impact; leans back, left arm straight along the table.]

This pathetic attempt at excusing your fear is beneath both of us; you don't manage to escape a tense situation through clumsiness. You were scared and you ran.

Honestly, while fear might be playing into it, I don't think I can deny the overall clumsiness of my actions. [He shrugs and leans back, reaching for the cup he's been served and taking a sip before talking again.] In my defence, I didn't see it coming and it's not a situation I've ever been in before or ever even imagined I'd be in.

[With a sigh he leans forward again, eyes on Crane the entire time.]

So, fear. Sure. Your expertise, isn't it?

[He begins circling the base of his glass with a finger but doesn't take a sip. His brow lifts slightly.]

Obviously?

[There had never been any obscurity over the target of his fascination.]

Across the divide, even. I think it's intriguing that it appears to be a pattern one can predict with some familiarity.

I wouldn't have thought that that's the intriguing thing about it, isn't that just the nature of any pattern?

[He sets his cup down and licks his lip in a quick motion of his tongue.]

What would be more dangerous, doc? A man ruled by fear or one who is free of it?

[While listening, his head leans against his shoulder. Another man who knows nothing about everything.]

That's a loaded question. You're limiting direct answers to those which only serve your agenda. The real answer being: one who asserts his independence of it.

What agenda are you proposing I have?

[Because, no pun intended, Edward is puzzled.]

I figured a man of your expertise would have unique insights in that philosophical debate and it seems you do, but now I also have to wonder... Are you high?

[Both of his eyebrows raise. He blinks at Edward for a second, remarkably keeping his tone placid.]

Excuse me?

[He doesn't even bother to deny it, just ignores it. It's ridiculous.]

I mean no offence. But let me put it this way, I frequently feel as if you're having an entirely different conversation than the one I'm having or at the very least one that's erratic in unexpected ways.

[It's not as if Edward struggles to keep up for intellectual reasons.]

[He inhales deeply through his nose, a means of steadying his nerves; that frustration that is boiling its way up through his throat. It reaches the back of his mouth and then begins crawling down his arms instead, past his elbows and into his fingers that quietly drum the table.]

All I am doing is conversing on multiple levels. I'm trying to expose you towards other perspectives. Because as much as you feel we are holding an entirely different conversation, I in turn think you are having one that's entirely one-sided.

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[closed] You’ll sometimes find this fellow in a field of grain

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