voicetesting

[sighcology]

It appears the Bat-man around these parts is spawned from the desires and fantasies of grown men and women wearing knee-socks and dungarees.

[None have been the real deal. Here or Gotham. There's a frightful shame, in that.]

Listen closely, Mundane. By mimicking the Bat, such hacks and vigilantes give shape to themselves and the fears they refuse to face and name. Delving into our psychological shadows aids our creativity. Writing horrifying fantasy is alluring to them, because it provides them with a safe way to confront their existential fears about death and personal darkness.

It appears the same is true in your case. You are lost in the scramble for your own existence; to be something, and never nothing. Don't hide that bewildered look. Fear is quite rational. There is nothing wrong with being scared.

It's a rather difficult problem, I know. That's why continuing your sessions with me is in your best interest. I'm here to help you, if I can. You'll just have to trust me.

Comments

[jokester_not_joker]

Or maybe they just find fear exciting and have a penchant for writing.

Your convoluted answer is good too though.

[sighcology]

[There's a small, proud smile.]

Of course.

If you want my professional opinion, everyone here seems quite troubled. I am willing to offer my assistance. [But to who, though?] There's no need to stop something one enjoys.

Though, I openly admit I expected one of them to claim there's something in the water.

[jokester_not_joker]

Oh sure. Most, if not all of the interesting people do have a little skeleton in their closet. We're here because we caught a mun's attention so stands to reason they find something titillating about us.

You could easily make a case study out of me and Owlsie if you were in my universe.

[sighcology]

Study?

[He's the perfect doctor for such a thing. Absolutely.

However, Joker's a dangerous subject. He won't study him lightly.]

I am certain your mundane is aware my specialties are fears and phobias. [Oh the delightful possibilities.] What exactly could I help them with, were I in this universe of yours?

[jokester_not_joker]

Not sure if I would fit into your specialty then. I fit more into an obsession if anything and Owlman's more an A grade psychopath.

First you will need a little history lesson though since I've noticed not everyone's privy to it.

I'm not the mass murderer in this situation. The terror of Gotham is a guy in a ridiculous owl suit. He terrorizes Gotham for his own benefit. Murders, thefts and everything you can think of.

I was just a hack comedian who figured out making fun of the bully actually got people laughing. So I made a good amount of money making Owlman jokes.

Well good ol' Owlsie can't take a joke. So he killed Harleen, my manager and good friend, and cut a big old smile onto my face.

Needless to say I lost it and threw on my best suit and poured my money into some gadgets. From there I decided I would make Owlman's life difficult.

That's the short version, but let's save the childhood talk when you have one of those fancy couches.

[mrplayboybunny]

Diagnosing your own mundane. I'm sure that's working out well for you, Crane.

[vakna]

Men worship fear to cope with it. You perhaps more so than your peers.

[sighcology]

[What on earth is that kind of past? It makes no sense. He just notes it down and continues the conversation.]

Of course. Continuing this session in private would be best.

That is if you have no problem with my methods.

[jokester_not_joker]

What are your methods exactly? Never met whatever mirror we've got for you in my universe so I've got no clue what you have in mind.

I'm also not particularly looking for help so much as I want to give you something interesting to investigate. I can imagine your job gets pretty boring until the interesting cases come around.

[sighcology]

[His smile is thin but evident.

Playboy billionaires with delusions of power. How he hates you. Oh, how he wants to be feared by you.]

It's a rather simple diagnosis. But sometimes one must go back to basics. [Sigh.] Are you a qualified psychiatrist, Mr. Wayne?

[sighcology]

[Oh. Shame. He would have been happy to discuss fear if this hadn't been made personal.]

How kind of you, offering me your educated opinion.

Unfortunately, I'm at a loss as to what you're talking about. Indeed, even who you are.

[vakna]

[Her youth seems to bely an informed opinion, but her bearing does not.]

I think to dwell on fear as you do is to know it intimately.

[His question ushers a long pause.]

I'm Eli. A nobody, really. Who are you...?

[sighcology]

Well. The interesting cases are not why I do this job. Albeit these days they cross my door with increasing frequency.

But to answer your question, my methods involve combining psychoactive drugs with therapeutic efforts so that my patients are hopefully enabled to live relatively normal lives outside my asylum. Drug use is done under my careful guidance. I assure you I am well-qualified, with credible references.

[sighcology]

Dr. Jonathan Crane.

[He takes a long pause.]

Are you well acquainted with fear, child? You seem to show little unease over talking to strangers.

((oh god, i'm so sorry for anything this Grantaire moderne does! lol!))

[under_separate_cover]

Oh really, Doctor? Honestly, you speak as if you are an expert on the human mind, but really-- you are just overly educated on the levels and types of drugs that can affect the mind, are you not? I mean, a psychologist can study the actual causes and such as, behind various disorders, but-- well. The only thing that my psychiatrist ever did for me, was to prescribe me anti-depressants for my "suicidal ideation". Because I like drinking a little too much, you see... Never bothered to learn the cause or anything of my drinking "problem", just: ANTI-DEPRESSANTS! STAT!

[vakna]

[He acquired his prefix early; the man looks quite young for his trade.

Her eyes leave him for a vacant stretch of ground. She thinks.]

I see only strangers, so I am accustomed. I know we can be infinitely cruel, perhaps I seem unafraid because this is unchanging.

[waytoosmart]

[ Don't mind a boy wonder just eyeing you from the other side of the room dude.]

[sighcology]

[Thin, pressed lips and unblinking focused eye contact. Crane's the master of the ice-cold stare, Tim; he won't be outdone.]

... Can I help you?

[sighcology]

[He watches, clinically observing that nervousness in the way she acts - a diverted gaze, caution in the way she speaks, a detatched way of describing her feelings.

He leans forward, and his stare grows in intensity. He has to adjust his glasses. He then calls her name to focus her attention.]

Eli.

Are you afraid of me?

[sighcology]

[Crane's completely the wrong person to babble on at. Totally.

Plus, equating him with some two-bit psychiatrust? How dare you.]

They sound like an amateur.

[jokester_not_joker]

I'll have to take a rain check on the drugs doc. I'm sure I've got issues, but none of them are particularly debilitating. At least not extreme enough for me to go under that kind of treatment.

If you ever want to do a paper about the psyche of vigilantes wouldn't mind doing some interviews.

I also figure you would probably do your best to compare and contrast me to that Joker bozo from your universe

[sighcology]

[Regretful. He would've relished keeping this Joker drugged and seeing what made him tick. What he was scared of. The limit of his mind.]

Of course. Maintaining accuracy in my practice is essential to secure the most effective treatment. I apply that fastidiousness to my research papers as well.

[A pause.]

Now. Your offer is most intriguing. Are you available in the near future?

[jokester_not_joker]

Sure. When you're dead your schedule seems to free right up.

I've got nothing but time. The mun less so, but he will do his best to keep up.

[sighcology]

Well, my mun [don't publicly call her your test subject, Crane. Hush] is occupied at the moment.

But, should you and Owlsie discover the time to attend, I will be waiting.

[Two test subjects instead of one? What a good deal.]

[jokester_not_joker]

Oh no I haven't seen Owlman here. Besides you wouldn't be able to get him to cooperate. He's very violent so he would need a sedative or something and then he wouldn't be great at discussion. Hardly is when he's lucid.

Basically imagine a mash up of Batman's stoic attitude and Joker's homicidal tendencies and you've got the idea of why he wouldn't make a great interviewee.