dear_mun | (no subject)

Anyone ever tell you you got pretty much the most punchable face there ever was?

Hell, I'm surprised there ain't a line forming.

Oh, more or less. But it's tended to be from my patients who lack the mental wherewithal to realize they're being a little tactless.

S'pose I could see that, sure. But if you're gonna just smarm that sleazy-ass 'your brain is my Play-Doh' smarm at everyone you ever see, tactful or not, then why bother with it?

Well, social conventions and etiquette exist to lubricate society, make it work more efficiently and more pleasantly for everyone. When certain conventions are ignored, willfully or otherwise, you get chaos at worst and maybe some hurt feelings at best.

What's troubling to me is how quickly you jump to such negative conclusions about me, based only, I think, on my profession and appearance. I wonder why that is?

Exist t' be used, or t' be abused? Cause that's all the difference in the world, Doctor.

An' maybe it's because I can hear every last twist've meaning in the words you choose- th' ones set specially so's you can get your jollies from others letting 'em go by. Maybe it's because the name an' face of Jonathan Crane have a whole lotta baggage attached to them.

Or maybe I can just see right through you. What do you think it is, Doctor?

Used, I'm sure. The abuse of social conventions has historically been pathologized, as I'm sure you know. Not so much fun to deal with. Much like an overactive suspicion of others, funnily enough. [totally ignoring the fact it's all true]

I don't think you really want my opinion. But I'm curious to know why the interest in what I do.

Or perhaps you're just projecting your feelings on others. After all, I see nothing but a scared little man before me.

What is it you think I'm scared of?

Judging from what I know of you? What I know makes you who you are? I think you're afraid of fear itself. You seek to know it intimately, learn its every facet with the desire to conquer it.

Of course, what you should be asking is what you should be afraid of, Crane.

[His expression remains deliberately blank as Bane talks] Fascinating and plausible, all of it. But I'm afraid you've got the wrong idea about me.

Oh? And what's that?

Well, that and the Bat. Hide behind your facades all you wish, Crane. You don't fool me.

[He snorts, never having liked his version of Crane.]

People like me.

[The slightest tic of his face, and then a short laugh] The Bat. Yes. Of course. How could one ever forget?

People like you? Oh dear, that's not a threat, is it?

A threat? No. Just a simple fact. I've faced my demons. I've met my fears head on. Now? I fear nothing. Not man, not god, not demon. I wager you keep that little gas of yours with you at all times, since that's the only trick you know.

Go ahead, then. Hit me with all you have, and I will show you what it means to truly be fearless.

That's quite a claim. [pauses a moment to regain his poise] I do, in fact. Although to call it a "trick"... I think that's rather carelessly writing off just how much stunning emotional potential sits in even the weakest dosage.

[well! looks a little honest to God excited at the opportunity] Everybody has demons; they can't be exorcised nearly as cleanly as people tend to believe. [retrieves his briefcase, casually pulling out his mask and pulling it over his head] There are always a couple pieces of straw left after the sweeping. [presses the button to trigger the gas for one of the more potent doses, and watches Bane intently] It's unavoidable.

[The biggest reaction Crane gets is a blink of the eyes and wave of the hand as if he smelled something foul. Of course there's images of the prison he was born in, and the feelings of Venom withdrawal clawing at his mind, but he doesn't give Crane the satisfaction. Yes, he has his demons and his fears. But he's mastered them like he's mastered every aspect of his being.]

Yes, everybody has their demons. I haven't exorcised mine, per-say. They are now subservient to me.

[narrows his eyes at Bane's words and looks at the gas dispersal machinery for a moment as if wondering if something's broken, then wordlessly presses the button for the most potent dose he's carrying]

Very impressive... Now tell me how you feel.

[Bane closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep steadying breath. The memories of the first night off Venom taking hold of him again causing a few muscles to clench, but then relax as he forces himself to focus on the support he got from Scandal that night.]

Satisfied. I have proved my point, and mastered my entire being once again. Fear has no hold on me.

[behind the mask Crane's jaw works in something verging on distress. a moment later he rips his mask off, eyes wide, laughing shrilly in disbelief]

That's not how it works. I'm not even immune to it, and I developed it. No one has that much control over their instincts. What did you do?

[Bane smirks behind his mask, relishing the distress Crane is experiencing.]

Many things. I broke the Bat. I sought redemption with the Bat. I took a bullet for the Bat. I even kicked the drug known as Venom. I was a guinea pig for it. It killed every other inmate in Pena Duro the guards tested it on.

It gave me the strength of twenty men. I was told I couldn't survive another day in my life without taking it every six hours.

I'm not immune to your gas, Crane. I can still feel that first night after kicking Venom lingering on the edge of my mind. But there is the difference between us. You fear fear. I mastered it.

[he shakes his head as he listens, trying to still his harsh breathing. his voice is almost a hiss when he speaks again.] I don't. I don't fear it. I...

I would love to run some tests on you, I think. Neurological ones. Psychological ones. Chemical ones. Because what you've told me is just beyond all reason. [he grins, a bit unhinged] You're an anomaly. You shouldn't exist. Congratulations.

What I accomplished cannot be studied or quantified. What I accomplished, I did so not of my own will alone, but through the support of others as well.

Regardless, I did not claw my way out of Hell to be your guinea pig.

Everything can be quantified. It's just a matter of how deep you dig.

There's no shame in being a test subject. Giving something back to the world. All those things you did to 'master your fear'... You sound like a pretty selfless guy to me.