CONSIDERING....

[hollowman]

Aristotle spoke much on love and friendship, this is true, but he also spoke of dignity.

"Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them."

And of what worth is friendship without dignity? I hardly doubt the peons and dullards the inhabit this place either possess or deserve honors. Dignity is a concept far beyond them. Not to mention, certain undesirable nuisances from my past.

I'd rather avoid being in a permanent state of nausea and displeasure.

But please, I dare you to test the waters. See where it gets you. See where it gets them.

Comments

[psycho_logist]

Dignity can be an elusive concept even for the best of us, wouldn't you say?

[hollowman]

Doctor, if you find the concept of dignity elusive, I highly doubt you are of "the best."

[psycho_logist]

Your opinion means so much to me, as always, Thomas. But in fact I was excluding both of us.

[hollowman]

And you are always so very generous with me, Crane. It's why you've preserved the livelihood of all ten of your fingers.

But I still find those incapable of grasping a concept as simple as dignity, common decency have you, repulsive.

[ because he is the shining beacon of common decency ]

[psycho_logist]

Is it? I for one am very encouraged by the fact you've become so well-adjusted.

Personally I find them interesting, but that's necessary in my line of work. I'm sure you have more ambitious pursuits.

[ Really, at this point, Crane just says things. Life is one big comedown after despotic rule over a court of justice is taken away from you. #neverforget #deathbyexile ]

[hollowman]

You're so fortunate degeneracy isn't contagious. Unfortunately, my mother didn't teach me the virtues of patience and tolerance.

I have ultimately one goal, as you know well enough and yes, I would say it's more ambitious than analyzing the tedious rhetoric of drones and maggots day after day.

[psycho_logist]

Hmmn. [ A sound of agreement that also means 1) YOU DON'T SAY and 2) GOSH I'VE NEVER HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR MOM. ]

We all have our specialized interests, Thomas, and that's for the best. Or else you would have more reason to want to collect my fingers, no doubt.

[hollowman]

[ DON'T LET IT GET TO YOUR HEAD MISTER CRANE. ]

Unfortunately, we live in a world where those who benefit most are the ones who specialize in dressing like flying rodents, sleeping around, and crying over their dead-as-dirt parents.

What a pity.

[psycho_logist]

[ CRYING OVER THEIR PARENTS, YOU DON'T SAY ... ]

I will leave the rearrangement of those shameful matters into your more capable hands.

[ Or stand back and watch you fall on your bandaged face, whatever. He's flexible. ]

[hexappeal]

It's like every time you open your mouth, all that comes out of it is crap.

[hollowman]

Insulted by a disgusting gypsy. I'm wounded.

[hexappeal]

Oh, please, Thomas. Get over your little school boy crush already, will you? Next you'll be pulling my hair or throwing dirt at me.

[hollowman]

Delusional as well as repulsive. A flattering combination. Typical attributes of one of Bruce Wayne's personal harlots.

[hexappeal]

I don't know, I'm not the one running around pretending to be someone else. A particular someone else that I can't stop talking about.

I'm sorry to ruin your creepy little fantasies, but we were never involved like that.

[hollowman]

You will never, ever be capable of comprehending just how deep these incisions go, woman.

[ huff huff so buttmad ]

And I forgot. You're more involved with heartless fleabag gutterscum.

[hexappeal]

You're only embarrassing yourself, Thomas. I'm sorry that we didn't let you in on our reindeer games as children, but that was your own fault. You clearly didn't learn the lesson he and I were trying to teach you even then.

[That ur a douchebag.]

I do have a type, yes. Although that's only one of them. I do generally prefer well-dressed men with doctorates -- I mean the thinking man's doctorate. Not memorization and trial and error on corpses and plastic dolls.

[hollowman]

Lesson? Lesson?

[ tick tick tick tick...

wait.

oh that doctor comment.

tick...

boom. ]

Listen here, rat, you don't know the first thing about me. In fact, I probably know your precious Batman better than anyone. Better than his own mother, even. Seeing as that I outlived the sordid bitch.

I outlived both of them. [ incredibly vague mysterious cryptic bullshit here lol weh ]

If you think this is all based off some petty childhood grudge [ it is ] where I didn't get a chance to befriend the gutter scum of society, then you are sorely mistaken.

[hexappeal]

[Oh, man, she is loving every moment of this. She's genuinely enjoying this crazy little display.]

You're not well. You're completely misinformed. [Boy, it sure does suck that he didn't actually die and it was some crazy time trip, huh?]

My father was always well-to-do. It comes with being from the lineage of Atlantean nobility and Italian renaissance men like Leonardo Da Vinci. If you did a little google research you'd know my money was older than even yours -- and if you read your history books you'd know that my father is one of the primary reasons Nazi Germany didn't spread. Your entitlement and yes, your itty bitty grudge that you can't get over? It's embarrassing. [YOU BIG CRYBABY.]

[poison_ivy]

Well now, there's a face I haven't seen this side of the grave in a long time.

[hollowman]

I've been working at creating a new one. My greatest work yet. So I was indisposed. Recovery and what not. I'm sure you can be sympathetic to that alone, Ivy.

[poison_ivy]

Recovery, rebirth. I've been there, sometimes you have to cut back to old for the new to flourish. Still, it's good to see you making an appearance...whichever one it might eventually be.

[deciphering]

Dignity? I find it funny that the one thing you're fixated on is something you never had to begin with.

[ooooh can we get some ointment for that SICK BURN?]

[hollowman]

I'm sure those fingers of yours have healed nicely by now, Edward. Why don't you indulge me with your wit in person.

[deciphering]

I'm just calling it like I see it, Thomas. You are, after all, one of the few people in my life who gives me so very much to look at every time our paths cross. Now more than ever, if what I've been hearing is true.

1/2

[hollowman]

[ jaws music. ]

[hollowman]

... and what is it that you've been hearing?

[deciphering]

[YOU CAN'T SCARE ME by RL Stine, master scribe and DC writer.]

Only that you've sullied that lovely face of yours. The bandages aren't a cosmetic choice anymore, are they?

[hollowman]

Sullied is an interesting choice in words. I prefer violated. The face which I've taken on is a tragedy in itself. But a necessary one.

And believe me Edward. Granted our history, I'd be more than delighted to let you take a closer look.

[deciphering]

Only you would cut off your nose to spite your face. It's a shame; Wayne has such an unattractive one.

Generous offer, but it's a little too soon, don't you think? I imagine you must be enjoying the playboy life a little too much to want to commit just now.

[hollowman]

[ excuse you while he vomits in his mouth a little.

then gets some expensive scotch to wash down the flavor.

except it's cheap because he's poor.

because catwoman. GOD HIS LIFE IS SO TERRIBLE. ]

Do you think I enjoy the array of diseased whores who throw themselves at my feet simply because I wear the face of a broken man?

[ DRAMATIC PAUSE LIKE HE ISN'T EVEN GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LAST BIT. THEN. ]

Don't flatter yourself. Witless traitors are unbecoming in any man's character. You're falling in line with the rest of the mindless sheep that flock this city, Edward.

[deciphering]

[hey. HEY.

shut up.]

I would think you’d enjoy it a little more than the onslaught of inevitable puns you’ve set yourself up for. Has Nightwing given you any trouble about what one horse said to the other yet? [speaking of Nightwing, it’s been a while since Eddie’s seen him. wonder what he’s up to?]

On the contrary, Thomas. I consider myself more akin to a rare breed of butterfly; a Glasswing or my personal favorite, the Polygonia interrogationis. Gotham may be home to every peculiarity under the sun, but there will always only be one Riddler.

I wonder if you can still say the same about yourself now that you have that staring at you in the mirror.

[billielurks]

[literally poofs out of nowhere because literal actual magic powers]

What sort of 'undesirable' are they?

[hollowman]

[ you look like you climbed out of a dumpster. tommy is just gonna put a good 10 feet between you and him rn. ]

Let's place them into three categories: undignified, whoreish, leeches.

That would sum up the vast majority of them in one simple generalization.

[billielurks]

[wow rude
is it the gas mask]

Oh. I know the type.

[pagliacci]

Blah, blah, blah! Hey, Hushpuppy! This ain't Philosophy 101, so why don'tcha stick a band-aid on it and pipe down?

[hollowman]

Perhaps if the suggestion wasn't coming from a woman who lost her mind to a blathering lunatic, I would pay it some merit.

[pagliacci]

Hey! I resemble that remark!

[You know, Harley, trying to emulate the Stooges probably won't help your argument any.]

Like you're one to talk, anyway! The only way you could get a date with me was by slappin' on some rich boy's face instead of yours!

[hollowman]

Implying that wasn't an agonizing experience for myself. Resisting my gag reflex throughout every waking moment of the event took effort.

[pagliacci]

[A scandalized gasp, followed by some aggravated sputtering.]

Oh, yeah?! Well... well, maybe next time you got yerself a hot date, you should just try wearin' a big paper bag over yer head instead! It'd be a helluva lot cheaper, ya know! Less of a mess. You could even poke little holes out for the eyes!

[You suck, Hush.]

[hollowman]

The difference here, my dear, is that you're clearly in denial of the one-sided enjoyment of your 'hot date.'

If I were any lesser of a man, I would find it hilarious. But I'm not. Unlike your pet clown. I'm a realist. I see you as you really are: pathetic.

I wouldn't take it personally. You can't help it.

[ cue ]

[morzz]

[ trying to connect the dots here... honors → dignity → friendship

HANG ON A SECOND— ]

Are you implying none of us deserve friendship?

[hollowman]

Friendship?

Friendship?

[ He would laugh if the butt wasn't so hurt. ]

You're delusional if that's what this is about. Loyalty, yes. Obedience, certainly. But friendship? It became extinct centuries ago.

Dignity on the other hand is only endangered. Well on its way to being outnumbered by senseless maggots and blatant idiocy. But there is always the chance that perhaps, with the proper amount of effort, and the correct choices in actions, dignity can earn respect.

[morzz]

[ hey, man, those were your words... ]

Friendship isn't extinct! You probably just haven't had the right kind in a while. And what good is respect and dignity if all you've got with them is loneliness?

[hollowman]

[ the hypocrisy is strong in this one. ]

You would be astonished by how preferable solitude is to companionship.

Though please, attempt to indulge me: what constitutes the "right kind" of friendship?

[morzz]

[ see, now while she understands the whole "to each, his own" thing, she still can't fathom how being alone is better than being with friends. ]

You really must have surrounded yourself with some really awful people...

[ speaking of! ]

Friendship's totally a two-way street, you know? It's not always just give, give, give, just like it can't always be take, take, take. The right kind of friendship is one you feel secure in. It's having someone who isn't just "loyal" [ though she prefers the term reliable; sounds less henchmen-like ] but also someone who makes you feel good and safe. And someone who isn't afraid to tell you things you need to hear, even if you don't want to really hear it at that time.