The Scarecrow

PAUSE you have rats in the lab!!!????

On my way over this instant.

*sigh*

I wished to ascertain a fact. It ended a waste of my time.

Yes he’s actually quite good at that isn’t he

He has all the wisdom and scientific know-how of a surprisingly insightful toddler. I am surprised you did not kill yourself at a young age to get away from such rambling.

He used to be….. less like that. But I made sure to surpass him as a scientist

By Jove, a difficult task for sure. The bar is on the ground.

I wished to ascertain a fact. It ended a waste of my time.

Yes he’s actually quite good at that isn’t he

He has all the wisdom and scientific know-how of a surprisingly insightful toddler. I am surprised you did not kill yourself at a young age to get away from such rambling.

I wished to ascertain a fact. It ended a waste of my time.

@crane-posting ... Who are you? You look like someone who likes to crush hopes and dreams and turn into nightmares.

... Would you like to chat?

Let us simply say that I enjoy observing the course of fear.

Of course.

Crane removed his hat and ducked his head reflexively as he stepped into the house on invitation, the door closing and locking behind him with a final click. With the added inch or two from his work boots, he barely cleared the doorframe with centimeters to spare.

He hung up his hat by the door, straight black hair falling down to his shoulders as he glanced around at his surroundings. Up close his face wasn't too much more flattering than the pictures occasionally published by newspapers, with dark skin bearing too-sharp features and frown lines between the brows. His eyes were brown and entirely cold, with no spark in their calculating depths.

This could be a game. This was probably an experiment. This was definitely a test.

His right hand extended, angled strangely. It could be for a handshake. It could be for something else. "I believe I shall." A ghost of a smile whispered over thin lips. "What's for lunch?"

His incredibly tall and lanky frame would be enough to strike fear into anybody's heart, especially paired with his ominous appearance and voice. To this woman though? For whatever reason the unease was easily overpowered by intrigue.

Accepting his hand, Amelia smiled proudly. "I Prepared some Gnocchi, nothing too fancy, of course.. But I do hope you'll like it all the same." Goodness, His voice was enough to make her heart flutter, despite the cool and distant calculating tone. This man was terrifying in every sense, appearance haunting and presence menacing, a stark contrast to the much shorter woman before him in several ways. For one, her practically towered above her, not that she minded in the slightest. Her own skin pale with a hint of a soft red painting her cheeks from her makeup that she'd applied so neatly earlier in preparation for this very moment. Her Auburn hair, usually put up on a clover shaped bun now hung freely, cascading over her shoulders and back, covering the very exposed skin on her back from the rather revealing backless shirt. Her hands were smaller than his too, considerably, and far less callused, fingers pointed with sharp nails painted a dark red.

"And I have something for you as well." Crane shifted position, suddenly closer to Amelia than he was before. He still held her hand, though the position was no longer that of a handshake and more... holding her palm out, so she couldn't withdraw it. A few steps had him pulling her to stand next to the dining table.

A bony hand dipped into a pocket, drawing out three clear glass ampules taken by the neck between the fingers of Crane's left hand. They were small things, each one mostly filled with liquid tinged a familiar shade of green. A differently colored score mark was on the neck of each one, indicating the place to snap off the top. Based on the slight inconsistency on the top of each one, they were every one of them hand-sealed.

"Violence," he set the one with a red mark into Amelia's hand firmly, pressing the glass into the flesh of her hand. There was a surgeon's precision to his motions, clean and neat.

"Vacancy," The capsule dropped into her palm, the second one clinking lightly against the first. The mark upon the neck was small and white, barely perceptible except for the contrast against her skin.

"And vengeance," A third with a black marking placed next to the first two, Crane's nails deliberately running over skin before he closed her fingers unyieldingly over the three ampules.

And then, all of a sudden, he let go and stepped back. Crane gestured to the table behind him with a sadistic magician's flair, where at some point three items were set out. A small shot glass, a syringe with some rubber tubing, and what looked like a modified anaesthesiologist's mask. "Pick your poison, method of delivery, and the amount- but remember, the full dose of one of those things is liable to kill."

She'd allow him to practically pull her further into her home, clear intrigue painting her features as he spoke and placed the tiny things into her palm, one by one along with him naming them as he moved along. Curiously, Amelia would raise her brows and look at the different glass containers, studying them.

"Fascinating..!" She'd exclaim softly, lips tugging into a smile as she looked up at him. "Would you explain more in detail what they'll do? Or would you prefer i just pick one and find out?"

Then, her gaze wandered to the table, which he'd somehow managed to set so incredibly quickly her mind hadn't even had the time to process him making a move to do so. The room felt almost stuffy now, though not unpleasantly so; rather there was an evident air of excitement and curiosity as she moved along to examine the items now decorating her table.

They looked so out of place, dangerous scientific items set so normally atop the black table beneath. The small tablecloth but a canvas for the art the doctor prepared, only for them to bear witness to. "I Must say, I'm impressed.. I Know your chemicals are dangerous, but to think this small amount is enough to be lethal.. It's incredible!" Turning to look at him over her shoulder, she could feel her heart racing. It was so incredibly thrilling to be able to feel this way, after so many years of playing with death she'd practically forgotten what fear felt like.

Until she met him.

And oh, how she adored it.

Well.

At least she had some semblance of curiosity, as opposed to instantly agreeing to whatever. However small it may be compared to the frankly overwhelming... lust? Clinging?

Jonathan brushed the pads of his fingers across the three ampoules with all the feeling of a proud father. A ghost of a smile brushed across his bespectacled face. "You must have some sort of understanding of chemistry and the principles behind my work. Let us begin by seeing what you guess these chemicals will do."

He paused with a lecturer's consideration. You can take the man out of the university... "And, for bonus points, the difference between the methods of delivery."

The smile at the compliment to his work came naturally blank, with nothing behind the eyes. "Of course. It is my field of expertise, after all. And to not contaminate the data, it is integral to make the maximum possible subjects survive to provide their experiences."

"Pop quiz, Fun! I bet your students loved that!" Amelia replied with a sweet hum, tone light and joking.

Once again, she studied the different glass containers, thinking for quite a while before speaking a response.

"Violence.. that would be straight pain, I imagine?" She suggested with a hum "maybe.. make you feel like you'll be attacked..?"

Pursing her lips, she leaned a bit on the table which was almost the perfect height for her to keep her arm completely straight when she did. Her nails clicking rhythmically against the wood.

"Vacancy, maybe.. a feeling of emptiness perhaps? Or a dissasociation? But considering the type of toxin.. it's not any kind of dissasociation.."

The last one was considerably more difficult to her, closing her eyes as she tried to think of the answer her neat brows furrowed instinctually. "Vengance.. hm... It'll make the subject feel overly guilty?"

Times like this is when she wished she'd payed more attention in chemistry class, or that she'd had Dr.Crane as her teacher at all. Never a day where she didn't learn something from him it seemed.

"Injecting it with a syringe has a more direct effect, yes? While drinking it would take longer because the body has to break it down to absorb it.. as for breathing it.. that would be a bit of a middleground right?"

Her attention remained on the items before her, a genuine curiosity and awe in her brown eyes.

"Hrm. No, they tended... unreceptive to traditional methods, as many do," Crane said with a dryness to his voice. "Though pop quizzes are quite a minor fear, as proper ones go. With the extensive psychological experimentation they were subject to, they tended afraid though effective."

He looked somewhat approving at the amount of thought being given to the vials, at least. A thoughtful, non-knee-jerk response was at times the best he could hope for from some, and even then many disappointed him. "My chemicals tend to begin subtler- it allows for a greater insight into the human psyche," Crane began the lecture, head tilted toward the table. "In items such as this, the best you can get out of title and label is word association- as well as how well you know the person who titled the item."

"The guesses are appropriate enough. Violence is simple- the expectation of such. Out of the three, it is often the most affected by past experience- a strike, about to land but never quite doing so." A moment, then Crane brought his hand up in the motion of a strike that never lands. "None of these are meant to be enjoyable, but there may be at times insight gained."

"Vacancy is, as predicted, a byword for disassociation. The knowledge of not being present at a time when it is extremely necessary, a few inspirations from sleep paralysis just to keep things interesting. An unimaginative chemist would call this a paralytic agent, but there is potential for much more."

"Then Vengeance," A brief huff of a laugh, though not quite amused. It does not quite seem that Crane is capable of finding much of science funny. "No, not quite- the other two were actions of their descriptors upon the person. This is the feeling you get when the consequences come for you. Of deserving it, with nowhere to run or hide. It works a little more against those with a less kind background, I believe."

He listened to the takedown of the methods of delivery neutrally enough, however. "Good- though I will add that in the gas form, with the method of delivery it tends to run faster than the other two, but deliver a lower dose. Good for- ah, immediate, controlled full-body panic attacks as far as I have observed."

It went unsaid that he had observed quite a lot.

"Makes sense," She hummed in reply, the motion of his hand followed closely by her gaze and lips would purse at his explanation. Violence seemed interesting enough on its own, though she had to admit Vacancy did too.

She knew none of this was meant to be enjoyed, assuming it would be a pleasant experience would be a stupid thought if she'd ever heard one. Still, the idea of experiencing his toxins in a controlled setting like this, where he was right beside her the entire time.. It felt strangely therapeutic.

"I See.."

Heart was thrumming at a steadily increasing rate in her ears, beating louder and louder each passing moment after he'd finished speaking. Leaning against the table with her arms, Amelia furrowed her brows.

What was she going to experience? What kind of hallucinations? Auditory? Visual? Would her heart race like she'd never experienced before? Was she going to cry? Scream? A growing number of questions invaded her mind, each and every one more intimidating than the last. Amelia wasn't stupid, she knew actually doing this, letting The Scarecrow have his way with her psyche was an obviously, incredibly stupid and dangerous thing to do. But then again, she was no stranger to risking her life or making bad decisions. And, for whatever reason she was still here, living breathing and always ready to gamble with her life.

She'd look over at him, his cold brown eyes piercing her soul. Sharp features just as intimidating as the mask he'd wear working. This man in a way, was death incarnate. Cruel, powerful.. And yet, the urge to be near him was ever growing.

It wasn't hesitation she was showing when she pulled away from the table, taking a few steps away from him. "Would you like anything before we start? Water? Tea?"

Her mind was racing, Injection? Well, She wasn't a massive fan of needles but who really was? It might act too fast, too. Then again, Having him be the one to prick her skin, touching her.. it wasn't an unwelcome thought.

Breathing it in.. Depending on if it had an odor or not, could be easier and definitely more of a 'classic' experience.

Drinking it? Well... They were going to have lunch, so at least she wouldn't experience it on an empty stomach. That led her mind to ponder the idea of a fear-toxin hangover, which she blinked away from her mind soon after. Silly.

"So far, I'm drawn to both Violence and Vacancy.. As for delivery, I'm a little torn.. It's between these two-" She motioned between the glass and syringe.

Data was data. If it wasn't fear, Crane could still make something with it.

He did have to admit, though, that he would enjoy terror better than close anything else. The heady proximity of it, the taste and feel of fear, of sheer animal survival- it didn't come close to experiencing it for himself, but the Scarecrow quite liked to see it.

"Your mental state informs your experience, just as your past does. Just as your surroundings do," Crane lectured briefly on the topic, more a series of sentences built to inform. His motives as always were more than that- he wanted to see reaction, or lack thereof. The structure of preconceived notions unto effects.

There was a brief chuckle, low and warm like the last breath before suffocation. A tiny factoid about himself, shared (and dangled) almost like a reward. Here is something about me; Here is something you can do for me. And here is some time, to gather yourself, should you wish. "If you like. Black tea is my preference, for taste. I am in no hurry- this is all about you."

Dark eyes gleamed at that, enough to almost look alien under the completely normal lighting. Crane shifted, re-balancing the weight leaning against the table. And yet the motion looked unnatural- too smooth, and too coherent, to be anything but intentional.

It wasn't only fear that was missing from his brain.

After a moment, he spoke- the words level and well-controlled, like close anything else he did. "I bring the method of your undoing. I answer questions, but it is up to you to decide the means and manner of your terror. "

Quite. Such... interesting experimental strategy.

I am quite fond of experimental strategies. It’s so much fun when they pan out as expected

Tell me scarecrow to scarecrow. Are you here to talk shop or just chat hmm?

Is there shop to be talked? It always behooves one to keep a finger on what else is happening in the city. See what experiments can be done.

My experiments have taken on a…… grander scope as of late

Ah, in what respect? Grand scopes are no stranger to one in this line of work.

Do you know what makes up people? Atoms and cells yes. But our world runs on intentions and abstract as much as it does linear rules.

If you get abstract enough the rules of reality itself changes Physics become strange in ways we cannot imagine.

The abstract becomes tangible. People are made out of threads of abstract things. And if you look hard enough you can pluck them apart and replace them.

What happens when you swap one abstract for another? The result is always different.

It is always. Enlightening

Hrm. Concept-forms. The realm of the homo magi, and some similar beings. How... limiting.

Quite. Such... interesting experimental strategy.

I am quite fond of experimental strategies. It’s so much fun when they pan out as expected

Tell me scarecrow to scarecrow. Are you here to talk shop or just chat hmm?

Is there shop to be talked? It always behooves one to keep a finger on what else is happening in the city. See what experiments can be done.

My experiments have taken on a…… grander scope as of late

Ah, in what respect? Grand scopes are no stranger to one in this line of work.

Ah, suffice it to say perhaps it is not all solely due to your age.

Look. I am throughly more distressed than usual. It is hard to discern meaning when I am in this state. My grasp on everything is tenuous at best at the moment

This is me being frank. If you have something you would like to say then I ask you speak plainly and clearly or do not speak at all

To think that clear thinking might have been an inherited trait.

Your father is, in newer linguistic terms, a lame-ass fucker who would not understand the meaning of science if a man labelled 'experiment' bashed him in the face with a baseball bat.

He once labled me experiment. Should I hit him with a baseball bat?

I would be most amused if you tried.

Quite. Such... interesting experimental strategy.

I am quite fond of experimental strategies. It’s so much fun when they pan out as expected

Tell me scarecrow to scarecrow. Are you here to talk shop or just chat hmm?

Is there shop to be talked? It always behooves one to keep a finger on what else is happening in the city. See what experiments can be done.

Ah, suffice it to say perhaps it is not all solely due to your age.

Look. I am throughly more distressed than usual. It is hard to discern meaning when I am in this state. My grasp on everything is tenuous at best at the moment

This is me being frank. If you have something you would like to say then I ask you speak plainly and clearly or do not speak at all

To think that clear thinking might have been an inherited trait.

Your father is, in newer linguistic terms, a lame-ass fucker who would not understand the meaning of science if a man labelled 'experiment' bashed him in the face with a baseball bat.

Ah, suffice it to say perhaps it is not all solely due to your age.

Quite. Such... interesting experimental strategy.