IC contact [Mask or Menace]

[infomodder]

"Gone fishing."

[ so don't leave messages to ruin the after fishing glow !!!

your one stop shop for not leaving him alone ]

Comments

[huntergames]

But...

[ She's seen what the gas does to people and there's no way it's designed to help. It's clearly meant to incite fear and chaos. ]

What was he helping you with? Dr. Crane is still a criminal, isn't he?

[infomodder]

What? Of course he is. Being helpful in some capacity doesn't change what he's done. That's—the world isn't black and white. Especially not this one. Criminals aren't all evil. Taking up Registration doesn't make anyone completely good.

[Except, like, Jojo. He is just that good. And the Blue Beetle.]

[huntergames]

[ He hasn't answered the other question, which she notes. Does she push the subject? It seems completely out of line. ]

Were you alright?

[infomodder]

[What is out of line now? When everything is terrible and inappropriate, all bets are off.]

Yes, and I still am. I just hadn't expected him to...blab, let's call it.

[huntergames]

... okay.

[ A measured pause, then more softly: ]

I thought-- I dunno. [ Crane could have been exaggerating to get under her skin. ] I don't want you getting hurt.

[infomodder]

I don't want me to get hurt, either.

[You know, unless that hurt comes from Hannibal Lecter, he's so dreamy. And also probably halfway across the ocean by now, in another world, all is well. Things are great.]

He did much worse to everyone else. That's where the focus should be.

1/2

[huntergames]

I can focus on you and everyone else at the same time.

[ She says so gently. ]

Because you're...

j/k 2/3

[huntergames]

You are... ahaha...

3/3

[huntergames]

... important...

[infomodder]

You are important to me, too, Sasha.

[This is less awkward now that he has much more practice with Abigail around. Not that Sasha was ever a replacement, of course, but there are some similarities.]

I'm sorry if I've worried you.

[...that's more awkward.]

[huntergames]

O-Oh! No, you don't need to apologize!

[ That gets her flustered. Will apologizing to her. ]

... Dr. Crane makes everything worse!

[infomodder]

I wouldn't tell him that, if I were you.

[Will's advice past that probably sounds hypocritical and borderline condescending, so he leaves it there.]

[huntergames]

Ugh...

If I ever saw him again I'd -- [ no, not throw tomatoes that's a perfectly good waste of food ] glitter bomb him.

[ Or shoot him with an arrow. Glitter bomb arrow. ]

[infomodder]

[It's only a small part of the fate he deserves, really.]

Generous of you, considering he's openly begging for much worse.

[huntergames]

Hnn...

He wants us to do something bad, doesn't he? To prove some kind of point.

[infomodder]

Something bad?

[He takes a second, mulling that over. He speaks slower than usual, in a way that suggests he's thinking aloud rather than under the impression Sasha can't keep up.]

There isn't anything to be done that can't be warped to sound bad. If we leave him alone and to his devices, then we've done something bad by not doing anything at all. If he's caught and put through suitable punishment, he can argue that it's bad because it's not enough, that the government is afraid to do more. If someone finds him and, say, sets him on fire, that's murder and unless it's from someone who doesn't care about taking life, that's also bad. If it is from someone who has no concern over taking life, then they're bad for that lack of concern.

[So basically.]

I think he's curious what will happen. Whatever does happen, he'll find a way to twist it. Because that's what he is, and that's the only way he can perceive the world outside of himself.

[huntergames]

All of those sound bad when put like that...

[ But Crane needs to be locked away. That much she's sure of. ]

[infomodder]

It's a very bad situation in the first place. Difficult to imagine anything that will make it good. But does it matter what he thinks, Sasha? Now that he's shown us all just what he does when he gets enough power, when he puts his mind to it. Does his opinion really mean anything to you?

[huntergames]

... no.

[ It takes her a few moments to come to this conclusion, but there's a firmness to her words. Crane had likely been messing with her and everyone else from the start, under the guise of a "helpful" doctor.

What a fucker. ]

No, it doesn't. Not anymore.

[infomodder]

[What a fucker indeed. And that's a good step for her to take, better than her actually caring way more now that Crane's gone and pulled his mask on.]

Good. Hold onto that. He may try to challenge you on it at some point. If he does, remember this talk we've had. Remember what you said just now. Don't let him shake you.

[huntergames]

Yes... right.

[ She'll practically engrave it in her mind. ]

I won't.

And... you won't let him do any more things to you, will you?

[infomodder]

[Carve it in with a hunting knife.

He's quiet for a moment before he lets out a short, joyless laugh. Nothing bitter or spiteful, just nothing cheerful. Empty noise.]

I don't know where he is. Even if I did, no. I would not. It was a one-time thing. It was always meant to be a one-time thing. If I saw him again, as things stand now, I'd do what I could to get him where he needs to be. Nothing else. You have my word.

[Which is rare for him to give, he's so prone to...changing...as needs demand. But this is one thing he's convinced on, so it's not difficult. It's not a lie.]

[huntergames]

... okay.

[ She's holding him to it. ]

Good.

[ Crane is probably the only person she might not have any qualms about hurting if he did something to Will again. An arrow in the butt is what he'll get. ]

[infomodder]

[And then slow murder via blue flower red thorns.]

Anything else?

[He's not trying to sound cruel, uncaring, or like he's been looking for any reason to shut this down from the beginning, but...if there isn't, perhaps it's best not to linger. Risk saying anything else alarming.]

[huntergames]

[ Grows it out of his body. ]

No... it's okay now. I wanted to make sure everything was alright.