Mind-bending terror has it's own inimitable beauty for somebody like me. Not least the fact it's absolutely delightful to watch you all scurry around. Still, if you believe fear means nothing to me, then perhaps you're not as good at this business as you think you are.
[You know what'd be funny? If d'Artagnan became his parole officer. Stop the presses.]
I’m sorry, were you expecting me to apply some sort of detailed personal analysis to your specific brand of insanity?
I’ll tell you what I think of you. It all boils down to one very simple thing – you like hurting people. Making fear your method doesn’t make that less true. Nor does it make you any more special than the next murderer who ends up behind bars.
[ Some of that is definitely bluster. D’Artagnan can’t stand this man, and doesn’t want to play into his narcissism. But he had tasted Crane’s gas, all the same. He had seen what it could do, and that’s exactly why this punishment will never be enough for him. ]
Much as D’Artagnan claims it boils down to his joy of hurting people, his thoughts begin cycling; what emotion is driven by his fear? Disgust. Anger too. How does it make him feel? What did his delicious toxin make him see? How good would it make him feel to have this braggart under its power? Under his power.]
Really. You seem to have forgotten what it was I did for a living. My work drives me towards a higher goal than money or fame. Need I remind you that a court of your peers found me completely sane?
[ The truth is, he'd known very little about Crane before the gas attack. He could have gone the rest of his life without knowing. Criminals have such an inflated sense of self-importance. ]
A court of my 'peers' did no such thing, since a court of my peers would have sent you to hang. Be grateful you aren't living in my world, Crane. This one has shown you more kindness than you deserve.
[Good. Good. Anger is just D'Artagnan's defense against his fear. His study and his mind gives him the right to act as he sees fit. This man is dirt. The same as nearly everyone else in this dump.
But hey. Least he's equal opportunities.]
I am more than aware that these people have shown me kindness, I assure you. Theirs is a debt I intend to repay.
[He's so serious about this. Merciful heavens! He may even be able to redeem himself without laughing at them all.]
Yes. With pain above and beyond what you've inflicted already. I know your kind. We're not all so blinded by mercy here.
[ Ordinarily, d'Artagnan would think mercy was a good thing.
But not for a man like this. Rehabilitation isn't something he particularly believes in. He would be suspicious even of a penitent Crane, and this variant is far from that. ]
I hope you enjoy the feeling of being watched. I'm not the only one whose eyes will never leave you, Crane.
I am more than aware of that. It's the natural thing for we as humans; to watch what we're afraid of. And it wouldn't be the first time I've lived under the watchful eye.
Perhaps you might figure out what became of that. Or not. I don't really care, either way.
[The person involved ended up dead and buried in their own aviary. Fancy that.]
D'Artagnan doesn't default to fear. Crane had attacked innocent people. More importantly, what he'd done had hurt Athos. Badly. That's not the sort of thing that makes d'Artagnan afraid.
It makes him furious. ]
You should look again. Fear may be what you seek, but you'll never find it with me.
Oh, but I have. Your fury is the emotion you feel, and your grandstanding is your response. To your fear of loss, your fear of loneliness, of failure. The fear of losing your friends, each and every one. Need I go on?
[ Typed so quickly that he spells half of it wrong, and has to go back. With more care this time: ]
You don’t know me. You think you do, but you’ve never even looked me in the eye. But so that we’re clear, if you touch my friends I’ll kill you. Try me. I promise that you won’t enjoy it.
And so we come to the petty insult section of the conversation.
Do you mind if I skip this part? It's just that it's so overplayed, and I could be talking to someone who still means something around here. You understand.
[Guess who isn't replying so he can be a complete asshole. This guy right here. He'll just kick his feet up and revel in anything coming his way. Hurts not knowing, doesn't it?]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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What did you want to happen? Screaming terror, that would have meant nothing to you anyway?
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Mind-bending terror has it's own inimitable beauty for somebody like me. Not least the fact it's absolutely delightful to watch you all scurry around. Still, if you believe fear means nothing to me, then perhaps you're not as good at this business as you think you are.
[You know what'd be funny? If d'Artagnan became his parole officer. Stop the presses.]
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I’ll tell you what I think of you. It all boils down to one very simple thing – you like hurting people. Making fear your method doesn’t make that less true. Nor does it make you any more special than the next murderer who ends up behind bars.
[ Some of that is definitely bluster. D’Artagnan can’t stand this man, and doesn’t want to play into his narcissism. But he had tasted Crane’s gas, all the same. He had seen what it could do, and that’s exactly why this punishment will never be enough for him. ]
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Much as D’Artagnan claims it boils down to his joy of hurting people, his thoughts begin cycling; what emotion is driven by his fear? Disgust. Anger too. How does it make him feel? What did his delicious toxin make him see? How good would it make him feel to have this braggart under its power? Under his power.]
Really. You seem to have forgotten what it was I did for a living. My work drives me towards a higher goal than money or fame. Need I remind you that a court of your peers found me completely sane?
Clearly your opinion is flawed. You know nothing.
[Not that Crane rates anyone's opinions highly.]
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[ The truth is, he'd known very little about Crane before the gas attack. He could have gone the rest of his life without knowing. Criminals have such an inflated sense of self-importance. ]
A court of my 'peers' did no such thing, since a court of my peers would have sent you to hang. Be grateful you aren't living in my world, Crane. This one has shown you more kindness than you deserve.
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But hey. Least he's equal opportunities.]
I am more than aware that these people have shown me kindness, I assure you. Theirs is a debt I intend to repay.
[He's so serious about this. Merciful heavens! He may even be able to redeem himself without laughing at them all.]
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[ Ordinarily, d'Artagnan would think mercy was a good thing.
But not for a man like this. Rehabilitation isn't something he particularly believes in. He would be suspicious even of a penitent Crane, and this variant is far from that. ]
I hope you enjoy the feeling of being watched. I'm not the only one whose eyes will never leave you, Crane.
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Perhaps you might figure out what became of that. Or not. I don't really care, either way.
[The person involved ended up dead and buried in their own aviary. Fancy that.]
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[ That thought is hilarious.
D'Artagnan doesn't default to fear. Crane had attacked innocent people. More importantly, what he'd done had hurt Athos. Badly. That's not the sort of thing that makes d'Artagnan afraid.
It makes him furious. ]
You should look again. Fear may be what you seek, but you'll never find it with me.
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[Everything relates to fear, you know.]
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[ Typed so quickly that he spells half of it wrong, and has to go back. With more care this time: ]
You don’t know me. You think you do, but you’ve never even looked me in the eye. But so that we’re clear, if you touch my friends I’ll kill you. Try me. I promise that you won’t enjoy it.
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[A threat to kill is ineffective if this world will just keep bringing him back.]
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If you think you’re invincible, you’re sadly mistaken. Just because the law has no teeth here does not mean the rest of us lack for them.
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Do you mind if I skip this part? It's just that it's so overplayed, and I could be talking to someone who still means something around here. You understand.
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Goodbye for now.
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