[She stifles a sob at that. She's already talked to so many people about it - people she barely knows - and each time, it's been like reopening a wound.]
You need to understand. If he truly is causing you pain, I want to help. But I need more than a guess that he's involved. Everyone has nightmares.
[ And he doesn't know what hers have been about, whether they're what might be considered normal or not. There's no evidence that Crane had anything to do with it, aside from the fact that she antagonized him - which, honestly, is circumstantial at best. Even d'Artagnan wouldn't arrest him just because he had a motive to hurt someone. It's still not proof that he did. ]
I need to know why you don't think these dreams are normal, and why he's fallen under suspicion. I hold no form of trust for him, but I still need proof before I can take him to task.
[And so she - slowly, reluctantly - tells him. About Jefferson, about what he did (and not just to her). Once she finishes, she puts the phone on mute so he can't hear her voice shaking as she vainly tries to suppress her tears.]
[ D'Artagnan listens to all of it, not interrupting her. Disquiet grows in him throughout. Her story is confusing, and terribly sad, and horrifying all at once. If Crane knows about it, there would certainly be appeal for him.
That said, while it is sad, that doesn't do much to make d'Artagnan believe her nightmares now are not natural.
He waits for a few moments, giving her space after that story, and trying to choose his words sensitively. ]
I'm terribly sorry for what's happened to you, Max. No one should have to carry that much pain with them.
I can well imagine that it would haunt your dreams.
That said, I'm afraid it doesn't tell me why you think Crane is involved. That's what I really need to know.
So, if I understand you correctly, you’re saying that these dreams are replaying these events – but that the words of this Jefferson sound like Crane instead?
[ It’s a bit of a stretch, honestly. D’Artagnan isn’t sure that Crane even has power of this nature. He’ll need to investigate any genuine accusation. The difficulty with this is that it doesn’t seem credible to him, probably because he comes from a world where it just wouldn’t be possible. In theory, he knows that anything is possible here.
But that’s not proof of anything. No court would accept it as a reason to put Crane back behind bars. D’Artagnan wouldn’t even accept it as grounds to arrest him. Max still hasn’t told him exactly what’s happening in the dreams, so he’ll wait for her to confirm he’s understood it properly. ]
[ D’Artagnan is quiet for a moment. He’s certainly uneasy, but mostly, he’s having trouble believing that anyone would hear this story and immediately jump to the conclusion it’s unnatural. Nothing he’s heard so far would make him believe that. He doesn’t know if that means he’s missing something obvious, or if everyone involved is just profoundly paranoid.
He’ll speak to the Doctor and Clara. That might help. ]
All right, Max. I understand that these dreams are frightening. I can’t blame you for that at all.
But you have been through something terrible. It’s not unusual for people to relive horrible experiences in their dreams, and you were talking to Crane. I know that he upset you – I heard it. You don’t think it’s possible that these dreams are…are a response to what you’ve been through? I would honestly be more surprised if you weren’t having nightmares about all of this.
And frustrating. D'Artagnan calls back, leaving a message. ]
It's not that I don't believe you.
It's that I need proof, something more than a suspicion, before I could act on anything like this. You told me what happened to you, Max. You didn't describe the content of the dreams, or explain why you're convinced they're coming from Crane. That's what I need, if I'm going to take this anywhere.
[There's no answer. Max feels stupid, and guilty, and terrified, so as of now, she's just trying not to sleep and not giving half a damn about the voicemail message she just got.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[text]
[text]
What happens in the dreams?
[text]
audio
[voice]
[voice]
[ His voice is gentle, at least. He's trying to be kind. ]
I understand, believe me. But I can't help you if I don't know what's happening.
[voice]
[She stifles a sob at that. She's already talked to so many people about it - people she barely knows - and each time, it's been like reopening a wound.]
[voice]
You need to understand. If he truly is causing you pain, I want to help. But I need more than a guess that he's involved. Everyone has nightmares.
[ And he doesn't know what hers have been about, whether they're what might be considered normal or not. There's no evidence that Crane had anything to do with it, aside from the fact that she antagonized him - which, honestly, is circumstantial at best. Even d'Artagnan wouldn't arrest him just because he had a motive to hurt someone. It's still not proof that he did. ]
I need to know why you don't think these dreams are normal, and why he's fallen under suspicion. I hold no form of trust for him, but I still need proof before I can take him to task.
[voice]
[And so she - slowly, reluctantly - tells him. About Jefferson, about what he did (and not just to her). Once she finishes, she puts the phone on mute so he can't hear her voice shaking as she vainly tries to suppress her tears.]
[voice]
That said, while it is sad, that doesn't do much to make d'Artagnan believe her nightmares now are not natural.
He waits for a few moments, giving her space after that story, and trying to choose his words sensitively. ]
I'm terribly sorry for what's happened to you, Max. No one should have to carry that much pain with them.
I can well imagine that it would haunt your dreams.
That said, I'm afraid it doesn't tell me why you think Crane is involved. That's what I really need to know.
[voice]
Well, Clara's the one who suspected him. He's got this obsession with fear, right? And the Doctor thinks he might be getting some outside help.
Plus, the way of speaking and the body language... something is way off. That isn't Jefferson.
[voice]
[ It’s a bit of a stretch, honestly. D’Artagnan isn’t sure that Crane even has power of this nature. He’ll need to investigate any genuine accusation. The difficulty with this is that it doesn’t seem credible to him, probably because he comes from a world where it just wouldn’t be possible. In theory, he knows that anything is possible here.
But that’s not proof of anything. No court would accept it as a reason to put Crane back behind bars. D’Artagnan wouldn’t even accept it as grounds to arrest him. Max still hasn’t told him exactly what’s happening in the dreams, so he’ll wait for her to confirm he’s understood it properly. ]
[voice]
[She's so tired.]
[voice]
He’ll speak to the Doctor and Clara. That might help. ]
All right, Max. I understand that these dreams are frightening. I can’t blame you for that at all.
But you have been through something terrible. It’s not unusual for people to relive horrible experiences in their dreams, and you were talking to Crane. I know that he upset you – I heard it. You don’t think it’s possible that these dreams are…are a response to what you’ve been through? I would honestly be more surprised if you weren’t having nightmares about all of this.
Re: [voice]
I knew you wouldn't believe me.
[And then she hangs up.]
voicemail
And frustrating. D'Artagnan calls back, leaving a message. ]
It's not that I don't believe you.
It's that I need proof, something more than a suspicion, before I could act on anything like this. You told me what happened to you, Max. You didn't describe the content of the dreams, or explain why you're convinced they're coming from Crane. That's what I need, if I'm going to take this anywhere.
Just think about it, please.
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