[Crane rests his hands, together upon the table. He starts closing his eyes, showing no emotion for the individual in question. The sole spark of life is the soft and thoughtful tone in his voice.]
Do you think so? Society believes poor impulse control originates in negative childhood development; humans rush to condemn one another for improper parenting. [Right?] Institutions argue reckless behaviour originates in a familial propensity for pathology.
[His voice lacks inflection. Most of his peers had enjoyed comfortable lives as children. They had been accepted by society and respected as living, breathing beings. He remembers being a shivering wreck and understands why he disagrees with the concensus of his profession.]
Social learning, inferior cognitive processing and socioeconomic status. They believe each has a role in shaping an individual's propensity for reckless behavior. Nobody considers they choose to act that way. Nor that the cause might be the city we call home.
[ Bruce listens from a state of detached disinterest. It's true poor beginnings very often led to poor endings. But it didn't always have to be like that. Batman's vengeance had always been tempered by his compassion, even when he felt like he had very little to give these days.
But something he still believed? People deserved a second chance. For now, that had not been taken from him. ]
I do think so. People want to do good, even if their beginning wasn't perfect. Some of them just need a second chance.
[Crane begins remembering that night, returning there inside his mind, recollecting what the two of them had been fighting for.]
Perhaps Gotham is the one who needs that second chance.
[His detached and impassive voice, distant from subject, is as cold as the winters that plague their home. Does he truly care to help those who live upon her ground? Does he believe they deserve a second chance? Or can he never answer the question?
Perhaps the latter. All had had a second chance, a third, a fourth...]
[ Gotham needed a lot of things. Rehabilitation, a fresh start. A second chance. Bruce wouldn't be the one to give it to her. But he could make getting there a little less painful. At least for the good folks. ]
It does. It won't be with me though.
[ He doesn't smile at Crane, just stares at him. ]
[Thoughts remain unspoken but hang on the air: not everyone has access to your resources.]
One man who serves as a different symbol depending on your position within this city.
[He cannot imagine everyone living in the filthiest apartments would ever approve of all that wealth in the hands of one man. Whilst he can accept some believe at least he is generous in supporting good causes. Yet still they live in squalor...]
People don't want me as a symbol. I'm a spoiled rich kid who never grew up.
[ Sure he'd been generous with his money, but he'd also been showy and selfish with it too. No matter how much he gave, it'd never match how much he'd pretend to spend.
[His tone is quick and dismissive, eager to take what he thinks of as deprecation and toss it aside.]
But there are others in this city who would kill to possess everything you do. [And do.]</small Sometimes we have no choice about becoming a symbol to people we feel no connection to.
[Crane says nothing. Everybody knows the story about Bruce Wayne losing his parents, randomly at night for no sensible reason.]
That hardly sounds like denial.
[He makes his point but coaches it softly with acknowledgement if not understanding. People who lost their parents. People who never knew their parents. Both can something in common. Like dressing up at night and taking their anger out on others.]
[One time in his life, Crane would have found Bruce's behaviour deeply intimidating. He remembers being a shivering wreck. He remembers pleading for everything to stop. Now he studies and observes. His eyes showing no concern where one would rightfully expect emotion.
All he does is stare. He refuses to lean forward or leave his chair.
One might imagine him holding two electrical wires, connected to the same idea, that haven't quite been connected enough to make a spark.]
It doesn't matter what you want. It is what you are.
[Evasive speech patterns. Words that flatter and praise. His mind continues analysing and making observations. Bruce looks comfortable in his chair but his interchanging movements, his searching stares, suggest discomfort on a spiritual level.
Crane mirrors this posture. His body looks accustomed to sitting in its position, but because of his lean build he cannot stop himself looking stiff and awkward, positioned with all the correctness of a man schooled in manners. Nor are his clothes equally tailored. His sleeves are slightly too short, his head slightly too large.
But obviously he's right. He is proud to be good at what he does. Why else is Bruce Wayne sitting in the client's seat?]
[ A loaded question with a thousand ways to answer. He knows he's being analyzed. His every movement turned over and nitpicked and categorized. Whether it's for a diagnosis or for something else, Bruce hasn't decided yet.
It's only fair Bruce do it too. He notes the awkward way Crane sits, the shortness in his sleeves and the way his jacket doesn't fit quite right. You'd think a man of Crane's stature would at least be moneyed enough to afford a jacket that fits. ]
Crane notices himself being studied, sliced and dissected down to his mental bones, but directs his attention to showing no discomfort. He has endured the evil eye throughout his life and carries himself perfectly. He mirrors Bruce's argument with a cold and distant tone - not dismissive but impassive.
Distant. Observant.]
Then you are free to leave.
[Which begs the question: why are you still here?]
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no subject
Do you think so? Society believes poor impulse control originates in negative childhood development; humans rush to condemn one another for improper parenting. [Right?] Institutions argue reckless behaviour originates in a familial propensity for pathology.
[His voice lacks inflection. Most of his peers had enjoyed comfortable lives as children. They had been accepted by society and respected as living, breathing beings. He remembers being a shivering wreck and understands why he disagrees with the concensus of his profession.]
Social learning, inferior cognitive processing and socioeconomic status. They believe each has a role in shaping an individual's propensity for reckless behavior. Nobody considers they choose to act that way. Nor that the cause might be the city we call home.
[Gotham does have an effect on people.]
no subject
But something he still believed? People deserved a second chance. For now, that had not been taken from him. ]
I do think so. People want to do good, even if their beginning wasn't perfect. Some of them just need a second chance.
[ Everyone else? Gets punched by the Bat. ]
no subject
Perhaps Gotham is the one who needs that second chance.
[His detached and impassive voice, distant from subject, is as cold as the winters that plague their home. Does he truly care to help those who live upon her ground? Does he believe they deserve a second chance? Or can he never answer the question?
Perhaps the latter. All had had a second chance, a third, a fourth...]
no subject
It does. It won't be with me though.
[ He doesn't smile at Crane, just stares at him. ]
I'm just one man.
no subject
[Thoughts remain unspoken but hang on the air: not everyone has access to your resources.]
One man who serves as a different symbol depending on your position within this city.
[He cannot imagine everyone living in the filthiest apartments would ever approve of all that wealth in the hands of one man. Whilst he can accept some believe at least he is generous in supporting good causes. Yet still they live in squalor...]
no subject
[ Sure he'd been generous with his money, but he'd also been showy and selfish with it too. No matter how much he gave, it'd never match how much he'd pretend to spend.
Or spend on what really mattered. ]
They'd take the Batman over me any day.
no subject
[His tone is quick and dismissive, eager to take what he thinks of as deprecation and toss it aside.]
But there are others in this city who would kill to possess everything you do. [And do.]</small Sometimes we have no choice about becoming a symbol to people we feel no connection to.
no subject
They shouldn't. I lost a great deal to live this life.
[ And maybe he'd give it all up if it meant he could have it all back again. Thomas, Martha. Dick. ]
no subject
That hardly sounds like denial.
[He makes his point but coaches it softly with acknowledgement if not understanding. People who lost their parents. People who never knew their parents. Both can something in common. Like dressing up at night and taking their anger out on others.]
no subject
I don't want to be a symbol of anything to anyone.
[ Just what are you implying, Crane? ]
no subject
All he does is stare. He refuses to lean forward or leave his chair.
One might imagine him holding two electrical wires, connected to the same idea, that haven't quite been connected enough to make a spark.]
It doesn't matter what you want. It is what you are.
[You cannot lie your way out of that, Bruce.]
no subject
He sits back after a moment and schools his face back into something unreadable. ]
Maybe it doesn't. Doesn't mean I have to accept it.
no subject
One might accuse Bruce of emotional ghosting. But he would charge him with seeking an answer to an unspoken question.]
Like whatever you believe matters.
[He is quiet yet observant.]
People consider themselves important to the life of this city. Everyone will treat you as what you are, regardless of your opinion.
no subject
You're right. I can't stop people from thinking what they want about me. Even if I'm not what they think I am.
no subject
Crane mirrors this posture. His body looks accustomed to sitting in its position, but because of his lean build he cannot stop himself looking stiff and awkward, positioned with all the correctness of a man schooled in manners. Nor are his clothes equally tailored. His sleeves are slightly too short, his head slightly too large.
But obviously he's right. He is proud to be good at what he does. Why else is Bruce Wayne sitting in the client's seat?]
And what do you think you are?
no subject
It's only fair Bruce do it too. He notes the awkward way Crane sits, the shortness in his sleeves and the way his jacket doesn't fit quite right. You'd think a man of Crane's stature would at least be moneyed enough to afford a jacket that fits. ]
Bored. Very bored.
no subject
Crane notices himself being studied, sliced and dissected down to his mental bones, but directs his attention to showing no discomfort. He has endured the evil eye throughout his life and carries himself perfectly. He mirrors Bruce's argument with a cold and distant tone - not dismissive but impassive.
Distant. Observant.]
Then you are free to leave.
[Which begs the question: why are you still here?]