++ Voice Mail ++

[doctorisin]

You've reached the office of Doctor Jonathan Crane.

If you were enquiring after booking office hours, please include the desired date and time. If this is an emergency, please dial my clinic at the police station.

Otherwise, leave me a message.

Have a nice day.

Comments

[doctorisin]

Perhaps you have other men in your hire? Ones who aren't 'allies'.

[A soft smile, trite.]

Ones who may have been accessories to murder and madmen also... or ones who will become madmen, after you've given them to my care. There are a few little things I've been wishing to test....

I doubt you'd find this trade unreasonable?

[Money is always good too, but that's what he has Bane for. Protection and money.

Everything was coming along nicely. Not a single bat in the night to ruin it.]

...Their handsome faces melt off, just as yours did, and show what truly lies beneath. Someone with high ideals falls the hardest when they're forced to open their eyes to the true nature of the world. His day will come; and unlike those of use with a strong mind, he will likely succumb to pestilence and weakness in the face of it.

He may have the last laugh, Mr. Schmidt. But it will be from within a cell.

[powerofthegods]

I have many men in my employ, and I would not find it difficult to lend you one of them. Or two, perhaps. [Basically anyone who messed up and deserved punishment.] Such things would probably be a good form of discipline.

[He winces inwardly at Crane's comment about his face, but says nothing of it. He didn't care, he kept telling himself.] He is very attached to his friends, he has such faith of them, maybe that will be his undoing. Or something else entirely. I wonder if such things can be forced, or made to happen, instead of waiting for them to take their natural course. [Yeah he's already thinking about it. Thanks, Crane.]

[doctorisin]

Two is better. Though I hope you don't intend to get them back?

[It's less of a lending scheme, more of a trade, Schmidt.]

Patience is a virtue, as they say.

And for those who don't have patience, there's always low-PH acetic acid.

[powerofthegods]

No, you may keep them. Knowing that that is a fate they suffer for failure is good enough. [Thanks, Crane, you're so helpful!

Patience really isn't something he's good at, at all. Probably why he went and killed Erskine the way he did when he should've waited.] While that would be satisfying, I would much rather use his friends against him.

[doctorisin]

Whatever suits you, then.

[Bizarre, foolish man.

But it didn't bother him any.]

I, and the asylum, will be waiting. Was that all, Mr. Schmidt?

[powerofthegods]

[Oh thanks a lot, Crane. Have a little gratitude for the guy who is paying you and giving you lab rats, why don't you?]

Yes, it was. Thank you, doctor. [And not wanting to prolong this, he hangs up, cos now he has some new plans for Steve to consider.]