Just another day in the park

[alicelogan]

Sure it was chilly, but that's what gloves are for. Yeah the park bench was cold, but it's a small price to pay to get inspired. Alice Logan, junior reporter for the Gotham Gazette was going through her notebook trying to piece together a story. She often wandered through the park, usually after work so she could think. She wasn't used to being

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[scream_and_cry]

It was just by sheer luck... or bad luck... that Crane was also in the park at this time. He desperately needed to clear his head after the Ivy incident, and had just finished dealing with a potential client. Some sob story about her husband cheating on her, but Crane could smell the paranoia. From the way she described it, it was nothing but a delusion of the woman. Still, immediate diagnoses does not earn the dollars. Ask any psychiatrist.

He'd bought a newspaper, the latest Gazette, and a smoothie, and just wanted a quiet place to sit down and read. The office was far too noisy, with other tenants that could be heard fornicating through the damn wall. Every bench was occupied. When you want a bit of solitude on a cold December day, you go to the park. Who the hell sits on a bench in the freezing weather? Well, it seems everyone does.

Finally. A bench with a smaller occupant. He could have a fair amount of personal space, and she seemed... occupied. Not speaking, he sits on the far end, and opens his newspaper. And then looks at the girl. He recognises her. Squinting through his glasses, he follows up with his crooked grin. "You're Alice Logan. You interviewed me."

[alicelogan]

"Mmm?" She answered without looking, still working on a paragraph. She finished it and looked over at the person she had apparently interviewed.

"...Dr. Crane?" She returned his smile, though hers was more genuine. "How have you been?"

He had been one of her first interviews. She was nervous as hell but enjoyed talking to him. He was very intelligent. Stupid people just made her angry.

[scream_and_cry]

"Oh..." He puts his paper down, and keeps smiling at her. Alice Logan. A nervous, young, girl. Clearly somewhat in awe of one of the *Gotham Freaks* and no doubt proud to interview him for her rag of a paper. "I'm well, thank you."

His eyes don't travel all over her body like other men perhaps might. They just look into her eyes. "How did your newspaper sell, after the interview? Have you had a chance to talk to more redeemed criminals?"

[alicelogan]

"It did very well. That article actually got me my own desk." And a much more dangerous job of trying to track down criminals that were still wreaking havoc on the city.

"As for more redeemed criminals, I'm afraid I don't have the contacts for that. It's not going so well. Not all of them want to talk to a novice reporter."

Her smile turned sheepish as she silently thanked him for that opportunity.

[scream_and_cry]

"Perhaps... I could organise a meeting between you, and the Riddler. Edward Nygma. I work with him now." He removes his glasses, and cleans them. "Legitimately, of course. We run a Private Investigative service."

Looking at Alice, he raises an eyebrow. "One question." Leaning in, he stares deep into her eyes. "Why aren't you scared of me?"

[alicelogan]

"So I heard. That would be wonderful, I'd really appreciate it." She had put her notebook away, devoting her full attention to him now. Maybe her editor would approve a series on all these reformed criminals. Maybe she'd land some of the bigger stories. Maybe she'd get a raise!

"Hmmm, two reasons." She smirked and stared right back. "One, you're human, and two, I'm not scared of anything."

Getting a story was more important than fear. You couldn't be scared after living in Gotham all your life.

[scream_and_cry]

This bothered Crane. This bothered him *a lot*. He stopped himself from sneering and grabbing both sides of her face, and leans back again. The best kind of fear is progressive. The gradual deterioration of the victim's psyche... Now. That is good. That is educational. That is fun.

"Maybe I can show you where we work." A whole list of locations to take this girl zoom through his mind. "But tell me... And you know what I am like." He puts on a fake laugh. "I have to know this!" He pats her thigh, pretending to be friendly. And then his voice drops. "What is your fear?"

[alicelogan]

"Oh sure, Uni classes don't start again until January so I have lot's of time to devote to work." Lack of fear also means lack of distrust. She believed his friendly act, even despite the change in his tone.

"I told you, I'm not scared of anything." She pondered that statement and lowered her gaze, "...well, except maybe..."

She wasn't sure if it was a fear or just something she didn't want to happen.

"I've been kind of paranoid lately about running into... the Joker. He's just so unpredictable, you know? I mean, obviously Batman's around and there's tons of people keeping the city safe but... he just makes me nervous."

[scream_and_cry]

"The Joker?" Well, that's irritating. "I will admit, there is something scary about the psychotic clown." Only in as much as any other psychopath is scary. "But that's interesting. Many fears manifest as a thing, rather than a person. Not many people fear an actual person..."

He ponders, genuinely interested in this little freak. "And tell me, if it's not too large an intrusion. Do you have a personal protector? A man, in your life?" Better to find out about any avenging angels beforehand.

[alicelogan]

She laughed, yes, actually laughed. "Is this turning into a session, Dr. Crane? I'm... seeing someone. I mean, we just started... I don't even know if it's dating but, we're together. Kind of."

Not having much experience with men, she wasn't sure if she could even call Vincent her first boyfriend. She also wasn't sure why she was babbling to an ex-con.

"He's... a really nice guy."

[scream_and_cry]

Aaa, how sweet. How innocent. How naive. She probably doesn't know how most men think. She's not unattractive... As far as these things go. Crane isn't particularly interested in that sort of thing. But no doubt this man is just after her for sex. So vulgar. "I wish you all the best. I'm sure he's lovely."

He goes back to his paper for a good few minutes, but not letting the thought of her out of his head. The fun he could have tormenting such an innocent young mind. Then he lowers it, and has some of his smoothie. "What are you writing?"

[alicelogan]

She smiled and nodded at his response. What a nice guy, she thought. As he went back to his paper, she turned back to the occupants of the park and watched them until he spoke again.

"Oh, it's just some expose on drug trafficking. There's been a few busts lately and I'm trying to put it all together. It's hard to get people to talk about it though, because I'm so young... they never take me seriously."

No one wants to cooperate with the nineteen-year-old. Press pass or no.

[scream_and_cry]

"Hmm." Drugs. Nothing to do with him, not that chemicals were foreign to the good doctor. After all, a certain knowledge of chemistry goes towards making the most efficient fear toxin. "Do you have any leads? Any contacts in the police?"

He's bored now, and just talking without engaging brain, as his mind has wandered to exquisite forms of mental torture. "Maybe you need a Private Eye to look into these things..." He chuckles. And then his mind clears. He has a plan.

"Come with me. I know an old drughouse from my criminal days... You'll be quite safe in my company, and you'll get your interview with the Scarecrow present."

[alicelogan]

"I have a few leads, not much." She shrugged. The reality of her lack of information was setting in, causing her to pout.

Though, she perked right back up at his offer. "Really?! You'd do that?! Oh wow, I mean... thank you! Dr. Crane, you're amazing!" She got up off the bench, exuding excitement.

Interviews in the dark spots of Gotham, how cool was that?!

[scream_and_cry]

Crane wants to scowl at this display of excitement. Idiot girl. She has no sense of danger, and this lack of fear... it needs to be remedied. "Follow me then." He sees her going for his arm. "Do NOT. Touch me." He finished his smoothie, and puts it, along with his paper, in the bin.

Walking through the park, he answers a few of Alice's questions out of courtesy, but grows an increasing distaste for the stupid child as time goes on. He needs to break out his mask. He needs to force her into complete terror. She needs it for her own good.

Eventually, before anything in his mind snaps (more than it already is), he gets to a taxi rank. "After you." He gestures at one of the cabs.

[alicelogan]

Okay, maybe he's just got an issue with being touched. Maybe it's been a long day. Alice shook off the rebuke and followed him.

When they got to the cab she smiled politely and thanked him, sliding into the cab with the excitement from before growing stronger. She couldn't wait.

"It was really lucky running into you."

If only she knew...