IC Contact post for Mask or Menace

[dun_moch]

"You have reached Count Dooku. I regret that I am unavailable to answer your hail. Kindly leave a message, and I shall respond at the earliest opportunity."

Text | E-mail | Voicemail | Phone call | Hologram | Other

Comments

Voice

[restingstitchface]

[From what he had heard, this man had a deep, rich voice and was used to oratory. He could respond with text, keep the count out of his element - or he could make him feel like a winner. Catch flies with honey instead of vinegar. A video conference would be too personal for their first meeting. Voice it is.

He flicks the communication open and speaks at a soft, polite volume. His pitch and tone are perfectly controlled. His words intone sympathy with the man's predicament.]

Count Dooku. I am Dr. Jonathan Crane.

To begin with, I apologize for calling you without prior engagement. Keeping matters short, for we are both busy individuals: I am messaging you regarding your communication with Harleen Quinzel. I feel I must apologise on her behalf. We are visitors here from the same city and I saw how she familiarized you with her sense of social manners. You cannot expect a woman with her level of psychosis to act rationally. It would be easier upon you to not encourage the attention she desires.

Re: Voice

[dun_moch]

[Oh good, someone with manners. And sympathy for the Count's absurd plight. The honey is certainly flowing here.]

Doctor Crane. Please do not feel obligated to apologize for Quinzel's behaviour; you are presumably not her caretaker. Nonetheless, I must thank you for your kind words.

I was not aware that Quinzel is unwell. I suppose it would explain much. Have you been treating her condition?

[Because that is a much more preferable explanation than having Dooku's name be objectively hilarious.]

Permavoice

[restingstitchface]

No.

Unfortunately, I am no longer a practising doctor. I am pursuing research in the private sector.

[He says sincerely.]

Of course, I would have been willing to help her manage her personality disorder otherwise. Certainly I would have been more effective than the unstructured help she is encircled by at this moment.

[Also, unlike her, he has a life outside of calling people names over the internet.]

[dun_moch]

[Let's be real though, calling people cowards and stupid over the Network is like 90% of what Crane does.]

It is clear she could use more... help than she is presently receiving. My exchange with her was quite grating indeed.

[A thoughtful pause.]

Might I enquire as to the nature of your current research?

[restingstitchface]

[People are incapable of self-reflection. He's just helping them to distinguish the truth.]

You may well do so. [An investigation can involve nosing the network, much as asking himself.] I am investigating the etiology of the fear reflex in higher mammals, including homo sapiens. I've yet to see anyone give an explanation that satisfies my curiosity.

[dun_moch]

I am surprised to hear that. I've been told you've had no shortage of test subjects. You surely do not lack for data.

[Urquhart clued him in to Crane's not-so-little experiment last August, and follow-up searches of the Network and news archives were quite illuminating.]

I wonder what is it that you are seeking to explain. In most beings, fear is simply part of the survival instinct, is it not?

[restingstitchface]

[His favorite subject! Better sit down so he can soliquory at you.]

Of course it is. It is a basic, primal emotion. It is the driving force, yet people commit to ignorance and drown themselves with pills and commercial fervor to avoid it. There exists the claim that love pushes men to commit despicable acts, but those acts are driven by fear! The fear of harm. The fear of loss. The fear of death. The fear of pain. The fear of failure.

Fear is power. If you can control it there is no limit to what you can do.

But your question resonates with an uncommon opinion; that men who believe fear is nothing more than survival instinct is a very simplistic view.

[His voice is calm but something is hidden underneath his cool facade.]

People react to fear, not love. They don't teach that in Sunday school, but it's true.

[Nixon. A politician understands fear. Not like him, no, but this man seems politically skilled. The dig is entirely deliberate.]

[dun_moch]

[Sweet merciful stars, this man is obsessed. Dooku knew already that Crane had a reputation for fixation on his chosen field, but this is his first time getting the Full Scarecrow Experience. It is something, all right. Dooku now understands what kind of man he is dealing with, who could devastate the imPort community more or less singlehandedly.

He is suddenly and unsettlingly reminded of General Grievous- the cybernetic killing machine who boasted of living only to see Jedi die, who had willingly mutilated his living flesh into metal and plastic to become a deadlier warrior. It's a poor comparison, though. Grievous also exists for a single thing, but he is a warrior at heart, relishing the clash of blade-on-blade, delighting in harvesting trophies from fallen foes. Crane is a scientist, and Dooku bears that in mind as he responds carefully:]

You have grasped a truth of the universe that many prefer to remain ignorant of. Fear is indeed in almost all living things, and those who control it gain great power. But a basic emotion yields basic power- vast in impact, yet simple at its core. It appears to me that your research focuses on the foundation beneath all things, but dismisses the structures built on top of that base.

[He pauses, then takes the plunge:]

Fear is not the end. It is a beginning.

[Risky, to challenge the focus of the Doctor's obsession. But riskier still to humour him, to show weakness in the face of his possible reaction. Count Dooku has no intention of ceding influence to any monomaniac. And if Crane is as loathed by the public as Dooku expects from his 'experiments,' incurring his irritation could have its own benefits.]

[restingstitchface]

[A challenge.

This man believes himself his equal? The corners of his lips turn slightly. If he had been here to see his work he would realize the Scarecrow has no equal. A small sliver of doubt acts like a crack, tiny in fracture yet damaging to his core. It fills him with an emotion that he finds both repulsive and unwanted.

Eventually he decides that he is tired of being quietly polite and decides to throw his retort into the ring.]

Every end is a beginning and every beginning is an end. In my opinion, you are thinking in a straight line.

[Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. His tone is soft and polite but the count's words are being turned over in his mind. Repeatedly.]

[dun_moch]

[A good start. Softly now, softly but firmly-]

Is that really so undesirable? A straight line, at least, may lead somewhere. Far more preferable than thinking in a circle, wouldn't you agree? Always leading back to the same place- most tiresome.

[And that has been a common failing of those who devote themselves to a singular concept, in Dooku's experience. He had once idly asked Grievous, after a training session, what he might do once all the Jedi were dead. The warlord had recoiled slightly, and offered some vagueness about finding a new worthy foe, before initiating a new and furious sparring session. A drawback of living solely for the struggle- one becomes ill-equipped to attain victory.]

Feel free to have Dooku's telepathy work on these brackets btw

[restingstitchface]

Well, circular logic cannot be proven inductively by empirical evidence. My research is-

[based on emperical evidence; all of his past has informed his present.]

-not based on the assumption of a subject needing to be proven. It is a principle of nature that living beings feel fear. Your statement that a straight line must lead somewhere suggests a vertical inclination. Pray tell, what if that line was horizontal?

[dun_moch]

Then it would suggest to me a course not worth following. I prefer to keep my lines pointing upward.

[He reaches out with his mind- gingerly, aware he is engaging with a rather different consciousness here. He senses doubt, invasive slivers of anxiety regarding the past, but also deep revulsion at the presence of that doubt in his mind. Crane hates the presence of weakness in his own self... Dooku can relate.]

Which returns us to the original query. Just what is the goal of your research? Your topic is a proven principle of nature, very good, but where is it leading? What great and important question do you seek to answer? How loud a person can be made to scream? Speaking for myself, I have little interest in such noise.

[restingstitchface]

My goal, as you simply describe it, is to contribute research to the scientific community's understanding of fear. I seek to beget progress. Too many are incapable of making it; they are content to live in mental squalor and ignorance.

[And of course. He doesn't believe anyone else to be as capable.]

Fear is the greatest emotion that drives human action and influences behavior. If that emotion can be understood, it can be controlled. People can control their lives. Does that answer your question?

[dun_moch]

Understand fear to control it- and so control one's life. How interesting. That does indeed answer my question.

[The Count sounds pleased. As though Crane has impressed him with something.]

It is possible that our views may coincide more than I previously expected... although our methods differ greatly.

[restingstitchface]

[Oh. That's interesting.

Doubly so when he considers the path this conversation's taken. And that it's occurred at all.]

Yes, but the wildflower variety of our existence in this bubble is one of life's pleasures. Don't you think so?

[A beat.]

Anyway, perhaps if I would learn a bit more about you our approaches could become more complimentary...

[dun_moch]

I am still evaluating what this 'bubble', as you put it, has to offer. But I will say that the range of perspectives I have encountered has been quite stimulating.

[Dooku will admit that thus far the imPorts are, in general, a little more intelligent and intriguing than the frequently dull inhabitants of his own Galaxy. A little.]

What if I were to tell you that there was a philosophy in my Galaxy that has contemplated the same questions you study for many thousands of years? A school of thought which understands the power of fear... and explores its control?

[restingstitchface]

Well, I would tell you I find the concept fascinating. Then I would question why you wish to share it with me, as you are doubtlessly aware of my reputation.

[Crane doesn't trust anyone. This man is a little more strident than the others in this dump, to share such information. But the question is why is he sharing it at all? What does he want?]

But you speak of philosophy. I speak of science. Active experimentation.

[Yes, you can guess what that means.]

My understanding of fear has no equal. But that does not mean my search is over. What is the name of this school of philosophy?

[dun_moch]

That is a good question. You are quite a fearsome terrorist, after all. Your experimentation is infamous. While I see nothing harmful with granting you a few minutes polite conversation, others might be less charitable. I would hate for there to be a misunderstanding with my fine new imPort friends about why I am discussing such matters with the terrible Scarecrow.

[A pause, letting the implications (and flattery) swirl as they will in Crane's mind.]

Yes, I believe it would be wiser to distance myself for now. I have many other pressing matters to concern myself with. I thank you for your courtesy regarding Harleen Quinzel, Doctor Crane. Perhaps we will speak more on these topics another time. Until then, I will hope for your successful rehabilitation.

[Another beat, then:]

Oh. And the name of this philosophy is the Dark Side.

[restingstitchface]

[Fearsome. Infamous. The need for caution. A terror of being associated with him, even if Dooku doesn't particularily care for society's opinion underneath it all.

One can imagine him preening himself, pleased with his own intellect.]

It is by no means irrational that an emotion that frightens everyone throughout the galaxy is referred to as darkness. [He supposes. The phrase itself is simplistic. But the most beautiful things in life can be simple.] But it not the darkness that makes day so bright? Anyway, I digress. This has been a pleasing conversation.

text;

[matadorable]

count dooku
i hope youre doing okay
now that the occupation is over
and the russians are gone

whenever youre free
i want to ask your opinion
about something important
if its alright

text;

[dun_moch]

[It is maybe a day before Dooku responds. He is busy meditating, focusing his hatred and rage toward more productive ends, contemplating how he could have been so utterly compromised by the crude coercion of the Soviet Union. Never before has he been violated on this level. Throughout the day, he thinks upon his revenge.

At length, the Count masters himself and regains his focus. When he turns his attention to his messages, he speaks and writes and lies as though nothing has changed.]

Hello Manolo. I am indeed well, and most pleased that we have regained our freedom.

I trust you are also all right. What is it I can help you with?

Re: text;

[matadorable]

[The Soviets really did a number on a lot of people's minds. Manolo doesn't blame him for the delay, but he's relieved when he finally does hear back.]

its about registration

im not sure whether i should
stay unsettled or not

so i want to hear
what other people have to say
about their status
and how they feel toward
where theyre at right now

you are a very smart,
very experienced man
and i thought i should
also ask you

through the communicators
or in person
whichever is best for you
either is fine with me

text --> Voice

[dun_moch]

[There's a pause while Dooku considers, and then he makes an audio call to Manolo's communicator. He does not wish to risk exposing weakness by meeting in person, not in his current state, but his voice feels strong, and the sound of his deep, rich speech carries influence far better than text ever could.]

We will talk through this means, if that is agreeable to you.

[If nothing else, it is good to know Manolo has the wit to recognize Dooku's intelligence and sophistication. Unless he is simply flattering him- a common hazard, in the Count's experience.]

Voice

[matadorable]

[Manolo generally prefers texting over anything else, but he still readily answers Dooku's call. He's taking time out of his day, after all, so the least he can do is accommodate the man's preferences.]

Yes, of course. Thank you...for agreeing to talk to me. I know you are busy.

Re: Voice

[dun_moch]

It is no trouble at all, I can assure you. These are important questions you are considering.

Let me answer with a question of my own. Would you feel safe if you unregistered? There are many signs that the government is becoming less... tolerant of those who show different views, especially in a time of war.