"Welcome to my parlor said the spider to the fly."

[blindingtrust]

This was not going to be the easiest thing she had ever done. But she had been asked to do this because of the District Attorney. Ivy is many things after all. he is young and idealistic. She is also very brave and no one can deny that fact. She has a mind like a steal trap locking onto things that few others would. She had the makings of an excellent lawyer.

They wanted to see though how she would deal with the more dangerous persons in Gotham City. It wasn't just for that reason though that she was asked to go interview one Jonathan Crane, known as the Scarecrow. She was asked because they were trying to uncover the full details of the latest crimes that the police suspected him of doing and he had clamed up with every single cop that had tried talking to him and the psychologist couldn't even get him to breath a word.

So she dressed primly in a dark suit with a crisp white shirt. She left her almost but not que black hair loose and sat waiting for him to be brought in. The one thing that would set her part was her dark sun glasses. The guards hadn't wanted her to have her white stick 'just in case'.

Comments

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

Crane is led into the room, the guards by his side, and he is sat at the table across from her.

"Good afternoon," the scrawny man offers politely.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She offers a polite nod and a very faint smile. She is never rude to anyone. With the guards around she feels moderately safe too. It is a shame she can't have her cane though.

"Yes. Good afternoon." She leans back and crosses one knee over the other with a thoughtful expression passing over her face. She wasn't quite sure how to start this. His profile said he was a smart man.


She should introduce herself. No offering her hand though.

"I'm Ivy Weaver. I was sent here from thee Gotham DA's office."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"Ms. Weaver," Crane replies, noting her lack of offering her hand. She's afraid of him. "Gotham University, class of 2007. Fourth in your class, I believe?"

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Not afraid of him. She simply doesn't think it's wise to shake his hand.

She is surprised he knows that about her. One eyebrow arches up in surprise. "I'm surprised you know that. I wasn't the most notable student that year."

That isn't why she's here. "That's not why I am here, Doctor."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He cocks his head curiously. "And why are you here, Ms. Weaver?"

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"You wouldn't talk to anyone else," she deadpans in a dry tone. She could be frank enough and she was not about to say that she was supposed to be fine-tuning her interviewing technique.

Isn't this a job for a police officer? Not that she's going to complain. After four years of nearly killing herself with work she's finally being treated like an actual lawyer.

"And I hope you will at least feel free to say something. I don't bite and this will go a long way to you actually seeing a trial. Due process is important. It's not right for you to just be floundering."

Which meant they needed a statement. They also needed the cops to finish processing the evidence. It irked Ivy that it was taking so long. But then Doctor Crane had used some rather exotic items this time.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"Ah, Ms. Weaver, none of this is right, but I accept that I must break a few laws in the pursuit of scientific understanding, and that some feel this means I must pay a consequence." He looks at her with a tiny smile curling the edges of his lips.

"So very well. You wish me to say something... and I assume you are referring to my recent gassing of the ballpark. I am quite proud of my work there; I have nothing to hide. Ask me anything you like."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

His experiments were both illegal and unethical. She was secretly disgusted by his actions. Everything he did spat in the face of true scientific pursuit and research. But her expression remains emotionless about that.

"All right, thank you." She gives him a slight nod. "When did you place the canisters in the heating and coolant system? It was rather.... Clever to place it there, I suppose. But we'd like to know just when it was down."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He sighs. "The specifics aren't important. How I gained access to the systems might be of interest to those who work security, but neither of us do that, Ms. Weaver." He gives a slight tsk with his tongue. "You may as well ask me what I had for breakfast this morning. Such banal details are beneath us both."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"Both of us?" She raised an eyebrow. "I'm a lawyer, Doctor Crane. I deal in details."

Have them check the security tapes. He almost outright told her that. Hadn't the detective in charge of the case already done that? She hoped so or she would be very cross.

"Well, what about the dosage of the drug you used? It was fairly wide spread over the ballpark; sadly science isn't my strong point. I had difficulty with the books." She smiles in a somewjat ironic manner. Her father was a chemist but she would never be good with chemistry.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"Yes, you are a lawyer -- but one who appears to have a sharp mind, from what I've learned about you. Indeed, a sharp enough mind to graduate near the top of the class, yet willing enough to question the status quo to prevent you from taking the very top position." His eyes look through his glasses over his hooked nose, carefully examining her reactions to his observations. "That's why I agreed to speak with you, instead of with these morons in the police department, or that mewling 'psychologist' they sent to interview me. I was hoping you would have more interesting questions."

He raises one finger. "Now, the dosage question... is at least getting more interesting. It's on the border of what I find interesting, but I will entertain it, if you like."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She had always thought it was because she was blind. She had been a very diligent student working very hard but her belief system was very firm and hard to shake. Some called it being stubborn she called it knowing what she believed in. She was frankly surprised he knew anything about her it was both flattering and worrying all at once. "You know more about me than I'm normally comfortable with but a man of your intelligence would be able to ferret out whatever you wished to know."

Everyone had a price after all; she thought he would be more likely to meet that price with fear.

"It would be handy for me to know. Would you be so kind as to indulge me? I promise I'll ask something more interesting." That was a dangerous thing to do but with him she would need to be a little bold.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He raises one eyebrow a hint at her comment.

Truth be told, he hadn't learned that much about her. He did make it a habit to keep up on the important players in the Gotham legal system, and he was able to piece together a few things about Ivy from public records. Still, though, best not to tell her that -- for the moment, he can use it to keep her off-balance somewhat.

"I determined the proper dosage through seeing the chemical react to a test sample. I believe the police took copies of my notes; it should be noted in there, though in my cipher, of course."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"A cipher." She pursed her lips thoughtfully. So far she had done a good job of keeping it not quite so obvious that she was blind. But of course people knew it just wasn't talked about that much.

"That explains why I haven't gotten a copy of your notes just yet. They must be working on it," she said in a faintly dismissive tone. Though her expression had changed from almost blank to interested. She leaned forward folding her hands in front of her.

"What kind of cipher do you use? It seems unusual for a man of science to use one." She didn't think him a true scientist. "Of course I've heard through the grapevine you guard your research rather... Jealously. I do understand though. It would be frustrating for idiots to be seen 'playing' at your work."

She is walking a very fine line here.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"True scientists don't hoard their secrets," Crane scoffs. "But there are those who would use my work against me. Such as the legal system." He smirks at her. "Or the Batman." He shrugs. "It is in my own best interest to protect my work. Upon my death, my research will be revealed to the world, for anyone to use as they see fit. My work will change the face of society, Ms. Weaver... and give me the only immortality worth having."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"But while your work itself is good your methodology is horrific, Doctor Crane," she said simply. "Science needs to follow a standard of ethics because it serves man and society."

He has likely heard this before. So being smart she quickly backpedals. "But I am not here to discuss ethics or philosophy Doctor. Are you certain you won't discuss the cipher?"

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He scoffs at the concept of scientific ethics. "Ethics are a concept invented by the fearful of what true change can bring. A social construct that is utterly meaningless. The human race is hardly endangered, Ms. Weaver. A few more going missing here or there will hardly harm the advancement of scientific understanding.

"As for the cipher, I'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough. Perhaps the Batman will provide them with what they need to solve the little puzzle."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She can feel a twitch of annoyance run through her, thankfully it isn't visible. She will not discuss ethics with an amoral madman. "As I said I am not here to discuss ethics."

She shouldn't have brought it up. That was her own fault. "Why the ballpark? It wasn't very full yesterday. It was just a practice game. I would have thought you would desire a wider sampling."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"Ah." He leans back somewhat, considering how to answer. "The gas in question triggered a strong fight-or-flight response in the subjects. I wished to see the ratio of violence to flight. If the crowds had been too full, the violence of attempting to escape could have tainted my findings."

He smiles. "I was quite impressed by what the batter did to the catcher and umpire, I must admit."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Oh that has her stomach roll. She remembered the reports. Her assistant had been very helpful with them. She had been forced to have him describe he pictures since the police report hadn't been as detailed as she would have liked.

"Were did you observe this from? I don't recall the reports detailing you being in any of the ground level offices." Her expression turns thoughtful and she paused to rub her forehead briefly between the eyes. She frequently gets headaches this isn't from the stress of her work.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"Ah. You will find a splice into the security feed for the ballpark. A little assistance from my friend the Calculator." He sighs. "I have several copies of the recordings hidden all over, of course. I do hope someday to be able to sit and watch them over and over again." There's a glint in his eye of almost... pleasure... at the thought of it. "There's so much I'll be able to learn..."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"Ah. That explains some inconsistencies," she murmured thoughtfully. The Calculator was really annoying to have to deal with. Or at least dealing with his work made her grit her teeth more than once.

"You must keep... A great many recordings." If they could get their hands on it she and a few others would feel very smug and almost howl with delight. They wanted to put him away for a long time.

"Two of the on-duty guards are missing. It doesn't match your pattern to simply kill them." She wanted to know if they were alive. "We have not located them yet, Doctor. Are they among the living?"

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"Well, I wanted to refine the dose after I saw the results, you see," Crane points out. "They were brought to one of my backup lairs -- one not yet found by the police. Last I saw of them, they were alive. They would have been happy to kill anyone who came close, of course, but they were caged separately, and by now the toxin should have worn off. It has been several days, of course, however, and I left only a limited amount of water."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Damn. That also was one way to get Ivy's attention and to get a reaction from her. Her jaw tightened and she removed her sunglasses nearly slamming them down. Her expression twisted between being angry and that dry calm look she preferred.

"They'll die if no one gets to them, Doctor. What's the point in that?" She didn't look directly at hi,m. Of course she couldn't given that she was blind and couldn't be sure of exactly where he was sitting. But she was starting to get more emotional by the minute. She would need to calm down soon.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

But Scarecrow won't give her that chance if he can.

"Well, then they die protecting my secrets," he responds calmly.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

That look of annoyance and anger at his attitude flashes over her face. She doesn't like him. Never has and it is becoming difficult to pull in her temper.

Scotch tonight at home sounds good.

"We'll find them." If not them then Batman. She needs to learn to stop disliking Gotham's dark knight.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"I doubt it," he replies. "But... what are their lives worth to you, Ms. Weaver? I might be willing to help arrange their rescue... but quite a bit of my research would be destroyed. Why would that be worth my time or attention?"

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"A great deal." She will get in trouble for this. But they wouldn't need to destroy his work to use it against him. It was more valuable to them in one piece.

The DA will still be ready to flay her alive with his words though.

"What if I promised that we would preserve as much of it as we could," she asked. Her head tilts slightly and a curious look passes over her face as she waits for that answer she wants.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head dismissively. "I have backups. But you're asking me to give up a secure location, as well as giving various thugs -- excuse me, 'police officers' -- the opportunity to use my research against me. Even you could use it against me at trial. What do I get that is worth that much?"

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"I can't offer you a reduced sentence. Not for the kinds of charges you will be facing," she says with a shake She had no idea what she could use to draw him out. To get him to give her what she wanted.

She wanted to save those men. It was important to her to do this.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He shrugs it off. "Then... tell me something about yourself," he offers. "Tell me... why you decided to become a lawyer."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

That was a little complicated. Tell him and he knows too much. But to not tell him would make her a killer in her mind.

"I wanted to go to medical school actually." She finds her mouth twisting in irony. "I wanted to be like my Father and not go into law like everyone else in his family. But I had an accident. I lost my eyesight. I didn't think I would go into law when I came to Gotham to go to school. But one of my uncles encouraged me to try a pre-law course. He thought it would challenge me and bring me out of my... Funk."

Her funk? She had been both depressed and repressed since the accident. She had felt like her entire life had been ruined.

"That class hanged things. I found I enjoyed myself. It made me happy. So I decided to go after it fully. I enjoyed the challenges I had to face."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"Tell me more about this accident," he prompts.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"I." It's not something she likes to talk about, obviously. "It was at the lab my father works at. I was there with him. He was having one of his chats with me. About chemistry and the importance of scientific research. We were walking past one of the labs. I was just ahead of him when there was some sort of an explosion."

She purses her lips firmly. "I remember getting knocked back. It hurt a lot. And my father got hurt. I don't remember what else happened. I'm told that I passed out. And that they didn't know what caused the accident since that lab wasn't even supposed to be in use that day. "

She had also been in a coma for four days. That little fact still disturbed her a little.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He considers. "That must have hurt," he points out. "To have your sight stolen like that. How did you adjust?"

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"Very well I think," she says in a sharp dry tone. "I learned braille. Learned to use a white stick."

She is slightly annoyed again. "Oh, and I'm a lawyer. I say I did pretty well, all things considering."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"True, Crane acknowledges. "I would have commented that it almost sounds like the origin of a super-hero... but instead of gaining powers, you were knocked blind -- and you became a different sort of crime-fighter."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"I'm not doing this because I'm a hero," she said. Her? Heavens no she wasn't that crazy.

"I do it because it's the right thing. I don't care to be recognized for this. Getting noticed in Gotham is dangerous."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

"And yet," he points out, "here you are, giving all kinds of dangerous details about your life to someone the doctors at Arkham call psychotic and deranged." He pauses to let that sink in.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Yes that was dangerous. She frowned sharply.

"I did it for the information. Hopefully you'll tell me what I want Doctor. If not," she let that hang s she shrugged.

"Besides. You would find out I'm blind eventually." In court that is.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

He considers a moment.

"2487 West 67th Street," he says simply. "Unless, of course, I was lying about them... that they were already dead." He regards her coolly through his glasses.

"That would be something up my alley, wouldn't it? To make someone rush in, fearing for the safety of others, when there was never anything to save to begin with? That everything you'd been giving me had been for nothing?" He smirks. "Oh, don't worry. I'm merely considering your perspective, Ms. Weaver -- they should be just fine, if quite thirsty and hungry."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She knew that this was being monitored by other people. She knew that others would go save the day. So she actually smiles and does her best to ignore what Crane has said.

He is just trying to get under her skin after all. "It would be in character for you I suppose. I think you enjoy seeing the wide range of reactions you can provoke. But I thank you for this information."

And interestingly enough he doesn't have everything about that time of her life yet. She certainly won't say where she was from before she moved to Gotham at eighteen or where her parents are now. Even if she won't speak to her dragon-lady of a mother now she still loves them both deeply and guards their safety from men like Crane fiercely.

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

Though Crane's already planning to learn what he can from the public record and piece things together from there. There's a reason he knows so much about his opponents. Batman, for example, had a terrible tragedy when he was a child. Likely involving guns. He suspects his father killed his mother in front of the boy's eyes, though he can't confirm that. (And that's, of course, assuming that the Batman is even truly human at all. Crane isn't quite convinced of that fact.)

He merely smiles. "So... are we done here?"

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She nods and leans back away from the table. She thinks that today she has done the thing she shouldn't have and drawn attention to herself but she reasons if Crane knew they would try her she had already drawn attention to herself.

Some people will still be annoyed with her.

"We are." She presses a button on her side of the table. "The guards will be here shortly. Thank you for your time, Doctor."

[phear-itself.livejournal.com]

Scarecrow gets to his feet as the guards come to escort him out.

He pauses by the door, however, and turns to look at her over his shoulder.

"Oh, Ms. Weaver... you probably saved those men today. Unless I'm lying." He smirks. "That means you're a hero." His smirk becomes a somewhat cruel grin. "And you know what happens to heroes in Gotham..."

He allows the guards to lead him the rest of the way out of the room. "Be seeing you, Ms. Weaver..."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She felt her jaw drop. She didn't want to be a hero. And she also could feel the color draining away from her face.

She didn't want to be thought of as a hero at all. She had just been trying to do the right thing.

The shocked look doesn't leave for a full minute after Crane is gone. Then she takes a deep breath and puts on her sunglasses. When the guard who had her cane comes back with it she gets up looking the picture of calm. Deep down though her first impulse is to go get coffee to sooth her nerves. Because dear God what has she done?