An American Horror Story: Asylum/Batman AU crossover, starring the Doctors Arden and Crane. It may become a full-fledged fic; it may not. I can never tell where my muses will lead me.
"Sister- tell me about this... new psychiatrist the Monsignor hired." Arden's tone was light, conversational, but his mind was far from easy. A new threat, no doubt; the doctor had no time for this. Arden was far behind in his work as it was, courtesy of Sister Jude and her frenzied attempts at bringing him to 'justice'. That woman had no idea what she was talking about- she was endangering scientific advancement. That was the only crime here.
"Doctor... Crane, I believe. Jonathan Crane. Seems a bit... distant, to be honest." The nun gave a dismissive huff before excusing herself, making her way toward the bakery. Crane... Hm. Perhaps now was the time to pay his new colleague a visit. Pivoting on his heel, he turned to walk to Thredson's old temporary office- he supposed Crane would be the newest occupant.
Jonathan Crane was busy inspecting his new surroundings, growing increasingly disgusted with each discovery. No, he had not expected Briarcliff to be spotless, but this was simply ridiculous. The entire place seemed to be covered in a layer of filth and nothing he could do would clean it. No matter. A job is a job and experiments -patients- are experiments. Perhaps the grime kept them unwell. A cold tactic to keep them calm without the expenses of medication, but a brilliant one, nonetheless. He could appreciate that.
The doctor was reading through his notes when there was a knock at the door. Hurriedly, he stowed the papers away before rushing to the door. "Yes?" he asked, the annoyance in his tone obvious.
"My apologies, Doctor, if I am interrupting anything. I simply wished to bid the new psychologist welcome." Arden's feigned hospitality was noticed without any effort by the younger of the two. "Doctor Arthur Arden."
"No, no. You, ah, may come in." He left the open door to remove one of his boxes from the chair opposite his desk. "Take a seat, please." He could play this little game, too- Crane even went so far as to smile. Arden took the seat offered, while Crane perched on the corner of his new desk, never mind the informality. "Doctor Arden. Monsignor Howard mentioned you- I must admit, it is nice to know I am not the only man of science around here. Doctor Jonathan Crane, though I take it you already know who I am. It's a pleasure." The two shook hands, ignoring the obvious sense of suspicion in the air.
"The pleasure's all mine." His eyes wandered to a half-open filing cabinet, where the hidden files covering Crane's personal research were held. Judging from the psychiatrist's stiffening and slightly narrowed eyes, there was something intriguing in there. "A man of science, hm? That isn't typically what I would expect a man in your profession to refer to himself as."
"Do you not believe that furthering the understanding of the mind and its chemical impulses not scientific? To learn just how the very worst psychological disorders come about? To evaluate the effects of external, and, at times, internal stimuli upon the body?" Crane's tone was cold, cutting. Was this man honestly implying that he was not of the same caliber as him?
Arden, on the other hand, was was undeniably interested, though from his wording, a tad more suspicious. Was Crane intending on testing on his patients? No, no. He surely didn't mean it in that light. "Ah... In that case, Doctor, you have my apology." Crane's curt nod in response was a sign that the elder had outstayed his welcome already. Touchy. "I suppose I shall let you get back to unpacking, then." He stood, forcing a small smile to his lips.
"Right. Thank you, Doctor Arden." Crane led him to the door. "Until next time."
"Of course." Again, with the forced pleasantries. He left the office, smirking slightly as he heard the door slam behind him. A man serious about his work with a secret that he wasn't too fond of sharing. Crane would fit in rather nicely, after all.