Crane's Best Experiment

Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5

(Jonathan Crane Origin) (Jonathan Crane x Reader)

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She wouldn’t have ever thought she would have neglected the child, as she took care of him like any sane person would. (She hoped that she was sane, despite the history of her family.) But she hadn’t warmed up to him yet. Gerald didn’t really partake in that much, he seemed fascinated - he only enjoyed watching the child’s reactions to things. As she gave her son the bare minimum. 

It wasn’t that Karen was depressed; she knew that now. She was purely irritated. She had figured that out over the two years he had spent on the earth, she tried to warm up to him but still she couldn’t. Irritated with life but most importantly Jonathan, to most an innocent baby. But to Karen he was a parasite, a thing that had caused her discomfort for nine months and stole both her and Gerald’s money. Not only that but had taken her chances away for a good life. No longer having a mother that wanted her. He also trapped her as a housewife. Causing extreme pain during childbirth, he was a long baby, lengthening the process. In her eyes it seemed he was doing everything to make her upset and uneasy. Maybe her grandmother was right, she thought, maybe he was the devil.  

And Jonathan was treated accordingly, never receiving actual love and affection from his mother. How would a two-year-old toddler know? They viewed their parents as idols; adored them. So, the naïve child of course would follow along blindly, always pining for her. It was one-night in particular, the toddler wanted to cuddle with his mother, as most children did. They needed a sense of safety and security, an emotion their carers would usually freely supply. Disgruntled, she allowed it.  

She took the small child into her arms, and he immediately settled – nuzzling into the chest of his mother and melting at the comfort. Gradually, it became sinister, the hug became tighter and tighter, as if she had no control over the pressure applied. The toddler started to struggle to breathe as his frail, delicate structure wasn’t a match for the force she was able to apply.  He wasn’t aware of the true events conspiring, he viewed it as the display of her love. So he didn’t tell her it was hurting – he allowed it to happen. “I love you, Mommy,” being the only struggled words he was able to choke out, trying to reassure her he loved her just as much. As he was unable to hug her just as tight.  

Those words cleared her mind and the woman started crying, tears of guilt making their way from behind her eyelids, the child she was holding seeing her attempt at taking his life as a sign of love. Something she simply couldn’t muster for him. She knew in that moment, she couldn’t stay around, as much as hated the child. And never wants to see him again; she couldn’t trust herself to stay and not harm him. It just wasn’t right. So, this was the next best option, to rid her life of him and to rid his life of her. Poor Gerald would just be caught in the crossfire.  

That was the last night that Karen stayed in that house. While Jonathan was deep in his slumber and Gerald spending the night in his office doing whatever experiment had caught his eye, Karen had quickly and quietly packed her bags. Throwing whatever essential toiletries etc. she needed to bring with her, whatever would allow her to make her way in the world.  

Gerald allowed her full access to his money, he thought she would never have the idea of doing such a thing, but she did and so she drained it. Leaving just enough to survive – he could make more, right? Were the only thoughts that had crossed her mind while doing so. Not thinking of the emotional scarring, she would leave the man and her child. The last task she had to complete was a note, a note that read: 

Dear Gerald,  

I’m sorry for springing this on you, and not sharing my feelings but I believe this the right thing to do. I know how much you love me and I do, you. I respect you and love you so much, and so I’m writing this. You need to know that none of this is your fault. 

The day I our pregnancy was revealed to my family was the day this all went wrong. I knew the risks of what we had done and didn’t care, even being excited to have the child, although being nervous of her reaction. But after that day, I no longer possessed those same feelings. It was now a growing resentment, something I thought would pass, a result of the hormones. But it didn’t if anything they grew stronger with each kick, each appointment and after he was born every exclamation of how beautiful he was. I didn’t and don’t care about him, I never have.  

I’m sorry that I married you, it was selfish. I love you but I almost knew it wouldn’t work out. Our union wasn’t for us, it was for my mother. But I do love you, and I can’t refute that. I should’ve told you my true feelings about this before any of this commenced. 

The only reason I kept this child was you, you loved the idea of a son, and I didn’t have the heart to try ridding myself of him. The day he was born, I couldn’t stand the sight of him, everyone around thought he was a gorgeous baby and fawned over him. If anyone, I should have but I didn’t have those feelings. I thought it may have been postpartum depression, however that should have eventually disappeared. Leaving me with an amazing child, I could spoil with my love.  

Today, I did the opposite. I tried to take his life, Gerald. The bitterness that had continued to fester over the two years, almost caused me to crush my own flesh and blood. And he saw it as a sign of love, telling me how much he loved me. I don’t love the child, I don’t even like the child. I know he doesn’t deserve that, and so I’m leaving, I do not trust myself being around him. Knowing I could do that, without a thought, what else could I do? You will find someone else, Gerald. That much I know; you are a great man. I’m not the one for you. 

One final goodbye,  

Karen 

After placing it down along with her wedding ring, she left, took his car keys and got in the car deserting the family she had built. 

The next morning, Gerald was woken from his slumber by a young Jonathan who wanted something - his mother. Unable to locate her in the house, he was understandably distressed. Gerald ushered him aside and assured him that she would be there, but it was a lie unbeknownst to them. After searching the rest of the house, Gerald made his way into the kitchen and there was a note. Perhaps she had just gone to the store to grab some needed groceries?  

The first sentence of the note and the ring made it evident that wasn’t the case. Gerald was distraught after finishing the letter, barely able to contain his thoughts. He couldn’t count on them being expressed non-violently, the woman he was infatuated with had lied to him for the 3 years they had been together, not once meaning the words ‘I love you.’ She couldn’t have, that woman couldn’t have done that to someone she loved. Gerald knew he didn’t love her, she wasn’t worthy of it in his eyes, no one was, but she was his. She was the only one he wanted and now the son he had seemingly adored, was almost a memory after the events that had taken place the night before.  

The son he thought he was ecstatic for when he found she was pregnant was gone, he was replaced with a needy, meek, and frightened toddler. He now viewed his son the way his mother did, almost. He had one thing he knew he could use the child for, his experiments. That was the only use he had to him, other than that he was a useless, worthless, and unwanted burden on everyone that was around and a constant reminder to Karen that her mother would never love her, to Gerald that the woman that he thought belonged to him, could never have loved him.  

The child was innocent, yet it seemed to everyone close to him that he was a parasite. Taking all the love and the peaceful aspects away from their life. Leaving them burdened and spiteful. Poor Jonathan never experienced love from that day forward, not that he ever truly had. His great-grandmother and grandmother wanted him dead, his mother despised him, and his father had now realised that any ‘love’ he ever had for him was actually a fascination and excitement for his experiments. Now, he had a reason to hate him, leaving Jonathan an unfortunate test subject.  

After Karen’s departure, Geralds mental state deteriorated. Not that it was healthy to begin with, it never had been. But her disappearance eliminated the one reason for him to act normal, in fact it urged him to become completely unhinged. He was furious, she was his. Now, she had left, and there wasn’t any way that she could’ve loved him. He knew that if that the child wasn’t here, she would maybe have stayed. He knew he was good enough for her, he was the best man in his eyes, no one could beat him, note even her. 

If he were less intelligent, and more impulsive he would have killed Jonathan without a second thought. But what fun would that be? How would that benefit him now? It wouldn’t. He didn’t know where she was, would she come back after he got rid of her? What if she thought him a monster? How would he get rid of the body and explain how the 2-year-old died. It would only create more problems. This way, he could use Jonathan, use him for all the things he desired. All the beautifully twisted ideas he wanted to carry out, that needed a subject, and it would lead Jonathan to be the victim.  

Gerald Crane’s fascination with fear wasn’t born out of necessity, or out of revenge. It was created in his sick mind, he never struggled in life, he was popular, he had a lovely home life. There was nothing he wanted he couldn’t have, but there was something insidious inside of him. Some sick interest he couldn’t understand. It started out with killing animals, something he found fun when he was alone. It started out small, torturing and killing insects then went to mice and eventually progressed further. He didn’t feel any remorse for what he did, he found it good entertainment. 

As the acts progressed and became more concerning, so did his interest. He soon found out he enjoyed the fear in their eyes, the reaction that he had over their body before he killed them. He knew he had to pursue a career, and after pondering what would allow him to feel this rush without seeming so suspicious was a psychologist and so he became a psychologist. Everyone around knew there was something off about the man, but no one could quite place what it was.  

Over the years he tried to perfect a serum of sorts, to activate the amygdala creating panic and fear. This serum was to be used to feed the monster in Gerald’s head. There wasn’t anyone perfect to test the serum on, not until Jonathan. He would be able to observe fear at every age level. He didn’t view him as a son, he was so disconnected. He knew he couldn’t test it just yet. There were a few things he had to prepare first, but soon he would. He would be able to unleash his true wants. 

(Jonathan Crane Origin) (Jonathan Crane x Reader)

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After a seemingly never-ending pregnancy, of high emotions and annoyance with life. Karen found herself in a situation that she never would have expected. She was currently back in her childhood home and in labour, almost ready to give birth. During a visit to a local market she had unfortunately spotted her grandmother. Her reaction had been extreme but a one that had been instilled since she had been young, fear overtook her and she blacked out and almost immediately fell to the ground. She hadn’t been with Gerald, and Mary would have loved to have left her there, she promised to never help or see the child. However, she knew God was watching and her life was to serve him and to help her would be to serve God in the correct way. 

Marion was furious and they had argued about it, Mary mentioned that she again harboured no feelings of want or care and this was just a service to the higher power. It was the 16th of September, exactly 2 months before he was due, birth was already something Karen had dreaded without the added anxiety of having a premature baby and being unhappy with the child. She had wondered throughout her pregnancy whether she would still retain the hatred towards the child, when in front of her, as much as being pregnant and having the child inside of her. She knew that it would be much different when they were face to face. Perhaps a motherly love would be born as she looked at the child, and it would win her over with a charming look that Gerald first gave her, and the hatred would dissipate. 

No matter the slightly positive thoughts that were trying to help her stress,  the tension didn’t dissolve, as in her eyes, she would soon be dealing with and caring for the thing that caused her the most strife.  And it just felt useless to look forward to anything with it. 

The pregnancy was lengthy and strenuous, at least the child had spared her one thing, and that was morning sickness. It was rare that any sickness hit her and when it did, it wasn’t very strong. That was one thing she could be thankful for, but she wasn’t sure if it were just the fact that she wasn’t eating much. She was sure if it could, it would give her the most severe morning sickness, to make every aspect of her life as miserable as possible. But what was not expressed through morning sickness was expressed through the appearance of many spots. Making her feel extremely insecure, Gerald had joked saying that if it were a girl perhaps it was stealing her beauty. This was something that she didn’t find as humorous as was intended. It enraged her even further, being fortunate enough to have never experienced acne ever. 

She was sat in her childhood room, under the judging eyes of her mother and grandmother. Her husband was notified but wasn’t allowed in the house, he sat outside in his car nervously anticipating the birth of his son. He viewed it as a way to support his wife from the sidelines. She had been in labour for 13 hours now but her mother and grandmother had refused to allow her to the hospital, for an unknown reason. As much as they hated her and the child, they had to be in control of every aspect of the people around them. 

She felt like she wasn’t getting any closer to giving birth, all she wished for was it to be over. Desperate for the agony to end. She had never experienced pain as extreme as this and it was expressed through the throat shredding screams that Gerald was sure he could hear from outside. She cursed the child for being so difficult. “Scream daughter… scream in agony!” Marion spat at her writhing daughter, “And pray I’ve kept your God I’ve kept your little folly from entirely ruining the Keeny family name.” Karen wanted to react, but the pain was too strong to even be bothered, she was deafened.  Mary sat at her feet helping her deliver it. 

An hour or so had passed, and the pained tears had dried, the arduous journey had stopped and a new Crane had been born into the world. His great grandmother grabbed his silent body from her thighs and shook him slightly before a dull noise came from the poor child. Mary looked down at her great-grandchild with disgust in her eyes, “Hmph! The ‘Family name Marion, is nearly as anaemic as this emancipated newborn,” She held it to her daughter, “such a spindly little spider.” Marion shook her head. “Wonder it’s still breathing, considering the Drug-polluted source.” Karen had passed out for a small amount of time, her body couldn’t handle the pain. “And the child’s future?” Marion started to walk away. “Bury it, mother. Back in there in your atrium. I never want to speak of it again. Quick before she’s back with us.”

The child lay silent in her arms, not flailing. Just staring around at the world, Mary had heard things about Gerald and refused to follow through with that. Karen woke up rather quickly, and the last thing that was discussed before Mary again banished her was that Karen was to name her child ‘Jonathan’. Karen didn’t understand why, but didn’t argue she hadn’t really considered names, and didn’t hate it so she obliged. But what she didn’t know was that, that was the name that Mary had desperately wanted to name the little boy she couldn’t have. 

As soon as she left, Gerald insisted they go to the hospital to get them both checked out. The nurses spent most of their time on Jonathan, due to the lack of movement and noise, but also the fact he was 2 months premature. He was of course underweight, but he was a long baby which was what had made a struggle for Karen. He was silent and calm, majorly different to how regular Newborns were. When the child first opened his eyes at his parents, there was a mixed pool of hypnotising cerulean and ice, he had received the pigment from both parents. But the colouring was layered in such a way, that changed colour and were amazingly beautiful - unlike anyone has seen. 

They, of course, still checked Karen over, to make sure there was no excessive bleeding. But they were enchanted with the little boy, he was incredibly well behaved and beautiful. They were in awe of him, asking for honours to do things like give him a feed. They made remarks such as ‘he will be a heartbreaker, when he is older’. As Karen had refused to breastfeed him, she would also refuse to hold him. The nurses didn’t judge for this, they knew it could be difficult for a new mother to have a child and quite frequently postPartum depression had a factor in the behaviour and was more common than most people had thought. 

Gerald finally got to hold his boy, he was fascinated by the child. He never really knew if he wanted a child, he wasn’t big into children but his child was different. He wanted to see how he would grow up. He could see so much of himself in the child’s features - the height in particular. 

Karen felt an empty sadness as she lay on her side, she knew it wasn’t how she was supposed to feel after having her child. You were supposed to be so proud and joyous, but those feelings of hatred didn’t subside. She thought perhaps a look at the child would solve it, but it made it worse. Maybe he really did ‘steal’ her beauty, she pondered. The conversations she overheard of her ‘breath-taking child’ vexed her so much, she felt she couldn’t control it. 

Those innocent eyes and hopeful smile had taken everything from her, her life for 18 years, her family, her freedom. And everything she tried to get those back, failed all because of him. He had doomed her. She wondered again if she were depressed, perhaps it was just postpartum depression, from all the extreme negative opinions she held of the child through her pregnancy, and she was just feeling bad. Surely, it would pass, and she’d too be enchanted with her son and maybe it would work out.

(Jonathan Crane Origin) (Jonathan Crane x OC)

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A couple months had passed, and after a lot of contemplation from the couple. They decided to get married to fix what they had 'broken' and to heal their souls. Although they wholeheartedly disagreed with everything that the rich had thought was the correct way to behave, they crumbled under the pressure and eventually conformed to the 'correct' way of life. They had delayed it for a while, as they hadn't known each other as well as they had thought, most likely due to the many hallucinogens thrumming through their system. This would be the day that she would become Karen Crane, to fix the shame and horror brought to her fragmented family. She tried so hard to force this artificial relationship to be real. 

She couldn't deny that she liked Gerald, of course she did. She had always thought well of him and was interested in him. But feelings and wants don't always coalign, feelings aren't conjurable on a whim. No matter how hard she wanted it to be that way, the feelings that had been described in movies and books hadn't developed yet. There was such an admiration for him and how he reacted to her news, his care for her was amazing. She could see just how much he loved her, and was riddled with guilt for not feeling it just yet. Those feelings would come, she just had to fake it till she made it. 

So, she played the part of the lovestruck women so easily delighted and pleased with life. To convince Gerald she was serious and he seemed to buy it, but still felt as if she was losing her freedom, Her grandmother and mother had to believe that they were in a relationship and just accidentally got pregnant, she was almost certain at the attempt to fool them would be unsuccessful. 

Karen had been popular during her school career, but now she had dropped out and stayed in Georgia. Half of the girls were clearly headed down the same path as Karen had, contented to live a happy peaceful life as a housewife having children and taking care of their home like a catholic was taught to. Others couldn't handle the social rules of their town, and were leaving to pursue their dreams and want to party well into their thirties. But even with the few that stayed, she had never been more isolated than she was now. 

No friends, family, nobody to invite. The same was with Gerald - although he had been popular at school, he had not kept his friends for very much longer. He became more introverted and kept to himself, in the passing weeks experimenting and analysing fear and anger in his job. Leaving their wedding a very small, modest event with a guest list cut short and after party non-existent - as there was no need for a venue. Karen had invited her mother and grandmother, it was a small peace offering a way to right her wrong, although it seemed for the lack of Catholic content in the ceremony and the hesitation, had taken too long and her family was no longer interested. She was stood up. All she was met with was sadness and disappointment not achieving the goal she most desperately desired. Afterall, this ceremony wasn't really for her, it was for her family and for images. 

Her silver-lined, childish dream of a lavish ceremony and celebration with every one of her ‘girl-squad’ attending was now reduced to a two-person trip to the registry office with slightly fancy clothes. The engagement wasn't spontaneous, it was a mutual decision, although Gerald gave her a pretty ring (as he thought she deserved it.) It was just a simple trip to the registry office, nonetheless she wished she could have her dream wedding dress, a wish that couldn’t be granted.The more magnificent of dresses wouldn’t fit the more extreme proportions that were established by her bump, they could have opted for a custom made dress, but Gerald didn’t have enough money to support the Calibre of dress she wanted. Rather, she wore a large, plain white gown that would house the 5-month bump.  

All of these factors built and merged, forming more animosity towards the unborn child, it ruined her relationship with her only living family and she was now marrying someone from a reason other than love, with a disappointing ceremony to unionise them. She tied up her mid-length brown hair. Then wistfully stared into the mirror as she did her makeup alone. She wished she had just one person but that couldn’t be fixed now. She tided her makeup and smoothed down her dress: she was ready. As ready as she could be at least. She drew in a long sigh, that wavered as did she. Even though she was not looking forward to it, she was still nervous. The breaths were steadying her, keeping her planted and rational. It was the last hope of preventing her from getting cold feet.   

Then it came, the faithful knock, the signal that she was to walk down the aisle to Gerald and end her life as she knew it. It startled her, slightly, being lost in her own world of regret.  She stepped out of the small room, a woman handed her the flowers Gerald had planned for her and she made her way to the hall. She had no one to wait for, no one to walk her down the aisle. She wished she did, she closed her eyes again and tried to picture the presence of her dad next to her, maybe he wouldn’t have abandoned her. The music started and it ripped her from her idyllic dream and turned to see Gerald stood proudly at the altar. 

The ceremony was fast, and efficient. With a picture to remember it, Gerald looked exuberant at his achievement of marrying her. Thankfully she was a good actor and was able to reflect that in the photo but play off any of the hesitation and slight regret as ‘nerves’.  They were now man and wife; not having any sort of after party, or wake (which is what it felt like for Karen). But instead, they had a cheap meal at a restaurant. While Karen was putting up a front of enjoying herself, laughing along all she felt was lonely and aggravated.  Gerald really was pleased that he was able to marry her, and that was easily seen. 

Gerald surprised her with a large farmhouse, most houses in Arlen were Farmhouses this was the more grand of the bunch. It wasn’t that they were Farming fanatics, Karen preferred to be girly and Gerald wasn’t particularly enthusiastic of the ‘lower’ more physical jobs. She didn’t know how to feel about it. It reminded her of her childhood home, and while that brought a nostalgic feeling it also brought the haunting memories of her father, seeing his body splayed out on the plants that had flattened under the force of his lifeless body.  But the house was perfect for Gerald, it had a huge basement in which he could convert into a study and a room for the physical experiments to take place. 

They packed and unpacked pretty quickly, even together they didn’t own a great deal. How would a small barren apartment and a single room efficiently decorate a house as large as that? It wouldn’t. Most things needed to be purchased to fill the space left. But it reminded Karen of something - The baby’s room. That was something she really hadn’t considered at all, even considering how rocky this pregnancy had been for her. Having a constant reminder of something growing in her, she hadn’t thought of it -  she really didn’t want to, it wasn’t something she found interesting in the slightest. It almost pained her.

Luckily, for her, she was able to use the excuse that her pregnant exhausted her. Gerald then hired someone to do it for them, as he was too busy experimenting and making something much greater. Surprisingly, though Gerald did spend time with Karen. She started to develop those feelings she was scared she would never develop. And it felt amazing, she just wished the baby wasn’t a part of it. But that wasn’t something she could change now. 

The two were well off, Gerald was a very qualified psychologist, and a good salary was rewarded with that title. They also had the crops, it wasn’t something they would take care of but Gerald again paid someone else off for that and had them maintained and the crops were successful bringing in another heap of money, why wouldn’t they jump at another chance for profit. 

(Jonathan Crane Origin) (Jonathan Crane x OC)

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A couple days after the confession, the pair decided to go out together. In hopes that the townspeople would pick up on it, this was the one time where their gossiping skills would come in handy. Karen thought that perhaps, if the rumours made their way to her mother then maybe the reveal wouldn't be as difficult on them. 

They would’ve been viewed as at least a couple, and seen like Gerald was courting her. They would do simple things, go for a meal or a quick walk in the park, gossiping as they talk about things that interested them. Karen liked hearing Gerald talk. His topics were repetitive but she didn’t mind. He often informed her of his work, about the many different ways that people viewed fear. Psychology was never Karen’s thing and so she didn’t understand much, but she was happy to listen his enthusiasm was contagious.

He would sometimes bring up their baby, he hadn’t experienced a baby before. He said he was excited to see how ‘she’ would react. Gerald was convinced it would be a little girl, he said that she would be his princess and maybe she would take on his interest and help him. Karen liked to imagine that scenario, it allowed her to take a break from stress. At least someone cared. 

However, it had now been around 5 weeks had passed since the fateful day of testing, and although the young woman had steadily been gaining weight (not a great deal, but enough for a small bump), as the life inside of her grew. She had almost become excited with the prospect of a little her or a little Gerald, despite the awaiting reaction from her family. Fortunately, they had not yet caught on. She felt how she did the first time she skipped church and tried to hide it. 

She had just been dropped back home by Gerald, and as she walked up to the large ebony door she felt jittery. Although this was where she lived she felt nervous every time she came back. She was always going to get questions and never knew whether she would emerge unscathed. She lifted the knocker and left it to rattle a rhythm that announced her presence. Feeling like a stranger approaching her own home. Mere moments later the door swung open, and there stood Mary, her small stature on the offensive, uninviting and her mahogany eyes filled with disgust. Usually, any of those would be warning, for other people, but for Karen she had dealt with those looks from her grandmother for most of her life - especially recently. It was standard, making it difficult to decipher. 

Karen tried to keep her face from faltering as she looked at her grandmother, but deep down she knew. She knew that Mary knew, it was inevitable, even if she didn't - how long would she have left? Her grandmother's expression seemed slightly more hostile than normal, was it her mind simply tricks on her? The corners of her grandmother's mouth curled up into a smile, a rare sighting, obviously fake, but to lure Karen into the trap of safety. 

"Come on in, darling." Mary spoke, allowing her granddaughter to step through the doorway before guiding her to the sofa - where her mother was sitting. Her voice was smooth and thick, almost covering her in honey, overly sweet trapping her and deceiving her into believing she was safe. The small beige coffee table that was in front of them holding a tray of tea. Mary poured all three of them a cup, and Karen thanked her. She then sat down across from her mother and grandmother, and she was very suspicious which led to adrenaline thumping through her veins. 

"So, how far along are you?" No matter how prepared Karen thought she was, the abruptness of the question caught her off guard. Not that her grandmother or mother usually danced around topics, but this was far more blunt than she had anticipated. Taking her aback rendering the adrenaline moot. 

She couldn't stop the reply, almost like a reflex that she had built up over the past few years "What do you mean?" She replied. This caused a scowl to form on Mary's face, and a matching glance of disgust to appear on Marion's face. Those simple looks were all it took, and she folded, like a very disorganised pile of cards. "2 months, I think. I'm not 100%. I was going to tell you, I just didn't know how to yet. How do you know?" Karen swiftly mumbled, letting the information freely spill from her lips. The oldest woman's face had morphed into a one that looked as if she had sucked on a strong citrus fruit, and the power was far too overwhelming for her. "Mrs. Carson had noticed you, driving out of the town a couple weeks ago. You whore." Marion spat at her. Mary took over, "I had suspicions a couple days ago, you sat down and shielded your stomach, it revealed it all." Karen opened her mouth, and shut it very quickly, biting her lip and nodding. 

"And who is he? I wouldn't know since my granddaughter turns out to be a filthy sinner, doing all sorts behind my back. Drugs, alcohol and what caused that satanic spawn in your stomach. I don't even know who you are anymore, you've come a long way from that perfect little girl that would go to church every night." Hormones were high and the simple inflections those words held caused Karen's eyes to well up. She had come a long way, but everything she did seemed to cause a negative reaction from her family. She couldn't ever represent their family the way they wished she would. Flashbacks to her telling her mother that for her future career she wanted to do something fitness based screened in her mind, instead of her marrying yet another cousin however many times removed to uphold the name. "I never meant for this to happen, truly. It's Gerald Crane's Child."

"Nevermind 'never meaning it to happen' you had relations outside of marriage. You KNEW the risks. And Gerald Crane?" Mary gasped. It was like they were connected because Marion picked up where she left off,"You stupid, stupid young girl. That mad scientist? Honestly, you've doomed yourself. He will never be able to support you and a family." As she spoke, venom seeped out of her mouth with every word. "No, mother no. We may not be together. But don't call him that, he's a good man. He's excited about it and we're going to try." She couldn't have sunk lower in her grandmother's eyes. "You aren't even going to get married before it's born? The idea of an innocent life being taken is a sin, but that 'life', the one growing inside of you isn't innocent. It's the devil, born from sin itself. You should have it ripped from your womb and for all I care it should be drowned at birth." 

"Grandmother- '' Karen started, the tears she so desperately wanted to keep from spilling down her cheeks, had started. Not only was she hurt but humiliated. "No, I don't want to hear it. You have sinned, stained the name of Keeny; dishonoured and shamed in the eyes of God. Now, leave. I never want to see you or that thing ever. You are no longer my granddaughter, this is no longer your home, and that will never be my great-grandchild. I will hate you for your actions for as long as you live. If you had rid yourself of that bastard, then I may have been able to forgive you. But housing and nurturing that evil is criminal and you will be treated accordingly. Leave!" As she spoke, it was like a flurry of bitterness becoming increasingly powerful. Her voice was getting louder and louder, building momentum as the poisonous words sprayed the air. 

Karen tried to compose herself and retain some dignity as she left her once home. She couldn't understand how anyone viewed her grandmother as kind, she knew eventually someone else would find out the truth. The people of course knew she was heavily religious and sometimes bossy, but they saw her as an overall nice person. Which couldn't be further from the truth, she wasn't understanding. Karen couldn't recall a time over the age of 7 that her grandmother was 'kind' to her. 

As she walked to Gerald's, the only place she could think of going, her phone buzzed and up his name popped. "Karen, what the fuck? I thought you were going to prepare me, before you had told your mother and grandmother about the situation." Karen let out a broken sob, as his harsh voice persecuted her through the phone. "I- I didn't. They somehow knew Gerald, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen this way. They've completely kicked me out." Gerald felt his already difficult to reign in anger growing in copious amounts. "For fucks sake, where are you?" She gave him directions and he came and picked her up. 

On their way back, he vented shouting about how his family had disowned him. He was the failure of the family, even though he was the only one with a decent degree. He just wasn't a success for their appearances, despite having friends that were upper class. He continued to tell her of the fact he wasn't really that bothered by them, they were there to give him the guise of being a normal child. His parents had stated they would rather their bloodline die than continue with him. 

She sat there feeling annoyed, not at Gerald, but at the whole situation. She was searching for something to blame. He continued to shout and slam his hands on the steering wheel exasperated, telling her how much he would love to murder his parents. Detailing on how useless to the town- to the world they were. “Who needs another snarky, condescending disgusting pair of old cretins that believe they have superiority over other people? This town is full of them, your family is the same. No one needs them! No one. Them being wiped clean from the earth would do every single one of us a favour.” 

He seemed to revel in the idea of getting rid of them, Karen had zoned out at this point. It was probably for her own good, as he gave intricate, violent descriptions of what he would do to them. 

They eventually made it home, and they decided to skip formalities. She wouldn’t sleep on the floor, but didn’t want Gerald too and it seemed like being with him was the least of her worries at that moment. 

As she lay in Gerald's bed, with his arm wrapped around her she started to feel guilty. The thoughts she was having weren't normal. While not liking her family, she oddly liked having them there, so she wasn't alone. But now the thing in her stomach had ruined it, she had felt a growing resentment towards the innocent child growing inside of her. Originally, although scared and worried about their reactions, she was still excited to spoil the baby. Be a better mother than Marion, and guardian than Mary. And nearly all those first emotions were gone, replaced with anger and hate for the child. It was (their fault she no longer had any family, if only it died. She would secretly hope for it to happen, for one day it to dissipate from her body. But she knew that Gerald was attached and didn't want to hurt him that way. 

She hadn't felt this distraught or empty since her father passed. She felt almost like a traitor with those thoughts flooding her head as she lay in the arms of the man that loved the thing she hated. She should’ve been happy for her baby, but that felt impossible. What was the baby giving her? - nothing. It was taking, that’s all it would do for 18 years. She couldn’t feel happy, she wouldn’t. 

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(Jonathan Crane Origin) (Jonathan Crane x OC)

A disclaimer, this is probably such a shit story, I'm not going to lie. But, it is just my spin on Jonathan Crane-ish - based on a mix of all of my comics (I have the majority of comics shown on the DC website). Sorry - if you don't like the slight modernisation.

~~~~~Prelude~~~~~~

He was an outsider, ever since he had been conceived. In a small religious town, where everybody knew everybody, he was the only child with parents together out of Wedlock. His life was a struggle, not having one moment of respite that he could ever remember.

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Arlen was a very divided one half was full of common people working day to day, to simply put food on the table and provide for their families. The other half were descendants of aristocrats that believed they still had ruling power on the other members of public, often these families often had a higher number of the older generation still living and out to scrutinise any differences to what it used to be - or more, how it 'should' be.

One of the most powerful families that had ruled over Arlen was the Keeny family, its oldest living member being Mary Keeny. They were a pureblooded family, to the point of interbreeding to keep it that way. There was always something a little bit... strange with the family, other than their partners. 

Mary had been born in 1921. At the age of 8, Mary Keeny had lost her mother and her grandfather due to the pressures of the Wallstreet Crash, as her grandmother had died rather young, she didn't have a female guardian in her life. Only her father and he was very wary of how she would turn out, and he had no idea how to bring her up to be the 'perfect' wife.

Instead he shoved her away, sent her away to church - paying for them to give her extra concentrated lessons and teachings around God. Making sure to instil very strong values in her. Ones that she would grow to be unyielding about, honouring and keeping them close for the rest of her life. Her father knew that the Keeny family had to be secured, so he sealed a deal for her to be married as soon as she turned 16, when he could give her the consent for her to do so.

When Mary turned 16 she was wed to her cousin Edward William Keeny, who was 22. She was a very strict, harsh and serious woman. Keeping her values steady, he however was much the opposite, they balanced each other out. And while in the beginning she wasn't fond of him, and gave him the most backhanded of pet names, she couldn't resist when he called her his 'darling little lamb.'

He had even built her a small chapel, it was somewhere she would hold service every night, but Edward would still keep his array of birds in there. Serving as both an aviary and a chapel. Something she prided herself on was how beautiful it was, and how people would honour it. 

After 12 years of trying, they had finally conceived. And in 1949, Marion Keeny was born, however this 'miracle' was extremely stressful on Mary's body and the Doctor urged Mary not to have any other children, if she valued her life. This took away Mary's wish of having a baby boy, which was all she ever wanted. She couldn't part with that idea. 

With the excess of money that their family owned, she had enough money to buy double everything, one set in pink and one set in blue. She created the most perfect of nurseries, not for her little girl... no. For the little boy, she was robbed of. As Marion grew and her room changed, so did her boys changing with every stage of life. Until late childhood, then it stayed decorated with every toy and teddy bear you could imagine. 

Their family seemed, no had to have an unstable gene that ran rife and uncontrollable, as at age 4, in 1953, Marion's father took a shotgun to his head. He held on longer than a lot of the family, but Mary couldn't understand it. Suicide was a mortal sin, he would be severely punished by god for it, and he had left wife and daughter alone. The exact opposite of what a man was supposed to do. 

Marion was raised with all of Mary's views, strict rules and church every night. She was to be prim and proper, she had a name to uphold. 

Eventually, it was decided for Marion to marry. And she was married away to her second cousin Thomas Alaric Keeny. They were only together for appearances, Marion didn't believe herself to be the marriage kind, but her mother said otherwise. She kept away from the one thing she couldn't stand for as long as possible, childbirth. Her mothers will was stronger than her own and at 39 years of age, in 1988 Marion Keeny gave birth to a child of her own. One she had no interest in having - and as soon as possible was back out partying and liaising with other self-involved, aristocrat descendants. 

Mary was livid when she had found out that the child she pressured her daughter into having was a girl, she couldn't carry the name, she couldn't provide, she was simply another difficult mouth to feed. 

Thomas worked hard on the farm to keep it in perfect condition, and to keep the money rolling in. But he was also a good man, he cared deeply for his daughter, Karen. And would be there for her when he wasn't working. Mary had such a large disdain for him because of this, that wasn't a man's job. He didn't seem like a true Keeny, what good man would allow himself to be emasculated in such a way? 

Other than her father, Karen was raised by her Grandmother, to be the most perfect little girl. Going to service and even reading for her some nights always listening intently to what was being said. Her respect for God knew no bounds. 

In 1997, Thomas was taking particularly long in the fields. He was two hours late to dinner, and Mary despised tardiness. She sent a 9-year-old Karen out to seek her father, only to find his body severely sunburned and un-moving. It was unknown how long he had been dead, but heatstroke was the cause. She was heartbroken, but unable to show this. Even at the funeral, Catholic funerals are notoriously long and not one tear was allowed to flow - not under her grandmothers eye.

Her faith had been broken, the one she felt had cared was gone If such a God was real, a one like the one her Grandmother spoke so highly about,  he wouldn't allow such a thing to happen. Not to such a young girl. 

She lost her faith - abandoned. She was in a complete downward spiral, she started sneaking out going to parties and would do anything to get her mind off her sorrows. 

It had now been maybe 7 years since her father had died and it had been 3 years since she started experimenting with hard drugs and alcohol to fill the void that had been caused by his death. Most of the time she was up to the eyeballs in various substances and nothing could hurt her, she couldn't feel anything and it was just the way she had wanted it to be. 

She thought that nothing could scare her, that was until she suddenly found herself blinded by fear.

Recently, she had been feeling... different. It had only been a couple days, but not even a top up of drugs could make it go away. Maybe the drugs had been tampered with? No, that's too far.

She had her suspicions, but the symptoms weren't painfully obvious. Or maybe she wanted to remain unaware, so stayed oblivious. There was some muscle fatigue and sensitivity to smells and flavours. There was something she had thought, but she didn't want to dwell on it - pregnancy. No way could it have happened to her. Surely not? Oh, how wrong she was...

They had used protection; she did everything she could - they both had covered all fronts. This couldn't be happening to her. If the result was positive, what could she do? Everyone would know! Her family was one of the families that founded this town, and even regular citizens had their personal business spread within a matter of days. This town wasn't the town for keeping secrets, the people were so tightly woven together. And although the town lay in a place like Georgia, it was cold to the core, people were unaccepting and superstitious. If they weren't a founding family, that was living off the dying money their family once had; they were just short of living like the Amish. It was dreadfully outdated, and most younger people had outgrown the old behaviours and departed.

Building a plan in her head, she knew she had to find out somehow. She would tell her mother and grandmother she was going to some extra Saturday class. That's when she'd confirm it. Saturday came way quicker than she had imagined, and she drove out of the little place that had eyes and ears on every surface. Just to grab a couple of tests to confirm what she wanted - that she WASN'T pregnant. If she had bought them here, headlines and straplines along the lines of: 'Un-pious Pregnancy,' 'Karen Keeny, the Unmarried young granddaughter of the God-fearing, devoted Mary keeny, has a pregnancy scare?' That was the last thing she needed, especially if it were the truth, which she was sure it wasn't. 

She didn't need the shame and condescension if it was just a stress reaction from her body, she didn't want to be regarded as a common whore. She hoped that no one would see her taking a drive out of town. 

She drove her way, drinking plenty of fluids as she did. Making sure that she had the ability to take the test. She sure had by the time she arrived at her destination: a petrol station in the middle of nowhere.

She thought she would burst as she purchased the tests from the woman behind the counter, who offered her a reassuring smile. Karen could only replicate a weak curling of her lips. A petrol station was the most unexpected place to receive a dose of encouragement but Karen took it, she needed it more than anything. 

As she wandered to the bathroom, she wondered what it would mean for her if there was a new path in her life. A marriage would be involved almost instantly. She quickly shook her head, once again telling herself that she wasn't pregnant. And there was no point in stressing over something that wasn't even real or relevant to her child-free life. She prepared the tests, and took them all. This was something to be sure of. She placed them neatly back in the box and made her way back to the car. As she sat herself back into the car seat, the allocated time had already passed. 

Even when it came time to look, she felt she couldn't. She wasn't ready, but the logical side of her mind that somehow was still there, even after the drug abuse, grabbed her and informed her that it wouldn't change the result. So, she needed to bite the bullet. 

A couple more moments of stressed hesitation had passed before she picked them back out of the box and looked at the results. In that moment, it was like the world had come crashing down on her. 

Guilt. Dread and guilt were the most prominent emotions that flooded her senses as she stared down at the two lines one the strip - Positive. The emotions were so thick - suffocating and drowning her while she stared down at the lines. She was pregnant. On every test there were two clear lines, she double checked it repeatedly, there was no doubt about it. All she wanted was for the ground to swallow her whole. Many things crossed her mind in the moment, so many thoughts that not one was coherent enough to understand. She placed her head on the steering wheel as she gripped it tight, trying to reign in the freely flowing thoughts. 

The one that started to overpower the others, the loudest and most potent was that she knew how disappointed her mother and grandmother would be, disappointed being a major understatement. She was disgraced in the eyes of God and tarnished the name of their family. Having relations outside of marriage was hugely prohibited. Getting pregnant, however, that was far worse. She would try to hide it, at least for as long as possible, something told her that wouldn't be for awfully long. 

She was now responsible for two people, which was strange for her. She had barely been responsible for one in the last few years of her life, abusing her body with many substances. But, she did feel a sort of protection around the baby, she had to shield them both from the three recipients of the news: Gerald (the father), Marion (her mother), and Mary (her grandmother). That last two she knew for certain would have a furious wrath. 

She made her way back home, and hid the tests in a place she knew would never be found. So, she could present them to the father of her child, when the time had come. 

In the moment, the young woman didn't really know what to do. She was extremely fond of Gerald, she really was. He was intelligent, charismatic, tall, attractive and strong. He was a descendant of another founding family, he was a couple years older, and was a psychologist. She thought that nothing could've improved him. But, unfortunately, the man she created the child with wasn't her boyfriend, their relationship was never based on feelings but a narcotic fuelled attraction, that they knew would end in a good time. However, everything had now changed, and they both had a responsibility to at least one thing in this world. That thing being a child. 

She wasn't sure if he wanted to pursue her, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to pursue him either. Not that he was ugly - God no. She had never thought about him romantically in her intoxicated state. And if their current affair, if it were to result in a relationship, wouldn't be from the most organic origins. She wasn't sure if that was something she wanted, but likely their families wouldn't give them a choice. 

Gerald already had rumours that his parents desperately tried to cover up. He was known to be a bit strange, even though he had rich friends, the best grades and sociable. Maybe it was linked to the fact he used his knowledge of Psychopharmacology, and often was a supplier of some of the drugs at the parties. Or maybe it was deeper? But, she felt she knew him and that didn't seem so truthful. 

It had been two weeks since she had found out the big reveal, and people were suspecting something due to her lack of partying. Something she reported was down to an odd illness. She felt it was time to give Gerald the information she had to, she still had his number from their various interactions. Giving a quick message, to tell him she had to speak to him, she started to get in the car. He quickly responded with a simple 'Ok.' And the directions to his apartment. 

She knocked on his door, and quickly he answered the door, shooting her his most charming grin, which made her feel weak in the knees. He stepped aside and offered her into the room, telling her to sit at the table near the kitchen. She did so and as she sat, he spoke, "I wasn't expecting to see you again, Karen. Nonetheless, I'm happy you're here, what are you needing from me?" She smiled a tight smile and her legs bounced up and down, "I didn't think, we'd really speak again either. But I have something important to tell... that involves you." She sputtered. "Oh? And what is that?" Gerald said with a hint of almost confusion in his voice, but the happiness radiating from the man, made it seem like he knew. 

She gathered all the confidence she could, and then the confession came "I'm pregnant, and it's 100% yours." She let it out quickly, with a heavy sigh of relief that followed shortly after, her stomach feeling like a bottle of carbonated liquid that had been vigorously shaken and just that confession had allowed the pressure to dissipate. "Oh, wow. That's a shock, especially due to the circumstances. Are you okay?" He asked, reaching his hand out and placing it on hers. "Erm, emotionally I'm not sure. But, physically there aren't that many symptoms, but these," she used her free hand to place the tests on the table in front of them, "These confirmed it all. Gerald, what do we do? You know what this town is like, if I go to the doctors. Or do anything that could let this slip. We'll be ridiculed." She tapped her hand up and down, as she anxiously rambled to him. "Who cares what anyone else thinks-" 

"Gerald, you went to school with me. You know what my mother and my grandmother are like, I can't have this happen." His smile dropped "Oh, yes how could I have forgotten, your mother is a socialite who only cares for appearance, and your grandmother there is no word and people say I'm crazy. We'll sort something out; I'll be here for you and the child at any moment." This allowed a small smile to break out from Karen. "Thank you, you have made this much easier than I anticipated." 

"I'm glad, I could remedy your stress for a bit. I don't really think I could be that mad at you Karen. So, really don't worry. We'll work this out, somehow." He reassured. "Again, thank you. I'm going to go now, but keep in touch. I need to get my affairs in order-" 

"God, you sound like you're preparing to die." Gerald jested. "As you said, with my Grandmother, that crazy old bat. Who knows what could happen?" Karen quipped back, with far too much seriousness for Gerald and his face hardened slightly. "Right, well. Of course, just send a message. Then I'll let my parents know. I should be free most of the time. Goodbye." Karen stood up with the tests and placed them in her bad, nodded and departed. "Bye, Gerald." And he closed the apartment door behind her. 

She left, and quickly went home, thankful that telling Gerald was a much more stress-free experience than she had originally thought. This allowed her to relax just a touch and think a bit more clearly, knowing she had one person that was willing to fight her corner. 

This however left Gerald to think of ways to inform his parents on their situation. He couldn't inform them straight away, they would let the two older Keeny women know immediately. He knew they would be thankful that it wasn’t a commoner at least. The Keeny family was respected and perhaps they would be more lenient. 

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Um, hope this wasn't shit you know? I wouldn't be surprised if it is, or if it is very slow.

Here is my imagined look of his parent's (basing the crane on Cillian Murphy), ignore if you don't like it:

I tried to draw his mother and it looks so fucking badddd and gave up on his dad. So, I have sims:

I have a few headcanons (I'm calling them that on here, but I take it that he does have them because it makes most sense) for Crane which are probably not what most people agree with and that's fine.

I genuinely believe that he has a few mental health conditions:

Autism, OCD, DID, Selective Mutism

Autism (me too, Jon, me too.)

His anti-social nature stems from this originally, then fuelled by mistreatment. Only speaking up to make a Sarcastic remark, or to talk your ear off about a special interest of his. Can be interactive if you know what to say and how to say it, most likely would teach you if you asked nicely. Having a strict daily routine, apart from the times he's told what to do. Special Interests, this is a big one, I believe that it would come from curiosity originally a way to understand the way that things work with people, reading books at the library about Psychology and the brain. He NEEDS to know how things work and most importantly WHY. Mentioning the library, I think this is where Poetry and just literature would start to beguile him, he is able to escape somewhere etc. I think Chemistry is another one of these, Chemistry just makes sense to him, why do people struggle? (I know a lot of people stim by flapping their hands, personally I do it when I get excited by something I'm interested in - like Crane. Hense this, a partial segment of an analysis I've done on him) I think his would be, rocking backwards and forwards, he's been shown as particularly theatrical when he or Scarecrow injects toxin (I think this is something they'd share) he would get more enthusiastic and excitable with more energetic movements. Comfort fabrics (Mine is the rounded collar of t-shirts but only when it's completely smooth) his would be the trusty Burlap, when you have a fabric like that it almost feels different to you than others the sensation is amazing. And to him I think this would be a way for him to stim, the scratchy rough we feel, would be familiar inviting and warm. Another: Sensory Issues - this is a big one I feel, he would be very sensitive to bright lights, spending much time in an aviary or a basement would make him particularly adjusted to intense darkness. It would take him a while to adjust to the lights in the house nevermind outside, and the harsh Arlen sun would easily scorch his fragile porcelain skin. Reacts badly to physical contact, sometimes it feels like it hurts, sometimes it makes him feel itchy. (Only if there is a person he really likes - most cases not, he will eventually allow these things and the sensation mellows or dissolves) When he was younger covering eyes and ears would be definite ways to protect his eyes, and his sensitive ears.

OCD (Again, me too)

I feel like he'd have a mix of symptoms. Definitely a neat freak, compulsion to wash hands etc. I feel like this would have been particularly difficult for him when it came to working in the fields having to bite back from the uncomfortable nature of it. But also intrusive thoughts, when he was younger the overwhelming flashbacks of abuse, the thought his grandmother would kill him at any time or his father (or both idk how you follow haha). Obsessions (fear) -> compulsions (get rid of his fear, but to invoke fear in others) it impacts his daily life -> creating fear toxin. Being abused by humans causes his apathy towards them.

DID (Covert)

I know that many people don't like the idea of the DID, Jonathan/Scarecrow split. But I think it is most logical - a child going through as much as he did at a young age whether you go with the Mary Keeny (Aviary) or Gerald Crane (Fear experiments). Or whether you mix the two, who knows? His personality probably would be fragmented, but again I don't think that he's 'evil' purely due to the second personality. It would be a mix of the both, Scarecrow has less restraint and is more vengeful. Jonathan more focused, ambitious and planned but again wants to seek revenge on anyone and everyone. It makes sense. And it's not to sort of, create more of a stigma around DID because that's not the case. Jon isn't innocent, so it's different. I might elaborate further but I'm not sure if anyone would be interested.

Selective Mutism

Starts during his childhood, different to the feeling of not wanting to speak but physically being unable to speak. A freeze response of panic, like terrible stage fright. Able to speak freely to some people. Characterised by sudden stillness and forlorn expression. Can be seen as Rude, Disinterested or socially awkward, stubborn or aggressive. Experts say it's linked to FEAR - definitely think this is something he suffers from, learning sign language as an attempt to communicate when he feels like he's unable.

And to finish off just something generalised, Self-esteem problems. I believe it would be quite contrasting, Scarecrow would 100% believe in them he would think they are always better than everyone, and Jonathan would agree with him most times. But inklings of doubt creep in now and them, being berated by Mary, Gerald or both. I think he would feel inadequate sometimes and that he is unappealing. When in school would sometimes second guess himself that he was wrong, but is always right. Blushing easily, being socially inept.