046 + Orel

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

[Orel is going through his big cardboard box that he keeps stuff in, and pulls out his camera, then a reel. He looks at it thoughtfully, before setting up the camera legs and sticking the reel in the camera... thingies. He grins, and fiddles with a knob or something on it, before aiming it at a sheet he has set up.

Bow before my descriptive prowess.]

{And as I bow, Diva is setting up the last few chairs, since she figures that maybe some other people would like to watch Orel's movie. But what is this? Orel and Diva are no longer chained together! How? Well, you'll have to ask.}

Ne, this is a lot of work for a movie, isn't it?

[Orel laughs.]

It's not that bad!

[He turns the camera on for a second to see where he should position it to make it centered.]

This is the hardest part, I think. It's easier to project on a wall, but a sheet works just as good.

{Diva smiles, clapping her hands together. This is exciting!!}

How neat! And you made the movie yourself, you said? You must be very talented, then. I couldn't even imagine trying to make one myself.

[He nods.]

Uh-huh. I'm still working on getting better, though. Maybe in a year or two I'll be able to make a movie that's over 30 minutes long! And without anything falling over, too.

{Warmly,} I'm sure that you will! As hard as Orel works, I wouldn't be surprised. Ne, but it was interesting being together for...however long that was. Did I tell you that you're welcome to come visit any time? I'd love for you to.

[Orel makes the final adjustments on his camera.] Then I'll come over sometime! Maybe after track practice if me and Doughy aren't doing anything... or whenever you're not busy, is that okay?

{Nods!}

That'd be perfect! Oh, is it ready?

[Orel nods again.]

Yep! Sit down and I'll start it.

{Diva nods once again, and obediently sits in the front row (though, there are only two rows) with a bright smile}

[And Orel plays the movie. For those interested, there is no sound, no music, the animation is choppy, it's stop motion, and the events seem to depict an awesome day at an amusement park and a rollercoaster ride. Which will end in the car falling off the track and crashing into the ground. But don't worry, everyone seems fine. Somehow. Miraculously.]

((ooc: Orel and Diva are free! But they are also best friends, so. Blue is Diva, and orange is Orel!))

Comments

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

I imagine you wouldn't take to the Stanford prison experiment either.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

What did they do for that, then?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

They simulated a prison scenario, placing 'psychologically normal' college students as the guards and prisoners of a mock jail. The guards quickly gave into abusive tendencies and the prisoners were emotionally traumatized. The conducting scientist terminated the experiment a mere six days in.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{Coolly, like she's not really that disturbed at all} That sounds really bad, though.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

It was terminated on ethical grounds.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

What's the purpose of things like that, though? It doesn't seem like it matters.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

I believe it was to study the effect of the prison system on average individuals and to determine if the personality of those made prisoners or guards had any effect on the results.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

But why does that matter?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

We put people into these institutions with certain aims in mind. The situations are meant to be humane, meant to reform and help. If they transform guards into sadists and prisoners into emotional wrecks, there is a flaw in the system which must be examined and corrected.

[though for Crane, it's more like "human behavior under stress? FASCINATING!"]

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Mm, well I guess that makes sense.

{She links her hands behind her back, sort of rocking on her heels}

Ne, but I guess that's different. I didn't think people cared that much.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

About what?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Well, about protecting prisoners, or whatever. I always thought that they didn't matter by that point.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

To many, it doesn't. Few people, however, want to believe themselves complicit in the institutionalized suffering of others. Perhaps it's part of the shadow the concentration camps cast on us.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{There's a visible reaction at "concentration camps", but she quickly hides it}

Ne, that makes sense, then. It's just one of those things that I don't know anything about, I suppose.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[he refrains from asking]

It isn't precisely a pleasant topic. It's well-known in my field, of course, but other than that, most have no reason to learn about it.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

I guess! Ne, I've never cared to learn much about any of the sciences, so the purpose is still a little off to me, I suppose. But I don't think that would be any better unless I learned about the subject, which I don't really want to.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Out of disinterest, or...?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Mostly that! Ne, I've never been interested in science because of Joel, though.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

It's not a surprising aversion, given your past experiences. Real trauma begins in our youth.

[As he says the last line, there is something slipping in his smile; something cynical and bitter and pained]

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{Tilts her head}

Does it, now? That would explain it, I guess. Ne, but what about your youth, Mr. Crane? I realize that I've told you quite a lot about myself, but I don't know anything about you.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

My youth? [he adjusts his glasses, looking thoughtful] I suppose it can't hurt. I'm a farm boy by upbringing, to tell the truth. I did a lot of reading, which I'm sure does not surprise you.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Ne, a farm boy, really? I wouldn't have guessed that a farm boy could be such a smart and clever person! Congratulations?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

It seems that most share that sentiment, so I tend not to bring it up.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

But it's interesting, though. At least, I think so. Ne, what was it like living on a farm?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Hot suns always seem hotter when there are fields to work in.

[particularly if your great-granny sits at the side of the fields under an umbrella with lemonade and watches you working]

The days were very busy, I suppose is the only way to put it.