slightlyoffchilt | - IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

He's not scared of you -- he's frightened of Crane. Apparently he has rather little protection now, you know how skittish demons can be.

[Which was also a lie. Chilton would invoke a clause to ensure Abduxel's protection against Crane -- at least, that's what the clause would state until the demon ever hurt Raina. Chilton had his priorities.]

Speaking of demons -- how long until Crane goes after your Jesse? I give it two months.

[A bit flippant, given what Walt had just said about his singular phonecall. That begged additional questions, of course, but Chilton didn't want to give his former patient the satisfaction of inquiry.]

I won't be waiting to protect him, either. Or you.

Especially not after whatever damage you had done.

Edited 2015-06-29 07:26 (UTC)

[ Walt managed to laugh. A good natured, good humored laugh. Which is probably the opposite of what Chilton's expecting. It's the sort of laugh that would be accompanied by oh you silly man -- if you know, Walt was the type to say something like that. Instead, he gets: ]

It's comforting to see you remain unchanged. Still there with the provocation, still as volatile as ever.

If Crane goes after Jesse, then we all get a good laugh. Jesse is immune, remember? Or perhaps you didn't realize, but given Jesse's abilities -- no mind altering substance can affect him.

[ And then, gently: ]

But you do realize, Chilton, the more damage I do -- the more destructive I am toward someone -- the more I appreciate and respect them, don't you? In spite of my better judgment, I care about you. Your well-being and your existence in my life. I wouldn't keep inviting you back if I didn't.

Are you not worried about -- [A beat followed. The tone he adopts is mocking, amused even, as if this turn in their story would be somewhat of a twist:] You do know that Crane kneels to Lucifer, right? It won't matter how immune Pinkman is to chemical altercation if the literal devil has his soul.

[And what would be worse than that, for Walt? It was one thing if Pinkman was dead, and quite another if someone else possessed him.]

But perhaps that isn't a realistic outcome -- it's not like you're allies with that psychopath -- the man who is incapable of empathy and will literally do anything to further his own agenda. You're not that stupid.

[Chilton had, at some level, foundational faith in Walt's competency after all. Crane, unlike Chilton, had no reason to avoid hurting Pinkman -- surely Walter understood that.]

... The more destructive you are towards someone, the more you care about them? [Well that sounded EXACTLY THE SAME AS HANNIBAL LECTER.] I... [His hesitance couldn't be masked. Did Will ever suffer this trepidation, with regards to his destructively caring psychiatrist friend? Was Walter doing to Chilton what Chilton did to his own prize patients? Coaxing and punishing and adoring and manipulating -- but now with the promise of friendship?]

[He supposed that kiss deal was never properly finalized. They did leave off "in negotiation" because he kept insisting on Raina being there. Sorry, Chilton, he just doesn't trust her. He sighs with a closed-mouth smile, and has a tone of repentance.]

I'm a victim of fine print, it seems, Dr. Chilton. Anyway, I didn't mean that; I was only upset with you, and wrongly, at that. I can be a little vindictive - maybe it's a demon thing.

On that note, I think my bribery habit runs too deep to be corrected. I deal in deals. I like to trade. It suits me, and it benefits everyone. If there's no offers on the table right now, maybe we ought to each make new ones.

Do you actually believe in such ridiculous nonsense? The devil? C'mon, Chilton. Really. Even if he is some big, scary devil in some distant universe -- what the hell kind of powers is he going to have here? He's made mortal just like the rest of us. The only powers he has are the powers we give him. Jesse was already set on fire by the devil when he was here previously. I'm hardly concerned about what he'll do now. Jesse wouldn't be stupid enough to hand over his soul. And it's not as though the devil can simply take those things.

[ And what the hell is Chilton even trying to do here? Does he want Walt back or not? Because Walt was just as content to go on his merry way if not. Though there is that hesitation at the repetition of what Walt said. Was that some kind of progress? He didn't even know anymore. Walt rubbed his face with his hands. ]

You didn't realize that about me? In all of our interactions. All of our time together, were you really that blind? Do you know why I hated Will Graham? It was because I was jealous of what he had with you.

[ It was pretty weird for Walt to be the calm and rational one in this conversation. Not quick to anger. Not rising to the bait. ]

Edited 2015-06-29 15:15 (UTC)

Of course -- of course you won't believe me now. [Chilton considered Walt's blindsightedness to be something of a concern, but not something he couldn't work with. And quite honestly -- if Pinkman suffered because Walt underestimated the devil, that would likely present a beneficial scenario for Chilton.] It will be much too late, when you see.

-- And quite obviously I realized that about you, with regards to other people. [Like Pinkman. Prime example.] But no, not with me. Just, one final thing, before I schedule you in for Friday.

Hated. Past tense. You said you hated Will Graham. So, what changed? If you're really jealous. What did he have with me that you wanted?

[And how did Walt know that came to termination? Chilton already suspected.]

Edited 2015-06-29 15:21 (UTC)

When did you get so religious all of a sudden? When did you start singing the devil's praises?

[ Walt raised an unseen brow at Chilton. And he had to wonder what the fuck Chilton did with Abduxel while he was away? God. It was something idiotic wasn't it? ]

I'm going to just keep my thoughts to myself. I have been singing your praises to Jesse all weekend about how you're not to be underestimated, and I really, very much, hope I'm wrong in what I'm thinking right now. Because my respect for you would just...

[ He trailed off. Deals with demons. Lured in by power. Had Abduxel really worked so quick on Chilton? Walt had been careful. Walt had never made any sort of deal with his subordinate. He never even said the word aloud lest it become a temptation for a demon to cling to. And Walt didn't buy that shit about Matthew and Chilton not interacting. Chilton was opportunistic. Chilton was greedy and wanted all of the spoils from the altercation. ]

You would greatly lose my respect.

[ And oops in regards to the Will Graham thing. The slip of past tense was unintentional. Though it wasn't something that likely wouldn't be brought up to Chilton on Will Graham's behalf anyway. At some point. So Walt would beat him to it first. ]

I spoke with him. After our argument. You might even say, I sought out a little empathy -- in regards to you. Turns out, we're not so different after all, are we? Of course, you kept Will as a house guest for far longer than the few hours you kept me.

But why be jealous of someone who no longer belongs to you? Someone who broke free? I hated the trust you had in him. And the lack of trust you had in me. I hated that there was someone else you saw as a patient that you could have regarded in higher terms than me. I hated that you could call him a friend, and those same words couldn't be applied to me.

But what I hate most, unrelated to Will Graham, is how much I relied on you and how much you turned out to be exactly the same as Jonathan Crane.

[ A pause. ]

We can be over, though, Chilton. We can be done. If that's what you want, we part ways from each others life right here. Right now.

Edited (SORRY. I didn't get much sleep and my writing is stupid right now. /keeps editing until can't edit anymore) 2015-06-29 19:54 (UTC)

I'm hardly singing praises, Walter. I'm forewarning you. Are you even jealous of a little trepidation? [His tone was dry, even cynical. Chilton doubted Walt's enthusiasm for praising his own antics and qualities, especially given that Jesse Pinkman was the least likely recipient of any Frederick Chilton fan club newsletters. It was useless to contradict his former patient, given Chilton's lack of hard evidence to the point, so he opted to simply ignore the assertion.

What had caught his attention was the confession about Will Graham.]

You spoke to Will. [Of course. Of course he had.] A house guest -- at BSHCI? Do you even know what that acronym stands for? Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Will Graham was a convicted murderer held in a federal mental institution. One where I happened to be Chief of Staff. If you're going to pin Will's capture on me, you might as well pin it on the federal court system and the FBI, Behavioral Science Division, as well.

[Clearly Will had done nothing to clarify the circumstance, and Chilton in turn felt no need to clarify that Will had not actually murdered the people that he had been put to trial for.]

Moreover, Will didn't break free from me. He betrayed my trust, he flirted with Crane of all people -- knowing what Crane does, knowing what he did, Will had been idiotic enough to engage Crane. You may call me intolerant of stupidity, Walt, but I did what I had to do. [A beat.] It was not an easy pruning.

-- And honestly, calling me similar to Crane? Right back at you, Walter.

[It was irksome, that Walter had run tail between his legs to Will. Irksome that Chilton had to be reminded of that sacrifice. Will had been more than merely a patient, he had been a friend. And Chilton knew he had that connection in short supply.]

Is that what you want, Walter? You seem to be doing fine unwittingly courting dangerous people all on your own. Can't wait to see what you do next.

Edited 2015-06-30 00:00 (UTC)

See you then.

[Whoops, I think I'm missing a few notifs... I'm down for an action thread here!]

[And Chilton, having now a cleared Saturday schedule since Will had terminated their psychiatric sessions (as April well knew), was suitably prepared for her arrival.

He was halfway inclined to ask her to draw a few clocks, if only to vicariously get on Will's nerves.]

Edited 2015-06-30 00:07 (UTC)

[DW updates ruin lives/. But April, surprisingly (and maybe slightly motivated be a certain husband) arrives on time. That doesn't mean she knocks, of course, just letting herself in unless the door is locked against her.]

[Chilton, glancing up from his file perusal, arches an eyebrow.]

I'm writing down that you're adverse to social norms. Like knocking.

Mm. If we're going for the low hanging fruit...I'm gonna guess you have issues with meat eating.

[April Ludgate: not doing herself any favors since the 1980s. But, really. She married Will. He knew that social norms thing already.

Anyway, part of the reason she'd even signed up for this mess was Fred was involved. And Fred was...involved. In her life. But instead of flopping into the normal chair she'll be making a circuit of the room first.]

I fail to see the comparison.

[ Walt answered in response to the Crane thing. The Will thing, well, so Will was a murderer. That's cool in Walt's opinion. He wasn't about to judge it. If anything, it made him even more relatable. They could talk about murder. Yaay~! ]

One by one, you keep losing people. Take a step outside your own ego for once, Chilton. I have by making this phone call. How many people do you actually have left and how long before you chase them away as well? From where I sit, I can only count two. Neither of which. Are human.

[ Goddamnit, Chilton. When are you going to give up and just say you want him back? Because that was all Walt was waiting for. ]

Hm.

[Chilton paused for the moment, reevaluating his profile of Matthew -- at least, in this regard. He had taken the demon at his word, and thus concluded that Abduxel's behavior was more about reaction than results.]

As long as it isn't a modest proposal. [Because, Swiftian humor or no, Chilton had suffered quite enough of cannibalism.] I'm listening.

I have at least three people and one Jeff Winger, thank you very much.

[But he wasn't going to mention Raina by name. Chilton was no fool, he understood Walt's possessive tendencies.]

You're missing the the point, however -- Will Graham's situation was different from yours. His was orchestrated by someone else, I was only the gatekeeper.

[As opposed to Walter, whom Chilton would take credit for as the orchestrator. Or rather, he could have taken credit for, had Walt understood the mutual benefit between them.]

If I take you back, how will I know you won't simply flee again?

[Funny thing about possessive tendencies: the possessor typically preferred a one-way flow.]

I had invested so much into you, Walter. More than any other patient currently on my roster. I need to evaluate the risk of losing all of that.

To parallel such issues would imply a similar circumstance that had born them both. Is your disdain for personal boundaries and protocol triggered from some sort of emotional trauma? And --

What are you doing. Sit down. This isn't an Easter egg hunt.

[He doesn't really think he was wrongly upset with Chilton, for the record, but that's not something he'll be honest about now, when he's fairly sure his ass is going to be doused in holy water any time soon and Chilton is the only one moving pieces in his favour.

Anyway, "a little vindictive" is an understatement by normal standards, but maybe worded just strongly enough for someone coming from Chilton's perspective. After all, he'd never kill and eat his enemies. He's more likely to vandalize their furniture or share their secrets.

The literary reference goes over his head; he was never much of a scholar, and the casual use of a phrase like that is a little too high-brow for the sorts of folks he associated with in life. And in Hell, for that matter.]

I don't think either of us here are terribly modest.

[He adjusts his posture, leaning back casually. He tilts his head a little to glance down Chilton's frame, to spy if his legs are still crossed. He hadn't really thought this far ahead; Chilton had largely been leading their tango today, besides when The Innuendo had Abduxel seize center stage, but now here he was being put in lead again. But he rolls with it comfortably.]

You know what I want. [He'll leave the scope of that to Chilton's imagination.] I've yet to entirely figure out what you want. As you know, I've got some skill when it comes to uncovering secrets. I could offer services. In fact, Raina and I discussed the potential of me helping secure volunteers for her research, but we didn't make a deal in any official capacity. It could be a gift to her.

It might be. I don't know what you do in your personal space, Fred. It's unfair. You were in my house.

[The peering into corners intensifies. Pulling out some books half-way, like he may have a Young Frankenstein-esque hidden dungeon chamber just a book spine away.]

So. What's the deal?

Edited 2015-06-30 00:41 (UTC)

Oh. What a difference. Excuse me.

[ He was mocking. And he realized he was mocking -- falling back into old interaction habits. No. He had to be placating. Unfortunately for Chilton, Crane had already told Walt about his alien girlfriend and Alana Bloom. Quick to gossip, that bird. ]

Alright, alright. Fine. You weren't responsible for locking him up. And I'm sure you didn't sedate him either. And I'm sure his stay in your basement was comfortable and cozy.

[ But now. Finally they were getting somewhere. ]

Treat me like a human being, and you'll never lose me.

[ But that was always the problem. Chilton really didn't know how. Maybe he was at home with his demons and alien. And Jeff Winger. ]

Under federal law, I required his consent for all non-medical and non-emergency chemical injections. Eighth Amendment.

[Which was why Chilton's unorthodoxy blossomed outside of federal institutions. Less oversight, more experimentation.]

Treat you like a human being. [He mused on that, almost mockingly.] And when aren't you acting bestial, Walt? When you're dosing me with dopamine? When you're attempting to sabotage me in conjunction with other former patients? When you're pretending to poison me?

If you don't have what it takes to qualify as a human, Walt, then aim for something better than humanity. You're already a better chemist than Crane, sure -- but is that really enough? Are you so complacent?

The evaluation should be simple. [He said, while eying her transit with ever increasing suspicion.] The Major General is only interested in results, after all.

So why don't we begin with the basics?

[Chilton withdrew a golden pen, priming it over a legal pad.]

Describe in three adjectives your relationship with your husband.

Chilton...

[ Exasperation sounded in his voice. Walt crammed another damn quarter in the phone. ]

Everything you've just said has been in response to things you have done against me. Ways you have wronged me. You bite and I bite back worse. You prod and I rip your arm off. The more you cage me, the more aggressive I become.

You have a problem. And that problem is called not taking responsibility for your actions. Where we are right now? That's all because of you.

[ Walt also had the same problem of not being able to take responsibility for his actions. ]

But even despite that. Not once have I moved against you since our fight. Nor is it in my plans. This phonecall is just it, my only move -- we either continue our therapy or we part ways, no hard feelings.

Oh my god.

[She laughs. Actually stops her book spine pulling and laughs- and when she turns back to look at him she's still smiling- no. Grinning. Unusual enough to maybe be concerning, especially when the raccoons aren't around.]

Look- eye for an eye stuff, okay? Because of my horrible trust issues. Why do you wanna know?

[Chilton knew it was useless to demonstrate the hypocrisy that Walt wove. He knew it to be a futile argument, a wormhole leading to more spiraled arguments and nothing more. So instead he asked:] And you've taken it upon yourself to punish me? To what, teach me responsibility? Are you to discipline a disciplinarian?

[Framed in the wording of a power game. A paternal power game, even.]

Contacting Will is a move against me. [And Chilton did not doubt that Walt had instigated other moves; the man was hasty and rash, and Chilton had already underestimated him once. That wasn't going to happen again.] Regardless of how you try to redefine "move" when it's applied from you to me.

Why do you want to resume treatment, Walter? Honestly. You don't like psychiatric help. You aren't seeing me for your health, it seems.

[The real underpinning question: was this Lucifer's influence, or not?]

A flow chart. [Chilton repeats that with a smile -- he found the banter rather charming. Snark was his dialect, after all, and it was rare for patients to exhibit some sass without the usual fanged hostility.]

Probably won't be necessary. I think we could manage it more abstractly.

-- And in the vein, off the top of your head, do you know the personality types that Sylar is attracted to? Power being a given.

- IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

NITROGEN OXIDE?

>( STOPS FEEDING YOU

but... our chemical bromance!

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>:[

>8[NaCl] (salty)

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voice.