- IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

[slightlyoffchilt]

"Hello.

You've reached the direct line of Doctor Frederick Chilton. As I am not available at the moment, you might assume I'm quite busy with something pressing. State your name and business, and I will return your call."

Comments

[slightlyoffchilt]

No, never mind.

If Crane understands the connection between you and myself, then he is liable to do more than grudgingly acknowledge your existence.

[But really, that's saying too much, isn't it? Chilton knows Will, he knows the man wouldn't listen to sound judgment. Perhaps it was Chilton who ought to create distance between himself and Will.]

Actually, on second thought. I spoke much too abruptly. Remain as you would typically, with regards to all your colleagues.

[infomodder]

How would he understand the connection outside of us coming from the same "Baltimore"? I don't discuss you with him, over lunch or anywhere else. He shouldn't be aware of much else than that.

[ ????]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Are really you so naïve?

[There's a face Chilton's making at his communicator, and it's a highly skeptical one.]

Do you not realize we are frequently the subject of gossip?

[slightlyoffchilt]

It's cute, how you can make a heart look so menacing.

I haven't been able to watch the news, so forgive me for missing your undoubtedly cinematic entanglement. How did you acquire this new form? It's surely no coincidence that a dragon appears and now you can maintain a dragon form.

[The devil's in the details, isn't he?]

[sizetwelve]

:)

so why were you detained? such a fancy word

[slightlyoffchilt]

I was kidnapped by a Narcissistic Personality Disorder with a particular fetish.

Hardly as fascinating as it looks on paper, I assure you.

[sizetwelve]

you just described at least ten imports

[ But no actually wow Chilton. Way to find a way to make a dramatic weekend even MORE-so. ]

[infomodder]

[Prepare to make another sort of face.]

Dorian Gray seems to be operating under the impression that you have sexual interest in me, judging by our interaction this past ceremony. Yes, I realize it. Difficult not to when it lays hands on you.
I also realize that Dr. Crane is an educated man who should know better than to listen to gossip. It's unreliable and frequently wrong.

[Like Dorian Gray is wrong about the weird hand-holding closeness. So wrong. There is a lot wrong with that Dorian Gray. (Spoilers: Will is also wrong.)]

[slightlyoffchilt]

You shouldn't take Dorian so literally, he does these things to provoke.

[The immortal is Chilton's patient, after all, this couldn't faze him. Now Matthew Lin? That is a curious individual. But Chilton won't openly talk about how Lin keeps knocking the psychiatrist off his balance.]

Really, I thought you would be more equipped when it comes to his mockery. Or at least prepared. But that isn't the breed of gossip I was referring to.

[Chilton says nothing more on Crane. Perhaps it's noticeable.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

You only know ten like that? Lucky you.

[He can't help it. And besides, Chímaira is the right amount of crafty and combative to take on Crane, if ever Chilton needed an ace in his hand. He decided that he would unwind this information, if only to make it worth their while.]

[infomodder]

I don't get what you mean. [This is nothing new.] What's this breed of gossip you're referring to?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Power Girl. Walter White. Clark Kent. Perhaps even Chímaira now.

Dangerous, questioning gossip. Investigation. But it would be ludicrous to speak so openly about his edging dread and suspicion, and the proof that had already delivered.]

Never mind.

You and April were fine, during this mess?

[sizetwelve]

why on earth would i want to know even that many? i'm not paid to humor them like you are
did a patient get jealous? did they see you giggling with another patient behind the bleachers? you should be more careful

[slightlyoffchilt]

How can you ask me to trust you, Walter? [There's strain in his voice, a crackle of disbelief and insecurity.] You were involved with him to some degree, and I cannot simply assume he didn't interpret your allegiance as validation. Enabling him to... Misbehave.

[There's a reason why Chilton would only be responding in text to the others, after this conversation with Walt. Text was controlling, it could obscure emotion. Text was masking.]

A chemist at my side. Weren't you that, to him? Is this just psychiatric turf war to you? He was never much to me to begin with, Walter, why would I want anything to do with a man who has turned himself into a mere archetype?

He isn't even unique in his sequence. I have had friends betray me before.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I doubt any of my patients would be so crass. Wait. Unless, maybe... Oh no, false alarm, even that one has better manners than to detain a psychiatrist.

I have control over my patients now, but thank you for your concern.

[Now. That lesson was one painfully learned.]

[infomodder]

Yes.

[No raccoons were harmed.]

Do you need me to do anything other than remain my typical [atypical] self?

[sizetwelve]

now?

[ Like a fruit fly to honey. ]

[boobwindow]

If you shout my name I'll hear it. It doesn't matter if I'm halfway across the country.

[ She'll keep an ear out for Chilton until this impostor business is sorted out. The last thing she wants is for him to drop dead right under her nose like Freddie had. ]

You said you ran into this impostor in a downtown bar here in Heropa. I assume now that they've been spotted there they'll try to avoid it. [ She rubs her chin thoughtfully. ] Did Lounds ever frequent that bar?

[ Is this impostor scoping out places Freddie's been to in the past? ]

[kingpawn]

Whether you trust me or don't trust me is up to you. And whether you make the move against him or don't is also up to you. But I tend to think you will. You're not a man who just lets go. You and I aren't so different in that respect.

[ And the very fact that Chilton had pretty much called Crane a friend proved just that. They had both been misled by something they thought had the potential to be a friendship. ]

There was a reason why my alliance with Crane had pretty much dissolved. And it has nothing to do with you. [ Though admittedly, this thing with Chilton had given Walt the extra motivation to act. ] I will be moving independently against him regardless, and it's your choice to join me for the ride or to quietly watch as your problems work themselves out. What a lucky situation you've found yourself in.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I couldn't get to my phone.

You're the second person to assume I spent the whole weekend in sexual repose. Have you talked to Will Graham much?

[brushoff]

Well yes, but that's beside the point. I simply thought you were enjoying Raina while you could.

[slightlyoffchilt]

What did he do to you?

[The question comes cautiously, and after a thoughtful moment. Walt could quite feasibly be lying -- the man was a talented liar -- but Chilton doubted his entire argument was born of falsehoods. The story was at least worth some effort in investigation.]

This reason why your alliance dissolved. Was it something he said? Something he had done? Or did you find it within yourself to draw a line in the sand?

[kingpawn]

A mix of all those things.

[ Well if they're going to take this journey together, Walt might as well share.... ]

He slipped up and left a trail that led his enemy to my lab, which was the beginning of it.

After this Batman fellow had attacked him, Crane started to act differently. He was unraveling. The man I knew when I first got here was fading fast. And I thought about the first time I saw he was making LSD in my lab, when he claimed he intended to use it on some patients [ you, Chilton ]. I knew he was dangerous, but now he became dangerous and unstable.

I talked to Jesse about this, and Jesse talked me out of killing him right then -- claiming that it would bring Batman down on us even more, and Batman was the last thing we needed. So I kept my mouth shut and went about my business as usual.

It wasn't until I ran into him at the Swear In, though, that I knew it was completely done. The way he talked to me -- the way he mocked me for allowing myself to get close to you. The things he said to me were a betrayal of what I believed Crane to be -- not necessarily a trustworthy man, but a...

[ He closed his eyes and just outright said it. Fuck the consequences. Fuck the desperation and loneliness behind it because if he wanted Chilton to understand what happened between them, what severed the alliance more than anything -- this was the most vital piece. ]

...friend.

[ A long sigh. ]

It was foolish of me. I realize that now. Crane values the useful and once it's no longer that, he will cut it down and belittle it. But to make a fool of me is a very fatal mistake.

[ And that goes for you too, Chilton. In case you get any ideas. ]

[slightlyoffchilt]

I won't be in the office today. Perhaps not tomorrow, either.

Are you able to make this upcoming Saturday appointment? I should hate to miss two in a row.

[infomodder]

I am. And I'm working on a case in De Chima I could use some insight on, too, if you're open to that.

[What else is he supposed to do to say he's glad Chilton is back in one piece? Other than the thing he told him to do at the start, of course. That's just ridiculous. Crane was assaulted, whatever happened couldn't be too bad, right? Verbal warfare? Game of psychiatric trivia that Chilton lost miserably? What's the worst it could be!?!?!]