slightlyoffchilt | - IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

Probably double. I mean, I thought the alcohol around here was just weaksauce at first but come to think of it... probably was me. We're still just talking about these anti-anxiety things right?

That would explain maxing out the tab cap, wouldn't it?

You're concerned about suffering another one of these episodes, aren't you? You want to be in control of yourself?

Good thing you had a cap, huh? Look, I control everything. There's no way I'm gonna let my ego try and take that away from me. Once I test out the limits with those meds, I need something that'll keep it at bay. I might also need a locked room after those anti-anxieties cause things could get ugly.

Ah, but Dorian. Ridiculous hypotheticals have a nasty habit of manifesting reality.

[Chilton's saccharine smile caught on quick; Dorian's reaction was beautiful, exactly what Chilton had wanted. While Chilton hardly thrilled himself with the concept of fear in the same way Crane did, he nevertheless appreciated what a fine mechanism it could provide -- a cog in the grander scheme of things.]

I'm not suggesting it is a likely occurrence, of course. But, hypothetically, if someone you were invested in decided they no longer cared about you, would you react violently?

Let's call it a civil formality.

[He looked down at his exposed torso, having put up absolutely no resistance to Raina's whimsical fingers. When she touched the dissection scar, he winced -- not because it caused him pain, no, Chilton had long grown numb to the faded ache of a split stomach. The damage was done, the cells that had remained were healed as much as they were ever going to be. What caused the wince was the fact he couldn't deny what she already knew, he couldn't blind her to what she had already seen.

When she pleaded with him, when she made the X with his hand brought up to her chest, Chilton's brow furrowed.]

You're right.

[The concession came after a heavy beat.]

I do hide my scars from you. My history. And perhaps -- perhaps I needn't to, especially if you're going to expose yourself. If I'm asking you to do so.

[Raw, emotional, vibrant Raina.]

Will... [Chilton shifted -- more accurately, he squirmed -- in his chair when Will Graham cut his own questions. Chilton didn't detect malice. This, he determined (reluctantly) was only another fair line of logic poised before Chilton. Offered to him. And given the source... It was almost sacred, this invitation.

He couldn't deny it. Chilton couldn't negate that sensation of obligation to Will. Oh, that emotional affinity wouldn't eradicate his habit of poking and prodding the other man; Will Graham would always remain a fascinating psychological study. Always. But Chilton had since evolved from that first face-to-face meeting, with Jack Crawford as their chaperone. Will Graham had been so useful, so crucial, in his survival in Baltimore, in Heropa. He was consistently Chilton's friend, when the psychiatrist so often lacked that empathetic foundation.]

No, I don't.

[It was a surrender whispered.]

But I was never as close to him as you were.

Upon our first meeting, at the bar. Unless this is a different power set? [NO ONE TOLD CHILTON THAT JEFF HAD LEFT.] Am I to understand this is a newer concern?

A locked room? I can provide that.

But not everyone does come back from the dead. People tend to ignore that inconvenient fact -- which is curious, don't you think? As you noted, it's not a guarantee.

You'd think more imPorts would take death seriously.

Now you sound like a lawyer.

So fine, i'll fill out paperwork. But I should probably be asking how much i'm gonna have be paying for this or if it's out of the kindness of your heart. Not that you're not a good guy..

New thing. Happened once back home though. Ok, so we got the locked room covered. For science. You think you can get something that'll keep it at bay after that?

[ Raina blinked. No. No, no, no. That wasn't how this was supposed to go. If he told her now, where would her bargaining chip go? If he exposed himself now, then she would be obligated to do the same. As long as they could both hide behind that curtain, hide behind their scars they were on equal ground.

Raina made the move to get closer, to crawl onto his lap. ]

You don't have to tell me.

[ She reassured, her eyes on his belt as she pulled at it. ]

You don't...

[ Tug, loosen. ]

...have to--

[ Unziiiip. ]

--tell me.

[ Raina's eyes met his. ]

I don't want to lose you, Frederick. And I'm afraid I would. Thorns are ugly, protecting the rose but it's the rose you want. No one wants to date the thorns. I told you, didn't I? When we first met -- that SHIELD had reason to be afraid of me.

[ She took his hand and guided it to her cheek, tilting her head to lightly kiss his palm. ]

I don't want you to be afraid of me. So you keep your secret. And I keep mine. Is that something we can agree on?

Well, some of them are superheroes, right? I don't think people were ever really... that cautious about life and limb -- at least where I'm from.

So this just adds another layer to that, right? Makes people feel invincible.

How discouraging. Foolhardy thinking is not to be admired.

I have no doubt that science will ultimately help you restrain yourself, Jeff. No doubt at all.

Are you Registered? Your health insurance should handle the costs easily, then. If not... We can work something out.

Yeah. Ok. I appreciate the help, Doc. I figure after a few montages I'll be able to find a way to control it without worrying about an episode after a few flattering glances from strangers. We got this.

Yeah, I am. [ The enthusiasm in those words could crush large buildings!!! Except not. ] Probably better coverage here than I did back home. But sure, works for me.

[ Dorian's still frowning, as he looks over at Chilton. He doesn't like thinking about this because, again, it never would happen. How the hell is he supposed to answer for something he hasn't thought about? ]

Probably not. [ Of course, he wouldn't think he'd react violently unless he had to. ] I suppose I'd probably try and show them up. To prove them wrong somehow.

[Will didn't leash his dogs unless he had absolutely had to. They ran the breadth his property without anything to hinder them, other than a whistle or called name if they went too far. None of them would be left out in the cold, or heat, or even a fair day if they didn't want to be. He'd always open the door as soon as he heard a scratch or bark, even if he'd just sat down to do something else entirely. This invitation is much the same. He thinks Chilton is aware of it. If not...he looks off, lifts his eyebrows, fingers stretching for a moment, giving off the appearance of someone about to say Well, if you ever change your mind—a failed business venture ended and an exchange of cards just in case. But he won't leave. Chilton's shutting down the conversation can't be returned by Will shutting him off from anything else, and he can't respond by something cutting about what sort of company Chilton may or may not be keeping, either. He doesn't want him to think that his guards are going to go up harsher and taller than ever until Chilton finally indulges the topic, certainly not. It isn't in Will's design to make Chilton squirm on a constant basis.]

As far as I know, everyone else is doing well enough. [For this place, he means, where close associates can go missing in the blink of an eye or disaster spreads like wildfire just as quickly, flares of tragedy and upset coming and going. His hands go back to rest over the same spot on his stomach again, fingers loosely tangled together.] I have a few people outside of April I talk to on a regular basis, the rest...more of an as needed or checking up basis, on both sides.

[That isn't quite a smile, but Will being Will, its easy to take that way. As needed to see how one of them is doing after a mishap, or if they'll be in town, or where Will wants his birthday cake delivered, or if one of them has seen someone lately, or if he has the time to talk about what to do in the wake of an elk head sending Abel Gideon off...normal friendship with a dog-fighting fishman who avoids socialization things.]

[In Monday's mail for Dr. Frederick Chilton, he'll find an envelope with April & Will in the upper corner, no return address. The markings from the post office all come from a small city in Puerto Rico, mentions of it being special delivery (so it gets there quickly and before they do, duh). Inside is a pretty generic postcard and a something small and rectangular encased in soft tissue paper. The back of the postcard is topped by MARRIAGE IS HERE WISH YOU WERE WEATHER in Papyrus font, naturally. The rest of it is normal, Will's message short and sweet and written so nice and neatly it's like he's trying to be polite and on his best behavior even when he's nowhere nearby. And, of course, Will made sure to give Chilton a head's up that he wouldn't be around Saturday for their session. Going out of town, promise that he could come in sometime during the next week to make up for it Chilton would like. Now, he gets the real reason.

Fred~~erick~~,
Greetings from Ponce! Vacation went very well, we got hitched. Should be back in Monday evening. See you this week!
- April & Will

In that little carefully constructed yet cheap case he'll find a picture from the wedding. For the more casual route they took with it, April's dress is still classy, something one would expect at a higher end cocktail party more than a wedding. Will's managed a dark suit that fits, shirt underneath a normal white. Nothing plaid or overly disastrous here, the tie is not in the shape of a fish, though it's arguably trying with the blue color. Seems they got married in some outdoorsy spot, the arch above them rooted in place, the plump, older woman officiating in just as casually nice clothing, both amused and pleased by the inclusion of Eduardo. The raccoon wears a bowtie and has perched himself above them, and this picture is Will reaching out to take the ring from a raccoon who looks like he's played the part of both father and ringbearer this round. It's clear who is going to get his face bitten off if he dares cross April, and it's clear that everyone knows it, now give him the fucking ring.

At some point, Will had put Frederick. At some point, April had blotted it with her eyeliner until it just said Fred. At no point had he stopped her or considered writing it over again on a new postcard. It was more heartfelt and sincere this way. They're all friends anyway, right? No harm no foul.]

Well, no, but... I don't know, people tend to do that, if they think they can get away with it, and there's proof here that they can, right? That's enough of an incentive.

[Chilton, needless to say, read through the matrimonial announcement several times. He thought back to that Easter dinner spent with Will and April and wondered, briefly, if his discussion of Will's ability to protect April was something portended.

Nevertheless, he makes a note to search for an appropriate wedding gift. Something useful, stylistic -- and preferably raccoon-proof.]

[He looked at those fingers. Stretched out, understanding, exposed. Vulnerable. It was a breed of fluidity that Chilton didn't wish to afford himself; a flexibility that went beyond adaptation. Chilton nodded in response, accepting the implication, tending to the social order of their interaction. Hannibal Lecter was still taboo, still terrifying. He couldn't speak about how vibrant that catastrophe was, not right yet.

Perhaps not for some time.]

Question -- concerning your social network. How do you plan to hunt them down, in the instance of an emergency? Or is that, too, an as needed consideration?

After all, you seem to enjoy playing your cards close.

You'd go after their friends? Close acquaintances? [A beat.] Their loved ones? Perhaps give those individuals a reason to leave your former confidant?

[He asked with the consistent tone of someone mildly intrigued and amused by these possibilities, someone who was more invested in the ideas than the personal implications. In truth, Chilton's razor focus was on Dorian. The possibilities only mattered in this case as they related to the probability of Dorian's behavior.

Chilton was scripting a guideline.]

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