- 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

VOICEMAIL.

[mantlepieces]

Dr. Chilton, it's Reggie. Did you talk to some guy called Will Graham about me?

[ And Sasha? ... Better to just leave it about him alone, for now. ]

[slightlyoffchilt]

[What timing, Reggie Mantle. What timing.]

Stay away from Will Graham, Reggie. It has come to my attention that he presents something of a health hazard. [One named Hannibal.] Absolutely keep your distance.

[mantlepieces]

So you do know him.

[ For a moment Reggie almost simply leaves it at that. Then he adds: ]

What are you talking about?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Did you see the entrance of Hannibal Lecter? By any chance?

[mantlepieces]

Who? I don't keep track of that stuff -- never anyone I know.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Lecter is from my Baltimore. Doctor Hannibal Lecter. I do not want you near him, understand? He has -- a -- unique relationship with Will Graham. It is a matter of transference.

[mantlepieces]

Look, I didn't ask to be invited to his stray-infested shack for dinner. You think I want anything to do with that?

[slightlyoffchilt]

A moment -- what happened?

[Because Chilton heard Will Graham's house and dinner, and that was a complicated, worrisome concept now.]

[mantlepieces]

He invited me to his place for some dumb, creepy dinner is what happened.

[slightlyoffchilt]

-- And. What. Was served?

[mantlepieces]

I dunno, fried chicken, mac and cheese, lemonade, coleslaw... your run of the mill trailer trash food.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Of course, of course. This would have had to happen before Hannibal could have conjured anything. Chilton was only getting ahead of himself, succumbing to paranoia, crisp on the edge of --]

That is reminiscent of trailer trash. Was he attempting to torment you?

[mantlepieces]

Yeah, or something. You know anything about that? Sasha was there.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Sasha... Sasha, your paramour? Well that certainly seems staged. Was this something short of a suggested marriage proposal?

[mantlepieces]

She's not my-- [ He breathes out sharply, angrily. ] My anything, for cryin' out loud. And I dunno, maybe. Is he a shotgun wedding kinda guy?

[slightlyoffchilt]

You called into question his taste, you ought to know the answer already. [Impatiently:] If you really want to piss Graham off and provoke a shotgun, I insist that you continue to keep company with that girl.

[mantlepieces]

What do you mean you insist? I dunno if it's gonna work out, honestly. And I don't even want a girlfriend anyway.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[A brief pause -- this works much better for his parameters, now that Hannibal is a vibrant variable.]

Let her down easily, Reggie. Tears might lead to bloodshed.

[mantlepieces]

Too late for that. We had a fight, so-- [ There's a pause while Reggie shrugs, almost audibly. ] I ain't never going back to that place, that's for sure.

[slightlyoffchilt]

What sort of fight? Concerning what matter?

[mantlepieces]

She got all uptight when I called that Will guy's house filthy, which it is -- it's crawlin' with animals and probably disease.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Why would she be upset at factual information? Perhaps I should've vetted her for you first.

[mantlepieces]

That's what I thought. I don't know, her brain's probably already infected with rabies.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Hmm. [A beat.] We ought to get you tested, now that you mention it.

[mantlepieces]

I'm fine. I make a point of not gettin' scratched or bitten by anything.