- 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]

[Chilton frowned, feeling the warmth of a questioning spotlight back over his own flesh.]

Invasive question, isn't it?

[Perhaps not to a young man born into a world of incredible powers.]

... I have psychic control over transportation vehicles, it seems. A switch out from my former set, which was sound-based.

[It's true, yes, but not complete information. He doesn't mention his sedative-spewing fingertips.]

Do you think I should be the intermediary? It is your choice.

[inmyothertights]

I'm going to think about it.

[A pause.]

So you can drive cars with your thoughts?

[AND ANOTHER BECAUSE:]

Cool.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Do you really think that's cool? [Because he did GET INSIDE of Knock Out.] It's any transportation vehicle, really.

[inmyothertights]

Yeah, I mean I can't fly a spaceship-

....do you think you can control the thing that gets us here?

[slightlyoffchilt]

The porting device? I -- I don't know, I certainly have not attempted such.

[inmyothertights]

Well, you said it-transportation, right?

[But then...]

Though I don't know, meddling with it might be weird.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Boats, planes, buses, cars -- sentient cars, even, yes. [A beat, and he looked away. There was little temptation for him to court his own home world.] That thing? I don't know. Perhaps.

[inmyothertights]

You met a sentient car?

[Why is this even remotely strange, Billy Kaplan???]

[slightlyoffchilt]

By -- only by accident. I can manage odd vehicles indeed, but I hesitate to try that, is my point.

[inmyothertights]

Right, right.

Sorry.

I don't even mess with the porter and you know, reality bending and everything.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[He swirled his empty milk glass, briefly, looking back at Billy.]

We ought to be discussing you. Diversion noted.

[inmyothertights]

[Damn it.]

You're good.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[He smiles, looking pleased with himself. Praise from a young patient is still praise.]

The doctorate assists with that.

[Which is bullshit, but he does love his framed diploma, located back in Baltimore.]

Avoidance isn't necessary. I appreciate how monumental this change is for you -- having to face your past like this, I mean. Family always tends to invoke one's past.

[inmyothertights]

Well especially when your family's past involves terrorism.

[God. His family is so messed up.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Especially then, yes. Are you afraid of being ostracized, because of what your grandfather has done -- or, rather, will do?

[inmyothertights]

No.

I'm just worried that he isn't ready to stop yet. I don't want to have to stop my own grandfather.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Your morality will will over your familial loyalty. [Chilton leans back, thinking on this -- clearly it was a dilemma that meant something to Billy.] Because you've already decided you would stop him, however emotionally painful that might be.

[inmyothertights]

[He squirms a bit, inside]

What kind of person would I be if I didn't?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Not an unusual person. People are... Interesting, in their values.

[inmyothertights]

Well, family is important, but I'm not about to just let a member of my family go off on a killing spree and not try to stop them.

[Billy is basically the definition of an Avenger, with that.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

It's reassuring, that you're confirmed in your values -- regardless of what that value might be. Such implies a strong sense of identity.

[inmyothertights]

That's me. Strongly identifying with let's not do that killing thing.

[He thinks about it for a second.]

I tried to, once. Kill someone. He made me watch as he cut my boyfriend open, over and over.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[That got a stare -- one of those "I'm about to take a bite, and now I'm gaping slightly" kind of stares. Then, lips closed. Then, a quick succession of nods with a double eyebrow raise.]

And you felt no desire to enact revenge?

[inmyothertights]

[Chilton gets a look of his own from Billy, like, I said I tried to kill him.]

No, the desire for revenge was - is - pretty strong. But I actually don't think that it would accomplish anything. And anyway...

Avengers don't kill people. And Teddy's fine. He doesn't even really know what happened.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Which implies that you aren't -- wouldn't -- be eager to clarify, for him. [If ever Teddy did get ported back...] But if your interest in, ah, personal justice has subsided -- [How's that for tactful phrasing?] -- then it isn't unethical to encourage your meeting.

[It's just more interesting.]