- 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

voice; OH GOOD me too

[godly]

[Prefacing his real reason for calling is a tricky matter, and would require a certain degree of formal propriety before he could truly get to the heart of it. He could manage that much, at least, if he felt so inclined -- but for now, Light takes the direct route, starting off with a vague but telling question.]

Forgive my bluntness, but what are your intentions in Heropa?

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

I -- what?

[He's clearly taken aback -- Chilton's used to little psychological games, sleights and diversions. A mindscape of chess pieces.]

I'm a psychiatrist. [A beat follows. He recognizes that it won't be answer enough, that it sounds like he's dodging.]

I hope to enact my duties as such, treating the mentally disordered.

[godly]

[Light's pretty good at psychological sleights and diversions (more so than he even realizes himself, right now), but choosing to utilize them at the right time is key for him. Right now he's simply putting his feelers out, to get a general sense of this man.]

To those who openly come to you for help, correct? Both imPort and the locals here?

[His tone remains polite and professional, though his questions do seem to be leading to one particular destination.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

The imPorts I opened an invitation for -- my government-given career is something, ah, more stationary. [He doesn't like the kinds of patients he's treating, at the drug rehabilitation center. None of them are the kinds of psychopaths he needs, to write important papers on!]

But yes, I treat both. It's a different sort of work, between the two, given that our populace has to come to terms with being torn from their natural universe, their original environment.

[godly]

[He takes the time to listen to the whole of that before responding. He isn't quite sure if that last statement is meant to be an implication or not.]

And do you think those who have been brought here -- us imPorts, I mean -- are more susceptible to needing psychiatric treatment due to the abrupt change in environment?

[slightlyoffchilt]

I think so, yes. While the environment we were stolen into seems genial enough, we all leave our friends and families behind. Some of us have never seen a world like this before, so foreign is out own. Quite obviously, some individuals will adapt better than others -- [A pause. But that may be only a minority.

And can we take that risk?

[godly]

That's a pretty noble response, Doctor. All-in-all, I can see how your role in this particular society would be helpful for many.

[But then... Well. Here it comes.] That being said, you wouldn't impose your methods on those who were uncomfortable hearing or experiencing them, would you?

[slightlyoffchilt]

My methodology adheres to my education -- the kinds of techniques and ideas I was taught by a rigorous regime. The title of doctor is not so easily achieved. [He lets that sit, stepping around the question.]

Ah, if I may? Are you scouting me for yourself, or for someone else?

[godly]

[He notes that did not exactly answer his question, but for now, he'll answer Chilton's instead.]

I've come here to ask you these things on my own accord, by the request of no one. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was initially compelled to talk to you by the concern of a friend.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Am I to understand that this is a discussion brought forth by your concern for your friend's mental health? Or is there another reason?

[He's hoping for the former, needless to say.]

[godly]

[Light will likely disappoint him, then.]

No. It's brought forth by their concern that you're rather adamant about trying to diagnose them with something -- especially since they're unwilling to play the part of patient.

[Of course, Violet did not say it in so many words; hers were far less polite.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Oh.

[The disappointment proves palpable -- his tone wears it swiftly.]

And this individual confided in you with the purpose of what, exactly? Is this a warning?

[Quick to the defense.]

[godly]

[And just as quick to quip back:] Why? Are you interpreting it as such?

[slightlyoffchilt]

It seems fairly aggressive, the subtext. Coming here to make such inquiries -- but, perhaps you're simply protective? [He pulls back a bit, needling less, suggesting other options instead.]

Perhaps you value the comfort of knowing.

[godly]

Protective of a friend? That's hardly a trait that's isolated to myself alone; neither is knowing the truth in an otherwise uncertain situation.

Wouldn't you feel the same?

[slightlyoffchilt]

I'm certainly not accusing you of any abnormality.

[Yet.]

We're just discussing your goals at hand, with regards to me.

[godly]

[oh boy. yet.]

"Goals" is too lofty of the word at this point in time. I just wanted to speak with you, to get provide myself with a sketch of your initial character. I wanted to see if I had anything to be concerned about in the first place.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Am I the only one on trial, then, before your judge and jury?

[godly]

Guilty until proven innocent? Not quite. That'd hardly be just of me.

This is just a friendly chat.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Perhaps I've missed when the friendliness came in.

[He's partially joking, at least!]

I'm certainly not judging you for scouting out the resources. It's good method.

[godly]

I've been nothing but politeness. You can hardly blame me for that. [Also partially joking, maybe? He masks his intentions with words well enough, but that undercurrent of this being a little more than a friendly chat is still there.]

Resources? I wouldn't go so far to label you as a resource, at least not for myself -- I don't have need for a psychiatrist. But acquaintance would be fair enough.

[slightlyoffchilt]

No need for a psychiatrist? You are rather quick to protest it. [It's spoken with a smile, perhaps genially enough -- and the subject is not pursued, at least not verbally. Chilton began to reserve his doubts, however, that Light didn't need a psychiatrist.]

However. I am not one to deny an acquaintance -- we can certainly consider ourselves as such.

[godly]

[Light, on the other hand, frowns. If Violet claimed that Chilton was forcibly "psychoanalyzing" her, he had to be careful that he didn't end up in the same boat. He can't imagine how irritating that might be; as such, he makes a tactical decision to not argue the point further, and simply continue the line of conversation.]

Good. [-but not without that frown now being heard in his tone.] Then as an acquaintance, I would request that you be more careful about whom you apply your... skills to, please.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I aim to apply them to people in need. [He poses this like a martyr might.] Are you suggesting you're to be the arbiter on who is needy and who is needless?

[godly]

[And his response to that is simple, deflecting.] No, just someone who'll be mindful of my friend's conversations on the network. I'm not sure I'm suited well enough to be an arbiter of anything, Doctor. [Ha...ha.]