- 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]

[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.]

[inmyothertights]

They're not exactly memories I like to relive, you know.

[He considers that for a moment.]

Let's just hope he's not disappointed his grandson is the mutant terrorist equivalent of a pacifist.

[Although Billy isn't a pacifist by any stretch of the imagination, as far as Magneto is concerned - reality bending powers and no desire whatsoever to use them for the cause? That might even be termed traitor.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

You have your support system to defend you, if he were to be disappointed. [The words might come across as mild, normal, but the implied context was anything but; Billy had empowered friends who were willing to physically fight for him, if ever Erik's disappoint got lethal. There was no question of that.]

Would you like to schedule some time to talk with me, after approaching your grandfather?

[inmyothertights]

Yeah, and I'll try and make it not the middle of the night.

[He will totally add on to his fee for emergency services.]

Thank you for seeing me so...on the spot.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Of course, Billy. My patients are my highest priority. [He means it, but maybe not in the way that most psychiatrists would mean it.]

Before you go -- [Beat.] I do have a question. About someone, whom I believe is from your universe? If my addition is correct. [Like playing Universal Six Degrees up in here.] I wish to inquire about Karla Sofen.

[inmyothertights]

[A pause, then.]

Karla Sofen? Like Ms. Marvel? Moonstone?

[Clearly you're talking to the right person. Billy's nerdier tendencies are very nerdy indeed.]

What about her?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[He smiles as Billy reels off the monikers. Oh, this will be good.]

She's practicing, here. As a psychiatrist. Is that cause for concern?

[inmyothertights]

[He has more.

For the time being, he stares.

No really he just stares for a second.]

Oh my god.

Yeah, no, that's massively concerning.

[Urgh, when was the last time he even saw her in person? Probably when Eli punched out Norman Osborn.]

She works...ed...for Norman Osborn while he was walking around in the Iron Patriot suit. It was...not good.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Chilton had also worked for Norman Osborn, technically -- at Osborn's mental hospital, in fact. But that was a contract signed well before Chilton had ever gotten his hands (illegally) on Norman's own psychiatric profile.

So that was his excuse.]

Did she now.

[After being often scolded himself for any relation to the former supervillain (no matter how innocuous!!), he could deeply appreciate how this... Former supervillain was deeply frowned upon, in polite society.]

Does she know that she did? Time scale can be so... Unfortunate.

[Was she a time bomb walking?]

[inmyothertights]

I don't know, I didn't even know she was here, but that's...besides the point. I don't know if I would say she's psychotic but she's sort of not a good guy, if you know what I mean.

I don't know how ethical you can be when your idea of a good time is joining any club that would have Norman Osborn as a member.

[He rubs his hand on his face]

I don't really know her personally, though. Someone on my team might, though.

[Noh-varr was doing something something something with Osborn a while back, wasn't he? Before he apparently reformed and started making out with Kate]

[slightlyoffchilt]

I would attribute a personality disorder or two, before I threw around psychotic.

[It was spoken almost flippantly.

But at Billy's line about Osborn, he threw the patient a glance.]

But, oh, let's not go to any trouble, checking into Doctor Sofen's sordid past. It doesn't matter much.

[It mattered quite a lot. She was treating Chilton, as decided by his supervisor. And that could very well put every one of Chilton's patients at risk, depending on his own psychic guarding.]

[inmyothertights]

Are you sure?

Just.

Don't trust her, okay? She creeps me out.

And like, if she does anything call me, I can be anywhere in .5 seconds and I'll back you up.

[He doesn't know their relationship but he's putting it out there just the same.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

[There's a smile -- brief, a flicker, but highly authentic. A glimpse of the vulnerability that comes with emotional gratitude.]

I will, Billy, if I feel direly threatened by her. I'll phone you.

[In that moment, he doubted he would require such aid -- but then again, his landscape of Karla Sofen's psychological state was only just becoming flushed. There was plenty of time to rethink his defense.]

[inmyothertights]

Okay.

[He gives a smile of his own - it's nice to be able to help someone like that.]

Okay, I better go. Thanks again, Doctor Chilton.