- 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]

No, never mind.

If Crane understands the connection between you and myself, then he is liable to do more than grudgingly acknowledge your existence.

[But really, that's saying too much, isn't it? Chilton knows Will, he knows the man wouldn't listen to sound judgment. Perhaps it was Chilton who ought to create distance between himself and Will.]

Actually, on second thought. I spoke much too abruptly. Remain as you would typically, with regards to all your colleagues.

[infomodder]

How would he understand the connection outside of us coming from the same "Baltimore"? I don't discuss you with him, over lunch or anywhere else. He shouldn't be aware of much else than that.

[ ????]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Are really you so naïve?

[There's a face Chilton's making at his communicator, and it's a highly skeptical one.]

Do you not realize we are frequently the subject of gossip?

[infomodder]

[Prepare to make another sort of face.]

Dorian Gray seems to be operating under the impression that you have sexual interest in me, judging by our interaction this past ceremony. Yes, I realize it. Difficult not to when it lays hands on you.
I also realize that Dr. Crane is an educated man who should know better than to listen to gossip. It's unreliable and frequently wrong.

[Like Dorian Gray is wrong about the weird hand-holding closeness. So wrong. There is a lot wrong with that Dorian Gray. (Spoilers: Will is also wrong.)]

[slightlyoffchilt]

You shouldn't take Dorian so literally, he does these things to provoke.

[The immortal is Chilton's patient, after all, this couldn't faze him. Now Matthew Lin? That is a curious individual. But Chilton won't openly talk about how Lin keeps knocking the psychiatrist off his balance.]

Really, I thought you would be more equipped when it comes to his mockery. Or at least prepared. But that isn't the breed of gossip I was referring to.

[Chilton says nothing more on Crane. Perhaps it's noticeable.]

[infomodder]

I don't get what you mean. [This is nothing new.] What's this breed of gossip you're referring to?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Power Girl. Walter White. Clark Kent. Perhaps even Chímaira now.

Dangerous, questioning gossip. Investigation. But it would be ludicrous to speak so openly about his edging dread and suspicion, and the proof that had already delivered.]

Never mind.

You and April were fine, during this mess?

[infomodder]

Yes.

[No raccoons were harmed.]

Do you need me to do anything other than remain my typical [atypical] self?

[slightlyoffchilt]

I won't be in the office today. Perhaps not tomorrow, either.

Are you able to make this upcoming Saturday appointment? I should hate to miss two in a row.

[infomodder]

I am. And I'm working on a case in De Chima I could use some insight on, too, if you're open to that.

[What else is he supposed to do to say he's glad Chilton is back in one piece? Other than the thing he told him to do at the start, of course. That's just ridiculous. Crane was assaulted, whatever happened couldn't be too bad, right? Verbal warfare? Game of psychiatric trivia that Chilton lost miserably? What's the worst it could be!?!?!]

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Wow, Chilton would never lose to psychiatric trivia, the man is like in love with the system and every single version of the DSM. In love with the system to a sad degree except for any ethical review because it's Chilton. DO YOU EVEN KNOW HIM, WILL GRAHAM???]

What sort of case? Do we still have a De Chima?

[Perhaps he's giving away a lot about how dislocated he had been. All these little hints, so effortlessly exposed.]

[infomodder]

[Maybe Crane pretended to know Jung's favorite kind of yogurt and bluffed really well or something! If educated men get all hung up on gossip surely they'll lie in trivia. HE DOESN'T KNOW HIMSELF SOMETIMES OK GIVE HIM A BREAK.]

Involves a priest trying to drown other clergy members in vats of holy water. We had a De Chima last I checked. [Will's not the sort to really ask people if they're okay; he's not a fan of that question himself, why invite it? Makes it...trickier. Ugh.] But I also meant if you need anything other than me to keep to my appointments.

[Friendship stuff like tampering with or destroying evidence! Or fetching things. Running errands.

...bringing noodle soup? Will is really not good at this. Hannibal always just showed up with that crap in tow.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Chilton took a moment. It was an invitation, certainly, and one that spoke to other sensibilities: compassion, investment. Will Graham couldn't outright make the concerned inquiries, and Chilton wasn't about to surrender any relevant information regardless.]

A little on the nose, don't you think? Holy water. Clergy. Was this around the time Lucifer ported in?

[infomodder]

Just before he announced himself to the Network, yes. I went through the church and spoke to the priest myself. It could match with the timing of his arrival, but what happened doesn't match to Lucifer. It's someone - or something - else. I've been working on it when I've been able.

[And paying him visits, too, but he probably shouldn't let that slip so soon. He doesn't want to hear any questions or conjecture on why he's taking it upon himself to provide this sad, confused man with some company.

Will knows he goes because of what could be considered unhealthy reasons. As long as he's aware of it, that's all that matters. Gosh.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

All right, so you have a precise time frame. Good. Is this case something that is explicitly tied to your consultant work, or are you simply feeling nostalgic for a little exercise?

[Because, if the former, then there should be a professional paper trail. If the latter -- well, Will has fallen down rabbit holes before.]

[infomodder]

Both.

[Goddamnit, Fred.]

I got the case through work, but I'm doing more than necessary. I have to prove that I'm not rusty and belong here so I need to knock this one out of the park.

[slightlyoffchilt]

This isn't just a ploy to keep an eye on me? You're sincere in imploring my expertise?

[infomodder]

[Imploring. Will doesn't like that wording at all, but now is probably a bad time to get into it. Any remarks about how Will would keep an eye on him get bitten back, too. He should be doing more in that regard, if whatever happened this weekend is anything to go by, shouldn't he?]

No ploy, yes I'm sincere. Don't have the usual team around. Someone I'm more familiar with, who's familiar with me, [Someone he can blurt out alarming stuff with in the process who won't immediately take it as Will being in need of retirement.] and has experience with this work would be valuable.

[slightlyoffchilt]

That sounds logical. [Surprisingly, he wants to say. But doesn't. There was little need to scorn a kind offer, after all, and Chilton couldn't deny that there might have been the faintest whiff of pity in Will's topic. Not something that Chilton would personally illustrate, however.] When would you need me?

[infomodder]

We could discuss it Saturday in your office.

[But that serves to put off the inevitable actually talking about therapeutic things, which Will? Is honestly all for. Unfortunately, he's rather convinced that Chilton would actually like to have proper therapy, and if Will keeps working to put it off at every twist and turn, he worries he'll really only be working to create a schism, and that's the last thing they need, isn't it? So:]

I don't have any plans that night. It won't be a problem for me if we go over the allotted hour.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Well that is rather considerate of you. One might almost mistake that magnanimity for indulgence.

Or pity.

[There, he said it. The suspicion that had been haunting his mind this conversation. Too much of the unspoken had welled, and broke did the dam.]

1/2

[infomodder]

Have you looked at the time? It's too early for pity. I haven't even had breakfast yet.

[infomodder]

[But if dams are breaking and Chilton's questioning his motivation, might as well break another (because a huge flood is the best sort, right?) and see if that does anything.]

This one is a little close to home.
I need some objectivity.

[He might be projecting like mad; the only ones who deserves pity here are the priest and Chilton for having to deal with him.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

You make it sound so crucial.

[But it had worked -- Will Graham in psychological peril was always the sort of whistle Chilton would respond to, even in the wake of a slightly smudge ego.]

I agree, then. It would be fine to bring whatever files you have accumulated for the case for our upcoming session. I presume it isn't all in your head.

[infomodder]

[Carries that whistle around his neck, sometimes confuses it for the dog whistle, packs of psychiatrists just come bounding out of the woods to let him know he fucked up.]

No, I've got plenty of files on it I can bring over. [People being in his head, pfft.] I'll see you Saturday, then. And thanks for getting back to me as soon as you could.

[He's just assuming here, and stops himself from adding on more to that. Something more telling, like getting back to him before he did anything too terribly embarrassing. Going to Chilton's room and ransacking it to check for signs of him having gone somewhere of his own accord or been taken, starting an internal internal investigation when he realized he wasn't Ported out...general panic.]