slightlyoffchilt | - IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

I'm not becoming a hitman. [ He sounds huffy for a moment and then he sighs, tired, scrubbing at his face because he'd prefer to not be a dick when he was the one that called in the first place. ]

I'm working in a church. Doesn't have anything to do with the killing people part but it's not like i've got it under control yet.

[ A church. Where he can hear people's sins. ]

A church.

[The skepticism in his voice went unmasked; Chilton was both an atheist and in a mired situation with Lucifer. Churches weren't his ideal topic of conversation at the moment, but he wasn't going to slight Peter over that matter.]

Spiritual healing, I suppose, is a logical avenue for you. People seem to trust you fairly quickly, as far as I've taken note of.

That doesn't even have anything to do with it, I stopped believing ages ago. I'm not sure I ever did for any other reason besides show.

But after- [ Oh. He still hasn't talked about that. Mostly because he's pretty sure he's fully aware that Chilton could have him arrested for what he did and for causing harm to the rest of the ImPorts by proxy. ]

I haven't slept in weeks , I just keep waiting for them to figure it out. And it's nice to know that if I need it, church's have sanctuary.

But, after?

[That abrupt pause and switch of subject (as it seemed to Chilton, anyway) was cue enough. He kept his tone gentle while pressing -- but pressed nevertheless.]

I'm not here to judge, you know.

[Easy context to claim. Especially with the clues Peter left to follow -- the sleepless weeks, the need for sanctuary. The implied want for a relief of guilt.]

You might not judge, but i'm pretty sure the courts will. And if i'm right, you're obligated to report anything that might be considered harmful to others.

[ Peter would prefer to not be seen as any kind of stupid - as if rattling off psychiatric regulations is going to earn him some kind of points, or perhaps none at all. Because talking about it is good for him, right before they cart him off elsewhere.

Especially when he's working on plans to do it again. ]

Anything that I would consider to be harmful to others. And Peter, I consider your gifts a boon of security for those of us civil citizens. There is a greater evil argument to be made, here.

[A beat.]

I'm more inclined to defend you. I have connections to some members of the law, here.

[If Jeff Winger counts.]

[ Sigh. Peter doesn't even remotely believe Chilton but here we go. ]

The mobster in Maurtia Falls, the one that was murdered? That set off all... I don't know, hate towards the ImPort vigilantes?

That was me.

Ah. You were the ignition point.

[No wonder Peter was so reluctant -- it was a dire crime to be guilty of, especially given the impact it had upon the community as a whole, yes, but especially those self-made vigilantes. Such an event in part inspired the rapid organization of RISE -- to which Chilton himself was associated with.]

You had good reason, Peter. While the consequences are... Acknowledged. This wasn't an innocent man.

[ And here comes more of the coddling which- Peter doesn't know if he appreciates or not. Because he believes he was 100% in the right and to be confirmed that by one more person (of a total of two) seems comforting for some odd reason.

He did come to Chilton for a reason, after all. ]

It's not like I feel guilty about doing it, I'm just not looking to get thrashed by everyone else because of the repercussions it caused. I already got called my fair share of names by Archangel. I get it, nobody appreciates it. But nobody did anything.

And I'd still do it again. [ And again. ]

It will take time, for the others to come around. I can't say it is completely fair to fault them -- how can they understand this situation like you can? They lack your perspective, and perhaps they lack your drive, Peter.

[A sympathetic beat follows. Chilton draws a breath, very away of the theatrical production he's putting on. Timely cues. Delivered lines.]

All the more reason why it has to be you who leads us.

[ There's quite possibly a hundred things Peter could say to that, starting with how fair it is to fault people who did nothing - who hypocritically blamed him for murder while allowing others to die, but it's Chilton's continuing words that stop Peter in his tracks as if waiting for the punchline in a very dramatic joke.

That never comes. ]

Leads us where?

I think you had a sort of prescience that can only benefit our community as a whole, Peter. Your shining ethos, your determination -- that's the sort of inspiration that can influence a massive population. [A beat followed, and he inclined his head, acknowledging the caveat to follow.] When embodied with the right individual, of course.

A leader requires a certain appeal.

[ Except this somehow felt like it was going too fast. He was either clueless or he couldn't keep up. Or maybe he didn't want to, or maybe he wanted it so badly it hurt. To be the one that everyone followed. To be the one everyone saw as finally making all the right choices. It would be beyond what he'd ever wanted when the only things he'd ever dreamed of were helping with or without the notice of others.

But his mind was still a touch boggled. ]

You still didn't answer my question. Where am I supposed to be leading everyone? Because if you're implying- I know I want to but nobody's going to follow that. I don't even know if i'd follow it, I-

I don't have enough appeal to overcome the things I need to do.

Not a physical place, Peter, but a moral destination. And it's true that not everyone would follow your step, it's true that some would require starker persuasion than others... [He let the implication linger, with an artful one-shouldered shrug. Chilton wouldn't stain their conversation with direct comments of violence, not yet.] But I'm sure you see what I see? How fractured the imPorts are, how dangerous this is becoming. People need someone to look up towards, people need someone to trust.

And perhaps you are that person because of the things you need to do. You're making tough decisions -- how is that not a leadership quality?

[ But he knows it's a physical place, he's just being contrary because he has no idea where the hell this is going. Why him. Why is this conversation happening. Why is he supposed to incite belief in the hearts of many with beliefs he... doesn't even quite get that Chilton's trying to get at.

He thinks he might. But maybe he doesn't want to. ]

Because I didn't go into politics for a reason. A lot of reasons. And sure, I know I have the qualities that... make people follow me. I've done the giving speeches thing before, keeping people on target and rallying the masses. Even when the masses were three people.

But I just don't know where you think i'm taking anyone. Nobody's standing behind me killing people- do you know how fast i'd be arrested? How fast the other 'vigilante's' - [ the air quotes are oh, so painfully evident ] - would be all over me? I already tried to say my piece less than a handful of people listened. They're not going to start if I show my face.

While not many people will stand behind a killer, a significant amount will stand behind a crusader.

[Or a martyr, but that was a different tone entirely. Chilton has spoken with a kindly smile that leaked into his verbal tone (something he knew Peter would notice). It was a tonal choice that he thought would buy him a little time as he deconstructed Peter's reactions. The phrased irony, the self-deprecation -- Chilton believed that Peter knew what he was getting at, but his patient simply did not want to acknowledge it in full. The psychiatrist understood that impulse, he was even somewhat sympathetic; after all, a sharp intuition would denote this situation as something dire. The responsibility inherent wasn't some mere hobby.]

They need to be persuaded, that's true. You've been honest with our community, Peter, and that will carry weight -- once the right message starts to get out. That's where I'd like to help you.

We need to showcase what a danger Sylar is. We need to prove to them how you were right.

Proving to people that Sylar's dangerous isn't exactly difficult. But it's proving that he's any more dangerous than half the people around here that's the problem. Everyone's got a worst enemy- I don't even know how many people are actively seeing Crane, just as an example. And he's not as bad as some people around here.

[ Peter knows these things, he does. And it being spoken with the sort of touch that's meant to be- well, nice, makes Peter want to be compliant just because he's being cooed to instead of demeaned. Killing them with kindness has always been effective on Peter, always, if only because he's a sucker for feeling as if he's somehow appreciated in his behavior. As if he's needed. But he still wasn't quite sure what path he was supposed to be walking here.

Except for the obvious one, where he's holding the staff and parting the Red Sea. Which is distressingly appealing. ] I can't go on the Network and slaughter people to make my point. But don't actions speak loudest? Shouldn't I do something and then make a statement?

Or am I supposed to rally the masses first and then send everyone with their pitchforks after Sylar? What do you want me to do?

Ah -- yes. [The mention of the other psychiatrist provokes a hesitation from Chilton's part. He knew that Peter's initial encounter with Crane had been unpalatable, but as far as he could tell Peter had escaped unscathed. That had always been something of a linger question in Chilton's mind -- didn't Crane know Peter's value? Didn't he see the fracturing? Or perhaps Crane sought a different kind of target -- it was nonsensical either way. But given how Chilton had benefited, he wasn't about to complain.

However, the resurgence of Crane's name worried Chilton. Was the man leering at his patient again? Maybe regretting the profile he had lost?]

I can't say I know of many, but I'm sure he safeguards his records suitably enough. I know that Will Graham keeps an eye on him, which isn't the worst defense to have implemented. [But far from foolproof, if Hannibal was any foreshadow.] I suppose we shall see.

It's a good idea. To act first. [The glowing warmth in his voice was sincere.] Ideally, if you took control of a dangerous situation -- perhaps something unrelated to Sylar -- and then used that as a platform for your insight. People trust a leader, but they also trust a healer. And you happen to be both. If something outrageous were to happen, it's the first responding aid that will capture the spotlight, Peter. That could be your time to shine.

[ The only reason Crane had popped up is because, well- he's talking to his psychiatrist and Crane is pretending to be one. Comparing apples and oranges or something. The only reason he's doing this after all is because he's fairly sure that Chilton isn't faking it for kicks. Apart from that, there's no further mention he sees fit to bring up. He barely even pays attention to Crane these days; doesn't speak to him, doesn't listen.

He's almost inclined to say he's spoken with Will, though he has no idea where that'd fit, either. Instead he just sighs, thinking for a few seconds in silence. ]

But nothing has happened. I can't run in to save the day unless there's something.. or someone that needs to be saved. And considering this place, it'd have to be someone important. No one usually cares enough to worry unless we're talking Superman, here.

Unless you're implying that i'm the one that should start up whatever situation I need and that- I don't know if I have a problem with that so much as I have no idea what i'd do. [ No, that's not true - he's near paving his way as a serial killer. ] Or who i'd have to pay to do it. But being a first responder's easy - that part i've got down.

[Chilton tilted his head, his gaze sliding to the corners of his eyes. That physical reaction, unseen, took a moment's pause -- the silence of which could certainly be deduced as something indicative of what he was about to say:]

I'd say that, in lack of any current crisis, then yes. A demonstration of your own design would be the best medication. It isn't as if traumatic events don't occur now and again -- the timing is just inconvenient to our purposes. But perhaps it's all the better to manufacture one, if only to ensure you have the most control made feasible.

[Another beat followed.]

I'm not talking about mass murder. Of course. [Not yet.] But what about infrastructure accidents? Some disaster to demonstrate how well you act under pressure.

[ He had to think fairly hard about that, going utterly silent for a good few seconds - longer than even he'd like to - mulling possibilities over and getting tangled up in the ideas. It's like Adam, quietly convincing him to freedom after a month of earning his trust. He had no idea how he'd wound up walking down this road but he isn't even thinking about it, instead considering how he'd go about accomplishing it.

And just how good of an idea it is, something his brain is near cheering about. Because wouldn't it just do exactly what he wanted? If it worked, that is. ]

So i'm the one who knocks down the building. [ Hm. Saying it outloud requires even more thinking, though this time it's far more brief. ] You do know i'm not a... demolition expert, right? And I don't have super strength. Apparently making a bomb's easy enough, but that's not infrastructure so much as terrorism.

I've already scared the shit out of the government, that'd just make it worse.

Perhaps I know a fellow who has significant chemical expertise. Someone who could concoct an explosive, easily, and without raising too much suspicion during the process?

[He was, of course, thinking of another patient on his roster. This was hardly fostering healthy treatment. But the expense of one chemist's sanity for Peter's heroic fame helped Chilton twofold.]

In purely hypothetical terms, as we needn't commit to an itemized plan at the moment. But if I could solve that variable for you -- how would that make you feel?

[ How would it make him feel? That's questionable - were they in his office, Peter'd be staring at his boots, trying to come up with the right, reasonable answer to the possibility. Not squirming so much as going infinitely more still. Which is, in essence, what he's doing anyway. Going quiet, absently glancing around as if the air around him might whisper the right words to make him sound less like he's starting to crack. ]

I don't know how it'd make me feel. Doesn't matter- I'd do it. It's saving people, right? For a good cause?

[ It makes him go bit glassy-eyed, staring off again before he gets with it, like spending hours staring at the ceiling in Primatech. ] That's what matters. Getting people's attention, making sure people know. I want them to listen. To me. For once.

Perhaps it is better not to speculate upon what emotional responses you might have, true. Your focus is much better when directed to the cause at hand, much like you said -- making that statement.

[His own voice rises, but only a little. Chilton comes in strongly, if gently, reassuring and enabling with bold consonants and careful, silken vowels. He wields a tone intended to banish whatever doubts might fester within that noteworthy mind of Peter's. Safe, cogent, forceful -- that was the brand of support that Chilton thought Peter required.]

They need to listen to you. Their survival might depend upon it.

But what if-

[ But he never asked Adam but what if. What if we get caught, what if someone finds Victoria's body, what if they comes looking for them. There were so many what if's that Peter could get lost in a single one of them, the worst of them being what if I get caught. But starting down that rabbit hole meant following through with the repercussions and he had no idea if Chilton would be there to save him or not.

The blame, he knew, would fall on his shoulders alone. Which meant he had to get it right. ]

You know the logistics that're gonna have to go into this, right? What city, what building, who's gonna see, how bad it's gonna get. I'm not just asking someone to jump off a bridge and then flying them to safety- it's knocking into a building. The last time I even broke into one I had telepathy and I don't anymore.

And I can't just go ask someone for help.

- IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

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