- 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]

Any day but Friday. I meet Fridays with him, and he is... Insistent on the times.

Thursdays? I can open for a weekend, as well.

[hostage]

That's fine. Thursday's fine.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Thursdays at four, then. You might know my staff already -- Reggie Mantle and Matthew Lin. [Certainly the latter one, at least.] Is it going to be a problem if you encounter them? I can send them out at your request.

[hostage]

Matthew Lin. I don't wanna see him.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Ah, yes -- you have a thing with him, don't you? What is it, mutual dislike? Which strikes me as odd, given that you've a lot of the qualities that Mr. Lin usually likes.

[hostage]

He's a sensitive little bitch. I called him a faggot and made him cry.

[slightlyoffchilt]

And you, what, prefer your company insensitive? I mean -- I needn't point out the ironic homophobia at play, need I?

[hostage]

Ohh. Look who knows my dirty little secret.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I've heard one account of the event, yes. I would, of course, be happy to listen to your perspective.

[hostage]

Yeah, I bet you would.

[slightlyoffchilt]

You could try to be a little less hostile when seeking my counsel, you know. But, naturally, as an initial patient, you will be allowed to set the topic discussed.

[Sessional control usually came later, at least according to Chilton's agenda.]

So I won't pressure you, Mr. Pinkman.

[hostage]

If I could just up and be less hostile, I don't think I'd need the therapy.

Anyway, we'll cover the stuff I know you're dying to hear. Thursday.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Until then, Mr. Pinkman. You know I look forward to it.

[Would you like to continue their session here, or in a log?]

[hostage]

Uh huh.

(( Here's fine! ))

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Thursday. Chilton had taken precious care to ensure all his office security (hidden as most of it was) had been cleaned and was in ideal working condition. The psychiatrist wouldn't make mention of such recording devices, of course, the legality was somewhat questionable and he did not enjoy lawful discussions. But the value of the content? Oh, that was something to be dissected over again and again -- or so he anticipated.

His office, stately in its Greco-Roman flair, its heavy accents on black, gold, and pale blue, barely even made the attempt to seem welcoming. Beyond his heavy desk (littered with golden pens) was an uncomfortable, hard wooden chair and a light blue sedan. Jesse would have the choice of either, or neither.]

[hostage]

[Jesse isn't so naive that he believes he's walking into a safe, sacred environment. He knows that every word he's going to say will probably not only be recorded, but instantly backed up on some cloud server somewhere. If self-preservation was his concern, then he wouldn't be doing this.

But he doesn't care. This is the kid who will someday literally attempt to set himself on fire to exact vengeance upon Walter White. Talking into a mic is far less painful than that.

Jesse chooses the sedan when he enters. He doesn't look around suspiciously or check for cameras. He simply makes himself comfortable.]

Well, this is weird.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Expect the unexpected.

[Chilton pinched out a smirk from one corner of his mouth, his face cutting a wry expression. He didn't rise from his desk to lock the door behind Jesse; both members of his staff understood that Chilton and his patient were not to be bothered.]

So -- down to business? He has told me, as you well know. Walt is swimming in unfamiliar waters; he had taken your autonomy for granted. I think he will act out, irrationally.

Well. More so than usual.

[hostage]

That almost sounds like a warning.

[Which Jesse notes just because of the novelty of it. Imagine! Chilton warning him. As if he really cares if Walt acts out irrationally.]

I don't really care what Mr. White does. It's on him, whatever it is.

[slightlyoffchilt]

You don't care about what Mr. White does to you.

[Chilton offered the clarification while placing some mocking emphasis on only three words. By his usual averages, that was more professional than he tended to be.]

But what about your friends? Loved ones? You surely cannot tell me that Walt hasn't discovered the few souls you might have gotten attached to? He is quite the jealous man, after all.

[hostage]

[Jesse makes a face. He honestly hadn't meant to refer to Walt that way, but it's a habit. A habit that goes back to when Jesse was sixteen years old. Let them not linger on that. He'll move on to the point of what Chilton's saying:]

I don't have "loved ones". Or friends. Nobody really knows me, Chilton. It's like that for a reason.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Walt knows you, doesn't he? [A pause followed, a gentle lull behind that rhetorical question.] He's the reason. Why, Jesse, has he destroyed those of whom you've loved before?

[Chilton had some idea about Jane -- not in name, but in function. The girlfriend Walt let die.]

[hostage]

No.

[He snaps that irritably, because not everything is Walt's fault.]

The shit I'm into, it's dangerous stuff. Somebody like me can't get attached to people. It's got nothing to do with him. If anybody's destroyed the people I loved before, it's me. It's all about my choices.

[slightlyoffchilt]

That's a significant amount of personal responsibility.

[Spoken with a an eyebrow raise, but Chilton won't isolate that statement for attack; Jesse didn't need to be invalidated, and that certainly was not Chilton's aim. He considered how delicate he might take this, given Jesse's recent history.]

Clearly an indication of maturity. Was it a harsh lesson, I wonder? And do you feel better equipped, knowing that you're the one now controlling your own destiny?

[Casual emphasis on now, of course.]

[hostage]

Is that what you think? You think I'm in control of my destiny?

[slightlyoffchilt]

I think you're as in control as you've ever been. Is that enough for you?