- 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]

Begged him.

[Chilton's lips curled at that, his disdain unapologetic.]

Oh, how he craves begging.

[hostage]

Yeah...

I thought I deserved it. I mean - He made me think I deserved it, lying to me about everything. I thought he was just getting his revenge, and I owed it to him.

But you're right. I think he just liked hearing me beg.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Walter White is a narcissist who has felt betrayed his entire life -- his intellectual potential indicated that his ascension through the scientific sky ought to have been meteoric. And yet... He taught high school chemistry. He taught you.

[Chilton tilted his head, the corner of his lips cut to a smirk.]

That frustration has nurtured a gnawing need to dominate. His business, his influence, his friends. His family. You.

[hostage]

One hell of a way to get back at a kid for flunking your stupid class.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I doubt his motivation is so literal. What do you think you symbolism to him, Jesse?

[hostage]

[He shrugs. Symbolism isn't really his deal.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Opportunity, redemption, power -- you're a reflection of the identity he wants.

[hostage]

[Highly, highly skeptical of that.]

How the hell does that figure?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Because he thinks he has molded you. Teacher instinct.

You're his pet.

[hostage]

[Ugh, now he's nauseated. Framing it like that just gives the whole thing an extra level of totally fucked that he doesn't want to think about. His hand drifts to his neck. Again, that unconscious instinct to shield it.]

But he didn't. Not really.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Oh, Jesse. Do you really believe Walt would have become so attached to you if he hadn't seen himself within you? Inside of you.

Who made that happen? Who cultivated that?

[hostage]

[Must you, Chilton, with that language?]

But I been fighting him the whole way. The only time he got one up on me was here, lying to me about all the shit I couldn't possibly know about 'cause it was supposed to happen in the future. He didn't - He didn't mold me.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[He must.]

I'm not talking about what's happened since you've come to Heropa. I'm discussing how Walt sees his affect upon you, regardless of your opinion on the matter.

[hostage]

[And yet he's backed into this corner where the only thing to do is keep playing along. Jesse exhales a short sigh. He's got nothing to say to that, really.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

He's the foreboding force at work, Jesse, the compounded problems of a man's lifetime manifested. We're but reactions to that.

[hostage]

How the hell are you okay with this?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Because I don't subscribe to what Walt thinks. I observe it, I analyze it, I acknowledge that he is motivated with this perspective in mind.

But it is not mine to follow.

[hostage]

Yeah, but - but it's gonna affect you. One way or another. Why haven't you turn tail yet? While you still can.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Because this is my job, Jesse. [Because he already had picked out the title for his book on Walter White.] And I take that very seriously.

[hostage]

[Jesse scoffs at that. It cannot be that simple. No one likes their job that much.]

Jesus, I can't tell who's crazier.

[slightlyoffchilt]

And that is why I'm the professional between us, Mr. Pinkman.

[Clearly Jesse touched upon a nerve; if there was one thing Chilton could always reassure himself over in the glow of his extraordinary patients, it was that he, at least, was perfectly sane.]

[hostage]

Right...

[Because the psychiatric professionals around here are definitely sane. Anyway, Jesse's getting to his feet before he pisses Chilton off too much and ends up locked up a basement or something.]

Well, good luck with whatever you're doing.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Luck is not necessary, but the sentiment is appreciated. I have little doubt that we'll be in touch again.

[A graceful exit -- something that Chilton took note of. Perhaps Jesse knew when to pull out after all.]