infomodder | IC contact [Mask or Menace]

My claim? Oh -- Reggie is my employee. [And therefore, Will was totally right about the claim. Chilton's tyrannical tendencies were no secret.] And even then he has something to be desired. I think his distraction breeds from some sort of trauma that he has yet to fully process. Not that Reggie would discuss his past in depth -- so my mentioning of it isn't defiling any confidentiality clause. But you will see what I mean, no doubt.

[Chilton spoke that last cluster of syllables somewhat resentfully; while Chilton's analytical capability rarely failed him outside his own hubris, Will's intuitive ability was always something to be envied. But the doctor who had once sneered at the teacher's occupation had finally evolved past that personal bias.

More cheerfully, he said:]

Perhaps we could compare notes? When you inevitably, formally meet him. Just for conversational purposes, like this one.

we wait everything goes on like usual thats what she would want

ok

are you ok

[No. That's another part of everything going on like usual. Alas.]

yes are you?

[ Of course not. He hasn't been, since Thomas got caught in that gas. Now someone else is missing. Another fracture in his family. ]

i will be

when she comes back

You want me to profile him?

[Cutting straight to the chase. He's sure Chilton is aware that Will turning switches off isn't an easy task, if it's even possible, but since Chilton's been so open about this whole issue (too open, one might argue), no point in suddenly hiding behind fancy lingo now. He can be blunt with Will, won't be thought of as lesser for it.]

I'll think of something he and Sasha and I can do together to get a wider picture. Have better notes to compare with yours.

[Carefully chosen—with, he says, not against. This isn't a pissing contest, this is something far more important than that. Chilton wanting to compare notes shouldn't ever get a slap in the face (unless those notes are about April or Abigail, of course). Will doesn't hold the same cheer, but the situation being what it is, surely Chilton will understand why. He's a growling Mister Grumpy Gills over Reggie, not the invitation to compare notes. None of his displeased undertone is shot in Chilton's direction. Past Reggie being one of Chilton's, but. Can't be helped.]

hopefully its soon then we could work in the garden together if youd like

[ His hands have spent the last few days wrapped around knives, and not gardening tools.

He shouldn't do it. He should go back to the Church. He should look for Crane again. ]

yes
on her flowers . ok

[Absolutely not!!!]

ok ill be home in a half hour so see you seen

Profile is such a strong word.

Reggie was still his employee, emphasis on his. But Chilton thought it was fair to give Will a preambling notice on what he himself had noticed about Mr. Reggie Mantle. Moreover -- Chilton didn't want Will to think he was unwittingly sending a disaster to court Sasha.

Even though he had technically sent Reggie after Abigail a few months back. But that was a different agenda entirely, wasn't it? Nothing conversational about that.]

I would appreciate it, Will. They are young adults, and I can appreciate their autonomy -- [a lie] -- but I do think, with our respective oversight, we can minimize any. Undesirable outcome.

[ She'll get the axe. ]

It's already been a few weeks.

How long is it supposed to take?

[As opposed to fucking or ass, Will doesn't say. He gets it. He chose that word for a reason, he understands how it can slice.]

I agree. [They're both liars.] And I'll ask April to discuss anything more in-depth with Sasha, since I'm...

[An older dude who is fully aware he isn't Sasha's father, yes. But there's a more to it, there's inclusion. Discussing young adults like this, general parenting issues with Chilton is one thing. Throwing in mention of his wife isn't just because he's not spoken to Laurie at length or because she's the only woman Will knows, it's that extension of family. A quiet reminder that Chilton still has a spot reserved in Will's home whenever he needs it. Some strays wander in and out, after all.]

...you know.

[For once not because he's an easily unhinged older dude with a dead surrogate daughter. Is this...normalcy?]

I do not need to know the details. [Dear god no, he thinks. And that is, blissfully, the extent of Chilton's foray into What April Might Discuss With Sasha.] But you needn't hesitate to call if anything problematic arises. Reggie is a... Complex young man, yes, but he has a good quality about him. I would not have hired him, if otherwise.

[Perhaps the highest testimony that could be given from Doctor Frederick Chilton.]

I'll talk to you later. I have one Mr. Mantle to deal with now.

Everyone's different. There's no solid answer for time frames.

[A super adult answer that basically amounts to "I don't know" because Will is also conflicted, even now, over a year later.]

I wonder if things could have been different, that's all.

[ Maybe they could have injured them rather than take their lives. ]

[His father-like aggravation will settle soon enough, and he'll spend a bit of time chewing over this whole Complex young man with a good quality testimony. Was that part of what drew Chilton to Reggie, or some subtle tactic to ease Will down from said aggravation? Complex, something Will understood very well, Profile is such a strong word, coming to his defense at all...he must like this kid quite a bit, Will will later decide. Which means treating him as kindly as possible. It's rude to go to another person's house and kick their pets around.

And they know what happens to the rude.]

Lucky you. Teenage boys are handfuls.

[The idea of sliding in a joke about how both of them knew that from experience because they had been teenage boys is dismissed quickly. He doesn't want to get into Chilton's childhood—Will has no delusions that he was a kid, of course, doesn't believe he sprouted from the cabbage patch fully formed in suit and tie pin, but it's still strange to think about. So what's left?]

Have a good night, Frederick.

[Sleep well, friend.]

[ Crane is still alive.

Crane can wait. Grey can wait. It would be better to be with Will. ]

ill wait outside

Might be left wondering for a long time. It's been over a year and I still wonder about that same thing myself.

[All thanks to big-headed cannibals.]

It's... kind of scary.

[ She can admit that much because it's Will. He won't judge. ]

When you're in the act you become this entirely different person.

[He really doesn't.]

It's just part of the job. [Personally he never saw it as a big deal, but that's just his opinion.] What about you? Ever considered yourself a front line man?

[Will seemed interested in going out to help right away, despite backing down quick.]

[No judging, not on his end. Aggressively empathizing, which could easily be taken as projection...not that he's going to get into it too much. Not with Sasha.]

That's one way to look at it.

[The way that might make it easier, for some. The way that can also make it more difficult, more along the lines of her talk with Crane, more I can turn into a monster instead of myself, am I then a monster? But whatever the case, whichever direction that line of thinking steers Sasha into, Will's tone stays dangerously neutral. Nothing to sound like That's one way to look at it but I don't agree and nothing to lead her to believe the opposite, that it's his point of view, too. He isn't dismissive, he isn't ignoring her, he's just...there.]

I was at home.

[Truth and a lie, though there comes a point where they blend so perfectly it's difficult to tell a difference. Career-wise? Yes, he's very much only on the front line when he's under Jack Crawford. But when it comes to his personal life, when it comes to those he cares about being in any sense of danger, Will is very much ready to put himself out in front. For things he can handle, sometimes for things he might not be able to handle...but that's part of having a family. That's part of being the guy who collects strays. He can't just let them sit in the cold, he has to protect that which is his. Adapting to dangerous situations is part and parcel of it, and one day he may very well come up against something he can't handle.

If he does, he'll go down fighting. Biting, even.]

Footing's different here. So are the politics. Makes taking a backseat sensible.

[What he means is there's a lot of bullshit going around, in Will's opinion, so Wells' choice to sit it out is one he's perfectly okay with. He'll drink to it, even, and there goes another swig of that mixed whiskey because why not? Why not. He's an adult, he can drink if he wants to. He can also toss out a subtle little compliment at the same time, layers underneath. That is, of course, if Wells finds being considered sensible a compliment.]

What's the other way?

[How to be honest without being too honest? Well, there's the easy out of...]

Just like everyone needs different amounts of time to adjust to a big change, everyone has their own unique perspective on what those big changes mean. What they feel like. There's as many different viewpoints on any given situation as...there are stars in the sky. Or fish in the sea. It's endless. Some perspectives align perfectly while others are complete opposites.

[ The explanation is difficult to comprehend, but Sasha tries. ]

So... I have to decide what it means?

IC contact [Mask or Menace]

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