infomodder | IC contact [Mask or Menace]

[...or not. Whoops. Everything right now is just whoops.]

If he's out there fucking half the town [two people is totally half the town when it comes to young women he cares about, okay, he'll admit it's exaggeration later on] then he should know about protection even if she doesn't. Shouldn't he?

[He's grasping for something good here, obviously.]

Do you have reason to think he wouldn't use it?

Oh, I really do not think that half is a fair estimate. Maybe a quarter? He has yet to formally refine his tastes.

[The follow up question caused Chilton to pause, even cringe.]

Well. He likes neither children nor dogs. I can't see why Reggie would have neglected proper protection, surely that isn't a realistic fear.

[A beat.]

Hopefully. Anyway, he'll know better for next time.

[Next time. NEXT TIME.

NEXT TIME!!]

[

Nͣ͐̊͑̽E̶ͥͯ̓ͬ̐͂̊̚X̨̅̌̽ͫͩ̌͋͋͝T̨̊̍́͏ ̡͐̋ͦT̅ͭ̐Iͯ̏́M̶̀ͣ̽͌͑̿̌̆ͫEͧ̎ͤ͌̕

It's like hell being played in his ears.]

Hopefully? [Oh no, no no, that's not going to fly.] Hopefully my ass, Frederick. If you don't sit that boy down and make damn sure he knows better for next time with anyone, I'll do it myself.

[It will be very thorough. And very thoroughly strange coming from, well. Basically a stranger.

But he doesn't care because the point is that Frederick can't call him, ask if he gave the talk, and then just roll on out like this! He can protect his pets or give them up to Crotchety Dad, there is no middle ground.]

Will. Please. While your emotional disruption with regards to your adoptive ward -- legality notwithstanding, mind -- is fascinating to observe, I certainly do not want this to become an issue.

[At long last, Chilton saunters to Reggie's defense.]

I can ensure his grasp on the implications is highly well-informed. [The hospital had an HR department, didn't it? Surely that would do.] And Reggie will meet your undoubtedly rational threshold.

I only thought you would like to know.

[Well, that clams him up. He is, of course, a salty, perhaps too old for proper eating clam. Like one might expect at a seafood buffet. But calling Will out, rightfully so, for emotional disruption is akin to waving a big juicy sausage in front of a distracted dog. Gets his attention real quick.]

You thought I would like to know.

[About his adoptive ward's (he's not even going to bother denying that) probably disappointing sexual affairs. He thought Will would like to know. Like or should? But that means, then this is...]

No agenda. Just...conversation.

[Because if he had been keen on Reggie getting a call, or Will pushing past, he wouldn't go so far as to ensure this would be taken care of, even if it came with a jab about Will's mindset, would he? He wouldn't lay hands on the situation once Will had escalated it and redirect him back to the chill out stage, would he? He'd simply let him off the leash, in one way or another, right?]

Won't be an issue if you hold up your end. You've staked your claim. [Reggie Mantle: Chilton approved and property of Chilton.] I can respect that.

[But this just leaves the same sort of wonder he had about Raina at first. What's wrong with Reggie Mantle? Chilton keeping wholly normal company wasn't easy to imagine. Hopefully this subordinate isn't a fan of serial killers because Will doesn't need another one, thanks, but he can't help being curious what this says about Reggie.]

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.

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.]

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.

[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.

[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.]

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