maskormenace | 001

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001 | video

[The video feed pans on to a well dressed, perfectly presented guy offering a winning smile as he sits in the booth of some fancy bar, all wood and leather, while nursing a glass of whiskey. Someone else is holding the camera and there's enough shaky cam and unfocused zooming to make the Bourne franchise jealous.]

Hey there. Do you like watching a ridiculously good looking man do law stuff? Want to watch him play some nondescript puzzle game on his phone for an entire hour? If yes, then have I got a surprise for you. If no, watch it anyway because apparently I need the ratings.

Jeff Winger here, Lawyer at Large and city hero bringing you a brand new series about me. [Another oh-so charming smile and a dramatic point to the camera.] And law!

Danger! Intrigue! Thrills! These are some things you'll probably never see in my show, but watch it anyway because hey, you might just strike it lucky. And ladies, you might just strike it lucky with me.

[Smirk smirk smirk, pause and then a glance off camera to someone, smugness replaced with a curious furrow of brows.] You guys do know I was disbarred ri-- [And the feed ends.]

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[Ah, gay jokes, how familiar. But Jeff takes it with a mere shrug, not countering or disproving the statement because Chilton's slight discomfort is worth it. Getting a reaction, not matter what the reaction, is almost always worth it, unless it involves being punched in the face and then it's never worth it.]

Dorian who? [He got Chilton here for information (and the understanding that it pays to have friends in new places), it's his own responsibility to filter through the crap.

He leans forward, a typical display of interest even if it isn't entirely genuine.]

What sort of patients do you have, exactly?

[As Jeff could probably have anticipated, Chilton wouldn't be one to throw a punch. And it wasn't just because he would inevitably consider the gesture undignified.]

Dorian Gray. [He responded with ease, well aware that the name so casually tossed from his mouth was originally a fictional one.] And yes, he is that Dorian, famed for his picture. Quite honestly, the fellow is far too fond of throwing around the fact of his immortality.

[A shrug followed, as if to implicate that yes, he had wondered if that portrait was stashed somewhere in this universe.]

Well -- I specialize in imPort psychology. Out of necessity and convenience. But my formal career lies in the criminal mind.

Yeah, I think I was meant to read that crap for English once when I was a kid.

['Meant to' being the key word there, because reading involves effort and brain power and Jeff was likely far more eager to avoid either. So whatever, some English lit character is here that Jeff is pretty sure was in some weird superhero movie ages ago with Sean Connery and a sexy vampiress...? Abed would remember. Fuck it, it's an immortal dude, what more is there to know?

Chilton is the here and now and that's probably the more important factor here.]

Criminal mind though? That explains so much. You ever do testimonies in court? Y'know, the 'I'm an expert so I agree with the brilliant and handsome lawyer here that the prosecution is clearly a huge liar'?

I've done a few, yes. I was Chief of Staff at my state hospital, which lent some authority to my statements. [And Chilton loved every minute of it, something that he made clear in those few words spoken on the matter. What he neglected to engage, however, was the fact that he had at one point testified against Will Graham. It was the circumstance of an accurate profile labeled to the wrong man -- if only he had known Hannibal's depth at the time.] Though I might not propose to your expert by following up with such honesty. Clearly a huge liar, goodness, Mr. Winger. No wonder you're in defense.

[It was said with a smile and a wink, but revealed what was probably obvious: Chilton considered most people to be guilty, with or without a trial.]

I've had patients from home show up here. Highly unpleasant. You know, any criminal is given a second chance here -- no strings attached. It's only a matter of time before someone dies because of that baseline.

You ought to be in good business.

['No wonder you're in defense.' That's enough to get a slow eyebrow arch, not to mention quite the aid in fleshing out Chilton's character. Humorous joke or not, there's always some truth behind such comments.]

That's what I'm thinking. There's always people getting into trouble and there's always people who want out of trouble. I can be the defender of rights or some crap.

[A slow swirl of his glass and a twitch of a smile that displays just how little he believes in that final comment. Jeff was never in the job for the protection of people, he was in it for the fortune and easy wins. Was. But when he did try and branch out for pro bono work and fighting the good fight, that didn't exactly work well for him.

It pays to be a selfish asshole, he supposes.

Highly inspirational.

[As sardonically as that observation was delivered, there had to be some inherent truth to the matter; often defense lawyers relied on inspiration. An appeal to the pathos. That could be more influential than a slew of facts, if one knew how to poke fingers at the mechanisms of human character. In their line of work, that was far more useful a shortcut.]

Has anyone discussed with you the similarities between psychiatry and law?

[Which might have been a jarring tangent.]

I mean -- in the way we deal with emotions. The emotions of others.

[If there's one thing that Jeff's generally good at it's appealing to the masses. In the past he's managed to win virtually unwinnable cases just by charm, persuasion and just a touch of manipulation. His knowledge of law may be lacking, but his way of twisting words certainly isn't, and he can only hope to have the same success here. Trying to be the good guy in law hadn't worked out for him, he'd tried the nice guy, pro bono approach and it virtually bankrupt him. Nice guys came last in a game like law and in a place like this, with a new start and no friends holding him back with nice guy guilt, he could be unstoppable. Insert maniacal laughter here...]

Hah. And here I thought you meant the way we manipulate and make people reliant on us.

[Slow, smug sip. He doesn't seem to mind the comparison at all, but then again Jeff's under no belief that lawyers are good people. And psychiatrists? Well, psychiatrists get people paying money for emotions. That's pretty fucked up in his eyes.]

I'd never really considered it, no. Then again, the only other therapist I know is an anarchistic high school drop out who doesn't know her id from her egos.

[Chilton glanced at that, as Jeff no doubt anticipated he would. No comment on that form of manipulation -- perhaps some subjects were too sensitive even for Chilton. At least, they were when he wasn't the one administering them.]

Does she really qualify as a therapist, then?

[Needless to say, it was that line that provoked a judgement. Chilton, obviously immersed in skepticism, drew his lips together tightly.]

Or was this simply another one of your conquests?

[That first comment of Jeff's had been enough to get a reaction, however minor it was, so he seems satisfied enough. But that satisfaction is quickly replaced by the slightest drop in brows, resisting the urge to furrow them. There's bristling at Chilton's questions, just slightly, but enough to be obvious in the slight puff of his chest and the lowering of his head.]

She's still learning- Psych student- and she's helped a lot of people.

[No one's allowed to judge his friends from back home but him. So what if Britta is the actual worst? She's his actual worst, not Chilton's, and totally not a conquest except she kind of was once upon a time.]

Sometimes the best therapists are the ones you can talk to without judgement.

How reminiscent of Alana Bloom. [It was unclear if that was a compliment or not, but Chilton probably would not have said it had Bloom been in their present company. Probably.] I won't deny that many of the profession begin as idealists. That often changes, once someone handles actual live, human patients.

[Not that Chilton himself suffered that transformative event; he maintained a particular disdain for most people most of all his life, but especially before subscribing to psychiatry.]

Do you hope she comes here?

[Alana Bloom isn't a name he's familiar with, but in context he can assume she's close to Chilton in some manner, good or bad.

The mention of idealists drags a small scoff of amusement from him though. It's the same with lawyers. There's always the kids joining up thinking they can make an actual difference for the greater good and it never works out that way. It's almost endearing... maybe that's why Britta's attempts are so entertaining.]

Here? Nah. I don't think that's good for her or me. It's a new start, right? Why let the memories of back home tie you down?

Rather entrepreneurial of you. New beginnings are better viewed without the net loss, aren't they? [Entrepreneurial. That was a kinder word than aggressively repressed, wasn't it? Of course, Chilton could only assume repression based on the indicators of Winger's deflection and slippery nature; such was fairly trademark for an emotional rogue.]

Well -- I'm afraid I'll need to make my way out. But, Jeff, I do hope we can meet again socially. [Chilton emphasized the last word, in case his company suspected any professional curiosity. Just in case.] Accompanied by alcohol, of course.

Exactly. [At least Chilton understands about new beginnings! And also understands Jeff's desperation to cut ties and repress all memories in the vague hope he won't get feelings about missing friends and all that gross emotional stuff. Emotions over other people just get in the way of his own personal gain, it's just not a healthy thing.]

So soon? Hey-- [Quickly necking the last mouthful of his drink before casually lifting the empty glass vaguely in the bar's direction.] I can get another under your name, right? Think I'll stick around this place for a little longer, I like it.

[The possibility of free aged scotch and those women by the bar are a persuading factor.]

I'm putting a cap on the tab. [He obliged Jeff, yes -- one never knew when the good graces of a defense attorney would come in handy. It seemed both the men had mild plans for the other. Chilton glided his gaze back to the women, as if anticipating Winger's evening aim.]

Try for the redhead, if you can. Perhaps she's psychologically compelling.

[Chilton immediately earns extra points for allowing more drink, even if there is a cap. Generous but not a push over, a good combination. Jeff won't take advantage of it anyway, if only because he hates to feel like he owes others. These drinks will be repaid in time, once he's got his feet properly on the ground and some actual money in his pocket. Don't worry, Chilton, you haven't got a mooch on your hands, just a narcissistic, ego fuelled liar who gets jealous a little too easily, but a mooch is way worse, right?]

'Psychologically compelling'? That's just another word for crazy, right? I mean, she is a redhead. [Thoughtful stare at the ladies.] Probably gonna be the pick though, unless I can get more than one.

[Grin?!]

I'll see you around, Doc. I appreciate you taking the time out to come over.

[Keep 'em sweet. Never know when you might need someone for something.]

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