Will Graham (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
empathicfault) wrote2023-06-18 11:04 am
empathicfault) wrote2023-06-18 11:04 am
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[Open for text/audio/action/whatever.]
[Open for text/audio/action/whatever.]
Ain't stupid. Where?
[Sweeney is very familiar with the need to solidify his reality, and he doesn't fault Will at all. This is existentially nightmarish. It's just also his general constant state.]Gonna take me 30 but I'm coming.
[Like he promised when they made their escape.]------
It takes him a little longer, but the estimate isn't too far off. Sweeney pauses at the door, leaning against its frame as he rests, trying to recover some from the effort. He hadn't managed to get an over-shirt on, but he did get his braces over his shoulders and his boots on his feet. Otherwise, he's a hot mess in a white tank that's seen better days.
He raps three times on the door, waiting only a moment before calling through it as best as he's able. The sound of his own voice makes him wince.
"It's me, Pup. Open up."
[ Eddie leaves the conversation hanging for a couple hours while the Admiral does his job. Unfortunately, he made the mistake of tacking on his own minor request as well, and the Admiral takes it upon himself to drop everything into Eddie's cabin instead.
He flips on the video feature, and there's Winston, settled among a sea of guitars, amps, and lived-in clutter. ]
So, just a guess, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume this belongs to you.
He flips on the video feature, and there's Winston, settled among a sea of guitars, amps, and lived-in clutter. ]
So, just a guess, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume this belongs to you.
[Malcolm winces when Will explains he ate some people.]
That's... horrific. You were... conscious of what was going on? It wasn't some sort of... hazy, unaware state?
That's... horrific. You were... conscious of what was going on? It wasn't some sort of... hazy, unaware state?
[ Will turns his to video, too, immediately. So Eddie can see him sitting in his kind of ratty-looking cabin. The armchair Will is in looks worn but comfortable. Will himself has a huge grin on his face.
Winston, meanwhile, is a little more relaxed. He wags his tail upon seeing Will and tentatively licks Eddie's hand for attention. ]
Winston! Hey- hey, buddy. Sorry, I know this must be pretty confusing.
[ It is to him. He's not going to think about just where or when the dog might have come from, right now.
He finally turns his attention to Eddie again. And while he looks quite ill- death tolling is no fun- he barely seems to notice. ]
Hey, I- thank you. I can come get him? Where are you?
Winston, meanwhile, is a little more relaxed. He wags his tail upon seeing Will and tentatively licks Eddie's hand for attention. ]
Winston! Hey- hey, buddy. Sorry, I know this must be pretty confusing.
[ It is to him. He's not going to think about just where or when the dog might have come from, right now.
He finally turns his attention to Eddie again. And while he looks quite ill- death tolling is no fun- he barely seems to notice. ]
Hey, I- thank you. I can come get him? Where are you?
There's a bit of a scratching noise at the door before Will opens it. "Okay, okay," he says,as he opens it up to show a midsized brown mutt of a dog wagging his tail at his brother-- not his brother. Uhhh...
Will stares at the man in front of him with a critical eye, but he also looks like he's close to tearing up. "Hey, Hark," he finally says. He backs up to allow entrance and makes a hand gesture that has Winston making room too. "C'mon in, have a seat. I forgot you were going through this, too."
Will stares at the man in front of him with a critical eye, but he also looks like he's close to tearing up. "Hey, Hark," he finally says. He backs up to allow entrance and makes a hand gesture that has Winston making room too. "C'mon in, have a seat. I forgot you were going through this, too."
[ Will shakes like he's cold. He's not cold, he just can't stop. He lets out a hitched sigh. ]
No, I wasn't quite feral yet. But I decided to...speed the process along, apparently. I'd been a Guardian, but I never- never wanted...
[ He loses the sentence and gives it up. ]
I saw things, as the mold grew in my head. Hallucinated. But I remember all of it. I thought this was supposed to- to fade. Or something. For breaches.
No, I wasn't quite feral yet. But I decided to...speed the process along, apparently. I'd been a Guardian, but I never- never wanted...
[ He loses the sentence and gives it up. ]
I saw things, as the mold grew in my head. Hallucinated. But I remember all of it. I thought this was supposed to- to fade. Or something. For breaches.
There's certainly enough to be different; Sweeney's a little older, a little more worn. Longer beard, redder hair that's more generous in its crest, but at his core, he's the same enough that he doesn't even question the name.
He brightens instantly at the sight of the unexpected companion, and even though his body is still screaming at the abuse, there's no hesitation before he comes in. He hunches over to greet the dog while still making room for Will to close the door. Once that's accomplished, Sweeney crumples to sitting on the floor to give proper ear scritches. His focus doesn't lift when he speaks.
"You've been holdin' out on me."
The Irish is there, but it's a bit rounder around the edges than when last they spoke.
He brightens instantly at the sight of the unexpected companion, and even though his body is still screaming at the abuse, there's no hesitation before he comes in. He hunches over to greet the dog while still making room for Will to close the door. Once that's accomplished, Sweeney crumples to sitting on the floor to give proper ear scritches. His focus doesn't lift when he speaks.
"You've been holdin' out on me."
The Irish is there, but it's a bit rounder around the edges than when last they spoke.
Well, Will certainly isn't going to tell anyone to not pet the dog. Winston himself wags his tail harder and leans into the scritches. He's a very settled sort of dog, a lot more stable than Will himself feels right now.
"I wasn't, promise," he says, a bit of laughter in his voice. "Eddie's my warden for the moment. He asked me if there was anything I needed...well. The dogs came up. This one's Winston, from the other life I remember."
Will does remember Sweeney, at least a little, when they first met during the flood. It's kind of been overtaken, but he knows the accent was thicker. Will suspects he probably sounds a little different, too- if only due to the way he holds himself. He's got more confidence, in this life. He had to, or he wouldn't have survived.
He realizes how to describe the comparison best, and laughs to himself. "You know, I had a whole pack there? I picked up every stray I found. I'm sure you're surprised."
"I wasn't, promise," he says, a bit of laughter in his voice. "Eddie's my warden for the moment. He asked me if there was anything I needed...well. The dogs came up. This one's Winston, from the other life I remember."
Will does remember Sweeney, at least a little, when they first met during the flood. It's kind of been overtaken, but he knows the accent was thicker. Will suspects he probably sounds a little different, too- if only due to the way he holds himself. He's got more confidence, in this life. He had to, or he wouldn't have survived.
He realizes how to describe the comparison best, and laughs to himself. "You know, I had a whole pack there? I picked up every stray I found. I'm sure you're surprised."
The word 'warden' makes for a mental stutter, and Sweeney's able to connect to the present more firmly. He wasn't completely gone, but the bleed has been bad since he woke up.
"Completely." It's said so dryly, it's just missing the eye roll to edge on the dramatic familiarity of brotherly affection. Only then does he look back up to Will, though his hands linger on Winston.
"Give it a bit. This shit fades fer most folk." He's trying to offer some comfort.
"B'comes like...a dream or somethin'." Sweeney abandons the thought with a tight shake of his head.
"Ain't like that fer me, but I'm an outlier."
An outlier with a Curse.
"Completely." It's said so dryly, it's just missing the eye roll to edge on the dramatic familiarity of brotherly affection. Only then does he look back up to Will, though his hands linger on Winston.
"Give it a bit. This shit fades fer most folk." He's trying to offer some comfort.
"B'comes like...a dream or somethin'." Sweeney abandons the thought with a tight shake of his head.
"Ain't like that fer me, but I'm an outlier."
An outlier with a Curse.
It does. But it takes a little time. And it might affect you differently. Your… disorder gives you little choice in absorbing states of mind that you’re close to. How long does that usually last after the source leaves?
'Usually'?
[ He looks confused as he tries to think of how to answer that. ]
I don't know. A couple weeks or...months. And it's never been me, before.
[ He shakes his head, and looks back up to Malcolm. ]
How's it feel for you?
[ He looks confused as he tries to think of how to answer that. ]
I don't know. A couple weeks or...months. And it's never been me, before.
[ He shakes his head, and looks back up to Malcolm. ]
How's it feel for you?
Yeah, don’t mention it.
[ Thanks to Eddie’s spur of the moment craving for soda-flavored chewing gum, Winson’s arrival came as a bit of a surprise, but he’s well behaved and isn’t causing Eddie half as much anxiety as he initially thought. He scratches the dog behind the ears and peers at the screen with a hesitant smile. Yeah, Will, you don’t look so great. ]
Well, uh, I’m on level one in cabin fourteen. You're free to drop by, but--no offense, you kind of look like shit. I can bring him to you if you’d prefer to just…not move.
[ Thanks to Eddie’s spur of the moment craving for soda-flavored chewing gum, Winson’s arrival came as a bit of a surprise, but he’s well behaved and isn’t causing Eddie half as much anxiety as he initially thought. He scratches the dog behind the ears and peers at the screen with a hesitant smile. Yeah, Will, you don’t look so great. ]
Well, uh, I’m on level one in cabin fourteen. You're free to drop by, but--no offense, you kind of look like shit. I can bring him to you if you’d prefer to just…not move.
It wasn’t really you. It’s just like we possess someone else for a bit. How does what feel for me? The aftermath of the breach?
Will looks up at Sweeney, staring at him and really trying to see what he's about, what he means about being an outlier. It's too much, still, but he can see Harkin in there. It's a bit of an anchor for him.
Will sits down next to Sweeney, cross-legged, and gives Winston a couple of appreciative pats. "Can you tell me something about it? About your outlier-ness? I know you're- pretty sure you're not human. At least not here."
He'd tried not to pry before, but before Harkin wasn't related. So maybe he's overstepping, but he's not going to feel bad about it now.
Will sits down next to Sweeney, cross-legged, and gives Winston a couple of appreciative pats. "Can you tell me something about it? About your outlier-ness? I know you're- pretty sure you're not human. At least not here."
He'd tried not to pry before, but before Harkin wasn't related. So maybe he's overstepping, but he's not going to feel bad about it now.
[ Will's face scrunches up in an annoyed snarl, about to tell Malcolm that he should tell his brain that it wasn't really him. But Malcolm moves onto questions, and Will stutters and lets out a sigh. ]
Yeah. Is it fading? Is it- you remember everything? Growing up?
[ He's just trying to find purchase, something to compare his experience to. ]
Yeah. Is it fading? Is it- you remember everything? Growing up?
[ He's just trying to find purchase, something to compare his experience to. ]
[ Winston starts panting as Eddie gives him scratches. Please continue, new human, he likes this.
Will seems torn, but eventually nods. ]
No offense taken. I could make it, but- yeah, if you really don't mind. I'm on level six, cabin 19. It's in the back corner. Winston'll probably just follow you, he's a good dog.
[ Will has never met a dog that's not good, of course. ]
Will seems torn, but eventually nods. ]
No offense taken. I could make it, but- yeah, if you really don't mind. I'm on level six, cabin 19. It's in the back corner. Winston'll probably just follow you, he's a good dog.
[ Will has never met a dog that's not good, of course. ]
I remember everything. Growing up. The choices he made and why. How he felt about his brother. But this is my second breach and it was like that after the first one. It took a few weeks for it to really start to fade. I worked a lot. I always work a lot when I need to get out of my head.
Edited 2023-03-20 14:24 (UTC)
[ Will was planning on arguing, but what Malcolm says makes him take a big, shaky breath in and blow it out. Malcolm's trying his best, too. Will closes his eyes. ]
It feels like one of these lives is a joke- a parody- about the other. The evidence, I know, points a certain way. As far as feeling it, though. I can't tell.
It feels like one of these lives is a joke- a parody- about the other. The evidence, I know, points a certain way. As far as feeling it, though. I can't tell.
Can you step outside of it? Think of whoever you were there as someone you had to profile? What would you say about him?
[ He gives Malcolm an annoyed look, because he can barely step outside of it when the person is very different from him. But again, the further questions make it clear what he's getting at. Will tries to breath slower, and it evens out a little. He tilts his head back and closes his eyes. ]
Deeply unhappy, motivated entirely by a possibly codependent relationship with brother Harkin. Issues with arrested development, due to early childhood loss of parents. Chronic PTSD from identifying infected individuals for the local law enforcement.
[ He's not finished, but his face scrunches up as he fights tears. ]
I was apparently too sensitive for the work. But they used me, anyway.
Deeply unhappy, motivated entirely by a possibly codependent relationship with brother Harkin. Issues with arrested development, due to early childhood loss of parents. Chronic PTSD from identifying infected individuals for the local law enforcement.
[ He's not finished, but his face scrunches up as he fights tears. ]
I was apparently too sensitive for the work. But they used me, anyway.
He was too sensitive, but I can understand why you identified with him so strongly.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor like my dad. Help people. Save lives. Like my dad. My first breach, I was a doctor in a futuristic city. Son of a prominent surgeon, providing medical services to the poor for free. Part of me wondered if his life was how I would have felt if he was what I thought he was. Some people I talked to seemed to think that should have given me a sense of relief as opposed to say… grief.
What happened to him? The person you occupied.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor like my dad. Help people. Save lives. Like my dad. My first breach, I was a doctor in a futuristic city. Son of a prominent surgeon, providing medical services to the poor for free. Part of me wondered if his life was how I would have felt if he was what I thought he was. Some people I talked to seemed to think that should have given me a sense of relief as opposed to say… grief.
What happened to him? The person you occupied.
Well, it was bound to happen eventually; it's not like Will can read the ledger. Sweeney's not avoiding the rest of the questions. He just needs to get the first answer out of the way, whether it comes with some clever response or plain confusion. He's very straight about it.
"I'm a Leprechaun."
"I'm a Leprechaun."
Will frowns and his brows knit. He looks at Sweeney with his mouth open, then frowns again- but more thoughtfully this time. Huh.
"That...actually explains some things," he says, looking a little stricken. "You're a- a legend? Like, in the literal sense?" It's a guess, going off the veritable smear of imagery Will seems to get off of Sweeney. He's not sure how that would work, but it feels like he's on the right track.
"That...actually explains some things," he says, looking a little stricken. "You're a- a legend? Like, in the literal sense?" It's a guess, going off the veritable smear of imagery Will seems to get off of Sweeney. He's not sure how that would work, but it feels like he's on the right track.
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