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.]
And now he actually laughs. "Let me guess- she surprised you with not being a dog, after you'd already spent some time with her?"
"Oh," Will breathes out, somewhat surprised. He's so used to people hating his insight, no matter how much they said they were ready. In a situation like this? He thought even Malcolm would feel betrayed. "Right. Yeah, it was...then. I still feel like I should've told you. Do you want to hear about it, or...should we leave it for the moment?"
He doesn't want to be shoving advice onto Malcolm after all that.
He doesn't want to be shoving advice onto Malcolm after all that.
Malcolm snuggles in. "I'm interested," he tells him.
"Okay."
He likes the snuggling, and does what he can to accommodate it. It definitely makes him feel like he's about to tell a bedtime story, rather than go into a psychological profile of his significant other.
"So the part I told Shaw about- I hypothesized about you and her having to learn different social cues and to rely on them when communicating. Because you learned different cues, you really are speaking a different language with each other. I know Shaw had a supportive family that was understanding of her mental condition. And I know you had...not that, so much. Your father was obviously manipulative, but I believe he fostered a certain amount of manipulativeness in the rest of your family. And you had to learn your social cues from them, because you were fairly isolated from other people."
It didn't sound like he had much support anywhere else, from what Will has heard. Just his psychiatrist, and Gil.
"I also brought up that I think you might have arrested emotional development. It would be consistent with the trauma you've experienced, both physical and mental. Intellectually, you're amazing. But your difficulties with emotional regulation are, I think, from the fact that you've never had a real chance to grow up. You had too many things you had to work past first."
He likes the snuggling, and does what he can to accommodate it. It definitely makes him feel like he's about to tell a bedtime story, rather than go into a psychological profile of his significant other.
"So the part I told Shaw about- I hypothesized about you and her having to learn different social cues and to rely on them when communicating. Because you learned different cues, you really are speaking a different language with each other. I know Shaw had a supportive family that was understanding of her mental condition. And I know you had...not that, so much. Your father was obviously manipulative, but I believe he fostered a certain amount of manipulativeness in the rest of your family. And you had to learn your social cues from them, because you were fairly isolated from other people."
It didn't sound like he had much support anywhere else, from what Will has heard. Just his psychiatrist, and Gil.
"I also brought up that I think you might have arrested emotional development. It would be consistent with the trauma you've experienced, both physical and mental. Intellectually, you're amazing. But your difficulties with emotional regulation are, I think, from the fact that you've never had a real chance to grow up. You had too many things you had to work past first."
He considers that.
“My therapist said that would probably happen. Not to me. I overheard her telling my mother. But we’ve never talked about it or… how it might impact me. I guess… bigger fish to fry. Like you said. …I have been called immature. But ‘weird’ and ‘intense’ tend to get thrown around a lot more. And Gabrielle seemed to think a lot of the emotional regulation issues came down to the. Um. Secret diagnosis plus my mood disorders.”
“My therapist said that would probably happen. Not to me. I overheard her telling my mother. But we’ve never talked about it or… how it might impact me. I guess… bigger fish to fry. Like you said. …I have been called immature. But ‘weird’ and ‘intense’ tend to get thrown around a lot more. And Gabrielle seemed to think a lot of the emotional regulation issues came down to the. Um. Secret diagnosis plus my mood disorders.”
I mean, this one or the next decent one. I suppose this one might be a little too early for you two...
Will can't help it- a bit of an amused rumble permeates out of him. "You can say autism. I'm on the spectrum, even if they can't figure out exactly where. And the ad hominem attack of 'immature' is a little different to not having had the chance to develop your emotions."
Will squeezes him close for a moment before he continues. "It might be the mood disorders, I know. But I wouldn't be surprised if some arrested development is at play, too. We could do some research on it, see if there's anything more about impact or treatment in the library?"
Will squeezes him close for a moment before he continues. "It might be the mood disorders, I know. But I wouldn't be surprised if some arrested development is at play, too. We could do some research on it, see if there's anything more about impact or treatment in the library?"
Makes sense. You could just see how you feel when it next comes up with Root.
Malcolm’s expression creases and he nods slowly. “The fight with Raylan and the fight with Neal… they both happened because I lost my temper about something. And now… they both said they forgave me but it’s different now. There’s a… a wall there that wasn’t there with me before. And I lost control and made them put it up and nothing I say or do makes it better. I don’t know how to fix it. I thought everyone lost their temper sometimes, but… mine must be different somehow. More… more harmful or… “ He trails off. “Do you think it can be fixed? Do you think if it’s fixed they’ll let me be with them like we were before?”
Serious talk, huh? Okay, uh...wherever you'd rather is fine. I'm free now.
Be there in a couple of minutes.
[ And he is, Winston and Buster following behind him- no leash on either of them this time. He knocks on the door, hoping the dogs help with whatever's serious today. He bet it has to do with the werewolf thing. ]
[ And he is, Winston and Buster following behind him- no leash on either of them this time. He knocks on the door, hoping the dogs help with whatever's serious today. He bet it has to do with the werewolf thing. ]
Hey, buddy.
[Shaw murmurs as she opens the door, bending to give Winston a good scruff. She'll pat Buster too, letting him sniff her hand, but she has a favorite here. And Jet, for his part, has a lot of favorites: he happily bounds from Will to Buster to Winston and then back to Will again, greeting them all in turn only because there are too many to greet all at once.
Bear just thumps his tail from his position on the dog bed, watchful but not joining in the fray.]
Wolves, and Bright.
[Says Shaw, standing and moving into the kitchen area.]
Which first?
[Shaw murmurs as she opens the door, bending to give Winston a good scruff. She'll pat Buster too, letting him sniff her hand, but she has a favorite here. And Jet, for his part, has a lot of favorites: he happily bounds from Will to Buster to Winston and then back to Will again, greeting them all in turn only because there are too many to greet all at once.
Bear just thumps his tail from his position on the dog bed, watchful but not joining in the fray.]
Wolves, and Bright.
[Says Shaw, standing and moving into the kitchen area.]
Which first?
[ Ah, of course. Will furrows his eyebrows a bit, crouching down to give Jet a thorough patting. ]
Let's go in that order, then.
[ He's hoping the dogs will make this easier. ]
Let's go in that order, then.
[ He's hoping the dogs will make this easier. ]
[Shaw nods, pouring them both a glass of water and then turning back to face him, leaning against the counter.]
I'm just gonna play you what Wildthyme said to me, and then we can talk strategies for how you're gonna manage it.
[She already has this comment pulled up on her communicator, and she plays it in full, then switches the playback off.]
Initial thoughts?
I'm just gonna play you what Wildthyme said to me, and then we can talk strategies for how you're gonna manage it.
[She already has this comment pulled up on her communicator, and she plays it in full, then switches the playback off.]
Initial thoughts?
[ Will listens, brow creasing a bit as Iris goes into the feelings issue. ]
...okay. So, no more drinking. Except for maybe around you and Malcolm? [ He keeps an eye on her to see what she thinks. ] A program in the Enclosure sounds good, for distractions. I'll test out a number of them when I first change, see what works the best.
Other things...we could talk more about my feelings?
[ He's pretty sure that's not going to be an appealing option for Shaw. ]
Maybe have a plan to contact you if I feel like things are getting out of control?
...okay. So, no more drinking. Except for maybe around you and Malcolm? [ He keeps an eye on her to see what she thinks. ] A program in the Enclosure sounds good, for distractions. I'll test out a number of them when I first change, see what works the best.
Other things...we could talk more about my feelings?
[ He's pretty sure that's not going to be an appealing option for Shaw. ]
Maybe have a plan to contact you if I feel like things are getting out of control?
Edited 2023-09-10 19:38 (UTC)
[Shaw nods along with all these ideas without concern or complaint. Getting into the weeds about feelings is never easy for her, but if it's necessary, she'll do it.
The last one does make her pause, though.]
If you're feeling like you're getting out of control, are you always going to want to contact me?
The last one does make her pause, though.]
If you're feeling like you're getting out of control, are you always going to want to contact me?
[ Will opens his mouth, and then reconsiders his answer. He bites his lip as he turns it over in his mind. ]
Uh...depends on what it is that's got me upset, I think. So no, not always. I'm trying to think of what else would work, other than having people keep an eye on me...
Uh...depends on what it is that's got me upset, I think. So no, not always. I'm trying to think of what else would work, other than having people keep an eye on me...
That's the idea.
You both have been working hard for a long time. Something like this, it should go at the pace you're both comfortable with. And be the way you want it to be.
You both have been working hard for a long time. Something like this, it should go at the pace you're both comfortable with. And be the way you want it to be.
Will leans over to kiss Malcolm gently on the side of the head before answering. "...I think that some of what you can learn here is that things always change, and it's never exactly the way it was before. But that's not always bad, not even if it starts out bad. Fractured bonds can be strengthened over time, as you continue to prove that you're trustworthy. So don't think of it as a wall. Think of it as a crack in your foundation, putting a little more distance between the two of you. You have to put some time and effort into shoring that foundation up again. Does that make sense?"
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