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
IC Inbox
[Open for text/audio/action/whatever.]
[Open for text/audio/action/whatever.]
"That's a good idea. That's how it works with my dogs- I wait until the name just...sort of happens. Wasn't sure if it was the same with snakes."
Will peers a little closer. They're currently wrapped together in something of a loose ball, probably sleeping. "Once they're awake, I'll have to memorize their patterns so I can tell them apart. I can help you with the habitat? If you'd like." He looks back towards the living room.
Will peers a little closer. They're currently wrapped together in something of a loose ball, probably sleeping. "Once they're awake, I'll have to memorize their patterns so I can tell them apart. I can help you with the habitat? If you'd like." He looks back towards the living room.
“I’d love that,” Malcolm says earnestly, moving back towards to coffee table as long as it doesn’t dislodge Will from his side. “OH!” he says suddenly, and he does step out of Will’s space to run over to the kitchen island and grab a rolled up piece off the counter before running back to slide into the crook of Will’s shoulder while handing him the paper. “Kiryu got me a tattoo design from the Japanese tattoo master that did his. Look,” he enthuses, gesturing to it. On the paper is a definite serpent, in red, with sharp scales, coiling and writhing… with the head of a man. “He says it’s called the Torch Dragon. It’s a Chinese god.”
[At some indeterminate point (but definitely before his battle with Peter), Shaw sidles up to Will on the deck.]
Hey. Look.
[She spreads open the side hole of her hoodie pocket, and a little black and white head pops out: one of the newborn puppies that had popped up during the flood, and are now living in the kennels.
Shaw is maybe grinning, juuuuuust a little.]
Hey. Look.
[She spreads open the side hole of her hoodie pocket, and a little black and white head pops out: one of the newborn puppies that had popped up during the flood, and are now living in the kennels.
Shaw is maybe grinning, juuuuuust a little.]
You haven't failed me, either.
[She sounds a little discomforted saying that, because it's loaded language - and she knows that's exactly how Jack Crawford would have phrased it, either directly or by implication.]
Even when I've been disappointed or aggravated, I, uh-- I've never thought of it as you failing. But I disagree that I haven't failed you. I'm not letting myself off the hook for that sword curse thing.
[She sounds a little discomforted saying that, because it's loaded language - and she knows that's exactly how Jack Crawford would have phrased it, either directly or by implication.]
Even when I've been disappointed or aggravated, I, uh-- I've never thought of it as you failing. But I disagree that I haven't failed you. I'm not letting myself off the hook for that sword curse thing.
[ Will smiles to see Shaw. But then she shows him a puppy and he erupts into a return grin. ]
Oh, I hadn't heard! Is this one from the flood? Aren't you beautiful?
[ He is already cooing at the little guy (or gal), who looks extremely comfortable in that hoodie pocket. ]
Oh, I hadn't heard! Is this one from the flood? Aren't you beautiful?
[ He is already cooing at the little guy (or gal), who looks extremely comfortable in that hoodie pocket. ]
Not when you were literally cursed?
[ Will raises his eyebrows, but there's a small smile on his lips. ]
You were- and are- dealing with trauma. I know that doesn't excuse everything, but consider that it's hard to know how that'll manifest in you, with how you interpret emotions. You have to navigate a lot of it alone.
[ Will raises his eyebrows, but there's a small smile on his lips. ]
You were- and are- dealing with trauma. I know that doesn't excuse everything, but consider that it's hard to know how that'll manifest in you, with how you interpret emotions. You have to navigate a lot of it alone.
Will raises an eyebrow as Malcolm heads over the island. Realization dawns on him as he unrolls it and Malcolm explains. The amount of detail on this thing is ridiculous, and it's not even fully colored. "Oh, Malcolm...this is..."
He remembers running across the 'Torch Dragon' while he was doing previous research. He remembers it brought day and night, like a lot of older gods. "It's perfect for you," he breathes out. A snake that brings light- of course it is. He licks his lips, still looking somewhat stricken. "And it's gorgeous. Where- where are you going to put it?"
He remembers running across the 'Torch Dragon' while he was doing previous research. He remembers it brought day and night, like a lot of older gods. "It's perfect for you," he breathes out. A snake that brings light- of course it is. He licks his lips, still looking somewhat stricken. "And it's gorgeous. Where- where are you going to put it?"
"I don't know; I wanted to brainstorm it with you," Malcolm enthuses. "Kiryu said they use its name as a word for 'bright', even." He tilts his head to look up at Will. "Kiryu has his tattoo on his back. But. Like. His whole back. I don't think I want it... that big."
"Yeah," Will agrees. "Plus that tattoo placement's intended to show off to others. I think you'd probably want to be able to see yours, right? A reminder of what you represent, a grounding tool?"
He's smiling as he looks over Malcolm's body. "So arms or legs? I imagine this artist could scale the detailing so it's as big or as small as you'd like." After all, he can see the craft in the detailing.
He's smiling as he looks over Malcolm's body. "So arms or legs? I imagine this artist could scale the detailing so it's as big or as small as you'd like." After all, he can see the craft in the detailing.
“Oh, good thought. Um… well… I almost always wear long pants, in that case. Even to bed. Um.” He gives Will a coy smile. “Except for certain circumstances. So probably an arm, though….”
Will looks over Malcolm's arms and a slow smile comes to his face. "How about..."
He takes the design and carefully drapes it over the shoulder. "The head could go here-" In the front, where Malcolm can see it. "-and it comes over the shoulder, and wraps around your arm. Maybe ending here?" he adds, brushing over Malcolm's bicep down towards the elbow. "Maybe that's too big?"
He hopes not, because Will likes looking at Malcolm's shoulders and would like more legitimate reasons to do so.
He takes the design and carefully drapes it over the shoulder. "The head could go here-" In the front, where Malcolm can see it. "-and it comes over the shoulder, and wraps around your arm. Maybe ending here?" he adds, brushing over Malcolm's bicep down towards the elbow. "Maybe that's too big?"
He hopes not, because Will likes looking at Malcolm's shoulders and would like more legitimate reasons to do so.
“No! I don’t want it to be… small either. That’s perfect! Because you’ll be able to even see some of it if I’m wearing a t-shirt. I wear t-shirts all the time,” he exclaims with a grin. “I love it. It’s going to look so cool, like it crawled up my arm.” He looks up at Will. “Do… you think you’ll like it? It won’t be weird or… off-putting?”
Will is so pleased that Malcolm likes the idea. "Not at all. It might be a little strange for you, at first, because you're not used to seeing it. But it's a part of you, that god that brings light when you open your eyes. That breathes summer."
Will leans in and kisses Malcolm's cheek from his side. "I see it every day, and you'll have a beautiful reminder that's who you are. To me and to others."
Will leans in and kisses Malcolm's cheek from his side. "I see it every day, and you'll have a beautiful reminder that's who you are. To me and to others."
Malcolm lights up like Will summoned it. He turns so he can slide his arms up around Will’s neck, leaning up to kiss him properly.
“I love you so much. I want to get Kiryu’s master that designed it to do it, but he’s in Japan. Kiryu said I can get anyone to do it. I wonder if there’ll be anyone at the next port that could do this kind of work.”
“I love you so much. I want to get Kiryu’s master that designed it to do it, but he’s in Japan. Kiryu said I can get anyone to do it. I wonder if there’ll be anyone at the next port that could do this kind of work.”
Will kisses Malcolm back with enthusiasm, hugging him close.
"I love you, too. And-" Okay, this next part's probably going to be a hard sell and he knows it. "-you should go with Kiryu to his artist. It's...a masterpiece, and he'll know how to adapt it. Kiryu can talk him through what you want, too. This is an important enough occasion to risk it, I think."
"I love you, too. And-" Okay, this next part's probably going to be a hard sell and he knows it. "-you should go with Kiryu to his artist. It's...a masterpiece, and he'll know how to adapt it. Kiryu can talk him through what you want, too. This is an important enough occasion to risk it, I think."
Malcolm’s expression creases with his telltale signs of distress.
“Go… to Kiryu’s? Without you?”
“Go… to Kiryu’s? Without you?”
"Yeah. With Kiryu, for this." Will rubs Malcolm's shoulders. "You can come right back, but- I think it should be done by the original artist. It'll be the level of quality you and your body deserve." That is, the best. "This is important, I think, for you. And you should have it done right. And you should know that I'll come find you if I have to." He looks directly into Malcolm's eyes so he can see the sincerity of it, the steely determination in Will to do so.
"But I don't think I will. It's really unlikely anything will happen." Less unlikely than one of them disappearing off the Barge some day, but he doesn't want Malcolm to refocus on that.
"But I don't think I will. It's really unlikely anything will happen." Less unlikely than one of them disappearing off the Barge some day, but he doesn't want Malcolm to refocus on that.
Malcolm holds that gaze, his fingers fidgeting absently and anxiously in the fabric of Will’s shirt.
Considering it, he nods slowly.
“Okay. Okay, I’ll go. But. Just one time. I can’t… um. I can’t risk this. But you’re right. It’s important. I just… wish you could be there when he’s doing it. I guess… I guess it’ll be a surprise for you when I get back.”
Considering it, he nods slowly.
“Okay. Okay, I’ll go. But. Just one time. I can’t… um. I can’t risk this. But you’re right. It’s important. I just… wish you could be there when he’s doing it. I guess… I guess it’ll be a surprise for you when I get back.”
Will breaks into a small, pleased smile, and he leans in to kiss Malcolm gently. "It will. And I know it's scary, but I think it'll be done right this way. And we will be fine."
He reaches up for Malolm's hand on his shirt and gently traces over Malcolm's knuckles with the pads of his fingers. "Besides, you'd have to leave the Barge to make sure it's permanent, anyway. Ports don't count. At least that's what the vast amount of experimentation Shaw's done says. So this trip will take care of that, too."
He reaches up for Malolm's hand on his shirt and gently traces over Malcolm's knuckles with the pads of his fingers. "Besides, you'd have to leave the Barge to make sure it's permanent, anyway. Ports don't count. At least that's what the vast amount of experimentation Shaw's done says. So this trip will take care of that, too."
"You mean for getting killed? Ooooh maybe even for healing, right? We have to be careful anyway because we wouldn't be wolves anymore if we die."
He blinks that fascinating tangent away and looks up at Will's face again.
"I would really like to get the master to do it. Kiryu said it's a great honour. He doesn't do just anybody that wants it."
He blinks that fascinating tangent away and looks up at Will's face again.
"I would really like to get the master to do it. Kiryu said it's a great honour. He doesn't do just anybody that wants it."
Pup, are you a'right? [The urgency may be overdue, but Sweeney's only getting the information.] I mean, of course you aren't. 'nless ya are.
[He's trying to reason his way through it. Will still has a Gaius healing tab, but Sweeney don't know what that means in regards to things being severed.]
Is there anythin'-- [Of course there isn't. He should have done it already.]
I didn't mean ta. Ta leave you alone. Ta let this happen ta you.
[He's trying to reason his way through it. Will still has a Gaius healing tab, but Sweeney don't know what that means in regards to things being severed.]
Is there anythin'-- [Of course there isn't. He should have done it already.]
I didn't mean ta. Ta leave you alone. Ta let this happen ta you.
[ Will listens, a frown forming on his face. ]
I'm okay now. It hit pretty hard at the time- I'd never regrown a limb before. Peter waited until the middle of my work shift, so there's not much to be done about that. I was out getting supplies.
You didn't let me down, Hark. I got caught up in the post-flood kennel overload and I wasn't thinking. And I'm sorry you- you had to find out like that. I should've called.
I'm okay now. It hit pretty hard at the time- I'd never regrown a limb before. Peter waited until the middle of my work shift, so there's not much to be done about that. I was out getting supplies.
You didn't let me down, Hark. I got caught up in the post-flood kennel overload and I wasn't thinking. And I'm sorry you- you had to find out like that. I should've called.
[Will speaking the truth at the end is a barb in his heart, but Sweeney tries to dismiss it. It's not important, especially with all of the bad already passed.]
It's fine. Just...glad yer whole again. That's what matters. [He needs to believe that.]
They talkin' any punishment yet? Or do ya know?
It's fine. Just...glad yer whole again. That's what matters. [He needs to believe that.]
They talkin' any punishment yet? Or do ya know?
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