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.]
You're the guy with all the dogs, aren't you? Got a question for you.
I am, in fact, the guy with the dogs. What can I help you with?
Got a pup the other day and she's too small for the collars I have. She keeps slipping the lead.
You got anything small or at least adjustable?
You got anything small or at least adjustable?
Did you? Congrats.
How small are we talking? Is she a puppy? We should be able to find something that'll work as long as she's not a small-breed dog.
And...uh, you don't strike me as the type to go out of your way to get a Chihuahua.
How small are we talking? Is she a puppy? We should be able to find something that'll work as long as she's not a small-breed dog.
And...uh, you don't strike me as the type to go out of your way to get a Chihuahua.
Hardly. Malinois, but the equipment I have is for wolves. She's only about twenty pounds right now.
Malinois. [ Will says it with a smile. ] There's a few of those on board now.
And sure, I think the kennel has an adjustable collar that should fit her. Could do a harness too, if she's particularly good at pulling out of it.
And sure, I think the kennel has an adjustable collar that should fit her. Could do a harness too, if she's particularly good at pulling out of it.
Good working dog. Not as neurotic as shepherds.
Harness will work, too.
Meet you up top?
Harness will work, too.
Meet you up top?
Meet you there.
[ He clicks off the feed and stops by the kennels on the way to the main deck. They've had a lot more animals lately, but thankfully for this situation only a few of them have been dogs. So he doesn't have to dip into his own resources to find a good collar. He brings two sizes of harnesses, because those are less adjustable.
It takes him maybe ten minutes tops before he's up on the deck. He didn't bring his own dogs (this time), but he's hoping to see Jacob's puppy. ]
[ He clicks off the feed and stops by the kennels on the way to the main deck. They've had a lot more animals lately, but thankfully for this situation only a few of them have been dogs. So he doesn't have to dip into his own resources to find a good collar. He brings two sizes of harnesses, because those are less adjustable.
It takes him maybe ten minutes tops before he's up on the deck. He didn't bring his own dogs (this time), but he's hoping to see Jacob's puppy. ]
[Of course he brings Mae. He's on deck with her, working on her attention with a pocket of treats and an actual clicker. She's doing well, but smher attention changes to Will as he approaches.
She's a little thing, black points and mask atop mahogany fur, but focuses quickly back on Jacob when he stands up.]
Thanks for this.
She's a little thing, black points and mask atop mahogany fur, but focuses quickly back on Jacob when he stands up.]
Thanks for this.
Will grins and nods. "She might've been. Hard to say with these different worlds." Especially with how they fade for most people.
He shifts a little, more to get Malcolm more comfortable than anything else. "I think..." he starts, reaching up to run his fingers through Malcolm's hair. "You had more connections there than you realize. And you might have more here too, it's just- filtering through your real-life memories. But if I say any more, I'm going to risk sounding hypocritical."
He plays with Malcolm's hair a little more, thoughtful, then adds, "You know you have me here, right? It's always nice to feel included, but- we're our own group. Always."
He shifts a little, more to get Malcolm more comfortable than anything else. "I think..." he starts, reaching up to run his fingers through Malcolm's hair. "You had more connections there than you realize. And you might have more here too, it's just- filtering through your real-life memories. But if I say any more, I'm going to risk sounding hypocritical."
He plays with Malcolm's hair a little more, thoughtful, then adds, "You know you have me here, right? It's always nice to feel included, but- we're our own group. Always."
Malcolm nods thoughtfully at the first part, soothed by Will's fingers in his hair. The calm it brings helps him see things more clearly. He suspects Will knows that.
At the second part, he smiles softly. Warmly.
"I do know that. And if I had a thousand friends, I'd still come back to just you and me at the end of the day." He pauses, glancing down for a moment, drawing a pattern on Will's knee with his fingertip while he gathers his thoughts, then looks up. "I think... everyone that was... relatively easy for me to get on with leaving so close together is... still making everything hard. Even breaches when I'm not even me. Or... at least, coming back from them."
At the second part, he smiles softly. Warmly.
"I do know that. And if I had a thousand friends, I'd still come back to just you and me at the end of the day." He pauses, glancing down for a moment, drawing a pattern on Will's knee with his fingertip while he gathers his thoughts, then looks up. "I think... everyone that was... relatively easy for me to get on with leaving so close together is... still making everything hard. Even breaches when I'm not even me. Or... at least, coming back from them."
I'm all right. Nothing I haven't dealt with before, even if this version's a bit extreme.
You? I know you've never had...positive experience with anything like this, yourself. Are you able to hole up in your cabin?
You? I know you've never had...positive experience with anything like this, yourself. Are you able to hole up in your cabin?
...ah. Yeah, Malcolm's isn't great for that either. Mine might be safe? You can spend your time in there if you'd like.
I'd spend more time with you, but Hannibal's almost certain to show up. Makes me feel like even I don't want to hang out with me.
I'd spend more time with you, but Hannibal's almost certain to show up. Makes me feel like even I don't want to hang out with me.
[ Will laughs bitterly. ]
Good. I swear, when I graduate, the hardest thing I'll ever do is not putting a bullet in that smug bastard's face.
[ He pauses, lets out a huff of a sigh. ]
I've seen him, too. And- for the record, I certainly wouldn't mind you punching Hannibal. I just don't want him suddenly gaining the upper hand, like I so often remember him doing.
Good. I swear, when I graduate, the hardest thing I'll ever do is not putting a bullet in that smug bastard's face.
[ He pauses, lets out a huff of a sigh. ]
I've seen him, too. And- for the record, I certainly wouldn't mind you punching Hannibal. I just don't want him suddenly gaining the upper hand, like I so often remember him doing.
[ Will lets out a surprised chuckle. ]
Yeah, don't imagine you would be. Glad to hear it.
Yeah, don't imagine you would be. Glad to hear it.
You really are a ten. Am I condescending? Like. Naturally?
[ He holds off on his usual "who said that to you?" because he imagines it's on Johann's post somewhere. And he thinks about it. ]
You're also a ten. I was just trying to give Johann some leeway with the 'objectivity'.
And you can be condescending. I'm not sure if it's natural- in fact, I don't know if it's possible for it to be natural, because the act generally requires intent. I'm guessing that when people might notice such a thing coming from you, it's when you're trying to be helpful and someone's being oversensitive about it.
And if that's the case, I have a few people from 'home' I could introduce them to.
You're also a ten. I was just trying to give Johann some leeway with the 'objectivity'.
And you can be condescending. I'm not sure if it's natural- in fact, I don't know if it's possible for it to be natural, because the act generally requires intent. I'm guessing that when people might notice such a thing coming from you, it's when you're trying to be helpful and someone's being oversensitive about it.
And if that's the case, I have a few people from 'home' I could introduce them to.
Oh, okay. Sounds like I've got it right, then.
[ A bit of a pause. ]
Do you care about Fitz?
[ A bit of a pause. ]
Do you care about Fitz?
I don’t know him. This is, like, the second time I’ve talked to him and the other time was maybe my second day.
Does that mean that you don't care about him? Are you worried about what he thinks?
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