empathicfault | IC Inbox

You talk to all the therapists here yet, or just Bright?

[If her voice sounds muffled, it may or may not be because she has Winston lying across her chest.]

Well, hello to you, too.

Uh...I mean, I've talked briefly with Kiryu and more extensively with Sheehan. Sheehan in particular got a nasty memory from me this last flood. Why do you ask?

Just thinking some actual therapy would probably do you some good, especially since your warden is, uh, me. And the more the merrier, right? So that's your homework: try it out with Kiryu too and see how it goes.

[ Oh. Well...he's not much a fan of this. Kiryu might be okay, but there's a reason he took the term 'talk to' so literally. He doesn't want therapy, actual or otherwise. ]

Reading my file, what makes you think that I would take a 'the more the merrier' approach to therapists?

Good therapists. If he sucks, don't stick with it.

Uh-huh. Hannibal was a 'good' therapist, you know. Highly acclaimed, well-liked. Everyone agreed. Chilton had accolades, even if they weren't the ones he wanted. Alana--

[ He's not being fair. He cuts himself off and sighs. ]

I'll give it a try. Just don't expect a lot. And you get to tell Malcolm.

You know I can practically hear the airquotes when you say "good" there, right? You need experience with therapists who don't have any crappy ulterior motives.

Is Malcolm gonna be upset about you talking to his coworkers or something?

[ Will's scoff is audible when Shaw mentions ulterior motives. They all have them. But he'll otherwise move on to answering her questions. ]

Therapists are not usually herd animals, you know. If more than one's working on a patient, it's usually as a team. Better to keep from stepping on each other's modalities that way. But that's not what we've got at the counseling office.

...and also, Malcolm's a little possessive. [ He says this fondly. ]

... You know, Malcolm's a fine guy and he's not gonna goad you into cannibalism or anything, but if a therapist is possessive of you, that's probably a sign of one of those ulterior motives.

You really think there's a therapist out there that doesn't have ulterior motives, Shaw? At least in Malcolm's case, I understand what they are and where they come from. I know that he wants to help me. And I also know he's not going to give up on me.

If he wants to help you, he'll get why talking to other people too could be a good thing. If he doesn't get that, then his ulterior motive is stroking his own ego.

Possessiveness is a red flag when it comes to this stuff.

[ Will groans with annoyance. ]

You know that was a joke, right? Most therapists are a little extra protective of their patients.

So he's not actually gonna be weird about you talking to Kiryu and Sheehan? Good. Malcolm thought he could treat me and date me at the same time; his heart's in the right place, but he's not exactly professional.

What, he wanted to d-?

[ Will huffs out a breath. It doesn't matter. But seriously, Malcolm? ]

It's because Malcolm's not exactly a professional therapist. He's a profiler. But Kiryu's not, either. Apparently, his therapy involves fighting? Or punching, or something. I'm not against it, honestly. Maybe I'd actually be surprised for once.

But no, Malcolm should be okay. I know he and Sheehan don't exactly get along, but I'm not sure why. Probably a generational issue, if I had to guess.

He's getting over it. Or he's looking at me with goo-goo eyes less often, at least; I dunno. But, yeah, I get that Sheehan's the only licensed guy in there. Still good to have some variety.

[A pause.]

Kiryu can do talking or punching stuff, for the record.

Yeah, you're probably right.

[ Will thinks he's sufficiently backpedaled so he won't be forbidden from chats with Malcolm, at least (Malcolm is not the only possessive one here). But that was sloppy, and Will's going to have to be more careful with how he approaches Shaw on these topics in the future.

Will's tone is more relaxed now, even if he still hates this new development. ]

Oh, Kiryu does? You've talked to him more than me, sounds like.

Every week. Not for real therapy or for too long, but I check in. He's the strong, silent type.

He sure is. Probably makes him good for listening, if that's one's brand of therapy.

So you'll give it a shot?

Yeah. Sure. I'll head in and talk to him, see what he offers.

[It is, perhaps, a little too easy - but Shaw isn't typically one to overthink things, and as long as he's at least willing to give it a shot, why should it matter if he was reluctant at first?]

Cool.

So can I keep Winston for the night?

[ Will breaks into a happy laugh. ]

Yeah, sounds like you're both comfortable already.

If he fusses at all, just let me know and I'll come get him. Pretty sure he doesn't think you're trying to dognap him, though.

Busted.

[She murmurs into Winston's ear, quietly enough that it was possibly not meant to be audible on the other end of the line. They are comfortable, as a matter of fact.]

Sure, if he wants to go I won't make him stay. Been a while since I had a canine guest, that's all.

Yeah, well. I trust him with you. Clearly, he does, too.

-you know, Alana picked them up and took care of them, while I was incarcerated. Winston kept running away, the miles and miles back to my house.

[ Will chuckles. ] He kept breaking in, thank goodness. It was the winter. He was just sure he'd find me there one day.

[ When Will says Winston's a good dog, he means the Goodest of Dogs. But that story is also why he mentioned the possible 'fussing.' ]

[There's a shifting sound as she sits up a little.]

You think I should bring him back just to be safe?

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