IC Inbox

[empathicfault]

"Will Graham here. Leave a message."

[Open for text/audio/action/whatever.]

Comments

[cactusy]

Okay.

[Seems straight-forward enough.]

Did it feel weird, being in the, uh... the "Hannibal position", here?

[empathicfault]

...maybe if you say it like that.

[ He chuckles, but it's a little nervous. ]

Malcolm was so enthusiastic. It felt more like we'd gone to a particularly good amusement park, rather than something I've spent the past few years trying to avoid. So yeah, it felt...not like I expected, being the guide. I'm not sure there's any part of the scenario we set up that wasn't weird.

[cactusy]

Mm. So, you get why that's the kind of thing I wanna talk about and make sure we keep a handle on, right.

[empathicfault]

[ Will nods, but it's more tired and less controlled than his usual movement. He rubs at his eyes, then moves onto the rest of his face. ]

I talked to Malcolm about that, you know. Before we got together. That I was worried I was going to manipulate him or...well, 'do what Hannibal does'.

So, I've put that out there, at least.

[cactusy]

I don't think you're like Hannibal.

[That she wants to make clear, before anything else.]

[empathicfault]

You don't?

[ That should be relieving. He's not sure how to feel about it. ]

[cactusy]

[It's interesting that it's not visibly relieving, which of course means that she's just going to double down on the sentiment.]

Nope. Don't get me wrong, you got plenty of your own bullshit going on, but you're not like him.

[empathicfault]

[ Will nods. ]

Yeah. Yes, I certainly do.

So- why bring it up? Did I misread your concern?

[cactusy]

Because I am worried about you manipulating him, even though I don't think you'd intend to harm him. Saying that without the qualifier that I think you're better than Hannibal would be pretty shitty.

[empathicfault]

Ah. Okay, I see what you mean, now.

[ He shuts his eyes, briefly. Then he leans back against the railing, facing Shaw on her bench. ]

I don't want to hurt him. I'm...glad you recognize that.

[cactusy]

Yeah. But do you get why it's important to keep an eye out for old patterns?

[empathicfault]

In case I start 'nudging' him in...unfortunate directions? The ways I want him to be, or think he should be? He'd absolutely try to change himself if I approached the idea in a particular way.

[ Or Malcolm might surprise him, but Will is rather focused on his worries at the moment. ]