empathicfault | IC Inbox

'Should' is a welcome idea, but Sweeney isn't going to hold his breath or hold it against Will if he comes up short; there are too many complicating factors here. He's preparing to explain some of the more unpleasant memories and situations that have been forced on him when Will brings up one of the worst of all.

His body tenses instinctively at the thought of Addy, the warmth and companionship there. The trust. And how that instantly overlaps with Dead Wife calling him a bitch and a coward and a whore. About her holding him four feet off the ground by his balls, threatening to shuck them like peas. They ache in the memory.

There's a twitch in his lips, and he licks them to help him focus his answer.

"She did."

Sweeney swallows, knowing he should get ahead of this, because while they can be brothers, they won't be that makeshift family.

"Her an' me, it's complicated."

That's a gross understatement, but by the sound of it, he's already giving Will more that he would to anyone else.

He knew the topic was going to be tough, which is why he wanted to bring it up early and then not think about it afterwards. But there's more going on than just that. He can practically see the warring emotions on Sweeney's face.

"Didn't even know she was on the boat, to be honest," he admits, with a small shrug. "I'll keep that in mind. Good to know what happened, though."

He leans back, using his hands to hold himself up on the floor. Might as well follow up that untouchable topic with something else that's uncomfortable, huh? "Sebastian's here, too. He's...the one that infected me, pretty sure." He doesn't think he'll ever stop feeling sorry about spreading it to Harkin. Even in his deterioration, he held onto the emotion.

"Don't know who that is," he admits frankly.

"Either place."

It's not a big deal; Sweeney isn't one to go out of his way to meet people, and a lot of passengers are the same about that shit. But he understands this dude's important to Will in some capacity, so it matters now.

Will lets out a small, surprised laugh. "From when we were kids. It's okay, I didn't talk about him much. Don't think you liked him. It...probably doesn't matter. Just- I wasn't careful enough and-"

He stops for a moment and rubs his eyes. "You might not need to hear it, but I need to say it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have talked to him. I should've submitted myself for testing, or quarantined. Something. My stupid mistake got us both killed, and it feels like dumb luck that we're actually here to talk about it."

Sweeney's quiet for a while, his gaze focused on Winston as the wheels turn. He doesn't do great with apologies, though receiving is better than giving, he supposes. At length, he presses his lips and parts them with his tongue.

"Makes fer a better Story."

And at the end of things, that's all breaches are. Fuck, what this whole fucking boat is.

"Adm'ral's gotta thing fer those."

The subtext is simple: It's not your fault. I don't hold it against you.

Edited (Additional text) 2023-03-20 20:13 (UTC)

Will's experience with forgiveness (at least in one of the lives he remembers) is complicated. So he wasn't sure how this would go, and was ready to accept just about anything. This? Yeah, this is a good outcome. And all told, he really did just need to get it out.

The mention of the Admiral has him raising an eyebrow, though. "Does he, now?" It puts to mind some things he should think about for later, maybe ask Shaw about. But for the moment, he looks almost relaxed. "Well, next time I hope I'm a little less incompetent. I already learned the hard way not to let my bleeding heart guide me- really didn't need another lesson."

He looks back over to Sweeney, a small smile on his face as he nods towards both him and the dog. "Winston likes you already, Hark. You don't need it, but- want some jerky for him?" He's already pushing himself up off the floor to get to his jar of 'treats' for the dogs. He's done with difficult topics for now, honest.

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