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[empathicfault]

"Will Graham here. Leave a message."

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

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[empathicfault]

[ If there's anything that helps Will feel like his non-Breach self, it might be catching onto someone's feelings while they're happening. He stops moving for a moment, his mouth opening a bit as he works through it. He licks his lips and looks up at Malcolm. ]

Maybe I should call that profiler feedback. What's wrong?

[abrightboy]

I said something wrong. I... don't know exactly what. It happens with me a lot. With a lot of people, I mean. It just... I'm usually fine with it and I don't know why it's bothering me more than usual now. I guess your respect is particularly important to me.

[empathicfault]

[ Will can't help it- he laughs a little. ]

You want to know what was wrong? I made a dumb, inappropriate joke and you didn't follow me on it like Hannibal would've. I'm just... [ He shakes his head. ] -missing him. It's nothing to do with you.

You do have my respect, you know. I wouldn't have reached out for your help, if you didn't.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm smiles at his knees before looking over.]

You guys had banter, huh? I am... not usually included in banter. Bit... unpracticed at it.

[empathicfault]

It was more like I'd insult him viciously and he'd manage to take it and respond in some irritatingly smug manner, but-

[ Will looks to the side, clearing remembering it fondly. ] I suppose it did turn into banter, the further along we got.

You could always give it a try, sometime. It's more fun than you'd think to intentionally make people uncomfortable, even if they don't go along with it.

[abrightboy]

[He does usually do it unintentionally.

Bright, you’re doing that thing where you… trail off and make everyone uncomfortable.

He smiles.]

I’ll have to keep an eye out for the opportunity.

[empathicfault]

[ Will smiles back. He's actually looking fairly steady, if pale. ]

If only we'd worked together. I mean, I doubt it would've lasted long, since you're actually concerned about my well-being. But we could've had a couple of fun cases together.

[abrightboy]

I know a lot of self-care for the traumatized and self-destructive in dangerous proximity to their psychopathic abusers, so maybe you wouldn’t have been, like… totally destroyed by the work if you worked with me.

[empathicfault]

[ Will chuckles. ]

Maybe not. It would've been less of a bad idea, anyway.

[ He blinks, and then blinks again. ] Okay, I- I think I might need sleep, soon. I think I could.

[ That's notable, between the two of them. ]

[abrightboy]

Really? That's great! [He gets up.] If you need anything, just give me a call. Tea, soup, whatever. I'll bring it right by.

[empathicfault]

Okay.

[ Will closes his eyes, feeling that comfortable sort of exhaustion that sort of slides around you like a pillow. Sleeping tends to hit Will fairly fast, but this is a little exceptional, even so. He'd been holding onto that adrenaline for awhile. ]

I'll remember. Thanks, Malcolm.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm tucks his blanket around him a little better, then slips out of the cabin.]