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[empathicfault]

"Will Graham here. Leave a message."

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[empathicfault]

[ Will lets out a small sigh. ]

Yep. And people here find ways to make a mess all on their own, unsurprisingly.

[ He stops himself, remembering something good for once: ] Neal graduated, though. He's been through the wringer lately, but something clicked. Pretty sure he's planning on staying on as a warden.

[cactusy]

I know. He told me. That happened right before I went under.

[She curls her fingers around the note, crumpling it.]

I wanna know what's been up with you, though.

[empathicfault]

...ah.

[ Well, that's the end of his good news, honestly. He fidgets with his fingers at her question. It's been awhile since the focus has been on him. ]

Well, uh. Not a lot, other than spending more time with Malcolm. He actually pulled me to a party in the lounge. That was pretty good, until Laura punched him in the face.

Honestly, I've been in kind of a holding pattern. I...talked to Lestat, and found that we can chat about dogs without growling at each other. So there's that.

[cactusy]

Yeah? You okay with that?

[empathicfault]

With not growling at Lestat? I think I can manage to keep it in, if he keeps his fangs and claws out of my people from here on.

[cactusy]

[She nods; it's not a position that she disagrees with, necessarily. But--]

It doesn't make you feel like you're being asked to not care about what he did?

[empathicfault]

[ Will's clearly thinking that over for a few long moments. He eventually shakes his head. ]

It felt more like Lestat was being asked to at least acknowledge I was as much a person as he is, with my own unique form and function. Going by that? It was more productive than I expected.

[cactusy]

[She nods again, more sharply this time; it's a nod of acknowledgement and acceptance. But with that squared away--

A frown creases her brow as she studies him.]

That was two comas in, what, four months? Both for a couple weeks each time. I'm useless to you if I'm asleep half the time.

[empathicfault]

[ Will rubs his chin. ]

I mean, we can try to set up a plan, in case that happens again.

I did hear a theory about the correlation between deaths and comas, that maybe you need more of a 'break' to come back from a larger number of deaths.

[cactusy]

How did Rogers do with you, during the port?

[empathicfault]

Just fine. I like him, and we get along well, I think.

[cactusy]

Okay. If he's game, we can say he gets my warden item when I go down, if I go down again?

[empathicfault]

Sure.

[ That sounds like a good backup. Even if Malcolm could probably handle most things, in a pinch.

His eyes slide halfway shut, and he looks for a moment like he might be drifting off. But he does refocus on Shaw. ]

You have questions about anything else while you were down? Anything else?

[cactusy]

[She pauses.]

Are you tired? We can talk later.

[empathicfault]

No, not tired, just-

[ He looks up, trying to decide how to say it. ]

I'm getting overwhelmed again. Maybe I've been 'socializing' too much lately, but I just want to hole up here with the dogs again for awhile.

[cactusy]

[It's something that Shaw is all too familiar with herself these days - both the feeling of overwhelm itself, as well as the resulting impulse. She nods, and shifts a little, preparing to stand if he needs to.]

You want me to go?

[empathicfault]

No. No, I don't.

[ Then what is- ah. ]

You being up is just highlighting how tired I was getting of other people.

...that's a compliment, honest.

[cactusy]

[There are so few people who not only accept, but appreciate that she is how she is - and once again, Shaw finds herself absurdly grateful for getting so lucky pairing-wise. She nods and starts to settle back against the pillows, but then--]

You want me to at least get out of your bed? I don't mind sitting on the floor if you'd rather.

[empathicfault]

And move all those dogs? They're so happy.

[ Will gives her a small grin, but he's not going to keep her there if she wants to get up. The dogs are still competing for pets, although it seems like Winston is winning right now. ]

You thirsty or anything? I don't know what it's like coming out of those.

[cactusy]

[Well, if she's not getting kicked out she's certainly not leaving these pillows and this dogpile (also a pillow, kind of) of her own accord. She shifts to the side a little to give Will more room if he wants to flop next to her, but otherwise, she stays right where she is.]

Water, yeah. Sure. Thanks.

[After a brief pause, she adds--]

-- Graham. There is something I wanted you to know.

[empathicfault]

[ Will stops just before bending down to grab a cup from one of his drawers. ]

Oh, yeah? What's that?

[cactusy]

I came here for the deal.

[She's not looking at him; her eyes are closed.]

But even if it turns out to all be bull - I still want to see you graduate. If the Admiral showed up right now and said I wasn't getting a thing for it, I'd stay.

[empathicfault]

[ He still smiles as he looks at her. It's not something he'd been concerned about, not like some inmates. But it's nice to know she cares that much. ]

Thank you.

But I do want you to get your deal. So if the Admiral did that, I'd call him on his bullshit.

[ He stands up, heading off to grab some water. It doesn't take him very far, but he still calls out:] We could work on taking him down together, maybe.

[cactusy]

Impossible.

[But she appreciates the sentiment all the same. ]

People have tried, you know. Wardens, even.

[empathicfault]

[ Will scoffs, but then it replies cheerfully: ] Well, I'd expect it'd take awhile.

But it's a good thing he seems good for his word.

[ He returns with a cup of water, setting it on the nightstand. Jet starts sniffing towards it and he breath a quiet 'hey'. Jet quickly returns to being interested in Shaw. ]

Wardens have tried, though, huh? What prompted that?