empathicfault | IC Inbox

Shaw?

[ He sounds confused. There's a short pause on the line. ]

I'm...uh, still recovering. What was that about magic? Why not Iris?

... Because the magic's from Hunter?

But...

Oh...right. Iris is an alien, not a witch. Right.

[ Will breathes out laughter at himself. ]

She was going to teach me magic, back in the Land. The breach. Is she a werewolf here?

Yeah. As far as I know.

You're not doing so great either, huh.

I didn't die, and I didn't eat anyone this time, so. Better than last time.

I should've warned you. Sorry if I didn't. Everything's mixed together...gonna take a while to sort out.

How was it for you?

You did warn me, but I'm not weirded out.

I was a dwarf. I was, uh-- I don't know. I had a brother.

Oh, good. I couldn't remember.

A dwarf? At least you weren't working for the Company. Should I ask who your brother was?

B. I guess it's, uh-- always easier when it's somebody you already know and like.

Mmm. That's better than it could be, at least.

I was a journalist. Wanted to blow the whole story on Chesney wide open. But I got caught before I got out of there.

I didn't really have any close family, but...uh. I didn't have the empathy condition, either.

And you wanted to learn magic in both worlds.

What was it like being without it?

[ His voice grows bitter as he answers. ] I wanted to learn magic to overthrow Chesney. They'd dumped me in the Dark Army with the convicts, and I had to fight my way out. I was done worrying about appeasing public opinion after that.

But here- it's. I didn't know how quiet my mind was. Even the parts of my cabin that I just left feel like they're yelling at me. I'm a little scared to head out into the rest of the Barge.

It'll be fine. I just...need to adjust. Get used to headaches again.

I'll bring you food. You need anything else?

Thanks. Could you walk the dogs for a day or two? I think Jax was with--

Oh, hell. Jasper's going to be a mess. Harkin...my brother.

You want me to bring 'em all to my place for a while, or do you want to keep them at yours? Uh-- Jet is still at my place right now, actually.

[Oops??]

That's fine. Jet's good with you. And Jax...honestly, he might help Harkin out, too. But I'll check in on them.

Just figured that they might want some exercise while I'm out of commission.

I can do that. I'm a bad person to help you check up on Sweeney, though.

No, I wouldn't suggest it. Hold off on Jax until we know what's up with him. I trust any of Hark's incarnations with a dog.

I met him, during the Breach. Name's Jasper, he's magical, lots of family. That's going to be tough coming back to this. Remembering the curse...all of that.

He might not want to be around people for awhile, anyway. Hopefully, he'll still let me in.

Speaking as someone who has, uh. Too much in common with him to get along with him.

If he doesn't let you in, it's not because of you. It doesn't mean you're not a good enough friend, or brother figure, or... whatever you are.

I know. I do know that.

But sometimes it's better to hear it from someone else, too. So...thanks. I should be able to keep a handle on my feelings until he's through the worst of it.

-- Okay, sidelining yourself to take care of him isn't ideal, either.

...well, I- if he doesn't know who I am, I'm not going to hold it against him. It's not his fault.

And as we talked about...apparently not too long ago, I can get possessive. So count this as me trying not to do that.

I'm not asking you to hold anything against him. Just take care of you, too. Or maybe I misunderstood the kinds of feelings you were talking about; I dunno.

I just don't want to lose him as a brother. That's all.

...if I start having a rough time, I'll tell you about it. How about that? At least get it off my chest.

Okay.

He adores you. You're not going to lose him.

Thanks...I'll hold onto that.

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