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[empathicfault]

"Will Graham here. Leave a message."

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

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[empathicfault]

Damn, she works fast. Yeah, I haven't blown up anything lately...

[ He sounds amused, though, rather than worried. It wasn't something he heard about ship-wide, so it had to work out at least relatively okay. ]

I do have something to ask you about. Might as well get into it while I'm here. Did you know Lark at all? Warden until he got pulled away, recently?

[cactusy]

A little bit. We patrolled together. Why?

[empathicfault]

[ Will finally stops giving his most visible attention to Bear in order to look fully at Shaw. ]

He...let me attend Malcolm's first werewolf transformation. Apparently, he'd never done that before. But he thought I could handle it without interfering and making it worse. And- he was considering inviting me to his pack.

Well, I just heard from Harkin that I have an official invite now.

[cactusy]

[Shaw frowns, though it's one of confusion and surprise.]

Lark Tennant wants to turn you into a werewolf? Do you want to join a werewolf pack?

[empathicfault]

I do. I've thought about it...I think I've wanted to do it for a while.

[ He rubs his chin, looking down at the floor thoughtfully. ]

I was more concerned with the sort of person Lark was, the sort of people he chose. I was more concerned on Malcolm's behalf. I wanted to know what he was getting into. But the more I learned, the more it became something I could see myself doing.

[cactusy]

Tell me why, specifically? And have your concerns about Lark's judgement been cleared up, or--?

[empathicfault]

[ Will nods. ]

I believe he generally picks people who don't...fit, anywhere. He gives them a place to do so. I'd been concerned that there was a religious or semi-religious element to the pack mentality, and that's not the case. The turning 'ritual' was very practical.

As for why... [ He looks up and licks his lips. ] I'm sure you know already that there's a part of me that- if it wasn't wild before- it certainly is now. But when I start to...lose humanity, it's more of a- I see myself controlling the pack, letting it all ramp up without cause or care. If I was part of an actual pack, I'd have them to consider, to support and to hold me back. And I could 'go a little wild' without hurting anybody.

I'll say the idea of fitting someplace is appealing to me, too. Even if it's more like family than true friends.

[cactusy]

[Shaw nods in acknowledgement at the end of his explanation, though her expression is as muted as always.]

And here that's Wildthyme, Bright-- anyone else?

[empathicfault]

That's it, for now. I'm assuming there might be some sort of blood-related connection to the rest of Lark's pack in LA, which has some former inmates and wardens. But I'm also more concerned with the Barge group.

I'm not sure how it'd work with my status as an inmate, either. If I'd be able to shift or- apparently there's an increase in the senses, as well. But Iris would probably know.

[cactusy]

I think you should ask her first before you do anything. Go into it knowing exactly what to expect.

[A pause.]

You looking for my opinion?

[empathicfault]

[ Will nods. ] I'll talk to her. Wanted to talk to you and Malcolm first.

I figured I should notify you, no matter what. But I do want your opinion.

[cactusy]

[Shaw pauses to pull her thoughts together, leaning back on her elbows. Bear sighs heavily, dropping his head into her lap, and she immediately changes tack and sits up again so that she can rub his ears.]

It weirds me out. It makes me nervous. Humans I'm familiar with and can deal with, but werewolves? No way, totally insane.

But it sounds like it could be really good for you, and you're interested in it for the right reasons.

[empathicfault]

[ Will looks away for a bit as Shaw thinks things over. He is a little nervous as to how Shaw was going to take this. It might not be entirely out of left field, but it's still not exactly the conversation people expect to have in a normal day.

That she's positive at all has him breathing a sigh of relief. Even if he sounds a little confused. ]

You think those are the right reasons? I wasn't sure...uh, whether leaning into the 'wild' tendencies would be a bad sign or not. If I should be trying to curb that instinct.

[cactusy]

Or learn how to use it in a healthy way instead of trying to ignore it.

[She counters, raising an eyebrow.]

Mostly I'm thinking of the pack thing, not the wolf thing. You've never had the chance to be a part of something like that.

[empathicfault]

[ Oh, good. Will hadn't been looking forward to maybe trying to curb his tendency towards violence, but he'd been worried that was a key to graduating. If Shaw doesn't think so, that's good enough for him. He doesn't know what a 'healthy way' would actually be, but he can rationalize the change fairly easily.

He smiles a little when she focuses on the pack. ]

No, I really haven't. And I know you've extended an invite from your team. But these people feel right and it might give me some help here. Trusting people...it's been easier here, but-

[ He shrugs. It's still very difficult, when it's not the couple of people he's clung onto. ]

[cactusy]

Yeah.

[Her thoughts exactly - and exactly why her first question had been to ask who else was involved.]

So how well do you know Wildthyme already?

[empathicfault]

Well enough to know I've barely touched the surface of her long lived experience.

[ That's said with a wry smile, that turns warmer as he looks down at his hands. ]

I wish my mind worked like her telepathy does. With everything being a back-and-forth, a sharing rather than an involuntary taking of knowledge. I've spent a few afternoons chatting without speech with her, or tugging her along the museum in my mind. Even the heavier, darker parts of her are a delight.

[cactusy]

Mmmm.

[It's a sound not quite of agreement, but also not of disagreement; she understands and isn't surprised by the assessment, in any case. It's also the nicest thing she's ever said out loud about Iris, paltry as it is.]

She drives me crazy.

[She's the most Root-like person on the ship, by far.]

But I think she could be really good for you.

[empathicfault]

[ Will smiles when told Iris drives Shaw crazy. It's rather fond. ]

I think she could be, too, yeah. I'm still sort of...blown away by how much positive emotional energy she puts out. And I should stop wondering where she gets all the time to do everything already.

I can't really tell- do you like her or find her obnoxious? Or both?

[cactusy]

I-- she--

[Shaw shrugs her shoulders, and then hunches them, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable.]

It's complicated.

[empathicfault]

[ Oh, he didn't expect uncomfortableness. He raises an eyebrow. ]

Can I ask why? I mean, there's a lot that's complicated about Iris...

[cactusy]

"She reminds me a lot of Root," Shaw says. "So, that, uh-- that kind of sucked for a while."

[empathicfault]

"Ah." That explains everything. Will rubs at one of his eyes. "I can only imagine. And now it's not the same kind of 'suck,' but I'm sure it still feels strange."

[cactusy]

"The simulation could have made her just to see what I would do," she says quietly, swallowing. "It's the kind of trick Decima would pull."

[empathicfault]

"Yeah," Will agrees, with a quiet nod. "See how you reacted to someone similar, but not the same. And since her similarity makes you think of that, it puts you on your guard." He stops for a moment, corrects himself. "More on guard."