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[empathicfault]

"Will Graham here. Leave a message."

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

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[empathicfault]

I did.

[ He says it with a whoosh of breath outward that's not quite a sigh. ]

And I think it might be good for Malcolm to learn how to let something go, himself. Realize when a relationship is more effort than it's worth. So it'll probably be better for both of you.

Guess it's more- I wish you'd have let me actually help when things were happening, rather than sifting through the ashes of both your escalations.

[cactusy]

How could you have helped, if the problem isn't communication and understanding?

[empathicfault]

[ Dryly: ] I never said the problem wasn't communicating. The problem might be a way you both communicate that's extremely difficult to fix.

There were several points in the conversation I listened to that included an intuitive leap from one of you, something that wasn't true of the other. Maybe these had been addressed in previous conversations, but I doubt they all were. If I had the opportunity to step in and ask for clarification, I bet the whole thing wouldn't have turned into...that mess.

[cactusy]

Okay.

[Shaw rubs at her temples with both thumbs, closing her eyes.]

We could. Try again. But, Will, if the end result of all this is you thinking that Bright shouldn't have to make any adjustments in how he acts because masking sucks or whatever--

[empathicfault]

I don't think you're noticing the adjustments he's already making to try and accommodate you. The amount he's trying not to deduce and assume things. He is making an effort.

And he didn't see your adjustments...although you did a good job pointing them out. That might've helped.

[cactusy]

I don't know if it did.

[She says, lifting her head again to look at Will.]

But-- yeah. Okay. We can try again.

[empathicfault]

[ He gives her the barest of smiles, but it's more than he's had for a bit. ]

Okay. I'll let him know, see if he's still interested. But neither of you has to force it. Just...call me if it comes up again?

this is why I hate phone tagging

[cactusy]

Shouldn't we arrange something instead? I was planning to just not engage him socially, so nothing was really going to "come up".

hah, I didn't even notice in the email

[empathicfault]

Maybe if we'd tried this when it was first suggested. Now? Malcolm's not had the best luck with 'arranged meetings.'

Besides, on this boat? We all run into each other some time or another. Trust me, it'll probably happen eventually. But I'll float the idea his way and see what he thinks.

[cactusy]

Just seems like waiting to stumble into something again is the worse idea, but--

[She shrugs, and repeats:]

Okay.

[empathicfault]

[ Will shakes his head. ]

Might be. But as long as you're bringing me in on it, you're trying something different.

[ He feels better, having that settled. He lets his shoulders slump a little. ]

That was everything about Malcolm, right? We can sit around and pet some dogs now?

[ Like they haven't been doing that this whole time. ]

[cactusy]

Please.

[Shaw says gratefully - and with that, she's just going to flop onto the couch and close her eyes.]

[empathicfault]

[ Oh, thank goodness. They're both exhausted now. Will is quiet for a few minutes, making sure Buster gets some extra attention. But eventually he'll raise his voice again. ]

Did you know Iris can speak to dogs?

[ If Shaw is zoning out, he won't bother her further. But this popped up in his mind. ]

[cactusy]

Yeah?

[She hadn't known. But--]

I guess that doesn't surprise me. Does she do it with her weird touch thing? Maybe she'll be able to tell me if Bear's okay.

[empathicfault]

[ Will nods. ]

I'm sure she could. She's talked to Winston- all my dogs, really. Apparently, dogs are usually pretty wary around werewolves. She's managed to calm them all down about it.

[ Which is great, because otherwise this whole werewolf thing might've been a complete no-go. ]

[cactusy]

[Shaw is quiet for a moment, processing this new bit of information. As adaptable as she is as a general rule, she often struggles with having things sprung on her that can stick in her unreality craw: and not only are those things plentiful on the Barge, but people also tend to talk about them like they're nothing, either because they've been onboard for so long that they're used to them or because they come from worlds where they truly are nothing. But Will's way of speaking helps: the slower lead-up, the introductory Did you know.

She is, she decides, fine.]

... What did they tell her? In general, not just about the werewolf thing.