empathicfault | IC Inbox

[ Will lets out a shaky breath. ]

I can get that across, at least. I think.

I don't want to- I...damn it. I didn't think people would care.

[ He frowns a little but he nods to that. ]

When you've spent enough time fucked over by the system, it's hard to accept that it might be trying to protect anyone anywhere, even as weird as here.

Plenty of wardens have been fucked the same way. So they care.

I've had a lot of people claiming to protect me that fail me. Anyone who's been in charge of my mental well-being, in fact. Thirty-plus years worth of therapists. Every one I saw was worse than the last.

-until here....although I suppose that remains to be seen. It'd be difficult to find worse than the last two. So yeah, it's hard to accept. I've been here almost a year and I still expect to have the rug pulled out from under me.

But Malcolm's...I don't want him to pay for my paranoia. Or misanthropy, or whatever it is.

I'm an orphan who grew up in the system. You don't have to tell me. Not much for trusting people that way. And I've done some pretty extreme things because of it.

[ He tilts his head to one side. ]

I'm not saying accept everything. There's a balance to it.

[ Finding that balance had been a big part of all three of his inmate's graduations. ]

Hurting people you care about is when you need to re-evaluate your choices. That's all I'm saying. As someone who's done it and regretted it.

Edited 2023-12-17 16:06 (UTC)

[ He hums in a small agreement, thoughtful. ]

Guess we don't just stop that because we're in a new setting.

...were you ever an inmate here, Kiryu-san?

[ He shakes his head. But he will add- ]

Spent 13 years or so in a normal prison.

[ And Japanese prison doesn't kid around. ]

Damn. I had about a year at a max security mental hospital. It was like they were trying to fit as many traumatizing things into my short stay as they could. I can't imagine thirteen of those.

...but that does explain why I had a tough time telling if you'd...been through the system here or not. Usually my hunches are right. I guess you did most of your learning before you hit this place.

One kind of learning.

[ He firmly believes every one of his inmates has helped him as much as he's helped them. ]

I've been here long enough even this old dog has learned a few new tricks.

[ He'd be chuckling if things weren't so seriously messed up- or if he weren't the cause of the problem. ]

Sounds like you take every opportunity you get to learn something...I hope to get there, myself. Eventually.

[ He takes a deep breath in and lets it out. ]

All right, I've got...some people to talk to. Apologies to make. Malcolm first, I think.

[ He nods. It's very very obvious, even over video, that whatever frustration he had before was temporary. He likes Graham-san, respects him. If there's one thing he's learned over the years, it's that friends call out friends.

He's seen what happens when you don't. ]

Let's talk afterwards. It's been a while since we did. And I'd like the chance to help you get the fuck out of here.

[ He tips his head to one side. ]

Maybe we do some fishing?

[ Will gives Kiryu a wry smile. It doesn't feel like things aren't fixable, with the way Kiryu puts them. That's unusual, but Will is going to take it. ]

Fishing sounds great. Maybe I can make up Wolf Trap Creek in the Enclosure for you, show you my favorite place for it.

Sounds good. I've never been anywhere with that name, I don't think.

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