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[empathicfault]

"Will Graham here. Leave a message."

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

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[abrightboy]

Is this the first time it ever has? Or was there a time when it did before it overwhelmed you?

[empathicfault]

No...not the first time...

[ He takes in a deep breath and opens his eyes again. He nibbles on his own lip for a moment before shaking his head and shrugging. ]

When I'm on a case, the noise fades. It's just replaced with whoever I'm chasing after, for a time. Their fears, their purpose. This is- it's a little different. I think.

[abrightboy]

So when you're focused on one person so fiercely, their voice takes over your whole mind?

[empathicfault]

Yes. -well. Most of it. I've managed to set up routines to try and turn it 'on' and 'off', but they don't always work.

[ He looks down at the floor, a move that, by now, Malcolm should be able to recognize as Will trying to hide his discomfort. ]

At least the nightmares I get during those times are more focused.

[abrightboy]

Do you collect them? Other people's nightmares? Do they stay with you when those people are gone from your life?

[empathicfault]

Yes. They'll fade, eventually. But they don't disappear. I tend to wake up very disoriented.

[ He huffs out a sigh as he realizes something. ]

Better get ready for the mushroom ones again. Think those might be out of my diet for awhile.

[abrightboy]

Yeaaaahh. I have kind of a... delicate stomach. Dead bodies don't make me queasy but most food does. Weird, right?

[empathicfault]

You know, if Hannibal were here, he'd fix you up something you could handle.

[ Totally serious delivery. ]

[abrightboy]

My inmate is kind of a chef. And I know what he’s putting in my food.

[empathicfault]

[ Come on, nothing? Will looks slightly disappointed, but moves along with Malcolm's topic. ]

That would be preferable. But Neal can cook, as well? Sounds like you got lucky with the inmate assignment. I feel sorry for whoever ends up with me.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm has disappointed him somehow. He recognizes that he’s more concerned about that than he is with most people.]

I’d feel lucky if I had you as an inmate. But Neal’s great, too. He’s a good person, fundamentally. A little hungry for attention, but that’s normal in cases of childhood neglect.

[empathicfault]

[ If there's anything that helps Will feel like his non-Breach self, it might be catching onto someone's feelings while they're happening. He stops moving for a moment, his mouth opening a bit as he works through it. He licks his lips and looks up at Malcolm. ]

Maybe I should call that profiler feedback. What's wrong?

[abrightboy]

I said something wrong. I... don't know exactly what. It happens with me a lot. With a lot of people, I mean. It just... I'm usually fine with it and I don't know why it's bothering me more than usual now. I guess your respect is particularly important to me.

[empathicfault]

[ Will can't help it- he laughs a little. ]

You want to know what was wrong? I made a dumb, inappropriate joke and you didn't follow me on it like Hannibal would've. I'm just... [ He shakes his head. ] -missing him. It's nothing to do with you.

You do have my respect, you know. I wouldn't have reached out for your help, if you didn't.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm smiles at his knees before looking over.]

You guys had banter, huh? I am... not usually included in banter. Bit... unpracticed at it.

[empathicfault]

It was more like I'd insult him viciously and he'd manage to take it and respond in some irritatingly smug manner, but-

[ Will looks to the side, clearing remembering it fondly. ] I suppose it did turn into banter, the further along we got.

You could always give it a try, sometime. It's more fun than you'd think to intentionally make people uncomfortable, even if they don't go along with it.

[abrightboy]

[He does usually do it unintentionally.

Bright, you’re doing that thing where you… trail off and make everyone uncomfortable.

He smiles.]

I’ll have to keep an eye out for the opportunity.

[empathicfault]

[ Will smiles back. He's actually looking fairly steady, if pale. ]

If only we'd worked together. I mean, I doubt it would've lasted long, since you're actually concerned about my well-being. But we could've had a couple of fun cases together.

[abrightboy]

I know a lot of self-care for the traumatized and self-destructive in dangerous proximity to their psychopathic abusers, so maybe you wouldn’t have been, like… totally destroyed by the work if you worked with me.

[empathicfault]

[ Will chuckles. ]

Maybe not. It would've been less of a bad idea, anyway.

[ He blinks, and then blinks again. ] Okay, I- I think I might need sleep, soon. I think I could.

[ That's notable, between the two of them. ]

[abrightboy]

Really? That's great! [He gets up.] If you need anything, just give me a call. Tea, soup, whatever. I'll bring it right by.

[empathicfault]

Okay.

[ Will closes his eyes, feeling that comfortable sort of exhaustion that sort of slides around you like a pillow. Sleeping tends to hit Will fairly fast, but this is a little exceptional, even so. He'd been holding onto that adrenaline for awhile. ]

I'll remember. Thanks, Malcolm.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm tucks his blanket around him a little better, then slips out of the cabin.]