empathicfault | IC Inbox

Does that mean that you don't care about him? Are you worried about what he thinks?

Oh. …I don’t know. I guess on some level, I worry what everybody thinks.

Mmmm.

[ It's a thoughtful hum. ]

My shift's over soon. Do you think you could wait a half hour for me to collect some more of my things to bring over to your place? I thought I might move my paints over, if you wouldn't mind it.

And then I could show you what I think of you, and make the argument that my positive opinion matters a great deal more than one sensitive stranger's negative one.

You’re going to bring your painting stuff? …I can move the credenza with the terrarium so you can set everything up by the window. It’s better to have natural light, right? Or. What passes for natural light?

[Will always knows the best distractions.]

[ Bingo. Will smiles, quietly pleased with himself. ]

I- I mean, you've seen my cabin, right? I can paint anywhere, I just need the space for it. So I can just put it where it best fits and...where you don't mind if I set a dropcloth. And possibly disturbing pictures. I'd been thinking the extra room, but...

[ If Malcolm wants him downstairs, he'll hardly say no to that. ]

Have you seen the art on my walls? Anyway, just because you did paint in the dark doesn't mean you have to. I'm going to move the terrarium so the space is ready when you get here.

[He wants to be able to watch Will paint. He wants Will painting to be part of their living space; a thing that happens in their living space.]

Edited 2024-04-27 17:11 (UTC)

[ Will's voice is warm. ]

Okay. That does sound nice.

If it looks like you're going to disturb Sin and Star too much, though, wait for me. I know you can move the terrarium on your own, but it doesn't mean you have to.

If I wait, you'll still set up here?

[He doesn't have to make it easier and more tempting?]

[ Will's chuckle is somewhat surprised out of him. ]

Of course. I'd like to be down there, you know. But I didn't want to take over all your space. I'm not really used to...bringing much with me, I guess.

I want you to be everywhere in this cabin. I want to see you everywhere here, even when you're not here.

[ Will hums with contentment. ]

Well...I think the dogs have shed enough that they've seen to that. But I'll stop worrying about it.

See you in a half hour with way too many paint supplies, then?

Edited 2024-04-28 03:30 (UTC)

Yes, please. I can't wait. I thought of a good place to move the snakes.

See you soon, then.

[ It's honestly a little difficult for him to wait, as Malcolm seemed so happy with the prospect. There's also the possibility that more social things will fall apart, but they've dealt with plenty of those and they will continue to. All it is will be more stepping stones on Malcolm's path to his Becoming.

So it's only twenty minutes when Will practically kicks the door in. The dogs bounce in happily, unleashed today. Will had thought his enhanced strength would help with this, but canvases and easels are still unwieldly- and he grabbed more items than he should've.

So he bursts in, with an energy he rarely has after shifts. He immediately sets things down as Winston and Buster run off to find Malcolm and lick him in greeting. ]

Hey. I'm home.

[ He says it quietly, but Malcolm will surely hear (regardless of doggie distractions). ]

[The dogs bound in and Malcolm knows what that means. He greets them each with a distracted ruffle of their fur, then homes in on the warmth of Will’s arms like a heat seeking missile, smiling at the words as he finds him and wraps him up tight in turn.]

I missed you.

I was gone a few hours!

[ But he says so with a quiet and pleased chuckle. And he leans into those arms. This is not the small happiness he found after bringing Wally home, or the heavy intensity of seeing Hannibal in the BSHCI. This is being so full of Happy that he doesn't know what to do with himself, feeling like he's going to burst with unburdened delight. ]

....I missed you, too. You said you found a good spot for the snakes?

[ Mentioned before he distracts the both of them from their intended activity. ]

[Malcolm pulls back just enough to grin at him, then takes his hand to bring him over to the end of the kitchen island facing the living room.]

What if we put it along here. [He gestures along the space with his free hand.] They’ll still be out of the way and we’ll still be able to see them all the time, but then you can have the entire space in front of that window for your stuff.

And they'll be able to see us, too. That's perfect. Okay, let's move 'em over and then I'll get my painting supplies all organized.

[ Neither should be too difficult between them, considering their combined strength. As they work on it, Will notes that they're in sync again (often a pleasant realization on his end).

Once the terrarium is properly in place and the snakes are resettling, Will stops to stare at it, stepping as far back as the couch in the living room. ]

It really looks like it belongs there, huh?

It's like a slithery room divider or a living art exhibit. [Enthused with a big grin on his face. And the thought continues as he bounds over to where Will dropped the art stuff.] Speaking of which... what are you working on? Have you started the self portrait that got wrecked again yet?

[ Will looks down at his canvases and smiles somewhat shyly. ]

Nah. It didn't feel right when I tried it again. I'll remake it eventually. At the moment, it's...I'm not sure what it'll be, other than a landscape.

[ One that Malcolm can get a peek of, if he looks. It's still in its early stages. Will, regardless, starts setting up the easel and then backs up and takes another look. His eyes slide towards Malcolm. ]

Would you want to try it with me sometimes? There's plenty of space to paint side-by-side.

[Malcolm admires the canvas, only tearing his eyes from it at Will’s invitation, turning his head to look at Will’s face.]

I’d love that. It wouldn’t disturb you?

[ Will scrunches his nose up and shakes his head. ]

Hardly. I tend to be less disturbed the closer you are, rather than more. I mostly do this to relax now, anyway.

[ He scoots his easel to the left, leaving space. His smile is evident as he winks at Malcolm. ]

Let's steal another easel from the art gazebo. I'm pretty sure they won't mind.

[Every time he tells himself to stop being weird and needy and imposing himself into all of Will’s space, Will tells him to get in the space already. And yet, it still hits him with that flood of surprised intense warmth, this notion that he can’t impose here, in their home, because Will wants him to fill all its corners the same way he wants Will to fill all its corners. He sees you, Johann had said. He doesn’t entirely trust his voice at first, nodding eagerly, then giving in and throwing his arms around Will and holding on tight.]

[ Will hugs him back just as tightly. He does have a tendency to catch onto Malcolm's feelings and just sit with them sometimes, but in this case he thinks the happy overwhelm is coming from both of them. Will spent such a large portion of his life like a ghost, haunting other people's presences with no impact of his own. Even his farmhouse was full of decisions and items of other people.

He felt like he existed when he was around Hannibal. An entity with its own thoughts and desires, despite Hannibal's overpowering personality. Now? Here? He feels like a person. Like he can grasp what he wants with his own hands. Like this place is his now, too.

Maybe it's a strange time to be this emotional- it's not one of the alloted 'best moments in someone's life' that most people go through. But fuck it, that's how they are. It isn't until he sniffles that he realizes he's crying, and that makes him laugh. He knew people sometimes cried when they were happy, he just never figured he'd be privy to the sensation. ]

Hah. I don't know...don't know how to thank you for everything you've done for me. Looking forward to finding out, though.

What I’ve done for you…? [Spoken with his own laugh, but that’s kneejerk, that reaction to the suggestion that he has things to offer in this setting. That what he’s done for Will could possibly compare to what Will has done for him, just because what Will has done for him has changed not just his life but his entire concept of life and self and what to live for. But he remembers his presence in Will’s mind palace. The place that shone. The place that was always bathed in brilliant light. To me you’re radiant. He smiles against Will’s shoulder, calmer now. Still feeling intensely warmed inside but also contented.] Maybe… we’ll just keep doing those things.

[ Will knows the disbelief, because he feels the same every day. Just unending delightful surprise after surprise. He's sure it'll eventually settle, but even then?
The contentment he expects they'll find with each other will be new. It's the reason they work, and the reason they'll be good together. ]

Yes, let's.

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