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[empathicfault]

"Will Graham here. Leave a message."

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

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Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

"Mmmm" and a closed-eye smile is the response to Malcolm hugging him back. His arms squeeze a little tighter, holding onto the only life preserver he's found.

He looks up at the dog. "Oh?" he asks, with hopefulness. "I thought...maybe. He came over to be pet, and has hung aroun-" He cuts himself off, narrowing his eyes at the dog and then asking, "Winston?" The retriever mix wags his tail and spurs Will on. "That's your name, huh? And you're the best, most loyal dog there is, aren't you?"

That gets the wag really going and Winston finally stands up and comes closer, with a small bark of excitement.

Will is still hugging Malcolm tight, and is unlikely to stop before Malcolm does. But he gives Winston a grin. "And I like dogs, huh?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

"You've got about half a dozen at home. Just two here. Winston and Buster. And we have two snakes, too. And a parakeet," Malcolm tells him, watching his face, still clinging tightly.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

He looks briefly confused, and probably not for the reason Malcolm would expect. After apparently doing some mental calculations, he looks at Malcolm and smiles. "Here is home, though. Isn't it? I...know there's another place. But..."

But it's not home.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm is very charmed by that.

"Here is home right now. Because you and me are our 'home'. Forever."

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

He closes his eyes, letting himself bask in the saying of the word. "Forever."

He can feel memories coming to him, like little wagging dogs. One by one. Most fundamental first. That's Malcolm. And Winston. And his brother and sister. And that he won't ever go back where he came from. The only thing waiting for him there is-

He frowns and his eyes blink back open. That doesn't stop the imagery, changing from dogs to a single giant stag in a wintery forest, stamping its feet and charging whatever comes near it.

He feels a drip on his forehead and reaches up, only to feel a scar with his fingers. He starts searching his face, finding two more. "Why- why did people attack me? I'm-" He cuts off. Maybe he's a bad person. Maybe he doesn't want to know.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm's expression, starting to brighten, creases in concern when it starts. He recognizes what it is to see a horror movie in your head that you can't stop. Intimately. He sprays his hand on Will's chest.

"You have a unique ability to connect to people. To anyone. To understand them. Some people where you came from... they wanted to use it. So they used you. And you got hurt. But you're not going back there anymore. You're staying with me. I won't let them hurt you again."

He looks up at Will's face, determination in his features, but also a little shame: he hadn't protected Will from Justine's little game.

"You're staying with me now." He takes off his ring and holds it up for Will to look at. "Do you remember this?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

Will's eyes look around, even as they partially squint due to the the oncoming headache. He worries his lip with his teeth at hearing he can connect with people, but- oh yes. He was very useful. Jack's bloodhound. The FBI's mad dog. Takes one to catch one.

He can feel his mind spiraling around various awhile truths, and he almost clutches at his head. But Malcolm's question distracts him from the slide and he looks up with wide, vulnerable eyes that make him look almost a decade younger. They focus on the ring, then on his ring. "Something about broken...ceramics. And the cracks."

He says it uncertainly. It's a bit of hope in this ocean of painful interactions he's suddenly finding himself in.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm watches his face carefully.

"Do you remember giving it to me?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

He squeezes his eyes shut as he tries to summon the memory. He's close, he knows it, but he feels like he's trying to swim through a heavy current. Too slow. And there are too many things trying to pull him in different directions.

"No one's born broken..." is what he murmurs after a moment.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

"Someone breaks us," Malcolm whispers. "Let's..." He glances around. "Do you think it would help to go to our cabin?" he asks. "Do you think... seeing your things and.... and your art would help?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

Will sniffs, and the tears that he sheds upon opening his eyes are his own. He knows who broke him now. He knows there are others that made it worse. He's scared to look any further, but it'll probably still come.

But for now, he looks at Malcolm and nods and hugs him tight. "If it's both of ours. I want to be...safe. My head hurts." He breathes out a deep but shaky sigh. "...can you help me there?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm nods, stepping out of Will's embrace just enough to take his hand and hold it tight, staying shoulder to shoulder with him as he starts them towards the stairs. He's concerned. He's very concerned. He doubts she thought to test this drug on werewolves. What if it doesn't work like it's supposed to? What if he has holes afterwards, like Malcolm does, except the holes are his time on the Barge. His time with Malcolm. He tries not to catastrophize, but his stomach is churning. He takes a deep breath through his nose and pushes it out through his mouth as they walk. He can't have a panic attack right now; Will needs him.

"I can show you some pictures when we get there. Maybe... maybe they'll help you remember. Maybe they'll trigger your memory of those times."

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

Will snorts, shakes his head- and immediately regrets doing that. "It's coming back, but it's...a lot. The- the actions I've taken and things I only saw. Feelings I've felt."

He puts his arm around Malcolm's shoulders, leaning fully on him. "You're the only part that isn't...sour in some way. And I had to leave my whole world behind before I met you."

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm manages a weak smile at that. And at Will wrapping an arm around him. He’s a genius even without all his memories. He slides his own arm around Will’s waist. Extra support. For at least one of them.

“We’re all from different world’s here. You and me… we decided not to live in yours or mine. Do… do…” he looks up sidelong at Will, trying to make himself form the prompt, but this is so part of their heart… it takes him a second to make the words come out. “Do you remember where we decided to go?”

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

He squints a moment, then relaxes a bit. "Our own place. Away from everything...but only if we want that. A ship. We want to travel, and help people. I want to destroy the bad ones."

He's not surprised by that, but it does make him frown again. He knows the last bit, but he doesn't feel it yet.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm can see that it's more like watching something on TV than something that's happened to him, but it's a start. And if he keeps him talking about his time here, maybe it will distract him from the details of Hannibal flooding back.

"Do you remember the day we met?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

Will's still leaning on him, but this question gets an easy smile. Apparently, distracting him is working well. He doesn't even have to mentally reach for this one.

"Mmmhmm. It was the second day I was here. I was sure people were going to shove me into Counseling right away, so I...I wanted to see what I had to contend with. Didn't expect to find someone who'd see me so well. We talked, for hours. It was an instant connection."

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

That warms Malcolm’s smile a little as they near their door.

“I didn’t realize you were… attracted to me,” he says. “I was just happy that you seemed like you wanted to be friends. You had to come over here…” He unlocks the door with his free hand and pushes it open. “And… tell me…” He steers Will through the door without letting him go, giving Winston room to get in before kicking it shut. Buster runs over in the meantime, sniffing eagerly at Will. “Do you remember that night?” Malcolm asks hopefully. “It was hands down one of the best nights of my whole life.”

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

Now that they're not on the stairs, Will's feeling a little steadier. He still leans on Malcolm, though, not feeling at all like letting go.

This doesn't become a problem until they're inside they're cabin, where everything feels and looks and smells right, and Will nearly instinctively crouches down to pet Buster as he wags and ruffs at him. "Hey, Buster. I'm home," he says quietly (but with emphasis) as he rubs the dog's back.

Malcolm's words finally click with him as he remembers everything that was said and done that night, and his face flushes a bright red. No need to wonder if actually remembers. "I- yeah. Pretty sure it was one of mine, too. I was fully expecting you to tell me it wouldn't work for some reason, but I had to say something..."

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm smiles when Will blushes.

"I'm glad you did. My quality of life is vastly improved. Do you want tea? I can make the peach and ginger one?" he offers. "Or peppermint?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

"Peppermint," he replies with confidence. "I'm rather nauseous. I'll...go sit on the couch?" The dogs already seem to be trying to lead him there. He looks a bit torn, though. He doesn't want to leave Malcolm's side. The man's pretty much anchoring him to reality right now.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

“I’ll just put the kettle on really fast and I’ll come with you?” Malcolm suggests, hurrying to do it before Will gets too far, then he runs ahead to get the blankets ready, their blanket poised to wrap around their shoulders once they settle in. He snuggles up against Will’s side, pressing a kiss to his jaw.

“Does this feel familiar?” he asks, once they’re all wrapped up.

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

Will allows himself to be wrapped up, leaning against Malcolm as soon as he's able. "It does," he murmurs. "It feels right."

The soft flutter of confusion is slowly easing out of his voice, being slowly replaced by a measure of control. He licks his lips as he sits there, pets his dogs and leans against his fiancé, and he lets himself breathe. A stopgap before what comes next.

"There's something...else. A part of my world that I...I don't want to touch it. But, it's-" He shifts his head a little to look Malcolm in the eyes. "It's going to come back anyway, isn't it?"

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[abrightboy]

Malcolm presses his lips together.

He wishes he could say 'no', but...

"Stuff from before the Barge?" Malcolm clarifies. "I.... I've been told it will all come back." He pauses. "Well. That it's all supposed to come back. I'm sorry."

Re: Right after Jedao reports Justine's Amnesia Attack on Will

[empathicfault]

Will nods, looking somewhat resigned. He leans his head against Malcolm's.

"And you love me anyway," he adds, as if daring Malcolm to say otherwise. He's clinging to a world he has the barest details on.