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[abrightboy]

 This is Bright. Leave a message.

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[empathicfault]

Will raises an eyebrow as he considers all this new information. And then points out, "I haven't heard anything about her doing any of that in the time I've been here, so- progress?" It's better than he can claim.

"Didn't know about the poisoning, though. Now that's come up a couple of times, I'm wondering how careful I should be about the cafeteria food."

[cactusy]

"Staged a hostile takeover of the greenhouse during that one flood," Shaw continues, raising an eyebrow at Malcolm. "People were worried about her doing the same thing to the infirmary, too. You're looking a little starry-eyed there, Bright."

[abrightboy]

“People worry about her doing things because she’s ‘weird’ and a bit morbid and the impulse thing,” Malcolm tells her. “She wanted to lead during that flood to prove she could handle responsibility. I don’t think it’s a good idea to put her in charge of something like the infirmary, but I understand why she wants to be. It’s not a power grab. She wants people to respect her,” he tells them. He looks away from Shaw and quietly adds “She knows people think she’s a joke.”

[empathicfault]

Will watches Malcolm's face impassively for a long moment, then shrugs. "That's not the impression I got of her," he says carefully. "That she's a joke. Although I have the benefit of hindsight and other people's experiences. That said- we probably shouldn't be discussing your patients so in-depth. I know HIPAA doesn't exist here, but-"

He still feels uncomfortable going into things that people talking to Malcolm might consider private. Moreso, though, a change in topic might be a good idea in general.

[cactusy]

"She's not a patient," Shaw says, sitting up on her elbows on her bench. "She's an inmate. Sharing information about them is one of the ways that we help them. And she could be using the 'Poor old me, I'm so distrusted and disrespected" as a way to get people to sympathize with her."

Looking over at Malcolm, she adds, "Or over-identify with her."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm nods at Will’s advice and is about to concede that Shaw also has a point, but then her analysis makes him bristle.

“I get it: you think I suck at my job, but I think I at least understand people better than someone who claims not to have any emotions.”

[empathicfault]

Uuughhh, Will is very much regretting stopping here to chat, all of a sudden. He was usually the one snapping at people, not trying to stop two people from doing so at each other.

He looks from Malcolm to Shaw and back, and then just decides to give up. "You're both jumping to conclusions," he says mildly, then leans back with his arms crossed. Have at it, you two.

[cactusy]

Shaw rolls her eyes, which is rarely the best thing to do in a situation like this, but, well. There it is.

"It wasn't an insult. I'm saying you're better than her. Look at that, practically a compliment."

[abrightboy]

"I'm 'better' than her?" Malcolm echoes. He looks at Will and then at Shaw. "I'm not better than any inmate in here. Luckier, maybe. But I got a lot of help. They just need help. She needs help."

[empathicfault]

"And that's what we're getting here," Will says, sighing with exasperation at the way this conversation has veered. He looks to Malcolm. "Maybe it's pure luck, but I'm guessing for most of us, it's that and our choices. We need help but we also need to do at least part of this ourselves."

He looks back over to Shaw. "And far be it from me to praise any therapist, but empathizing a little with people is important...for most," he adds, with a small shrug. Obviously, Will himself didn't need that to understand someone. "To help them make those better choices. It's not 'falling for it' to trust us some. To give us the space to make those good or bad choices- especially when it's on this Purgatorio of a ship."

He raises his hand to his face and rubs at an eye. "All that being said, both of you could probably take it down a notch?" He frames it as annoyance, but he is a little paler. He'd honestly rather they were both being aggressive towards him, at least then he wouldn't be catching secondhand emotions.

[cactusy]

Shaw is quiet for a moment, studying Will's face - wondering if her mild annoyance is contributing to that drawn look on his face, or if he can pick up on some other, deeper emotion from her that she isn't even aware of.

"Sure," she says, slowly. "No problem."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm nods, looking out over the railing. Did he start that? He didn’t want to fight with her - rather the opposite - but he hadn’t been able to stop his reaction, either.

He looks at Will. “Sorry,” he says sincerely. He glances over at Shaw. “Sorry,” he tells her, though a little more perfunctorily. He straightens up. “I, um. Have to go. I have some appointments,” he explains, pushing off the railing to head towards the counselling office.

[empathicfault]

Will nods at the apology, giving Malcolm a weak attempt at a smile. He's getting a headache, but he appreciates the attempt to calm it down from both of them. And- Malcolm's leaving. Well...okay.

"Bye, Malcolm," he says quietly, still running a hand over his face.

Then he looks over to Shaw. "Oops. Didn't mean to break up the discussion."

[cactusy]

Shaw sighs, shaking her head.

"Shouldn't've had it in front of you, anyway. Probably shouldn't've tried to have a conversation with him at all. I don't do well with sensitive people, especially the ones who go the "sad kicked puppy" route instead of the angry route."

She pauses, and then, echoing Malcolm, adds, "Sorry. You okay?"

[empathicfault]

Will is very much about to pull the whole 'yeah, just have a headache' bit when he realizes that he really doesn't have to here. Moreover, he shouldn't.

"Uh. I will be?" he says, with an almost questioning smile. "Not sure what set me off there, other than...general over-sensitivity. I don't usually do well with those people either, it's just- Malcolm's a little unique."

[cactusy]

[Zooming over here so as not to spam Sarah's inbox!]