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[abrightboy]

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[abrightboy]

Malcolm accepts the cup, taking a cautious and careful sip.

At the news, his eyebrows go up.

“That’s such a relief,” he breathes out, like it was a breath he was literally holding. It’s a relief for two reasons. One is that he doesn’t have to feel bad for feeling animosity towards Hilbert if he’s not brainwashed anymore, though that’s the smaller of the two concerns. The other is that at least Will will let him know what’s going on in the follow up to what he very briefly considered his investigation until he realized the next day that the people downstairs must not have been updating him. “That’s a huge relief,” he adds firmly. “Thank you.”

[empathicfault]

"A relief?" Will looks a little surprised. He's so close to Malcolm that his own learned behaviors interfere sometimes. For example, he'd expected some mild grumbling about this, or perhaps a sigh and acceptance that it was a 'good thing to do, after all'. Relief had not been on the table.

"Sure. I...researched that style of brainwashing a lot, after all. What Jacob used was more of a butcher knife to Hannibal's needle, but still..." He licks his lips. "Hilbert seemed receptive, but it's going to be a lot of work for him."

[abrightboy]

"A relief. If you're involved, then maybe I'll still find out what's going on. And if Hilbert gets fixed, I can go back to thinking he's a dick, guilt-free," Malcolm tells him honestly.

[empathicfault]

Will can't suppress the small chuckle at Malcolm wanting to go back to thinking Hilbert is a dick. "Yes, I do suppose that's the 'natural' order of things. It feels wrong to worry about him."

He's still a little fidgety, lacing and unlacing his fingers as he continues. "Yeah, I...didn't like that, either. And I know how raw I felt when I found out about the psychic driving sessions. I couldn't exactly go to the library at the time, but I did what research I could...and poured through it after I was free."

He ruffles his own hair, running a hand through it. "No idea if I'll hear anything, though. Hilbert doesn't know me well enough to trust me. We pretty much only talked when I first arrived. So I gave him what information I could. I can only hope it's useful."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm nods.

"Did it drag everything up from then? Seeing... all that being talked about?"

His fingers wander along Will's forearm, absently fidgeting at the fabric, his face concerned.

[empathicfault]

Will takes in a larger breath. "A little...enough for me to make sure I distanced myself from it, somewhat. There are too many people here that can't tell that their trauma is controlling their arguments...I wanted to avoid that, if I could help it."

He shakes his head a bit. "But I'm all right. Merely trying to be cautious...I am sorry I couldn't help you more." As it was going on, he could tell it wouldn't have been a good idea to intervene. He'd have made it worse. But it still feels like leaving Malcolm to the vultures.

[abrightboy]

"Oh! No. It's okay." Malcolm gives him a gentle kiss. "It's okay. It went... mostly... fine. More mostly fine than usual. I don't want you to... sacrifice your sanity, Will."