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[abrightboy]

This is Bright. Leave a message.

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Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

I'm fine. Just annoy---amn thing's not wor--

[ There's a significant pause, but Will's voice comes back after a burst of static. ]

Just noises, so far. If you're heading home too, be careful.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

--an hear them laughing. [A burst of static.] ......see anyth...


[After a moment.] It cleared suddenly. I'm going back to the cabin. I hope you'll be there. I'm... nervous, Will. I'm nervous about this one.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

I'm hearing dogs. Hurt ones.

[ He hates it, thanks. ]

Fog's thinner here, and-- ...n't in the cabin. Hey, hi guys--

[ This time he's interrupted by Buster and Winston barking happily, so at least that's more normal. ]

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm doesn’t hang up until he bursts in a door a few moments later, looking at Will with undisguised relief before hurrying over to hug him tightly.]

Maybe we should try to stick together.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

[ Will turns immediately, pulling Malcolm into the hug. He was going to pace until Malcolm got back anyway, so it's good he's here already. ]

I think that's a good idea. Let's...settle down here. Tea? That's normal.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm nods, but as he releases Will from the hug, he keeps a grasp on the fabric of his shirt as he follows him around the counter.]

You heard someone… hurting dogs?

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

[ Will honestly appreciates the tug on his shirt. He squeezes Malcolm's shoulder before getting the tea started. ]

Dogs...in pain, dogs being hurt. Same thing I heard when I started hallucinating back home. As bad as it is, I'm glad...it's not just me.

[ His voice trembles slightly as he speaks. He's always had a hard time with things that remind him of his encephalitis. And that time in general. The tea will be good for both of them. ]

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

I heard them laughing. The kids at school. It's... not my usual. I usually... hear my father talking.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

[ Will takes those words in, nods. And then he lets out a deep sigh. ]

So the sounds are targeted...I get the feeling like it's only going to get worse. -if this is where we're starting from.

I didn't see anyone either. It seemed that the entire Barge was empty. That's- well. I probably would've called you, anyway. But that's why I did it so quickly.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm’s grip on the side of his shirt tightens a little.]

Right before the fog came, there was someone else in the hallway, a little ahead of me. A new person, I think. But when it got foggy… I ran towards him and he was gone. I couldn’t see him or hear him…

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

[ Will finishes setting up the kettle and turns to put his arm around Malcolm's shoulders while they wait for it. ]

So it's isolating us for...some reason. Or maybe that's just what this flood does. But it usually feels like there's a reason, or at least some logic to it. Maybe it merely hit a sore spot, but this felt mean.

[ And that might be better, because then Will could get angry about it. He closes his eyes, leaning his head against Malcolm's. He knows they'd both manage if they got separated for longer, but it certainly isn't an enticing prospect.

Then he remembers something about today and snorts. Maybe his terrible timing can be utilized for something good - distraction. ]

I hadn't told you yet, but I've figured out where I'll be working from here on.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm closes his eyes when Will tilts his head against Malcolm’s. Will’s arm around him feels safe, even though the danger is clearly still out there. But at that teaser, his eyes snap open and he looks to find Will’s face eagerly.]

Where?

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

[ Will's smile is a little weak, but he still knows this'll do the job. ]

I thought I might try counseling.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm smiles joyfully. Mission accomplished.]

REALLY? Starting when?

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

Well, I was going to announce it today or tomorrow to the network. But I'm thinking it'd be better to hold off while we're all hearing voices.

I'm not sure how it'll go, but I'm hoping my perspective will be helpful to some people. Help them process trauma, manage conditions they might be dealing with, maybe help them get back on their feet after...the particularly nasty floods.

[ It helped a great deal, talking over it with Sheehan. It helped cement what he'd like his role to be. ]

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

That's a good idea. A good niche, I mean. It's the kind of stuff... people don't trust me with. You'll be someone who really knows about trauma psychology that they can go to.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

Eh...we'll see about that. But at least there'll be more options available.

[ Not a lot of people trust Will, either. Even if he doesn't immediately rub them the wrong way. ]

Your methods have been really effective for the harder cases, the ones I'd probably write off too early. You got through to Kikimora, after all. You've helped Aaron, Johann, Laura...I am more comfortable in lecture halls, where I don't have to have a dialogue.

[ He's actually nervous about it. Others might not pick up on that, but Malcolm's likely to see the way Will licks his lip and lightly bites it. ]

If that's a bust- or maybe even if it's not- I might pivot to more...outreach. Have a class on modern psychiatry and the conditions we know about, maybe once a month have a 'introduction to the barge' or something.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm does see it. He watches his face carefully, even while shifting his weight a little closer and shifting that hand grasping his shirt to slide around his waist instead. He kisses Will gently.]

You know, that could be your role, that you could do out of the counseling office, if you don't want to do the other thing. I mean. If you already don't want to do it. One on one counseling doesn't have to be all the office provides. There are a lot of aspects to mental health and maybe if someone offered welcome to the Barge presentations on a regular basis, new people wouldn't go crazy thinking Zack made them be in custodial or that... I don't know. There are some wild ideas out there. I think... I think that's what's going on with Walter, you know. He wasn't like this when we started talking. This is new.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

[ The kiss is appreciated and results in Will giving Malcolm a real hug. It's not often that Will comes across as clingy, but that's usually because Malcolm's higher energy has him reaching out first. ]

I suspect Walter might've started at least some of it on his own. Everything about him seems...performative, at all times. He's crafting a narrative to his liking, but I have no idea why. Whatever it is, he hasn't realized it's counterproductive yet.

[ But that wasn't what they'd been talking about. ]

And I do want to do it...one-on-one counseling. I just don't want to...leave a person worse off. Push too hard, just because that's how every psychiatrist I've ever known does it. Try to trick someone's mind into 'behaving'. I never want anyone to go through the sorts of therapy I have, and it just-

[ He lets out a sigh. ]

I want to help. I know I can help. But what if I slip into old, well-worn personas and make things worse?

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

You didn’t do that to me. [It’s a simple statement of fact, stated with a soft matter-of-factness.] And boy you could have. I’d do anything for you. You could have twisted me into so many knots, if you wanted to. You not only didn’t, you made it very clear that you chose your approach to helping me with some of my problems specifically to avoid doing that. Even if it would take longer.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[empathicfault]

[ The way Will's eyes widen make it clear that he didn't expect this argument. He thinks of ways in which it might not be true- he actually cares about Malcolm, for one thing- but discards them for now. They all stem from the same place, a fear that he's disproven. He doesn't want to be subsumed by Hannibal.

He knew Malcolm had always believed in him, but he didn't know how aware Malcolm was about the possibilities. His smile is a little fragile, only because of the depth of the feelings threatening to break through it. ]

Didn't want to give you any extra reasons to regret being with me. ...you're right. I have my own way of doing things.

[ He takes a deep breath and lets it out. ]

Just have to acknowledge the worry and...push through it, probably. The fog today hasn't helped.

Re: Day 1 of the You're Not Here event, audio

[abrightboy]

You might have some elements of him in you, but you're not him. You don't want to hurt people who are vulnerable and need your help. If anything, the people you want to hurt are the kind that prey on that.

[He snuggles more into the crook of Will's shoulder, lifting his head to lightly nuzzle his cheek.]

I think the fog is meant to be counterproductive. It didn't raise my usual nightmares. It raised the things that this place reminds me of on the worst days. It wants us to be.... weak, for some reason.