[Oops. He didn't have time to gauge Mallory's mood and how much he didn't want to be bothered! The slight waggy tail and the facing away are mixed signals!!]
I just got here. I can't sneak anything past you, I suppose.
[He cautiously walks closer, though he stays just behind him.]
[Not to mention how much louder everything seems to him with these new ears. Even the softest footfalls pound in his head.
But there are differences in the presence Icarus and Luna exude, and it hits Mallory hard as he feels him approach. They both carry themselves so differently now... Is it just the weight of Icarus' wings? Or the weight of Luna's self-contained burdens?
...Whatever the case, Icarus is still familiar enough that Mallory can relax even with him right behind him like this. There are few people he can trust with his life, even in a place free of war like Koriko. He's sorely tempted to lean back against him, yearning to feel his arms around him, but...
Even now, there's that unclear and arbitrary boundary nagging at the back of his mind. So he settles for just half-turning so he can look at Icarus over his shoulder, a tired but sincerely fond smile on his face. Maybe Icarus can't sneak things past him, but Mallory can try for vice-versa.]
I could ask you the same. I wanted to see you. But if you'd rather I not bother you, you can say so.
[If Mallory's relationship with Luna is fraught, Icarus could well be an uncomfortable presence.
Or maybe it's just easier to feel like leaving him alone is doing the right thing. If Mallory actually needs his comfort, that's a much harder task to follow through on.]
[T O O B A D. Hard Mode has been activated and now there's no going back. Mallory faces Icarus more properly, and if his delight isn't evident in the way his expression brightens, then the frantic movement of that damned tail should make it obvious. Icarus wanted to see him!!]
You know I've always got time for you! You wanna head someplace a little nicer?
[Nicer than, you know, loitering around outside the bathhouse. It may be getting late, but by no means is the rest of the island settling down anytime soon.]
[Well. Here they are in Hard Mode, where he has to be a loving comforting presence for Mallory, but totally NOT in a romantic way, but also they both know it's in a romantic way. This is cool and fine.
It really is fine, though, because Icarus couldn't choose any other option after seeing that expression and wagging tail. This mode is already worth putting in the effort. He smiles back, subtle, but soft and fond.]
...Can I buy you a drink?
[Wait, does that sound like he's planning to take advantage of him? Is there a risk that bad decisions would happen this way? He just thought Mallory could use one, and that it would be a fun chill thing to do together! But it's already out of his mouth, so he just feigns ignorance to those potential implications while bracing himself for them.]
[Ooh... Is Icarus coming onto him? Mallory may be nervous about pushing any boundaries himself, but if Icarus is the one initiating it, he's got no objections. Except for the hollow feeling in his chest where he wishes Luna could be this warm with him, and is he being a shitty person just trying to fill that void now? Ugh. Actually, drinks sound great.]
I was going to suggest the same thing. Only if you let me buy you one, too.
[He shoves his hand into his pocket, tilting his head invitingly.]
There's this surprisingly swanky place in the middle of town, but if you're in the mood for something a little cozier, a friend of mine showed me this oden stand hidden away...
[Very quiet, very intimate. Very dubious with its ingredients.]
[He smiles, just to show that the way he phrased it was a joke. At least self-aware enough to be one. This is definitely date territory now, but oh well. As long as he doesn't do anything out of line it's fine!]
I have a decent amount of money by now, so I should be able to afford either place. I'd rather go to whichever place you want to go.
Ah, this is definitely a date now! Oh gosh, oh boy, what would Icarus like better...? There's no doubt about it - the upscale one it is. Oden carts for for drinking and being miserable all alone and griping to the captive audience that is the poor owner. Mallory can do plenty of that on his own time.]
Alright, let's indulge ourselves a little tonight. Let's get going.
[Or should he go change into something nicer?! No, Icarus wants it now, or else he would have carefully scheduled something. That's just how he is.
It doesn't take Mallory long to find the perfect pace between leading and walking right by Icarus' side, though he maintains a respectful enough distance that if he gets distracted he won't bump against his hand or shoulder. Even if he really wants to. Well, he's not going to move away if Icarus ends up being the one who wants to, either...
It's also a good position to watch his beautiful face with helpless adoration, without having to stealthily steal glances like the old days. Maera's lucky as hell that he's got it right.]
[Icarus' love life would be less complicated if only he had a little less self-restraint. As it is, he keeps his hands respectfully to himself, maintaining the same distance. He's developed a wider bubble of personal space since he got the wings, though, and he allows Mallory to move into that. Even if Mallory won't bump into Icarus' shoulder, there's still a chance he'll brush up against the wing that is stopping just shy of him.
Icarus smiles over at him, tentatively, although his brow is furrowed in concern and confusion. He's not sure whether he should be addressing this, but if he's going to do it, he should probably do it before they're settled into any bars. Just in case Mallory wants to ditch.]
I've heard from Maera what you've gone through recently.
[There's an obvious pause in the rhythm of his own footsteps, enough for the wing to bump his shoulder, and he's too distracted to even feel giddy about the contact. Damn it, Maera! There are some things he wants to keep to his (other) self! ...Not that it wouldn't have become obvious on its own over time anyway.]
Moving in on the rebound, huh?
[It's a joke. Obviously. But his grin is even less than halfhearted and it fades a little as he glances away.]
Look, don't feel like you have to make up for it yourself somehow, or pity me, or whatever. [This is a pity date, isn't it. Ouch...!] I'm fine.
[His tentative smile instantly turns into a frown at the word "rebound". Feeling defensively self-conscious, he withdraws his wing from the accidental touch.]
It's not like that. Actually, it's more the other way around. Don't feel pressured to spend time with me if it will be more upsetting than pleasant.
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no subject
I just got here. I can't sneak anything past you, I suppose.
[He cautiously walks closer, though he stays just behind him.]
no subject
[Not to mention how much louder everything seems to him with these new ears. Even the softest footfalls pound in his head.
But there are differences in the presence Icarus and Luna exude, and it hits Mallory hard as he feels him approach. They both carry themselves so differently now... Is it just the weight of Icarus' wings? Or the weight of Luna's self-contained burdens?
...Whatever the case, Icarus is still familiar enough that Mallory can relax even with him right behind him like this. There are few people he can trust with his life, even in a place free of war like Koriko. He's sorely tempted to lean back against him, yearning to feel his arms around him, but...
Even now, there's that unclear and arbitrary boundary nagging at the back of his mind. So he settles for just half-turning so he can look at Icarus over his shoulder, a tired but sincerely fond smile on his face. Maybe Icarus can't sneak things past him,
but Mallory can try for vice-versa.]
What's up?
no subject
[If Mallory's relationship with Luna is fraught, Icarus could well be an uncomfortable presence.
Or maybe it's just easier to feel like leaving him alone is doing the right thing. If Mallory actually needs his comfort, that's a much harder task to follow through on.]
no subject
You know I've always got time for you! You wanna head someplace a little nicer?
[Nicer than, you know, loitering around outside the bathhouse. It may be getting late, but by no means is the rest of the island settling down anytime soon.]
no subject
It really is fine, though, because Icarus couldn't choose any other option after seeing that expression and wagging tail. This mode is already worth putting in the effort. He smiles back, subtle, but soft and fond.]
...Can I buy you a drink?
[Wait, does that sound like he's planning to take advantage of him? Is there a risk that bad decisions would happen this way? He just thought Mallory could use one, and that it would be a fun chill thing to do together! But it's already out of his mouth, so he just feigns ignorance to those potential implications while bracing himself for them.]
Unless you had somewhere else in mind.
no subject
I was going to suggest the same thing. Only if you let me buy you one, too.
[He shoves his hand into his pocket, tilting his head invitingly.]
There's this surprisingly swanky place in the middle of town, but if you're in the mood for something a little cozier, a friend of mine showed me this oden stand hidden away...
[Very quiet, very intimate. Very dubious with its ingredients.]
no subject
[He smiles, just to show that the way he phrased it was a joke. At least self-aware enough to be one. This is definitely date territory now, but oh well. As long as he doesn't do anything out of line it's fine!]
I have a decent amount of money by now, so I should be able to afford either place. I'd rather go to whichever place you want to go.
no subject
Ah, this is definitely a date now! Oh gosh, oh boy, what would Icarus like better...? There's no doubt about it - the upscale one it is. Oden carts for for drinking and being miserable all alone and griping to the captive audience that is the poor owner. Mallory can do plenty of that on his own time.]
Alright, let's indulge ourselves a little tonight. Let's get going.
[Or should he go change into something nicer?! No, Icarus wants it now, or else he would have carefully scheduled something. That's just how he is.
It doesn't take Mallory long to find the perfect pace between leading and walking right by Icarus' side, though he maintains a respectful enough distance that if he gets distracted he won't bump against his hand or shoulder. Even if he really wants to. Well, he's not going to move away if Icarus ends up being the one who wants to, either...
It's also a good position to watch his beautiful face with helpless adoration, without having to stealthily steal glances like the old days. Maera's lucky as hell that he's got it right.]
no subject
Icarus smiles over at him, tentatively, although his brow is furrowed in concern and confusion. He's not sure whether he should be addressing this, but if he's going to do it, he should probably do it before they're settled into any bars. Just in case Mallory wants to ditch.]
I've heard from Maera what you've gone through recently.
no subject
[There's an obvious pause in the rhythm of his own footsteps, enough for the wing to bump his shoulder, and he's too distracted to even feel giddy about the contact. Damn it, Maera! There are some things he wants to keep to his (other) self! ...Not that it wouldn't have become obvious on its own over time anyway.]
Moving in on the rebound, huh?
[It's a joke. Obviously. But his grin is even less than halfhearted and it fades a little as he glances away.]
Look, don't feel like you have to make up for it yourself somehow, or pity me, or whatever. [This is a pity date, isn't it. Ouch...!] I'm fine.
no subject
It's not like that. Actually, it's more the other way around. Don't feel pressured to spend time with me if it will be more upsetting than pleasant.