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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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.