[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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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.
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[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.