[ The way he frames it makes it a more fraught emotional experience for her. She recognizes, then, where the disappointment comes from. Where the clinging comes from. It's her parents. She's afraid of growing attached to him like this because he can leave like them; being without him provides opportunities for it. She feels foolish — and paranoid — but Ben doesn't seem to view her in that light at all.
When he tugs her along, it spares her the humiliation of the tears that prickle in her eyes. She gets a moment to push them back down, rein in her emotional response to his abrupt willingness to compromise on that.
She slides into the bench of the dejarik table after him. The whole thing is, well, his bunk at this point. But she still tries to give some breathing room. Release his hand. That kind of thing. She feels awkward about it now, though. Like he's only here because she'd asked him to be, and maybe that obligation isn't as warm and fuzzy as a willingness on his own part.
But, no. He was willing. He'd just misunderstood.
She lays back, knees bent at the edge of the bench, head resting on his thigh as she stares up at him. ]
Are you sure? It's only a few minutes. I don't mind — [ She yawns. ] Waiting.
no subject
When he tugs her along, it spares her the humiliation of the tears that prickle in her eyes. She gets a moment to push them back down, rein in her emotional response to his abrupt willingness to compromise on that.
She slides into the bench of the dejarik table after him. The whole thing is, well, his bunk at this point. But she still tries to give some breathing room. Release his hand. That kind of thing. She feels awkward about it now, though. Like he's only here because she'd asked him to be, and maybe that obligation isn't as warm and fuzzy as a willingness on his own part.
But, no. He was willing. He'd just misunderstood.
She lays back, knees bent at the edge of the bench, head resting on his thigh as she stares up at him. ]
Are you sure? It's only a few minutes. I don't mind — [ She yawns. ] Waiting.