[ his stare glides as a touch would, prickling at the edges of her awareness. gooseflesh pebbles her arms, those exposed patches of creamy skin, as much the fault of his lingering gawking as it it the recirculated air's chill. a quick zip blankets his hoodie over her petite frame, swathed in the new comfort of that fabric — familiar enough that alina can nearly taste the deja vu of naephus on the back of her tongue. a memory that fees farther away, now.
dainty fingers bunch around its sleeve where fabric overhangs, neatly drowning her hands. the advantage, she supposes, is that it strikes just enough of her leg that scandalizing the crew won't be an issue. the greater issue is —
finding words that elude her as she pivots to face him more fully. a chasm of stunted silence opens between them, gaping, until alina moves to bridge it — a declaration without much segue when she murmurs, ] I'm on your side.
[ whether that's a reassuring balm to his nerves, she can't be certain. but it's prescribed for that purpose, however sincere the sentiment is. ]
We won't plan for the worst. But if it does come to that ... [ she trails off, confidence waning by a faint degree. ] We'll find a way forward. Together.
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dainty fingers bunch around its sleeve where fabric overhangs, neatly drowning her hands. the advantage, she supposes, is that it strikes just enough of her leg that scandalizing the crew won't be an issue. the greater issue is —
finding words that elude her as she pivots to face him more fully. a chasm of stunted silence opens between them, gaping, until alina moves to bridge it — a declaration without much segue when she murmurs, ] I'm on your side.
[ whether that's a reassuring balm to his nerves, she can't be certain. but it's prescribed for that purpose, however sincere the sentiment is. ]
We won't plan for the worst. But if it does come to that ... [ she trails off, confidence waning by a faint degree. ] We'll find a way forward. Together.