[ he stiffens and flinches at her touch; it’s an involuntary response. his eyes are trained on the water, away from her. ]
Sorry. It’s been… a long time.
[ preparing himself with an exhale, roland’s shoulders relax and melt into her hands. it’s an embarrassing realization, really: he’s touch starved, no better than a dog searching for a trough. he can only barely meet her gaze at surface level, but he skirts a glance at her, as if signifying that he’s still engaged. ]
Angela. [ his eyes harden as he speaks. ] You don’t have to. I can take care of myself.
no subject
Sorry. It’s been… a long time.
[ preparing himself with an exhale, roland’s shoulders relax and melt into her hands. it’s an embarrassing realization, really: he’s touch starved, no better than a dog searching for a trough. he can only barely meet her gaze at surface level, but he skirts a glance at her, as if signifying that he’s still engaged. ]
Angela. [ his eyes harden as he speaks. ] You don’t have to. I can take care of myself.