[...Ah. Right, this is part of 'cuddling,' but Diluc's expression stiffens and his gaze falls off Ellis. Being touched like this is nice, warm in a way he's no longer intimately familiar with, but he's only realizing through experiencing it that it may be more than he can handle.
This isn't for him— the sort of man he is, more a vehicle for vengeance than a proper human being. He eases out of Ellis' touch because he can no longer stand being handled so gently.]
Ellis keeps the smile on his face anyway, gently patting his head and withdrawing his hands as if to say that he did well. A good attempt was made. Diluc is free to sit up and leave, but Ellis might stay on the bed a little because of his ankle. ]
[What a frustrating feeling. He sits up and turns away from Ellis, but he's still sat on the mattress' edge, hunched over and cursing where Ellis can't see it. He's done nothing wrong, just— who knew he'd be reminded of how lonely he is through the simple act of punching off another square? Then again, it's not so simple after all, is it? He'd underestimated that damned goddess, and thinking about it, his knuckles bleach white beneath his gloves where he's clenched his hands into fists in his lap.]
Ellis wonders if Diluc doesn't feel well after that, but it was because he was gentle, wasn't it? He can only offer those sorts of interactions because the other is much worse in his opinion. Ellis would rather people be happy for all the wrong reasons.
So he scoots next to Diluc and tries to give him a quick hug from the back. ]
Naturally, Ellis is worried. Diluc had suspected he might be, but shaking his head, he struggles a bit to give him an answer. This whole situation is... novel. Both for better and for worse. He turns so Ellis can read his lips.]
I'm sorry, Ellis. It's been a long time since I've embraced anyone. I'll admit I'm no longer certain how best to handle myself in situations like this.
[It's not a lie. As for the underlying truth, Diluc has yet to make peace with it, much less fully understand it.]
[ It's just a hug. Just some cuddling. He seemed to handle the dance fine, but was it because it was easy to maintain distance? Ellis writes on Diluc's palm: ]
[Bad... No, it's simply that he's not the man he used to be: one capable of intimate touch and warmth in anything less than a literal sense. It's quite ironic now that his element is Pyro, but then again, perhaps all he's good for is destruction.
Regardless, none of that is anyone's concern but his own, he turns back to look at Ellis after swallowing a breath.]
No. I'm just unused to it now. It ought to remain that way.
[He'd rather not grow to miss intimacy again. He can't afford indulging in anything that might distract him from his mission.]
[Oh, how he could laugh. Had Ellis met him some years earlier, he might've agreed, but now? All Ellis sees are the burning embers of the man he used to be. Some semblance of humanity that he hasn't yet shaken off.]
You're wrong about me, Ellis. You'd do well to keep your distance.
[And this is his house, but he's getting up to leave it anyway. Have a good one, Ellis.]
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This isn't for him— the sort of man he is, more a vehicle for vengeance than a proper human being. He eases out of Ellis' touch because he can no longer stand being handled so gently.]
...Sorry.
[He can't handle it after all.]
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Ellis keeps the smile on his face anyway, gently patting his head and withdrawing his hands as if to say that he did well. A good attempt was made. Diluc is free to sit up and leave, but Ellis might stay on the bed a little because of his ankle. ]
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Ellis wonders if Diluc doesn't feel well after that, but it was because he was gentle, wasn't it? He can only offer those sorts of interactions because the other is much worse in his opinion. Ellis would rather people be happy for all the wrong reasons.
So he scoots next to Diluc and tries to give him a quick hug from the back. ]
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Naturally, Ellis is worried. Diluc had suspected he might be, but shaking his head, he struggles a bit to give him an answer. This whole situation is... novel. Both for better and for worse. He turns so Ellis can read his lips.]
I'm sorry, Ellis. It's been a long time since I've embraced anyone. I'll admit I'm no longer certain how best to handle myself in situations like this.
[It's not a lie. As for the underlying truth, Diluc has yet to make peace with it, much less fully understand it.]
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Does it make you feel bad?
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Regardless, none of that is anyone's concern but his own, he turns back to look at Ellis after swallowing a breath.]
No. I'm just unused to it now. It ought to remain that way.
[He'd rather not grow to miss intimacy again. He can't afford indulging in anything that might distract him from his mission.]
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But you're so nice, Diluc. At least, you were nice to me. I think a kindhearted person like you should feel loved.
[ Not by Ellis though, even if Diluc has been triggering his dokis levels off the chart this entire thread. ]
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You're wrong about me, Ellis. You'd do well to keep your distance.
[And this is his house, but he's getting up to leave it anyway. Have a good one, Ellis.]
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HE STILL HAS A SPRAINED ANKLE YOU ASSHOLE NOW HE'S GONNA LIMP ALL THE WAY TO THE CLINIC ]