Post by urania on Jun 27, 2012 22:22:53 GMT -8
Alan was decidedly unresponsive to her hug, Nia noticed... more so than anyone she'd ever attempted to hug, in fact. She didn't think much about it, at first, figuring she'd just surprised him, but when it continued and in fact got worse, she began to feel confused. When he raised his arms and removed her from himself, she began to feel actively worried. And when he stood up, knocking his hot cocoa into the snow...
... tall... good Lord, TALL...
"Uh, I-I-I....."
Nia scrambled off the bench, taking a moment to make sure the skirt of her sweater dress wasn't bunched awkwardly or anything before staring up at Alan -- her head tilted way, way far back, or so it felt, anyway -- in utter confusion and dismay. What had she done now? The fact that he was bright, tomato red didn't help her worry any, either.
"I'm sorry I've just... I've... hugging really isn't a big thing in my family... I uh... I... it's very unexpected and..."
"... oh." The soft little word came out oddly flat, though more out of still more surprise than in any negative emotion. Nia blinked up at Alan, her blue eyes matching his for wideness, her growing blush matching the one painted across his usually-pale face. "Oh. Er. I-I... um." Great. Now she was stammering, too. "I-I'm very sorry, Alan, I didn't know that. I won't do it again. At least not, ah, unexpectedly, like that was. O-or not at all, if it makes you uncomfortable... sorry..."
She faded off into silence, but somehow she couldn't make her eyes leave his face. Something struck her, then, and her eyes, so wide with shock before, narrowed slightly in sudden thought.
"Wait a moment... your family doesn't hug? Ever?" Her eyebrows shot up, and she blurted out, "How is that even possible?" before she could stop herself. She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, then muttered several seconds later, "... sorry again... but it's not something I can even imagine easily..."
... tall... good Lord, TALL...
"Uh, I-I-I....."
Nia scrambled off the bench, taking a moment to make sure the skirt of her sweater dress wasn't bunched awkwardly or anything before staring up at Alan -- her head tilted way, way far back, or so it felt, anyway -- in utter confusion and dismay. What had she done now? The fact that he was bright, tomato red didn't help her worry any, either.
"I'm sorry I've just... I've... hugging really isn't a big thing in my family... I uh... I... it's very unexpected and..."
"... oh." The soft little word came out oddly flat, though more out of still more surprise than in any negative emotion. Nia blinked up at Alan, her blue eyes matching his for wideness, her growing blush matching the one painted across his usually-pale face. "Oh. Er. I-I... um." Great. Now she was stammering, too. "I-I'm very sorry, Alan, I didn't know that. I won't do it again. At least not, ah, unexpectedly, like that was. O-or not at all, if it makes you uncomfortable... sorry..."
She faded off into silence, but somehow she couldn't make her eyes leave his face. Something struck her, then, and her eyes, so wide with shock before, narrowed slightly in sudden thought.
"Wait a moment... your family doesn't hug? Ever?" Her eyebrows shot up, and she blurted out, "How is that even possible?" before she could stop herself. She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, then muttered several seconds later, "... sorry again... but it's not something I can even imagine easily..."