[softly, shaking his head. It's an easy enough thing to accept that hold, even leaning slightly in as though encouraged by it]
I know this. I only mean that it's hard.
[he is more than used to baring himself physically on a first meeting, but emotionally...? He's shared today more than he ever would with anyone, never mind a relative stranger - Linneus isn't sure if that's as much a mark of his growth here as his lingering fragility from the events of the previous month and he fights still with the impulse to run from anything the might force him to confront his feelings. Years too late, he is trying to lean into it more and trust again.
Perhaps doing so leads him too far in that direction too soon, but it is a start.]
no subject
[softly, shaking his head. It's an easy enough thing to accept that hold, even leaning slightly in as though encouraged by it]
I know this. I only mean that it's hard.
[he is more than used to baring himself physically on a first meeting, but emotionally...? He's shared today more than he ever would with anyone, never mind a relative stranger - Linneus isn't sure if that's as much a mark of his growth here as his lingering fragility from the events of the previous month and he fights still with the impulse to run from anything the might force him to confront his feelings. Years too late, he is trying to lean into it more and trust again.
Perhaps doing so leads him too far in that direction too soon, but it is a start.]
There's nothing to be forgiven, please...