[ Meanwhile, here's Iain silently hoping that Merlin will do exactly that, grab a plate without explicit invitation. Because he's always very reluctant to be the one to open conversations. It makes him feel as stiff and unnatural on the outside as he is on the inside, though he's been told many times it doesn't come through. That he's doing fine.
Fortunately, one of them musters up the spirit for some good old social conventions, and he allows himself to glance at Merlin very casually. There's something about the man which is anxiously non-threatening, an outward exaggeration of feelings that Iain himself can relate to. ]
Not so's I've noticed.
[ And here's the dryer, blander, neatly compacted version of Merlin's opening gambit. Conversational saltines to settle their stomachs. ]
no subject
Fortunately, one of them musters up the spirit for some good old social conventions, and he allows himself to glance at Merlin very casually. There's something about the man which is anxiously non-threatening, an outward exaggeration of feelings that Iain himself can relate to. ]
Not so's I've noticed.
[ And here's the dryer, blander, neatly compacted version of Merlin's opening gambit. Conversational saltines to settle their stomachs. ]
Feel free, if it looks edible enough.