[ part of her wants to melt at that little gesture of fondness from him. his hand is warm on hers, reassures her in a weird way that she doesn't know how to phrase. maybe he's not okay - maybe the two of them as a unit, as a "they" are't alright - but she's sure that they can be now.

has lars always looked this lonely? did it take stepping back and taking space to actually see it? or is this just a recent development?

she pulls her own hand back, idly considering her own fingers. ]

Yeah, we are... but it takes all kinds, you know? The world'd be pretty boring if we were all too much alike. [ she gives him another little nudge, desperate to get him to unwind slightly. ] Maybe some people like you when you're a sourpuss.