[ emma visibly relaxes as he speaks again — though whether it's from the contact, the fading of the pain, or the fact that he doesn't seem especially angry is anyone's guess. ]

Thought it might do something to make it hurt less. It seems to ease things an awful lot.

[ touching him just— made everything oddly bearable, whether it was physical or circumstantial. it had the strange soothing effect of making the world a little less sharp and jagged, like it was just sanding down the edges of whatever ailed them.

in this case, that proves to be in their favor.

she lets her fingers press a little more fully against his skin, still gentle and mindful, but not the barest brush of contact anymore. ]

I'm still sorry for reactin' like that. Just odd having someone here again, if that makes any sense.