[But he's rotten at this; he just ends up feeling bad for freaking her out, and his brow just gets even more furrowed and he looks down and tucks his hair behind his ear and feels bad further for being so undemonstrative -
And so, after a moment, without looking her in the face, he reaches out and just grips her forearm. It's an awkward, self-conscious gesture, and it's quite weird, but it's as close as he'll get to hugging her in welcome.]
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[But he's rotten at this; he just ends up feeling bad for freaking her out, and his brow just gets even more furrowed and he looks down and tucks his hair behind his ear and feels bad further for being so undemonstrative -
And so, after a moment, without looking her in the face, he reaches out and just grips her forearm. It's an awkward, self-conscious gesture, and it's quite weird, but it's as close as he'll get to hugging her in welcome.]
I'm - glad you're back. Forgive me for saying so.