Neverwinter Forest Round these parts

He didn't know how to deal with any of it -- he'd never learned, never been taught, and that made it overwhelming. When Simmik first touched him, there was a slight twitch but nothing else. He stayed quiet, facing away, unmoving. Eventually he drew in a breath sharply and slowly let it out, but that was all.

When Mal did speak after a moment or two more, his voice wavered a little, quiet. It might be good.. If-- if you went by. But he didn't look back around -- or even move. He knew he'd have to do something eventually, and maybe that was why he was starting to feel like he should just run off. It was a weird split feeling between wanting to be with someone and wanting to be alone. How did he sort that out?