They'd gotten so ingrained in the pattern of only talking about the serious stuff when they were on the verge of completely falling apart that Will just didn't feel safe bringing it up to begin with lest Mike should think that it's time to start catastrophizing again. He doesn't want to examine that thought right now, though. This is supposed to be a nice thing, not a prelude to a final stab in the heart.
He really hopes that Mike isn't too hurt by his opting to not go out of his way to make any grand gestures this year. The idea of yet another possible rejection had frozen him in indecision until he'd given up.
"I really liked them, thank you," he says quietly, worrying the cord of the phone between his forefinger and thumbnail standing with his back against the living room wall with his head down and eyes sort of unfocused at the floor.
The corner of his mouth tightens as Mike explains the plan; every so often Karen had taken to leaving Holly with the Byers after she and Joyce had started getting close, to keep her away from the escalating fights at the Wheeler house. It meant that he got to lend her his crayons and watch movies with her that she might otherwise not be able to, while she's forced way too young to come to terms with the idea that her family wasn't all going to stay together. He knows that feeling, so he's trying where he can to make sure she knows that it's not her fault and it's not the end of the world.
"If you need to you can take over the couch here," he offers, figuring that Joyce wouldn't mind it overly much. "Holly does that when she's here."
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2023-02-15 03:41 am (UTC)He really hopes that Mike isn't too hurt by his opting to not go out of his way to make any grand gestures this year. The idea of yet another possible rejection had frozen him in indecision until he'd given up.
"I really liked them, thank you," he says quietly, worrying the cord of the phone between his forefinger and thumbnail standing with his back against the living room wall with his head down and eyes sort of unfocused at the floor.
The corner of his mouth tightens as Mike explains the plan; every so often Karen had taken to leaving Holly with the Byers after she and Joyce had started getting close, to keep her away from the escalating fights at the Wheeler house. It meant that he got to lend her his crayons and watch movies with her that she might otherwise not be able to, while she's forced way too young to come to terms with the idea that her family wasn't all going to stay together. He knows that feeling, so he's trying where he can to make sure she knows that it's not her fault and it's not the end of the world.
"If you need to you can take over the couch here," he offers, figuring that Joyce wouldn't mind it overly much. "Holly does that when she's here."