Ma'ar closes his eyes, still sitting upright, and falls silent for thirty seconds. A full minute. A few more seconds... 

:- I'm pretty sure I do? I, uh - don't know if that's a good idea - I can probably try to stop it on purpose if you'd prefer it...?: 

:I didn't say that - I mean, if it's inconveniencing you you can, but if you want to date me it's kind of important!:

:It's not inconveniencing me! It, uh - just feels objectively correct? Because you're - really good in a lot of ways? ...I don't know if thinking that is the same thing as wanting to date you, though, I - don't really know what dating is in practice. I don't have a particular urge to invite you on a walk in the flower gardens: 

:Are there things you do feel an urge to do? If you just want to passively admire me that is okay but not exactly what I was expecting...:

:I want to ask you to help me fix Predain, because you're the most competent person I know? ...Uh, that's probably not the thing, is it. I - want you to be around me and talk to me and want to talk to me and, I don't know, maybe I want - more than that - but the wanting-feeling is being really unhelpful at indicating what it's for: 

:Do you want to... hold hands, tell everybody I'm your girlfriend, take me out to dinner and stargazing...:

:Oh! I - would you want to go stargazing, I think I would like that a lot? ...I think I might want to hold hands but I haven't, er, done that before. In this context: 

Ma'ar squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, visibly thinking. :It would make me happy, I think? I - guess it's quick to test. If that were all right with you: 

She holds out her hand.

Ma'ar hesitates, and then reaches out and rests his hand over his; after a second he weaves his fingers through hers as well. 

"- I like that," he says, out loud, after a moment. He's watching her closely. 

It's nice. Not zero awkward but a much more expected amount of awkward for one's first handholding. "Well, that's promising, then."

He smiles at her, tentatively. "Do - you like it too?" 

Nod nod.

Smile. 

She could ask if - no, if she has to ask every single time she considers touching him this will not work at all. Perhaps the Weird Hug Argument was a fluke or he's outgrown it or something. She scoots nearer and leans her head on his shoulder.

Ma'ar holds very still for a moment, and then his breath sighs out, and he reaches across his lap with his other hand to replace the first hand and its accompanying arm, which he slips - very slowly and tentatively and waiting to see if she'll object - around her shoulders. 

Oh good, they are not having a weird fight at all. Instead they are having a snuggle. It's nice.

It is nice! Ma'ar is content just to appreciate the niceness of snuggling for a minute or two. 

"So, uh, what...now...?" he says uncertainly after a while. 

"I guess that's a good question. You sounded excited about stargazing?"

"I think I'd like doing that a lot." He squeezes her shoulders slightly. 

"Tonight works for me. If it's clear."

"Sure. We can do tonight." Ma'ar pauses, like he has something else to say but isn't sure enough of himself to say it. 

She waits, not sure enough of herself to press.

After a long hesitation: "Is - there something in particular that you want? Here? From me?" 

"...like right now or if we are a thing long term?"

"...I meant more right now, or in the next few days? But in general too, I guess."