[ When he smells the discomfort on him, Daryl doesn't do it a second time, refraining the way a dog might circle another nervous dog cautiously instead of lunging in for a sniff. The joke hits well enough to make him laugh once, rather breathlessly, because he knows, at least on some level, that he isn't supposed to be invading his space like this. He just can't care.
And focusing, it turns out, is hard. It helps that he's being touched since the warmth gives him something constant to pay attention to, though the praise just makes him want to nuzzle against the source again with more purpose. ]
Okay. [ Another low rumble next to his ear. ] We'll go slow.
[ Better to avoid tripping or stumbling. It also leaves Daryl more time to sniff around every alleyway mouth that they pass, though it's hard to give any scent that floats by more attention than the person holding his elbow. ]
no subject
And focusing, it turns out, is hard. It helps that he's being touched since the warmth gives him something constant to pay attention to, though the praise just makes him want to nuzzle against the source again with more purpose. ]
Okay. [ Another low rumble next to his ear. ] We'll go slow.
[ Better to avoid tripping or stumbling. It also leaves Daryl more time to sniff around every alleyway mouth that they pass, though it's hard to give any scent that floats by more attention than the person holding his elbow. ]