He is so deflated in that 2nd gif.
His empathy and emotional intelligence are through the roof. He realizes she is genuinely frightened almost as soon as he bumps into her, way more freaked out than is warranted by the situation. Either sheās very afraid of him, afraid of being seen with him, or afraid of getting caught doing business with him.
He tries to reassure her and help her feel safe in a lot of ways. He removes his denim vest and leather jacket (his armor and symbols of rebellion/individuality), making himself look smaller, more ordinary and therefore less intimidating. He sits across from her, trying to meet her as an equal. He tells her thereās nothing to worry about and he promises that they are safe. He casually and simply explains what the transaction will entail, offers her a good deal and asks if it is acceptable, indicating that heās open to negotiation and that she has power in this situation.
But she is still so jumpy and he thinks itās because of him. He tries to play it off as no big deal with that little shrug in the 2nd gif, but heās disappointed and hurt. Tired of the assumption that he is āmean and scaryā. (And as far as we have seen, this is unique to her, because earlier in the cafeteria, he was openly defiant, proud of his differences, and a tad aggressive. He made a show of playing into the labels others throw at him. But he doesnāt want her to believe it.)
So he makes further efforts to be non-threatening. He looks down and away from her, just completely breaks eye contact. He makes pacifying and surrendering/stop gestures with his hands. He removes his lunchbox from her sight to show her that he means it when he says they donāt have to do this; heās not going to pressure her just because she expressed interest in buying. He places control of the situation entirely in her hands, and states he is willing to take marching orders if she gives them. Heāll walk away from the clearing, and walk away from the interaction like it never happened; her reputation will be intact because he wonāt try to hold this over her.
But his entire demeanor shifts when she tells him she doesnāt want him to go. He was not expecting that at all. So, heās not the problem, but he has no idea what might be troubling her instead. Sheās clearly afraid but she doesnāt want him to leave her alone. If sheās afraid but sheās not threatened by him, sheās expressing a level of trust by telling him that. She feels safer with him there. The Queen of Hawkins High feels safe in the middle of the woods with the outcast, flunk-out freak.
So he makes eye contact again and he stays. He waits palms up, gentle and open. He was already concerned by her behavior, and now heās uncertain of whatās coming next.Ā
But at least she isnāt afraid of him.
amandla
titsay
snowghoul
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
stormborns
gamechangershow
2087
