{✗} “Carol--I don’t give a DAMN how powerful you are, if you don’t QUIT it I swear I’m going to do something terrible to you.” Natasha warns, though her lips are quirked up in a SUSPICIOUS smile. Her cheeks are burning with embarrassment, but...it’s Carol.
She’d never say it aloud but she was growing FOND of her new friend.
Lifting her gaze up, she scrunches her nose up. “I’m SHORT, but I pack a lot of punch. Ask Clint or Steve.”
In regards to affection, Levi is not good at expressing himself. His difficulty in doing so tends to frustrate him because he knows that most are that way with their friends, their lover, or whoever else; yet he has no idea how to go about it. The closest he tends to allow from himself is perhaps a pat on the arm at most, as one will find he does things through actions rather than words since that is not his at all his strong suit. As such, he's also very particular about his space, and even if he has feelings towards another, stepping past that bubble without some form of permission from him makes him extremely uncomfortable. Growing up, he wasn’t given such things, thus his automatic response will always be to tense right before relaxing, or in some cases, he just keeps remaining rigid like a board until he’s given his space once more.
It’s best to take things very slow with him until he’s at a point where his reflex isn’t to snatch his hand away if its held, or just be really awkward in general with near anything that is what he constitutes as an ‘invasion of his personal space’.
There's also a bit down there about how program!Sam is different around "people" compared to normal Sam.
Sam is not great about showing affection, AU or not, except to the exceedingly innocent or whatnot. Also reminder that the first stage is always having affection, but she doesn't realize it.
Well for program!Sam this has just a bit more truth to it, because she also has a lot stronger trust issues in this AU. When there's a sort of intense situation going on she is aiming to keep every program alive. However her words are key indicators, and while she may center herself around a program she cares most about it is likely that she'd also go to the programs that need the most protection.
So some examples of sentences that are all spoken in the same serious tone of voice.
No affection: "Just keep your eyes open." - "Stop worrying so much." - "You're not getting derezzed." - "Everyone is doing this together, and it's better than you being alone."
-Invalidating their feelings, painting situation as group work towards the goal rather than herself as an individual (which is like not revealing feelings/motives/etc.)
Affection: "We're all here so you'll be okay." - "I'm not letting you get derezzed." - "Be careful or you're going to get yourself in trouble." - "It's not a pretty situation, but trust me, you'll get through it."
-Comfort/Promise that YOU will be okay, including herself- SHE is protecting you- it is not simply a situation where you will be fine- it is Sam with the goal specifically regarding you, (Basically specifying YOU and Sam herself, and her words are meant to be comforting.)
But alright what about normal situations. Well she will start being generally a physical distance closer. Whereas with strangers she tends to put objects in between them or maintain a certain distance when possible. Her phrasing gets more casual as well, but only when they're the only program in hearing distance. And when comfortable enough she'll start actually talking with the program about non-business stuff. However, whenever there's another program in hearing distance or they're in public Sam will take on formal speech again and not talk about personal things.
((SPECIAL NOTE: Something different about program!sam for normal Sam. Program!Sam is actually not prone to chatting it up with strangers, well at least for long. She does still do it, but she always keeps the conversation on them and only them. She is always afraid that some event from the past will come up or if she tries to make up a story for herself she'll make a mistake because she isn't sure what a normal life is.
PROGRAM!SAM HAS CONFLICTING FEELINGS ABOUT BEING OUTSIDE OR AROUND LOTS OF PROGRAMS!!! She doesn't feel safe at all, but she wants to interact with them so much. She just wants to talk with them and ask about their life, and she hates being alone. However when she is alone she feels safe. It's like if you could only hang out with people in a shark infested pool, as long as you don't bring attention to yourself or spill blood you will be fine...but something could still happen. And Sam can't live hiding or by herself, she needs to talk to programs. She knows that she could hide somewhere and be safe, but she couldn't isolate herself.))
We're still dating-- Right? Is it hard for you to let me go? Because I feel the same way. In a few days, Christmas' gonna come. And then add two more days after Christmas Day, then our 3rd 'monthsary' comes.
I still get love sick when I see couples. My heart still likes you. Although as much as I want to approach you, it'll eat me up to do so. Not because I'm shy. Because I want to be free, but a part of me still wants you. I'm sorry.. Really.
Let's face it, we don't want each other anymore, but we still want to last. Weird, eh? I've gone all soft at the thought of you. Sorry, too. Because I broke a promise. I hope I haven't made you cry yet. Please don't cry. I'll come back when you do-- which is, wait for it, never.
Alright? Okay. Merry Christmas, loved one. I'll think of you when Christmas Eve falls. And still will even when Christmas is done.
