one of the main reasons ren doesn’t read another’s emotions is because it feels really gross for them. not really morally speaking, but a semblance must feel different to different people, yeah? and reading someone they don’t know doesn’t just feel invasive, it feels too intimate. and the idea of being intimate with a stranger is repulsive to them. for someone that’s kind of touch repulsed by people they don’t know, it feels very much like that. it makes their skin crawl.
in a neutral setting, if someone’s given them permission, whether it be out of curiosity or whatnot / i guess it would feel like the equivalent of holding hands, so it’s not awful. it’s still awkward for them, and they can’t do it for very long.
on a positive note, allowing ren to read your emotions when you’re a friend or a datemate can be nice too. on top of being able to understand that person better, being able to empathise and react appropriately, ren is often more receptive in this state if they feel safe. if a datemate’s feeling warm and fuzzy things, it affects ren’s emotions to make them feel warm and fuzzy things too. it creates a feedback loop until they’re all feeling sweet, and gross, but this time it’s in a good way.
