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[therushingsky]

"Heyyyy, you've reached the head office of the Atlas Corporation, leave a message and your number, and one of our people will get back to you."

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[therushingsky]

[Rhys takes a step towards Hux, carefully places his hands on Hux's shoulders, then shifts forward to give the other man a careful hug, chin bumping gently into his shoulder.]

You're not pathetic, and I don't think you're acting like a child. This sucks and it's totally normal for you to be upset about it.

[He lifts a hand to give Hux's back a little pat.]

But you're gonna make other friends. When people get to know you, they're gonna really like you. Like I do.

[worstweasley]

[well okay chalk this up to even more new and bizarre experiences for the day. Hux, as per his usual self, remains awkward and uncomfortably still when Rhys goes in for a hug, not really sure what he's meant to be doing, if at all.

What the hell, even.

He exhales a bit, putting up with it because it's Rhys doing this and obviously he's being comforting.]

I don't see why. I barely like me.

[A pause, and then]

How long do these hugs usually last? Am I supposed to..?

[Look, he's holding up his own arms in exasperation, looking at them over Rhys' shoulder. What. What even.]

[therushingsky]

Yeah, but that doesn't count. You don't like anyone.

[Rhys says lightly, to Hux's shoulder, not ceasing his hug.]

And just give it a minute. You also need the practice.

[Because your mum didn't hug you enough, RHYS DEFINITELY DOES NOT SAY.]

[worstweasley]

That's not strictly true.

[He sighs, but puts up with it, because Rhys has been unusually helpful in the past couple of weeks and he seems to think it will help the mood.

He counts to ten in his head, then gives Rhys's shoulder an awkward pat as an answer]

[therushingsky]

You gonna tell me that you don't need the practice? Because I hate to break it to you, but this hug is getting a C+ at best.

[But, okay, he's going to have mercy on his inmate, and eases off with a little flash of a smile, in response to the awkward shoulder patting.]

Okay, okay, you're free. C+ for hugs, but a solid A for being patient, because I know you hated that.

[worstweasley]

I meant about the 'liking people' part of that sentence, but fine.

[Hux gives a bit of a grumble about hugging in general, but seems more or less content with that]

I'm not planning on improving that score, by the way.

[The first order doesn't give or receive hugs, Rhys]

[therushingsky]

Yeah, but I didn't wanna force you to admit that I'm your favourite.

[He's just gonna take it as a given.]

And don't be like that. That hug had potential. I could see you getting a solid B+ by the end of the semester.

[There's no way Hux is falling for this. Surely he can't apply his weird perfectionism to hugging.]

[worstweasley]

[He gives an eyeroll but neither can confirm nor deny that. Rhys is making him feel better about Bodhi, by some miracle]

And I suppose a failure would be equivalent to, what? A chokehold?

[therushingsky]

Or trying to wriggle free. You also would have lost points if you hadn't given me the little pat on the end.

[worstweasley]

You have an insipid and arbitrary grading rubric. Let this be the first average score I've ever earned.