[Max's friendly greeting shifts Nill's entire demeanor. Her wings droop, and she feels the muscles in her back relax. A small smile even finds her face as she gently pulls her hand across the dog's head. Dog breath isn't that bad when the dog is friendly. She moves her petting to just behind Max's ears, offering careful skritches and one more good rub before finally returning her gaze to Frank.
The dog's warmth softens her bias a little, and she recognizes now that he's taking pains to appear nonthreatening, despite everything about him. Slumped shoulders, the distance between them, the earnest look in his eye. She sees all of it, considers it, files it away in her memory. It reminds her of the way Heine had been, just after he'd rescued her. The smallest bridge of trust forms, fragile. But it's enough for now.
She doesn't fully understand the communication devices yet, so instead she reaches out with one small hand, gesturing for him to give her his.]
\o/
The dog's warmth softens her bias a little, and she recognizes now that he's taking pains to appear nonthreatening, despite everything about him. Slumped shoulders, the distance between them, the earnest look in his eye. She sees all of it, considers it, files it away in her memory. It reminds her of the way Heine had been, just after he'd rescued her. The smallest bridge of trust forms, fragile. But it's enough for now.
She doesn't fully understand the communication devices yet, so instead she reaches out with one small hand, gesturing for him to give her his.]