As I only have a lot written for Kattar and Alicia (Damsel in the Red Dress) rn, I'll write for them.
Toward the beginning of the story they tended to both get silently angry, but not address their issues. This came to a head about three times. Once in "Tangerine Acedia" once in "White Hole" and for the last time in "Black Bile" from that point they have finally been growing up and learning to talk about their issues, though it's a slow process. It usually doesn't happen immediately on Alicia's part, as she has a tendency to just brood until her conscience gets to her, because Kattar rarely complains. His upbringing has taught him not to mention it when someone hurts him and to just move on, but on Alicia's part, her anti-damsel has meant volubly (sometimes angrily) expressing when she's upset, or he's hurt her feelings, and Kattar usually apologizes fairly immediately. But not everything is cut and dry. Sometimes there are situations where both of them are justifiably upset, and then addressing their issues becomes a little more complicated. Still they've (fortunately) grown to the point where they WANT to address the issues, and that's half the battle.
My leads in "Hushabye Prince" are not so good at that atm. Almost any of them tbh.
“I’m…sorry.”
And those words surprise me more than if he’d decided to throw a fit in the middle of the restaurant and go home.
“I hadn’t even realized I was upsetting you…” he smiles awkwardly, still not meeting my gaze as he pushes a stray strand of hair back into place behind one ruby-tinted ear.
“W…yeah,” I stammer disconcertedly, “I mean, we are on a date. I’d like a little attention from my…”
My what?
“My bad,” he smiles a little embarrassedly, meeting my gaze now with a rosier glow than I think I’ve ever seen on him, “I…just…”
“It’s my first time being out in public since the accident.”
Ohhhh.
Snap.
I’m such a jerk.
How did I not realize…?
He looks up at me now, and that fragile flush burns beneath the ebony veil pouring over his face and shoulders. There’s something in his eyes that begs, even as he says softly “You used to bellyache about the way everybody always told me I was so pretty - I was so handsome…but you’d never…”
There’s a brief silence as his color becomes agitated and embarrassed. He looks at the floor.
“...Never told me you thought so, before today.”
Curse my own brain-I-
Clapping my hands over my mouth it dawns on me for the first time exactly what I said during my insanity tantrum.
My brain tries to think of some excuse to make - but that was two hours ago - and even if I could take it back…
Kattar smiles up at me with such transparent, unaffected ecstasy that I can’t…
“I’ve gotta start making you mad more often...” he smiles shyly.
“Please no…” I moan, shaking my head as my face turns a mortified shade of cinnamon and blood. “I'll…”
Do better.
It’s only fair.
