[Hal was a fucking expert at reading between the lines, perhaps not as much of one as he used to be, but when your entire world is reduced to communication, you ended up pretty skilled at guessing what wasn't said.
There's a moment of hesitation, because offering something physical over something verbal had never been an option before. But it wasn't like he'd never learned how humans were 'supposed' to behave. He just didn't want to do the wrong thing, for Dave.
So it takes a moment, probably one that is too long. Long enough that it's obvious he had to calculate it. But then he lifts his arm and slides it around Dave's shoulders, and raises his hand to rest it on Dave's head.]
no subject
There's a moment of hesitation, because offering something physical over something verbal had never been an option before. But it wasn't like he'd never learned how humans were 'supposed' to behave. He just didn't want to do the wrong thing, for Dave.
So it takes a moment, probably one that is too long. Long enough that it's obvious he had to calculate it. But then he lifts his arm and slides it around Dave's shoulders, and raises his hand to rest it on Dave's head.]