Birkhoff & Mal
She did appreciate the offer and even cracked a bit of a smile. "No, but thanks for putting that out there." Mal even leaned into the fatherly shoulder hug because she did need the comfort. She needed the support that wasn't in the form of a friend or boyfriend. They were nice and Mal was always glad to have them, but there were times when this was necessary.
It was all part of learning and accepting while balancing the person she really was. It was times like this that Mal just wanted to go off and be the wicked villain she had been raised to be. Sometimes that would just be easier, but she had that constant reminder of her lizard mother sitting in her room.
That wasn't who she was and that was not who she was ever going to be. Even if she could turn into a dragon like her mother. Family genes could be a bitch.
"I know you said Evie would come around when she was ready and I get that," Mal began. "But it's getting - I don't know. I think she's going to end up feeling worse when she's done. I tried talking to her and she's apparently with that Constantine guy or something? I don't even know." There was obvious worry, concern, anger, failure, and a whole lot of everything else in Mal's tone.
"She's hurting and I just don't want her getting herself into something too dangerous."