Re: [Carnival: Mars, Jamie, Si, David, Hannah]
Whether it was obvious by now or still just tiptoeing beneath the surface of obvious, Mars wasn't a hugger. She wasn't one for much physical contact at all. Away from them, she'd grown up in a terribly loveless, touchless, trustless place where keeping her distance had become a means of self-preservation, and it was something that even now she found herself unwilling to let go of. This was probably something that Mars would be expected to overcome with the help of a therapist, but she so was not going to be the first of her siblings to become well-adjusted and mentally stable. Jamie might have already been mostly there, but Mars suspected, or just secretly hoped, that his cheerfulness was a mask for some truly deep-seeded issues. Then there was Hannah-Amy, who seemed perfectly fine for being supposedly dead.
Hannah-Amy, who tangled Mars into a hug with gentleness and ease. Mars managed not to squirm away, even if her arms remained down by her sides and she seemed a little stiff while caught in the other sister's arms. For what it was worth, Mars did not cringe or curl her lip or scrunch her nose. This was not an expression of distaste, just uncertainty on how to proceed. She was not unfamiliar with the careful choreography that came with hugging. By the time that Hannah had pulled away, Mars still hadn't decided on what to do with her arms and just curled her ruby slipper manicure up into the soft flesh of her fist.
When Jamie appeared, Mars had just been informed that he didn't think any of the rest liked him. This was such beautifully tragic timing that Mars watched on, eyes alight in fascination over whether this train intended to derail in fiery glory or right itself securely. She thought that his handling was closer related to the second, good for him, and when Jamie came for a hug, this one Mars actually leaned a little into. While Mars had no concept of who Rossetti was, she took David's compliment with naught an eyeroll to be seen. She actually preened, happily, and when Jamie remarked on being late, Mars put a smile to use. "Fashionably," she assured him.
By the time that Si's hug came around, Mars had obviously warmed to the situation. She even wrapped an arm around the broadest portion of his military coat, committing herself to part of a hug in return. As for whether or not he called Dad, Mars really didn't fucking care. She reminded herself of this before twirling daintily toward the Devil's mouth. She didn't care at all.