He fidgets. So much in fact that he gives the impression of a far younger bug expecting to be scolded. He hasn't even given some of the details, yet more of his social failings or ways things went wrong that they ought to be upset about as well, but they...
They are doing their best to reassure him they aren't. Lemm works through their words with discomfort he is admittedly not hiding all that well.
The Hollow Knight showed... decorum. Politeness maybe, proper Knightly behaviour towards anyone. The flash of nail on needle, and they'd taken the handshake, and the tea - but those things aren't necessarily personal either, he could too easily be reading them too positively, and in his head they are outweighed by his mistakes. Until (unless) he learns more and comes back to examine that interaction in better light Lemm can take little reassurance from it.
The Knight's words are solid, tangible. He knows the Knight far more personally, and there is no room for misunderstanding. Their writing, their voice, that Lemm trusts himself to interpret better.
It's possible it didn't go as badly as he has come to think. And the Knight is not disappointed. Their touch is doubly reassuring. They're not disappointed.
Lemm sits with their words for a while, and cautiously looks up.
"Aye. Well they've plenty of reason to be." He pauses, glances back down, and huffs a sigh. "I find myself wanting to be useful to you," Lemm admits finally. "Feels like I'm not earning your... I know it doesn't work that way, I'm not that foolish! Frustrating as anything, though."
Some of the tension has bled out of him, regardless. Lemm rallies a bit and fixes the Knight with a long, appraising stare.
"It's already occurred to me having siblings all of a sudden might be difficult for you. Hope you don't mind blunt observation. Not sure why you keep coming back here otherwise." This does not seem particularly self-depreciative - there's a little note of humour there, despite everything. Their reassurances really have helped.
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They are doing their best to reassure him they aren't. Lemm works through their words with discomfort he is admittedly not hiding all that well.
The Hollow Knight showed... decorum. Politeness maybe, proper Knightly behaviour towards anyone. The flash of nail on needle, and they'd taken the handshake, and the tea - but those things aren't necessarily personal either, he could too easily be reading them too positively, and in his head they are outweighed by his mistakes. Until (unless) he learns more and comes back to examine that interaction in better light Lemm can take little reassurance from it.
The Knight's words are solid, tangible. He knows the Knight far more personally, and there is no room for misunderstanding. Their writing, their voice, that Lemm trusts himself to interpret better.
It's possible it didn't go as badly as he has come to think. And the Knight is not disappointed. Their touch is doubly reassuring. They're not disappointed.
Lemm sits with their words for a while, and cautiously looks up.
"Aye. Well they've plenty of reason to be." He pauses, glances back down, and huffs a sigh. "I find myself wanting to be useful to you," Lemm admits finally. "Feels like I'm not earning your... I know it doesn't work that way, I'm not that foolish! Frustrating as anything, though."
Some of the tension has bled out of him, regardless. Lemm rallies a bit and fixes the Knight with a long, appraising stare.
"It's already occurred to me having siblings all of a sudden might be difficult for you. Hope you don't mind blunt observation. Not sure why you keep coming back here otherwise." This does not seem particularly self-depreciative - there's a little note of humour there, despite everything. Their reassurances really have helped.