>>120623But he isn't taller than her.
So she hunches.
And that's not enough.
So she rolls her shoulder down and scrunches.
And that's not enough.
So she lowers herself and tries to disguise it by bearing all of her weight on one side of one knee, centered so that her leg height is disguised.
And that's not enough.
Her spine overcurved, her neck bearing her head lower than a hunchback gamer, her body a wrack of small but noticeable sacrifices for his sake.
And does he notice?
"Nah I'm cool," his spine says as he hunches. "It's really great to be able to be myself around someone and not have to worry about trying to puff myself up for anyone.," declares his slack chest as he lowers into his casual gaming posture. "I am a graphic Star Trek t-shirt," joins his shirt. No sign of an understanding or interest in meeting even half of her effort, no attempt to stand upright and at least own a masculine bearing, this is not a warrior who won the heart of a Valkyrie, this is a boy who sips choccy milk from a carton and straw.