- Instinctively, he squeezed the hand that held his own back. Poe honestly was taking a big risk in telling him stuff, wasn't he? After all, the empire wanted their heads. Imagining Poe as a dangerous criminal was honestly still laughable, given the other's penchant for puns, but that didn't change his status. Just like he knew it didn't change his own from a sweep back.
Mahmud walked with the other boy for some time, just thinking to himself, while swinging their hands together. It took some contemplation, but finally he piped up "You know um..." As he began to speak, his gaze turned to the ground. What was the best way to put this? While preserving his own feelings, of course. "I... I believe in that. What you said before. I believe in it too." As he had gotten older, Mahmud had realized just what a bunch of malarky it was to discriminate based on blood. But those were things not said aloud in public, if they didn't want a culling. Hopefully, Poe got what he was trying to say. As if it could transfer a message, Mahmud gave him a smile and another hand squeeze.
"You... you're not alone, okay? Your secret's safe."
They continued onward for some time when he stopped in front of a store. The hairclips inside were cute, and apparently functional! "Oooh Poe, Look! They're screwdrivers!" Mahmud's little face plastered against the glass, earning a disapproving stare from the troll inside. "Screwdriver hairclips thats SO COOL!" If it weren't enough that he said it, Mahmud began bouncing in place staring at them.
A couple of kids laughed nearby, and the sound instinctively made Mahmud whip his head around to stare at them. For whatever reason, a dark expression came across his face as the clearly poor children walked off together, running towards a back alley. "... they're probably..." No, this wasn't the right time. This was about Poe today. "Sorry. I just... thought I knew them, is all." Again he gave a smile, and again he squeezed the hand that he refused to let go. "But trust me when I say by the way that you're not alone! And uh..." Oh, thats right, thats what he wanted to say!
While Mahmud leaned closer to whisper in his friend's ear, his mother craned her neck towards them to listen in.
"If you need help um... making your house nicer or anything..."
He looked the other troll dead in the eye, a serious expression coming over him.
"... Ask me. I'll help."
Ommy gave a distressed coo, and looked to Lanata. She didn't say no necessarily, but it was clear the bird-woman was concerned. She hopped on over to Lanata and cooed at her, cooing questions of their safety, both for her own children and her companion's.
"O-Ommy! You're being embarrassing!" he cried out, rolling his eyes to match. "I just mean uh..." Again he lowered his voice, murmuring into Poe's ear. "It can't be too nice there, right? I dunno if I'd join but... I think that if it helps you, I'll help too."
purplerosesbeauty
that hand gotta be sweaty