[accepts the mug, pressing his palms flat against its welcoming heat]

I know. I'm just not comfortable with. . . "asserting myself" isn't what I want to say. I don't know. I'm used to doing what people tell me to, not telling people what to do.

[His mouth twists in a way that's half humorless grin and half grimace] My dad's an ex-Marine. [by way of explanation for his previous statement]