"You're sure that you don't want to wear rings?"
A look passes over Thrawn's face, gone as quickly as it had appeared, but not quick enough for Pellaeon to miss it. It was the same look he got whenever he sensed an argument he didn't want to have was coming. "Pellaeon—"
"I'm not trying to fight with you. You explained your reasons and I already agreed that it was fine with me." Pellaeon takes a step closer, trying to put the other man at ease. "I'm genuinely asking you if you are still sure."
Thrawn studies him hard, unsure if this was a trap or not. Pellaeon keeps his face neutral and slowly Thrawn relaxes enough to nod. "I am still sure."
"Okay," Pellaeon says with an ease he does not feel and pulls his hand from behind his back, holding out a small box for Thrawn, who stared at it for a moment before taking it. "Open it."
Thrawn gives him a look that screams "I know what to do with a box" but he still continues to study its plain surface some more before finally opening it.
His face goes slack and Pellaeon shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He already knows what is in the box: a set of perfectly rectangular diamonds set in silver. They were each no bigger than his thumbnail, and no thicker than any of the other military pins they owned. Perhaps they were not the most expensive options in the galaxy, but diamonds where something of a tradition.
"They're pins, one for me and one for you. I figured that they would be innocuous enough for you to be comfortable with wearing them." The first hint of the nervousness Pellaeon was trying to hide slips through on his last few words and he stops talking for a moment to give himself a chance to gather himself. "Do you like them?"
"Pellaeon I-" Thrawn picks up one of the pins, watching as it glints in the low light of the room. "They're beautiful. Of course I do."
Pellaeon releases a breath a sigh of relief through his nose and smiles. "Okay, that's - that's great."
Thrawn looks up at him with an arched brow. "Were you nervous about this?"
That gets him a scoff in response. "Well, yes. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to return them if you changed your mind or hated them and I - well, obviously I want you to like them."
He make himself hold eye contact with Thrawn even though every ounce of him just wants to stare at the floor. As if sensing his discomfort Thrawn gives him a smile. "You should know by now that I would have liked it simply because you picked it out."
"That's kind of you," Pellaeon responds, feeling his face start to heat up.
"As was this gesture." Thrawn set the pin back into the box before carefully shutting it. "Thank you. You'll have to do me the honor of pinning it on me at the wedding."
"Of course," Pellaeon answers with a smile.