breadmuffs | IC Inbox | un: calebwidogast

[After a certain conversation at the bar, Nott's been waiting for a moment alone with Caleb that feels like a good time to bring up something that might be touchy. Unfortunately, no moment feels like that almost ever. She doesn't mind bringing up her own nonsense, not with Caleb, especially after he's made the efforts to make her feel like she can tell him anything, but... she doesn't like the thought of reminding him of something so personal to him. Something Beau essentially had to drag out of him, and she only learned by accessory.

Only it's probably on his mind anyway. He's like that, isn't he?

Finally, they're alone at the strange inn, and Molly's out doing... something. Whatever Molly does. The broken mirror has been quieter since they've learned to avoid it, and Nott has been keeping to herself, thinking about what to say as she plays with the rat she's seemed to have gotten working since their first day here. It squeaks a bit, piercing the silence, and climbs up her arm to nestle into her hair.]

Ouch! Watch where you're pulling!

[Even that is hissed in more of a whisper, but finally she looks over to Caleb. She reaches for his attention in a small voice.]

...Hey, uh, Caleb?

[She's been rehearsing this in her head, but every scenario she's considered has suddenly blanked in her mind the moment she addresses him. Perfect.]

[She's right. Caleb's shortcomings, his failure(s) are never not in the back of his mind. And more than occasionally at the forefront. He's always thinking about what he did, at least a little. He can't allow himself to forget. Ever.

They're alone, and Caleb is half-heartedly fiddling with the strange communication device they'd been given. He should probably figure out how it works at some point. Rather than just relying on Message for the forseeable future.

He looks up pretty quickly when he hears her say his name. It's something about the tone.]

Ja? What is it?

[He looks curious but also faintly worried.]

[Nott plays with her hair, and the rat mirrors her motions, playing with the hair on the top of her head. She's obviously struggling for the words, trying to figure out what to say.]

Um... I heard something very interesting the other day. At the bar.

[She should just say it now. Say it now, get it over with.

Gods, this is hard.]

About a woman who, uh... traveled back in time. And I thought. You might want to hear about it?

[If he was curious before, he's intently paying attention now. He drops the phone onto the bed, leaning forward intently. The way she'd been acting leading up to that statement had been worrisome, but this is anything but bad news.

It's a little bit as if she's got a laser focus on her now, the way that Caleb is looking at her.]

Of course I want to hear about it.

[Oh, he's excited? Well, of course he's excited. It's his goal, after all, isn't it? To bend reality to his will? But there was a certain way that Caleb described that goal, in light of everything he'd revealed leading up to it, that... really worries her. She doesn't want to remind him of awful things, certainly, but she also doesn't want him to lose himself in this. She knows him, knows how possible that is.]

I'm sorry, I didn't know all the right questions to ask. I was talking to a girl about her mother, her mother was the one that did it.

There was... a place where some druids had performed a ritual, and it brought the girl's mother to two hundred years in the past. She stayed there for a while, and then came back by going to the same place. Like the magic was in that location, because of the ritual.

[Caleb moves so that he can take one of her hands between his. This is important. Even the little that she knows is important.]

It's alright. This is good. [It's a lead, anyway. It's clearer than what he'd been able to glean in Exandria.] Did she tell you anything more than that? Was her mother untouched by the travel?

[What little he'd been able to glean from the books at the Cobalt Soul had spoken of the ruination of the spellcasters who attempted it. But then, it doesn't sound like this woman created the magic, only that she benefited from it.]

[Caleb takes her hand, and her free hand comes to rest on both of his. She swallows, her mouth oddly dry. She just has to remember what they talked about. It'd help if she wasn't drunk at the time they spoke...]

I think... she probably would've said something, if her mother came back harmed. Apparently she was there for a long while. She... got attached to the people there. She went back and forth... three times I think?

[And... there was that other person Bree had mentioned.]

There was another woman that did it, too. She claimed you needed a... a life.

[Nott looks away from Caleb's face, her voice growing smaller.]

She killed her husband and... set him on fire. Then disappeared into the past.

[And just like that, Caleb rears back. His hands slip away from Nott's to rest limply in his lap. His eyes are wide for a moment before his expression just fades into discomfort.

A life. Setting her husband on fire.

A life....

He feels...faintly woozy for a moment as he processes that. But there's a little part of him - something he hates and yet relies on, because he's awful - that is already assessing this. A life, alright. Perhaps.]

Ah...that is...quite a component...

[When Caleb starts to look upset and pull away, Nott brings up her hands as if to placate him, almost panicked as she continues.]

But, you know, her mom didn't do that I think! Her mom just did it with the druid ritual! So we just need to find out what the druids did and do that, because that would be way easier!

Ja...

[He's collecting himself and nodding. Giving Nott a pale smile.]

After all, it can't just be taking a life. If it was that, people would be traveling in time all over the place.

[Caleb doesn't move to take her hands again, but he looks less disturbed by the second.]

What was the girl's name?

That's exactly what I said. There's got to be more to it.

[He doesn't initiate another point of contact, but he seems to be calming down somewhat. Still, she's already made the connection to someone burning their own family and what that means to him, so she reaches out and gently rests her comparatively little hand on his arm.

She's quiet for a moment before she answers, making sure he seems to be alright. When his breathing is mostly steady, she remembers he asked a question.]

Her name was Bree. She didn't tell me her mother's name.

[When she rests her hand on his arm, Caleb's smile grows fractionally, though it's still a very sad thing. He still doesn't make contact with her again but he does appreciate her reaching out. The affection is nice, even if he doesn't deserve it.]

Perhaps you can introduce us.

[Nott likes seeing Caleb smile, but not the sad smiles he gives her as an obligation. Not when that's all he can give her in return for something she said.

He wanted to hear this. He wanted to, and she knew it may have been a bad idea, but she told him anyway.

It might be good for him, in the long run. But the smile he's giving her now doesn't ease her worry that this was maybe a mistake. She tries to smile back, though. She pets his arm.]

I will. She's a nice girl.

I am sure she is.

[Is he? Probably.

After that, his smile shifts to something just slightly more genuine because he stops really thinking about himself and his own situation. For half a second.]

It's good to hear you're making friends.

[Since she doesn't get to do that so much back home. Or didn't, anyway. Nott is a good person, and Caleb thinks more people should know that.]

[Nott's eyes travel away from his face, a bit embarrassed.]

I've met some nice people here. Some aren't, but that's the same anywhere you go.

[Then, cheekily, she gazes back up at him.]

Have you been making friends, Caleb?

[He looks away from that, but it's less discomfort and more, you know...embarrasment...? Maybe?]

Ah, I've...met a few nice people as well, I guess.

[He definitely hasn't made any friends. He's not really....the friendmaking sort...]

[Nott looks positively gleeful at that. Give her an inch...]

Have you met any girls? ...Or guys?

[She doesn't actually know his preference. That's not exactly a topic that's come up in conversation over the months they've spent together.]

I have met both men and women.

[He knows what that look means! The look he's giving her in response is...a mixture of indulgence and sufferance, with his head tilted slightly to the side.

Also, Caleb's preference is No.]

Yes, but were they cute?

[She's not backing down from this. You will pry this from her cold, maternal fingers.]

[Nott. Nott, no. Caleb raises both eyebrows a little bit. Weirdly, this doesn't embarrass him as much as her asking if he's made friends at all. Although...he's still a little uncomfortable with the attention.

But because it's Nott, it's easier to deal with than if it were someone else. He's used to her by now, mostly.]

I...didn't really notice.

[Nott gives an exaggerated sigh that is equal parts disappointed and unsurprised.]

Well, alright. But if you ever do, you have to tell me first. You know you could be friends or even boyfriends with anyone you wanted, right?

Edited (grammar) 2018-10-29 04:00 (UTC)

I....am not sure that's....entirely true. But...thank you?

[He...means that but also doesn't mean it at the same time. The thanking her part. He absolutely means that part where he doesn't believe she's telling him the truth about how he could be friends (or more) with anyone he wanted. Look at him, he's a mess. No one in their right mind would really want to get too close to him. Not anyone completely sane, anyway.

The look he's giving her is just a little more incredulous and...unsure? This interest seems sudden to him.]

Where is this coming from?

Well...

[Nott's smile starts to turn a little sad, and she looks away from Caleb again, down to her lap, fiddling with the bandages on her fingers.]

It's just that, you know, you are pretty hard on yourself. I know you're shy, so it's sometimes difficult for you to reach out to people, and... I don't want you avoiding people because you don't see yourself as...

[She sighs through her nose, biting her tongue. She doesn't know how to describe what she's worried about with him.]

I just want you to be able to spend time with people you like. That's all. You deserve that.

[Because... she knows how single-minded he can sometimes be. How easily he can shut others out. Even she has been pushed away for the sake of his goals before, but...

All that has gotten a little bit harder for him since the Soltryce Academy and everything else in the world was lost. And maybe she's feeding the habit by sharing the information on time magic she's learned, but she wants him to achieve his goals. But despite that, she doesn't want him to forget to be a person along the way.]

[Caleb is absolutely looking away as well, hands clasped in his lap.

She's so very, very wrong, he deserves...well, he doesn't deserve that. Doesn't deserve to have people like him. He doesn't even really deserve her but...ah...she's made a place by his side and he can't make himself push her away. Not until he has to.

But for her effort, he smiles again. Sadly. She's wrong but he won't tell her she's wrong. He has a hard time doing that.]

Ah, well...thank you.

[He's not agreeing and he's not going to act on her assertions. But he can thank her for them anyway.]

[Nott glances up at Caleb, sees him looking away. She doesn't know what he's thinking, can only guess. But she knows his opinion of himself. It was spelled painfully clearly that night in the Leaky Tap with Beauregard when he explained every detail of why he'll never forgive himself.

She reaches out a hand and places it on his shoulder. She tries to catch his gaze.]

I'm serious, Caleb. You really do. I don't know a lot of things, but I do know that.

[Nope, he is looking over There.

But only for a few moments, before he makes himself look back at her. And smile. Everything is fine here, nothing to see.]

Thank you. For telling me about the young woman. It's very interesting and helpful.

[Like this offshoot conversation never happened. He doesn't have anything left to say to her on the topic, so he simply does not.]

[Nott's frown becomes a somewhat incredulous smile. Because he's smiling at her, so... it makes sense to smile back. Nervousness tugs at the edges of her lips, and she doesn't say anything for a moment, but Caleb clearly wants to end the conversation there.

She nods suddenly, and her hand leaves his shoulder.]

Well. No problem.

[Nott pulls the rat back out of her pocket where she tucked it at some point, and flops back onto the bed to hold it over her face and stare into it. It squeaks at her.

And that's that, she guesses.]

Is this Caleb?

It is, yes. Hello.

[A small pause, and then another text. Also his typing is SLOW.]

Who is this?

Claire Fraser. We met during the hauntings, I suppose we can call them. I wanted to see how you've been since.

Oh.

[This is...unexpected?? But okay.]

I have been fine. And you?

Good to hear it. I'm better than when you last saw me. I feel like I didn't properly thank you.

It was an understandably unsettling experience. It's alright.

[Plus he doesn't do so well with too much gratitude leveled in his direction anyway.]

You did a good job. I just wanted to be sure you knew it.

It's what anyone else would have done.

[REALLY, he's bad at taking compliments.

Still. Another pause, another text.]

Thank you.

It's a shame, what happened to that woman, but I am glad that you did not lose your daughter.

[This is...absolutely a deflection to keep her from praising him more.]

You kept my daughter here from losing her mother.

[Nice try.]

[Leave him alone, Claire!! Also he's still not technically accepting the thanks, so there.]

Your daughter is here with you?

She is. Her name is Brianna. I'm one of the luckier people here.

Oh. I have met her.

[The text does not accurately convey how surprised he is, or how suddenly interested he is either. This is the woman who traveled through time. And he has already helped her, unknowingly. That is a happy coincidence.

She is very kind.

Really? Small world. I'm glad she's left a good impression.

She has. She befriended a friend of mine who...

People are often unkind to her.

Bree has a big heart.

how much do you charge for magic things?

IC Inbox | un: calebwidogast

action ( early august )

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probably backdated some | text

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text ★ un: cocked tale