breadmuffs | IC Inbox | un: calebwidogast

[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.]

IC Inbox | un: calebwidogast

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