[ Kindness doesn't sit well with Caleb, who still can't believe himself deserving of it. He can hardly bear Nott's affections. He's less certain of what to do with Molly, though at least with Molly he has the idea that it's not really about Caleb. They're a self-serving bunch. That buffer is one of the few things that makes all of this bearable for Caleb. As much as he wants to be part of this group, he doesn't know how to shake the idea that he shouldn't be here to begin with.
It's a work in progress, like just about everything else the Mighty Nein are. ]
Maybe you can show me.
[ Whatever else Molly had up his sleeve wouldn't be magic. Maybe the cards are and maybe they aren't, but Caleb envisions anything else Molly had in his arsenal to be slight of hand. He extends his own, begging back the wine skin. ]
Will you pull a copper from behind my ear?
[ Yet another thing easier for Caleb to take in stride than the idea that he may someday be happy. ]
[ It is as much not about Caleb as it is. Something terribly sentimental in Molly keeps creeping up with him, the urge to do something to make the other man laugh or smile. A man like that can't be so dour all the time, it can't be healthy. Somewhere along the line, since attached himself to this group of self-serving bunch of weirdos, he decided to just that. Put cracks in that depressing exterior of Caleb's, for no other reason than he can.
Molly is weird like that, weird and sentimental and kind in his own way. ]
Maybe I can.
[ He is certain that Caleb's mind isn't on the same track as his own, even so a grin creeps along his lips as the cards as put away into a pocket of his elaborate coat. The wine skin he takes, drinking some more, before handing it back over. There is so many things he could do in this moment, things that would likely make the wizard turn tail and run face red as the color of Molly's eyes.
Truthfully it is tempting, if anything to see the expression upon his face and the way Caleb is so very likely to squirm. A man like him? Oh, he flusters easily. ]
A copper? [ Molly hums to himself before his eyes widen and he leans forward, shifting until he trespasses into Caleb's space. ] Oh? What's this?
[ Molly doesn't stop until he is uncomfortably up in Caleb's space, hovering close enough he can almost feel the puff of warm breath against his lavender skin. A compromise of sorts. Tilting his head he reaches behind Caleb's ear ( slight of hand: 19 ), fingers threading through messy hair. The hand lingers longer than it should, Molly lingers longer than he should, before pulling back copper piece held between his thumb and finger. ]
What do you know? A copper piece. How did on earth did it get behind your ear?
[ They've been this close before, is Caleb's first, frantic thought. But the memory of the gnoll mine is blurred; Molly's lips on his forehead had been like a punctuation on the end of a nightmare, pinning Caleb back to the present as much as the sharp crack of Molly's palm on his cheek had been. The second time Molly had pinned him had been almost easier to manage. The intent had been very clear; Caleb could deal with calmly stated threats better than he could tenderness.
Or flirtation, as it turns out. Caleb can't tell if Molly means this moment personally or if it's sport, or if Molly just flirts as easily as he breathes and can't miss the opportunity even if it's Caleb on the receiving end. (Because who could want him? Why would anyone want him?) But Molly gets what he's after: Caleb flushes, freezing in place over the strangeness of gentle fingers in his hair and Molly's amused expression. ]
Very good.
[ Caleb's voice sounds strangled. ]
I didn't even see you put it there. Clever.
[ Ruining the illusion outright, but Caleb awkwardly can't do anything else. He can't even manage eye contact at the moment. The sensation of Molly's fingers in his hair lingers. Caleb lifts a nervous hand to smooth over his hair, as if something's been left out of place. ]
Did you learn to pick pockets like that as well?
[ As far as Caleb's concerned, it's a slippery slope from slight of hand with a coin to lifting an entire coin purse. And it's also the best redirect of the conversation he can think of, because Caleb certainly doesn't want Molly's attention settling on his own reaction to Molly's trick. ]
[ Molly enjoys this more than he should, watching the gears start to turn inside of Caleb's head and the redness rush up into his cheeks. He squeezes the copper between his fingers, lips curved into a devious grin, amusement blatantly evident. He likes this, Caleb flustered expression, voice strangled as he tries to process Molly's actions.
That awkwardness - the way he can't manage eye contact, the nervous hand reaching up to smooth over his hair, Mollymauk can't help but find it incredibly endearing. ]
I am quite clever, aren't I?
[ A flick of the wrist, the coin spins in the air before Molly catches it. Fingers close tightly around the small, warm metal, pocketing as he tilts his head - a lazy attempt to catch Caleb's gaze. ]
I picked up a few things with the circus.
[ More than a few, in truth. If it wasn't for the circus he wouldn't be the person he is now, he wouldn't be Mollymauk. ]
And I happen to have very talented hands. [ The grin widens, flashing teeth, red eyes practically twinkling. ] Or so I'm told.
[ Molly is...something. Caleb doesn't know the right words for the flamboyant show of Molly's presence. But he does know that Molly at least has a particular gift for avoiding making Caleb feel as if he is being laughed at. Molly's enjoyment is so transparent and so open; it's colored with unspoken invitation. Even if Caleb can't quite manage to partake, he appreciates that in Molly. ]
And so humble.
[ Caleb's tone is dry, but somehow faintly, embarrassingly fond. ]
Do you care to tell me what else you picked up?
[ The question isn't exactly fair. Caleb isn't about to share any of the things he's picked up on the road. He and Nott have a fair number of tricks up their sleeve, but they've yet to let their companions in on them. They should, one of these days. Caleb knows they're well past the point where they may have had to use their usual plans to scuttle away from their traveling companions, but something in him demands they keep holding back. It's hard to put all his trust into this arrangement, when it would be so easy for him to make a mess of it. ]
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no subject
It's a work in progress, like just about everything else the Mighty Nein are. ]
Maybe you can show me.
[ Whatever else Molly had up his sleeve wouldn't be magic. Maybe the cards are and maybe they aren't, but Caleb envisions anything else Molly had in his arsenal to be slight of hand. He extends his own, begging back the wine skin. ]
Will you pull a copper from behind my ear?
[ Yet another thing easier for Caleb to take in stride than the idea that he may someday be happy. ]
no subject
Molly is weird like that, weird and sentimental and kind in his own way. ]
Maybe I can.
[ He is certain that Caleb's mind isn't on the same track as his own, even so a grin creeps along his lips as the cards as put away into a pocket of his elaborate coat. The wine skin he takes, drinking some more, before handing it back over. There is so many things he could do in this moment, things that would likely make the wizard turn tail and run face red as the color of Molly's eyes.
Truthfully it is tempting, if anything to see the expression upon his face and the way Caleb is so very likely to squirm. A man like him? Oh, he flusters easily. ]
A copper? [ Molly hums to himself before his eyes widen and he leans forward, shifting until he trespasses into Caleb's space. ] Oh? What's this?
[ Molly doesn't stop until he is uncomfortably up in Caleb's space, hovering close enough he can almost feel the puff of warm breath against his lavender skin. A compromise of sorts. Tilting his head he reaches behind Caleb's ear ( slight of hand: 19 ), fingers threading through messy hair. The hand lingers longer than it should, Molly lingers longer than he should, before pulling back copper piece held between his thumb and finger. ]
What do you know? A copper piece. How did on earth did it get behind your ear?
no subject
Or flirtation, as it turns out. Caleb can't tell if Molly means this moment personally or if it's sport, or if Molly just flirts as easily as he breathes and can't miss the opportunity even if it's Caleb on the receiving end. (Because who could want him? Why would anyone want him?) But Molly gets what he's after: Caleb flushes, freezing in place over the strangeness of gentle fingers in his hair and Molly's amused expression. ]
Very good.
[ Caleb's voice sounds strangled. ]
I didn't even see you put it there. Clever.
[ Ruining the illusion outright, but Caleb awkwardly can't do anything else. He can't even manage eye contact at the moment. The sensation of Molly's fingers in his hair lingers. Caleb lifts a nervous hand to smooth over his hair, as if something's been left out of place. ]
Did you learn to pick pockets like that as well?
[ As far as Caleb's concerned, it's a slippery slope from slight of hand with a coin to lifting an entire coin purse. And it's also the best redirect of the conversation he can think of, because Caleb certainly doesn't want Molly's attention settling on his own reaction to Molly's trick. ]
no subject
That awkwardness - the way he can't manage eye contact, the nervous hand reaching up to smooth over his hair, Mollymauk can't help but find it incredibly endearing. ]
I am quite clever, aren't I?
[ A flick of the wrist, the coin spins in the air before Molly catches it. Fingers close tightly around the small, warm metal, pocketing as he tilts his head - a lazy attempt to catch Caleb's gaze. ]
I picked up a few things with the circus.
[ More than a few, in truth. If it wasn't for the circus he wouldn't be the person he is now, he wouldn't be Mollymauk. ]
And I happen to have very talented hands. [ The grin widens, flashing teeth, red eyes practically twinkling. ] Or so I'm told.
no subject
And so humble.
[ Caleb's tone is dry, but somehow faintly, embarrassingly fond. ]
Do you care to tell me what else you picked up?
[ The question isn't exactly fair. Caleb isn't about to share any of the things he's picked up on the road. He and Nott have a fair number of tricks up their sleeve, but they've yet to let their companions in on them. They should, one of these days. Caleb knows they're well past the point where they may have had to use their usual plans to scuttle away from their traveling companions, but something in him demands they keep holding back. It's hard to put all his trust into this arrangement, when it would be so easy for him to make a mess of it. ]