PC: CALEB

[headmt]

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[headmt]

[That's true, it is. And to his credit, he doesn't immediately fall on his ass - perfectly pleased to be led out by the hands onto the ice and dragged along, only scrambling a little bit on his feet before he finds his balance. High dex is actually useful here.]

... You look ridiculous in those glasses. Should keep them all the time.

[katzepaw]

I do like them.

[He smiles a little, aware he can probably let go of his hands now because Molly is doing just fine. But he doesn't just yet.]

It's as I feared, you are a natural.

[headmt]

[Molly seems to have no intention of letting go of any hands? He does a little exaggerated scramble like he's gonna fall, but it's like. Pretty clearly faking it.]

A blessing and a curse. Sometimes I shock myself too.

[katzepaw]

[Anyway, as he continues skating, Molly will get a memory. Vo village, a little bit of a celebration, and Caleb steals away to talk to Yasha for a moment. Just a cute little memory for once.]

[headmt]

[He does, in fact, fall over at that.

It's less of a comical pratfall and more he just sort of loses control of his knees and sinks to his ass to sort of slide off onto the ice, feet kicked out in front of him. It's a very sweet memory. It's very sweet. It's nothing but goodness, seeing these people have a gentle conversation with each other. But seeing, actually seeing Yasha again is like getting the wind knocked out of him. Especially after everything. It's a lot.]

[katzepaw]

[Seeing her and getting a nice big hug from her. He's relieved that the memory doesn't hurt so much, but then he sees Molly react, and just gets down on the ice, too. Down on his ass.]

Oh. . . I'm sorry. It's alright.

[headmt]

Ah, shite, don't you start apologizing, it's-- Sorry--

[Desperately trying to wave off the apologies? He seems maybe a little shocked it rocked him that hard, voice just a little bit wavery in a way it never is. Even when he was hit with the Lucien revelation.]

I just ... I'm glad. It's good. You'd said she was doing well and all.

[katzepaw]

[Ah. Sad. He sort of looks like he's trying to decide whether to reach out to him or not, kind of awkward with his arms like he might try to hold him, but doesn't.]

. . . She had some hard times, too, but she is, uhm, happy, I think. Her wings grew back, with feathers.

[headmt]

Yeah?

[He doesn't seem very shocked by this. Just happy, mostly, rubbing at his face a bit.]

... Always thought that was a little funny. Angel and a devil [gesturing to himself] being friends and all. Good joke.

[katzepaw]

Well, you make quite a pair.

[But smiling a little at him, fond.]

[headmt]

[He's sort of laughing for a bit, apparently cheering up after the moment of gut-dropping sadness, but after a few minutes of just sitting on his butt on this ice it fades off again.]

World sort of ... moves on, doesn't it? [...] Not saying that's a bad thing.

[katzepaw]

It does and doesn't. Maybe not grief all the time, but she didn't forget you. None of us did.

[headmt]

Yeah. Last thing I want is to give any of you more grief, though.

[A pause. Then he sort of shakes it off.]

My ass is cold.

[katzepaw]

[Starting to get up, a little wobbly, and then extending a hand to him.]

[headmt]

[Reaching up to take it, getting up a little wobbly himself - easy smile back on.]

You're rather impressive, you know.

[katzepaw]

What, as a skater? Not particularly.

[He's not sure what he means, exactly, but the smile makes him feel a little strange.]

[headmt]

[Just skating backwards in front of Caleb at this point. Show-off. Seems he is kind of good at it actually. Could be he was lying about never having done it before.]

Yeah, I see a spot for you on the Dwendalian Empire skating team at the next Wildemount games.

[Obviously he meant in that sweet memory.]

Just. In general.

[katzepaw]

[Stop. Kind of looking away from him a little, like he's just distracted. What the fuck is this, what is any of this.]

[headmt]

[ He stops, looking him over. ]

Well not everything changes at least.

[katzepaw]

I don't understand what you're saying.

[Why are they even here, on a date, ice skating around. Sure, it's a task, but. What are they doing.]

[headmt]

[What are they doing here. Molly just slowly circles over to the edge of the rink, leaning against the sides of it.]

I'm ... saying that you're an interesting person. Just-- Good at talking to people. Know you don't think so and all, but least every time I see it, you're running circles around me. Making the kids laugh and telling Yasha all the right things.

[katzepaw]

I don't think so, Mollymauk.

[Folding his arms awkwardly across his chest, obviously uncomfortable but more than that just confused.]

[headmt]

[He doesn't really know where he fucked up here, so he's equally confused at this point? Also crossing his arms.]

It's a good thing. I'm saying it's fucking good to see. You're all-- everything I see in these memories from the both of you, it's good. I'm proud of you.

[katzepaw]

[He didn't fuck up exactly, but he's saying these nice things about him, very nice, and he - at a certain point, it's too much. He can hear something like that sometimes, maybe even listen occasionally. He knows he's improved, he knows he's a lot better a person than he used to be.

But Molly has been. . . saying these things, and in general acting as though he finds something very appealing about him. Being better than a hollow shell of a person, selfish and cowardly, being someone his closest friends can care for, is not quite the same as being likable and good at talking to people.]

. . . Okay.

[He seems like he is very obviously just saying 'okay' to get him to stop.]

[headmt]

[This is why Molly doesn't date? He feels like he put his foot straight through something and fucked something perfectly nice.]

Okay.

[Hm.]