Caleb nods, earnest. "Yes. I will message a little later."
He sips at his tea again, thinking it would probably be rude to leave it unfinished after Yussa went to the trouble of offering it.
"I am also looking forward to knowing you better, Yussa. Very much." His smile is somewhere between earnest, bashful, and playful. They talk a little more before they have to go their separate ways--though not for long, Caleb hopes. It is a strange situation to be sure, but he finds that he is oddly grateful for it. He programs Yussa's number into his phone and texts it several hours later, when his last class is finished. After a short exchange, they agree to meet at Yussa's home at eight-thirty, after Yussa gets held up a little longer than anticipated. He mentions having drinks, and Caleb readily agrees.
Maybe it is a little too much effort, but Caleb changes his clothes before he goes over. If Yussa is going to invite him into his home, he can at the very least wear a shirt that doesn't have threadbare holes at the elbows and pants that actually fit him--for the portion of the evening he remains clothed, anyway. The warm light grey sweater and black jeans he saves for slightly nicer occasions are passable, he thinks.
Tonight he sees Yussa's kitchen, and he gets to impress him a little by making their first round of drinks: a bourbon, orange, and ginger cocktail that Yussa compliments immediately after the first sip.
They talk about Caleb's studies, his change in focus from evocation to transmutation, how he returned to the Academy only last year after a long absence to pursue an advanced degree, making him quite a bit older than most of his peers (the human ones, anyway). Yussa seems surprised and intrigued by how much Caleb has been able to learn in the intervening years through self-study alone. He wonders what he would think if he told him that he filled most of his spellbook in only a year, but keeps that to himself for the time being.
Helped along by a little booze, the conversation is easy and enjoyable, and Caleb very much enjoys Yussa's insights, his thoughtful questions, and his dry humor. Even if this was to be the extent of their evening, he would be fine with that--though with how much they've been flirting, he doesn't think that will be the case.
no subject
He sips at his tea again, thinking it would probably be rude to leave it unfinished after Yussa went to the trouble of offering it.
"I am also looking forward to knowing you better, Yussa. Very much." His smile is somewhere between earnest, bashful, and playful. They talk a little more before they have to go their separate ways--though not for long, Caleb hopes. It is a strange situation to be sure, but he finds that he is oddly grateful for it. He programs Yussa's number into his phone and texts it several hours later, when his last class is finished. After a short exchange, they agree to meet at Yussa's home at eight-thirty, after Yussa gets held up a little longer than anticipated. He mentions having drinks, and Caleb readily agrees.
Maybe it is a little too much effort, but Caleb changes his clothes before he goes over. If Yussa is going to invite him into his home, he can at the very least wear a shirt that doesn't have threadbare holes at the elbows and pants that actually fit him--for the portion of the evening he remains clothed, anyway. The warm light grey sweater and black jeans he saves for slightly nicer occasions are passable, he thinks.
Tonight he sees Yussa's kitchen, and he gets to impress him a little by making their first round of drinks: a bourbon, orange, and ginger cocktail that Yussa compliments immediately after the first sip.
They talk about Caleb's studies, his change in focus from evocation to transmutation, how he returned to the Academy only last year after a long absence to pursue an advanced degree, making him quite a bit older than most of his peers (the human ones, anyway). Yussa seems surprised and intrigued by how much Caleb has been able to learn in the intervening years through self-study alone. He wonders what he would think if he told him that he filled most of his spellbook in only a year, but keeps that to himself for the time being.
Helped along by a little booze, the conversation is easy and enjoyable, and Caleb very much enjoys Yussa's insights, his thoughtful questions, and his dry humor. Even if this was to be the extent of their evening, he would be fine with that--though with how much they've been flirting, he doesn't think that will be the case.