[ He agrees with the observation, but somehow, he still feels a bit of a twist in his gut, something clench in his chest. That shadow falls over him again, but Faraday has a bit of practice in these matters, hides it all away behind the face he used in life to play cards and gamble away his money.
Wryly, ] No shortage of men in town who’d be interested, I expect.
The blacksmith, for instance. I think he’s taken a shinin’ to you, too. Maybe he’ll be shufflin’ up that path come next Sunday.
[ He offers a noncommittal sort of hum at that, glancing over to where she stands in the kitchen before he looks down at his cards again. He sets up that game of patience again, though he’s not interested in playing, so much as he is in doing something with his hands. ]
Not a one of them? [ He snorts out a laugh. ] Bless their hearts.
[ He hears her approach, but doesn’t give it a second thought.
Fatal mistake, it seems, and he shouts in protest as she yanks down his hat. ]
Hey—!
[ and if that came out a few shades higher than normal, Faraday would never admit to it.
He tosses the deck of cards onto the table, shoving his hat back up to scowl at her. He lifts his hat up, trying to settle it more comfortably on his head. ]
That. Was a terribly rude act of wholly unprovoked aggression. [ With the hat properly in place, he runs his fingers along the brim. ] Is this any way to treat a man who’s innocently mindin’ his own business?
[ emma tries her best to suppress the grin threatening to tug at her lips, but the noise out of faraday and the glare on his face as he adjusts his hat is just far more amusing than it has any right to be. ]
Joshua Faraday, you are never doin' anything innocently.
[ she doesn't say it harshly or with judgement; it's clearly meant to tease (especially combined with the smile she just can't contain).
...and just because she can, she reaches out again to lightly cock his hat to the side — not tugged over his face, but purely for the purpose of getting it out of place after the effort he went to setting it right. ]
[ His reply is prim, his back straightening and chin lifting. ]
I am absolutely certain I have no idea what you mean.
[ He’s at least heartened by that little smile on her face. Much better than the thunderous, wounded look from moments ago. If he has to suffer through her teasing to help work past that hurt, he’d gladly suffer it a thousand times over.
She reaches over, and he pulls back just a hair, manages only to get as far as asking, ]
What are you—
[ before she sets his hat askew again. He stills, expression turning exasperated. A few seconds of heavy silence, then, ]
… Come on.
[ Faraday lets out an explosive sigh, resettling the hat, and he flicks one of the cards lying on the table at her. ]
[ and finally— he gets her to laugh. soft, but warm and genuine as she settles back in her chair. she's dwelling far less on the mess with teddy, her attention and energy focused on faraday instead — where she's much happier to put it. ]
It's not goin' anywhere.
[ and besides, it's worth it just to mess with him.
she does, however, finally start to eat the food she prepared, sliding the card he flicked at her back to him. ]
I've been practicin' that last trick you showed me.
[ that clever back palm maneuver that had actually proved more difficult than she'd thought it would be. she's been steadily working on everything faraday's taught her when she has spare moments to herself, when there's nothing else that needs doing — mostly, because it's fun. ]
[ He sounds a little pleased by that, and he catches the card as it slides across the table. He lifts it up, holding it out to her between two fingers. ]
And were you plannin' on showin' me the fruits of your labor?
I was waitin' until I was good enough with it not to make a fool out of myself.
[ and she's at least reasonably sure she's reached that point.
the food is apparently going to go ignored now, because she simply reaches out to take the card from faraday, straightening in her seat.
she tames her smile into something more impassive, concentration in her eyes as she glances at the card — the black lady, of course — and neatly shows off it off to him, flicking it back and forth in her hand for a moment, before it's once, twice, and with a third upward motion, quickly mimes chucking the card into the air. the card flicks back, caught between her fingers in a smooth, clearly well-practiced gesture.
showing off her empty palm, she waits the span of her breath, before snapping her hand forward and reproducing the card between her fingertips.
she holds it out to him, unable to keep the pleased little grin off her face. ]
[ He watches her, one elbow resting on the table, his chin resting in his palm. As she goes through the motions, a smile curls his lips, his gaze softens a little, and he's wholly unaware of both. She's obviously been practicing, and it shows; Emma always tended to excel at whatever she practiced. That focus and determination seemed to serve her well in most things, and now?
Seemed to be helping her excel at sleight-of-hand.
When she produces the card his smile grows, something fond and warm without his knowing. ]
Suppose then you'll have given away all your secrets.
[ well, magician secrets, that is.
she's actually glad he's been willing to teach her this. it's not a skill she ever saw herself picking up, but it's been enjoyable — and also an activity with faraday. that part she's also come to like. ]
Nah, not all of 'em. Like I said, I aim to keep a few things to myself.
Can't have the student overtakin' the teacher, now can we?
[ He collects up the cards on the table as he says it, clearly having abandoned the game of patience. He wasn't too interested in playing in the first place, anyway. ]
'Sides. It ever occur to you that knowin' all the tricks takes the magic out of it?
[ emma rolls her eyes at him, but she watches as he collects the deck, neatens it up. ]
Plenty of magic left even if I do know the tricks, Faraday.
[ because, really, even if she's learning them herself, she still enjoys watching faraday perform them. it's different seeing him do it, always worth a smile out of her. ]
But I reckon it wouldn't make you look near as good if I showed you up on all of your tricks.
[ and there's a small impish grin of her own in answe on her lips. ]
Oh, not a single worry there. You're gettin' clever with these tricks, I'll grant you that, but I think you've got a ways to go 'fore your showmanship is anywhere near as impressive as mine.
[ He winks, the paper of the cards snapping as he bridges two packets together. ]
I've got more experience in these matters, I think.
Then how fortunate for me, I have more than enough time to improve.
[ no husband or children to look after, and her days spent with a ghost? she truly does have more than enough opportunity at her disposal to work on the tricks, but— she's also nowhere near the performer that faraday happens to be. she can work the cards just fine, but the element of distraction, of engaging an audience, is not somewhere she excels. ]
[ The concession mollifies him, however temporary she feels it might be. After all, he spent quite a lot of time in life learning these tricks, trotting them out when he had need for a distraction, or simply when he wanted to impress folks with them. The tricks tended to smooth things over, impressive as they were. Rarely did men ever put two and two together and realize the skills he had put on display would translate to trickery in their games.
Those that did tend to figure it out only did so a day or two down the line, their pockets much emptier. ]
Once you start figurin' out the tricks, 's simple enough to start talkin' over atop them.
[ As he's saying it, he mimics the backhand she had exhibited earlier, his favored suicide king disappearing away. ]
The idea is to focus. Not let yourself get distracted by your own patter.
[ He flicks his hand, producing the card and putting on a challenging little smirk. ]
But there ain't no shame in not gettin' the hang of it.
[ emma's eyebrow just raises a touch at the challenge, because she certainly hadn't missed that. ]
I think you underestimate me, Mister Faraday.
[ that "mister" slips in on a tease, but she's certainly not one to pass on a competition.
she reaches out to take the king from him, clearly intending to repeat the trick, to show she's just as capable as he is — though it requires a different level of focus than when she's practiced on her own in the quiet house. ]
But I might've hoped you'd spent more than enough time here to realize underestimatin' me never goes well for you.
[ she starts as she speaks, moves her hand in the well-practiced form. she's focusing, but not on her words or rhythm; rather, on the movement of the card, letting it vanish from her hand, slipping between her fingers in a similarly smooth motion from before. ]
Because you seem to figure I'm far more likely to shrink from a challenge— [ and she snaps her hand forward, neatly holding up the card again. ] —than I truly am.
[ something more complex, with far more steps involved, and she probably would've struggled to keep with the proper rhythm and the showmanship of the trick, but this was at least short, simple (to a degree), and didn't require her to maintain a constant stream of chatter. ]
[ He grins as she rises up to his little dare. Maybe in life he would have masked how impressed he was with the performance out of some misplaced pride, some desire to seem more stoic than he truly is. Now, though, he doesn't bother. He plucks the card from her fingers again and places it face up on the table. ]
One of these days, I might actually convince you to put these little tricks to the test in some groggery. See if you can swindle men outta their cash.
[ It's a familiar exchange between them, by now. Emma teases him by calling him "mister." Faraday retaliates by mentioning how well-suited she could be for a sinful sort of lifestyle.
His eyebrow quirks up. ]
Reckon you'd be damn good at it, too. They'd never see you comin'.
And you know good and well I'm not interested in partin' anyone from their money, Faraday.
[ while some may see the very existence of cards as a sin, emma is at least practical enough to realize the cards are purely that — cards. it's not until one finds themselves gambling and cheating that sin really comes into play. ]
Besides, maybe one day you'll be visible to more than just me, and you can go right back to foolin' plenty of men with your clever tricks in my stead.
[ maybe?
she's wondered if faraday will continue to change and adapt in whatever unearthly form he exists, if he'll be able to control soon who can see him — rather than just being visible to emma.
...he probably couldn't stick around rose creek, if that became the case. ]
[ He makes a noncommittal noise at that conjecture, letting the snapping of the cards stand in place of his answer for a few seconds. Faraday has wondered the same thing – just how far his changing might go. From invisible and unheard, to an audience of one. From little more than a winter gale, to something solid and sturdy.
Could that change? Could he be more?
Faraday's not sure. Still doesn't quite understand himself – the why's of it, the how's of it, the particulars of why Emma Cullen of all people is the unlucky witness to his existence. ]
Dunno about all that.
[ He says it blandly, straightening the deck in his hands. ]
Seems to me if that were an option, I would've stumbled upon it by now. You might be the only one to enjoy my company for a while yet.
[ because part of her is worried that this new existence of his could be snuffed out at a moment's notice. what if he couldn't reappear? what if this tenuous flicker of un-life vanished just as suddenly as it had come?
or, on the other hand, what if he continued to become more...developed? more solid and more controlled and obvious?
[ His hands still on the cards at that question, his eyebrows knitting together in a frown. ]
... Hadn't thought on it, if I'm honest.
[ Which is only half true. He had tried, in those early days, but found himself tethered in some way to something in the town, though he could never quite find the source. His body, maybe, or what was left of it, rotting away on the hill.
But wandering too far made him feel— strange. Uncomfortable. Sent something buzzing through him – that tingling sensation like his entire body is on the verge of going numb. He hasn't pressed it since then, too afraid to test his luck. ]
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no subject
Wryly, ] No shortage of men in town who’d be interested, I expect.
The blacksmith, for instance. I think he’s taken a shinin’ to you, too. Maybe he’ll be shufflin’ up that path come next Sunday.
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I should hope not. I've had more than enough unpleasant encounters with enamored men for my taste.
[ if she could avoid having to reject any other would-be suitors, she'd certainly appreciate that. ]
I can't say as any of the men of Rose Creek have happened to catch my eye, anyway.
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Not a one of them? [ He snorts out a laugh. ] Bless their hearts.
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[ said perfectly casually as she gathers up her food to join faraday at the table...
...while making sure to yank the brim of his hat down over his eyes before she settles into a seat. ]
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Fatal mistake, it seems, and he shouts in protest as she yanks down his hat. ]
Hey—!
[ and if that came out a few shades higher than normal, Faraday would never admit to it.
He tosses the deck of cards onto the table, shoving his hat back up to scowl at her. He lifts his hat up, trying to settle it more comfortably on his head. ]
That. Was a terribly rude act of wholly unprovoked aggression. [ With the hat properly in place, he runs his fingers along the brim. ] Is this any way to treat a man who’s innocently mindin’ his own business?
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Joshua Faraday, you are never doin' anything innocently.
[ she doesn't say it harshly or with judgement; it's clearly meant to tease (especially combined with the smile she just can't contain).
...and just because she can, she reaches out again to lightly cock his hat to the side — not tugged over his face, but purely for the purpose of getting it out of place after the effort he went to setting it right. ]
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I am absolutely certain I have no idea what you mean.
[ He’s at least heartened by that little smile on her face. Much better than the thunderous, wounded look from moments ago. If he has to suffer through her teasing to help work past that hurt, he’d gladly suffer it a thousand times over.
She reaches over, and he pulls back just a hair, manages only to get as far as asking, ]
What are you—
[ before she sets his hat askew again. He stills, expression turning exasperated. A few seconds of heavy silence, then, ]
… Come on.
[ Faraday lets out an explosive sigh, resettling the hat, and he flicks one of the cards lying on the table at her. ]
Don’t you got a lunch to eat?
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It's not goin' anywhere.
[ and besides, it's worth it just to mess with him.
she does, however, finally start to eat the food she prepared, sliding the card he flicked at her back to him. ]
I've been practicin' that last trick you showed me.
[ that clever back palm maneuver that had actually proved more difficult than she'd thought it would be. she's been steadily working on everything faraday's taught her when she has spare moments to herself, when there's nothing else that needs doing — mostly, because it's fun. ]
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[ He sounds a little pleased by that, and he catches the card as it slides across the table. He lifts it up, holding it out to her between two fingers. ]
And were you plannin' on showin' me the fruits of your labor?
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[ and she's at least reasonably sure she's reached that point.
the food is apparently going to go ignored now, because she simply reaches out to take the card from faraday, straightening in her seat.
she tames her smile into something more impassive, concentration in her eyes as she glances at the card — the black lady, of course — and neatly shows off it off to him, flicking it back and forth in her hand for a moment, before it's once, twice, and with a third upward motion, quickly mimes chucking the card into the air. the card flicks back, caught between her fingers in a smooth, clearly well-practiced gesture.
showing off her empty palm, she waits the span of her breath, before snapping her hand forward and reproducing the card between her fingertips.
she holds it out to him, unable to keep the pleased little grin off her face. ]
Your card, Mister Faraday.
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Seemed to be helping her excel at sleight-of-hand.
When she produces the card his smile grows, something fond and warm without his knowing. ]
Pretty.
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it softens her own smug grin into something warmer. ]
Thought you'd be pleased.
[ she sets the card down in front of him, very matter-of-factly; she looks proud of herself, because, well, she'd been working hard on that trick. ]
But now you'll just have to teach me somethin' new.
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You keep picking things up as fast as you have, I might actually run outta things to teach.
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[ well, magician secrets, that is.
she's actually glad he's been willing to teach her this. it's not a skill she ever saw herself picking up, but it's been enjoyable — and also an activity with faraday. that part she's also come to like. ]
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Nah, not all of 'em. Like I said, I aim to keep a few things to myself.
Can't have the student overtakin' the teacher, now can we?
[ He collects up the cards on the table as he says it, clearly having abandoned the game of patience. He wasn't too interested in playing in the first place, anyway. ]
'Sides. It ever occur to you that knowin' all the tricks takes the magic out of it?
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Plenty of magic left even if I do know the tricks, Faraday.
[ because, really, even if she's learning them herself, she still enjoys watching faraday perform them. it's different seeing him do it, always worth a smile out of her. ]
But I reckon it wouldn't make you look near as good if I showed you up on all of your tricks.
[ and there's a small impish grin of her own in answe on her lips. ]
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[ He winks, the paper of the cards snapping as he bridges two packets together. ]
I've got more experience in these matters, I think.
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[ no husband or children to look after, and her days spent with a ghost? she truly does have more than enough opportunity at her disposal to work on the tricks, but— she's also nowhere near the performer that faraday happens to be. she can work the cards just fine, but the element of distraction, of engaging an audience, is not somewhere she excels. ]
You do, however, remain the expert.
[ a minor concession — for now. ]
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Those that did tend to figure it out only did so a day or two down the line, their pockets much emptier. ]
Once you start figurin' out the tricks, 's simple enough to start talkin' over atop them.
[ As he's saying it, he mimics the backhand she had exhibited earlier, his favored suicide king disappearing away. ]
The idea is to focus. Not let yourself get distracted by your own patter.
[ He flicks his hand, producing the card and putting on a challenging little smirk. ]
But there ain't no shame in not gettin' the hang of it.
no subject
I think you underestimate me, Mister Faraday.
[ that "mister" slips in on a tease, but she's certainly not one to pass on a competition.
she reaches out to take the king from him, clearly intending to repeat the trick, to show she's just as capable as he is — though it requires a different level of focus than when she's practiced on her own in the quiet house. ]
But I might've hoped you'd spent more than enough time here to realize underestimatin' me never goes well for you.
[ she starts as she speaks, moves her hand in the well-practiced form. she's focusing, but not on her words or rhythm; rather, on the movement of the card, letting it vanish from her hand, slipping between her fingers in a similarly smooth motion from before. ]
Because you seem to figure I'm far more likely to shrink from a challenge— [ and she snaps her hand forward, neatly holding up the card again. ] —than I truly am.
[ something more complex, with far more steps involved, and she probably would've struggled to keep with the proper rhythm and the showmanship of the trick, but this was at least short, simple (to a degree), and didn't require her to maintain a constant stream of chatter. ]
no subject
One of these days, I might actually convince you to put these little tricks to the test in some groggery. See if you can swindle men outta their cash.
[ It's a familiar exchange between them, by now. Emma teases him by calling him "mister." Faraday retaliates by mentioning how well-suited she could be for a sinful sort of lifestyle.
His eyebrow quirks up. ]
Reckon you'd be damn good at it, too. They'd never see you comin'.
no subject
And you know good and well I'm not interested in partin' anyone from their money, Faraday.
[ while some may see the very existence of cards as a sin, emma is at least practical enough to realize the cards are purely that — cards. it's not until one finds themselves gambling and cheating that sin really comes into play. ]
Besides, maybe one day you'll be visible to more than just me, and you can go right back to foolin' plenty of men with your clever tricks in my stead.
[ maybe?
she's wondered if faraday will continue to change and adapt in whatever unearthly form he exists, if he'll be able to control soon who can see him — rather than just being visible to emma.
...he probably couldn't stick around rose creek, if that became the case. ]
no subject
Could that change? Could he be more?
Faraday's not sure. Still doesn't quite understand himself – the why's of it, the how's of it, the particulars of why Emma Cullen of all people is the unlucky witness to his existence. ]
Dunno about all that.
[ He says it blandly, straightening the deck in his hands. ]
Seems to me if that were an option, I would've stumbled upon it by now. You might be the only one to enjoy my company for a while yet.
no subject
[ because part of her is worried that this new existence of his could be snuffed out at a moment's notice. what if he couldn't reappear? what if this tenuous flicker of un-life vanished just as suddenly as it had come?
or, on the other hand, what if he continued to become more...developed? more solid and more controlled and obvious?
what if he could finally leave rose creek? ]
...but would you move on, if you could?
no subject
... Hadn't thought on it, if I'm honest.
[ Which is only half true. He had tried, in those early days, but found himself tethered in some way to something in the town, though he could never quite find the source. His body, maybe, or what was left of it, rotting away on the hill.
But wandering too far made him feel— strange. Uncomfortable. Sent something buzzing through him – that tingling sensation like his entire body is on the verge of going numb. He hasn't pressed it since then, too afraid to test his luck. ]
Not rightly sure if I could, anyway.
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