make me make me impressed

[deshabille]

Who: CAPRINE CREW ASSEMBLE
Broadcast: None!
Action: Caprine & visitors!
When: After this shuffle!

[Well, all things considered, the Caprine isn't the biggest shitshow of a ship in the Fleet. Right now. At this particular moment. There are worse places to end up!]

[At least that's what the crew will tell you, Varric. Except possibly Nightingale, who tries to keep it real.]

[IT'S A MINGLE, EVERYBODY INSIDE.]

Comments

[openhands]

[Now that Cassandra is no longer aboard the Red Fish, there's a little more equality in how often they're at one another's ships. (Mal's visits to Cassandra's ships are likewise far more relaxed.) But that doesn't mean Cassandra doesn't still have a mild preference for being aboard the Caprine. It's always been an unquestionable safe space for the both of them. So maybe she sometimes makes more visits to Mal than Mal does to her.]

[At any rate, she's here today. They've gone on with sparring with one another until Cassandra's hit her limit. (This is still a long time and certainly nothing to snuff at, but certainly far sooner than Mal by comparison.)]

You're getting better.

[deshabille]

[Praise from Cassandra is always nice, much better than praise from anyone else. It makes her grin, bouncing back on the balls of her feet, still full of energy even after their fight.]

I know. Isn't it exciting?

[. . . which probably means "thank you"?]

[openhands]

I said better. Not good enough to start smiling like that.

[But a smile might be starting to form on Cassandra's face anyway. You are dumb, Mal, but you are also incredibly cute.]

[deshabille]

[She laughs, shoving her hands in her pockets and cocking her head up at Cassandra. She sees that smile.]

Oh no? When's good enough to start smiling like this? I keep misplacing my rulebook.

[openhands]

I'll let you know when that happens. [Which means it will never be. Gasp, Cassandra knows how to play around!!!] But I...am impressed.

[deshabille]

[Oh. Well. Impressed. That's a start. Her mouth fixes in a crooked grin.]

I could impress you more, if you wanted me to.

[openhands]

And how would you attempt to do that?

[Attempt. Cassandra may be goading her just a little.]

[deshabille]

Hm, I don't know. I think if I told you what I was going to do, it wouldn't be as impressive when I did it. Surprise is a part of romance, isn't it?

[Look, she has been doing her research, okay.]

[openhands]

And when did you become an expert in romance?

[Skeptical Seeker is skeptical!!!]

[deshabille]

I didn't say I was an expert.

[Here's hoping her exasperation slightly covers her uncertainty. Since when does Mal not claim to be an expert in everything?]

I just pay attention, that's all.

[openhands]

I wouldn't have expected you to pay that much attention. [A beat.] But it's a pleasant surprise.