#convo: caleb1

[fairywilds]

Phaethon let out a soft chuckle, the sound warm and unhurried. “Still young,” he echoed, amusement lacing his words. “I’ll have to remember that the next time I feel ancient.” He glanced at Caleb, his smile turning wry, as he hinted that his real age is nothing close to young. “But I do know what you mean. It’s strange, though— spending so long living for others and then trying to figure out who you are when it’s just… you.” He shifted his weight, crossing his arms loosely. “You’re lucky, you know. To have always had something you’re passionate about. Dancing. It’s something to anchor yourself to when everything else feels uncertain.” Phaethon’s gaze softened, his tone carrying a touch of admiration. “Maybe that’s what I need— an anchor. Or at least a good distraction until I figure out what that looks like.”

Caleb laughed, "You and I have that in common," he replied. His parents always said he couldn't ever sit still. He was always dancing, before he could even walk, "Eh, you're still young, you'll figure it out," he replied and then he snorted, "God, I sounded so old saying that. You know what I mean," he nodded, "Yeah, that's definitely right."

[fairywilds]

Phaethon gave a small, thoughtful smile as he considered Caleb’s words. "A bit, maybe," he replied, his tone reflective. "I’m learning that I’m not as good at staying still as I thought. I’ve spent so long focused on the clan, their needs, their future… now that I’m freeing myself to think of myself more, it’s strange." He glanced at Caleb, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "But I’ve figured out I like the freedom, even if I don’t quite know what to do with it yet." He paused, his gaze shifting to something in the distance. "I guess that’s part of the process though, right? Just… trying things until something fits."

"We certainly have and we haven't really stopped since," Caleb admitted. They were always doing something whether it was arranging classes, teaching them, booking them or dancing themselves. It was non-stop but he loved it all, "Makes sense. Have you figured any of it out so far?" he asked.

[fairywilds]

Phaethon couldn't help but be impressed. "It’s all about balancing the planning with the doing. Seeing something like this,”— he gestured around the dance studio— “makes it clear you and your business partner have put in the work." He observed. "I’ve spent most of my life serving my clan, so my journey in trying to figure out what I want for myself has been a rather new one. It’s not easy, but it's been a learning process." He stated. "...It’s like you’re proving to the world what you’re capable of.” Phaethon smiled, clearly connecting with Caleb’s dedication and vision.

"Don't get me wrong, planning for the future is great and all but if you put off what you really want to do, you may never do it," Caleb replied and nodded, "Yeah, it definitely paid off. It's really successful. I couldn't be prouder of it, to be honest," he admitted, "For sure, I have to agree with that. I definitely have people who love me and would help and support me with whatever I wanted to do with my life but I like that I have something I built from the ground up, with my business partner, that I can show for my hard work."

[fairywilds]

Phaethon couldn’t help but admire Caleb's drive as he listened. This guy really knows how to go after what he wants, he thought, impressed by how Caleb had taken a leap and made something happen instead of waiting around. It was the kind of energy that Phaethon respected— someone who didn’t just talk about dreams but actually made them a reality. "It’s easy to get caught up in planning for the future and forget that sometimes you’ve just got to take the plunge and see where it leads. Starting your dance studio young… that’s gutsy, but clearly it paid off." He gestured to the studio they were in. "Going after what you want is something I’ve learned the hard way too." He smiled, a little more relaxed now. "It’s cool to see someone else who gets that. You’ve got to make things happen for yourself— no one’s going to do it for you." Phaethon expressed.

Caleb smiled, "I do think life can be short sometimes," he admitted, not elaborating on his own near-death experience that gave him that philosophy, "But only in the sense that you should never miss out on something because you think you can do it later. Later isn't always promised," he replied, "That's why I started the dance studio so young. Why wait and save up more when I had the chance to buy it then with my friends?" he shrugged, "Best decision I ever made."

[fairywilds]

Phaethon chuckled at Caleb's response, shaking his head in amusement. "Yeah, I know, asking if someone's a regular was probably one of the most cliche things I could have done," he quipped, a self-deprecating smile crossing his lips. "But hey, seriously, I'm all about discovering new places and experiences," he remarked with genuine enthusiasm. "Sharing it with someone else only makes it all the better. Doing new things, experiencing different feelings, it's what life's all about, in my opinion. It's like a little adventure every day that way." He said, making conversation. "Although I disagree with the sentiment that life is too short, I still believe that it shouldn't be lived with the same routine all the time because everybody's always in a state of change," he expressed, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he turned a question back on Caleb, "Do you agree?" He wondered about Caleb's certain philosophies of life.

"No, I don't usually come here," Caleb admitted, shaking his head, "But this place is nice, maybe I'll become a regular," he replied with a chuckle.

@shadowveileds ( Phaethon )