[There's no way to make this pleasant. Credence isn't expecting it at the same time that he is; he's noticed Newt making strained faces at him, like he's been wondering about something, and it's always when that case is involved... Credence looks up from whatever he's doing (reading, let's say) when Newt addresses him, but he flinches visibly when that case is put down all the same.
He has a lot of nerves to contend with. He chooses to stare at Newt instead of the case after a few moments of staring uncertainly at it, and his discomfort with the situation is plain on his face. Newt has been very generous to him, yes, but... creatures.
Hmm. He casts his eyes downward before he speaks.] Do you think I'm a burden?
[Oh dear. This is what Tina warned him about, but she was so much better at giving impressions-- No, if he could handle dragons, he most certainly could handle this young man.]
Nnn... [He's just off to a rough start. There's one of those strained faces again, but he won't keep quiet this time.] No, Credence. That's not-- That's not what I was getting at. The opposite, really, I-- I think you could be helpful with them. And--
[He puts a hand down over the switch before it could flip open. Their impatience was probably not comforting.] --you would like some of them.
[Ah—one of those faces. Credence glances up to see it and lets his gaze snap away again, looking at a wall this time. It's better than the floor. And he's listening, because he's always listening, but he isn't sure what to do. Really. About Newt.
Tina insisted, and he feels like he can trust her, and so he's trying to feel like he can trust Newt, too. A shining surge of some hopeful feeling wells up in him at the suggestion that he could be helpful— helpful— and he folds his hands in his lap, squeezing his fingers to stop himself from making some kind of expression.
Helpful. That's new.]
...I don't know. I can't— I don't know what to do. With creatures.
That doesn't matter-- it does matter you said that, but it... doesn't. [Newt had been so excited that he'd taken the bait that he stammered, but he offers a somewhat reassuring smile. Even though Credence was determined not to look at him.] You'll just come with me and feed some of them. That's what Jacob did-- and he's a muggle-- so it won't be hard at all.
They aren't anything to be afraid of. [There goes that latch again. He won't shut it this time, though, watching Credence's expression for any sign of caving.] I promise.
[Newt talks so much. That's his defining characteristic so far, as far as Credence is concerned - he just has so many words when maybe a third of them would get his points across. Credence doesn't necessarily mind, but for all the time he spends not looking at Newt, he notices other things.
Like his odd words, muggle instead of no-maj. Credence doesn't have the confidence to ask where "muggle" came from, but maybe one day he'll wonder aloud.
For now - his expression twitches, nervous, when the latch pops open, but if he wants to be helpful then he has to try. Newt probably wouldn't lead him into a den of things that will kill him. (And even if he did, Credence is more dangerous than anything else in there. It isn't much of a comfort.) He sighs, and puts his book down.]
Alright. I'll look around. But if something happens I want to come back.
[Normally, Newt wouldn't be so much for talking. He didn't make much eye contact, either, given how half the time anyone had gone as long as a conversation meant he was in trouble. But in the case of Credence, he's gotten quite good at making exceptions. After Tina's scoldings.
And of course, his face always lit up at the prospect of seeing his creatures.] Excellent. We'll just...
[He wastes no time with delicacy, stooping to set the case down properly and undoing the other latch. He was about to stand up and step in the moment he opened it, but he paused with his foot in, slowly withdrawing to look back at Credence.] You-- you can go first. I'll be right after, don't worry.
[He'll also wring his hands at first, shifting his weight before he ultimately holds one out. Just in case he needed help stepping down.]
[Oh- he's glad, that's... nice. Credence squeezes his hands together before letting them fall to his sides as he stands up, watching Newt fiddle with the case.
And then - what? He has to go first? His uncertainty about that is clear, and he looks between Newt and the open case a few times like he doesn't know if this is serious or not. Should he really...? Nothing in there will get angry if someone besides Newt comes down first, right?
Slowly, he reaches out to just barely take hold of Newt's fingers and take the first step down the steep stairs. He doesn't need help climbing down stairs, but he can't quite make himself refuse that moment of contact. Like... like they're friends.
Once he's far enough that he has to let go, he hurries down the last few steps and stands close to the bottom one, glancing around like looking at any one thing for too long will break it somehow. Help.]
[They might not be angry, but they certainly are curious creatures. Actually, there's one particularly creature that's wormed his way into the workshop. Always looking for the way out, Niffler is perched on a table when Credence arrives, preparing for a moment to pounce on his keeper.
Except it wasn't Newt at the stairs. He froze, standing with his little hands up like he'd been caught. Newt's footsteps came shortly after, causing him to scamper over the edge, taking probably important things down with him as he ran to hide.] Riiight behind you-- there he goes, little bugger. Don't mind him. You aren't shiny, so he won't care much.
[That's... comforting?? He pats Credence's shoulder as he passes by, going to grab a bucket.] You can feed the mooncalves, and we'll probably see Dougal... There isn't anything intimidating, around that way. Bigger animals for later.
[Oh—oh, what is that thing!! Credence startles at the sight of the little creature, caught in a sort of nervous staredown with it before Newt comes down the stares and distracts them both. Credence looks over to him, blinking at the hand on his shoulder. He doesn't flinch, so that's progress-?
Hesitantly, he takes a shuffling half-step after Newt, then picks up the pace to follow him more directly.]
Did he? [Newt shouldn't be grinning at the prospect of having to hunt him down, but he can't help it. He ducks his head and snickers as he heard the culprit scamper somewhere in his mess.] He always does. Thinks himself a rebel.
[He's just going to take up another bucket of questionable meats on his way. It's fine.] That's my Niffler. [A niffler that is so certain he's fat enough to hide behind a chair leg, staring at Credence as Newt pushed the workshop door open.] He robbed the bank you were out in front of that day, you know.
[Don't mind the fact he's walking out into an open world that definitely should not be there. There's a desert on the horizon, and a forest to their right. Makes sense.]
Oh. [A bank-robbing creature... That's all it seems Credence has to say about that, since he'd rather not dwell much on any of the days spent with the family if he has to, but that isn't the end of his interest in the niffler.
Quite the opposite, in fact, as when Newt walks away with his bucket, Credence makes it a few steps after him (already confused and nervous about the landscapes, mind) before he stops and looks down and back at the fat little niffler behind that chair leg.
Ah... um. He looks back and forth a few times between the niffler and Newt, but one of these things is a lot cuter than the other and also not asking him to meet potentially dangerous creatures, so. Sorry, he's abandoning Newt already to crouch down and stare right back at the niffler.
After a moment, he holds out his hand. Come... here??]
[Newt continues walking and talking, assumedly about his creatures, as he goes up to greet those potentially dangerous family of creatures. The breeding pair's children were much larger than when Jacob set foot, so he wasn't going to force Credence near them even if he were paying attention enough to know he was there.
Niffler is much smaller, softer, and fat when he scampers out from beneath the chair. He seemed a generally safer option... before he all but tackles Credence's leg, climbing up to his jacket to raid his pockets for... nothing?? What is this?? The shiniest thing on this man is his buttons, and he considers them before just turning to stare at Credence in bewilderment.]
[Ah, there goes Newt... Credence glances at his back as he goes, but the niffler is much more interesting until he abruptly starts climbing on Credence, who startles and flops gracelessly into a sitting position while he's- raided?? What's happening??
Why is he being judged??] N— Newt! [Credence calling out for Newt is noteworthy in a few ways: first, he actually called him by name, congrats; second, he's louder in this split-second than he's been since he was tearing apart the city in a rage.
Please help him, he's being heckled for buttons. In the meantime he'll just... address... the niffler??] I don't have anything!
They're very affectionate, believe it or... not... [Newt blinked, slowly turning to look back. Finally getting past "Mr. Scamander" was almost bittersweet, if the reason why weren't so funny at his perspective.]
He won't hurt you! [He called, dumping the bucket of food and leaning to escape the animals' kisses. It proved difficult, given that parts of their face curled around his head.] He's just looking for something shiny!
[And... not finding anything?? Niffler stares at him in horror. He was so... plain. He gave his pockets a good pat to confirm this before dropping down into his lap, rummaging through his own fur. There's quite a bit of jingling before he recovers a single galleon, which he shoves at Credence's chest. Take it!!]
[Something shiny?? Credence gives Newt another look, brow furrowed in confusion, like him having something shiny - ergo, something probably valuable - is the least likely thing to ever happen. And Newt's creatures should know that already, obviously. Animal sixth sense, or... something?
But the niffler is patting him again, and Credence turns his attention back to the little guy in time to watch him rifle through his... self and produce a coin.
He blinks. It takes him a moment to hesitantly reach out and accept the galleon. Oh!] Thank you.
[And if Newt has managed to free himself from the other creatures and join them, Credence will look up at him with a kind of muted wonder. This fat little thing just gave him a gift??]
[Niffler seems satisfied at the thanks, sitting up proudly as Newt approached. He crouches with raised brows and an amused grin, which prompts the niffler to burrow underneath Credence's jacket with his snout sticking out.]
He hasn't given me anyone anything since I was a student. He must like you. [He reaches towards him, but it's only to offer him a hand up. Niffler seems to relax when he realizes it, unballing his little fists from Credence's shirt.] You might find that missing later if he changes his mind. Fickle thing.
[oh my god there is so much fuzzy creature in his jacket, what does he do—] —O-Oh. Well, it's his. I don't need it.
[He stares wide-eyed at the niffler as he says this, addressing him more than Newt again. It's easier, and it seems smarter to talk to the thing crawling around on him directly, just in case. He might even try to smile for a fraction of a second, but that could just as easily be a wince of discomfort. Niffler, his shirt is wrinkled now...
Then,] Oh. [That time, to Newt, as he hesitates before taking his hand to get up. That was... an adventure, but whatever feelings he's having about it he doesn't voice aloud. Newt will have to interpret Credence's mild look, which at least has the added and rare benefit of eye contact as well as Credence glancing past him voluntarily toward the rest of the case's bizarre habitat.]
[Newt does a bit of staring, even if it's unintentionally. It's something Tina did, watching Credence's expressions for any sign that he might be enjoying himself. He liked to think he was more subtle.
He wasn't. Whether or not Credence was smiling, Newt was, and he wasn't going to stop unless something cataclysmic event was taking place outside the suitcase.
But Credence was inside it, so it's probably fine.] Mooncalves! This way, we'll see Pickett and Dougal as we pass by. [And hey, he'll keep holding his hand to lead him through the tents. Niffler seems to be stuffing more coins into Credence's pockets as they go.]
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He has a lot of nerves to contend with. He chooses to stare at Newt instead of the case after a few moments of staring uncertainly at it, and his discomfort with the situation is plain on his face. Newt has been very generous to him, yes, but... creatures.
Hmm. He casts his eyes downward before he speaks.] Do you think I'm a burden?
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Nnn... [He's just off to a rough start. There's one of those strained faces again, but he won't keep quiet this time.] No, Credence. That's not-- That's not what I was getting at. The opposite, really, I-- I think you could be helpful with them. And--
[He puts a hand down over the switch before it could flip open. Their impatience was probably not comforting.] --you would like some of them.
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Tina insisted, and he feels like he can trust her, and so he's trying to feel like he can trust Newt, too. A shining surge of some hopeful feeling wells up in him at the suggestion that he could be helpful— helpful— and he folds his hands in his lap, squeezing his fingers to stop himself from making some kind of expression.
Helpful. That's new.]
...I don't know. I can't— I don't know what to do. With creatures.
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They aren't anything to be afraid of. [There goes that latch again. He won't shut it this time, though, watching Credence's expression for any sign of caving.] I promise.
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Like his odd words, muggle instead of no-maj. Credence doesn't have the confidence to ask where "muggle" came from, but maybe one day he'll wonder aloud.
For now - his expression twitches, nervous, when the latch pops open, but if he wants to be helpful then he has to try. Newt probably wouldn't lead him into a den of things that will kill him. (And even if he did, Credence is more dangerous than anything else in there. It isn't much of a comfort.) He sighs, and puts his book down.]
Alright. I'll look around. But if something happens I want to come back.
[Very specific negotiation terms, here.]
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And of course, his face always lit up at the prospect of seeing his creatures.] Excellent. We'll just...
[He wastes no time with delicacy, stooping to set the case down properly and undoing the other latch. He was about to stand up and step in the moment he opened it, but he paused with his foot in, slowly withdrawing to look back at Credence.] You-- you can go first. I'll be right after, don't worry.
[He'll also wring his hands at first, shifting his weight before he ultimately holds one out. Just in case he needed help stepping down.]
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And then - what? He has to go first? His uncertainty about that is clear, and he looks between Newt and the open case a few times like he doesn't know if this is serious or not. Should he really...? Nothing in there will get angry if someone besides Newt comes down first, right?
Slowly, he reaches out to just barely take hold of Newt's fingers and take the first step down the steep stairs. He doesn't need help climbing down stairs, but he can't quite make himself refuse that moment of contact. Like... like they're friends.
Once he's far enough that he has to let go, he hurries down the last few steps and stands close to the bottom one, glancing around like looking at any one thing for too long will break it somehow. Help.]
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Except it wasn't Newt at the stairs. He froze, standing with his little hands up like he'd been caught. Newt's footsteps came shortly after, causing him to scamper over the edge, taking probably important things down with him as he ran to hide.] Riiight behind you-- there he goes, little bugger. Don't mind him. You aren't shiny, so he won't care much.
[That's... comforting?? He pats Credence's shoulder as he passes by, going to grab a bucket.] You can feed the mooncalves, and we'll probably see Dougal... There isn't anything intimidating, around that way. Bigger animals for later.
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Hesitantly, he takes a shuffling half-step after Newt, then picks up the pace to follow him more directly.]
What was that? The little one. He took something.
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[He's just going to take up another bucket of questionable meats on his way. It's fine.] That's my Niffler. [A niffler that is so certain he's fat enough to hide behind a chair leg, staring at Credence as Newt pushed the workshop door open.] He robbed the bank you were out in front of that day, you know.
[Don't mind the fact he's walking out into an open world that definitely should not be there. There's a desert on the horizon, and a forest to their right. Makes sense.]
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Quite the opposite, in fact, as when Newt walks away with his bucket, Credence makes it a few steps after him (already confused and nervous about the landscapes, mind) before he stops and looks down and back at the fat little niffler behind that chair leg.
Ah... um. He looks back and forth a few times between the niffler and Newt, but one of these things is a lot cuter than the other and also not asking him to meet potentially dangerous creatures, so. Sorry, he's abandoning Newt already to crouch down and stare right back at the niffler.
After a moment, he holds out his hand. Come... here??]
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Niffler is much smaller, softer, and fat when he scampers out from beneath the chair. He seemed a generally safer option... before he all but tackles Credence's leg, climbing up to his jacket to raid his pockets for... nothing?? What is this?? The shiniest thing on this man is his buttons, and he considers them before just turning to stare at Credence in bewilderment.]
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Why is he being judged??] N— Newt! [Credence calling out for Newt is noteworthy in a few ways: first, he actually called him by name, congrats; second, he's louder in this split-second than he's been since he was tearing apart the city in a rage.
Please help him, he's being heckled for buttons. In the meantime he'll just... address... the niffler??] I don't have anything!
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He won't hurt you! [He called, dumping the bucket of food and leaning to escape the animals' kisses. It proved difficult, given that parts of their face curled around his head.] He's just looking for something shiny!
[And... not finding anything?? Niffler stares at him in horror. He was so... plain. He gave his pockets a good pat to confirm this before dropping down into his lap, rummaging through his own fur. There's quite a bit of jingling before he recovers a single galleon, which he shoves at Credence's chest. Take it!!]
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But the niffler is patting him again, and Credence turns his attention back to the little guy in time to watch him rifle through his... self and produce a coin.
He blinks. It takes him a moment to hesitantly reach out and accept the galleon. Oh!] Thank you.
[And if Newt has managed to free himself from the other creatures and join them, Credence will look up at him with a kind of muted wonder. This fat little thing just gave him a gift??]
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He hasn't given me anyone anything since I was a student. He must like you. [He reaches towards him, but it's only to offer him a hand up. Niffler seems to relax when he realizes it, unballing his little fists from Credence's shirt.] You might find that missing later if he changes his mind. Fickle thing.
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[He stares wide-eyed at the niffler as he says this, addressing him more than Newt again. It's easier, and it seems smarter to talk to the thing crawling around on him directly, just in case. He might even try to smile for a fraction of a second, but that could just as easily be a wince of discomfort. Niffler, his shirt is wrinkled now...
Then,] Oh. [That time, to Newt, as he hesitates before taking his hand to get up. That was... an adventure, but whatever feelings he's having about it he doesn't voice aloud. Newt will have to interpret Credence's mild look, which at least has the added and rare benefit of eye contact as well as Credence glancing past him voluntarily toward the rest of the case's bizarre habitat.]
Mooncalves...?
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He wasn't. Whether or not Credence was smiling, Newt was, and he wasn't going to stop unless something cataclysmic event was taking place outside the suitcase.
But Credence was inside it, so it's probably fine.] Mooncalves! This way, we'll see Pickett and Dougal as we pass by. [And hey, he'll keep holding his hand to lead him through the tents. Niffler seems to be stuffing more coins into Credence's pockets as they go.]