a/n: Just a short little series of drabbles each having to do with something vital to pulling of the perfect con (or impromptu speaking, the original cause for this list.) Please review I'm thinking about one a day for the most part until its done. I'm working on a slightly longer two shot but seeing as that being written on a smart phone it might take a little while.

Disclaimer: I still do not own White Collar.

Confidence

The first thing you need to remember if you want your con to succeed is to BE CONFIDENT. Tell yourself that everything is going to go according to plan, have faith in your skills, if your smart enough to be able to plan at least a half good con then your smart enough to pull it off. Confidence, even false confidence, will do you more good than you can imagine when you first approach your mark. That means even if you don't feel it, act like you are confident, people are naturally more comfortable around someone who is confidant in themselves; stand up straight. don't slouch as if you were trying to hide from something, meet their eyes, don't avert them its an instant alarm that you're lying, work at a normal speed don't walk to fast it looks like you're trying to get away from something but don't shuffle your feet its a sign of nervousness. Just be cool, calm, and collected; people will be placed at ease, whether its as simple as simply picking their pocket to getting them to divulge enough information on how to pass their security unnoticed, your more likely to be able to pull it off if they aren't wary being around you. Just remember don't get cocky, keep an eye out for danger and plan ahead in case trouble arises. To many simple lifts have been foiled by someone getting to cocky and forgetting to check their surroundings. Be confidant in yourself and confidant in your work and remember no great heist was pulled without confidence.

IIIWhite CollarIII

A man in his early twenties dressed in a dark suit, the blue tie the exact same shade as his cerulean eyes, nervously twisted his cloth napkin in his lap. For the last half hour he had been picking at the food on the porcelain plate in front of him. If anyone had been seated close to him they might have been startled at the low murmurs that were coming from his mouth. If approached they would have faintly hear him scolding himself, "Come on, Neal, you can do this. Just walk over and talk to them, its not that hard." He nervously glanced over his shoulder at a well dressed man lounging in his seat waiting for his credit card to be returned. "You gotta do this, you gotta get it or else there's no food for you tonight."

He took a deep breath and pinched his nose before standing up, he slowly crossed the room before slowing at the man's table as if doing a double take. "I know you muss get this all the time but you look exactly like." He paused for a moment stopping to come up with an easily recognized, "George Clooney."

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

"N...Nick, Nick Halden. Pleasure to meet you." He stuck out his hand and after a moment of it being ignored, he withdrew it. "Sorry for bothering you." As he moved away he caught his foot and stumbled into the man who after placing his credit card in his wallet had risen to leave the restaurant. The young man's hand slid into the outer pocket of others jacket, his fingers encircling the wallet as he moved to pull it out. Before he could he felt a tight hand wrap around his wrist and the color drained from his face.

"Lifting a wallet isn't as easy as it seems, your hand is too heavy. I felt it as soon as it was inside my pocket, but then again most people wouldn't have." The man pulled his cell phone out of another pocket.

"Please, don't call the police. I swear I'll never come near you again. I wouldn't have done it, but my friend and I we don't have any money, what we scrounged up today was enough for one meal here to see if we could find someone to get the money from. Other than that we have nothing, the last real meal we we ate other than the one I ate here was almost two days ago. Please, just don't call the police."

The man chuckled, "You have guts kid, trying to pull something like that. And your smart to, most people would have been content picking pockets on the street but you recognized this as place where you could find the money you needed. I like that. You just were unfortunate enough to try to pick the pockets off one of the best in the game. I wouldn't have caught on if you weren't so damned nervous about it, be confident next time and everyone will fall for it hook, line, and sinker." He released his hold on the would be pickpocket's wrist and pulled the wallet out from it he withdrew two one hundred dollar bills and pressed them into the young man's hand. "That's for reminding me that once I was a beginner too and to ensure that there will be a next time so my advice won't go to waste. Now tell me son what's your real name?"

"Neal Caffrey." The young man looked at the ground, holding the precious money tightly. The other tilted his chin up.

"Look up and act natural, you've got some talent there, with a little bit of at least acting like your confidant you can make it. I'm certain that I haven't heard the last of Neal Caffey, a thief for the future generations to look to." With a wink and a flourish of his dark coat the man, left the restaurant barely avoiding collision with a short man, squinting through his thick glances at his friend who shoulders now straight walked confidently from the building.

A/n: So there you have it the first drabble, Confidence. Please tell me what you think.