[And he will be there, not taking a ride on one of the whales, of course, he's waiting on Caleb. But he's leaned on the railing and watching the sky whales come and go, taking the passengers around, mostly towards Marilla. And there's indeed a soft song of the whales whenever they take off or dock. He looks... quite peaceful, actually, tail slowly swishing behind him in long loops. Aside from the very colorful cloak he always has on him, the other clothes are new, from head to tip of his toes. His eyes are closed and he hums along with the whales, not really noticing Caleb when he arrives.]
[When Caleb gets there, his arms and hands are wrapped again, but the clothes are still newer than Molly saw last of the grubby wizard. Caleb sort of... stops. And stares. He's still in awe of this in front of him. It's so different from Lucien that he was just following. That they had fought in the snow, the uneasy truce where both groups were waiting for the other to betray.
That isn't who is in front of him now.
It's... simply Molly. His breath catches before he steps closer.]
I don't know that I can get used to seeing the whales like that.
[Molly perks up the moment he hears Caleb's voice and turns around giving him a half smile-half grin as he always does, waving him over to the railing. It's odd to see Caleb cleaned up and out of his ripped clothes but Molly doesn't care either way. Caleb is Caleb to him, regardless of the clothes he is wearing.]
You don't have to tell me that. I've never seen a whale in the first place, let alone a flying one, [he chuckles and turns around to watch one that's slowly taking off, letting out a low song that travels through the air.]
Can't tell if it's magic that made them this way or if they're born like this. Fascinating.
[Because of course, he did. He wouldn't be Mollymauk if he didn't try out anything that looks either exciting or dangerous.
He looks over to Caleb once the whale is gone.]
Oh, you know. Fine. Didn't expect this place to be so... open. [He pauses, contemplating. Then waves with his hand,] It's like walking through a very, very pretty brothel, but instead, it's a city.
[Yeah, nothing's going to happen in the Lucian-like way. He does have some odd fire magics at times, though not right now. They seem to pop out when he's getting a bit temperamental. But he's chatting with Caleb, everything's great.]
Oh? What did YOU see?
[His tail gives an excited flick from side to side as if he's a cat, not a tiefling.]
[Yes, it really needed a context, because it gets raised eyebrows. He was about to say he's flattered, until Caleb mentions he's been weird, apparently.]
Okay, you'll have to be more precise. Not entirely myself how? Was I drunk? High? Both at the same time?
[He tries to keep his voice lighter, but with Caleb lowering his voice, he also gets more serious, doesn't make a joke about 'shrooms' even if he was tempted to, and paying full attention to what the wizard is talking about. Caleb being worried means there's real reason to be worried.]
...did I hurt you? [Now THAT thought makes Molly's stomach churn in on itself.]
Edited (sorry for the edits >.<) 2021-10-26 12:41 (UTC)
[Molly nods.] At least, that's the last very clear memory I have. There are flashes that we left that place afterward but I can't put my finger on anything specific.
[And it's now that Molly looks worried himself, his expression clearly showing he's thinking about THE THING- when he woke up in the earth and got out and had no memories of anything whatsoever.]
[Caleb nods along, walking them gently along the gardens and thinking.
How should he start.... He keeps his voice low and tries to be calm about it.]
We kept going a bit after that. Woke up one morning and... Fjord, Jester, and Yasha were missing. Found out they had been taken by slave traders. We met a dwarf named Keg who was trying to find the group as well. We... Went after them. Fought them. It... didn't go well.
[Despite his efforts, Molly can still hear that tremor in the voice, and his eyes only narrow even more. This is not good. And as the story progresses, it turns out it's a real shitshow, as suspected.
Slave traders, Keg, fight... he has a really bad feeling about this and he can feel his gut turn a little. No, it didn't go well at all, it went very, horribly wrong. Caleb is just toning it down-
Molly stops walking-] Please tell me the fuckers didn't kill them. [By them he means Fjord, Jester, and Yasha. He doesn't even consider the possibility of himself being in danger.]
No. No, we got to them before the worst could happen.
They're fine. It's just...
[God. How does he get into this?]
Their leader was some kind of demon. And more powerful than we were prepared for. I- [He hesitates, his voice catching. Caleb remembers that night so clearly. The blood. The scream. Molly spitting in Lorenzo's face before the final twist of the scythe.]
[His expression softens when Caleb confirms the others are fine. Things would not be fine if Yasha was dead. Or Jester. Or Fjord. Or Caleb!
But something did happen and he keeps silent, waiting for his wizard man to spill it out. He's never seen him hesitate this much before- and then-]
Me? [Molly blinks at Caleb, as if the guy just told him some kind of fairytale with an ending even he couldn't make up. He's not conceited enough to think he can't die, but still, the thought of it is kind of ridiculous.
There's a long period where Molly just stares at Caleb, trying to make any sense of what he's just heard, and you can almost hear the click in his head as he sighs.] ...hmpf. No wonder I didn't recognize the drow. You met him after. [Then his brain finally catches up with 'I watched you die' and crap- he walks up to him and pats Caleb's cheek to make him look up at him.]
[He has lost himself, just a bit. At the pat to his cheek, Caleb looks up to Molly, regret and pain in those blue eyes. He'd moved past that night with everyone else, but a part of him always lingered there. Lucien had not helped the hurt.]
I killed the demon that killed you. I have not heard of the Iron Shepherds since that night. But yes, I. I buried you. Beau took your tapestry until we could give it to Yasha.
We went through our journeys together after we got the others back. But about a year later, we found out Cree had performed some. Ritual of some kind and brought you back. Except it wasn't you.
Then that's fine with me. Don't beat yourself over it.
[Because he can see it, and yet there's nothing he can do than offer this reassurance. He's not sure if the fact that he believes in it fully helps the case or not.
His eyes narrow as Caleb continues to talk- he doesn't care about the items, they could've taken his underwear too if they needed it. It's the last part that's making him narrow his eyes.]
I figured that whatever past I had would catch up somehow but not like that. [He doesn't look very happy with what he's hearing.] What did those guys do? [Caleb wouldn't bring them up if everything after went all peachy.]
[Now that he's getting to the bits of the present, Caleb is having to actually process it all. The fight in the snow, the dragon, the little murder spree at the asylum and running from Trent.
Gods. He runs a hand down his face trying to think what's the most important to talk about here.]
Whoever you were before you were you took your body back. And he was - is trying to bring a floating city in the astral sea to our plane.
[It will help both Molly to process what he just heard and Caleb to catch himself because he looks like he's on the verge of breaking. He slips his hand around his elbow and leads them away from the busy docks where people are getting on and off the flying whales. If Caleb wasn't sure if it was Molly before, the flashes through their small, but still there, synchrony should help- the feeling of an open campfire, flickering colorful lanterns, swaying in the wind, mixed now with slight worry- not for himself, but for Caleb.
He doesn't comment on anything until he finds them a spot to sit down, secluded from other people and gems passing by, in one of the alleys, urging Caleb to sit on one of the crates.]
So you're saying that whoever was in this body was a fucker on a massive scale and is proceeding to be just that on an even bigger scale?
It's hard to tell sometimes in this place. He's tugged along easily with Molly, now no longer questioning if it's him or not. It has to be. Sitting is good though, because once he realized he needed to breathe, it's coming with some force.]
To put it lightly, yes. He killed someone we were charged with protecting, and has almost killed us a couple of times now.
[He takes a seat next to him, giving him a pat on the back or two from time to time. It's only when he sees him that he's collected a little bit that he speaks up finally.]
Well, you have my full permission to scatter him to the wind. I'd do it myself if it weren't for [his face scrunches up] well, the circumstances.
[He wishes he had some of the memories from the guy that inhabited this body but sadly, he's coming up with blanks.]
Honestly, I think some of the others are still a bit hung up that he looks like you.
[Ever the shrewd one, even along with all the emotion he has. No, after the first couple of confrontations, Caleb had come to terms with Lucien not being anywhere near close to reminiscent of Molly at all and was going for the kill.]
You understand though? Why I was a bit... cautious seeing you here.
Well, I'll be counting on you to make them see the logic.
[Because Caleb is very good at that. Even Molly falls short on it sometimes and just goes with whatever feels good. But this- this is too important.]
Yes, don't worry. This place is weird, to begin with, I cannot judge you for judging me. I should've been more careful myself, now that you mention it. [He says it, with a tone to cheer up the situation a little.]
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But that sounds good. I'll meet you there shortly.
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Sounds good to me!
[And he will be there, not taking a ride on one of the whales, of course, he's waiting on Caleb. But he's leaned on the railing and watching the sky whales come and go, taking the passengers around, mostly towards Marilla. And there's indeed a soft song of the whales whenever they take off or dock. He looks... quite peaceful, actually, tail slowly swishing behind him in long loops. Aside from the very colorful cloak he always has on him, the other clothes are new, from head to tip of his toes. His eyes are closed and he hums along with the whales, not really noticing Caleb when he arrives.]
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That isn't who is in front of him now.
It's... simply Molly. His breath catches before he steps closer.]
I don't know that I can get used to seeing the whales like that.
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You don't have to tell me that. I've never seen a whale in the first place, let alone a flying one, [he chuckles and turns around to watch one that's slowly taking off, letting out a low song that travels through the air.]
Can't tell if it's magic that made them this way or if they're born like this. Fascinating.
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Who knows for sure. [Caleb could. Not the time right now.] Still nice to watch.
[And then his eyes go to Molly again.]
How have you settled in here?
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[Because of course, he did. He wouldn't be Mollymauk if he didn't try out anything that looks either exciting or dangerous.
He looks over to Caleb once the whale is gone.]
Oh, you know. Fine. Didn't expect this place to be so... open. [He pauses, contemplating. Then waves with his hand,] It's like walking through a very, very pretty brothel, but instead, it's a city.
[...]
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I also did not expect that. Or for some of the things I've seen here.
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Oh? What did YOU see?
[His tail gives an excited flick from side to side as if he's a cat, not a tiefling.]
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You.
[Wait, no that probably needs more context. He takes a breath, moving closer to lower his voice, talk quieter.]
The last time I saw you was, um. You know, you weren't quite entirely yourself? I was a bit on edge getting here and seeing you.
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Okay, you'll have to be more precise. Not entirely myself how? Was I drunk? High? Both at the same time?
[He tries to keep his voice lighter, but with Caleb lowering his voice, he also gets more serious, doesn't make a joke about 'shrooms' even if he was tempted to, and paying full attention to what the wizard is talking about. Caleb being worried means there's real reason to be worried.]
...did I hurt you? [Now THAT thought makes Molly's stomach churn in on itself.]
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You said the last thing you remember was the bowl being broken?
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[And it's now that Molly looks worried himself, his expression clearly showing he's thinking about THE THING- when he woke up in the earth and got out and had no memories of anything whatsoever.]
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How should he start.... He keeps his voice low and tries to be calm about it.]
We kept going a bit after that. Woke up one morning and... Fjord, Jester, and Yasha were missing. Found out they had been taken by slave traders. We met a dwarf named Keg who was trying to find the group as well. We... Went after them. Fought them. It... didn't go well.
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Slave traders, Keg, fight... he has a really bad feeling about this and he can feel his gut turn a little. No, it didn't go well at all, it went very, horribly wrong. Caleb is just toning it down-
Molly stops walking-] Please tell me the fuckers didn't kill them. [By them he means Fjord, Jester, and Yasha. He doesn't even consider the possibility of himself being in danger.]
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They're fine. It's just...
[God. How does he get into this?]
Their leader was some kind of demon. And more powerful than we were prepared for. I- [He hesitates, his voice catching. Caleb remembers that night so clearly. The blood. The scream. Molly spitting in Lorenzo's face before the final twist of the scythe.]
I watched him kill you.
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But something did happen and he keeps silent, waiting for his wizard man to spill it out. He's never seen him hesitate this much before- and then-]
Me? [Molly blinks at Caleb, as if the guy just told him some kind of fairytale with an ending even he couldn't make up. He's not conceited enough to think he can't die, but still, the thought of it is kind of ridiculous.
There's a long period where Molly just stares at Caleb, trying to make any sense of what he's just heard, and you can almost hear the click in his head as he sighs.] ...hmpf. No wonder I didn't recognize the drow. You met him after. [Then his brain finally catches up with 'I watched you die' and crap- he walks up to him and pats Caleb's cheek to make him look up at him.]
But you lived, right?
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[He has lost himself, just a bit. At the pat to his cheek, Caleb looks up to Molly, regret and pain in those blue eyes. He'd moved past that night with everyone else, but a part of him always lingered there. Lucien had not helped the hurt.]
I killed the demon that killed you. I have not heard of the Iron Shepherds since that night. But yes, I. I buried you. Beau took your tapestry until we could give it to Yasha.
We went through our journeys together after we got the others back. But about a year later, we found out Cree had performed some. Ritual of some kind and brought you back. Except it wasn't you.
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[Because he can see it, and yet there's nothing he can do than offer this reassurance. He's not sure if the fact that he believes in it fully helps the case or not.
His eyes narrow as Caleb continues to talk- he doesn't care about the items, they could've taken his underwear too if they needed it. It's the last part that's making him narrow his eyes.]
I figured that whatever past I had would catch up somehow but not like that. [He doesn't look very happy with what he's hearing.] What did those guys do? [Caleb wouldn't bring them up if everything after went all peachy.]
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Gods. He runs a hand down his face trying to think what's the most important to talk about here.]
Whoever you were before you were you took your body back. And he was - is trying to bring a floating city in the astral sea to our plane.
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[It will help both Molly to process what he just heard and Caleb to catch himself because he looks like he's on the verge of breaking. He slips his hand around his elbow and leads them away from the busy docks where people are getting on and off the flying whales. If Caleb wasn't sure if it was Molly before, the flashes through their small, but still there, synchrony should help- the feeling of an open campfire, flickering colorful lanterns, swaying in the wind, mixed now with slight worry- not for himself, but for Caleb.
He doesn't comment on anything until he finds them a spot to sit down, secluded from other people and gems passing by, in one of the alleys, urging Caleb to sit on one of the crates.]
So you're saying that whoever was in this body was a fucker on a massive scale and is proceeding to be just that on an even bigger scale?
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Was he breathing?
It's hard to tell sometimes in this place. He's tugged along easily with Molly, now no longer questioning if it's him or not. It has to be. Sitting is good though, because once he realized he needed to breathe, it's coming with some force.]
To put it lightly, yes. He killed someone we were charged with protecting, and has almost killed us a couple of times now.
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Well, you have my full permission to scatter him to the wind. I'd do it myself if it weren't for [his face scrunches up] well, the circumstances.
[He wishes he had some of the memories from the guy that inhabited this body but sadly, he's coming up with blanks.]
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[Ever the shrewd one, even along with all the emotion he has. No, after the first couple of confrontations, Caleb had come to terms with Lucien not being anywhere near close to reminiscent of Molly at all and was going for the kill.]
You understand though? Why I was a bit... cautious seeing you here.
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[Because Caleb is very good at that. Even Molly falls short on it sometimes and just goes with whatever feels good. But this- this is too important.]
Yes, don't worry. This place is weird, to begin with, I cannot judge you for judging me. I should've been more careful myself, now that you mention it. [He says it, with a tone to cheer up the situation a little.]
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[He looks up at the whales they've walked past; he can't hear them now.]
So what are you going to do?
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