[ Molly's always a little suspicious of new people outside of the carnie kind, but Caleb had vouched for the dark elf and Fjord did tell him about the second new guy. Caduceus. It doesn't mean he's not about to leave it be, though, and the evening after the welcome party he sidles in beside Essek to have a purple-to-purple talk. ]
Hello there. I'm Mollymauk, I'm sure they have told you that. Caleb's friend, was it?
[ He doesn't have a specific feeling about Xhorhas - it was where his Charm was from, but they had treated her badly. He was sometimes snapped at 'for looking Xhorhasian' which he rarely even bothered acknowledging - if people were hating on tieflings, it seemed like the Coast would be more sensible. Maybe it was his color.
They also ran into the spy in the catacombs, but that was as far as Molly has ever had connections with it. It was just another country, albeit full of non-humans. ]
A wizard as well, right?
[ Like that wasn't kind of obvious. He had that look of thinking too much on him behind the mask. ]
Essek had observed the tiefling every now and then from across the room. He had heard a little of Molly from Caleb, but not many specifics. Yet it's incredibly easy to see how he had left such an indelible impression upon all of them.
His arms are folded loosely across his chest, seemingly relaxed even as he had lingered mostly at the edges. It seemed inevitable that he would be cornered eventually.
Essek arches a curious eyebrow. "Yes, I am. I met Caleb and the others when they first journeyed to the Dynasty some months ago and made a rather...impressive entrance"
[ Molly takes up an near-uncomfortable amount of space next to the drow, like a mix of curiousness and intimidation. 'Protective asshole' might be the name of the stance, honestly. ]
Well, we do like our entrances. Always suckers for flair, us.
[ His tail sways a bit as the 'Dynasty' is mentioned, and Molly has no fucking idea what that is. Sounds important and full of people who think they are. ]
If Essek appears either uncomfortable or intimidated, it doesn't show; instead he recognizes far too easily the intention in the way Molly arranges himself. The others haven't told him very much of Mollymauk, but the space that he occupies in their hearts has always been clear.
"So I have come to understand."
The smile that follows the rather transparent needling question is carefully and perfectly cordial.
"Friends." For some reason it still feels a little off saying it. "Yes, at least that is my understanding."
[ It's interesting, the way Essek speaks. It all seems so very calculated, only sharing the minimum. He supposes he can't blame the drow for that, but it confuses him even more how he became a Nein. ]
Your understanding, huh? How long have you been with this ragtag group, then?
[ Molly asks, curious. Fjord had talked about the Caduceus fellow a lot more than this wizard, so it had to be a shorter time, right? At the same time, he was close enough to come live with them and even going to sleep in the same room as Caleb.
[ For all his careful answers, the question makes him briefly quirk an eyebrow, as though he didn't hear it correctly. Interesting, that Molly seems to think he is an active member of the group. It seems unlikely that even Caleb would have framed his involvement with them that way. ]
We have known each other for some months. Generally I am unable to leave Rosohna, so the Nein have relied on my aid when they have need of it.
[ The few things he's heard about Essek other than that the man is a Nein and a wizard is that he gave them a house, so pardon Molly for not being in the know. It only means he has to get to know him better, all while prodding a little. ]
It is my home. [ It's a simplified and mostly true answer, at least. ] I have obligations that I cannot abandon whenever I choose.
[ As much as traveling with the Nein may sound appealing on occasion. On the other hand, fighting dragons and some of the other things they've found themselves entangled in is decidedly less so. ]
Transportation, until Caleb learned the required spells. And as a liaison to the Bright Queen herself, when appropriate.
[ Molly ignores the 'my home' part, because honestly that means nothing to him. Obligations? That's fair. Boring, but fair.
He honestly did not think 'transportation' was going to be the thing, and he gives a confused blink before he remembers what Caleb had said about going places. It made a lot for sense if they could get there quicker than having to walk or ride for weeks or months. ]
[ One could make the argument that Essek could leave whenever he wished, but aside from having spent the entirety of his life in Rosohna, there are a great many resources and connections he would be entirely without or would need other means of acquiring if he left. The obligations are part of his work and station, which affords him certain privileges he would not have otherwise.
Essek tilts his head curiously at Molly; given his obvious appearance and their previous talk of the Dynasty, it seems an odd question, but he answers anyway. ]
Leylas Kryn, ruler of the Kryn Dynasty in Xhorhas.
[ Molly usually just hops over things he doesn't understand, and the Dynasty was one of them. He's never really thought about the name of things, mostly just hearing rumors about 'cricks'. Sounds like it was a Queendom and their wizard buddy here was a crony. ]
Well, that certainly sounds fancy~!
[ Also all noble and annoying, but he can deal. The elf obviously meant a lot to Caleb and they others seemed fine with him as well. ]
[ If there was a response to the former part of the conversation, it's immediately derailed. The bluntness of the question clearly takes Essek off guard for a brief moment of bewilderment before a thin smile slides into place. ]
[ Molly did get a little one, but it's going to take more than that to truly knock Essek off kilter. His smile gets a little tighter around the eyes, and there's an undeniable warmth creeping up the back of his neck. He tilts his head curiously a little at Molly. ]
[ Essek watches the progression of that wandering hand on his arm with middling interest, one eyebrow arched slightly. ]
You seem to have thought about this quite a lot already.
[ The violet gaze flicks back to Molly, settling into something more smoldering. If the tiefling wants to play games, Essek would hate to disappoint him. He leans in, voice lowering. ]
[ Molly chuckles, giving Essek a heated look - essentially playing flirt-chicken with the second prettiest purple person in this house. ]
Oh, you'd be scandalized about all the things that go on in my head. I'll be putting money in a betting pool to see how soon you two hook up and make sparkles in the bed.
[ His forked tongue slip out, licking over his lips. ]
[ Essek finds himself curiously examining the intricate tattoos on Molly's lovely skin; it's the first time he's seen them this close up, and the detail is quite striking. The more he looks, the more he sees, nearly too distracted by it rather than his words. Those red eyes are rather beguiling in their uniqueness. ]
Hmm.
[ Without even rising to that particular bait, Essek presses the tip of a finger under Molly's chin, nudging it upwards to get a better look at the feathers fanning over his neck. ]
[ Oh, he likes this game. It's sexy and funny in one, and Essek is an excellent player.
Once the drow says he's interested in the tattoos, Molly puts his adorned arm by the wizard's head so he can get a really good look - at the same time as he's getting even closer and boxing him in more.
It's followed by Essek's finger tipping his head a bit, and that sends a shiver through Molly's spine. He's toying with someone powerful here, and it's amazing. ]
Oh, I certainly am. Definitely not the only one, though... you don't need tattoos to be an exquisite centerpiece of any room.
[ Molly may be trying to box him in, but Essek hasn't budged, seemingly unperturbed. This close, that shiver is unmistakable, and that, more than the compliment, is what makes him smile more, smooth and smoldering. Essek is well aware of his own desirability, but there's no competing with the vanity of a man tattooed with peacock feathers. ]
Indeed.
[ He gives the proffered arm a cursory glance, but the red eye amidst the feathers low on Molly's neck is what's caught his attention first. There are others like it, he's noticed. The finger that had the tiefling's chin tilted up trails downward now instead, over warm skin and raised scars, lazily finding its way to the eye. The texture abruptly changes where the skin turns red, and in fact does not feel like skin at all. Essek traces the outline with a curious fingertip. ]
Yet I can't help thinking of the two of us, you're the more mysterious by far.
[ That touch changes the game at once and Molly pulls back. Normally he would just have been happy to show off even more, but all this Lucien shit had really fucked him up about those eyes. ]
No mystery there. Just a remnant of something long gone.
[ He brushes back his hair, stepping away from the drow. It means he loses, but so be it. ]
[ Essek doesn't pursue, though the reaction is a little unexpected, given the theme of their little game. It does get Molly to give him some more space, which isn't unwelcome. He makes a note to ask Caleb about it later. ]
I see.
[ He glances briefly out towards the others, involved in their own conversations. ] You arrived here with Fjord, yes? Although you seem to remember different things.
[ The tiefling is a little prickly both over losing and about his own stupid reaction, but Essek changes the topic, and he can pay better attention to that rather than sulking. ]
Yes. It's... strange. He's from a time that's over nine months in the future for me. He's gone through all these things I don't even understand. Caleb, too.
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devilstongue) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
lusi2020-11-13 08:36 pm
JANUARY 2021
For Essek
Hello there. I'm Mollymauk, I'm sure they have told you that. Caleb's friend, was it?
[ He doesn't have a specific feeling about Xhorhas - it was where his Charm was from, but they had treated her badly. He was sometimes snapped at 'for looking Xhorhasian' which he rarely even bothered acknowledging - if people were hating on tieflings, it seemed like the Coast would be more sensible. Maybe it was his color.
They also ran into the spy in the catacombs, but that was as far as Molly has ever had connections with it. It was just another country, albeit full of non-humans. ]
A wizard as well, right?
[ Like that wasn't kind of obvious. He had that look of thinking too much on him behind the mask. ]
So... how did you know Caleb, again?
20 years late I'm so sorry
His arms are folded loosely across his chest, seemingly relaxed even as he had lingered mostly at the edges. It seemed inevitable that he would be cornered eventually.
Essek arches a curious eyebrow. "Yes, I am. I met Caleb and the others when they first journeyed to the Dynasty some months ago and made a rather...impressive entrance"
same lol
Well, we do like our entrances. Always suckers for flair, us.
[ His tail sways a bit as the 'Dynasty' is mentioned, and Molly has no fucking idea what that is. Sounds important and full of people who think they are. ]
You and Caleb are... friends, then?
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"So I have come to understand."
The smile that follows the rather transparent needling question is carefully and perfectly cordial.
"Friends." For some reason it still feels a little off saying it. "Yes, at least that is my understanding."
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Your understanding, huh? How long have you been with this ragtag group, then?
[ Molly asks, curious. Fjord had talked about the Caduceus fellow a lot more than this wizard, so it had to be a shorter time, right? At the same time, he was close enough to come live with them and even going to sleep in the same room as Caleb.
The tiefling is nosy as fuck about that, too. ]
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We have known each other for some months. Generally I am unable to leave Rosohna, so the Nein have relied on my aid when they have need of it.
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Oh, so you're stuck over there? What a pity.
[ Why, though? ]
...what kind of aid?
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[ As much as traveling with the Nein may sound appealing on occasion. On the other hand, fighting dragons and some of the other things they've found themselves entangled in is decidedly less so. ]
Transportation, until Caleb learned the required spells. And as a liaison to the Bright Queen herself, when appropriate.
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He honestly did not think 'transportation' was going to be the thing, and he gives a confused blink before he remembers what Caleb had said about going places. It made a lot for sense if they could get there quicker than having to walk or ride for weeks or months. ]
That's convenient. Who is this Bright Queen?
no subject
Essek tilts his head curiously at Molly; given his obvious appearance and their previous talk of the Dynasty, it seems an odd question, but he answers anyway. ]
Leylas Kryn, ruler of the Kryn Dynasty in Xhorhas.
no subject
Well, that certainly sounds fancy~!
[ Also all noble and annoying, but he can deal. The elf obviously meant a lot to Caleb and they others seemed fine with him as well. ]
So are you and Caleb fucking?
no subject
No.
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Why not? You'd look good together.
[ Wizard on wizard? Hot. ]
no subject
Oh, you think so?
[ Wizards are the sexiest, after all. ]
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[ Is that a hand sliding over Essek's arm? Is certainly is. ]
Two bookish men, reading each other's bodies like you read your big tomes... trailing over skin like the pages? Yes, that would be a sight.
[ Is he being a dick a la his wall-push of Caleb to tell him to be less obvious about his stealing... or actually interested? Who knows. ]
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You seem to have thought about this quite a lot already.
[ The violet gaze flicks back to Molly, settling into something more smoldering. If the tiefling wants to play games, Essek would hate to disappoint him. He leans in, voice lowering. ]
I'm flattered.
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Oh, you'd be scandalized about all the things that go on in my head. I'll be putting money in a betting pool to see how soon you two hook up and make sparkles in the bed.
[ His forked tongue slip out, licking over his lips. ]
Meanwhile...
no subject
Hmm.
[ Without even rising to that particular bait, Essek presses the tip of a finger under Molly's chin, nudging it upwards to get a better look at the feathers fanning over his neck. ]
You're quite the work of art, aren't you?
no subject
Once the drow says he's interested in the tattoos, Molly puts his adorned arm by the wizard's head so he can get a really good look - at the same time as he's getting even closer and boxing him in more.
It's followed by Essek's finger tipping his head a bit, and that sends a shiver through Molly's spine. He's toying with someone powerful here, and it's amazing. ]
Oh, I certainly am. Definitely not the only one, though... you don't need tattoos to be an exquisite centerpiece of any room.
no subject
Indeed.
[ He gives the proffered arm a cursory glance, but the red eye amidst the feathers low on Molly's neck is what's caught his attention first. There are others like it, he's noticed. The finger that had the tiefling's chin tilted up trails downward now instead, over warm skin and raised scars, lazily finding its way to the eye. The texture abruptly changes where the skin turns red, and in fact does not feel like skin at all. Essek traces the outline with a curious fingertip. ]
Yet I can't help thinking of the two of us, you're the more mysterious by far.
no subject
No mystery there. Just a remnant of something long gone.
[ He brushes back his hair, stepping away from the drow. It means he loses, but so be it. ]
no subject
I see.
[ He glances briefly out towards the others, involved in their own conversations. ] You arrived here with Fjord, yes? Although you seem to remember different things.
no subject
Yes. It's... strange. He's from a time that's over nine months in the future for me. He's gone through all these things I don't even understand. Caleb, too.
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