lusi | The Neinhaus

[ Like cats, Mollymauk seems to sense someone being uncomfortable around him - and also like cats, he's honing in on bothering that person immediately. It's not strange that Jon is avoiding him, of course. Considering how he left their earlier meeting with a friendly threat, he'd be surprised if he was greeted with open arms.

Still. Maybe some smoothing over is in order if Jon is going to arrive at their house parties, so the tiefling slides up next to the Archivist with a smile and another drink as a tribute. ]

Hello, darling. Enjoying yourself?

[Jon actually jumps when Molly just sort of appears.

All right, so it is more likely that Molly did not just appear. In fact, his approach was probably entirely noticeable, given the sheer amount of jewelry he wears. But Jon didn't notice, too absorbed in looking elsewhere.

To cover being startled, he accepts the drink without really thinking about it.]

Ah, thank you. [Good start, Jon.] It's nice, actually, to be at an affair that this place hasn't planned. I take it another of your own has arrived?

[Don't look at the tattoos. Don't do it.]

[ Oh, he noticed that startled and actually feels a little bad. A little.

Molly takes a brief look around for any randomly appearing machines and then leans to the same wall. ]

I fully prefer these little shindigs. Plus this is a little smaller and more intimate.

[ At the question, he gestures to the magical sign. ]

Veth. She's the really small woman. Absolute delight, but watch your pockets.

[So far, no tape recorders. So far. Jon tries to relax more as Molly leans on the wall.]

Lucky me, or unfortunate for her, I don't really have anything worth stealing.

[A lighter, maybe. And his cigarettes. And he actually takes a second to pat the pocket he knows those are in and--yes. They're still there. And if he loses them at some point in the night, that's fine. He can replace both of them: he's been quite diligent in trying to collect credits with his clothes on.]

It's nice that there are so many of you here. Well, I guess nice is a strange way to put it.

[But Molly knows what he means, right? Jon has been on his own since getting here, and, if not for a couple of stubborn people, he would probably still be alone.]

Oh, worth doesn't matter. She likes buttons.

[ ...and just the thrill itself, he's sure. Molly watches Jon check his pockets with a slightly amused grin on his face, before he nods a bit. ]

It's nice to see them, yeah, but I'm not exactly fond of more of my friends trapped in this place.

[ He doesn't do well on his own, so it was a blessing that Fjord had been there when he arrived - the mistakes and distrust at first aside. Jon was alone here, Molly could figure out that much, but it also meant he didn't have to worry about his friends and how this place might put them in bad situations.

Sure, some growth had been good, but other things... well. ]

[Jon catches sight of Oran mingling with someone before he disappears back inside. Oran is the reason he's staying, though if he manages to socialize more it won't be a bad thing.]

If my clothes start falling off, I'll know who to find.

[God, he hopes he doesn't lose buttons tonight. As far as he can remember, the only person here that's seen him without a shred of dignity is Oran, and he thinks he'd like to keep it that way if he can. Jon doesn't have particularly high hopes for that ambition, though.

It's impossible to ignore Molly's very physical presence, and Jon finds himself looking at the scars exposed by the crop top. He has plenty of his own, but Molly's look--he can't decide the word he wants. Many of them look to have been caused by the same thing. The only uniformity Jon has is in the circular scars dotting his face and neck. And arm. And, perhaps, the distinct blade-marks on his throat. He hasn't looked at this with any deep attention lately so he can't really recall how even they look.]

Edited 2021-03-07 05:42 (UTC)

As long as you're aware! She's full of mischief, that one.

[ He sounds utterly fond when he speaks of Veth, even if it was still difficult to connect their little scrappy goblin with this lovely halfling that was both married and had a kid. At least they were both the same feral messes.

Those deep red eyes notice the glance Jon gives to his exposed scars - arms covered with them, intermingled and somewhat hidden by the tattoos, neck and shoulders littered with slices traveling down the chest until hidden by the crop top, then even a bit further under that. Molly found that scars always told interesting stories (even if he mostly made his up) and Jon seemed to have had an interesting life, to say the least. The round ones are curious, and so is the mark at his neck. It seemed a lot more serious than the ones that marked his own. ]

You wanna trade scar stories or just enjoying the view?

[Jon should know by now that looking at anyone is no longer a subtle venture for him. Still, he feels caught out when Molly asks. Not enough to be apologetic, however.]

The uniformity is interesting, [he says at last. He certainly is not going to admit to any aesthetic interest beyond that. But he does want to know, and soliciting stories is far safer than asking.] I am curious to know where they come from. And if you'd like to know about mine... I'll tell you.

[It seems only fair.]

[ Good insight, surprisingly shitty charisma. ]

Well, I'm not shy about sharing!

[ He grins, dramatically gesturing to his own scars. ]

Dropped my scimitar while learning to juggle. [ Molly starts, pointing at one on his forearm. ] Battle wound, battle wound, battle wound... [ He continues, moving his finger to some of the slightly wider and less uniform ones. ] Accidentally stabbed myself on a kitchen knife... and the rest are self-inflicted.

[ There's a small shrug. In all honesty he doesn't fully know that's true, but seeing how his powers work and the scars he made on himself by using it, it makes sense. ]

[Jon's eyes wander with interest as Molly rattles off information. When he asked about the tattoos, he'd compelled Molly to tell him the truth, and he wonders now if he's being fed stories again. It's possible, probably even likely. But the way Molly shrugs after admitting to the rest being self-inflicted seems... telling. Jon is willing to believe that.

He supposes it's his turn. He's more hesitant.]

All the ones that look like this are from... worms, [he says as he lightly touches the circular scars on the side of his face. His hand travels to his throat.] A friend was going to kill me... or at least make it impossible for me to speak ever again. And then someone who wasn't a friend was quite upset with me.

[ A little bit of both, to be honest.

Molly watches Jon curiously as the man starts speaking of his own scars, and it's a lot. Worms and friends turning against you? Not great. It makes him understand that quietness a bit more. ]

Well, sounds like you need new friends and less worms, darling. Another drink?

Edited 2021-03-07 19:42 (UTC)

I can't really blame any of them for any of it. But the worms I can absolutely do without.

[Jon looks down at his drink and promptly knocks the rest of it back. He's not a very big man, but it is a party, isn't it?]

And I think another drink is a fantastic idea. There are... more, [he says with a gesture at his body. Maybe his wardrobe makes more sense now, too. Jon frequently has his arms covered and, while it had been cold, was happy to wear gloves and mittens to hide the burn around his right hand. He's gotten used to all of them, but every now and again he is struck very hard by the knowledge of how he looks. And how he used to look.]

I believe someone dropped off a case of liquor that might be worth investigating.

[ I can't really blame any of them for any of it. That is a can of worms, which in the current discussion is even worse. He can't imagine any of his friends trying to kill him for any reason, but... then again. Lucien.

While he's curious about the other scars, it's not liekl he's going to ask Jon to stip in the middle of the party, especially since he doesn't have any in interesting places himself to share. So instead Molly hones in on the drinks and grins as he hears about the case of liquor. ]

Yessss, I love that idea!

[ He tosses an around around Jon's shoulder, ready to head for the goods. ]

[Jon doesn't exactly flinch as Molly's arm slings around him, but it's obvious he wasn't expecting it. He doesn't pull away, though, and allows the ebullient tiefling to lead him to the alcohol.

Something in this moment reminds him very much of Tim, which makes him smile. Tim would be far better off here than Jon is. Anyone would be, even if Jon wouldn't wish it on anyone.

He catches sight of a familiar pair of horns on the way, and he's glad to see that Oran seems to be enjoying himself.]

What have you been drinking?

[ The tiefling expected maybe a flinch or some tension, so he's pleasantly surprised when Jon doesn't pull away. Instead they reach the offerings of booze, and Molly starts pointing things out. ]

Ale, mead and wine from the magic table, cheap wine I bought, some weird bubbly bottles from the arcade that I think are not even alcohol, and the things Oran brought.

[ He's tried a little of everything, which might be why he seems tipsy. ]

[A small smile flashes across his face at the mention of Oran and he does indeed see a few familiar bottles. He reaches for one of those to open after setting his cup down. He knows he'll like this. At least, he's fairly sure he will if it came from Oran's stash.]

He didn't want to come empty-handed, [he says as he pours himself a generous amount. Then he offers the bottle to Molly. He steps back a bit - not away from Molly so much as away from the table, should anyone else want to peruse.

Jon catches sight of what he thinks might be the guest of honor, a short woman talking animatedly to someone he doesn't recognize. She clearly means a lot to the people here.]

He's very sweet like that.

[ Considering he had a threesome with him and Even, Molly's pretty fond of his kinsman. He happily accepts the bottle and pours himself a glass, making a little 'cheers' gesture with it. ]

You don't seem like a party person, so it's nice you're actually here.

He is sweet.

[He's quite fond of Oran, and for a moment that clearly shows.

And Jon knows exactly what he seems like; he looks down at his drink for a moment as he bobs his head one way, then the other, as if weighing that accusation.]

I went to more when I was younger. [Jon, you aren't that old. But the fact that he has streaks of grey in his hair probably makes that statement more convincing.] I started avoiding them after I was made head archivist. My assistants still dragged me out now and then, though. Usually to pubs.

[And he is grateful to them for that.]

Edited 2021-03-13 21:08 (UTC)

[ Oh, he sees that look and smiles. It's a good thing Jon had some friends here. Or more, Molly's not sure. (For someone who had left with a friendly little threat, he's certainly acting like that never happened.) ]

Head archivist. Fancy.

[ He has zero idea what that means, but it certainly reminds him of Beau and her monk library place. ]

Sounds like some good assistants. It's never good to work too hard. Makes you lose the spark of what you enjoy.

They were good, [he agrees.] But the job isn't one I was expecting. I was probably lucky to have them.

[Imposter syndrome hit him hard when he'd gotten that promotion and, he thinks, he didn't handle it very well at the time. He still doesn't handle it well, but he doesn't have an archive here. And he is... increasingly aware of that deficit. He thinks of Molly's eyes and his scars and the void beneath the surface that some terrible part of him wants to rip open to see if he can find some light.

He lets go of a heavier breath and tries to keep that door in his mind closed. Tightly closed. But there are a lot of people here and little things keep trickling under.]

I didn't necessarily do my job because I enjoyed it. It felt... necessary. I wanted to understand things.

[ Molly watches Jon for moment, trying to make any sense of the tension in the air. He really reminds him of Caleb when he gets like this. Intense and guilty and hungry for knowledge. The tiefling's tail flick a bit and he smiles, giving Jon another pat on the shoulder. ]

A lot of people want to know how the world ticks. Few people ever manage, and those who do wish they didn't.

[ To him, that was a good thing. Mysteries were better than discoveries, and lies were always better than the truth. Just looking for the truth all the time only revealed the ugly things. ]

So that's why the machines pop up? You're supposed to put information in your archive, because that's what you're the head of?

How terribly Lovecraftian of you, [he says dryly. At least he doesn't jump this time when Molly pats his shoulder. Then he intones:] We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. Some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.

[It's fairly clear that he is reciting something. That was probably far more dramatic than necessary, but it's the first thing he thought of. He's developed a strange appreciation for some of Lovecraft's work since sinking deeper into a world shaped by extraplanar things that human minds can't really comprehend, by try to anyway.

More than anyone, perhaps, Jon understands the danger of searching. But he has yet to stop. And now Knowing and Seeing are just a breath away, if he wants to. Sometimes closer than that, whether he likes it or not. He clears his throat and a wry smile crosses his face.]

Sorry, that was perhaps a little overdramatic. The archive collects first hand accounts of encounters with the esoteric and supernatural, and I have been endeavoring to preserve written accounts in another format - in this case, on tape. The tape recorders actually appearing places is... relatively new. And trying to get rid of them has been pointless: they appear anyway, whether I know they're around or not.

Edited 2021-03-17 20:00 (UTC)

[ Molly looks intensely confused for a moment, because that's a lot of words and takes on this weird island they're on, and it all sounds very hoity-toity and far above his worldview.

(If 'cool story, bro' existed in Exandria, that would be his reply.)

Instead he just looks vaguely amused, tail flicking a bit as Jon goes back to being slightly more normal. What an intense person this man is? It's fun and a little concerning in one. ]

Well, it's pretty weird but convenient at the same time, isn't it? Creepy as fuck, but now it makes a little more sense.

[ A little. ]

So you're essentially an occult researcher and that has given you side effects.

[Sometimes he's a pedantic shithead, Molly. It's fine to call him an ass. But being intense and concerning has kind of been his thing for... a while. He doesn't know how to turn it off most of the time. Still, he's a bit startled when Molly pretty much hits the target dead on.]

I--Well. Yes, that's one way to put it. Rather accurate, really.

[The side effects are fairly intense, and he wants to say that it's really just him, but. It's happened to his assistants in various ways. There's no real getting away from it so long as they are all tied to the Institute.]

The research is really just follow up on the statements we receive, just to see what can be verified. We rarely throw anything out, but. Unverified and unsubstantiated or disproven statements tend to get filed differently.

[ Molly looks quite pleased that he was 'right', smiling at Jon when the man continues to explain. It still sounds annoyingly like a library - files and verification and whatnot, but at least it's a little more interesting now. ]

What's the weirdest thing you've heard?

The Neinhaus

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cw: description of scars

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cw continued for a while probably

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cw: reference to parasites, violence

cw boys tbh

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