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It was a fairly nice night after the evening's show, and many of the circus were sitting outside their wagons and vardos, looking at the fall sky with all its stars and the crisp, shining moon.
Molly is weaving through the gathered group, holding a wine bottle and a little package in his hands. He still manages to ruffle Toya's hair as he passes by thanks to his tail, and then unceremoniously drapes himself over Yasha with a content sigh.
"Hello, darling. It's good to see you back," he says with a smile and gives her temple a chaste kiss. "Wine? It looks fairly decent."
Molly is weaving through the gathered group, holding a wine bottle and a little package in his hands. He still manages to ruffle Toya's hair as he passes by thanks to his tail, and then unceremoniously drapes himself over Yasha with a content sigh.
"Hello, darling. It's good to see you back," he says with a smile and gives her temple a chaste kiss. "Wine? It looks fairly decent."
Edited 2018-09-25 21:36 (UTC)
"Hello," Yasha echoes, glancing sideways momentarily as she shifts to get comfortable. Molly has draped himself like a brightly shawl across her shoulders, but she does not mind. She never minds, when it's him. This is one of her favourite parts of eventually returning to the circus: when Mollymauk makes her repent for all of the physical affection she has denied him during her absence.
She takes the bottle from him upon prompting, turning it over in her hands. She's looking at the label more than reading it.
"Sure," she says eventually, and passes it back, "Where did you get it from?"
She takes the bottle from him upon prompting, turning it over in her hands. She's looking at the label more than reading it.
"Sure," she says eventually, and passes it back, "Where did you get it from?"
He buries his face in her hair with a content sigh, touch-starved and delighted to see his best friend again. The rest of the circus were of course amazing, too, but they didn't have the same patience for his bullshit as she did.
"I bought it! It's apparently a good vintage or whatever," Molly isn't picky when it came to these things, as long as it wasn't vinegar. "I got it for us. I was hoping you'd be back before we left this village."
Molly slides down from her shoulder and sits next to her instead, tail whipping a bit back and forth before it stops to curl around her back. "We've had some great shows lately."
"I bought it! It's apparently a good vintage or whatever," Molly isn't picky when it came to these things, as long as it wasn't vinegar. "I got it for us. I was hoping you'd be back before we left this village."
Molly slides down from her shoulder and sits next to her instead, tail whipping a bit back and forth before it stops to curl around her back. "We've had some great shows lately."
"Okay," Yasha says steadily, because she is a) not all that concerned with vintage and b) doesn't really know what 'vintage' means anyway. It's nice to think that he went out and got something with the intent to share it with her, though. That's all that matters.
She sighs, rubs her shoulder slowly as he makes himself comfortable tucked against her side. In all honesty, she didn't think she'd be back here before the circus left. It wouldn't be the first time she's had to play keep-up, but it's nice to be back with room to spare. The Stormlord's guiding hand has pushed her back just in time, it seems. Though, not without missing some great shows.
"Tell me about them?"
She sighs, rubs her shoulder slowly as he makes himself comfortable tucked against her side. In all honesty, she didn't think she'd be back here before the circus left. It wouldn't be the first time she's had to play keep-up, but it's nice to be back with room to spare. The Stormlord's guiding hand has pushed her back just in time, it seems. Though, not without missing some great shows.
"Tell me about them?"
He pops the cork and takes a small swig just to make sure it's not nasty, but it wasn't bad at all. Smiling, Molly hands it over to Yasha, looking quite pleased with himself. They could have some wine, talk, have a sleep pile.
All was good again.
"Well, we earned a lot of copper in a couple, people were generous and not as xenophobic as it usually is in these backwater places. That's a big plus. We also had a hilarious drunk half-orc one night that Bo tried to throw out. The guy wasn't violent or anything, just very disruptive in an excited way. Bo and him were pushing each other for quite a while. You could probably have tossed him out the tent in three seconds flat, but watching them go at it was the definitely highlight of that night. Pretty sure it was less about getting him out and more about pride after the first minute."
He talks animatedly, waving his hands a bit as emphasis and laughing a bit.
"Then last show Toya scraped her knee right before her act, and she was very upset about it. We didn't have a mid-show act so Gustav asked me to juggle while they cleaned our little star up. It was just enough to not get the crowd antsy."
All was good again.
"Well, we earned a lot of copper in a couple, people were generous and not as xenophobic as it usually is in these backwater places. That's a big plus. We also had a hilarious drunk half-orc one night that Bo tried to throw out. The guy wasn't violent or anything, just very disruptive in an excited way. Bo and him were pushing each other for quite a while. You could probably have tossed him out the tent in three seconds flat, but watching them go at it was the definitely highlight of that night. Pretty sure it was less about getting him out and more about pride after the first minute."
He talks animatedly, waving his hands a bit as emphasis and laughing a bit.
"Then last show Toya scraped her knee right before her act, and she was very upset about it. We didn't have a mid-show act so Gustav asked me to juggle while they cleaned our little star up. It was just enough to not get the crowd antsy."
Yasha listens attentively, occasionally leaning back out of the way of Molly's more emphatic hand gestures. This is clearly a well practiced movement. It is very easy to fall back into the routines of being around him again.
"You got a whole act huh," she says, and gives him a good-natured clap on the back before she tries the wine herself. Bit tart, but in a nice way. She wipes her mouth on the back of her hand and passes it back. "Congratulations. Did they like it?" Maybe he'll get to juggle for the crowd all the time if it worked out well. That would be cool, would shake up the show a bit.
"You got a whole act huh," she says, and gives him a good-natured clap on the back before she tries the wine herself. Bit tart, but in a nice way. She wipes her mouth on the back of her hand and passes it back. "Congratulations. Did they like it?" Maybe he'll get to juggle for the crowd all the time if it worked out well. That would be cool, would shake up the show a bit.
You either learned around Molly or you ended up with a hand in your face eventually. Yasha was a Molly-veteran by now, and hadn't been tapped by a purple hand since they met six months ago.
It was weird but soothing how in tune they were.
It also means that her clap on his back doesn't send the tiefling flying, and he's already laughing a little bit as he takes the wine bottle back for a sip. "They swallowed up completely, especially since I used my swords. Don't get me wrong, though - I love to be the center of attention, but perhaps not... that much." He loved making people happy and excited, but he was happy enough being the hype man and the mysterious fortune teller.
It was so much easier working his bullshit on one person at a time instead of a hundred.
"Besides, we don't really have an open spot aside from the saving-the-audience stand-in." It was a packed show as it was, and people got antsy if it got too long.
It was weird but soothing how in tune they were.
It also means that her clap on his back doesn't send the tiefling flying, and he's already laughing a little bit as he takes the wine bottle back for a sip. "They swallowed up completely, especially since I used my swords. Don't get me wrong, though - I love to be the center of attention, but perhaps not... that much." He loved making people happy and excited, but he was happy enough being the hype man and the mysterious fortune teller.
It was so much easier working his bullshit on one person at a time instead of a hundred.
"Besides, we don't really have an open spot aside from the saving-the-audience stand-in." It was a packed show as it was, and people got antsy if it got too long.
Yasha nods. She understands. She doesn't like to be the center of attention either; Molly is aware of this. She's far more comfortable on the outskirts of things. Just another way they're able to relate to each other the way that they do.
"It... feels like it keeps getting longer," she says. "The show, I mean. You know?"
They have very good, solid acts, that have become so polished over the years. She's always been in awe of the way Gustav efficiently runs the circus. They've picked up acts along the way too, adding people to their repertoire. "I remember when... there weren't as many people here."
"It... feels like it keeps getting longer," she says. "The show, I mean. You know?"
They have very good, solid acts, that have become so polished over the years. She's always been in awe of the way Gustav efficiently runs the circus. They've picked up acts along the way too, adding people to their repertoire. "I remember when... there weren't as many people here."
[ It's late. He only knows because of the clock on the wall, the permanent twilight of the city making it impossible to sleep when one hour looks exactly like the rest. The girls only stopped whispering an hour ago and now Beau is snoring loudly enough that it's a wonder even Caduceus in his tower can catch a wink of sleep, so Fjord abandons his pretence of trying to relax and heads downstairs, letting his feet carry him. Maybe he'll pass out once he's eaten something and has a food coma, he always gets sleepy after dinner ... it could work now, at two in the morning. Sure.
His stealth is off the charts as he navigates his way through the upstairs corridor and down the stairs, briefly treated to carpeting under his bare feet in the atrium before he creeps through the dim dining room and heads into the kitchen. The door always sticks so he's extra careful not to make it squeak, letting it lean-to once inside. He's fairly certain they have some apple-stuffed sausages in the cooling cupboard that Caleb set up, suddenly ravenous at the thought.
With his darkvision staring ahead to navigate, he misses sight of the rope-like object on the floor and stands on it with his full weight. ]
His stealth is off the charts as he navigates his way through the upstairs corridor and down the stairs, briefly treated to carpeting under his bare feet in the atrium before he creeps through the dim dining room and heads into the kitchen. The door always sticks so he's extra careful not to make it squeak, letting it lean-to once inside. He's fairly certain they have some apple-stuffed sausages in the cooling cupboard that Caleb set up, suddenly ravenous at the thought.
With his darkvision staring ahead to navigate, he misses sight of the rope-like object on the floor and stands on it with his full weight. ]
[ His silent brooding quiet contemplation in the dark is disturbed by someone coming for a snack run in the middle of the night. Molly remains where he is, back against the cold wall and eyes staring up at the moon outside as he listens to them move through the dining room and heading for the door. There's no point in worrying them by saying hi and having to explain why he's there, and they'll leave after their food rummaging. So he just ignores it.
At least that was the plan.
Unfortunately, that rope-like objects is a tail and the pain rushes through his entire spine as a big half-orc foot bears down on it's thinnest and most breakable spot. The tiefling yowls in both pain in surprise, jumping up like he's about to vault over the counters and probably making it worse for himself on pure instinct. ]
Fuck! [ He hisses, trying to keep it down and failing immensely. ]
At least that was the plan.
Unfortunately, that rope-like objects is a tail and the pain rushes through his entire spine as a big half-orc foot bears down on it's thinnest and most breakable spot. The tiefling yowls in both pain in surprise, jumping up like he's about to vault over the counters and probably making it worse for himself on pure instinct. ]
Fuck! [ He hisses, trying to keep it down and failing immensely. ]
[ It sounds like the undead rearing for an attack, enough that even the Fuck isn't enough to stop Fjord stumbling backwards in a hurry and summoning the Star Razor in a burst of cold blue light and dramatic waft of fresh frost. He holds it at guard toward the gleam of angry red eyes until he picks out the familiar figure attached to them that decidedly isn't lunging any closer, squinting around the birds and herbs that hang over the table.
His shoulders sag and the sword lowers, heartbeat thundering in his ears. ]
... Molly? Is that you? Gods, what the hell!
His shoulders sag and the sword lowers, heartbeat thundering in his ears. ]
... Molly? Is that you? Gods, what the hell!
Yes! Yes, it's me! Damn your gigantic, bloody feet!
[ Molly grumbles through his teeth, tail curling around his waist for 'protection'. The fancy new sword Fjord has also blinds him a bit at first, but it does help transferring the greyscale of darkvision to a nice, if frost-lit green of the half-orc's face. ]
Why are you bumbling around in the middle of the night?!
[ The tiefling snaps angrily, even if that same thing could be said about him. It's petty, but he's riding this charge of adrenaline now because it's much fucking better to argue than to think. ]
[ Molly grumbles through his teeth, tail curling around his waist for 'protection'. The fancy new sword Fjord has also blinds him a bit at first, but it does help transferring the greyscale of darkvision to a nice, if frost-lit green of the half-orc's face. ]
Why are you bumbling around in the middle of the night?!
[ The tiefling snaps angrily, even if that same thing could be said about him. It's petty, but he's riding this charge of adrenaline now because it's much fucking better to argue than to think. ]
Why the fuck are you lurking around in the kitchen at night?! [ Since apparently Molly was here first! ] You scared the shit out of me!
[ The sword is banished after his arm droops in the exhaustion of an adrenaline-drop, descending the room into darkness. Molly might look like a rainbow candycane in daylight but he's abjectly terrifying without warning in the gloom. ]
[ The sword is banished after his arm droops in the exhaustion of an adrenaline-drop, descending the room into darkness. Molly might look like a rainbow candycane in daylight but he's abjectly terrifying without warning in the gloom. ]
[ It's the eyes, he's heard that more than once. Or just the fiendish outline that makes it terrifying. Either way, he does calm a little bit as the sword is away again, instead sitting down on the counter and giving Fjord an annoyed look. ]
I was minding my own business! [ He bites back, crossing his arms. ] I scared the shit out of you for just sitting around? Watch where your feet go instead!
[ He pushes the curls of his hair from his face and over his horns, jewelry jingling as he does. Molly hadn't really been back long and it was hard to find his way into the group again when half of them were treating him like he was made of glass and the other half had decided to become entirely new people while he was underground. Between that, knowing how much he's missed and the weird dreams he'd been having, he spent a lot of time not sleeping, using some makeup the next day to cover the bags under his eyes and generally just trying to keep the mask on.
This was the first time his routine was interrupted and in all seriousness he doesn't quite know how to handle it. So making drama will have to do. ]
I'm going to tell Jester you broke my damn tail, I'm sure she'll love to be bothered right now.
I was minding my own business! [ He bites back, crossing his arms. ] I scared the shit out of you for just sitting around? Watch where your feet go instead!
[ He pushes the curls of his hair from his face and over his horns, jewelry jingling as he does. Molly hadn't really been back long and it was hard to find his way into the group again when half of them were treating him like he was made of glass and the other half had decided to become entirely new people while he was underground. Between that, knowing how much he's missed and the weird dreams he'd been having, he spent a lot of time not sleeping, using some makeup the next day to cover the bags under his eyes and generally just trying to keep the mask on.
This was the first time his routine was interrupted and in all seriousness he doesn't quite know how to handle it. So making drama will have to do. ]
I'm going to tell Jester you broke my damn tail, I'm sure she'll love to be bothered right now.
[ Honestly? It is weird having Molly back, no one expected it after what Caduceus did at the grave. Everyone has changed and Molly has been visibly out of the loop most of the time, so to find him skulking around on his own like a depressed parrot isn't that surprising when Fjord stops being alarmed and starts paying attention; he somehow doubts Molly came in here looking for a snack. ]
Don't be stupid, let me see your tail.
[ On the way over he lights a candle on a shelf, bringing that along purely so he can see if he's done any damage that darkvision won't convey. He approaches at a stroll, still mildly rattled by the hissing, rotten mood Molly has going on more so than the initial fright. ]
I obviously didn't know you were there.
Don't be stupid, let me see your tail.
[ On the way over he lights a candle on a shelf, bringing that along purely so he can see if he's done any damage that darkvision won't convey. He approaches at a stroll, still mildly rattled by the hissing, rotten mood Molly has going on more so than the initial fright. ]
I obviously didn't know you were there.
[ A snack was less important than the fact that it was one of the few rooms that had a view of the moon right now. His... the room he was in was on the wrong side of the house to see it at this hour, and he wasn't about to go up into the tower and have the firbolg with the freaky grave abilities try to make him talk about his feelings again. ]
Here I thought sensing things was one of your new fancy paladin powers, but fine.
[ He glares at Fjord, but it's easing into more of a pout and less of a 'fite me' attitude as he unwinds his tail. There's a large bruise growing just as the tail turns into the spade, where it is only finger-thick and easily brutalized by big half-orc feet. ]
Here I thought sensing things was one of your new fancy paladin powers, but fine.
[ He glares at Fjord, but it's easing into more of a pout and less of a 'fite me' attitude as he unwinds his tail. There's a large bruise growing just as the tail turns into the spade, where it is only finger-thick and easily brutalized by big half-orc feet. ]
[ Molly's back to being himself when Fjord offers a hand to hold the tail, noticing the darkening bruise and slight swelling as if someone caught their finger in a door. ]
Pass that here and I'll show you a better power. [ After a pause, ] ... Sorry.
Pass that here and I'll show you a better power. [ After a pause, ] ... Sorry.
[ He carefully slides over the tail in a stiffer way than a simple flick, giving it a somewhat frustrated look. It didn't look as bad as it felt, and it looked pretty bad. Hopefully nothing was actually broken or crushed.
You're welcome for the knowledge of a tiefling weakness, Fjord.
The apology is a bit unexpected and Molly looks up at the other man, those pools of red slightly reflecting the candlelight. ]
...it's fine.
[ Molly finally says, which sounds more like defeat than accepting an apology. ]
You're welcome for the knowledge of a tiefling weakness, Fjord.
The apology is a bit unexpected and Molly looks up at the other man, those pools of red slightly reflecting the candlelight. ]
...it's fine.
[ Molly finally says, which sounds more like defeat than accepting an apology. ]
It doesn't look fine. [ From how stiffly Molly wields it, he suspects he may have at least fractured something. Fuck. ] I can heal it, don't worry. I'll burn my last fifth-level from yesterday, I haven't slept yet anyway.
[ It's either a fifth-level pact slot or a first-level Paladin one, which he doesn't think will really do the job. He supports Molly's tail on his palm and gently covers it with another. ]
Hold still.
[ Melora's healing light brightens between his hands as a jade-green, the same shade as the peacock on Molly's rescued old coat; in the dark kitchen the spell pulses, Cure Wounds doing what it says on the tin and mending the trampled tail. Hair a mess from bed and in crinkled pyjamas, Fjord's sharp gaze looks to be the only awake part of him, focused entirely on making the pain go away.
[ It's either a fifth-level pact slot or a first-level Paladin one, which he doesn't think will really do the job. He supports Molly's tail on his palm and gently covers it with another. ]
Hold still.
[ Melora's healing light brightens between his hands as a jade-green, the same shade as the peacock on Molly's rescued old coat; in the dark kitchen the spell pulses, Cure Wounds doing what it says on the tin and mending the trampled tail. Hair a mess from bed and in crinkled pyjamas, Fjord's sharp gaze looks to be the only awake part of him, focused entirely on making the pain go away.
[ Fifth-level spell. That just sounds insane to Molly, especially for a healing thing... but he's not going to complain when that green warmth spreads into his tail. Something makes a 'pop' sound in it that should have hurt, but the healing is so swift that the pain doesn't have time to register. Definitely a fracture or a seperation of the tiny tailbones.
There's relief as the tension fades and he can slip the appendage out of those gentle hands and curl it a bit without pain. ]
Fancy. You've really become something special, Fjord.
[ Oh look, there's a small smile. It's easier to not be an asshole chomping for an unnecessary fight when you're not in pain. At least at the moment. ]
There's relief as the tension fades and he can slip the appendage out of those gentle hands and curl it a bit without pain. ]
Fancy. You've really become something special, Fjord.
[ Oh look, there's a small smile. It's easier to not be an asshole chomping for an unnecessary fight when you're not in pain. At least at the moment. ]
[ He's just relieved to have managed it without fucking up and horrendously fusing the bones in some nightmare scenario, he's the fallback option for healing when both Clerics are busy with more important business. It's not often he gets to do that sort of thing.
He gives Molly a shake of his head to dismiss the compliment, awkward about the mild surprise. ]
What's really special are the sausages hidden in the cooling cabinet, they're what I came downstairs for. Join me for a raid?
He gives Molly a shake of his head to dismiss the compliment, awkward about the mild surprise. ]
What's really special are the sausages hidden in the cooling cabinet, they're what I came downstairs for. Join me for a raid?
[ That is a horrifying mental image and it's a blessing that did not happen because wow.
Molly's a little bit happier to see Fjord being somewhat awkward still, it's really endearing. Especially now that he's such a powerful person both in abilities and the new looks. (That beard is definitely hot.)
He slides off the countertop when the half-orc mentions the thing he came to the kitchen in the first place for, grinning. Yeah, he remembers those and it makes his empty stomach remind him that it hasn't had anything since dinner. ]
The holy man is stealing? Oh, I'm into this.
Molly's a little bit happier to see Fjord being somewhat awkward still, it's really endearing. Especially now that he's such a powerful person both in abilities and the new looks. (That beard is definitely hot.)
He slides off the countertop when the half-orc mentions the thing he came to the kitchen in the first place for, grinning. Yeah, he remembers those and it makes his empty stomach remind him that it hasn't had anything since dinner. ]
The holy man is stealing? Oh, I'm into this.
[ He'll never get over being called a holy man, it's like getting a new haircut and forgetting until someone points it out. Eldritch Blast fingerguns find Molly and he winks on his way to begin said raid. ]
I'm a bad boy doing good things.
[ Finding a jar of onion sauce to dip his apple-stuffed sausages in (he's gross), he slides the plate between them on the counter and slumps there munching away, inhaling the first in three bites. Onto his second, he speaks up. ]
Really though, why were you sitting on the floor?
[ Just because Fjord doesn't harass people to death over their secrets doesn't mean he isn't still intrigued, along with being mildly worried about Molly. He takes care to be casual about asking, not wanting to seem overbearing when what Molly really sought out down here was space. ]
I'm a bad boy doing good things.
[ Finding a jar of onion sauce to dip his apple-stuffed sausages in (he's gross), he slides the plate between them on the counter and slumps there munching away, inhaling the first in three bites. Onto his second, he speaks up. ]
Really though, why were you sitting on the floor?
[ Just because Fjord doesn't harass people to death over their secrets doesn't mean he isn't still intrigued, along with being mildly worried about Molly. He takes care to be casual about asking, not wanting to seem overbearing when what Molly really sought out down here was space. ]
[ He snorts at the 'bad boy' prt, but he's a willing accomplice to the sausage feast... although he draws the line at fucking onion sauce, what the fuck Fjord? The mix of pork and apple is enough for him.
Molly is lulled into a false sense of security as he's eating, but of course the half-orc has to break that by his question. He snaps off another piece of sausage with his teeth, finishing that before answering. ]
I was just talking to my goddess. [ He lies, smoothly. ] I had the best view in here, and I might have nodded of a bit until you clomped inside.
[ It's not the Nein's problem that he's messed up, and they're treating him like he's an expensive vase about to fall off the pedestal already. He's not one of them any more; he can't fool himself into believing that.
They grew so far apart from him that he feels like a stranger. ]
Molly is lulled into a false sense of security as he's eating, but of course the half-orc has to break that by his question. He snaps off another piece of sausage with his teeth, finishing that before answering. ]
I was just talking to my goddess. [ He lies, smoothly. ] I had the best view in here, and I might have nodded of a bit until you clomped inside.
[ It's not the Nein's problem that he's messed up, and they're treating him like he's an expensive vase about to fall off the pedestal already. He's not one of them any more; he can't fool himself into believing that.
They grew so far apart from him that he feels like a stranger. ]
[ The thing is, Fjord is suspicious but it's a good excuse and weirder deities have been contacted in less logical ways. Moonlight and sunlight look so similar here, it's probably the best place to have a talk with the Moonweaver. Then again, Molly's capacity for bullshit is endless and Fjord has never known him to be spiritual before.
Maybe it's something to do with, well. Dying. ]
Oh? And did she have anything interesting to say?
Maybe it's something to do with, well. Dying. ]
Oh? And did she have anything interesting to say?
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