devilstongue | Open RP Post

[ He picks the coffee shop that Caleb and Jester like in equal but respective measure for the coffee and pastries, shooting Mollymauk one more photo. Unfortunately, it's just of a thumbs-up next to Fjord's coffee pot, which is full and suggests he's not heading out for caffeine today, whatever the excuse. Eleven seems a decent enough hour, isn't it? Right, good. Once the time and place is finalised he signs off to go and have a shower, in reality messaging the group chat that includes Caleb, Nott, Beau and Jester. Caduceus is in there too, but he hardly ever checks his notifs, so the first people to answer are predictably the nosiest when he asks what he should wear on a date.

GO NAKED, SHOW US YER TITS BIG MAN!! Nott is zero help.

sumthin nice go 4 thu blu top u no the 1 the bLU E ONE Same with Beau.

OH MY GOSH FJORD YOU'RE GOING ON A DATE??? WITH WHO????? Jester keysmashes for a solid minute.

I agree with Beauregard; your dark blue shirt with some black trousers would be very smart. Perhaps, and this is only my suggestion, your brown shoes too? Bless Caleb in every way.

???? comes through from Caduceus right as Fjord is stepping out the door.

That's how Fjord turns up at the coffee shop looking smart-casual, sleeves once more rolled-up because he started to overheat on his way over under his brown leather jacket, specifically instructed to wear the latter by Caleb to match his slip-on boots and now forced to carry it over one arm because it's damn hot out. For once, he isn't covered in soil! He waits outside for Mollymauk. ]

[ It's been a while since he had a date, so Molly spends quite some time getting ready, throwing clothes all over his room to find something perfect. Summery and hot but not trying too hard at the same time.

That's how he eventually arrives, in a lovely green tunic with off-the shoulder sleeves that reveal more of his peacock feathers. Slim pants that are as dark red as his eyes, and nice sandals. His horns are full of jinglies as usual, and he has some bangles around one wrist.

Instead of the holo backpack, Molly comes with a smaller, but just as obnoxious gold purse. ]

Fjord!

[ He waves happily. ]

[ The moment he spots Mollymauk his expression breaks into a grin, relieved to see him looking so happy in turn and getting an eyeful of that peacock in person. None of the guys he knows carry purses but he's starting to mentally slot Mollymauk into a category of all his own, an amorphously attractive creature no matter the scenario. ]

Hi! You look stunning. It's good to see you again.

[ He ducks down to rest a hand on a waist and peck him on the cheek, mindful of those wicked horns. ]

And you look very handsome!

[ He replies, unable to keep his eyes off the half-orc and today's non-work style. They both looked nice and dressy without it being fancy, and it's all very official date-y. That was a strange but not unwelcome thought.

Molly's not quite prepared for the cheek kiss, though, and he flushes a bit. Normally he would balk from sudden intimacy like that, but Fjord was really out here making him feel special. Excited. ]

Shall we go inside? I'm curious about these tarts!

[ Oof, handsome. ]

They come highly recommended by the sweet-tooth in my friend circle.

[ Fjord holds the door open for Molly, intent on making a good impression beyond 'can do his actual paid job'. ]

How did your photoshoot turn out?

I have my moment of a sweet-tooth myself.

[ Not in any way like Jester, but sometimes a treat was great.

He walks into the place after Fjord holds the door open, a smile given in return for the nice gesture. At the question about the photo shoot, he rubs the back of his neck a bit. Fjord has to know what it was for, now... and the knowledge that the half-orc's seen his raunchy stuff is a little strange. Not bad, just a very backwards date.

More than the hookup he had been fishing for. ]

Oh, it was great. I got a lot out of it, I'll show you after we order.

Sounds good.

[ Heading inside, the coffee-shop is a nice cosy nook with enough modernity to make him feel comfortable, unable to function as-is unless he gets some more caffeine for his nerves, which are present but buried beneath good manners. He can't help blurting out his thoughts as they queue, standing behind Mollymauk and getting a whiff of his perfume. ]

Thanks for meeting up with me, it must be weird after I subscribed to your website.

[ Molly looks around, charmed by the little shop and the cozy atmosphere. He's trying to decipher the list of beverages when Fjord speaks again, and he flushes a little bit. ]

It was... forward of me to give you that link, I know. It was the best I could think of to see if you were interested beyond work pleasantness. At least I know you find me attractive.

[ He's shitty at some of these things, okay? Somehow it was easier to show a lot of skin for him than wait for a date that might never happen. ]

I was really hoping you'd agree to this. Just... don't be creepy.

Oh. Yes, no — no, I don't ... want to be creepy?

[ That's such an odd request, making him rethink the kiss at the door and stand up a little straighter. ]

Do you often date ... creeps?

No! I just... sometimes people get ideas. You really don't seem like the type, though, so don't worry about it.

[ Why he can shamelessly swallow most of a cucumber on camera but not talk normally to a person is a fucking mystery! ]

Do you have any recommendations?

[ Molly's just gonna... give up on trying to read cute swirly font now. ]

For not being creepy?

[ Sorry, Molly, he's still fretting. ]

I, ah. I was going to sit on the opposite side of the table to you, should I tell you things like that in advance? Would that make you more comfortable?

[ He doesn't want to fuck up okay, send help. ]

I won't touch you again unless you want me to.

What? No, it's fine! I meant for drinks and stuff, I don't have any trauma about it. Just making sure that seeing me naked doesn't mean I'll fuck you immediately.

[ He chuckles and then reaches out to give Fjord's white lock a gentle tug, red eyes amused and soft. It wasn't often someone changed gears that quickly for his comfort. ]

Though I appreciate the concern.

I — I didn't think —

[ He hoped, but that's the nature of a date. Eventually. After more dates. Wow, his ears and cheeks feel so hot as he turns to the menu, clearing his throat. The ghost of Mollymauk's fingers in his hair has him raking it back. ]

... Caramel lattes, perhaps?

[ Just as bad at flirting (well, maybe a little less) than the tiefling, he tries to claw their way out of some very forward discussions he hadn't expected to trip over at all, let alone five minutes inside the door. ]

Caramel lattes it is! Do they have lemon tarts?

[ He's just going to steamroll all over that discussion and go back to first date things again. ]

So where are you from, Fjord? Zadash local?

[ Normal talk. Things you do to get to know people. Focus, Tealeaf! ]

[ Gesturing to the glass case of pastries, he orders a lemon-cream tart for Mollymauk and a raspberry-almond for himself, absently asking for large drinks. They could do with some lengthy talking today, if that little hiccup is anything to go by. ]

Down south, actually, Port Damali on the Menagerie Coast. I've only been up north a few years. You?

[ Molly leans his hip against the counter, smiling at the barista for a moment and then looking back at Fjord. ]

Really? That's quite a far transplant. I'm from around Trostenwald, myself.

[ At least that's where they found him. ]

How did you end up over here?

I think I passed through Trostenwald once while driving.

[ Not the sort of town he felt like it was worth stopping in, but evidently Mollymauk is from around there and Fjord may have been underestimating it. As they wait for their order to be made he hooks his thumbs in the back of his dark jeans, giving an easy shrug. ]

That is a question. [ A soft laugh leaves him as he clearly holds back on a bigger story. ] I had to give up what I was doing after I had an accident, I came here for physiotherapy.

[ He jiggles his left leg on the spot. ]

Tore up all the muscles in it, all the way past my hip. I'm alright now, though. I just sort of stayed here after making some friends.

It's a shithole, but I can't complain.

[ His family was there, after all... or at least it used to be. It's quite interesting to hear that Fjord had to change his life after an accident. They had some things in common that aren't things for first dates, even if he's curious now.

Molly winces a bit at the explanation of the injury, glancing at that nice leg. ]

Ow. I'm glad you're better, it must have hurt. [ Molly can't stop smiling. ] It's a pretty decent place to stay, though. Especially with friends.

Yeah, it is. [ Molly's smile puts Fjord at ease as he collects their tray to ferry it wherever the tiefling wants to sit. ] Caduceus got me the job at Wildmother's, all I had to do for the first few months was inventory on their messy system. Melora showed me how to make flowers, how to arrange them ... It kept me busy.

[ And was a really nice, soothing escape from the pain in his leg. The tight ball of anxiety in his chest that Uk'otoa caused hadn't come back for a long time. ]

Have you lived with Yasha long?

[ Molly picks a nice little window seat with an awning, so they can sit in the sun but not blind themselves at the same time. He happily sits in front of Fjord so that he can look at the man, eagerly picking out his latte.

Fjord may have paid but that tip jar was stuffed. ]

That sounds really nice, finding your passion like that. It seems nice, working with flowers. Unless you get a lot of entitled wedding planners, I suppose.

[ He takes a sip and is pleasantly surprised how good it is - just sweet enough without being overbearing, and a nice kick of caffeine. ]

Yeah, we've lived together ever since Trostenwald. She's my best friend, my charm. She works as a security guard.

We get a lot of angry old women, it's a tired joke by now to wheel me out to deal with them when they want to argue. They like talking to someone who's not oblivious to their flirting, like Deuces is.

[ Mollymauk can definitely afford to tip people with 500 gold from his latest subscriber (plus tips for specific shoots and videos). ]

Do you really mean she guards you, or is that just ... ?

I mean, who could argue with that face?

[ Molly smiles, giving a little wink. He'd pay good money to see old ladies fawn over this cute guy, just to see how Fjord handled it.

(He's so fucking lucky that Fjord subscribed, he can get rent in early for once and Yasha would be so proud.) ]

Oh! No, she has an actual job at a firm that people hire from to have guards at their event or whatever. She travels a lot.

[ The tiefling plays a little with his spoon, thinking. ]

Family?

I get you. Family. I have ... a few people who I would call that too. I think of Melora as less of an employer and more of an aunt, to be honest. [ He sips his drink, eyes down for a moment as he unravels parts of his life for Molly to see. ] She was a friend of someone who helped me get physio classes organised and brought me flowers where I was staying. It always smelled wonderful after her visits and that used to make me get out of bed, which I didn't want to do much back in those days.

Once I could move around with a stick, she let me start work behind the desk. It got me out of the house.

[ Molly listen curiously, tail slowly making little lazy circles behind him as he does. They really did have things in common, and the way Fjord speaks about Melora is really sweet and hits a bit of a bittersweet resonance in him. Someone that got you on your feet. ]

She sounds really lovely. I know a little how it can be, coming back from a hospital bed, so I'm glad you have someone like that.

[ He takes another small sip of his coffee. ]

I don't have any family, but Yasha is my platonic soulmate and I have a few other friends I've made here and online.

Oh, yes, your instagram had a photo on it that mentioned an accident in the description. I saw that.

[ He wasn't only looking at purple bits, okay. ]

You ... forgot who you were?

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