[ 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. ]
[ 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 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.
[ Okay, that was unusual and something he didn't think Fjord would have read as it didn't show anything pretty. It makes him smile again, brushing a bit of his hair back and turning his head so that Fjord can see the old scars from the surgeries that now held his skull in one piece. He was so lucky that he didn't break off his horns. ]
Not a clue who I was before, but I like the me now. I kinda think whoever had this body before just left it and it's mine now.
[ One day he might suddenly get his memory back, but he's going to be Mollymauk for as long as he possibly can. ]
[ He's seen peeks of those scars today and more of them in the videos, but to see them in person lets him get a more personal gauge of the severity of Mollymauk's accident. It looks like unblemished skin was the last concern of the surgeons, and yet ... the scars work well. They suit Mollymauk in the same way his lavish clothes do, just another addition to the framework of the guy. ]
I think it's good that you don't allow people to edit them out of your photos. This remade 'you' is bold fellow and I commend his choices.
[ He gives a little mock bow, gesturing with his latte and smiling brightly back at Fjord. ]
If they want me for something, they get me. There are a lot of people out there without scars, so it makes little sense to edit out my trademark.
[ Another sip - the coffee here was really good and he might be a little nervous as well. Stupid, honestly. This was going so well! ]
...and if it helps anyone to see them, then I'm happy about that, too. A lot of people reach out to me when they have issues and I tell them that it's never too late to change.
[ Molly sounds passionate, a little smile there that says that he really likes what he does. Even if most of his fans are there for the thirst, others see a role model or a spark of hope. ]
[ Fjord chins a hand as he listens to Molly, stirring his coffee with eyes resting on the tiefling. There's a lot of showiness to him that Fjord finds alluring, especially the confidence that slaps you in the face and forces you to pay attention, but ... Mollymauk is soft too, he has a thoughtfulness toward other people that warms Fjord's heart and reassures him this isn't (just) the shallow cucumber-throating thot he watched last night.
Molly looks prettier by day, lively and clever.
Oh no thinks Fjord, feeling a swoop of some emotion in his belly. Whereas it was full of anxiously writhing snakes before, now it feels too light and empty. ]
What you do, using your platform to help people ... That's really very kind of you, I don't know if you hear that often, but. It is.
I want to leave things better than I found them, even if it just means some colorful pictures and smiles.
[ Fjord's so sweet like that, listening intently and looking like he was enjoying their conversation. It makes Molly's heart warm as well, because someone listening to a person's passions with interest like that... they were a good person.
It hits him that maybe this could be something more than just a fling. ]
[ Leaving things better than you found them, that's a good motto.
He sets his drink down and thumbs the handle as Molly asks more about him, quickly trying to figure out how to soften the story for someone he doesn't want to scare away, then wondering why on earth he feels like he should. ]
I swam. I was training for the Olympics but the coach I had worked me like a dog, from sunrise until quite literally sunset, but there's only so much strain the body can take before something snaps. Turns out, that was the muscles in my leg and hip. I didn't have enough fat on my body and the ligaments were wearing away at themselves with nothing else to burn off, so one evening I felt a terrific pain in my leg and almost drowned.
[ He hitches up a smile and a shrug, trying to lighten the imagery. ]
Another coach who happened to be at the pool saw what happened and pulled me out when mine wouldn't, Vandren was the one who helped set me up with physio. He saw how bad I was.
[ Fjord genuinely thinks, in hindsight, Uk'otoa would have let him drown that night. ]
[ Molly waits patiently, fully okay with Fjord just saying no and just go from there. The half-orc does share, though, and it's nasty to hear that someone could work another person to the point of their body breaking down.
...and then not helping them quick enough? Really shitty. ]
What an asshole, that other trainer. I'm glad you got out of that, even if it must have been a passion.
[ A love for something should build you up, not wear you down. Literally, in this case. ]
It sounds like it must have been a lot of work to recover from, too. I remember thinking I made no progress for a long time.
That's how it felt, yeah. [ It's nice they have that common thread linking them. ] I met other people who were at the centre for different types of therapy, though. They're my friends. Caleb has a cat for a working animal, he has anxiety, Beau was in for anger issues, and I met Jester because she's Beau's girlfriend. Oh, and Nott. She's Caleb's ... something, I'm honestly still not sure. They're good people.
[ He doesn't know whether to offer the next part up, but it's probably the sort of thing you get out the way on a first date. ]
I got out of a relationship around the time of my physio, she lost interest. Complete bitch, actually, so no great loss there. That was, ah, the last time I was involved.
[ He chuckles, smiling at Fjord with even more interest, now. (If that was even possible.) ]
Jessie and I do a lot of collaborations together, she's hamsterunicorn on instagram. She introduced me to her mom, so I got some work there, and we hang out for ice cream on Thursdays. She's the sweetest and almost like a sister.
[ He's immediately curious to know more about this relationship and how long they've been friends. ]
Beau I got to know through Jester and we have this game going in where we act like we hate eachother but would die for eachother if needed. She's a trash person and I love her.
[ Rubbing the back of his neck, he busies himself taking a big bite of his tart and munching thoughtfully. ]
Beau's my best friend but you're under orders never to tell her that, [ she would burn up from the emotion on the spot or punch him, and he doesn't want either, ] and Jessie ... Well, [ up goes his voice and his brows as one, ] we had some miscommunication at first.
She, ah ... [ Aw, fuck. out with it, Just say it. ] She asked me if I'd join her and Beau in — in bed. Me and Beau almost barfed on each other, which Jester took a lot of different ways and it took a week of pastries to get her to stop being mad at both of us.
[ Molly just... breaks into laughter. He laughs so much that the barista looks a bit concerned, and he has to take a moment to compose himself and take a drink. ]
[ A reluctant smile forms as he takes a deep draught of his coffee, giving Mollymauk the time to calm down from his laughter. It's infectious, although Fjord manages to hold down a smirk with admirable effort. ]
She knows now that she's ... not my type.
[ Another bite of that tart instead of looking up at the one in front of him, aha. ]
She's watched far too much porn and probably forgot that being bi doesn't mean you have to do the threesome trope.
[ He's glad Beau is there to help her on her lesbian journey and unlearn all that stuff. Marion's wonderful, but it did leave a bit of a skewed sense of sex for Jester.
Noticing how Fjord concentrates on his tart, he chuckles again. ]
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[ 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.
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[ 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?
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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.
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[ 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 ... ?
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[ 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?
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Once I could move around with a stick, she let me start work behind the desk. It got me out of the house.
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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.
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[ He wasn't only looking at purple bits, okay. ]
You ... forgot who you were?
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Not a clue who I was before, but I like the me now. I kinda think whoever had this body before just left it and it's mine now.
[ One day he might suddenly get his memory back, but he's going to be Mollymauk for as long as he possibly can. ]
So we're both remade people. That's nice.
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I think it's good that you don't allow people to edit them out of your photos. This remade 'you' is bold fellow and I commend his choices.
[ Saluting with coffee, holding eye-contact. ]
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[ He gives a little mock bow, gesturing with his latte and smiling brightly back at Fjord. ]
If they want me for something, they get me. There are a lot of people out there without scars, so it makes little sense to edit out my trademark.
[ Another sip - the coffee here was really good and he might be a little nervous as well. Stupid, honestly. This was going so well! ]
...and if it helps anyone to see them, then I'm happy about that, too. A lot of people reach out to me when they have issues and I tell them that it's never too late to change.
[ Molly sounds passionate, a little smile there that says that he really likes what he does. Even if most of his fans are there for the thirst, others see a role model or a spark of hope. ]
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Molly looks prettier by day, lively and clever.
Oh no thinks Fjord, feeling a swoop of some emotion in his belly. Whereas it was full of anxiously writhing snakes before, now it feels too light and empty. ]
What you do, using your platform to help people ... That's really very kind of you, I don't know if you hear that often, but. It is.
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[ Fjord's so sweet like that, listening intently and looking like he was enjoying their conversation. It makes Molly's heart warm as well, because someone listening to a person's passions with interest like that... they were a good person.
It hits him that maybe this could be something more than just a fling. ]
Can I ask what you did before your accident?
[ Since they had dipped into his. ]
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He sets his drink down and thumbs the handle as Molly asks more about him, quickly trying to figure out how to soften the story for someone he doesn't want to scare away, then wondering why on earth he feels like he should. ]
I swam. I was training for the Olympics but the coach I had worked me like a dog, from sunrise until quite literally sunset, but there's only so much strain the body can take before something snaps. Turns out, that was the muscles in my leg and hip. I didn't have enough fat on my body and the ligaments were wearing away at themselves with nothing else to burn off, so one evening I felt a terrific pain in my leg and almost drowned.
[ He hitches up a smile and a shrug, trying to lighten the imagery. ]
Another coach who happened to be at the pool saw what happened and pulled me out when mine wouldn't, Vandren was the one who helped set me up with physio. He saw how bad I was.
[ Fjord genuinely thinks, in hindsight, Uk'otoa would have let him drown that night. ]
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...and then not helping them quick enough? Really shitty. ]
What an asshole, that other trainer. I'm glad you got out of that, even if it must have been a passion.
[ A love for something should build you up, not wear you down. Literally, in this case. ]
It sounds like it must have been a lot of work to recover from, too. I remember thinking I made no progress for a long time.
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[ He doesn't know whether to offer the next part up, but it's probably the sort of thing you get out the way on a first date. ]
I got out of a relationship around the time of my physio, she lost interest. Complete bitch, actually, so no great loss there. That was, ah, the last time I was involved.
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[ Someone only in it to be the girlfriend to an Olympic athlete. But pretty half-orc swung both ways, that was nice to know.
...then Molly's brain catches up. ]
Wait, you know Jester and Beau?
[ He severely doubted that there were more girlfriends with those names. ]
Cute blue tiefling and kind of a bitch human with a heart of gold?
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How do you know them?
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[ He chuckles, smiling at Fjord with even more interest, now. (If that was even possible.) ]
Jessie and I do a lot of collaborations together, she's hamsterunicorn on instagram. She introduced me to her mom, so I got some work there, and we hang out for ice cream on Thursdays. She's the sweetest and almost like a sister.
[ He's immediately curious to know more about this relationship and how long they've been friends. ]
Beau I got to know through Jester and we have this game going in where we act like we hate eachother but would die for eachother if needed. She's a trash person and I love her.
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[ Rubbing the back of his neck, he busies himself taking a big bite of his tart and munching thoughtfully. ]
Beau's my best friend but you're under orders never to tell her that, [ she would burn up from the emotion on the spot or punch him, and he doesn't want either, ] and Jessie ... Well, [ up goes his voice and his brows as one, ] we had some miscommunication at first.
She, ah ... [ Aw, fuck. out with it, Just say it. ] She asked me if I'd join her and Beau in — in bed. Me and Beau almost barfed on each other, which Jester took a lot of different ways and it took a week of pastries to get her to stop being mad at both of us.
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...typical Jester.
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She knows now that she's ... not my type.
[ Another bite of that tart instead of looking up at the one in front of him, aha. ]
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[ He's glad Beau is there to help her on her lesbian journey and unlearn all that stuff. Marion's wonderful, but it did leave a bit of a skewed sense of sex for Jester.
Noticing how Fjord concentrates on his tart, he chuckles again. ]
Well, tiefling definitely seems to be your type.
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My ex was a half-elf, actually.
[ So there. ]
I only flirted with Jester for fun, it was never serious. I didn't think she'd go anywhere with it, she had a girlfriend.
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Fair enough.
[ Molly eats a bit more of his tart, savoring it unlike blue menace they were talking about. ]
Do you go to the gym with Beau?
[ He looked fit, after all, but now with some actual thiccness to protect his muscles rather than tearing them apart. ]
I go to yoga there sometimes. I can bend backwards and reach my heels but I can barely lift stuff.
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