[ Molly kisses Marion's cheek before he heads out with Fjord, striding up to his side with a self-satisfied smirk. Getting a rise out of Fjord was great in quite a different way from getting a rise out of Beau, but he knows he's kind of toeing the line here. Fjord did tell him they were not sharing a room, and while it was probably to give him an out, maybe it wasn't all for his sake.
Maybe Fjord had his fill. That was fair, he supposes, that's usually how he functioned. It was just.... more complicated when you saw each other every day. So he might have wanted to see how far he could push it until Fjord outright told him yes or no. (Yet he forgot how abhorrently bad the man is at saying no.)
The way he had pushed away that john, though... gods, why did this have to be so complicated?]
[ With the sun shining on them and their pushy (if well-meaning) friends out of the way, he takes a breath and decides to summon what meagre courage he has off the mixed signals he's been mulling over and offers Molly an arm. It comes with a warmer smile than any since they left the Xhorhaus. ]
Come on, I remember some of the shops from the last time we were here. I bet you'll like them. [ Amending, ] It's harder to get lost if we stick together.
[ Yep, that's the whole point of that arm. Chivalrous Paladin shit and not because he wants to keep Molly from looking like an unescorted snack on the bustling promenade. ]
[ They're just a mess of mixed signals right now, but Fjord offering his arm like that makes Molly's stupid heart feel all warm. He takes it, moving a bit closer as they walk out of the Chateau and onto the busy afternoon street like an old married couple.
The clothes he picked did feel a lot better than tight pants in this nice heat, and his skin was thankfully not prone to burning, with all of it that was exposed. Each step makes a low chiming sound from his jewelry, and he just likes feeling the sun on his face. ]
Show me Nicodranas, captain~
[ Molly says with a smile, ready to be led to fun places. He has gold in his pouch that needs to be spent and a whole new country to get to know, proven how easily he waves and says hi to people. ]
[ With a stupid amount of his own bravery returning (he half feels sick, feels elated) he dusts a kiss on Molly's cheek and makes a point of being gentlemanly for their amusement. ]
It would be my pleasure.
[ Fjord is as good as his word, taking Molly to shops full of glass knick-knacks like suncatchers and windchimes, pretty trinkets for the home, jewellery shops that have gemstones inlaid in chains and rings for horns, clothing boutiques of all styles. He draws up behind the tiefling in one of the shops and places a hand on Molly's hip to see what he's looking at, chin hooking over a bare shoulder. ]
[ It was a sweet gesture that makes his emotions do weird things again, so he just laughs and tries to ignore it all. Instead he throws himself into exploring the stores that Fjord takes him to, spending at least some money in each one (and overpaying). He gets presents for their friends, some new sea-glass jewelry and a dress with embroidered albatrosses on it that the shopkeep introduced as 'mollymawks'.
Between his gold spent and all his jokes and flirting, the shopkeepers are left happy and Molly in a great mood.
Once back in the 'Sea Treasures' shop that he saw earlier, he's looking amongst the strange things that have been salvaged from sunken ships. When Fjord comes to lean over him, he smiles again and leans back a bit to that nice chest. ]
Just some swords from a sunken ship. I asked how old they were and the shopkeeper said pre-Calamity.
[ He chuckles, giving the elven man at the desk a wink that he somewhat grumpily accepts. ]
Wow, that old? Amazing. These are the same sort of swords the guards use at the palace in Rexxentrum, what a coincidence.
[ He shoots the shopkeeper a pleasant look, supporting Molly's weight. His fingers drift over lavender ones as they examine the sword. ]
Want to head to the beach yet or keep browsing?
[ Fjord relented during their spree and now carries two bags with gifts for their friends, not his purchases but Molly's. He has become the designated carrier. ]
[ Molly laughs at that and then gently puts the sword down, briefly lacing his fingers with Fjord's before he pulls away again. Slinking up to the shopkeeper, he whispers something in the crotchety elf's ear and then watches as the man picks something out from underneath his bench. A gold coin is traded and then Molly nods, ready to go ]
Let's leave this off at the Chateau and then head to the beach.
[ He suggests, gesturing to the bags of things they've (he) bought. Of course Fjord is carrying them, that's what a good gentleman does! (Plus Molly may have almost decked some poor bypasser with one of them earlier when seeing a new shop.) ]
[ Letting his eyes roam the shelved wares as Molly drifts off to buy something else, he's surprised to hear they're not spending more time in the shops. Delighted, but he stifles that into a blank expression instead. ]
Now? Oh! Yes, let's be off.
[ He was so distracted by envisioning his fate as a bag-carrier for several years that he entirely missed whatever went on with the shopkeeper, so eager to leave he even holds the door open for Molly. ]
[ Molly slips through the door as it is held up for him with a smile, and then waves at the shophand before they walk off together. It looks like even the purple tiefling has mercy on his beast of burden, even picking up one of the smaller bags to hold. ]
Very much so! I didn't want anything and yet I found so much, so it's obviously a great day.
[ He chuckles, circling Fjord with a few steps and then flicks up what looks like another gold coin in his hand. ]
Tal'dorei-minted. I figured I should have something from a land far away so I remember to go there eventually.
[ The coin disappears in his dexterous hands and he joins Fjord's side again with a content sigh. ]
[ A coin he can't use here, what a waste!! Fjord shakes his head with a smile: all of Molly's purchases are just feel-good treats, after all. Their friends will appreciate the goodies he got them. As for Fjord, ]
I'm happy if you're happy. It's your first time at the seaside, more than anything else you should take away some happy memories.
I certainly did! A fair trade, as they say. Gold for gold.
[ Molly has no idea if this means it cannot be used here or not, but he's going to keep it, so it didn't matter much. They are all unnecessary things, everything he's bought is to make someone happy. Including himself, of course. ]
I'm definitely charmed by this place. Nice people, nice weather, all kinds of lovely things we don't get up in the Empire. I think they even use spice in their food, unlike some places...
[ Looking at you, Trostenwald. ]
Now I want to get wet!
[ He hollers, on an open street where people turn to look at them both, confused and amused at the same time. Two of those tieflings from earlier laugh and cheer him on as he takes Fjord's hand to hurry him up. ]
[ Fjord is never going to be able to walk these streets with dignity again, and he accepts that.
Once they dump Molly's haul at the Chateau (no one else home but Marion at this time of day, into whose rooms Fjord is sure to say Hello) he's keen to get to the nearest beach before the tide starts to rise for the evening. ]
Molly, come on already!
[ He waits in the downstairs dining room, idly wondering if their friends are having fun outdoors. ]
[ Molly also gives a hello to Marion on the way down again, now wearing sandals rather than his thigh-high boots and all the jewelry that could possibly come loose left in his room. He sweeps in next to Fjord and grabs the half-orc's hand, ready to go. ]
[ He blinks in surprise to have his hand taken, squeezing it back. ]
You're going to love it.
[ Completely confident in that, he leads the way through the streets and explains about the dangers of high tide to fill the walk with some salient information. They won't be able to stay for long, just a couple of hours at most before it would be best to head back and also catch Marion's performance. Molly is warned not to let the sea take him too far out because even if he thinks he's fine with the beach in sight, he might not be. Distance means nothing beyond the shallows.
Fjord just wants him to be safe, that's all. He doesn't mean to nag.
The houses give way and finally reveal the wide stone street that runs parallel to the ocean, steps leading down to the sand. The sea gleams like a sapphire with a soft hush in the air like a wild animal breathing. Ships and smaller boats fleck the shining waves but the beach Fjord has led them to is mostly populated by tourists and there aren't any quays nearby for the vessels to dock. The view is mostly uninterrupted. ]
[ Molly barely listens, since he doesn't know if he'll ever go out more than to his feet. Tides sounds dangerous and he's not sure any more that his 'Gustav threw me into a lake' version of learning swimming would be enough out there.
The view when they reach the sea is stunning, though, and he stops immediately to take it all in. There's glimmering in the blue water and beautiful sand at the beach and fuck, the sound of the waves are so lovely. It even smells less fishy than he thought it would.
The next breath and Mollymauk is running towards the beach, white dress fluttering around him and the top part risking staying on at all. ]
[ It's charming, and also the reason he sends a silent prayer to the Wildmother to keep Molly from slipping on a rock and dashing his stupid, pretty head. ]
I'm coming, I'm coming!
[ He ends up trotting most of the way and power-walking the rest, stopping once his boots start to sink into the wet sand. ]
Take your shoes off first!
[ Fjord retreats a little and starts to do just that. He also hedges his bets, rolling up his trousers and stripping his shirt. ]
[ Thankfully Molly has really good balance and manages to not fall and chip a horn... not even when he starts jumping to take off his sandals while still moving forward, stepping into the warm sand with freed feet and a deep sigh of satisfaction.
The dress is next, fairly easily thrown over his head and thankfully revealing that he's wearing underwear (for once) in the shape of black and somewhat risque silk shorts. It's... well, let's just be happy he's wearing any at all and leave it at that.
A second later and he's dipping his toes in the water, sinking in a bit into the wet sand with a sound that isn't appropriate for an open area. The water is a little colder than he thought, but not in any way stopping him from getting his feet wet ]
[ It's a genuine surprise to see any underwear on Molly at any time, so Fjord counts himself blessed. There aren't many people on the beach in the afternoon but it's nice to know no potentially scandalised folk are getting a purple eyeful. He wades in, kicking the surf at Molly to let the cool water splash higher up, revenge for that noise. ]
[ Molly laughs as the water splashes at him, following Fjord into the gently lapping waves at the shallows. The water here breathed, moved and flowed unlike any lake he's been in, but not as rushing fast as the rivers.
It's lovely.
At least until he steps on seaweed and jumps onto the half-orc with a surprised shout. ]
[ Molly laughs at that and then slinks forward into the water, feeling out how the waves move as he swims after Fjord. The half-orc moves like he's born in the waters, and while Molly's not a bad swimmer by any means, he's definitely not used to the ocean.
A wave dunks his head under water and he spits some brine out of his mouth, but he manages to keep up with Fjord. ]
[ Fjord wades in, dipping his head under the water to wet his hair. ]
I don't know, it's a big ocean ... Who knows what's out here at any given time?
[ And he ducks underwater, disappearing into an ominous dark blob circling Molly's feet. The waters are still clear enough to see his shadow but nothing else. ]
[ He's really glad he knows Fjord (or at least he think he does) because that shit's terrifying. Molly keeps a close eye on what he thinks is the half-orc's shadow, but his line of sight is continuously broken when the waves bob him up and down.
He's... just going to wrap his tail around himself. You know, just in case. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Maybe Fjord had his fill. That was fair, he supposes, that's usually how he functioned. It was just.... more complicated when you saw each other every day. So he might have wanted to see how far he could push it until Fjord outright told him yes or no. (Yet he forgot how abhorrently bad the man is at saying no.)
The way he had pushed away that john, though... gods, why did this have to be so complicated?]
Do you have a favorite beach here?
[ He asks, just to break the silence. ]
no subject
[ With the sun shining on them and their pushy (if well-meaning) friends out of the way, he takes a breath and decides to summon what meagre courage he has off the mixed signals he's been mulling over and offers Molly an arm. It comes with a warmer smile than any since they left the Xhorhaus. ]
Come on, I remember some of the shops from the last time we were here. I bet you'll like them. [ Amending, ] It's harder to get lost if we stick together.
[ Yep, that's the whole point of that arm. Chivalrous Paladin shit and not because he wants to keep Molly from looking like an unescorted snack on the bustling promenade. ]
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The clothes he picked did feel a lot better than tight pants in this nice heat, and his skin was thankfully not prone to burning, with all of it that was exposed. Each step makes a low chiming sound from his jewelry, and he just likes feeling the sun on his face. ]
Show me Nicodranas, captain~
[ Molly says with a smile, ready to be led to fun places. He has gold in his pouch that needs to be spent and a whole new country to get to know, proven how easily he waves and says hi to people. ]
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It would be my pleasure.
[ Fjord is as good as his word, taking Molly to shops full of glass knick-knacks like suncatchers and windchimes, pretty trinkets for the home, jewellery shops that have gemstones inlaid in chains and rings for horns, clothing boutiques of all styles. He draws up behind the tiefling in one of the shops and places a hand on Molly's hip to see what he's looking at, chin hooking over a bare shoulder. ]
What's caught your eye?
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Between his gold spent and all his jokes and flirting, the shopkeepers are left happy and Molly in a great mood.
Once back in the 'Sea Treasures' shop that he saw earlier, he's looking amongst the strange things that have been salvaged from sunken ships. When Fjord comes to lean over him, he smiles again and leans back a bit to that nice chest. ]
Just some swords from a sunken ship. I asked how old they were and the shopkeeper said pre-Calamity.
[ He chuckles, giving the elven man at the desk a wink that he somewhat grumpily accepts. ]
I doubt that. [ Molly then whispers, amused. ]
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[ He shoots the shopkeeper a pleasant look, supporting Molly's weight. His fingers drift over lavender ones as they examine the sword. ]
Want to head to the beach yet or keep browsing?
[ Fjord relented during their spree and now carries two bags with gifts for their friends, not his purchases but Molly's. He has become the designated carrier. ]
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Let's leave this off at the Chateau and then head to the beach.
[ He suggests, gesturing to the bags of things they've (he) bought. Of course Fjord is carrying them, that's what a good gentleman does! (Plus Molly may have almost decked some poor bypasser with one of them earlier when seeing a new shop.) ]
I don't want it to get dark before we get there.
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Now? Oh! Yes, let's be off.
[ He was so distracted by envisioning his fate as a bag-carrier for several years that he entirely missed whatever went on with the shopkeeper, so eager to leave he even holds the door open for Molly. ]
Did you find everything you wanted?
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Very much so! I didn't want anything and yet I found so much, so it's obviously a great day.
[ He chuckles, circling Fjord with a few steps and then flicks up what looks like another gold coin in his hand. ]
Tal'dorei-minted. I figured I should have something from a land far away so I remember to go there eventually.
[ The coin disappears in his dexterous hands and he joins Fjord's side again with a content sigh. ]
Did you find everything you wanted?
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[ A coin he can't use here, what a waste!! Fjord shakes his head with a smile: all of Molly's purchases are just feel-good treats, after all. Their friends will appreciate the goodies he got them. As for Fjord, ]
I'm happy if you're happy. It's your first time at the seaside, more than anything else you should take away some happy memories.
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[ Molly has no idea if this means it cannot be used here or not, but he's going to keep it, so it didn't matter much. They are all unnecessary things, everything he's bought is to make someone happy. Including himself, of course. ]
I'm definitely charmed by this place. Nice people, nice weather, all kinds of lovely things we don't get up in the Empire. I think they even use spice in their food, unlike some places...
[ Looking at you, Trostenwald. ]
Now I want to get wet!
[ He hollers, on an open street where people turn to look at them both, confused and amused at the same time. Two of those tieflings from earlier laugh and cheer him on as he takes Fjord's hand to hurry him up. ]
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Once they dump Molly's haul at the Chateau (no one else home but Marion at this time of day, into whose rooms Fjord is sure to say Hello) he's keen to get to the nearest beach before the tide starts to rise for the evening. ]
Molly, come on already!
[ He waits in the downstairs dining room, idly wondering if their friends are having fun outdoors. ]
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I'm here. Show me the ocean, Fjord.
[ Show him what makes you happy. ]
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You're going to love it.
[ Completely confident in that, he leads the way through the streets and explains about the dangers of high tide to fill the walk with some salient information. They won't be able to stay for long, just a couple of hours at most before it would be best to head back and also catch Marion's performance. Molly is warned not to let the sea take him too far out because even if he thinks he's fine with the beach in sight, he might not be. Distance means nothing beyond the shallows.
Fjord just wants him to be safe, that's all. He doesn't mean to nag.
The houses give way and finally reveal the wide stone street that runs parallel to the ocean, steps leading down to the sand. The sea gleams like a sapphire with a soft hush in the air like a wild animal breathing. Ships and smaller boats fleck the shining waves but the beach Fjord has led them to is mostly populated by tourists and there aren't any quays nearby for the vessels to dock. The view is mostly uninterrupted. ]
What do you think?
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The view when they reach the sea is stunning, though, and he stops immediately to take it all in. There's glimmering in the blue water and beautiful sand at the beach and fuck, the sound of the waves are so lovely. It even smells less fishy than he thought it would.
The next breath and Mollymauk is running towards the beach, white dress fluttering around him and the top part risking staying on at all. ]
Come on!
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I'm coming, I'm coming!
[ He ends up trotting most of the way and power-walking the rest, stopping once his boots start to sink into the wet sand. ]
Take your shoes off first!
[ Fjord retreats a little and starts to do just that. He also hedges his bets, rolling up his trousers and stripping his shirt. ]
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The dress is next, fairly easily thrown over his head and thankfully revealing that he's wearing underwear (for once) in the shape of black and somewhat risque silk shorts. It's... well, let's just be happy he's wearing any at all and leave it at that.
A second later and he's dipping his toes in the water, sinking in a bit into the wet sand with a sound that isn't appropriate for an open area. The water is a little colder than he thought, but not in any way stopping him from getting his feet wet ]
Oh, yes. Perfect.
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In you go! Go on, a little deeper won't hurt you.
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It's lovely.
At least until he steps on seaweed and jumps onto the half-orc with a surprised shout. ]
What the fuck was that?!
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Watch out, it has teeth!
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[ Molly laughs, sidestepping the mess and giving it another look. Just slimy vegetation, okay. He can deal with that. ]
I think I'd prefer it with teeth, now it's just gross.
[ He keeps walking further into the water until it is up to his thighs, and then he sits down in the water with another laugh. ]
I love it, it's great.
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[ Says the half-orc swishing his way out with butterfly strokes, cocking his brows in a challenge. ]
Unless you're too chicken?
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[ Molly laughs at that and then slinks forward into the water, feeling out how the waves move as he swims after Fjord. The half-orc moves like he's born in the waters, and while Molly's not a bad swimmer by any means, he's definitely not used to the ocean.
A wave dunks his head under water and he spits some brine out of his mouth, but he manages to keep up with Fjord. ]
You're saving me from any other sea monsters.
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I don't know, it's a big ocean ... Who knows what's out here at any given time?
[ And he ducks underwater, disappearing into an ominous dark blob circling Molly's feet. The waters are still clear enough to see his shadow but nothing else. ]
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He's... just going to wrap his tail around himself. You know, just in case. ]
Gods damn it, Fjord!
[ Molly deserves it, to be real. ]
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