nexus_crossings | (no subject)

(no subject)

Caleb hadn't been in the Nexus in a while between classes and grading and visits from his friends both new and old there just hadn't been time to visit. He had worried about Molly, he always worried about Molly given what he knew.

So it was a relief to get the strange text from his friend and head into what he considered his second home. He popped up just outside the tavern he enjoyed visiting when he was here. He looked around trying to puzzle out what Molly's words meant.

"Has anyone seen...an almost dragon," he asks sounding almost amused by the whole idea.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh Caleb, a secret rendezvous? How scandalous, I love it." Molly couldn't help but laugh, giving the wizard's ponytail a playful tweak.

Caleb chuckles again and runs a hand along one of Molly's horns toying with one of the decorations. "I cannot exactly explain where I will go when I visit you...it would make no sense to our friends even with everything they have seen and done."

Caleb ducks his head. "and for once I want something that is simply mine."

Molly certainly doesn't mind that, tilting his head into the feel of the hand, with the faintest hint of a purr under his chuckle.

"Well, I'm all yours, Mister Widogast."

Caleb leans in to steal a deeper kiss. "Good, because it has been far too long since I was last with you...and I do not find myself in the mood to discuss magic."

As if the tiefling would complain about that, more than willing to allow and return that kiss with a pleased hum.

"No magic? Positively shocking, though it does do wonders for my ego."

Caleb laughs as he pulls away to breathe. "We have been apart for months Molly and the last time we were together so many delightful things happened I wish to repeat. It has been a very long time since I wanted such things and I am a selfish man."

"I can't say I'd mind myself," Molly hummed, teasingly kissing the tip of Caleb's nose when he draws back. "If that makes one selfish then we can be selfish together, hm?"

Caleb chuckles low and leans in to nip at Molly's ear lightly. "Then perhaps we should find somewhere a bit more quiet..."

"Back to my apartment then?" Molly replied with a grin, offering an arm in a playfully gallant manner.

Caleb chuckles as he takes Molly's arm. "Lead on good sir," he replies, reaching over to tweak a pointed ear lightly.

"You're a menace." Says the King of Menaces, though he's smiling as he says it, happily guiding his wizard back towards the apartment he'd claimed. Caleb could certainly hear the noise already, of the trio of pumpkins bumping around in the living room, likely because they'd heard the footsteps.

Barbar complete with a cover that made him look like a fluffy sheep, naturally immediately charged Molly's feet the second the door was open.

Caleb looked down and bursted out laughing at the sheep pumpkin. He is suddenly reminded of his own sheep related adventures and it's brought on the giggles. "Oh Pelor," he says once he can finally talk again, "That certain is interesting." He snaps his fingers and Frumpkin appears with a pop. The fey cat stares at the pumpkins thoughtfully as he debates if he can play with it or not.

Molly can't help but smile wider at the response Barbar gets, nudging the pumpkin back just enough to get the pair inside and the door shut without pinching the poor things stem.

"I saw the wooly fabric and well it works!" The tiefling smiles down at the cat as Frumpkin pops into existence. "Hullo there ser Frump. Watch the fluffy one, he plays a bit rough, but the others are gentle enough."

Frumpkin would find plenty of vertical shelves either way, to get up out of range of pumpkin carnage if he decided against tangling with the trio, including several little bridges and napping spots mounted along walls especially for him when either Caleb came over or sent Frumpkin on his own.

Caleb smiled pleased at the cat gym for Frumpkin. "Go on and play," he tells his familiar gently, "I know you wish too and I have been a bit busy lately." The cat meows and bats at one of the pumpkins with no claws to see what would happen. Caleb turns back to Molly. "It is very cute...Jester would love it," he says still smiling, "all she wanted to do when I accidentally became a sheep was pet me...once they stopped me from floating away."

Gordie wasn't expecting the soft pap, rocking back slightly in an expression of surprise before it bumpily rolled a bit closer, gently bonking against Frumpkins flank before bouncing off again in an invitation to chase.

"I bet you made an especially fluffy sheep," Molly mused, an arm winding around his waist. "But I prefer you like this, big surprise there."

The cat zips off with a happy meow as Caleb smiles to see it. "I did indeed...orange wool and all," he mutters hugging Molly close and leaning in to nip his ear, "for a moment I was as colorful as you."

"Oh as if you don't shine in your own magical way." Molly hummed in a playful but genuine reply. He was no scholar himself, but the wizard's intellect was positively dazzling even to him.

And if that nip earned a soft chuckle and an arm slipped back around him again, well the tiefling was a clingy sort.

Caleb looks at Molly and his eyes shine with pleasure. "There would have been a time I would have denied what you just said," he replied, "but I have made my peace with my past and I can accept the compliment for what it is dear Molly."

"But I believe we are here for more than just to praise each other yes...so why don't you tell me what you want."

"Well I'm quite happy I don't have to bully you into being complimented at least." Molly teased lightly as he used the arm around Caleb to lead the way back down the hall.

"I figure we start with a little peace and quiet from the pumpkins and Frumpkin, and go from there?" The room wasn't too different than the last time Caleb had seen- a few more throw pillows and blankets in a riot of colors and patterns, more clothing packing the wardrobe and new knick-knacks scattered on surfaces.

The big difference being that Molly had finished painting one of the walls, a wandering mural of patterns and colors more than any particular portrait or landscape. But sharp eyes would pick up the shine of different finish, and Caleb would certainly recognize the gleaming edges of a unpleasantly familiar cityscape, picked out carefully in a gloss finish that was utterly invisible if not for the catch of light from the window.

Caleb does indeed notice the mural. He's seen enough of that city to notice. For a moment he goes completely still as he looks it over as his quick mind works out what this might mean and what he should do about it. He had been afraid of losing Molly to Luican....even though he knows how the whole thing turns out. He isn't ready to let Molly go again...he is sure he will never be ready for that. "This is new," he mutters quietly, "what made you paint this."

The way Caleb stops so utterly gives Molly pause, brows furrowing a bit with concern. Something about it, about the soft tone the question was asked in made him uncertain, looking at the wall with a curious eye, trying to see whatever it was that Caleb had in the swirls of colors and lines.

"The patterns? Well, I felt like the wall needed something, and I couldn't settle on like... a landscape or anything so went with patterns. Just painted what I liked."

Caleb doesn't answer right away. He doesn't like the idea that Aeor is something Molly knows about and likes....even if he isn't completely aware of why it's important. He takes a deep breath and turns back to Molly trying to shut out the image behind him. He knows he cannot stop the march of time....what will happen will happen....and he has dealt with the hurt before and will deal with it again.

"It is....nice," he says quietly.

Molly pauses, studying the wizard a long moment. He's not the smartest tiefling to grace the world, but something is clearly bothering Caleb.

"Are you alright?" He can't help but glance back at the wall, as if trying to discern something in the colors or swirls that might have caused some manner of upset.

Caleb nods. "I am fine Molly," he replies easily, "I thought I saw something familiar in the mural...I believe I was wrong though..." He had to have been seeing things....his clear memory playing tricks on him as his worries came to the fore.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only