( like constellations a million years away )

[halforc]

who: fjord, mollymauk, jester
what: returning home from the nameless isle

>>MOLLY.

[ Birdsong drifts along a cool breeze, the warmth of sunny rays bathing his cheeks to stir him to consciousness. The scent of flowers hits him immediately before he even opens his eyes, groggily blinking up at a fluttering green canopy overhead and a sky as blue as the seas of the Menagerie Coast. He startles into a sitting position and looks around, alarmed as he gasps to full wakefulness with a deep-set panic in his chest spurring him into action, and with a stumble Fjord gets to his feet to spin around on the spot where he takes in the sight around him with widening eyes.

The graves of the Blooming Grove surround him, peaceful as various flowers gently sway in the summer breeze. He spots the Bag of Holding nearby and snatches it up, briefly summoning the Star Razor to check he can, and then he hears her and his knees hit the grass as they buckle, a flood of affection and relief that is not his own pouring down his spine as the Wildmother welcomes him home with what feels like a mother's embrace; ferns grow with rapid speed, grasses lurch up, and the flowers nearby riotously bloom in new vines to encircle him, swirling up his bent legs so that petals and leaves brush his face, damp with happy tears.

Welcome home.

He spends a moment crying into a hand, laughing out the agony and fear of having spent over a year being held prisoner. Flowers wind through his armour, joyously greeting Melora's Paladin. It takes a few minutes to regain his bearings but when he does the minor meditative state of her reassurance melts away and he can breathe again, picking a handful of purple and red flowers with the absent-minded idea that he doesn't want to leave part of Melora behind. As he walks away from the bed of flowers and heads further into the grove, he raises his raw voice to call for his friends, swallowing down apprehension as memories mingle of battling Lucien and the other fight on the Isle, both timelines somehow existing inside his aching head. ]

Mighty Nein? Hello? Vox Machina? Aphrodite? Is anyone ... Is anyone home too?

>>JESTER.

[ The morning after he finds Molly, Fjord heads outside with a cup of someone-tea (not thinking about who he might be drinking) to take a stroll in the golden expanse of the beautiful grove. In a simple shirt and pants after discarding his armour, desperate to soak up the comfort of the Clays like a dried-out sponge tossed into the ocean at last, he wanders at his leisure and is mid-sip when he notices a slice of blue low down in the tree-line, doing a double-take. Stepping around the trees to get closer, he drops his cup with a shout and darts through the tussocks toward Jester, scooping her up into his arms (partially, she's in a willow's branches, shit) to prop her close as he checks out whether she's injured.

She's home, though. He's so relieved that he can barely keep from shaking her awake. ]

Jester! Jester, open your eyes!

Comments

[halforc]

[ It's strange to feel apprehensive and protective in the same breath but he pushes through it, petting the fluff of Molly's curly hair and laying a hand in the small of his back. He shushes him with a slow sway, giving him a moment's reprieve from either world. ]

You're not that forgettable, evidently. You still have me.

[ What happened to Molly's back when the Wildmother healed Lucien? Did the ... tentacles heal over? He'll have to check later. ]

[devilstongue]

[ It's still long, that hair, courtesy of Lucien. Curly, bouncy and soft under Fjord's hand - it's soothing to the frazzled tiefling, and so is the gentle sway. He feels so damn drained and he's tired of not being himself. Be it the island fucking with them or some god-wannabe locking him into his consciousness.

He just wants to be a happy, carefree and snarky bastard again.

There's a small smile as Fjord reassures him, though, and he nods softly. ]

That's all I hoped for. That we still remember us.

[halforc]

Do you need anything? Any healing?

[ It bears asking; Molly has gone through more than any of them in any scenario. Fjord checks him over with a pat to a cheek, giving him a crooked smile. ]

A strong drink?

[devilstongue]

A strong drink sounds amazing.

[ He's not physically injured, thankfully. Just scars that he has to mentally deal with later. One horror at the time... and maybe he'll just look even more interesting and sexy with the one that splits him right from the top of the sternum and up his face. ]

I want to eat good food and drink too much and just celebrate that we're home and we won. Over that place, over Lucien, over everything. Now we can see the world... sail off to the sea. Get a home we can all live in together, like the Hauses.

[halforc]

We have the Xhorhaus but I don't know how to get us there without Caleb, unless you fancy a long ride.

[ Steering them around the temple, he hums thoughtfully. ]

I don't really want to leave the grove without the others, if this is where we're returning to.

[devilstongue]

Are you still welcome there, you think?

[ Molly isn't sure how the Essek thing was going down and whatever the politics there was about. It wasn't his strength, exactly.

When they come to the front of the temple, the tiefling grins happily at the cute little family home. ]

Me neither. If the Clays will have us... I think I need some time to collect myself as well.

[halforc]

We can disguise Essek, I'm sure Caleb has a trick up his sleeve, and that guy can't go on the run forever. Well, literally he could, but ... he shouldn't have to.

[ Strolling with Molly, he picks a flower outside the temple to add to the couple behind curly horns and also offers a reassuring smile. ]

Take as much time as you need, now that we have it. You know I'm here with you, whatever happens.

[ Squeezing a lavender hand for emphasis. ]

[devilstongue]

[ He's going to have a bouquet of flowers in his hair, and isn't that just the best way to wake up? Wild and free and happy. ]

You better be. Pretty sure you asked me to be your husband one day, and I...

[ Molly raises his hand with the faded tattoos and smiles. The ring is still there, even if it's blended in a bit. Like someone put his Island tattoos over his Exandria skin with a shitty opacity. (He'll fix that up later.) ]

I made sure to remember.

[halforc]

[ The thoughtful hum he sends that seaweed ring has him smiling still, even as he swallows. Sparing a glance at the front door, he turns to face Molly properly and takes his hands in both of his, a little sheepish about how to explain ... things. ]

After you've eaten and rested up, we need to ... talk. It's nothing bad, don't panic, ] he doesn't want that, ] but I ... remember being with Jester here, exclusively, and I understand now why she was so upset on the island. When she's back we should all sit down together. Is that okay?

[devilstongue]

[ That makes him freeze, and he gives Fjord an almost frightened look. Fuck, how could he have forgotten that? She was his girlfriend back here. If they had both or the world's memories?

Shit. ]

...yeah. Sure.

[ Hurt blooms in his chest, but he refuses to be in any more pain than he already is. ]

If you still... I can share.

[halforc]

[ That wounded look is what he was afraid of causing and he clasps Molly's hands in his, bringing him in close. ]

Of course I do! Yes, yes, I still ... [ His features soften as he relents on the truth, softly spoken before the Clay front door. ] I still love you, Molly. I would never have ... if I hadn't.

It's alright, I don't want to break up.

[devilstongue]

[ Gods, how he hates all these emotions. He's about to cry at the Clay's door and it's stupid. ]

I mean... after Lucien, too... it would be fair. You love her in the real world and I didn't even come back. Just some asshole.

[halforc]

What the fuck, Molly, you are real! You're right here, baby.

[ The burst of affectionate protectiveness has him wrapping his arms around Molly to reel him in for a hug, rubbing between his shoulders. ]

You're right here, I've got you.

[devilstongue]

[ That's when he finally breaks. All the things with Lucien, with the dumbass Kingsley, with everything, Molly can't keep it together any more.

He's not even sure if he cries or if he's just wheezing a scream into Fjord's chest. ]

[halforc]

[ Well, shit. He was hoping this wouldn't happen but maybe it's better that it does right away; as the door creaks open he shakes his head to Constance on the other side and she tactfully, quietly closes it.

Fjord runs a hand up the back of Molly's hair to grip onto the base of a horn from behind, pressure where he'll most feel it holding him safely close, still, captured in the moment by Fjord so he can't go anywhere else even as Molly's thoughts scramble. He doesn't tell him to hush, all Fjord does is hold onto him tightly and let him cry, lips resting on his forehead like a charm to ward off the pain as he murmurs, I've got you, you're Molly, I love you, you're safe, over and over. ]

[devilstongue]

[ It might be for the best. It might be what he needs to not just stop functioning right now, horror and fear and everything being too much. If he just gets it out, maybe they can get that meal and that drink without spiraling.

The screams turns to sobs and then to silence, body leaning heavily to Fjord with exhausted breaths from the tiefling. Every touch, every word from his boyfriend soothes, pulling him back from the feeling of insanity.

Taking a deeper breath, he curls his tail around a green ankle and then glances up at the half-orc. ]

Fuck. That was... yeah. I need to get drunk or something.

[halforc]

[ It's ... a lot. Fjord can't blame him, so he holds him through it until weariness replaces rage and anger, brushing back Molly's hair. The tail around his ankle evokes more memories than anything else so far and even after a display like that, he can offer him a small, supportive smile. ]

Just enough to help you pass out, maybe. A dreamless sleep might help. [ He tries to lighten the mood. ] Come on, let's go in and apologise to Caduceus's mother for being rude on her doorstep.

[devilstongue]

Yeah. Feels like a pass-out drunk moment.

[ He finally pulls away a bit from Fjord and tries to fix himself up a bit, face ruddy and messy. He's going to meet Caduceus' parents, after all, and he better make at least a slightly better impression than the one he already has. ]

Alright. Let's do this.

[ It's a nice meeting of what seems to be really sweet people, and they're spoiled rotten by the Clays when it comes to food and tea. No alcohol, but by nighttime Molly's pretty exhausted anyway.

They're given a cot in the temple itself since the house was very crowded, and Molly takes a moment there to just... not pray, exactly, but thank Her. ]

[halforc]

[ Fjord loves the Clays, loves the house, the activity, the laughter and yowling of siblings forced to live so closely. He never had anything like it until the Nein and he soaked up the home that was made on the Nameless Isle ... it's nice to be amongst another family, even if it isn't exactly his, and the certainty of Caduceus's parents of their son's imminent return buoys his spirits enormously regarding the rest of the Nein. The day is spent eating good food and being made to feel welcome. By the time Fjord and Molly are given a firbolg-sized cot to share, he collapses on it with a happy sigh and pulls back the blankets for whenever Molly is done quietly getting changed.

Fjord rolls onto his side with an arm under his pillow, watching him. In the half-light of an oil-lamp he could almost imagine they are back on the Nameless Isle. ]

Come to bed, honey.

[ A soft endearment that hasn't been lost with the switch in their location. ]

[devilstongue]

[ He folds his coat up on a stone bench, scimitars wrapped inside just like the old days. Molly brushes his long hair from his face and then looks back at Fjord. Those words soothe everything inside him, promising that even if everything has changed, nothing has at the same time.

They're still in love.

The tiefling crawls onto the cot to join Fjord, curling up in that little place at the half-orc's chest and shoulder that just seems made for him. ]

Hi.

[halforc]

Hi. Fancy meeting you here.

[ Fjord closes them under the thickly knitted blankets, bringing an arm around Molly to rest his palm between tattooed shoulderblades, gently petting back and forth as they get cosy. In the other rooms of the temple he can hear vague chatter, muffled and quiet, so he keeps his voice to a whisper too. ]

... Feels a little like the first time, huh?

[ Oddly forward and a bit awkward. ]

[devilstongue]

[ It's all very cozy and home-y, from the way there's a permanent dent in the mattress from heavy firbolg butts to the cute little patches made to mend an ancient blanket. It really does remind him of the first time they decided to share a bed fully back on the island. When it was still run-down and all they had to lean on where eachother. ]

It does.

[ Molly murmurs, slinging an arm over Fjord's wide chest and coiling his tail around the hexadin's ankle. It belonged there, gently anchoring them together. ]

I'm going to miss that place... but I'm glad to be home, too.

[halforc]

I loved that house, a bit. We built it together, in a weird way ... but it was never safe.

[ The Augur could smite them whenever it wanted, after all. His foot flexes, enjoying the tail around it that has the effect of making him sleepy. ]

I think I loved the idea of what it could have been.

[devilstongue]

Well... now we have the option to build a new one, without the debt to some weird sex deity.

[ He smiles, a low purr in his chest as they relax and get sleepy. ]

It could be so much better. Like that tower of Caleb's you keep telling me about, only real. Somewhere we can all be together, like the family we are.

[halforc]

Mmm ... I still want to go back to the sea, get an apartment on the coast.

[ With Jester too, but they can discuss that another time. He doesn't want to hurt Molly's mood again, not when he looks like he'll be able to sleep well tonight. ]

Are you sure you want to keep sleeping with me now you don't have to tick sexy kinks off a list?

[ His nose snuffles into purple hair, teasing. Mostly. ]