Chapter Text
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“Empty.”
The voice echoes through the gardens of the Blooming Grove, a voice Essek hasn’t had time to acquaint himself with. It’s different from Lucien’s voice, and doesn't carry the undercurrent of hatred and self-importance that made Essek’s lungs freeze in pure terror so many times in the last couple of days.
No, this voice is gentle.
He’s returning from the temple with floating trays of food for the group, thankful for the Clay family hospitality. They had all but barged into their home, battered and bruised, but the family seemed happy to help.
Essek lowered the food to the ground, in the center of the circle of his friends, receiving thank-yous, and replying in kind with a tired smile. He took his seat next to Caleb, seeing the space clearly left empty for him. It made him a little bashful, sure, but he had just seen Caleb die. Some things were more important than preserving his privacy.
“Love? Magician.”
The purple tiefling continued his confused musings, pointing to different people with a tilt of his head. Yasha sat next to him, muttering the proper names of each one he pointed to. She couldn’t stop smiling. It made Essek smile too.
He reached for one of the little broccoli buns and closed his eyes as he ate his first meal in safety in a long time. It was soft and warm as he bit into it and Essek closed his eyes. He felt himself a little dizzy, swaying in place until a hand came to his lower back, balancing him.
“Ah, is the food that good, friend?”
Essek opened one eye, finding the owner of the hand on his back grinning at him. They all looked like shit, objectively speaking, but Essek couldn’t believe how beautiful Caleb managed to look anyway, with his blue eyes and freckled nose, his mouth twisted into a crooked smile that filled his heart. He looked warm and content. Alive.
“Apologies, I closed my eyes and the world spun around me. I think I’m a bit tired,” he said, returning the smile as best as he could.
Caleb nodded, releasing his back. “You can sleep now. We’ll all sleep soon, anyway. We’re just...” his eyes shifted to Mollymauk, turning pensive.
“Yes,” agreed Essek, turning to him too. There was no need to elaborate, they had their friend back, and it felt strange to simply sleep, without even spending a little time seeing if he was alright.
“Magician.” the voice sounded confused once again as a purple finger pointed at Caleb, “Tinker?”
“Ah, ja . Magician. Caleb,” the red-head pointed at himself with an encouraging smile, before turning and pointing to Veth, “Tinker. Veth.”
“Oh, I must be confusing him, he only saw me as a little goblin girl.”
Though Mollymauk seemed confused, he also seemed to accept the new name quickly, nodding to himself and muttering, “Magician… Tinker… hmm.”
Essek was still a little in the dark about this new friend. He’d heard stories, of course, as they traveled through Aeor hunting the now familiar figure. What little he knew could be surmised as such: Mollymauk Tealeaf was some sort of blood hunter, though Essek did not know a lot about what this entailed, except that a blood hunter would use his own blood as a component for magic. He made a mental note to research this in the future. He also knew the man had traveled in a circus along with Yasha before the Nein were together, and that at the time he had no knowledge of Lucien and of the years prior to his ‘birth’. Other than that, it seemed the tiefling had been an extravagant companion, merciless in battle but compassionate and curiously generous.
Caleb told him that Molly was the one who taught them to leave every place better than they found it. That Molly had kissed him on the forehead once, a quicker thing than Essek’s own kiss, barely a second thought for Molly, but salvation for the wizard. That night in Aeor, when Caleb confessed these things to him, he had seemed sheepish, as if Essek would be mad that someone had given these gifts to Caleb before he was able to give them back. Essek was quick in his encouragement, touching Caleb’s hand gently and saying that Mollymauk seemed fascinating, that he hoped to be able to meet him, to thank him. Caleb had slept soundly next to him in the dome that night, head leaning against his crossed legs.
From what little he knows, it seems Mollymauk Tealeaf is not only an extremely curious and virtuous individual but also someone Caleb and his friends care for deeply. By extension, he already feels invested in the purple tiefling and his recovery.
So he smiles as the red eyes of Molly settle on him next. Smiling had never been Essek’s forte, but he had never had reasons to smile before. He finds it comes easier to him now. A lavender finger points at him.
“Hmmm?”
“Essek,” he says, touching his own chest.
“I made a card for him, Molly!” exclaims Jester happily, moving to find the deck among her things, “Here. The Fool and The Hermit.”
“Oh?” She beckons Essek to come closer, and he joins her next at the center of the circle for a moment as she shows the card to Molly.
The large card has two images dividing it. On the side of the hermit, a striking older man looks towards a vast snowy expanse. His dark skin contrasts with a shock of white hair and bright, unseeing eyes. He holds a staff and a hummingbird flies next to him.
“That’s Shakäste! He’s super cool and wise, we met him a long time ago” she says with a smile.
“Ah. That leaves the fool for me, then,” he adds, raising one eyebrow playfully at Jester.
The other side of the card depicted him in winter gear, packed and ready for a journey through the same frozen horizon. Instead of looking somber, the little painting smiled, hopeful, and held a bright beacon on its hand.
“The fool is not a bad card, you know. It’s a card about beginnings. Fresh starts.”
He shook his head, moving back to his spot on the circle. “There is no reason to explain, I do consider myself a fool, after all.”
To their collective surprise, Mollymauk hums and nods sagely, putting his fingers to his chin after examining the card. “Fool,” he says, looking at Essek with such finality that it makes them all laugh.
“Damn, he looked, he almost looked-” Beau is staring at Molly with a small hopeful smile. “Almost like he was back for a moment there.”
Caleb agrees with her promptly. Maybe showing him more things from his past, things he used to love, will jumpstart his memory. While they discuss their plans, Essek is struck silent, strangely warmed by being given a sort of name, not by Jester, but by this almost complete stranger who is so dear to all of the Nein. Maybe he could fit in, maybe he doesn’t have to leave, after all. Their eyes meet for a moment, and Essek is sure someone with more poetic inclinations might have thoughts or rubies and roses as he stares into the deep red eyes.
---
Essek sleeps, instead of trancing that night. It’s restorative and indulgent, and when he wakes up he feels like he needs to sleep for at least another couple of days before he’s fully, truly, rested. There are still demons lurking around the corners of his mind, and he feels like it will be a while before he truly understands that they’re not in imminent danger, but for now it seems that the entire group has decided to simply be, just for a little while. Essek’s grateful for that, for not having to face every single little trauma and fear at once. So he follows the Nein into the cozy kitchen of the Clay family, where the smell of food once again lures him in.
Jester’s voice fills the packed kitchen, excited, “So, since we’ve slept and stuff I can try a greater restoration on Molly now, you guys!”
Fjord’s eyes lit up, turning to face the silent lavender tiefling, “Oh, that’s good! Maybe he’ll get his words back?”
“What do you guys think?” Jester asks, looking around the table. The general feeling is positive, so she moves closer to Mollymauk with an excited smile.
“Hey, Molly. I will do some magic on you, ok? It’s good- it’s healing, ok?”
Molly doesn’t seem to care a lot, but smiles up at her with fondness, reaches a hand out that Jester takes with a happy squeal. He feels safe with her, clearly, and it’s nice to watch, even if Essek lacks some context for their relationship.
Jester does her incredibly confusing ritual, calling out to ‘Artie’ and saying things Essek can’t, and honestly doesn’t want to understand. She rights herself up, waving her hand in front of Molly’s face.
“Ok. It’s done. Mo-lly , do you understand-”
Before she’s able to finish her sentence, Molly lets out a surprised shout, red eyes widening in surprise. He manages to scramble backward and fall out of the kitchen bench, on his ass, just as the entire group gets up to look at him.
“ Ouch ! Feck! What is this- where am I?”
“Molly! You can talk!”
Among the cries of joy, Caduceus’ voice booms through, calm as ever, “Uh. Hey. Maybe we shouldn’t crowd him right now. Give him some space?”
It’s wise, of course, and Essek plants himself at the back of the kitchen along with Caleb and a few others to watch their friend. Jester and Yasha stay close, help him up even as he’s eyeing them suspiciously.
“Who are you?” he asks, still conflicted, looking around, “There are so many of you! This is weird! My head hurts.”
“Do you remember me?”
Mollymauk eyes Yasha for a second, before a spark of recognition reaches his eyes. “The angel,” he says in a whisper.
“Hi, ice spinner.”
He launches himself onto her, hugging the aasimar desperately.
---
They take it outside. The sun is up, the graveyard-slash-garden looks lovely, and Molly seems grateful to breathe in some fresh air before he’s made privy to all that has happened.
Essek is, of course, a little inconvenienced by how sunny it is. He considers asking for a hat, but before he knows it, Jester’s handing him a black parasol, simple this time, and smiling.
So he sits along with the Nein, watching closely as Caleb shows their friend his circus tent, and old friends and family that worked there.
“Do you remember them?” Yasha asks gently, “Do you remember Gustav?”
“Hmmm… I remember a little. It’s strange, feels like I was having the most amazing dream, about this circus, and you- all of you…” he pauses, eyeing Caduceus and Essek. “Well, almost. You two, I don’t remember at all.”
“But you remember our names?”
“You’re Fjord, so I know that.” Fjord nods encouragingly, “I think I know almost all of you. You, I don’t- it’s weird.” he points at Veth.
With a snap, she disguises herself as her goblin form, and Mollymauk’s eyebrows shoot up.
“The goblin girl with sticky fingers!”
“Hell yes, that’s me. Except I’m a halfling now, and I don’t drink as much. My name’s Veth.”
Molly’s eyes travel through the group until they land on Caleb, “And you used to travel with him, right? What is it you are again, a, a-”
“A wizard,” he supplies with a smile, “And ja , it’s good to see you again, Mollymauk.”
Caleb makes his illusion shift, giving Molly a view of his old self. He looks confident, a cocky smile on his face and hips tipped to the side. All around him, the original members of the Mighty Nein appear, laughing and smiling with him.
“Oh, you’re cute, magic man.”
Essek startles silently at the flirtatious comment. The group laughs, though, taking it in stride, and even Caleb lets out an amused puff of air. Mollymauk is indeed a curious character, it seems.
“So, you remember us, a little. Do you know where we met?”
Molly turns to Beau and his smirk falters. “I don’t, not really. I remember a city that was in bits, I remember we did some traveling on a shitty cart and a… there was a drinking contest? Nothing more specific than that, I’m afraid.”
“Okay, okay, that’s something,” muttered Yasha.
Fjord scratched his head, before asking, “What about, uh, you? Do you know anything about yourself?”
Molly seems conflicted for a moment, turning to look at his own hands. His nails are very long, longer than what would be considered normal even for a tiefling, and he examines his arms, following the tattoos up to where he can see.
“Hm. I don’t know. That one right there is supposed to be me, right?” he asks Caleb, pointing at the illusion of old Mollymauk. Caleb nods. “Can you show me how I look right now? Like a mirror.”
Caleb does so wordlessly, erasing old Mollymauk from the illusion, and instead conjuring an image just like this Molly, in front of him. The tiefling tenses, his face scrunched up as he takes in the gauntness of his face, and how long and matted his hair is. The mad chase into becoming one with a living flesh city doesn’t lend itself to self-care, clearly.
Molly turns back to Fjord with a frown, “I- To answer your question… I have no idea what I liked, but I do know what I like, and what I dislike, sort of, right now. I like this wee colorful coat you all gave me, so colors, I think, anything beautiful or- or interesting or loud or fun. Anything new sounds good to me, and everything is new to me, which is exciting! Er, but on the other hand, I am pretty sure I dislike anything drab and boring, or that sounds like a lot of work.”
“Yep, you’re a lazy fuck”
“Beau!”
“Sorry, Jessie. But, yeah, you’re you Molls. That’s cool.”
Mollymauk seemed to ignore the exchange, gaze returning to Fjord, “But I’m… Look, love, I’ll be honest. I hate this,” He motions at his body, and his hair with a frown, “I feel awful, and I look awful. I need a long bath.”
“Actually, that’s a very you thing to say.” says Veth, “So I’d say everything’s coming up Mollymauk!”
The comment makes Molly laugh, even if it’s weak. “Grand. Now, where can I clean up?”
Essek’s glad for the reminder. There’s only so much prestidigitation can do, and a real bath wouldn’t go amiss. The entire group agrees on this pretty easily, as most of them are still caked in blood or dirt. Soon they’re waiting for Caleb to put up the tower, opting for its private baths instead of the Grove’s hot springs. Essek admires his casting from a distance, leaning against a tree close to the group.
“What about you, then?”
Essek startles, almost dropping his parasol. Mollymauk walks closer to him, and he’s surprised by how tall the tiefling really is, after looking so vulnerable and small just a day before. He’s taller than Caleb, or perhaps they’re the same height, but Mollymauk doesn’t slouch. Instead he saunters over confidently, tilting his head curiously at the drow.
Essek doesn’t miss how the rest of the group perk up on his periphery, certainly interested in their first chance to meet. Suddenly, he is very intent on not fucking this up.
“Ah, apologies. My name is Essek Thelyss. You can call me Essek, of course.” he offers a polite smile, stretching out his hand.
For a moment, Molly hesitates, tilting his head, before his lips settle on a sharp smile. Essek watches, transfixed by the tiefling, as he takes his hand to his lips for a brief kiss across his knuckles, the sharp talons kept away in an easy motion.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a drow properly before,” he says, relinquishing his hand and bowing with a flourish, “It’s a pleasure, Mr. Essek. I’m Molly, but I’m sure you’ve gathered that.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Essek replies, falling back on his manners even if he’s sure he looks bewildered. Most people from this side of the Ashkeeper Peaks don’t smile like that at the prospect of meeting someone from his folk. Then again, tieflings know a thing or two about being hated on sight, he’s sure. It was just… unexpected.
“What the fuck,” Beau interrupts, glaring at both of them, “Stop flirting with people, Molly, you’re barely back! Gods !”
Essek frowns at the implication, but when he looks around to find Caleb’s eyes, the red-head is simply smiling at them, a playful glint in his eyes.
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