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Essek stretches out, long and languid, enjoying the feeling of magically-muted sunlight on his skin. The Nicodranas heat demands he dress lighter than his usual preference but considering the company he’s keeping, it feels… right.
“Gods, you have so many fucking freckles,” Molly mutters as they emerge from the washroom, bereft of a shirt, the beaded curtain clinking behind them.
“Mmm. I take it you like them?”
The mattress dips as Molly sprawls out beside him, the smell of ginger accompanying them. Gently, they trace the silver dots across his shoulders, his arms, the scattering on his slightly-exposed hips.
“Obviously.”
Essek chuckles, rolling into his side and catching Molly’s roaming hand. “It’s a good thing Caleb and I are both adorned as such, then.”
“Luckiest person in Exandria.”
“Exandria?” Essek raised an amused brow. “Last I heard it was Wildemount.”
“In light of recent developments, the rankings have changed,” he grins. “Freckles accounted for, it's definitely Exandria.”
“You are incorrigible, Mollymauk Tealeaf.”
“Says the prince in my bed,” they change their grip on Essek’s hand and bring it to their mouth for a kiss. “Half dressed.”
“I dress as the weather requires, my dear.”
“As the weather requires, yes,” Molly’s free hand skirts down to brush at his hip. “Gods, it’s a shame Caleb’s missing this sight.”
Essek huffs. “His fault for getting wrapped up in Cobalt Soul matters.”
“I completely agree,” they mutter before closing the scant distance between the two of them, pulling Essek into a heated kiss. Essek melts into it, sighing with pleasure.
They get a few minutes of peace, Molly getting far enough to throw a leg over Essek’s waist, before someone knocks at the bedroom door.
“Opal? Your brother is here and asking for you.”
Molly breaks away with a groan. “If it’s Lucien, he can go fuck himself. I’m busy.”
There’s a pause. “It is Kingsley, sir.”
He groans again, even more frustrated. “Fuck,” reluctantly, he shifts off of Essek and then the bed entirely, searching through the room for a robe. “Let him into the sitting room, Bellis. I’ll be out in a minute.“
“Very well.” there’s the faint sound of retreating footsteps.
“I’m so sorry, love, but it’s King, I need to—“
Essek climbs off the bed, stepping over and kissing Molly’s cheek. “It’s perfectly alright, darling. I understand.”
They sigh, leaning their forehead down against Essek’s. “This was supposed to be our week.”
“I know,” Essek brushes over their cheek. “And I very much hope this isn’t a disaster and we can return to enjoying ourselves soon.”
“Gods, please. I may murder King if it is.”
Essek chuckles. “Nothing so drastic, dear,” quickly, he kisses him before stepping away and Mage Handing over a robe from the wardrobe door. “Here. Now go see your brother.”
“Thank you,” they shrug it on, haphazardly tying it shut to hide their shirtless state.
Tail flicking with annoyance, they depart the bedroom, leaving Essek alone.
“This had better be good,” Molly declares as they enter the sitting room. “You’ve interrupted a very pleasant morning.”
Kingsley looks up and Molly immediately freezes at the state he’s in; short hair askew, coat rumpled, eyes heavily bagged.
“Hello to you too, Molly.”
“What the fuck happened to you?”
King shrugs, laying back on the couch. “Got into a fight with one of Avantika’s last night, crashed at Sheila's.”
Molly raises a brow. “Doesn’t she hate you?” although their recall is far from the best, Molly distinctly remembers the gnomish shopkeep turning up at the estate, sun-splotchy face bright red, accusations of Kingsley stealing and pawning a valuable shipment of curios angrily falling from her tongue. Lucien had sent her away, playing at disbelief and exhaustion, until the three of them were alone and he could snap at King about the source of his latest influx of gold.
At the moment, Kingsley simply shrugs. “She did, until I passed her a trinket I swiped from Lucy’s office.”
Oh gods, this little idiot . “ Kingsley, ” they sigh. “You know that he’ll have noticed that whatever the fuck it was is gone.”
A grin splits King’s face. “Why do you think I didn’t try and crash at home?”
Despite his earlier words to Essek, Mollymauk briefly considers murder. He knows he’s never set a stellar example, but Moonweaver spare him, this is absurd.
“That is possibly the only smart choice you’ve made here.” Molly says, budding annoyance bleeding through.
Thankfully, King only pouts. “Mean.”
“Says the little Jasper thieving from his crazy older brother.”
“ Fine. Point taken.”
It had better be, Molly thinks for a brief moment before they shove it far away. They won’t act like Lucien, as frustrated as they are.
They just want Kingsley to take better care of himself and make wiser choices. Lucien…
Who fucking knows what he wants.
Molly sighs and scans Kingsley over, gaze catching on the haphazard stitches in his bloodstained shirt. “Who healed you up? And don’t say yourself, you’re shit at healing and we all know it.”
Kingsley laughs. “Fuck you.”
“I have a prince in my bed to do that, thank you kindly.”
“Essek’s here?” Kingsley finally looks somewhat chastised. “Well shit.”
“Yes, exactly, so if that’s all, go crash in the guest room and let me enjoy my morning,” teasing jabs having softened their annoyance, the glare they shoot down at him is a mock one. “And who the fuck healed you?”
Kingsley sighs and with a somewhat stilted movement swings himself to sitting and tugs up the edge of his shirt. Sloppily bandaged cuts line his stomach. “So maybe I made a stop by Wadea’s before Sheila.”
Molly groans. The last time Kingsley had let Wadea—an aasimar tavernkeep in the Open Quay—patch him up, Molly, also a not-great healer, had to purge him of an infection from the bandages she’d used. “You have to get a better healer, King.”
A hell of an understatement.
“I know but at least she’s good company. That counts for something.”
Molly wants to argue that so badly, but they’re the one who taught him that, so they swallow it back.
“Whatever you say, little Jasper. You know where I keep the potions,” they hold out a hand and pull King to his feet. “And if those cuts start getting infected, you go to Jester.”
Kingsley rolls his eyes but nods. “I will.”
“Good. Now, ” they turn towards the hallway. “I am going to go back to my gorgeous partner. Rest well, don’t bother us unless it’s an emergency.”
They begin to stride from the sitting room, pausing at the doorway.
“And come here next time you’re drunk and injured, King. Alright?”
They can’t see him, but Molly knows the way Kingsley’s likely deflating, letting the bravado fall. “I will, Molls.”
“Thank you.” it’s soft, all annoyance gone, real and pretense, and then they turn into the hallway and are gone.
Essek has a book propped against his knee and is almost drowning in the bed’s mountain of pillows when Molly returns.
“And how is Nicodranas’s Jasper?” he asks, glancing up briefly as he turns a page.
“Got his ass kicked in a bar fight, went to his shitty healer friend’s place, then bribed his way into staying with someone else with something he stole from Lucien,” Molly lets their robe slip off before dropping back onto the bed, sprawling out like a starfish. “Little fucking idiot.”
Essek hums. “Younger siblings are like that, yes.”
“Yeah well at least yours is just running around with a gorgeous Zemnian on his arm.”
That gets a groan out of Essek. “Please spare me the poetic waxing about my brother-in-law.”
Molly chuckles. “It was hardly that, dear,” they smirk and roll over onto their stomach. “And besides, we’ve got an even better Zemnian on our arms.”
“We would , if he’d stop letting Beauregard drag him into drama at the Soul.” Essek huffs.
“Mmhmm. And I’m sure if you sent him a little magical message he’d teleport here already half out of his shirt.”
Essek flushes. “ Mollymauk. ”
“What? I’m right. Go on, do it.”
“Absolutely not,” he slots his bookmark into place in his book and sets it on the windowsill behind the bed. “Perhaps this evening, but not mid-morning.”
Molly rolls their eyes. “And why not?”
“He’s most likely working right now, dearest. I can’t just disrupt him because I…”
“Because you miss him?” Molly gives him a soft, if teasing, smile. “Essek, sweetheart, that’s a perfectly good reason to.”
Essek flushes. “It’s silly. ”
“Bullshit. Wanting to talk to Caleb is way more fucking important than…” they wave vaguely at the air. “Whatever bureaucratic shit Beau’s got him caught in this time.”
“More scholarly than bureaucratic, from his message.”
“ Whatever. My point stands, starlight. Message him. ”
Why must they be so damned persistent? Essek takes a steeling breath and levels his partner with a flat look. “I will later, Mollymauk.”
They sigh, but it’s affectionate. “Always so laced up…” their fingers brush over Essek’s ankle and he shivers, instinctually pulling his legs back.
“A lifetime of Kryn court training does that, yes.”
Molly chuckles. “I’m not complaining, darling,” he shifts closer, gaze brand-like as it drifts across Essek’s lightly clad form. “Makes for more fun unwrapping you.”
Light.
“You are trouble.” it’s far too breathy for Essek’s tastes and Molly’s grin grows.
“And you love it.”
He does. He does, Light damn him. He loves the teasing, the flirting, the looks full of want.
He loves Molly, so very much.
The words hover on his lips, sweet as honey, but still he swallows them down. Soon, but not yet. For now, he’ll hoard them indulgently close. It isn’t as if Mollymauk doesn’t know, as if Caleb doesn’t know. They both do and Essek knows the feeling is reflected back.
Instead, he simply hums and, ever elegant, swings his legs off the bed and stands. The translucent silk of his top rides up as he stretches, revealing further freckle-dusted skin. “Time for a bath, I think.”
The sheets rustle as Molly sits up, previous teasing forgotten. “Oh? Care to have some company?”
Essek gives him a look over his shoulder, first amused, then soft. “Not in the bath but I wouldn’t mind if you washed my hair?”
With ease, their legs still dangling off the side, Molly slides off the bed and wraps their arms around Essek’s waist. “Of course I will, starlight.”
“Thank you, darling.” he turns, quickly catching Molly in a kiss, before slipping away towards the bathroom, the warmth of Molly’s arms lingering on his skin.
Later that day, sun high in the sky as noon approaches, the pair strides down the avenues of the Opal Archways, arms linked. Done up in shimmering teal and gold, Molly is a sight and Essek struggles to keep his eyes on their surroundings and not on him. Essek himself has an enchanted parasol propped over his shoulder, casting a blissful shadow over his slate-and-violet clad body.
Passersby offer smiles and deferential bows of their heads as they’re spotted and recognized. A few Molly recognizes themself and gives hand kisses and well wishes; one they clearly know better than the rest, chatting excitedly for a few minutes while they deftly pluck a lily from a nearby flower vendor and press it into their hands, shooing them away a moment later.
Essek waits for the sharp sting of jealousy at the display of affection, despite Molly’s arm wrapped snugly around his middle. But just as it begins to pinch, Molly swipes a crown of daisies off the cart and plops it on his head.
“Zel’s lovely but you’ll always be my favorite,” they whisper, sweetly pressing a kiss to his temple.
Any ache retreats, replaced by pure warmth.
For a moment, he can only stare, lovestruck. And then.
“I’ll have to tell Caleb that, you know.”
Molly laughs, tossing a few gold to the vendor and sweeping him away down the street. “Oh, starlight, you’re both my favorite magic men.”
Essek joins them in their mirth, one hand clasped to the wreath of daisies so it doesn’t fall. “Yes, yes we are.”
The afternoon passes in a blur of light and color, fond teases and gentle touches. Molly ducks inside a shop with a candy-colored awning at one point, emerging with two little bowls of orange sorbet. They eat as they wander the streets, citrus sweet on Essek’s tongue though far more so from Molly’s lips when they steal a kiss.
Essek, in return, slips into a jewelry shop a few streets over and purchases a set of golden horn charms with dangling orbs of orange topaz.
“Open it when we get home,” he whispers as he presses the box—wrapped in mint green paper—into Molly’s hand, punctuating it with a cheek kiss.
“Mmm, a surprise,” Molly tucks the box away and catches Essek’s waist. “I love a good surprise.” the kiss he gives Essek is indulgent and sweet, lasting for a long, honey-colored moment.
They carry on, more focused on each other than properly shopping, though they do stop at a few more street vendors and Essek’s favorite bookstore in the city. Molly offers to carry the rather heavy bag when they emerge, Essek simply smirking as he stashes it away in his Wristpocket. The trick earns him a faux pout, which he quickly wipes away with a kiss.
Eventually though, the day’s adventures draw to an end, the heat and light wearing on Essek despite all his enchantments and the joy filling him. Molly, ever attentive, finds a route back to their apartments that travels through as many shaded streets as possible, a supporting arm around Essek’s waist all the while.
The building’s lobby is a relief, the two flights of stairs a trek, but finally they cross the threshold into Molly’s vividly decorated abode. Bellis greets them almost immediately, collecting Essek’s parasol to put away before shooing the pair off to unwind while she makes dinner.
“Time for a nap?” Molly softly asks as they open their bedroom door, Essek leaning against their side.
“Mmm. Yes please.”
They chuckle, herding him towards the bed. “Let’s get you out of those layers, first.”
Essek groans, sitting on the edge of the mattress, though he offers no protest when Molly begins to unbutton the front of his tunic.
After a moment, he helps.
Together, they make quick work of the ensemble, leaving Essek in his silky undershirt once again.
“So beautiful,” Molly mutters, softly kissing the crown of Essek’s head before taking a step back. “Get cozy, starlight, I’ll join you in a moment.”
Essek simply nods, rolling onto his side and burying himself in the mess of pillows and blankets. A minute, maybe two, later, Molly slips in behind him. Their arms wrap around his middle, their tail settling across Essek’s hips. The warmth and weight are comforting and Essek sinks back against their bare chest, already halfway towards sleep.
“Rest well, my darling,” is the last thing he hears before drifting off.
Later, once dinner has been eaten and Kingsley has been teased into leaving them be, Molly unwraps the box Essek had given them earlier, their legs swung over his lap as he writes letters.
“Oh, starlight…” they whisper upon seeing the charms, carefully lifting them from their soft bed and holding them up to the summer evening light. “They’re beautiful.”
Essek looks up from his paper and smiles, all warmth. “I’m glad you like them.”
“Of course I do. You have excellent taste,” they grin, tail flicking and tapping Essek’s thigh. “Help me try them on?”
“Now? It’s getting late and you’ll just have to take them off for bed.”
Molly chuckles. “Yes, now, I’d like to try on the lovely gift that my gorgeous prince bought me, even if I only have it on for a short while.”
“Ah,” Essek knows exactly the shade of plum he is, if Molly’s smirk is anything to go off of. “Very well.” he sends his writing supplies, already cradled by gravity, across the room to Molly’s cluttered desk and nudges their legs so he can stand.
Only after a long, teasing moment does he relent, standing and drifting over to his vanity, tail swishing. Essek follows, gently taking the charms from Molly when they’re offered.
“I must warn you that I’ve never done this before.”
“It’s simple, don’t worry,” they take the charms back and set them on the vanity before guiding Essek to the golden caps on their horns. “Unhook the charms already there and swap them out. Easy.”
“Ah. Yes, that makes sense.” Essek cannot help the slightly embarrassed tint to his words and Molly’s tail wraps around his calf, a gesture he’s come to learn is of reassurance.
Delicate and deft, he opens the clasps holding the sun charms in place and slides them out of their loops, exchanging them for the topaz orbs. With only slight difficulty—the clasps on the orbs are terribly fiddly—he slips the new charms into place, securing them with a pleased sigh.
“What do you think?”
Molly takes a moment to examine themself in the mirror before smiling, so full of delight.
“I love them, starlight.”
As the summer evening finally begins to fall, Essek slips from the bedroom, promising to bring back snacks from the kitchen.
Distant sounds of Nicodranas nightlife filter up through the cracked windows of Molly’s apartments, so very different from Essek’s own rooms in the Lucid Bastion. There, Rosohna is distant, almost a different reality altogether. Here, standing between mismatched red and purple velvet couches, the world outside feels real, if slightly unimportant compared to Mollymauk.
So caught up in his musing, Essek doesn’t notice Kingsley sitting on the kitchen counter until he’s already two steps into the room.
“Well hello.”
Essek very nearly throws a Ray of Frost at him.
“ Do not —” he sighs. “Good evening, Kingsley.”
“ Good evening, Essek,” the teasing edge to his grin is sharper than Molly’s tends to be. “So formal even when you’re skulking around my brother’s kitchen in your pajamas.”
“You startled me,” he mutters, breezing past to look through the icebox for fruit.
“Sure, right.”
Essek scoops up a bowl of raspberries and shoots a look at Kingsley. “Do you need something?”
He shrugs. “I was just getting some midnight snacks of my own.”
“Of course,” Essek casts a pointed look at Kingsley’s empty hands and the pristine countertops. “Well, if that is all, then I will be going.”
He gets a half-step out of the kitchen before King speaks up again.
“Okay, wait, fine, ” Essek turns, raising an eyebrow. “I’ve been wanting to do this anyways.”
He hops down from the counter and Essek is suddenly reminded that Kingsley is very much taller than him.
“If you hurt Molly, in any way, I will gut you. Understood, Prince Thelyss?” in the near-dark, Kingsley’s eyes glint like pools of blood and Essek draws in a sharp breath.
“Understood, Jasper of Nicodranas.”
“Good,” King doesn’t move, doesn’t shift from his looming demeanor. “Molly’s all the family I’ve really got, these days. I’m not gonna let you fuck that up.”
Essek, as on edge as he feels, offers him a smile. “I would never dream of doing so, Kingsley.”
“Good , ” he repeats. He holds his position for a moment longer before deflating. “ Sorry , I just—”
“No need to explain. I understand,” Essek chuckles. “I gave Eadwulf quite the, ah, shovel talk when he and Verin began courting. And I received ones in kind from Astrid Beck, Beauregard Lionett, and Veth Brenatto, all for Caleb’s honor.”
“ Oh. ”
“Yes. I am rather familiar with the practice by now.”
At that, Kingsley laughs. “Alright then. Good talk.”
Essek cannot hold back another puff of laughter. “Good talk,” he echoes. “Have a good evening, Kingsley.”
“You too, Essek.”
Some time later, raspberries long gone, Essek lays draped across Molly’s chest, idly speaking of court politics and arcana. Molly listens intently, running their fingers down Essek’s back and scratching at his scalp every few minutes. He’s rewarded with pleased hums for his efforts, Essek unable to help curling ever closer.
“Caleb’s right,” they mutter after some time. “You are just like a cat.”
Essek laughs softly and leans up to kiss them. “He says the same about you.”
Molly grins and curls a stray lock of Essek’s hair around his finger. “It’s just like him, the cat lover.”
“Indeed it is.”
They fall quiet then, Essek’s meandering mutterings fading from his tongue as a cool breeze slips into the room. Molly draws the blankets higher and pulls Essek closer with their tail.
“If you get chilly and want the windows shut, let me know, starlight.”
“Mmm. It’s alright for now,” he sighs, content. “You’re very warm.”
“I’m a tiefling, darling, of course I am.”
Essek huffs. “Jester’s rather chilly.”
“She’s part genasi, obviously she works differently.”
“I am teasing, dearest,” Essek cracks an eye open. “Hush now.”
He can feel Molly bite back another retort before smoothing a hand down his back and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Whatever you want, starlight.”
Time slows to a molasses trickle, the world dimmed outside their bed. The tangle of thought that always plagues Essek falls away, reduced to the comfort of Mollymauk’s presence and the yearning for Caleb to be present as well. It isn’t sharp though, as it sometimes has been, when it’s just him or just two of them. Here, he is content to be held by his beloved Opal, starlight reaching in to paint the two of them in silver, the whisper of the sea accompanying it.
Dreams beckon, dressed in gauzy fabric and lit by gold, and, heart at peace, Essek answers their call.