mollymocked | IC CONTACT

[true to his word, a few days after Mollymauk and Merlin have met, there's a small, paper wrapped bundle left in the room he's staying in. inside are a number of the star shaped pieces of currency, which have been wrapped in wire, making them into charms to be utilized how Mollymauk sees fit. all he'd need would be what to attach them too.

there's no note, but Merlin figures that he'll know.]

[...Well. That's unexpected. And given Molly can't really feign ignorance when he has only spoken to one person about his magpie fascination with pretty things, the ship is treated to him wandering around like an idiot, because HE CAN BARELY USE THE DAMN PHONE.

At least asking around eventually yields a result, even though it's clear Molly's been hunting for him across the entire place.]

You are a surprisingly difficult person to find.

[the problem is that Merlin wanders by nature, so sometimes tracking him down is difficult. as much as it's hard to mistake someone else for him - because who else has that much stupid hair - he does move about. still, when found, he gives a cheery wave as though surely there's nothing to be troubled by at all.]

I have to keep things interesting, every now and then.

[but there are always some haunts he'll end up returning to, in the end.]

I'll keep that in mind... Or figure out how to use that... Sending messages thing, properly. One of the two. [Shrug.] Anyway, the point is- [He flicks at one of the wire threaded bits of alien currency currently wrapped around the pierced part of his horn with some bit of strong wire or grayish twine he must have found somewhere. It looks nice with the moon baubles dangling from horn caps.] I assume this was your doing?

[he grins to see them there, shining in the light from the spaceship's lamps.]

I told you, didn't I? That I'd give you
a solution. Clearly it sits well with you.

It does. [He does so love gifts.] Is this just what you do here? Make things for people with idle fancies? 'Cause I'm into that. That's nice.

Not all the time, but when I get the inclination, who knows what I'll end up with? It beats lamenting our plight on this spaceship or going to try and batter down every locked door there is.

[plain and simple, he had the motivation. it's not like he can dream away the time in these uncomfortable cots they're dealing with.]

Better to do something a little more productive.

I'm always a fan of staying active, rather than standing still. [He rocks back on his heels.] And there's far too much standing still going on here. I don't like it. It feels like we're just waiting to be attacked while we've got our trousers down.

So, if you had the choice, what would you do?

[the question's flung out carelessly, but Merlin's eyes are keen, watching for the reply.]

Aside from just up and leave since this doesn't feel so much like our problem? [He's gonna have to adapt to the fact that everything in the Circle is now His Problem, but this is only his first mission. He's okay with helping people, but solving a mystery with no carrot at the end is kind of irritating.] Find whatever's causing all the trouble and get rid of it before it tries to get rid of us.

Ah, but it is your problem now. That's the business of saving worlds. Things end up your problem when you're in the thick of it and you have to solve that despite it seeming unrelated. Win a king's favor, stop the wyverns menacing the countryside, and wrap it all up by ensuring the army commander has his favorite teapot. And somehow, that fixes things.

[he shrugs, clearly unbothered by the idea of saving things with no tangible reward.]

[Molly just kind of slow-blinks.] And have all of those things happened within the Circle or just to you, specifically? Out of curiosity. I'm actually really impressed.

All to people I know.

[or observed, which is the same thing.]

Truly you have a fantastical social life. [Yeah, he's a bit awestruck, but in a "I feel like some of this is bullshit, but I'm impressed by how you came up with with that kind of bullshit, so I've cycled back around to being amazed" sort of way.]

I think that applies for us all, being here in the Circle - just look at the spectrum of noble souls we've got all geared up to save worlds.

I have never been called a noble soul in my life, but you know what? I'll take it. Not so certain about the "geared up" part yet, but I'll get there.

[It's not like he's got any other option. He can either go back to being dead or do something with his third shot at life.]

If you've the time, Mollymauk, might I have a word with you? Over these devices or in person, it's of no consequence to me which you might prefer.

Oh, definitely in person. I don't like these things. I'd rather look someone directly in the eye when I talk to them.

[also this promises to be interesting.]

Delightful.

[ oh boy. can you believe he already doesn't like this? ]

Any preference as to where you might like to meet? Vex is off catching up on lost time with Trinket [ so to speak. ] so our room is free at the moment.

And just like that, I feel I already know what this is about. [:)] I accept your invitation and will be along shortly.

[and if he's doing a (bad) fancy accent as opposed to his usual accent there on that last bit, it certainly isn't lovingly mocking.]

[ gods why are you!!!! like this!!!! you purple bastard!!!! percy sighs and doesn't even bother with a dismissal. he just hangs up. like a brat. however you hang up on these dumb devices.

when molly does arrive, percy is seated beneath a nearby tree, the lodgings feeling stifling after all that time spend on board the horologium. there's a book and pencil nearby, as if he'd been possessed to call molly over only after much delayed deliberation. as he sees him coming forward (what a difficult creature to miss) he lifts a hand and gives a half-weary wave. ]

And here I thought you'd keep me waiting.

Oh no, no. I had to hear this as soon as possible. You might lose your nerve [Molly flips his coattails out and flops down in front of Percy on the ground. There's a look of insufferable manic glee on his face.]

This is about Vex, isn't it?

[All he had to do is say her name and mention they shared a room and Molly could pick up the pieces and slot them together. Accidentally, Molly has earned the gratitude of a poncey noble and it's the best thing that has ever happened to him.]

[ oh don't taint this!!!!!!!! it's supposed to be nice!!! you know how hard it is for percy to show his gratitude to people he normally finds utterly insufferable. his shoulders square a bit, as if he's trying to gain some kind of ground on the fact that mollymauk has gone and hit the nail right on the head so to speak. ]

Yes. It is.

[ he holds his voice a moment, before letting out a sigh. ]

The Horologium was an utter nightmare. And Trinket means everything to Vex'ahlia. She's known that bear since she was young... they've been through... quite a lot. He's family. Vox Machina.

[ he drums his fingers against his knee. ]

And Vex means a great deal to me. More than anything in this world and in others. The fact that I wasn't able to help her... means that I am incredibly [ oh gods ] grateful that you were there for her, to make sure we didn't lose her as well to that fucking ship.

[Molly's smugness doesn't evaporate, because this is worth every ounce of smugness on some level, but it doesn't soften a bit.]

You're welcome. I would hope that... Anyone would have helped her if they ran into her in that state, but I know how shite people can be sometimes. It's important to take care of each other while we're stuck in this fucking place.

[And that he believes truly, sans facetiousness.]

Other people are rubbish most days, it's absolutely the truth.

[ he thumps back against the tree for support, glasses dropping a bit down his nose. molly can keep his smugness. percy will keep his petulance. he looks at molly from the corner of his eye, trying to get some kind of read on him really beyond all that smugness. ]

Hard to find the good ones through all the garbage. [ a hand flapping vaguely at some breeze. ] Sometimes it takes years.

Sometimes it takes a week. [Or so goes Molly's experience. Gods only know how long he could have been wandering empty before Gustav and the others found him.] Is all that white hair 'cause you've decided to skip ahead to a cynical old age or is this just something that comes naturally?

We call a week "extraordinary luck."

[ one raised, dark brow, the last remnant really beyond what hasn't gone white just over his ears. ]

And as for my hair, it's purely a stylistic choice. Yes. Absolutely.

[ whatever he'll own it just to be petulant. ]

You pull it off really well. [Is that sarcasm? We may never know. Probably best to assume it is.

Or at least consider it a deflection so it makes his next comment come off a little less concerned.]

Did you come out of all that all right? It wasn't for the faint of heart.

Swimmingly. [ blunt, but to the point. ] I'm alive, I can't fuss much about that. I just would prefer if we never did it again... shame about the ship itself, though. I would have liked to have a better look around at how she worked...

[ the haphazard neck bandages dipping into the collar of his shirt say about as much. ]

I think we could all use a vacation, wouldn't you say? [ a pointed look ] If that's even possible.

One mission and we're already looking to retire. That sounds about right. [The agreement comes with a little bit of a sulk, either because he's having to agree with Percy or because he's annoyed that he thought this would be more interesting than it's been.

And then something Percy said makes him pause and back up.]

Wait. Back up one beat. You wanted to see how it worked?

[THAT THING WAS TERRIFYING, PERCIVAL.]

[ yeah you're welcome! glad you agree! that was terrible and we all deserve a fucking vacation, mollymauk! in any case, percy doesn't seem to balk at the accusation re: his absolute madness. instead, he leans back, smiling just a bit. ]

Yes. Yes, I did.

[ it's a somewhat sheepish smile, barely there, you can read it if you squint. ]

A shame I didn't get to do much with that. Seemed like it would have been an awfully good learning experience. [ he was a little tied up. ]

A learning experience in how many ways you can die in... in... [he flails a hand, because he's still not used to the concept of there being a plane above a plane or whatever the fuck that was.] ...space. No thank you. I didn't need that ride and I won't be taking it again, if I can help it.

Well it wouldn't have been you, would it have?

[ resting his chin on his knuckles now as he smirks just a bit. ]

I'm not afraid of getting a little dirty in exchange for taking away some information that we could use at a later date. This... idea of space doesn't scare me. It's a void. So what?

You turn into smoke, you bloody arsehole. You're clearly comfortable with nothingness. [Molly is not. Molly has been nothing. He's been a void. He's not gonna challenge one.] All that emptiness... I don't like it. It feels like nothing matters and you can't do anything about it.

[Maybe that's too vulnerable, but whatever. He's being contrary more than he's being anything and that tends to cover up the genuine fear.]

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