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[tried_fire]

Caleb Widogast

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VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

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text, un: mallemok

[mauks]

hey magic man
where are you
i got something you're gonna love

[ he's unabashedly excited about getting a scroll from Goodwill, don't look at him. ]

un: gingerly

[tried_fire]

I'm at home. Reading.
What did you get?

[it's either something he'll actually like, or something Molly will find hilarious to hand to him. either way, he can't deny he's curious.]

[mauks]

caleb my sweet darling caleb
i've got no idea where you live i had no idea that you had a home

[ it shouldn't surprise him but it does. ]

the same place I got Frumpkin from

[tried_fire]

You never asked, did you? ...I have an apartment, since I'm staying in the city for now. It isn't much, but it's a place to keep my books.

[It's tempting to make Molly actually ask for the address directly, but after a moment's consideration, he relents and adds it to the message of his own accord.]

That's a where, not a what.

[mauks]

didn't think about it
don't go anywhere i'll be there shortly

[ he'd beg if he had too, but that wouldn't be nearly as fun as him begging for other reasons. ]

where what they're basically the same word [ not they aren't, Molly. ]
it's a surprise :)

[tried_fire]

I'll be here.

[He's not interested in making Molly beg, he just wants to communicate more clearly.]

You are always full of surprises.

> action.

[mauks]

you love it

[ it's roughly ten minutes after the last text is sent that Molly arrives at Caleb's apartment door, practically bouncing on his heels as he raps his knuckles against it once, twice, three times. he should've gone to the bathhouse again before coming here, he thinks idly, let the waters ease the veritable fire that has been set under his skin. it'll be fine, he'll be fine, he has put up with worse.

what's important is handing over the fun little surprise he found in the Goodwill today. this surprise he is certain the wizard will love with his interest in magic and spells and all that good stuff. and maybe, just maybe, he can pick the man's brain a little about some of that stuff considering the skills he recently came into. ]

Caleb~!

[ the memory of Jester is strong with him today as well, the way he calls out the wizard's name more than a little familiar in it's singsong nature. ]

text, un: mallemok / october 1st

[mauks]

now i wanna make something very clear
i don't give two shits what people say when they look at me or what they think
you know this
but i don't feel like tempting fate that my landlord won't have some sort of catholic freak out seeing me in the hallway or something


so what do you say about having a temporary roommate for the month??
i'll bring frumpkin

[tried_fire]

You have a point; I can wear hats, but you might have a little more trouble explaining yourself, especially this early in the month.

Well, then. I had better finish up that guest room, hadn't I? Come by whenever you like.

[mauks]

what do you mean you can wear hats? did someone mix hair dye in your shampoo or something

already on my way magic man

[ thank the Moonweaver for hoods. people should go back to wearing cloaks and cloak-like clothing. ]

text -> action

[tried_fire]

You'll see when you get here.

[When Molly arrives at his door, Caleb is quick to usher him inside. And he's not bothering to hide the furry orange cat ears peeking up out of wavy hair.]

I hope you didn't run into any difficulty on your way.

[mauks]

[ Molly greets the openly door with a wide smile and a familiar cat riding upon his shoulders like he was meant to be there, armed with a witty quip ready and waiting only to be stalled before it can properly leave his mouth. oh, that's what he meant about wearing a hat? Caleb has cat ears?

he's ushered inside quickly with a breathless laugh, Frumpkin leaping from Molly's shoulders and immediately going around to inspect his new environment. Molly, for his part, turns on his heel quickly freeing his horns from their shadowy seclusion and running a hand through his hair. ]

Nah, not might. I took the scenic route that avoids a lot of the foot traffic and only has me leaping over a couple of rooftops.

[ it was more than a couple, but that isn't important. ]

Cat ears, huh? When did that happen?

[ Mollymauk grins and begins to unwind a deep purple scarf from around his neck, red eyes glancing up at the orange ears peeking out of his hair then back down to Caleb's face. ]

[tried_fire]

[Trying to argue about jumping over rooftops would be a deeply pointless endeavor, anyway.]

I'm glad you were able to make it here safely.

[Besides, discussing his new ears is more interesting for both of them. He grins, ducking his head a little, always bashful about his own happiness.]

Sometime while I was at the library last month. I hardly noticed until I got home. ...It already feels natural. [It's possible reality is just catching up to things he's been all along.]

Please, make yourselves at home, both of you. Frumpkin and Daisy know each other already, so they shouldn't have any problems sharing space.

Text; un: lycaon; Nov 3rd evening

[paraselenic]

[It had been a whirlwind getting resettled into his home after the chaos that was October. Even more so with recent events occupying his mind and the looming Supermoon.

He'd almost forgotten Molly's birthday. His gift was in his mind already, but his brain had to catch up. So he's in the kitchen, making treats for the Tiefling when he pauses, halfway through the process of making homemade gummi snacks when he realizes...

This is Mollymauk. Mollymauk doesn't tell people his birthday. The only way he found out was extortion.

DID HE TELL CALEB?

As awkward as it is, Lycaon hurriedly pulls up Caleb's contact in his phone, and starting to type.]

Caleb. I apologize for texting you out of the blue like this and so late in the afternoon but...I have to ask.

Did Mollymauk tell you his birthday is Nov 4?

un: gingerly

[tried_fire]

He had not mentioned that, no.

[He's not surprised. From the sound of it, Lycaon won't be surprised by that answer, either. They both know Molly well enough to know that just isn't how he works.]

Thank you for letting me know. Although the time frame is limited, at least I have a little while to come up with something suitable.

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon is typing...]

It figures. [That stupid Tiefling.]

Should you need any supplies, I have my ways of getting things in record time. I normally use them for bartending if I'm missing something imperative, but I would be happy to abuse my channels to get you anything you might need.

[tried_fire]

I appreciate the thought. But this...I think, needs to be something I resource on my own.

[It's much more important that it be sincere than that it be perfect. Their whole relationship and knowledge of one another is marred by the awkward imperfections of two people with limited resources and very different perspectives trying to work out how to relate to each other.]

It will mean more to him that way.

[paraselenic]

Haha, Of course. I would answer the same if it were me.

[His pride, or the same sentiment that Caleb had, it felt strange having someone help you with something that you want to be just from what you can do yourself.]

I'm sure he will treasure whatever it is you give him.

Secret Santa Delivery!

[life_ethereal]

[There's a package waiting for Caleb! Inside it will be a few goodies as well as a note.

One of the items inside is a book that looks like it's been bound by hand. Inside, it contains a collection of fairy tales, but with some key scenes being illustrated as cat versions of the characters (ex: The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, and Cinderella as cats). There's also a very well-made, warm scarf with cute little tabby cats and paw prints patterned on the fabric.

The note says:]

Merry Christmas~!

Easiest gift to give in the world~! Did you know there are so many things people have made with cats as the theme? So cute, so cute~

Hope you embrace your cutest self for next year!

Wei Wuxian 😽

[Yes, that emoji is actually there. It's a sticker he just stuck right after his "name" like the little hellion he is.]

voice, un: mallemok

[mauks]

[ it's some hours later when the buzzing in his head has stopped, when his pulse evens out from the rapid thundering of a cornered animal, when he's pulled himself back together into something mostly resembling Mollymauk Tealeaf that he calls Caleb. he should've gone to him first, magic has always been his area of expertise so who better than to guide him through powers Molly never knew he had.

but it had been the flashes of memory that stopped him. his body moving against his will, a clawed wing piercing Caleb's stomach, the light leaving his eyes. but he can't avoid it forever, he won't avoid it forever. ]

You awake, firefly? [ Molly it is like... 6am. ]

un: gingerly

[tried_fire]

Nein.

[Awakened from a dead sleep by the ringing of his phone, the only reason Caleb picked up at all was because he saw Molly's contact, and none of the reasons he can think of for Molly to be awake at this hour are things he wants to put off until he's properly alert.

His voice is soft and still thick with sleep, but there's no actual annoyance at being awakened; if anything, he sounds a little concerned.]

No, schatz, I cannot say that I am. But what do you need?

[mauks]

[ his voice soft and thick with sleep brings a smile to Molly's lips, the image of the half awake wizard with his hair all messy from sleep springing to the forefront of Molly's mind. it tugs on his heart in a surprising but not unpleasant way. he wants to go to him and climb into bed, wrapping himself around Caleb not unlike a cat and listen to the sound of his pulse. ]

A good night's sleep for one. [ the joke fall flat, his voice notably more subdued than usual. ] I'm sorry for ruining yours, I promise to make it up to you later.

[ Molly takes a deep breath in steadying himself. ]

The eyes are back. Woke up to see the two on my hand staring up at me. The rest are probably there but I haven't checked.

[tried_fire]

['The eyes are back.' It's a simple sentence made up of small words, but to a half-awake Caleb, at first it just doesn't really make sense. Is he supposed to know about some eyes that would-

'The eyes are back.'

He sits up fully, now unfortunately much more awake.]

Oh. Oh, Mollymauk. Um. [What do, what do. Molly must be even more upset by this than he seems; he's doing a remarkable job holding together, all things considered, but he needs to be attended to immediately.] It's all right. It doesn't mean...they won't do anything else to you on their own. Just hold on, I'll get dressed and come over.

[mauks]

No need. 'm already here.

[ it'd taken no small amount of effort to pry himself from the comfort and safety of Hugo's company, but it was easier once he could quieten the buzzing in his head. going back to the apartment wasn't something he wanted to do right about so so that left Caleb's.

Molly sits just to the side of his door, only spared from the morning chill by virtue of his infernal blood. ]

I can sense people now? Can sense minds of everything around me. Felt like someone had shoved a whole hive of angry bees inside my head when I got up to take a piss a few hours ago.

voice -> action

[tried_fire]

What do you mean, you are already- then what are we doing talking on the phone?

[As he speaks, he's stumbling out of bed and into the living room. No Molly here, so he must be... He goes to open the front door, shivering at the blast of cold air against bare skin - he's only wearing flannel pajama pants.

Sure enough, there's Molly, sitting beside his door like a lost child. Caleb hangs up the phone and reaches a hand down to help him up.]

Come on now, what are you doing sitting in the cold? Get in here and I'll make some coffee.