Mollymauk laid peacefully in bed. Although still, the violet tiefling was dreaming violently. He was viciously pouring himself into soft fields of ginger hair. Raking his hard talons along soft peach flesh.
Soft whimpers and moans of pleasure escaped his pale purple lips. His tongue ran across his teeth to abate the hunger that was rising in him. The world shifted, and he was running. He was chasing a ginger cat, that he knew in his mind's eye was Caleb. His perspective was constantly changing from having Caleb gasping for breath beneath him to him chasing behind Caleb hungrily trying to capture a ginger cat or, even, an orange rabbit.
Mollymauk had never felt such a hunger. Even when he was most lustful he still had control over himself, but this was very different. A primal part of his dreamself gave into urges he usually kept under control. This kind of loss of control didn't even come with drugs. But this! Oh, this was addicting.
Real Mollymauk kicked his leg, while in the dream he pushed himself deeper into Caleb's tight entrance. Rocketing forward and backwards until... fireworks.
"Molly? Hello!" His body rocked violently out of the dream. A hand waved in front of Mollymauk's face as his eyes adjusted to the light. "Platinum Dragon to Molly? Fjord's voice boomed in the side of Mollymauk's ear. "You gon' wake up or do I have to drag ya down stairs?"
Fjord loomed, agitated, over Mollymauk's sleepy form.
"Oh, sorry. I was having the best dream." Mollymauk said in a haze.
"Were angels massaging you on the beach? Fjord said sarcastically and pointed to the lump in the bed.
"Are you looking to fix this?" Mollymauk raised an eyebrow.
Fjord's face fell, realizing what Mollymauk just invited him to do.
"What! No," Fjord blushed and tossed Mollymauk's shirt over Mollymauk's face. "Get dressed. We will be eating then moving out soon."
"Wait, that wasn't the end." Mollymauk's muffled voice sounded from under the shirt.
"Tell me at breakfast." Fjord sounded as he left the room.
Mollymauk sat up in bed and smoothed out the shirt thinking back to the dream. The chase. Turning Caleb around and watching Caleb's face turn the color of his hair. He remembered the touch, the feeling of that ginger hair in his hands. Then fireworks. Fireworks went off as he rode the sorcerer like a horse. Fireworks and fucking. That wasn't something Mollymauk could've juxtaposed by his conscious self. No, no it was that deep, dark, and naughty part of him that only with REM sleep could produce. The thrusting of hips, and the sly smile that crossed Caleb's face when he looked at books. Mollymauk saw the hungry way Caleb regarded books, and wished that gaze would turn toward him. It sent shivers down his spine, to the very tip of his tail and lingered there for a moment.
With a sigh and toss of his pants Mollymauk dressed himself. His usual purple attire and heavy cloak were in order today. He noticed a hole in his sock as he pulled on his boats and groaned. I'll have to mend this later, he noted.
Jolting down the steps of the inn, Mollymauk came upon his group of friends. Sadly, Yasha was away at the moment, but he knew she always found her way back. Mollymauk slid in a chair by Jester and Beauregard. "Beautifuls," he addressed both of them," what's on the agenda for today?"
Beauregard made a face at the comment. She never did take well having her looks complimented. Jester, on the other hand, giggled. Soft shades of deep purple blooming on her cheeks.
"Molly! There is a carnival tonight!" Jester exclaimed. "There will be carmel apples and games and meat on a stick."
"Oh!" Mollymauks' eyes beamed. "Now, that sounds fun. Much better than stuffy sewers." Their last job had them going into the sewers killing rats, but turns out the real job was killing a giant spider. Mollymauk was never going to get the smell of sewer spider out of his coat.
Fjord, Nott, and Caleb joined the table with plates of food from the bar.
"Oh, pass me some bacon," Beauregard said to Fjord. Not waiting for Fjord to respond, Beauregard snatched up all the bacon.
"That wasn't all for you Beau." Fjord said angrily.
"Thank you, Nott." Jester said as Nott handed her a plate of breakfast.
"You're welcome." Nott said from behind her porcelain mask, "And here is a plate for you Molly."
"Aw, thank you." Mollymauk said appartively.
The discussion on tonight's events continued. Everyone was excited to have the night off and just relax. Mollymauk slowly ate his food, enjoying the comforting flavors of bacon, eggs, and goat cheese. He'd sneak glances at Caleb, head down in a book not looking at what he was eating. Conversations became background noises as Mollymauk thought back to the dream. Bright flashes of green and red lit the sky. Caleb's hands raised above his head.
Mollymauk let out a hiss.
The group turned. "Do you not want to go to the carnival?" Beauregard's face contorted in confusion.
"No, no I want to go," Mollymauk grunted," Just had to get some bacon out of my throat." Mollymauk awkwardly hissed and grunted to make the deception more believable. He didn't want to let on that he was daydreaming so hard he let out the same hiss he did in the dream.
The group went back to their plans, and Mollymauk half listened. His mind was elsewhere.
"I need to go shopping before the carnival." Jester said with a jump. "I have plans." Her face shifted to a mischievous grin.
"Oh, and what are these plans?" Caleb asked flatly.
"You'll see." Jester packed away her books and took off. "Will you come with me, Nott?"
"Sure!" Nott grinned and followed after Jester.
"You want to go too, Fjord?" Beauregard asked.
"Naw, something tells me whatever Jester has planned there are going to involve a lot of dicks."
"Oh, so many dicks you guys." Jester affirmed. She did a small hop before Nott and she left the hotel.
"I think I will try some game booths." Mollymauk said.
"Aren't those things rigged?" Fjord asked.
"Massively!" Mollymauk proclaimed,"I go for the people who lost. They will need some cheering up. Give some fortunes and see how the night goes."
"That's pretty nice of you." Caleb said. Frumpkin, the orange bengal cat, hopped onto Caleb's shoulder. Mollymauk pet the little guy on the head.
"If you hang on a moment, I can come with you." Caleb said as he scribbled into his book.
"Oh, you sure? I don't want to bore you."
"I like games so I don't mind joining."
"I don't know how you can enjoy being surrounded by mopey people all day." Beauregard exclaimed.
"We are around you all the time and we do well." Caleb retorted. Mollymauk snorted and Fjord puffed his cheeks to hold in the eggs.
"Yea- wait HEY!"
"Run." Caleb stated. Mollymauk hopped out of his chair followed by Caleb.
Mollymauk and Caleb scurried out of the hotel before a plate hit the door as it shut on their way out.
The day sank faster than a ship near Darktow. Mollymauk and Caleb stopped by every stall, and even the gambling stations hidden throughout the city. They managed to anger a few stall managers, help a couple kids get candy, and even win a game of Ord.
"I must say, friend, you can be quite deceptive when you want to be." Mollymauk winked.
"It was nothing really. I just noticed him pulling cards out of his sleeve. I had to do something after you lost."
"Ha! Not much of a loss when someone is cheating. I'd call that more of a scam. "
"Ja, it's always a good day when you aren't scammed."
As the sun sank over the horizon, Mollymauk looked up at the light amber sky, when a small burst of green and a loud pop resounded. Mollymauk had a flashback to this morning. "They must be testing the fireworks. Too much light to see 'em, though. We should proll' meet up with everyone and find a spot to watch them. Aye, think you can send Nott a message?"
"Ja, would be a good idea if I knew which direction she was." Caleb said.
"Oh, darn. Well I guess we can head back to the hotel. I am sure we might find the others if she and Jester are finished with whatever they are doing." Mollymauk cut down an alley headed back to the hotel. Caleb stopped.
"Molly, that is the right way, but if we keep to the main road we will get there faster."
"Oh, I am sure of it , but I am not trying to get there faster. I am trying to get there in the most interesting way possible." Mollymauk let a wicked grin cross his face.
"But it's 500 steps less."
"Did you really keep track of our steps?"
"Yes we did a total of 6793.. 94 steps for you today."
"Sir, you need to chill. Also stop counting my steps, it's creepy."
"How is that cr-" Before Caleb could finish, Mollymauk pulled him into the alley. The alley was dark, dank, and decrepit. Large trash bins were placed against the back walls of crumbling buildings. Caleb swore he saw a rat as big as Frumpkin.
"We were just in the sewers a day ago." Caleb protested.
"Honestly, this is quite a pleasant little detour compared to that." Mollymauk fanned out his hands towards the looming exit.
"Ah!" Several squeaks sounded from behind a trash can. Caleb and Mollymauk eyes fell onto a small group of children. Their eyes were as wide as a cats at night.
"Adults! Scatter!" One of the older looking ones screamed.
Caleb and Mollymauk stood still as tiny legs skittered around them and bolted down the alley.
"Ha, ha kids these days." Mollymauk said.
Caleb turned to the small bundle where children had been hiding. "I bet they must have snatched a coin purse or two. Good on 'em." When Mollymauk examined the small, hidden cove, there wasn't a coin purse as he assumed, but a small burning fire and some matches next to it.
"Oh, playing with fire. That's even better." It was then Mollymauk noticed his jovial tone was lost on Caleb. The ginger was enthralled by the small flame dancing on dried grass and small twigs.
"Caleb?" Mollymauk said softly.
Caleb did a waving motion with his hands and the flame erupted far larger than what miniscule kindling the children had collected. Mollymauk jerked back at the sudden eruption. He was about to curse at Caleb when he truly looked at his face.
A mixture of concentration, horror, and, to Mollymauk curiosity, glee. Caleb reached his hand out to the fire, but Mollymauk abruptly stomped on it with his hand.
"Hey now, we can't go around being arsonists."
Caleb seemed to look at Mollymauk for the first time in a while. "Oh, sorry. I-I got carried away." Caleb glanced down at Mollymauk's hand. "I've got a bandage if you need one."
"Oh, don't bother. I'm fire resistant, don't cha know." Mollymauk grinned as he showed Caleb his smoking but ungrazed palm.
"Oh, yes, the infernal blood and all that."
"Yep, I can take quite a bit of fire before it hurts." Mollymauk let out a toothy grin.
"Yeah, most people I know aren't that fire retardant."
"True, true that they aren't." Mollymauk looked from end to end of the alley. "Want to give it a go?"
"Give what a go?" Caleb looked at Mollymauk wide eyed.
"You know your fire sorcery thing."
"Like on the ground?"
"On me." Mollymauk pointed a thumb towards his chest.
"Molly, I-I-I don't think that would be a good idea." But Mollymauk was already taking off his coat and pulling his shirt over his head. "I won't even flinch. Just one time."
"Nien."
"One time."
"Nien. I-I ju-just..."
"I'll buy you a new book."
Caleb pinched his lips together and Mollymauk saw Caleb's eyes dance with calculations. "One time and this only time."
"I'm so ready." Mollymauk spread out his arms in a T-pose. Caleb held up his hands making sure his thumbs were touching each other and his fingers splayed inches from the center of Mollymauk's chest. The blast was instantaneous. A swirling blast of fire scorched his torso.
Caleb cast burning hands at level 1. I rolled 3 six sided dice. I go for a total of 4. Reduced by half. Caleb does 2 damage to Mollymauk.
Beads of sweat fell from Caleb's brow. "Was that it?" Mollymauk asked, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Ya, I gave that my all."
Mollymauk let out a howl that was a cross between a wounded animal and a laughing man. "I've stubbed my toe harder. Hahaha, I've had papercuts that did more damage." Mollymauk was slapping his knee as he wheezed.
Caleb gritted his teeth, splayed his fingers and pressed his thumbs together again with such daft motion Mollymauk was caught off guard.
Caleb cast burning hands at level 3. I rolled 5 six sided dice. I go for a total of 20. Reduced by half. Caleb does 10 damage to Mollymauk.
The blast caught Mollymauk off guard. The flames scorched the back of his throat. Mollymauk fell to his knees. The flames lapped across his vision, but he saw past them. Caleb stood. His arms were laxed, eyes wide, the small curve on his lips. And there it was. The glee in his eyes. The need. The want. For a brief moment Mollymauk saw Caleb look at him like he wanted him.
"Molly!" Caleb ran to him. Mollymauk coughed white smoke. "I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean. Y-y-you, scheiße!"
Caleb placed his hands on the sides of Mollymauk's head. "Are you alright?"
Mollymauk moved with the swiftness of a rogue. His lips pressed against Caleb's. When he pulled back all he could say was, "Do it again."
