[ he feels it on his forehead, that gentle brush of a lips against skin. it burns like a brand and Molly feels himself breathing in sharply. he remembers that tiny kindness, it was the first thing he remembered when he saw Caleb's face on the network. it was done in the spur of the moment, a gentle apology for having slapped the man from his stupor a mere breath before and Caleb returning that kindness now? it tugs at things in his chest the tiefling is scared to name. ]
'Course you do, what with that brilliantly sexy brain of yours.
[ taking a breath he pulls away a fraction, fingers not quite unhooking from the other man's clothing, eyes searching Caleb's face. he's so terribly handsome without that layer of dirt the man had often smeared himself with─ he was handsome with the dirt, being clean only magnified that handsomeness ten fold. add in his good heart and that magnificent mind of his and it's just unfair, how is Molly supposed to think straight like this? how is he supposed to be good, keep his hands to himself and not─ ]
[It's not that he doesn't want to. He's decided this is a thing he wants, or...a thing he will want? That it's where they're going and he's going to actively tread toward that path.
Why does it still feel like it's too soon? Is he just being a coward? Is he denying them for no reason? He has to find a way to put this hesitation into words, or it's just going to be hurting Molly, and that's the last thing he wants to do, especially now.]
I want to comfort you. And I do...want to kiss you. But...I want those to be different things. I... [He swallows hard, eyes wandering away from Molly's not out of shame but because it is just impossible to think with that thread of intimate focus pulled so tight between them.] Can you still be patient with me, if I want it to be some other moment? A happier one?
[They can reach for each other in the darkness without it being a romance. Caleb wants love to be more than just holding onto a person who he doesn't want to leave.]
[ Molly laughs just a little too quickly. shit, he did say that out loud and now he feels more than a little foolish. he detaches himself from Caleb then, trying not to think about the warmth in his cheeks or how his skin is most definitely darkening with embarrassment. ]
Hey, no, that's fine really. Sorry, my foot went directly into my mouth and I wasn't thinking. [ he was thinking, just about how much he wants to kiss the man rather than keeping those thoughts under lock and key. the last thing he wants is for Caleb to feel pressured into anything. ] Didn't think I said that out loud but here we are, haha.
[ he runs a hand through his hair, scratching at his scalp. Caleb wants to kiss him, wants it to mean something more than just a spur of the moment thing. it's exciting and terrifying at the same time, his pulse practically roaring in his veins. ]
[The blushing is really cute, and the moment Molly backs off and admits that even he didn't really mean to go that far, Caleb is instantly relieved. Setting his boundaries for his own comfort is necessary, but he really doesn't want to hurt Molly in the process.
Admitting that he's interested in more than a fling might have been a step in the right direction. Caleb just can't bring himself to do casual or short-term relationships.]
We do, at that. [He clears his throat and gets up, straightening his clothes a little and feeling the heat in his own skin. Someday it will be the right moment. He's going to work through his feelings as quickly as he can, for both their sakes.] The dining room and kitchens are on the fourth floor, and the next few after that are the bedroom suites. [He tilts his head, considering.] ...There was one for each of us, but...I don't know if it will have manifested one for you already, or if I'll need to design that manually.
[ there is little he could really do to hurt Molly, it is important that the boundaries set are there and are respected. he's free with his physical affections when it comes to the people he cares about, but he is not the kind of man who will break any boundaries that are placed.
he won't admit, not out loud at least, that Molly wished for something more than a fling. he has enjoyed, and is still enjoying, his fair share of flings but when it comes to Caleb? he wants more than to just come together and indulge in each other. he wants to hold him, fall asleep in his arms, wake up with a face full of cat and listen to the sound of his heartbeat.
it's exhilarating feeling, terrifying, and ever growing. ]
You made a room for everyone? [ there's something about that that hits home, makes his chest ache. ] We don't have to see them all today, but... [ maybe if he sees the rooms Caleb made for them he'll remember bits of them, the people he loved and still loves. ]
[He reaches for Molly's hand again with a smile, and sets them to rising into the air once again. The fourth floor is relatively unremarkable, a nine-sided landing area with one dramatically large set of carved wooden doors in one room. Caleb explains as they float upward:]
The dining room is through those doors. We can see it later, there's enough room for all of us and guests. The kitchens are on this floor too - you can watch the cats work if you like. They can travel to any level of the tower, but this is their...home base, if you like.
[He doesn't stop them here, instead continuing up to the landing of the fifth floor. It's small, with the same nine walls as every level; there are three evenly-spaced doors around the circle. One is decorated with a scarab beetle, one with lilacs, and the third is plain.]
...Ah, well. [He gestures to the door with the beetle.] That one isn't anyone you'd know...Caduceus was a healer we encountered when we were looking for help after...afterward. But the room with the lilacs is Yasha's. The other was a guest room, and I suppose it probably still is. I'll have to convert it once I know what you'd like to have.
[ their hands join again and Molly feels some of the tension drain from his shoulders, feels like he can breathe a little better. he laces their fingers together as they continue on moving from the library up to the fourth floor and Caleb explains the dining room and kitchen area. it charms him terribly that Caleb filled his magically wizard tower with cats that cook and clean and whatever else they do.
they continue up to the fifth floor and the moment his feet land on something solid Molly lets out a breath of relief. it's an odd sensation floating like that and it makes his stomach flip more than it already has been.
but he ignores the flips his stomach had been doing the moment his eyes fall on the door with the lilacs. that's Yasha's, he knew that was Yasha's before Calebe said it. remembers picking flowers with her one warm summer nights and braiding them into her hair. ]
If he's got his own room he must be a good guy. [ Molly's grip on Caleb's hand tightens a little, but his gaze still locked on the door to Yasha's room. ] You wouldn't make a personal room for just anyone.
[ it almost flies completely over his head that Caleb says he'll convert the guest room into a room for Mollymauk, almost. he blinks and jerks his gaze to the wizard, blinking a rapidly for a few seconds. ]
Oh, as long as the bed is big and comfy I'll be thrilled with anything you come up with. Surprise me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
'Course you do, what with that brilliantly sexy brain of yours.
[ taking a breath he pulls away a fraction, fingers not quite unhooking from the other man's clothing, eyes searching Caleb's face. he's so terribly handsome without that layer of dirt the man had often smeared himself with─ he was handsome with the dirt, being clean only magnified that handsomeness ten fold. add in his good heart and that magnificent mind of his and it's just unfair, how is Molly supposed to think straight like this? how is he supposed to be good, keep his hands to himself and not─ ]
Gods, I want to kiss you right now.
[ ...did he say that out loud? ]
no subject
[It's not that he doesn't want to. He's decided this is a thing he wants, or...a thing he will want? That it's where they're going and he's going to actively tread toward that path.
Why does it still feel like it's too soon? Is he just being a coward? Is he denying them for no reason? He has to find a way to put this hesitation into words, or it's just going to be hurting Molly, and that's the last thing he wants to do, especially now.]
I want to comfort you. And I do...want to kiss you. But...I want those to be different things. I... [He swallows hard, eyes wandering away from Molly's not out of shame but because it is just impossible to think with that thread of intimate focus pulled so tight between them.] Can you still be patient with me, if I want it to be some other moment? A happier one?
[They can reach for each other in the darkness without it being a romance. Caleb wants love to be more than just holding onto a person who he doesn't want to leave.]
no subject
Hey, no, that's fine really. Sorry, my foot went directly into my mouth and I wasn't thinking. [ he was thinking, just about how much he wants to kiss the man rather than keeping those thoughts under lock and key. the last thing he wants is for Caleb to feel pressured into anything. ] Didn't think I said that out loud but here we are, haha.
[ he runs a hand through his hair, scratching at his scalp. Caleb wants to kiss him, wants it to mean something more than just a spur of the moment thing. it's exciting and terrifying at the same time, his pulse practically roaring in his veins. ]
We've still got some more tower to see, right?
no subject
Admitting that he's interested in more than a fling might have been a step in the right direction. Caleb just can't bring himself to do casual or short-term relationships.]
We do, at that. [He clears his throat and gets up, straightening his clothes a little and feeling the heat in his own skin. Someday it will be the right moment. He's going to work through his feelings as quickly as he can, for both their sakes.] The dining room and kitchens are on the fourth floor, and the next few after that are the bedroom suites. [He tilts his head, considering.] ...There was one for each of us, but...I don't know if it will have manifested one for you already, or if I'll need to design that manually.
no subject
he won't admit, not out loud at least, that Molly wished for something more than a fling. he has enjoyed, and is still enjoying, his fair share of flings but when it comes to Caleb? he wants more than to just come together and indulge in each other. he wants to hold him, fall asleep in his arms, wake up with a face full of cat and listen to the sound of his heartbeat.
it's exhilarating feeling, terrifying, and ever growing. ]
You made a room for everyone? [ there's something about that that hits home, makes his chest ache. ] We don't have to see them all today, but... [ maybe if he sees the rooms Caleb made for them he'll remember bits of them, the people he loved and still loves. ]
no subject
[He reaches for Molly's hand again with a smile, and sets them to rising into the air once again. The fourth floor is relatively unremarkable, a nine-sided landing area with one dramatically large set of carved wooden doors in one room. Caleb explains as they float upward:]
The dining room is through those doors. We can see it later, there's enough room for all of us and guests. The kitchens are on this floor too - you can watch the cats work if you like. They can travel to any level of the tower, but this is their...home base, if you like.
[He doesn't stop them here, instead continuing up to the landing of the fifth floor. It's small, with the same nine walls as every level; there are three evenly-spaced doors around the circle. One is decorated with a scarab beetle, one with lilacs, and the third is plain.]
...Ah, well. [He gestures to the door with the beetle.] That one isn't anyone you'd know...Caduceus was a healer we encountered when we were looking for help after...afterward. But the room with the lilacs is Yasha's. The other was a guest room, and I suppose it probably still is. I'll have to convert it once I know what you'd like to have.
no subject
they continue up to the fifth floor and the moment his feet land on something solid Molly lets out a breath of relief. it's an odd sensation floating like that and it makes his stomach flip more than it already has been.
but he ignores the flips his stomach had been doing the moment his eyes fall on the door with the lilacs. that's Yasha's, he knew that was Yasha's before Calebe said it. remembers picking flowers with her one warm summer nights and braiding them into her hair. ]
If he's got his own room he must be a good guy. [ Molly's grip on Caleb's hand tightens a little, but his gaze still locked on the door to Yasha's room. ] You wouldn't make a personal room for just anyone.
[ it almost flies completely over his head that Caleb says he'll convert the guest room into a room for Mollymauk, almost. he blinks and jerks his gaze to the wizard, blinking a rapidly for a few seconds. ]
Oh, as long as the bed is big and comfy I'll be thrilled with anything you come up with. Surprise me.