maskormenacelogs | how i miss yesterday

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how i miss yesterday

WHO: Mollymauk Tealeaf and Bodhi Rook
WHERE: Nonah
WHEN: before the swear-in, I guess
WHAT: so a space pilot and a D&D murder hobo walk into a ~~bar~~ crowded diner...
WARNINGS: blanket Star Wars warning, and possible flippant mentions to self-harm in order to activate magical abilities on Molly's side of things. spoilers for Critical Role if you haven't seen it yet.

[Roseanna's Diner in Nonah is one of those quaint little spots that seem almost frozen in time, stuck in the year it opened: the interior is mustard-yellow accented with bright orange, and the milkshake menu still offers about five flavors when everywhere else offers fifty at least. The owner, it seems, does not believe in changing with the times, and strangely enough their stubborn insistence on maintaining the diner's 50s aesthetic has paid off: there's a steady stream of customers coming in and out, and the weekend lunch rush is, as always, hell.

With the appearance of a garishly-dressed lavender tiefling, some may even go so far as to say it literally. But Molly's never been to any of the nine hells, and honestly, maybe the most hellish thing about him is that he seems to sincerely think that a neon-green striped jacket with various emoji faces pasted all over it goes great with two-toned tight pants. To an outsider, he might look like he just scavenged these clothes from the local thrift shop. Which wouldn't be wrong.

Unfortunately for Molly, the diner is horrifically crowded today, as it usually is around this time on a weekend. As soon as he's picked up his order of French fries drenched in cheese, he makes his way over to what looks like a relatively empty spot, at least compared to all the other incredibly crowded tables. Sure, there's already someone there, but that's fine.]

Mind if I take a seat here?

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[ He's never been to this particular spot, but the hype surrounding it has peaked Bodhi's interest on this chilled winter afternoon in the city of Nonah. He's ordered a large chocolate milkshake, fries and a burger and is very much enjoying the food.

And he's happy to report that it's easily as good as advertised.

Either way, he's not really paying all that much attention to much beyond his food - and when Molly walks up to the empty seat his first thought it was someone asking how the meal is or if he needs anything else.

Or someone asking for an autograph or if he could maybe kindly set them up on a date with Poe (which has happened more than once, and they always seem to wait until he's eating to do it - which is why he tends to order in more these days).

Perhaps it's coming from A Galaxy Far, Far Away where alien races are commonplace, the most shocking thing about Molly's appearance when he finally looks up isn't the purple skin or the horns but his loud outfit. Swallowing down a bite of his food, he nods and gestures towards the chair opposite him. Moves his tray so there's more room. ]

Yeah sure, no problem.

Edited (blep) 2019-01-14 07:34 (UTC)

Thanks. Didn't realize the place was so popular, honestly.

[Sure, he'd figured people liked it enough to keep it in business, but he hadn't expected a crowd like this. A lot of the other places Molly's been to haven't been very popular, but then again Molly tends to patronize tiny little places with interesting items on their menu. And random stalls and food trucks.

He puts his tray down on the table, sliding into his chair. There's just the briefest of brushes against Bodhi's fingers, an accidental touch that's there and gone, and—

—dirt on his face, dirt filling his nose and scratching his throat, dirt under his fingers, he has to get out of here he needs to get out of here he can't breathe he can't—]

How's the milkshake? I'm thinking about trying it out, but I'm not sure which flavor first. [Molly smiles, unaware.] I'm going to try them all out, it's just a matter of figuring out the order.

Neither did I. I mean, I'd heard of it, but - this was surprising. I -

[ The most frustrating thing, about having an ability activated by touch is that Bodhi can't always control when it does or doesn't work. It means having to be prepared, keeping on his guard and he just can't always manage that. The flash is brief - but it doesn't need to be much longer than it is, the feelings of fear and desperation that come with it nearly make him lose his lunch right there.

He hopes that Molly didn't notice the brief, far away look on his face that Bodhi schools into something more neutral as it ends. How do you bring it up with someone you've spoken two words to that you witnessed what is probably, a very personal memory? And not one you'd talk about during a casual lunch.

Clearing his throat slightly, Bodhi takes a drink of his shake - trying to shake the taste of dirt from his mouth. He shoves trembling hands under the table. The feelings associated with the memory are harder to push to the back of his mind. ]

It's -- pretty good. They use real ice cream to make it, none of that soft serve stuff. I'm always partial to chocolate, myself.

Edited 2019-01-15 22:19 (UTC)

[He catches sight of it, and frowns a little. That's strange. The man had only seemed taken aback by Molly's garish clothes more than anything else, so what's gotten his attention now? He props his chin up on his non-tattooed hand, the other one swiping a French fry from its plate.]

And here I was under the impression soft serve ice cream was just as real as the frozen stuff. But you're not wrong, chocolate is downright heavenly.

[He pops the fry into his mouth, chews, swallows.]

Something on your mind?

Soft serve and hand scooped are basically just the same, soft serve creamier than the other. The later just makes for a thicker shake. [ He's happy to latch on to the conversation of ice cream, but it remains only a minor distraction when the vision was still at the forefront of his mind.

Averting his eyes, he takes a fry off his own tray and dips it into the shake before popping it into his mouth. ]

No. No, nothing really. I just... thought - it's not important.

[ He's never been very good at hiding things or lying, particularly when distressed or upset. For someone who used to play (and win) games of sabaac routinely, his game face needs work. ]

[Molly briefly entertains the idea of getting his own milkshake, right now, just to dip his fries in it. But then again, they're already drenched in cheese, and at this moment, there's something else on Molly's mind.

He's a fortune-teller, is the thing. He's gotten very, very good at cold-reading people, he's had to be, and the man in front of him is nervous as hell. Molly dips a French fry in even more cheese, and tilts his head to the side.]

Seems important enough, if you're this nervous over it. Come on. You can tell me, I'm not going to bite.

[ It's not just nerves bothering him, though that is a part. It's also guilt, at what Bodhi would guess - was not a memory that Molly would have likely broadcasted of his own will.

But also, nerves. He has no idea how Molly would react to having his privacy infringed on - even accidentally. If he even believed that it was an accident (which it was). Makes for a great first impression, this ability.

Given that he's in no way gonna be able to keep up the charade of normalcy when pressed by the questioning, Bodhi lets his shoulders fall and he sighs. ]

It's um. My power. Sometimes I get glimpses of memory from others through touch. And I saw something... from you. I don't have very good control over it, so I didn't mean to pry, I just - it happens.

Ah.

[Shit.

He believes Bodhi, is the thing. No one really wants to invade other people’s memories unless they want something, and so far all Bodhi seems to want is a milkshake and some fries. It doesn’t make it any less easy for Molly to swallow, though—he immediately stiffens up. His tail, which had been languidly swaying behind him before, goes still.]

You should really wear gloves more often, then, if you’re having trouble controlling it. [Molly’s voice is distant, covering the nervousness bubbling inside of him.] I’m curious, what memory did you get off of me? I might be able to put it into context.

I do, but I was eating and didn't want to get them messed up. [ His gloves, which are currently residing in his pocket - he more wears them because it's cold but also to avoid things like this happening. He knows his inability to control it is an issue. Since with what had happened with Poe he'd almost considered trying to nullify them, it's just the other ones he has are actually useful.

Bodhi sighs and gives Molly a clearly very apologetic look and sighs staring down at the table. ]

You were... [ the tendrils of fear are still there as he recalls the vision he'd seen and he shudders ] Buried, and trying to get free.

[Molly twists around in his seat, looking at the menu again and finding nothing about alcohol on it. That’s fair, this world seems to frown on providing alcohol in family establishments, but god, he really needs a stronger drink than a milkshake right now.

Well, whatever. Molly’s in this now. He may as well see it through.]

I had some bullshit prepared for literally any other memory, y’know, just—not that one. [Sure, just casually admit that you were going to lie your way out of this for any other memory. Sure.] That one’s the very first thing I remember.

Yeah. [ Bodhi doesn't look up from his hands on the table, his appetite is gone and he just wants to slink away, as if this had never happened. ]

I'm sorry. I won't... I won't ask about it, if that makes it easier for you. [ There are some memories of his that he'd hate for others to see. ] I know what I saw was personal but please believe it was an utmost accident.

Not sure if it makes a difference but I could show you something of mine, to make it even.

No. [It's a suprisingly vehement answer, but then it's been a weird meeting. He shakes his head, trying to get a grip on himself.] I believe you, all right? I don't want to know what you've got in your past that could possibly make it even.

[He doesn't want to know people's pasts period. So far as he's concerned, Bodhi is just some poor shithead who got saddled with a terrible ability. Although, speaking of making things even?]

If you really want to make things even between us, just. Give me your name, yeah? [He smiles, but it's a shaken thing.] Usually I at least know people's names before they get any details about my past.

[ Bodhi nods. Despite everything, he's relieved. While it'd be fair enough for Molly to request that he share as well, he doesn't want to let an almost stranger see anything of his own. ]

Oh. Alright, then. I'm Bodhi. Bodhi Rook. [ He instinctively holds out his hand for Molly to shake and lets it hang there a moment, stares at it and seems to realize his mistake. ] Uh. Sorry. Probably not a good idea.

[Molly almost instinctively reaches for the hand, himself, before he remembers what happened and immediately jerks back. He likes Bodhi and all, but the man’s already seen some of his most private memories, he’d rather not risk it.]

Absolutely not, let’s just leave out the handshakes. [Propriety can go hang, anyway.] Mollymauk Tealeaf, Molly for short. Despite the awful circumstances, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Bodhi.

[He pauses, then smiles, a hand slipping into his coat and drawing out a card. He turns it face-up onto the table: The Fool.]

Care for a small game? Whoever gets the better hand gets to ask the loser questions. [Questions that Molly will likely answer with outright lies. Maybe he can’t fall back on his usual bullshit about a tragic childhood, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still tell some very tall tales.]

[ Bodhi shrugs, watches him pull out the cards. He's kind of versed in Earth playing card games, but what he wouldn't give for a deck of sabaac cards. He's still learning tips and tricks to winning all these kinds of games.

But he's learning to use that to his advantage, he usually picks this stuff up easy, after all. ]

Sure. Though you're gonna have to give me the rules of what we're playing, here.

[The only deck Molly currently has on him is his tarot deck, so he pulls that out and starts shuffling with the skill and ease of a cardsharp. He fans out five cards, face-down, on the table, then hands Bodhi five cards face-down too. (Were Bodhi to look closer, he’d notice little marks, here and there, on the backs.)]

Pick a card from your hand, I’ll pick a card from mine. Whoever gets the lower card has to answer their opponent’s question. Simple as that.

[But he never said it had to be the truth.]

[ Thankfully he hasn't noticed the markings on the cards yet as he nods and stares down at the cards. Bodhi is completely at Molly's mercy on this one, having no frame of reference for them or their meanings.

And it doesn't really occur to him to lie, he'd already seen a very personal memory. The least he can do is be honest, but it doesn't mean he wants to share his life.

His hand hovers over a card and he glances up. ]

Right, I'm ready.

[And Molly, in answer to that, just picks a card, seemingly at random, and turns it up for Bodhi to see: ten of cups. Etched on the card is a loving imPort couple, with a house on a hill and a rainbow of ten cups just above their heads.]

Your turn.

[ So. He's guessing that's a good card. Right. His hands hover over cards, moving back and forth for a moment before finally settling and flipping one over. Two Imports working together. Two of cups. ]

Ah.

I'm guessing that means I lost this round.

[ Well, ask away. ]

Hm. [Molly drums his fingers on the table, as if mulling the thought over, before he grins.] What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since coming here?

[ Oh.

Hm. Bodhi, takes a drink of his nearly forgotten shake and considers. Being alive is a given, but... ]

That I have been able to meet so many people both from different places and my own, that had I never come here, I'd have never met. My best friend is from thirty years after my death.

[How did you die? he wonders, morbidly. But that's a question for another day, or perhaps another card. Instead Molly's mouth quirks upward in a lopsided smile, with a hint of fang showing through.]

Didn't realize people could be pulled in from different times in the same world, honestly. [That actually sounds pretty cool.] How's knowing about the future of your home after you die feel like?

There are about twenty of us where I'm from. The earliest being... a couple thousand years earlier than any of us. The farthest, thirty years after me.

[ A raised brow. ] I'll answer that too, though I was led to believe it'd only be the one question first.

It's... both good and bad. On the one hand, I get to know that the sacrifices my team made meant something, that it wasn't for nothing. In a few years, the Empire will be gone. On the other, finding out that peace doesn't last two decades almost makes it feel cheapened, that the past is repeating itself because nobody has learned from the last time.

A couple thou—I've been here months by now and I've never met anyone from a couple thousand years ago. That Porter thing must really like your world.

Tell you what, you can ask me a question, just to make things fair. [He's pretty big on fairness, is Mollymauk.]

[ Bodhi snorts. ] Maybe a little too much, if you ask me. I wouldn't mind if it liked it, less.

[ The gesture is of course, appreciated. ]

Alright then. [ Why were you buried, still too personal - not sure he really wants that answer. ] If you had the chance to stay here -- permanently, would you?

No. [The answer comes quickly, and for a second Molly's smile slips a little. He lets out a breath.] There are people and things that I left behind, back home, that I have to get back to. Don't get me wrong, I like this place, and I like the people here, but it's not Exandria.

Besides, first thing I found out in the circus: always be ready to leave. You never know when you're gonna need to pull up stakes and make a quick break for it.

[He stacks the deck again, shuffling the cards around before fanning them out. He picks a card at random this time, and gestures grandly.]

Now pick a card.

Edited 2019-03-07 02:54 (UTC)

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