#☼*・ﾟ Verse — ↳ bells hells

[astravates]

@criticalstories | cont.

"Sorry! I’m sorry!" Keyleth whispered, her fingers trembling slightly as she paused with the cloth mere inches from his face. Her eyes, green as summer leaves, were filled with concern. "I'm trying to be gentle, but these cuts are deep and… I told you not to do that," she said, her voice suddenly firmer yet full of fondness as she pulled her hand free and resumed cleaning with renewed determination. "Flying straight at a creature three times your size was reckless, even for you."

As she worked, the Tempest fell silent, focusing on the task before her. The reality of the moment struck her with unexpected force—Vax sitting here, breathing, bleeding, complaining. Just months ago, she had believed such ordinary moments impossible. She never thought she would have the chance to tend his wounds again, to feel the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips, to worry over him. Yet here he was, returned to her against all odds, against the laws of life and death themselves.

[astravates]

@thoselittledespairs | cont.

Caleb nodded, a flicker of anger passing through his own eyes at the mention of Ludinus and the Assembly. But it faded quickly, replaced by a soft fondness as Mollymauk kissed his forehead tenderly. Just like old times. Without hesitation, Caleb removed his tunic, revealing the expanse of pale, freckled skin marred with bruises and half-healed cuts. Evidence of the brutal battles he and the Nein had endured.

And just as promised before, as Molly's fingers began to work the soothing balm into his aching muscles, Caleb let out a contented sigh, his blue eyes fluttering closed for a moment. "Thank you, liebling. Remind me to thank our friend Caduceus for all the wonderful things he supplies us." His voice was low and relaxed as he leaned into the tiefling's touch.

With each press of Molly's skilled fingers against his skin, Caleb could feel the tension and pain melting away bit by bit. More than just the physical aches, but the emotional burdens as well. In Mollymauk's presence, enveloped by their love and care, Caleb finally allowed himself to just breathe. To exist in this moment with his partner, the horrors of facing Trent and his own past gradually fading to the background.

When they were finished, he turned to face Molly fully, cupping the tiefling's face in his hands and drawing them into a deep, lingering kiss. It was soft and sweet, conveying all the love and devotion Caleb felt for his partner. As they parted, he rested his forehead against Molly's, crystal blue eyes gazing into ruby red.

[astravates]

@featherstcnes asked: ❛if you need someone to talk to i'm always just one [sending stone] away.❜ // caring prompts;; open

The genasi thumbed the rune-carved sending stone, feeling its cool weight settle in his palm. The stone's surface pulsed with a soft glow, signaling Orym’s presence on the other end of the connection. There was a brief silence, and then a sigh whispered through the stone, carrying with it the weight of Dorian's troubles. "I know, and I appreciate it," he admitted. It was nothing, really, but leave it to ever perceptive Orym to recognize even the slightly waver in his typical demeanor. A hollow tone, missing its usual musical quality. "It’s my father." This has just been—well, not the best visit home, Dorian supposed. "It's like he's proud of me, but doesn't understand me still," the bard continued, "And I can't decide which hurts more."

[astravates]

@notyetfixed asked: "42: sender barges into receiver’s home unannounced." // 100 nonverbal prompts;; open

As if Caleb was not already constantly in the company of Beauregard these days. Aside from Essek, there was no one else he spent nearly as much time with as his fellow human. She had become his closest companion, his confidant, and his best friend. But even in their close relationship, some lines needed to be carefully navigated. Unfortunately, Beauregard and boundaries were not always on the best of terms with one another these days.

Today was a prime example of such, as she barged into his home without even the courtesy of a knock or notice. Why in Exandria did Caleb give her a spare key in the first place? The sound of her hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet house, disrupting the peaceful stillness that Caleb so cherished. With a sigh, he stood up from his desk, “You know we have a pair of Sending Stones for a reason, Beauregard. What if I was in the middle of something?”

[astravates]

@bloodymyhands || cont.

Caleb meets Keyleth's gaze with a solemn expression, brows furrowed in thought. “I don’t know,” he reluctantly admits. The gnawing uncertainty inside him threatens to consume him whole, and he despises the feeling. "For now, the plan is to regroup and gather our strength. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next." And clearly, he and Beauregard had not been, despite what assistance they received from the rogue adventuring party and the Voice of the Tempest.

“I have allies I can call upon, and I suggest you do the same.” The task at hand has grown far beyond what the rest of them can handle on their own. Both he and Keyleth were nearly killed at the key, but there is no turning back now, not when Ludinus poses such a risk to all of Exandria. “I’m… aware we hardly know each other, but stopping Ludinus has been a particular interest of mine for many years.”

[astravates]

@funscarie asked: "what? why are you looking at me like that?" // critical role sentence starters;; open

Ach, was he staring? Caleb supposed he was, though he could not help but stare, his eyes locked on the chaotic scene before him. His usually disorganized home completely overrun by the Bells Hells, at the invitation of Essek. The aftermath of their eventful evening was evident in every corner of the house. Furniture pushed around, and a few mysterious stains on the carpet that Caleb chose not to investigate too closely, once hearing explanative stories of an arcane ritual for Laudna. Quite a sight for someone as messy as Caleb himself, who prided himself on his ability to thrive in chaos. But this… this was something else entirely.

"I am curious, admittedly," Genuine interest laced his words as he stepped closer, drawn in by the glimmering soul anchor hanging around her neck. "So your patron is truly trapped inside?" he asked, leaning in for a better look. "And Essek did this? Impressive." Strangely enough, he felt a twinge of regret at not arriving sooner, just in time to witness the complex ritual performed by his brilliant partner. He wondered if he could have offered any assistance. "Seems I have missed all the fun."

[astravates]

Caleb  chuckles  quietly  at  Essek's  teasing,  a  warmth  spreading  through  his  chest  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  hot  water.  "I  am  honored  to  provide  you  such  purpose  then,"  he  murmurs.

He  closes  his  eyes  as  instructed,  allowing  Essek  to  work  the  shampoo  through  his  hair.  Skilled  fingers  massage  his  scalp,  easing  away  lingering  tension  and  anxiety  that  clings  to  him  like  a  second  skin.  For  a  few  precious  moments,  Caleb  can  almost  forget  the  events  of  the  past  few  days.  The  fear,  the  pain,  the  grief—it  all  fades  into  the  background  as  he  focuses  solely  on  Essek's  touch.

"You  are  very  good  at  that,"  Caleb  says  appreciatively,  voice  slightly  muffled.  “I  may  just  fall  asleep  right  here  if  you  keep  it  up.”

Despite  his  words,  he  has  no  intention  of  drifting  off.  Not  when  Essek  is  being  so  attentive  and  caring.  Instead,  Caleb  lazily  traces  patterns  along  the  inside  of  his  partner's  thigh  beneath  the  water—random  runes  and  sigils  that  hold  no  arcane  significance.

essek   sinks   into   the   kiss,   closing   his   eyes.   he   sniffs   as   caleb   retrieves   the   shampoo,   gathering   himself. ❝    of   course,    ❞        he   says.   a   whisp   of   essek's   magic   makes   the   bottle   hover   while   he   retrieves   the   pitcher.   he   submerges   it   in   the   hot   water,   and   tips   caleb's   head   back,   using   his   arm   as   a   crown   to   shield   the   human's   face.

❝    close   your   eyes,    ❞        he   says.   the   water   streams  through   caleb's   hair,   and   down   his   back.   once   he's   fully   saturated,   essek   puts   the   pitcher   aside,   and   begins   to   work   the   shampoo   into   a   lather.

he   sighs.        ❝    this   is   my   true   purpose,    ❞        he   jokes,   as   he   works   his   fingers   into   caleb's   hair.   his partner   knows   how   much   essek   loves   his   copper   locks,   frequently   gravitating   towards   them.

[astravates]

Keyleth paused, her hands stilling against his wounded skin. The antlers crowning her head seemed to cast longer shadows across her face in the dim light of their shelter. She studied him—this man who had once been her everything, who had died, and who had somehow returned to her side, bearing new scars she couldn't see. "Vax," she said, her voice suddenly weighted with decades of leadership, of decisions made alone, of standing strong when she wanted to crumble. She set the bloodied cloth aside, her shoulders slumping slightly beneath an invisible burden. "I'm not the same girl you left behind."

A sad smile touched her lips as she reached up to trace the line of his jaw with gentle fingers. "I don't need a protector anymore. I don't need a champion or a guardian or someone to throw themselves between me and danger." And when Vax went to open his mouth in what Keyleth assumed to be protest, she pressed her fingers against his lips. "What I need," she continued, her voice breaking slightly, "is for you to find joy again. To remember what it means to live for yourself, not just for a goddess or for me." She took a deep breath. "The Raven Queen gave us both this second chance—don't waste that gift by trying to be what you were. Be what you want to be now."

Vax'ildan's frown deepened at Keyleth's lecture but his hazel eyes shone with nothing but admiration. He was thankful to her, truly and he would certainly make more of an effort to show it if he didn't feel like every inch of his body hurt. He felt cold. He was exhausted and just wanted to curl up, place his head into his Tempest's lap and sleep until nothing hurt anymore. "Love, you forget that eye haven't been mortal in a very long time you have to cut me a little bit of a break." He chuckled but cringed. His eyes and parts of his armor flashed gold with power. He tried to remain silent but the flash of magic didn't help lessen the pain much... Vax hissed again. "Fuck's sake... My body's still adapting to all of this again. I'm sorry Kiki, I shouldn't be this reckless." It was a lame excuse but he tried to strengthen it with a smile. The truth was that he got worried... after watching Keyleth getting attacked and nearly killed the thought of any harm coming her way made him scared shitless and those emotions didn't quite collaborate with the champion. He wasn't the same as he was when he left them. Quieter, more reserved, parts where he seemed emotionless or distant... moments when he missed the Matron but felt guilty because he was with Keyleth and his thoughts should be focussed on protecting her instead. It was confusing and didn't help the headache he was battling. "Thank you for looking after me. I'm sorry I was reckless, truly. Being your dashing rogue might be a little harder then I thought."

[astravates]

The human lifted his head from Mollymauk's shoulder, blue eyes searching the tiefling's face with a mixture of worry and guilt. "I am afraid you may be right, schatz," he admitted quietly. "The corruption in the Assembly and Ludinus runs deep. Trent was just the beginning. Even now, it is difficult to say exactly what Ludinus is up to." He sighed, reaching out to take Molly's free hand in his own, entwining their fingers together.

"But I promise, from now on, we face this together. No more leaving you behind, wondering and worrying." Caleb brought their joined hands to his lips, pressing a reverent kiss to Molly's knuckles. He took a sip of the chamomile tea, letting the soothing warmth spread through his body. Already he could feel sleep tugging at the edges of his consciousness, but there was more he needed to say. Setting the mug aside, Caleb turned to face Molly fully, cupping the tiefling's cheek tenderly.

"I know I cannot shield you from everything, as much as I may want to. You have proven time and again how capable you are." A small smile played at his lips, pride shining in his eyes. "But I need you to understand—if anything ever happened to you because of me, because of my past… I would never forgive myself." He knew it was a bit hypocritical, knowing they faced Lucien because of Mollymauk’s past, but two wrongs did not make a right.

Caleb leaned in, resting his forehead against Molly's as he spoke, voice barely above a whisper. "You are extremely important to me." Sealing his promise with a soft, lingering kiss, Caleb finally allowed himself to relax fully into Molly's embrace. For now, safe and content in his partner's arms, the wizard let his eyes drift shut, surrendering to the pull of much-needed rest and relaxation.

"I do indeed insist." Molly chuckled a bit, leaning closer for Caleb to press a kiss to their cheek before he promptly crawled into the bed. The tiefling made sure that he was all situated with Toast and Frumpkin all cozy in bed before making their way into the kitchen to prepare tea. They made it rather quick, using a bit of learned magic to speed along the process so they could return to their partner's side quicker.

With mugs in hand, Molly maneuvered their way into the bed without having to set either cups down. They sat delicately beside the exhausted wizard and handed him his cup to do with what he wished while they put their own on their bedside table and cuddled their way into his side. "You're quite welcome, Caleb." They replied as they leaned their head against his and gave him enough room to nuzzle against their neck and shoulder.

"I forgive you, firefly. Endlessly, you are forgiven." They murmur, kissing his forehead and nuzzling down into him before getting themselves comfortable under the blankets as well. "But...I don't think this is the last of your world saving events, Caleb. As much as I would love it to be, something tells me that you're going to be called away yet again..." They utter, running their hand through his hair while their free hand grips their mug tightly.

"There is something strange happening in the world...you and Beau have first hand experience, and people are going to want you to answer questions and provide what information you have on everything it is you have learned." They close their eyes and take a long drink from their mug. "We....I have to prepare for you to leave again. I know that I am not of much help, anymore, but if there is anything I can do to help lighten the burden of this work, I will do what I can."

[astravates]

Caleb  eases  into  the  tub,  the  warmth  of  water  enveloping  him  like  a  comforting  embrace,  along  with  the  pleasant  scent  of  fragrant  oils.  He  exhales  a  tired  sigh  as  he  settles  against  Essek,  feeling  the  tension  slowly  melt  away  from  his  weary  muscles.  The  familiar  sensation  of  being  held  in  Essek’s  arms  brings  a  sense  of  peace  that  he  had  not  realized  he  desperately  needed.

“Ja,  the  water  is  perfect,”  Caleb  murmurs,  leaning  back  against  his  partner’s  chest.  Blue  eyes  flutter  closed,  allowing  himself  to  simply  exist  in  this  moment  of  calm.  “Thank  you  for  this.”

He  reaches  for  the  soap  and  begins  to  wash  his  body,  leaving  his  ginger  hair  for  Essek.  The  simple  act  of  cleansing  feels  like  a  ritual  of  renewal  after  everything  he’s  been  through  the  last  few  days.  “You  know,  I  don’t  think  I’ve  ever  felt  as  grateful  for  a  bath  as  I  do  right  now.”

caleb's   pale   skin   makes   his   litany   of   marks   all   the   more   visible.   essek   feels   his   eyes   welling,   and   blinks   rapidly   to   clear   them.   he   tries   to   shift   the   momentum   into   cataloguing   instead   —   noting   each   injury   for   care   afterwards.        "    yes,   if   you   would   like,    "        essek   answers.   he   wants   to   be   mindful   of   caleb's   boundaries,   knowing   how   his   own   can   shift   on   a   bad   day.

he   offers   the   other   a   hand   to   step   into   the   tub,   if   needed.   then   he   begins   to   shed   his   clothes.   it   used   to   be   something   that   had   to   be   done   in   stages   —   starting   and   stopping   due   to   essek's   anxiety.   now,   he   often   looks   forward   to   it,   confident   caleb   will   like   what   he   sees.

essek   settles into the tub,   the   water   easing   the   tension   in   his   body.   he   drapes   his   arms   around   his   partner once they're close.        "    are   you   comfortable?   is   the   water   hot   enough?    "

[astravates]

Caleb  smiles  faintly  at  the  gentle  reassurance,  threading  his  fingers  between  Essek's.  "Ja,  I  am  yours.  And  I  am  safe,"  he  echoes  softly.  “Ich  liebe  dich.”

He  tilts  his  head  back,  seeking  Essek's  lips  in  a  tender  kiss.  The  familiar  caress  grounds  him  further,  anchoring  him  to  here  and  now.  To  this  sanctuary  they  have  created  amidst  the  chaos.

Drawing  back,  Caleb  reaches  for  the  fragrant  shampoo.  "Will  you  wash  my  hair?"  he  requests,  “I  want  to  feel  your  touch.”

his   eyes   flutter   shut   as   caleb   leans   into   him,   and   he   pulls   him   a   little   closer.   he   kisses   his   bare   shoulder,   giving   a   quiet,        "    any   time,    "        at   the   thanks.   essek   gently   strokes   caleb's   arm   with   the   back   of   his   fingers.

"    good,    "        he   says,        "    and   i   am   glad   to   have   you   in   it.    "        he   rests   his   chin   on   caleb's   shoulder,   and   shuts   his   eyes   again;   fingertips   dancing   over   his   lover's   collarbones.

"    you   are   mine.   and   you   are   safe.    "

[astravates]

Caleb  takes  a  deep,  steadying  breath  as  he  savors  the  brief  moment  of  privacy  before  Essek  returns  to  his  side.  Straightening  his  shoulders,  he  nods  and  extends  his  hand  to  the  drow’s.

With  an  ease  that  only  comes  from  years  of  being  together,  he  undresses  in  front  of  Essek.  Coat  sliding  off  his  shoulders,  followed  by  his  purple  scarf  and  the  rest  of  his  clothing,  aided  by  the  gentle  touch  of  his  partner's  hands.  Caleb  looks  terrible,  catching  a  quick  glimpse  of  himself  in  the  mirror  is  all  the  reminder  he  needs.

His  eyes  are  bloodshot  from  tears,  the  dark  circles  of  exhaustion  etched  deep  into  his  pale  skin.  And  as  he  turns  his  head,  a  slight  hint  of  redness  and  irritation  can  be  seen  along  his  neck  from  the  collar  placed  there.  He’s  lucky  to  be  alive  right  now,  all  things  considered.  “You  are  going  to  join  me,  ja?”

he   swallows   at   the   sound   of   caleb's   laugh,   continuing   to   pet   him.        "    i'd   love   one,    "        he   says,   gently,        "    can   you   rise   with   me?   i'd   like   to   set   you   on   the   couch   while   i   draw   it.    "

after   making   caleb   as   comfortable as possible,   he   heads   to   the   bathroom.   they   have   a   small   collection   of   reasonably   priced   soaps,   oils,   and   salts.   essek   starts   the   hot   water   running,   and   adds   some   of   caleb's   favorite   fragrance.   perhaps   he   can   give   the   human   a   scalp   massage   while   he   washes   his   hair.

he   caresses   caleb's   shoulder   when   he   returns,   there   to   help   him   walk   if   need   be.        "    are   you   ready?    "        he   asks.

[astravates]

Caleb could not help but smile softly at Mollymauk's gentle yet firm insistence. They always seemed to know exactly what he needed, even when he was too stubborn or preoccupied to realize it himself. "Ja, sleep sounds very tempting right about now," he admitted, stifling a yawn. The exhaustion was finally catching up to him, weeks of stress and turmoil taking their toll. The wizard allowed himself to be guided towards their bedroom, Molly's warm hand at the small of his back a comforting presence.

He couldn't deny the allure of their soft, inviting bed after so many nights spent planning with Beauregard away from home. And the promise of being wrapped up in his partner's loving embrace, surrounded by their little family of furry companions, made his heart swell with contentment. "I suppose missing one more day won't hurt," Caleb acquiesced, knowing his students would understand. They adored Mollymauk and their baked treats.

"But only because you insist, liebling." He turned to press a tender kiss to the tiefling's cheek before slipping under the covers, sinking into the plush mattress with a grateful sigh. As Molly busied themselves in the kitchen preparing the tea, Caleb felt the events of the past weeks wash over him once more. But this time, the painful memories were tempered by a sense of peace and belonging. Here in their cozy home the horrors of facing Trent and his own troubled past felt more distant, less overwhelming.

The tiefling soon returned, two steaming mugs of chamomile tea in hand. They set them on the bedside table before climbing in beside Caleb, lavender form fitting perfectly against his side as though they were always meant to be there. "Thank you, Mollymauk," Caleb murmured, voice already heavy with impending sleep as he turned to nuzzle into the tiefling's neck. "For everything. I am sorry I took that for granted, even if my intentions were good."

"I am very glad to hear it..." Molly uttered as they rest their forehead against that of Caleb's, drawing him into another hug for but a moment. "But I will be more so glad when I can have you home and all to myself...not gallivanting about without me." One more nudge, of course, to reiterate that he wasn't ever allowed to scare them like that ever again. Molly would always be thankful for Caleb wanting to protect them, but he couldn't protect them from everything. He would do them more harm than good should he ever disappear like that again.

"But, I do believe this is a good time for us to settle in bed. You look exhausted, dear love. I mean. A different level of exhausted than normal. I want you in that bed that has sorely been neglected these last few weeks. You, me, Frumpkin, and Toast, all in a cuddle puddle to rest through the night and far into tomorrow afternoon." Molly ran their hand along the length of Caleb's back, beckoning him to follow some semblance of 'direction' at this point. Molly wanted him well rested. They knew it would be difficult. Hell, if they were Caleb, they were certain that they would have nothing but nightmares for days to come.

The tiefling wanted to remain positive, though. They wanted and hoped to whatever gods were out there that Caleb would sleep peacefully within their arms. That he would catch up on whatever he had been lacking in the last few weeks now that he was home with them and surrounded by the comfort of the home that they had created for one another. Surrounded by the sweet smell of books and the ever lingering petrichor from the plants that Molly was trying to grow.

"Move along now, Firefly. I won't be hearing of any fussing about sleeping in on a school day. You deserve rest. I will bake strudel muffins for your students and they can call it a rest day for themselves as well." They released him hesitantly from their arms before patting him at his buttocks lovingly. "I'm going to make us some chamomile tea so that way we can rest easy."

[astravates]

Caleb watches Keyleth closely, seeing the pain etched in her features as she speaks of this man. “You were the trap?” So she does know of this man, her words confirm it, and if Caleb understands correctly, he seems to have great importance to the druid. He can imagine the weight of such a burden, the conflict between duty and personal desires. “I understand the pull to save a loved one… no matter the cost. We will find a way to save him, whoever he is.”

Each of them bore their own personal burdens, the weight of past traumas and the struggles of the present weighing heavily on their shoulders. Their faces etched with lines of worry and determination as they huddled together, voices lowered in intense conversation. “For now, our focus must remain on stopping Ludinus and protecting Exandria.” Their mission was clear enough, but it would require all of their strength and resolve to see it through.

This is a battle that has been brewing for Caleb for what feels like an eternity, and now it becomes clear that Keyleth is also deeply invested in the outcome. Both of them personally harmed by Ludinus and the Assembly.

she hums an affirmation. not knowing where ludinus was wasn't a surprise, he would show up in time. they just had to make sure that they were ready. a throbbing pokes at the back of her skull, already feeling exhausted at the prospect. "sometimes i wish we could have one decade without a world-ending event," she jokes, her tone teasing but her expression still serious. she's tired.

it's when caleb changes the subject that the throbbing in her head grows worse. the ache in her heart feels like a hole that'll never heal. she quickly looks down, breaking eye contact. the memory of vax saving her and then promptly being used was one that haunted her dreams. she isn't sure she's slept properly since. keyleth's entire posture changes, growing tenser, her shoulders adjusting and her expression faltering.

"i..." she starts, a brief pause as she collects her thoughts. "they turned him into something. an orb. the details are... almost lost on me. whatever they used him for, it's clear that i was a trap so that they could." she finally looks up, meeting caleb's eyes. a confession slips past her lips before she can stop it. "i'm not sure i can stop myself from trying to save him. i don't know what would happen if i did."

[astravates]

“I love you too, Mollymauk. More than anything." The words were soft, barely audible, but full of sincerity and devotion. He knew Molly spoke the truth—they should face these challenges together, side by side as partners and equals. But deep down, Caleb still felt that instinctual need to protect the tiefling, to shield them from the darkness that seemed to follow him like a shadow.

The corruption within the Cerberus Assembly has run deep for decades, its tendrils weaving through every facet of the Empire. Caleb had dedicated his life to untangling that insidious web, to bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring no one else suffered as he did. It was a noble cause, one he believed in with every fiber of his being. But he also knew it put a target on his back and by extension, on those he loved most.

Trent Ikithon was only just the beginning of what Caleb wanted to achieve. There were others, powerful mages and politicians, who would stop at nothing to maintain their hold over the Empire. Caleb understood the risks, the danger he placed himself in by openly opposing them. Each time he and Beauregard left on a mission, he knew there was a chance he might not return. The thought pained him deeply, not for his own sake, but for Mollymauk's more than anything.

Beautiful, vibrant Mollymauk who had already lost so much in their life. Caleb's chest tightened at the idea of putting them through that grief again. He cursed himself for causing the tiefling such worry, for not finding another way to include them instead of leaving them behind. Molly deserved better.

Molly hates this for Caleb. They hate the Assembly. They hate that once more, Caleb has been dragged into a war when all he should be doing was enjoying his time as a professor and lounging in the life of luxury. For Gods' sake, he had saved the Empire from destruction behind the scenes. Didn't that mean anything? Still, Mollymauk was going to be there no matter what. To soothe aching muscles. To tend to emotions left in shambles after situations like this...they would never leave his side.

When his tunic was removed, Molly winced at just all the damage that had been done by the hands of Trent and his magics. They let out a shaky sigh afterwards to let out the panic and anxiety that had been held in their chest. And without any further hesitation, they take the healing balm into their hands and warm it up as to not shock their partner's already tender skin. In long, even strokes, the tiefling spreads the medicinal smelling creation upon every last lingering cut and bruise. Upon hearing Caleb's sigh, Molly chuckled ever softly and leaned down to kiss his head while still continuing their work.

"Anything for you, dear heart." They purr softly as they added just a few other lotions and oils to their hands to begin working out all the tension and stress he was carrying in his shoulders and all the way down to his lower back. Caleb deserved all the pampering in the world. Molly had been humming soothing tunes picked up from their time in the circus, but also just their own little sounds that they normally did around the house. Grounding methods, they hoped. When all was said and done, they pressed one last kiss to his shoulder to indicate that they were finished and that he could move about now.

They were just toweling off the excess oils and balm when they felt Caleb draw them in for a kiss. There is a hint of a smile as they kiss him in turn. They pour out what emotions they couldn't physically get out, nothing but adoration and genuine love for this man they called their own. It is bittersweet when it ends, though, so they continue to express themselves with the same, adoring gaze that Caleb gives to them.

"I love you..." They whisper before giving a bit of a cheeky grin, "thank you for trying to keep me safe...but promise me, from now on, we do this together."

[astravates]

Caleb's lips quirk up in a small, grateful smile at Keyleth's offer of support. Her trust in them is welcome, especially with the fight to come, “Danke— thank you,” he says, “We do not know Ludinus's exact whereabouts, things have been a bit hazy since the Solstice, but I am certain Beauregard and I can track him down. I have a connection within The Assembly.”

Draining his mug of coffee, Caleb sets it down with finality. He looks to Beauregard, silent communication passing between them before he hums softly. “If you will excuse me for changing the subject for a brief moment, I am… deeply curious about the things we witnessed at The Key that day.” Caleb is very familiar with the Luxon Beacon, but he is not so familiar with other methods used to power the Malleus Key. “That man who rescued you, they somehow used him to activate their device… do you understand how this is possible?”

keyleth sits into her chair and listens, processing and connecting all that caleb says with all that orym's told her and all that she's seen. she holds her mug with one hand, twirling a vine between her fingers in the other. she raises an eyebrow as his confession, but that isn't enough to deter her. "well, you're not the only one," she replies, thinking back to her interactions with orym's party. ludinus is a formidable enemy indeed. (never in her life did she think she'd be dealing with the Moon. it's times like this that she wished vax was still here.)

she looks between the two of them, lost in thought for a moment. finally, she speaks up. "you have my support, of course, and the support of my warriors. do you know where ludinus is now?" she pauses, the vine snaking up her arm, holding onto her tight. nature calms her, even in moments like this. "or how we're going to flush him out?"