Shadowidomauk - Tumblr Posts
The fact that Essek storms off "in a huff" and is literally brought to tears when he sees Caleb mourning Molly...there's just so many interesting implications for shadowidomauk there.
It's the fact that Essek saw Caleb kiss Molly on the forehead the way he kissed him--saw Caleb repeat these familiar phrases in battle to Lucien that he once used to comfort Essek. Essek learning Caleb's love language, and seeing it reflected in how he treats Mollymauk.
It's Essek seeing Caleb at his lowest, at his most desperate and hopeless--how very wrong it feels to see him like this, how painful it is to watch him fall apart over losing Mollymauk. "Caleb Widogast, have you ever accepted defeat?"
Because of all things, it is Molly's death that leaves Caleb more brokenhearted than Essek's ever seen him, the only time he's ever truly admitted to knowing defeat--"Maybe today. For the first time." The way Caleb came all this way and tried so desperately to save him, and it still wasn't enough. He poured his whole heart and soul into that ritual, and it just wasn't enough.
Essek being moved by the Nein's own grief, choked up and crying for this person that he never even met. Insisting over and over, "It's not fair--it's not fair...We've just all come so far. It's not fair." And it's the moment that Caleb kisses Molly on the forehead and says his goodbyes that really breaks Essek's heart, the passion and gutting loss of Caleb's own grief that sends Essek storming off and fighting back tears.
Do you think...Essek ever tells Kingsley what happened that day? How hard Caleb tried to save him--how much it shattered him when Tealeaf was still lying dead in his arms? Do you think he ever told King about the forehead kiss and how tender Caleb was with him--how he must surely love him? Do you think Essek admits that even he was crushed when Tealeaf didn't wake, that he never knew him before, but still mourned him all the same?
Do you think he ever quietly tells Kingsley that he's happy he came back, how much it means to him--especially for Caleb's sake--
Do you think Kingsley ever kisses either of the wizards on the forehead and everything just. Kinda falls into place for Essek--
gifts u sof swm cuddles.... kisses ur forehead... enjoy
Okay, but, there are very specific rituals that Caleb has adopted over time. There is the Alarm spell he never quite abandons, and he counts out materials and coin on instinct. There are times when Essek is not sure if it is compulsion or habit, and he never finds it in him to bring it up or question it when Caleb seems more at ease.
It is hardly harming anyone if Caleb still sets an alarm across doors, windows, the closet door used to anchor the Tower when he casts it in his cottage for them. For their friends who happily fill his kitchen while he goes about his habits, or poke through his books and trinkets while he pieces things together to keep them all safe.
Those are all expected. Anyone familiar with Caleb knows to expect them.
The ones that no one really expected was the ease with which Caleb plucked a ring from Kingsley, or a gem that he kept close. There were moments when Caleb would be frowning at a book and his components spread out before him, and Kingsley would simply wander over with a smirk and “what did you need?”
The easy encounters had given Essek pause as he considered the way Jester’s offers of components from her own jewelry, or Veth’s from her own pouch, were enough to shock Caleb from his work with a stammered thanks. But Kingsley just had to be nearby for Caleb to seek out pockets, pouches, and freely offered decorations.
“It’s a habit,” Kingsley said with a smirk as he offered a pearl to Essek once Caleb had effectively dismantled a gaudy ring to get to a spare piece of amber he needed. “I never questioned it. Don’t really mind those hands going through my pockets.”
Essek frowned, but accepted the pearl without a second thought. “And you are… comfortable? with this arrangement? Carrying components?”
“You’re fine taking them, aren’t you, hot boy?”
Essek looked over the pearl he had taken without thought. To Caleb’s smirk as he listened to the conversation without breaking the focus on his work. He realized, belatedly, that he had been guilty of the same when he ha been dragged into adventure with the tiefling. A plucked thread, a glass bauble, silver, gold, pearls, copper.
He only realized he was blushing when the tiefling patted his warm cheek with a grin. “Happy to help. You can make it up to me later. You both can. I have so many ideas on how you both can repay my generosity.”
“Do not,” Caleb muttered, “test my concentration, ja?”
Idk, I just have some thoughts
Caleb has two hands???