thatonesadending

[thatonesadending]

A soul split into pieces--learning to better understand themselves, to love themselves through each other--two halves becoming whole again. How much Opal and Ted's background echoes Molly and Lucien's own heartbreaking story, how these souls that were broken apart still reached out to each other when they needed it most--

I would love to see if Kingsley ever got to meet other followers of the Luxon like Opal. I feel like maybe it would make him feel less alone, especially when he's caught up in all these fractured memories across past lives--

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It still gets me that there were moments when Molly told Lucien to surrender and go back to the Mighty Nein--promised him that they'd still take him back, that there was still a way out. Mollymauk trying desperately to save his friends. But also, Molly tying to save Lucien too--

"They've only given you this much grace because they want to believe you're me. They'll find a way to best you, they'll kill you before you reach Cognouza, but not if you stop this now. Admit who you are. Admit that a part of me still exists within you...I'm your only way out of this."

After everything Lucien did to him, after how much he tried to hurt him and the rest of the Nein--Molly had absolutely no obligation to save him. But he did. He wanted to. Mollymauk comforting Lucien when it all falls apart at the very end--asking him if he's tired, if he wants to rest. And when Lucien is so sure it's all over? "When a hand reaches out to you in accord, you take it." "Yes, Lucien thought. I'll take it--"

Mollymauk still feeling for Lucien after everything, still deciding to reach out to him in the very end. Because of course he would, of course Molly couldn't just leave him.

And now we have this lovely new lore in the context of the Luxon--about how people would split their souls to better understand themselves when they became whole. Learning to love and accept yourself, seeing the world from another perspective. Thinking of Lucien taking Molly's hand, and the two of them deciding to come back together. Both of them learning to care for each other--

Also, sidenote. Maybe I'm missing something or it was just the effect of Vess killing Lucien while he was in the Astral Sea. But I do wonder how exactly Vess managed to really shatter his soul in the first place, or how Molly's piece found his way back--

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essek and caleb collab piece with @TealBird5 on twitter!!!!! she drew the boys and i coloured them in :D

Keep reading

[thatonesadending]

Mollymauk Tealeaf is the reason Caleb Widowgast forgave himself and you cannot convince me otherwise.

When Caleb first met the Nien he was so afraid they would clock his criminal past he intentionally self issolated. And if Mollymauk hadn't been such a cocky ass, and literally forced him to open up about his issues he would have abandoned the Nien.

Yeah, they beefed, but you have to think about the weight of the guilt Caleb was carrying around versus Molly’s ‘dont worry be happy’ lifestyle it's honestly impressive they didn't PVP.

Molly comforts Caleb in one of his darkest moments and I believe it is bc Molly has at least a few of Luican’s memories and he can see Caleb’s pain and just cannot let him suffer alone.

But, most importantly, Mollymuck dies. And that really changes Caleb he realizes just how finite life is and I think he's kind of forced to keep Molly’s memory alive. Like, Caleb before Glory Run Road would have wasted 0 time going after Jester, Fjord, and Yasha. But watching Molly fall he is forced to forgive himself in order to “Leave the world better than he left it”.

He and Beau become besties because they're both left to face the reality that the only kindness they had ever known in their life was a conman teifling.

It really pisses me off that Molly died bc I really and truly believe that he and Caleb would have fallen in love.

CALEB MADE A TRANSMUTER STONE WITH THE PLAN TO RESURRECT MOLLY. GUYS! He carried the fucking stone around for at least 80 eps. He was the only one to mention the possibility of Molly being alive he never gave up on them.

I think Fjord saw it… ya know Molly and fjord were rommies and surly they talked bc when Caleb is using The Stone and that crazy spell (I can't recall the name) and it didn't work he comforted Essek. I think he was comforting Essek not bc Caleb wanted Molly back but bc Essek was morning for Caleb like without it having to say it out loud Fjord saw Calebs heartbreak and knew that Essek needed someone to check in.

Like please don't lie to me, Essek Molly and Caleb would have been world shattering

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LAURA BAILEY SAYING THAT ANIMATED NEIN IS GOING TO BE DARKER AND GRITTIER THAN VOX MACHINA BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT TONES OF THE CAMPAIGNS ; ;

critrole...please...let me have lots of soft and sweet animated Mollymauk moments with the rest of the Nein before they have to lose him again--

maybe even by some miracle...I hope we get to keep Molly around for even just a little bit longer. Forever holding onto that time Taliesin said his favorite thing about TLOVM was changing things up in the animated series to surprise old fans...hoping we at least get some nice surprise happy Circus Man moments before all the tragedy--

But also, just thinking,, it feels like. We've been getting some more teasing about animated Nein so...hopefully...maybe a trailer soon? ? 👀

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not to go on about my love for molly again but.

The notion of dunamancy as a means to separate your soul into pieces so you can better know yourself, understand yourself. The thought that a part of you could become protective of another. Learning to love yourself through these separate pieces meeting and bonding again after being torn apart--

Thinking about how that's what happened to Molly and Lucien. Thinking of Tealeaf learning about dunamancy and finding a kind of comfort in the familiarity of it, the catharsis and comfort in parts of yourself reconciling after being shattered--

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Absolutely vibrating at the thought that Mollymauk could get his own theme song in animated mighty nein and then a discordant, warped version of it plays when we meet Lucien—

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still in agony over the thought that both Molly and his/Lucien's brother were killed by people working for the Jagentoths, buried in the snow in Shadycreek, and then resurrected by someone else against their will--

Hurts even more when you think about how Lucien was always terrified he'd never be able to escape Shadycreek. Opening his eyes and realizing he still died in the Run anyway, like he'd never left, like nothing had ever changed in spite of everything--

And it's achingly bittersweet in a way, that Lucien died in the cursed Savalirwood--that Mollymauk opened his eyes there for the first time.

And then, in another life, when this burning bright soul is reborn again, his family takes him back home. Back to a Savalirwood that's beginning to finally heal, to this little patch of solace and respite, all the verdant greenery and flourishing flowers of the Blooming Grove. "Something new will grow here."

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If I had a nickel for every time a critical role barbarian PC lost their best friend and wasn't able to do anything about it despite being so close by physically... I'd have two nickels.

And I wish I didn't have them.

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I BRING MANY GIFTS !! well just one but it’s mollymauk so

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Forever thinking about all the Caleb and Molly parallels--how they've both felt such similar pain and known such haunted pasts--all the scars that are the same and all the places where their paths diverge. Molly being taken in and given so much love and joy when he needed it most. Caleb being abused and tormented and left to rot all alone for so long--until finally he finds a family too. Until they both stumble into each other's orbit, just in time to offer each other another chance at salvation--

Mollymauk, from the, "what are we, if not a home for broken things?" circus. Mollymauk "we love broken things the most" Tealeaf, offering respite to other lost souls like him, "I may have just the place for you, a haven for lost souls, if you will. Even the empty ones..." Of course he ran to comfort Caleb when he saw his raw pain and vulnerability through the haze of fire. Of course Caleb cared enough to do the same for him in the very end--

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I relisten to one (1) mighty nein ep and this happened

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And Essek was crying over Molly even *before* the body was resurrected. "It's just not fair" etc

yeSS that moment is just!! so good! And says so much about his character arc--

I've said this before, but what really gets me is that you can pinpoint the exact moment when Essek's heart starts to ache for Molly. The moment Essek "gets up in a huff"? When he storms off because he just can't fight back the tears any longer? It's right after he sees Caleb say his heartbroken goodbye to Mollymauk--finally returns that forehead kiss.

It's seeing that all too familiar sign of Caleb's love that makes Essek really feel for Mollymauk, makes him break down and shed tears for this person he's never even met. But he knew that Caleb loved him--that all of the Mighty Nein did--and just that was enough.

Before the resurrection ritual began, Essek isn't just skeptical. He's scared. "Are you sure this is even wise to attempt?" The rest of them are alive, and he just can't comprehend why Caleb would dare risk that for someone bound to Lucien's fate. And yet, after seeing the Nein express their love for this stranger again and again, seeing Caleb look actually defeated for the very first time? It shakes something in him.

There's something to Essek asking, "Caleb Widogast, have you ever accepted defeat?" The way Caleb admits so hopelessly, "Maybe today. For the first time." That makes me wonder if...Essek didn't briefly consider alternative ways to bring Mollymauk back. For a moment, I wonder if his thoughts even flitted back to that time travel circle in Aeor. I think losing Mollymauk for good would have made that possibility all the more tempting for Caleb.

Essek insisting it's just not fair? Looking at Caleb and asking him if he was truly giving up--if that's something he's even capable of? It just...makes me wonder. If the Divine Intervention never saved Tealeaf, if Essek had to just watch Caleb mourn and grieve and admit defeat? I think he was really considering for a moment if there were other means of reaching Molly's soul. If there was still some way to reunite Caleb and the rest of the Nein with this person they so dearly loved.

Also, if I recall correctly--when the Nein were working out the logistics of some teleportation spells in the reunion, Kingsley kept suggesting they give Essek a call. It would be just so fun to see them interact is what I'm saying--

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what if i decided to love you anyway. what if i decided to love you on purpose. what if im so damn stubborn that you cant stop me from loving you even if it kills me.

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the first time King gets to kiss Caleb, would be another tender forehead kiss in a moment of weakness? An indulgence Tealeaf just can't resist? A bit of tenderness to ground his Magician again, keep him from getting lost in a past that still haunts him?

Or is it a stolen kiss--Caleb and him both sharing ridiculous stories over drinks in the tower, Caleb being so warm and affection with his beloved Circus Man, making him forget ever being Empty? And it's far too easy for Kingsley to just caress his Magician's face and pull him in--

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I’m feeling nostalgic about this circus man and his magic man again, so here are some highlights of Caleb and Mollymauk being soft and falling for each other–

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Thinking always of the fact the very first thing Caleb does after being resurrected is use the last of his strength to limp back to Molly's side and beg the others to resurrect him. Even though Lucien was the one who killed him in the first place--

Caleb saying, "Get him out of there," when Molly was still trapped in the ruins of the city. And when Caduceus gently suggests they wait until they're home to try and cast the ritual, Caleb insists, "No. Now." Because he's seen Molly suffer enough, because he can't bear the thought of making his Circus Man wait another moment longer--

Thinking of how Matt described Molly as, "Bloody, naked, still a heavy gash in the front--lifeless." Caleb seeing him like that and immediately reaching for his Transmuter's Stone, refusing to accept that he'll lose Mollymauk like this again--