Recovery
“This is going to be a bit of a different stream today,” Cad’s gentle voice rolled out.
He was off camera, but someone else was flitting around the kitchen. He was wearing threadbare joggers and a tank top with his ribs peaking through the arm holes. Colorful tattoos swirled up the side of his body and along his arms as he moved and set things down on the table. It was strange to see Molly look so domestic with his mohawk tied back in a ponytail, the front hanging loose and flopping over to one side and tucked behind his ear. His roots slowly crept into the faded lilac that had faded almost to platinum in his lack of access to his tinted shampoo and conditioner that remained at the dorm. He had been staying with his parents after a severe relapse into his self-destructive habits with the news of his boss banning him from having his otherwise healthy polyamorous relationship as a respected topic at work.
Cad had always been the most patient of the siblings when Molly came over. He had been unruly and had lost sight of the boy who his dad claimed he was through the letters and calls with his friend who had been Molly’s biological father. The boy they had received went through two phases—one of aggression and bad choices ranging from petty thievery and smoking and one that after the full break happened had been nonverbal for over a month. And through it all, Cad had been there because he hoped that there was the spark of a good man beneath the pain. He had been right. After so many crying matches, yelling, fights, and picking him up with the quiet request to not tell his parents—always Cad’s parents not theirs—about what had happened, there were signs of him opening up.
When he first made tea for Cad because he was sick. When he slept in Mona’s room after her boyfriend broke up with her and shattered her heart after a miscarriage. When he drove without a license at 14 because mom needed to be rushed to the hospital and he was the only one able to stay calm long enough to get behind the wheel. The boy behind his barricades was something that he had hoped for and with the constant acceptance and work put into helping him heal, Molly got through it. He adapted to his new life and had become part of the Clays.
While he was not as bad, the event of sharp disrespect and what Cad had learned was poor treatment from his coworkers after the events with Enzo, Molly had spiraled. He had been smart about it and returned home to a support system. He had a few fights with his parents, with his boyfriend and girlfriend, even with Cad. But he reached out and asked for time together. It was a rare time of Molly reaching out, knowing he needed help.
“I don’t know why you wanted me to help with this, you know I am right shit at decorating cakes.”
“But you are very good with hand whipping.”
Molly giggled brightly and continued to set up the bowls as he had been asked. A routine. Tedium. Something that would keep his focus more than actually be for fun. It was a sure-fire way to keep Molly from getting too deep into himself.
“As I said,” Cad repeated calmly. “This stream will be a bit different as my wonderful brother is staying with me for a few days and we decided to do a stream together. He does not normally do this sort of content or… Molly do you cook at the apartment?”
“Fjord lets me near the toaster. That’s saucy.”
“That answers that. Well, for those watching, he normally is asked to stay out of the kitchen, and I thought I would take a leaf from his book and say let us… invite some chaos.”
Molly held up the hand mixer with a manic smile.
They were in the process of carefully sifting the flour with the wet ingredients laying in wait to get mixed when Cad looked up and huffed calmly.
“Oh, your partners are watching, Molly,” he stated calmly. He knew Yasha had been, as she was one of his part time moderators, but he was shocked to see Essek and Astrid.
“Wait, really?” Molly looked up suddenly from where he was gently tapping the side of the sifter. “Hey loves.”
Cad smiled to himself when he saw the tips of Molly’s ears and nose start to glow with blush. He had never doubted Molly’s feelings toward the pair, though it was nice to both see how quickly he was flustered with the ideas of them watching something he was doing. It also touched Cad that they would have tuned in to watch something as simple as a baking stream on his brother’s channel. It, if nothing else, sold their genuine feelings for his brother. He had not met Essek more than in passing, but it seemed that he had promise to being a balancing factor much in the way Yasha and Fjord were as a friend.
“Welcome to the channel, guys. I hope you two know a thing about cooking,” he stated slowly with a smile and read the comments that shot past before their responses came and he laughed. “Well, Astrid, looks like you will have to make sure they both don’t starve.”
Cad felt the smile on Molly’s face without looking. How he was so touched by the simple action of being communicative with his partners. The simple acceptance. The older man knew Molly loved and did so strongly. That there was no dishonesty when he feels for another. Even when he was younger, he had always been the one to love often even when he thought he was not worthy of it all. It was why he constantly had his heart broken.
With the cake in the oven now, Cad reflected on how his apron was covered in flour and powdered sugar. There was wet batter clumped in his brother’s hair that had matted a section together. They had prepared the frosting and the fondant before the stream and now were just waiting. The stream was paused for now and in the moment, it was just them, laughing and drinking tea. He looked down at his brother and smiled softly to himself. He would be fine in time.
GAME HOES
MissJester OMG UWU GUYS YOU WERE SO CUTE
DarkAngel Do we get to have some of the cake?
GreenTea Of course. I am really glad you all enjoyed it. It’s been a while since Molly has baked with me.
MT meaning I have been banned from the kitchen for a while
GreenTea Politely asked to not do much in it unsupervised.
MT banned politely
FjordTough the clips of the food fight have been making the rounds on social
FjordTough welcome to internet fame
MT my glorious victory shall be enshrined forever then
MT long may I reign
SleevesRBS stfu
MT you miss be beau don’t deny it
SleevesRBS no comment
MT ill be on campus tomorrow for good don’t worry
FjordTough gives me time to hide the dead bodies
MT what would caleb think?!
MrPalomares2 Who do you think put them there?
MissJester jsfc Caleb lol!
MissJester We’ve ruined you!!!!
MrPalomares2 I regret nothing.
OPERATION FUCK BITCHES
> WELCOME! DarkAngel, Dynamis, FjordTough, NottListening, SassyWitch, and Widofjord
SleevesRBS welcome
SassyWitch sorry who are we fucking?
Dynamis Bitches, obviously, darling.
SassyWitch okay smart ass…
NottListening I’m already on my way up, so I should get there just after he starts. Yeza claimed he was going up ahead to take Luc to the aquarium
NottListening We all need to just ignore how we have a bigger one closer than Boston but still
Dynamis I only can say but the shark tank. It is why I love it so much.
NottListening That is actually really sweet
SassyWitch He has his moments
SassyWitch I’m excited to meet you, Nott!
NottListening Same
Molly was cutting fruit and swearing under his breath at the morning bartender from the day prior for not doing this. He knew there was no excuse, as this was a slower time of the year for the place. The fruit went bad fast, yes, but the tin had been completely empty. All of the tins, in fact. Part of him wondered if they just dumped everything out to give him something to do. He grumbled some more as he tossed the limes into the caddy and grabbed another one. He had not even bothered to wear anything red or thematic for the day and his mohawk was tied back.
He heard the door open and close but paid it no mind. Most people who came in at this time of the day would sit in the corner of the bar and sad drink their woes away. He would react only when he heard the telltale sign of someone settling in. It was a shock for that reason to hear a soft clearing of the throat. Molly looked up and saw the round, gentle face of Nott watching him back with her black hair kept under a hat. Behind him was Yeza settling Luc into a booth. Molly was startled to the point of almost dropped lime in his hand.
“Nott,” he gasped. She smirked. “What… you’re pretty far away from home today…”
“Aquarium trip for Luc,” she replied. “Figured maybe I could see you as it’s been a while.”
Molly unstuck himself from his spot and came round the bar for a hug. Upon seeing Molly, Luc wriggled himself back out of the booth and launched himself at the man. He was caught easily and pulled in for a hug.
“You take your seats and I’ll go grab some water.”
GAME HOES
MT [Image Sent]
MT Mayeb today isn’t so bad
SleevesRBS Mayeb
FjordTough Mayeb
ItsYaBoi Mayeb
BigBadWolf Mayeb
He had to cook some of the food, which was fine as at least in a bar kitchen it was nothing more than pop it in the fryer and return in a few minutes. What was a shock was seeing Yasha and Beau had joined the Brenattos at the table with Luc sitting on Yasha’s lap and talking. A curiosity tingled in his mind why they were there, but pushed it back and he put the food down and kicked Beau’s ankle.
“Don’t you two have gross cuddling to do,” he asked as he slid the other plates out.
“That’s later, figured we could piss you off for a bit first,” Beau replied and kicked him back.
“Planning to get busy tonight,” Yasha asked as Luc slid onto the seat and started eating.
“Nah, probably not. Maybe some sad fucks like me who have nowhere else to go.”
“You said a bad word,” Luc informed him.
“My mother laments,” Molly replied with a smirk. Yasha smacked his arm and the man giggled. “What can I get you ladies?”
“I am moving to the bar top, Nott,” Beau told her and followed Molly. “IPA”
“Fucking gross.”
“Like your face. Do you have Spacedust?”
“Oooooft. Yes, but we may be low. Tomorrow is delivery.”
“That then Goose?”
“Getting yourself drunk on hops?”
“Yasha and I took the T.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Not while Nott is here, though. Mind if I leave this up here?”
“I promise not to put salt in it if that’s what you mean.”
“Bitch,” Beau replied after a snort. But put the glass down and covered it with a coaster.
Molly watched her head back with a small grin on his face. He did not believe that this was just the couple being there by chance. But it meant a lot to him all the same.
GAME HOES
MissJester OMG HAVE FUN GUYS!!! IF I DON’T TALK MUCH ITS BECAUSE CALI AND I HAVE DATE NIGTH TONIGHT
SassyWitch Date night?
FjordTough Date night?
DragonQueen :)
Molly had started to print out the bill for the Brenattos when the door once again opened. This time, his heart was in his throat because it was two figures of varied heights that were familiar to him. The petite form of his girlfriend and the tall, lithe build of his boyfriend. Molly swallowed around the lump in his throat and looked to the booth where the others were sitting. And looking too unbothered to be happenstance. He looked back to the others and noticed that they both had stuff with them. The doors opened again as four more people spilled in.
“Guys,” Molly asked carefully with his eyes darting between the groups.
“Yes, darling,” Essek asked as he easily slid into seat after pulling one out for Astrid.
Caleb and Fjord joined them at the bar top while Cad and Wulf stepped over to the booth instead. His eyes darted between them all with his mouth floundering.
“What…”
“Oh, they’re on an aro-date,” Astrid explained blandly and picked up the menu that was in the caddy by her. “I think they are going shopping and planning to abuse the free cheesecake offer at a restaurant downtown for couples.”
“No, not… them Well maybe them. What?”
“Did you really think we would not come see you on this, the commercialization off affection day,” Essek asked as he plucked a toothpick from the straw holder.
“Maybe,” he answered softly.
“Get over here,” Astrid sighed and shook her head.
He did and was pulled between Astrid’s legs and into a kiss. He felt Essek drape his long limbs over his shoulders and his chin tuck over his shoulder. The man’s lips and the soft scratch of facial hair brushed the hinge of his jaw and Molly blushed. A part of him wondered if his coworkers would see the footage proof that this was not something secret or unhealthy. But a part of him wanted to keep this safe and tucked away. Some place special.
“You’re all saps,” he accused with a smile.
Operation Fuck Bitches
SleevesRBS [Image sent]
SleevesRBS [Image sent]
SleevesRBS [Image sent]
SleevesRBS [Image sent]
NottListening they’re cute
Molly TeaClay @MollyMauking
[Image Attached]
I have to say that I have the best partners and friends in the world. Dont let haters shame your #polyam life
“Alright, pour it out, Tealeaf,” Beau demanded with her arm flung around Astrid’s shoulder. “Get Jessie on that video call quickly for our shots to that bitch getting hitched.”
“Irony that it’s you celebrating someone being singular,” Yasha teased with a small bump of her nose to Beau’s temple.
“Yeah, yeah I get it.”
The line clicked over, and Jester and Cali’s screens showed up on Fjord’s phone that the man had propped up on Caleb’s stein. They all waved at their respected screens, with the group in the bar crammed into the shot. Nott and the family had left an hour before so Luc could get home in time for bed, so the drinking had officially started for all but Molly, who was still working. He had watched with glee as his friends slowly slipped into their tipsy state. Cad and Wulf had prepared to leave for their night out but wanted to wait to see the two girls first. Wulf had opened up more as the drinks started flowing, which was nice. As someone dating his best friend and one of his other good friends, Molly had feared the man hating him for the various reasons he could. Yet, it seemed he was simply standoffish and aloof by nature man but not maliciously.
Now, he watched as the couples got slowly touchier, even his own girlfriend who kept reaching across the bar to touch his hand or arm. Essek did the same as Yasha, who did not change drastically when drunk. He had leaned back in the seat and stretched one arm out and one leg out forward to rest on Astrid’s chair. The group was chatting happily when Molly noticed his boss come out of the back for the first time in four hours and look at the scene before him. A conservative and judgmental man by nature now looked at what Molly realized was quite the queer collective. His boss’ eyes flicked to the gifts that were on the bar for him to Astrid who was holding Molly’s finger and Essek watching both. Molly’s scowl turned into a smirk as he watched the old man look so conflicted at the scene before him before announcing he was stepping out for his break and would be back in an hour.
“How late are you staying,” Molly asked after the door shut. He looked back to his partners.
“All night,” Astrid informed him. “Though at this point, we may need to stay at the apartment here because…”
She and Yasha clinked their shot glasses together and tossed them back. Molly snorted and looked at Fjord and Caleb.
“I just booked a hotel room after watching how this plan got derailed.”
“Guys…”
“Happy over commercialization of true affections,” Yasha stated with a smirk.
“Please stop calling it that,” Molly pleaded as he laughed.
But it felt good to have a real smile on his face again.
“So, like… are we…” Jester pouted and sucked in her lip.
“I mean, we can?” Cali blushed and hid her face with her hair.
“Really,” Jester gasped and smiled. Cali nodded. “I know like… you are super concerned about… how people are. So, like, I don’t want to say anything and get you in a hot seat but… I can like. Say? Maybe?”
“Oh, yeah. Uh, no you can just tell people, I guess. I don’t really do streams or have much of anything online so. I should be okay. Do you… really want to tell people?”
“Cali,” Jester cut her off with a gentle and softly. “Yes. You are so wonderful and sweet and clever and of course I would want to let people know that I get to be with you. There is nothing wrong with you.”
Cali smiled softly and looked down at her arm which was out of its brace now and she slouched back slightly. Jester watched her pixelated form adjust and frowned, wondering what exactly she hated about herself to that extent. In their time speaking and getting to know each other over the last month taught her that she was heavily bullied for her wine stain birthmark on her face growing up and the way she still needed supportive garments for her arm and back because of muscular disease.
“I guess I just… think I am not used to people just being accepting, you know?”
“Yeah,” Jester replied. Not about her personally, but about the others around her. “But I promise I really do like you.”
“I like you, too,” Cali replied awkwardly and they both laughed.
“Let’s start the next episode, yes?”
Cali nodded and pulled her knees into her as Jester started her side of the watch party again. Girlfriend. A girlfriend who was okay with her being A-gray. With her disability meaning they can’t go out for long adventures. Just someone who cared.
DM: NottListening and SleevesRBS
NottListening I am assuming you’re both drunk and still at the bar
SleevesRBS yes to both
NottListening we got home safe
NottListening he still in a good mood
SleevesRBS fuck yeah
SleevesRBS we recorded the boss man meeting Essek and astrid a little while ago
SleevesRBS I think he wanted to run in front of a bus talking with all of us
NottListening Oh sweet moral victories
SleevesRBS fuck yeah
SleevesRBS apparently they are closing down early ebcauswe its just us rn
SleevesRBS were crashinmg Reanis job for some shots now that Cad and Wulf are off to cheat the system
NottListening I think they are just functioning at a higher mental existence
NottListening after all. It’s all for cheesecake
The Jester @MissJesterlee
Is it lame to start a relationship on V-Day? #luckiestgirl
Beau @SleevesRBS
@MissJesterlee sounds gay
The Jester @MissJesterlee
@SleevesRBS very
Yasha @TheDarkAngel
For those attacking @SleevesRBS for saying sounds gay remember she is literally dating a lesbian. Me.
Molly TeaClay @MollyMauking
Sounds gay
GAME HOES
HeySailor hey @FjordTough
FjordTough yeah
ItsYaBoi Don’t you fucking dare, Darrow!
HeySailor fuc u
HeySailor can u giv the big fuc bryces ##
ItsYaBoi Fuck. You.
FjordTough Big Boy?
FjordTough Oh….
FjordTough >:)
DarkAngel What is happening?
HeySailor bryce is drunk thirstin on prasts ig
HeySailor i mena boy is thicc but
MT heh thicc butt
ItsYaBoi Fuck all of you.
SassyWitch Which one is Prast
Dynamis You asked if Wulf if he wanted to be stepped on by the player last match.
SassyWitch lamo get it Bryce
ItsYaBoi I’m logging off.
HeySailor I have ur ##
FjordTough and so does Gunther
WhatsurPoison Damn is today just hook up central? Was there a hat I forgot to put my name in?
HeySailor thts a mood singl lif 2gether
WhatsurPoison Oh gosh how drunk are you?
MrPalomares2 He’s not. Darrow just writes like it’s still t9 and a toddler got the phone
WhatsurPoison Thanks I hate it. Single together high five?
HeySailor fucyea
SleevesRBS REANI WE ARE IN BOUND GET THE FUCKIN DRINKS READY
WhatsurPoison And the water it seems. Chat later sailor boy and team?
WhatsurPoison I need the tea on Bryce and Gunther (͠≖ ͜ʖ͠≖)
HeySailor ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)
MissJester NO GOSSIP WITHOUT MEEEEEEEEEEEE