If you’re watching Nein Again, this is a good week to check out my AU fanfic The Fool and The Soldier. TF&TS explores the premise that Matt had intended for Lucien to pursue Molly as a spirit if Molly had not died.
This week, Nein Again got to episode 36, which is the recovery and aftermath of the accidental hijacking of The Mist. Chapter 6 of TF&TS covers episodes 33-35 and the very beginning of 36. Many of the downtime episodes get compressed into single chapters, but it'll stretch out again for key plot points.
“That’s nice,” Caduceus said, pulling Fjord out of his thoughts. They had just crested the hill to see the shore and the walls of Nicodranas, a few of the piers visible just off to the side. The autumn sun had lowered enough to create a trail of shimmering light across the choppy water. There was some rough terrain before the sandy beach, but it wasn’t too far off the road.
Fjord took a deep breath and smiled. “Indeed. I missed this.”
“I don’t know what smell I expected, but this wasn’t it,” Molly commented from the side of the cart. He sniffed periodically. “Salty, but kind of like… plants? Moss? But thicker.”
“Better the beach than a city shipyard for your first experience,” Fjord replied. An idea popped into his head, and he did his best not to shift his expression. “The smells of rotten wood and spoiled fish never leave the shippin’ docks, and that can color your opinion. Beach water doesn’t taste nearly as bad as port water either.”
“Good to know before we arrive,” Molly half-hummed as he looked over at the shore. Fjord pinched one of his fingers to help keep from breaking into a smile. Gods, he hoped that would work.
Before long, the Nein made their way to the beach, leaving the cart and horses just shy of the sand. Caduceus checked on the animals—Fjord wasn’t entirely sure if he could actually speak to them, but it kept them calm enough—while the others began pulling off their boots and outer garments.
Oddly enough, Caleb seemed mesmerized. As soon as they stopped, he walked off toward the water as he stripped his clothes and waded into the waves, stark naked, without a word. Then he disappeared under the surface.
“Be careful, Cay-cay!” Nott called worriedly after him. “Water’s dangerous!” As she said that, Caleb suddenly reappeared on the water, floating on his back. Nott whined slightly and gripped her cloak.
Maybe this would be a good chance to help the goblin with her fear of water. Fjord smiled as charmingly as he could. “See, Nott? Easy as pie.” She grimaced at him and began collecting the human’s clothes. Well, if Caleb going in the water wasn’t going to convince her to try it, Fjord wasn’t going to either.
“I’ll check on him!” Molly called out excitedly, already tossing the last of his clothes off as he rushed after Caleb. (Why was everyone going in naked?)
Fjord shook his head and walked after them after leaving his boots and gauntlets in the cart. Molly soon dove in, then almost immediately resurfaced and got to his feet while coughing. Fjord resisted the urge to laugh, instead settling for a shit-eating grin.
“That’s awful!” Molly griped, hair drooping over his eyes as he sputtered to get the taste out of his mouth.
“I didn’t say it’d taste good, just that it’s not nearly as bad!” Fjord could not keep the satisfaction out of his voice.
Molly spat out the rest and flipped his hair over to clear his face. The tiefling gave a quick glare at Fjord before he shifted to a tight smile and nodded. “I’ll remember that, Fjord.”
“Sure, Molly.” Fjord nodded back and chuckled.
(Pssst, you should also check out the LitMoR book club, which paces Life in the Margins of Redemption, another Molly Lives AU by @grayintogreen. It’s a series that includes the longest single CR fanfic on AO3!)
