Work Text:
He never quite gets around to admitting it.
Not really.
Because the thing is, Mollymauk Tealeaf was never meant to last as long as he did.
Hm. That sounds bad. Allow him to rephrase.
Mollymauk Tealeaf was never meant to last in the same way that Caleb Widogast was never meant to last.
Mollymauk was supposed to hang around for a while, while he found himself.
Whoever that was. Someone new, to be certain.
But not as new as Mollymauk Tealeaf.
Molly had been... young. So painfully easy-going.
He hadn't quite figured out why it was so... wrong, until after. When he finally remembered it all.
The difference between Lucien and Mollymauk was jarring. But it also settled him, whoever he was now.
He could no longer be Lucien, and Mollymauk had never really fit at all.
Tealeaf, though? That was good. That was nice. Less jarring for the rest of the Nein to get used to, as well. Familiar.
And Kingsley fit well. He wasn't sure who Kingsley was, really, except that he was not Mollymauk.
He eventually realised that he'd given the wrong impression to the Nein, but, frankly, it was a hilarious one.
They told him now would be as good a time as any to change it! Really, now. He'd even kept Tealeaf!
But no! Kinsley was someone entirely new, apparently.
Any references Kingsley makes to the man he was are assumed to be dredged up from the few memories they believe he has from those who came before him.
If it wasn't so funny, it'd be embarrassing for them, really.