#alternatively! the old caleb

[welcometogrouchland]

Honestly we see a bit of it in the epilogue (what with his hair being less ashy, his eye bags being gone, etc) but Hunter probably got such a glow-up after moving in with Darius. Like he'd already been doing better at Camila's house than he'd been at the castle (eating more, sleeping more, etc) but Darius is a full on spa girlie. He's taking Hunter with him to get a facial and the kid exits that place GLOWING. Without the dead bird magic this time. His stress induced acne? Gone. His eye bags? Gone. His scars? No longer dry and itchy.

Darius buys him expensive shampoo and conditioner to use (he'd been using shower gel on his hair back at Camila's house. She didn't know. When Willow tries to run her hands through it, it crunches slightly. He thinks this is normal) and honestly? The one good thing he got from Caleb was the Wittebane Gorgeous Hair Genes. His stupid little mullet flows in the wind.

When Hunter first moves in, he's grown out of most of his human realm clothes and there's very few shops/tailors open at the time, so he's borrowing all of Darius' old stuff which, while admittedly vintage, is still wayyy more classy than anything Hunter would've picked for himself. Once he has alternate options he definitely reverts back to his personal sense of style (and if he gets the a-okay from Darius he modifies the old clothes with personal bits of patchwork and embroidery) but there's a period of six months after WaD where Hunter is just consistently the best dressed of the hexsquad at any given moment. Gus and Amity are QUAKING in their boots

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

Highly Specific Aus!

This week, we have eight highly specific AUs - Alternate Universes that move away from the common tropes we love - often towards things that the authors have put a lot of experience and thought into. Check them out beneath the cut, and as always - feel free to comment or kudos if you like them!

when the lights go out by 06151126 (27307, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: panic attacks, self destructive behavior

The formula one racecar AU

Reccer says: Perfect characterization and backstory in a completely different world - this is what AUs are all about

This sudden burst of sunlight, and me with my umbrella by Criticalpancake (63817, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

The Mighty Nein are orchid thieves. Essek is still a traitor

Reccer says: Orchid theives! It's fascinating and something I would have never thought of

I’ve been lost before (and I’m lost again, I guess) by toneofjoy (165080, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek ran away from his problems and settled in the seaside city of Nicodranas. When Caleb Widogast joins their team at the Tidepeak rock-climbing gym, everything changes. Caleb has plans to take down his old coaches, and Essek has secrets. (It’s the Shadowgast climbing AU.)

Reccer says: Its still the first fic I think of when I think of amazing fics built on an unexpected premise. Absolutely phenomenal writing

More Things in Heaven and Earth by kaeda (76998, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb and Essek wake up and find themselves teleported into the alternate universe of the trashy smut novel, Tusk Love

Reccer says: Some of the best Crack Treated Seriously I've ever read 💜

Wishing Coin by Luckyowlsfoot (45913, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Magical Highschool/Academy where Caleb and Essek are secretly dragons

Reccer says: Interesting concept and fun Worldbuilding

the fire kept closest (burns most of all) by mousecookie (21822, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Major Character Death

Essek is a Volcanologist. Caleb used to be as well, but now he's something a bit different.

Reccer says: I absolutely adore this fic

resonance broadening by toneofjoy (51665, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: None

It’s SG as labmates who hate each other: they’re tired, sassy, and secretly enamored.

Reccer says: Beautiful and Lovely with lots of sass between Caleb and Essek. Great if you ever went to grad school

some branch of stars we see by SongOfWizardry (4680, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes, WIP

A Mighty Nein and/or Shadowgast Teaching AU.

Reccer says: Teaching AUs aren't exactly rare, but the amount of detail put into this AU that is clearly based on the author's experience elevates it to highly specific

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week, we’ll be back with Kink Negotation!

[kipkoh]

TOH AU where Hunter gets magically switched with a human alternate universe version of himself at six years old.

Darius wakes up one day to find that his son is different, and he’s forced to wonder if it’s really his son or not.

Instead of a grimwalker, Belos gets a human nephew that resembles Caleb just a little too much.

[siriusleee]

vi. klaxon

Zombie Apocalypse AU | SIMON RILEY x f!READER

↳SUMMARY: The world is trying to knit itself back together after fracturing apart. You're trying to put yourself back together with it; Simon Riley is just trying to stay alive. ↳WORD COUNT: 1.6K ↳TAGS: mentions of cannibalism, mentions of shooting things, mentions of dying. smut to come. canon typical violence to come. additional tags to come as the story progresses. female reader. no mentions of "your name". reader is given a nickname later on.nc-17. ↳AUTHOR'S NOTE: Much shorter than usual, but hey, we can only do what we can do. ↳TAG LIST: There will not be a tag list for this story, as Tumblr has issues with letting me tag people. To get notifications of updates, please subscribe on AO3 or turn on notifications for my blog.

additional chapters | ao3

It’s like waking up in an alternative universe; it takes your eyes and brain a solid minute to remember that you shouldn’t be waking up to the sight of trees and clapboard buildings. Somewhere between awake and sleep, you’d started dreaming about your winter camp and everyone who used to travel with you. 

Darren. Alyssa. Trevor. Caleb. James. 

The memories of them push you out of bed. The concrete floor is freezing beneath your feet. The clothes you were given the day before are still folded neatly on the floor beside your pack; you were clean for the first time in years and you didn’t want to sweat in your sleep. 

You try to finger comb your hair, but it snags on the tangles; you give up halfway through and throw it up with a piece of elastic you ripped from a pair of old underwear you found in a pharmacy a few months ago. Someone around here must have a pair of scissors sharp enough to give you a decent enough haircut. 

Through the little window, you can see the sun is watery - you have to find your jacket despite how ratty it is. Winter is rolling in way too fast for you to be without one. The last time you’d seen it, it was at the end of the bed in the med bay - you’d left it behind in the sudden surprise at waking up in an unfamiliar location. 

The hallway is already empty; the sound of your boots reverberates off of the empty walls. It’s like walking through a crypt; you can almost imagine eyes peering down at you from the dusty corners of the place. 

Frost covers the grass and it crunches beneath your feet. Your stomach rumbles and you wonder if there’s anything for breakfast to eat in the mess hall. Just crossing the little courtyard turns the tip of your nose frozen, and your fingers stiff. The med bay is unlocked, and inside it's as freezing as it is outside. There are no lights on - no doubt that even though they still have electricity, it must not be able to run all the time. 

You prop the door open with a rock so that just a little bit of light filters into the room. Your breath fogs up around your face, and you do your best not to trip and fall. The medical equipment glows in the weak sunlight pouring in from the doorway. You retrace your steps from the day before. There, at the end of the bed you had been placed on, is your jacket. It’s still coated in dirt and mud, but it’ll keep you warm for the time being. You wrap it around your shoulders, the smell of the forest surrounding you. 

A choking shout cuts through the med bay, broken off after half a second. A sliver of ice slides through your veins - it came from behind the med bay, through the thick concrete wall. It can’t be the mess hall directly on that side - Ghost had taken you around the entire building to get there yesterday. There’s a set of double doors, thick, durable metal that leads into an unknown part of the building. In the past, it would have been something that would overtake you with curiosity, and you’d be compelled to open the doors, but now they give you the creeps.

There’s a crash against the wall, and it makes you jump. The doors at the end of the med bay open, and you scramble backward, dropping down to your knees. Heavy footfalls cross the concrete floor as you skitter beneath the medical beds, squeezing between the thick shadows between the two of them. You press yourself onto the floor, trying to blend in with the shadows. You press your mouth into your forearm to muffle your breath. You have no idea if it’s alright for you to be here, and you don’t want to find out. 

The person’s face is shadowed, but from the lilt of their body, you think it might be Doc. You watch them walk towards the front door; the sound of the rock you used to prop the door open being kicked out of the way fills the room and the heavy door slams shut.

The only sound in the room is your breathing as you wait to see if the door will open again, and if anyone will strut back through; the seconds into minutes and no one interrupts the silence. Scrambling to your feet, you jerk your jacket up and exit without a sideways glance to see if anyone's noticed you sneaking out of the Med Bay. You're alone in the little courtyard.

The Dining Hall is almost empty - the food is nearly gone as you grab a mismatched plate and try to even your breathing. Two women crowed in the corner together point at you without abashment, and you ignore them as you peer at the little breakfast: potatoes cubed and boiled, steamed cabbage, and some kind of white bean. Your stomach grumbles; it's no Belgian waffle with syrup, but you put just enough on your plate to carry you over and find a spot to sit out of the line of sight of the women who are still staring at you. 

You're spearing the beans one by one, trying to make their earthy flavor last on your tongue when the shape of Ghost fills the Dining Hall door. You do your best to ignore him as you move on to the potatoes, cutting the cubes into smaller pieces and thinking about how they'd taste drowned in butter. 

"You should have woken up earlier," he says, standing on the opposite side of the table as you. 

"I'll remember to tell the valet to wake me up earlier tomorrow."

The sarcasm feels good on your tongue - a weight you didn't realize you missed carrying. Ghost settles onto his heels; above the dirty white of the skeleton, his eyebrows crinkle. The wrinkle they form is natural like he was born with it. You can imagine him as a baby, soft and sweet with that little wrinkle between his eyes.

The silence is unnerving; you scrape your fork against the plastic plate just for a sound. The two women in the corner stare at the two of you, and you realize they're waiting for you to finish eating so that they can clean up. You scarf the last few bites down and resist the urge to lick the plate clean. You hardly have the last bite in your mouth before Ghost snatches the plate from the table.

He doesn't have to tell you to follow him, you just do. He hands the plates to one of the women: a pretty blonde who looks at him with barely contained awe. The look on her face irritates you, and you resist the urge to say something to her.

"I'm going to show you around," Ghost says, pulling you back outside. The mud on your jacket cracks and falls off in clumps as you slide it on to avoid the chill.

"How many people live here?"

It's a struggle to keep up with Ghost's stride; it takes two steps for you to keep up with his one. The soreness in your legs is still there, but the feeling of warm food and a safe night's sleep fills you enough to ignore it.

"Depends."

He doesn't finish his sentence, but his steps slow enough that you can fall into line with him. You follow him around the edge of the building to the part of the base you haven't been able to explore. To your left the gate the two of you arrived in yawns above the two of you; the fence disappears into the distance, behind more brick buildings. 

"The garden is over here,” he says, gesturing to a chain link fence in the middle of a grouping of squat buildings. Inside the fence, women kneel in the dirt. Burlap sacks cover some plants, and others are being pruned by a few men. 

“That’s the storage locker,” Ghost points at a building just on the other side of the garden. A pair in ratty black fatigues sit outside, guns slung across their shoulders. 

“It’s guarded at all times?”

Ghost nods, lifting one hand to wave in response to one of the guards who waves at him.

The rest of the tour is quick: a second set of unused bunks, a building full of cars and trucks that look mostly unused, and the generators (also behind two guards who look like they haven’t slept in years). The last place he takes you is the armory; you spot your bow locked up behind the iron bars, the few arrows you had left leaning against the wall.

“Can I get that back?” You ask, fingers lingering on the cold metal of the lock. Ghost shakes his head; you don’t miss the way his fingers roll together, and you wonder if he’s wishing for a cigarette. 

“When you need it.”

His replies are infuriating you; you envision yourself kicking him in the back of the knee as you follow him out of the doorway. The sun is directly overhead by the time the two of you make it back outside. You flex your fingers in the rays, drinking in the little warmth that it brings in. 

You’re going to ask Ghost what next - a question that you’re not sure borders on the philosophical or the practical - when there’s a sound like a klaxon that comes through the entire compound. Ghost’s shoulders stiffen, head tilted just so. A second alarm repeats through the compound, and he walks away from you without a word.

“What is that?” You ask, jogging to catch up to him. His steps are quick, and it takes the breath away from you to keep up with him.

“They’re back.”

[celestialscribbler]

Pip in Time comic ARCHIVE

An Owl House alternate universe fan comic focusing on the young wittebane brothers, 10 year old Phillip (Pip) and 16 year old Caleb, their backstory and time pool shenanigans landing them in the modern boiling isles, changing their futures.

Chronological (browser only):   Everything     Main comic only

Chapter 1: Charming Caleb

pt1 pt2 pt3 pt4 pt5 pt6 pt7 pt8 pt9 pt10

Chapter 2: Bad Time for Pip

pt1 pt2 pt3 pt4 pt5 pt6 pt7 pt8 pt9 pt10

Chapter 3: Hide and seeking

pt1 pt2 pt3 pt4 pt5 pt6 pt7 pt8 pt9 pt10

Chapter 4: Luz Heart

pt1 pt2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10

Ko-fi    

FAQ below

When do you post new pages?

Mondays in the afternoon currently, tho I’m liable to be late or miss an upload if life happens. I’ll try to post an announcement if i need to take a hiatus, but if the days change I’ll probably just update here.

Can you @ me when you release new pages?

YES! Let me know you wanna be added to the tag list through a reply or ask and I’ll do it. If i didn’t reply I probably didn’t see it yet. I’ll keep you on it unless you ask me to take you off. BUT keep in mind sometimes tumblr is bad with tags, if you haven’t seen anything in a week check in.

Will you have more Caleb/Evelyn in this comic after chapter 2?

Not really until much later in the comic no. Caleb is important all the way through but Evelyn gets pretty much cut. I may still make little supplemental comics with that that don’t fit into the main story line tho, all their stuff is tagged caleve.

Can I send you asks?

I’m not going to turn them off but i got kinda overrun and don’t even know how to approach getting through them all. You can send it but please don’t take it personally if i don’t respond.

Can I make an edit/dub/video out of your comic?

Uh, depends? Generally I love dubs and stuff where people get inspired to do something creative from my stuff but I’d really like to take it on a case by case basis so let me know what you have in mind and where you’d post it. You’re probably fine but please ask me first.

[caramelcoffeeaddict]

A Boyfriend for Christmas [Klaine Fanfic]

Relationships: Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel Characters: Blaine Anderson, Kurt Hummel, OC Finchel Child [also includes extremely brief appearances by Rachel Berry, Burt Hummel, Carole Hudson-Hummel, & Finn Hudson] Chapters: 15/15 [Complete] Word Count: 9,221 Rating: Teen&Up Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Christmas Fluff Summary: When Kurt takes his 6-year-old nephew, Caleb, to see Santa, he's mortified when Caleb asks Santa to give his Uncle Kurt a new boyfriend for Christmas; Blaine - who is working as one of Santa's helpers - however, is eager to help Caleb get his Christmas wish. Author Notes: Written for the December Klaine Fanworks Challenge hosted by @klaineadvent. all 21 daily word prompts were used to complete this story. Original Post Date: December 2023

READ ON AO3

[ejzah]

A/N: Once again, Deeks cannot handle Arkady.

***

Arkady: Martin, what size clothes do the babies where?

Deeks, pursing his lips: Now that is a concerning question for so many reasons. And as always, what are you doing in my house? My mom isn’t even here.

Arkady, grinning: I use spare key. I glad I did not have to pick the locks.

Deeks, rubbing a hand over his face: Ok, ignoring the idea that you think that’s a suitable alternative, why do you need to know my children’s sizes?

Arkady, reasonably: Is for Sophia dress and Caleb’s little suit. The wedding is only months away and the seamstress needs measurements.

Deeks: Arkady, you’re seriously planning on getting them tailored outfits?

Arkady: Of course. Only best for the wondrous union of our two families.

Deeks, forcing himself to remain calm: First of all, I still haven’t accepted that you’re marrying my mother. Secondly, the twins are six months old; they barely hold still long enough for diaper changes let alone figuring out specific measurements.

Arkady: This is very long list.

Deeks, clearing his throat: And lastly, did you forget that babies tend to grow exceptionally fast? Whatever you have made now won’t fit them in a couple months.

Arkady, frowning: Why must you always be so negative? You were a much happier man when I first met you.

Deeks: That was before my mother decided to get engaged to a barely reformed criminal.

Arkady, shaking his head: This is no way to start a family.

[babypeachx]

The Vampire's Daughter

Pandora Straud

I was born to the two most powerful vampires of our time: Vladislaus and Arabella; Count and Countess of the Straud House and bloodline.

Our species had all been nearly wiped out if it wasn't for my father founding our small town of Forgotton Hollow, and spreading his gift amongst the remaining survivors who still had enough strength in them.

However, I've been told that his new offspring didn't have the desire to follow my father's teachings, bringing forth a new alternative way of existence.

My father secluded himself away to the shadows of the Straud mansion, despairing in the fact that the Old Ways of existence ended with him.

That was, until, he met my mother: Arabella.

It was rare for a mortal to show such potential: historically, only a select few bloodborn vampires would be lucky enough to possess such strength. But my father knew he couldn't let the opportunity go to waste, so he turned my mother, and soon began the task of teaching her the Old Ways of our kind.

My mother surpassed all expectations, and becamce the strongest Grand Master our kind has seen for centuries.

They fell in love, wedded, and eventually had me: Pandora Straud; the second generation of the Straud bloodline. It is my duty to continue our bloodline and ensure the Straud House becomes even greater, just as it was when my father was a Fledgling.

However, I find that the stronger I become, the more I question the other ways of existence our kind have discovered. There are two siblings in our town; Caleb and Lilith Vatore, who seem to be the leaders of this New Way. I cannot let my parents know, but I find this fascinating.

Caleb is well acquainted with my mother, and while he and my father despise each other, he does occassionally come to visit. I must try to get him alone, so I can know more about this alternative existence.

I know I should be grateful for my title, and the power I possess, but I can't help but feel in my soul that there must be more than this eternal night...

Hair - Dress - Necklace - Poses

[magical-regical]

More Caleb things from me because y'all seem to really like it when I talk about Caleb.

I've seen people theorize about what myths the new batch of dateables will have if they do get myths. And it's a bit unoriginal but since I associate nii-nii with apples I got the brilliant idea that his myth can be something Adam and Eve-esque.

Why? Well, tldr; it's angsty, bittersweet, myth-y, and it involves apples. There you have it. If any of you've read the last...three? four? books of Paradise Lost (maybe even a version of it that's not in old english) you'll know what I mean.

As usual, more of my thoughts and crazy rambling under the cut

So we're not completely ripping off the Adam and Eve story, Caleb is instead a guardian for the forbidden fruit and he gives the fruit to MC has heart issues again. And then it ends up with both getting the middle finger from Astra because at this point I wouldn't be surprised if all of MCs incarnations have 'pissing off Astra' baked into their DNA.

I'd like to see those two work out the emotions as they're kicked out of 'paradise' like in Paradise Lost before eventually landing on the conclusion that 'yea our situation really sucks rn. absolute dog shit actually, but if I have him/her by my side, I think I can still find happiness even with all the new challenges we are going to face."

And, and, and you know how in Paradise Lost, Adam gets to see pretty much every major event that will happen from him to Jesus (as they are written in the bible)? What if Caleb's myth just reveals that everything is a cycle? I saw a theory that said the current LIs myths are set in the future and I found that absolutely bananas because Linkon is this super high tech city while say, Zayne's has a more fantasy vibe to it but just imagine, if Caleb's myth ties everything together.

Like, the Linkon we know is destroyed, a new mankind is created as the world kind of regressed back into a time of magic and prophecies as nature reclaims the land and we go through the three current LIs myths and then because of the events in Caleb's myth w/ 'Adam' and 'Eve' being banished from 'paradise' they build civilization back up to the level of the Linkon City we know now and the whole thing just, repeats itself.

Wouldn't that be crazy? 'Philos' and 'Earth' will be like two sides of the same coin that just alternates between each other until the end of time because this one bitch with a paper towel for a heart can't stop trying to one-up god.

[celestial-specter]

So I finally got around to watching the first three episodes of the final season, and I’ve got to say, I’m very intrigued by the addition of the three clone cadets! Most of my interest comes from their names- and since I haven’t seen anyone else discuss them yet, I thought I’d throw my own thoughts out there.

As we have seen in many star wars projects over the years, character names seem to be overwhelming literal, either revealing elements of their background, or foreshadowing their future (think how in Rebels, Kanan means ‘little wolf’, while his true name, Caleb, means ‘dog’, foreshadowing his link to the Loth wolves.)

Of course, we know that the clones either name themselves or have the name bestowed on them by their brothers (think of Echo getting his name). The trio of clones that we meet in Paths Unknown are named Deke, Stak, and Mox. There hasn’t been much information released regarding at what age clones typically receive their names, however in the Clone Wars episode Clone Cadets, we see Cutup take his name from a trainer who criticizes him for his attitude. As that episode focuses on Domino squad’s final training simulation before graduation, and that they all appear to be fully grown adult clones, it can be assumed that they are all around ten years old, the same age of most clones sent to war. Given that we see Cutup choose his name during this episode, and that Echo is struggling with his nickname and remembering Fives’ name, it suggests that Domino squad had only recently begun thinking about what name they would choose for themselves.

While we haven’t been given a definitive age for Deke, Stak and Mox they are all still clearly children. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t even have names by the time they were taken off Kamino, and had to create names for each other while trying to survive on the planet they were stranded on.

To begin with Mox, his is the name I could find the least amount of reference for. There seems to be three possible interpretations:

Mox is a type of fuel designed for use in nuclear reactors.

Mox is a shortened version of moxie, meaning ‘energy, courage, and determination.’

Mox is the Latin word for ‘soon.’

I’m not overly drawn to the first idea, but I can understand the second - as Mox is clearly the eldest and protective over his younger brothers, I can see him taking a name which shows that side of his personality. I also see Mox as a direct parallel of Hunter; both are the eldest brothers of their respective groups, and are both incredibly wary of outsiders due to their need to keep their brothers safe.

However, I much prefer the third choice. The idea that Mox’s name means ‘soon’ can have both good and bad implications. For starters, Mox is clearly the most emotionally conflicted throughout the episode, unsure of his place on the mission, and of his place once they leave the planet. Hunter assures him that he has time to consider being something other than a soldier, and Mox offers his hand to Hunter. This action could be foreshadowing that soon, Hunter himself will be able to retire from this lifestyle, by finding Omega and Crosshair. Alternatively, Mox’s name meaning soon could be a very bad omen for the batch, as it could foreshadow the clone cadets being used as leverage against them (I’m thinking this could come into play when the empire attacks Pabu if the cadets are there).

Moving on, the word Deke was originally coined by Hemingway as a shortened form of the word decoy. We do not see him act as a decoy in any way during this episode, so I believe it is solely to foreshadow future events. Considering the many parallels drawn between Deke and Tech during this episode (e.g. Stak dubbing Deke ‘the smart one’ and Deke almost falling to his death in the base) his name meaning decoy only makes me more convinced that Tech is still around in some capacity (even if that capacity is just his body being used for cloning experiments).

Finally, Stak is most commonly considered to be an old version of the word stick, which makes sense when you consider the basic stick-based weapons that the cadets carry, and Wrecker’s first words to Stak and Deke when he meets them: ‘Blaster beats stick, kid!’ Knowing that the Star Wars writers love foreshadowing, this comment has me thinking things might not end so well for Stak. Interestingly, another link I found while researching this is that Stak is a common phrase in the Rogue Trooper series, in which a war is fought between facist Norts and democratic Southers (you can already see the obvious parallels to Star Wars here). In the series, in an attempt to win the war, the Southers create genetically engineered soldiers, but only one, known as Rogue, survives. Even more links involve one of the main stories of this series being titled ‘The Marauders’, and each one of the genetically engineered soldiers having a bio-chip in their body. While not a direct link, these coincidences do make me think there is a direct link between the two medias, it is possible that there is a fan of the Rogue Trooper series within the team behind The Bad Batch.

Either way, I’m very happy to finally be getting some explanation into what happened to the young clones who never saw the battlefield during the clone wars - though I am a little concerned that their worth being tied to their unexplored identity as soldiers could lead to them taking risks in further episodes in the hopes of proving themselves.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

A Boyfriend For Christmas

Author: CoffeeAddict80/ @caramelcoffeeaddict

Rating: T

Status: Completed in December 2023

Word Count: 9,221

Summary: When Kurt takes his 6-year-old nephew, Caleb, to see Santa, he's mortified when Caleb asks Santa to give his Uncle Kurt a new boyfriend for Christmas; Blaine - who is working as one of Santa's helpers - however, is eager to help Caleb get his Christmas wish.

Tropes/Genre: fluff, Christmas, alternate meeting, Uncle Kurt

Lynne's review: This is pure sugar and I loved it so much!!

Read at: AO3

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

PWP Recs

Sometimes you just want to get to the point. Twenty-four recs under the cut - comment and kudos if you like them!

Spell Slut by First_Mate (10627, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: fisting :)

Series of one-shots: Essek takes his due payments from Caleb for the favours he did for the Might Nein and uses the opportunity to run some experiments.

Reccer says: If you like your Essek woobification-free, and especially if you like possessek (possessive Essek), this is a real treat!

Caught In Your Undertow by MoonwalkingCrab (13647, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Set in a vague alternate timeline after episode 107, Caleb is lost in his thoughts on a quiet evening when Essek comes to visit.

Reccer says: Is there anything better than porn with feelings? Because it is very porn and there are many feelings.

A Favor In Kind by literalfuckinggarbage (4208, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Yussa spends an evening in Widogast's Nascent Nein Sided Tower alongside Essek, and they discuss with Caleb the repayment of favors.

Reccer says: Caleb deserves to get got by two powerful elven mages at one time! Representation of a trans man who’s had the full package done

Somewhere Only We Know by DotyTakeThisDown (3803, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb and Essek, now married, meet in a demiplane created just for them.

Reccer says: It’s sweet, hot, and optimistic, just lovely really!

a hearth to your hold by renquise (5538, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek had been gone a while. The two are happy to be reunited and have sex about it.

Reccer says: It has so many feelings packed in to wonderful porn! So tender! and A+ use of mage hand, of course

put your sweet lips on my lips by LadyOrpheus (15750, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Omegaverse

Heat fic without the alpha/omega aspect, just good old drow biology

Reccer says: Very interesting take on heat fic. Also extremely sexy.

where's the point in hurrying (when waiting feels so great) by mllekurtz (4438, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

"You weren’t paying attention." That was Essek’s justification, delivered in a perfectly even and reasonable tone, when he entered Caleb’s study for the second time that evening, wearing nothing but jewellery.

Reccer says: Love love love their whole dynamic! They feel so in character and are very sexy about it.

warm inside (with) you by flammablehat (2023, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Dubcon/Consensual Non Consent

Essek is sleepy. Caleb is horny

Reccer says: Both soft and sexy! Its obvious they care for eachother and sleepy sex is a fav of mine.

a question of luck by renquise (4847, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

After a night out, Caleb is desperate to express just how much he's attracted to Essek

Reccer says: Another sexy one! Love how pieces of their relationship are shown, along with their care for eachother.

Genre Studies by AnaliseGrey (3959, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

“I suppose you're going to tell me this isn't what it looks like?” “Nein, it is exactly what it looks like.” and what it looks like is tentacles.

Reccer says: Love Caleb being 100% down to explore Essek's kinks!

The Climax by Checkhov (4640, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

After their climb up an anti-magic tower and their endless teasing, the wizards decide to take a long rest in the stairwell. Essek endeavours to make this a peaceful night and fails spectacularly.

Reccer says: I couldn’t have asked for a better endcap for this series! From mutual pining to mutual masturbation, chef’s kiss

Mitosis by queenbeetle (4325, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Similacrum enables many Calebs to play with a single Essek

Reccer says: Scorching hot! Overwhelmed Essek is always wonderful.

Struggle by measuringtheabyss (2880, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek ties Caleb up, edges him, then forces him to come three times in rapid succession until he's screaming and crying. Caleb has a *great* time.

Reccer says: Short and sweet. If you're a fan of forced orgasms and/or overstimulation, then this fic is for you.

shrimp vision by Nevenne (3202, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

In earlier editions of D&D, instead of darkvision, drow had infrared vision, meaning they could see heat. This is about what might happen between Caleb and Essek if the latter could see the former’s, um, warm spots.

Reccer says: Xenobiology, Caleb is a horny little shit, Essek is very done, and Caleb bottoms. What more could you ask for?

i’m the powder, you’re the fuse (just add some friction) by bloodredribbon (7747, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek is prim and proper and neat as a pin. Caleb is a messy gremlin and a brat, and it’s kinda turning Essek on.

Reccer says: I love it when Bratleb fucks around and finds out! Frankly, so do Caleb and Essek both. Excellent magical bondage and brat taming here.

something beautiful, a contradiction by bloodredribbon (2514, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb is really into Essek's makeup.

Reccer says: I liked it!

Caleb Kind Of Fucks Up by im_sorry_dont_judge_me (9213, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb misses Essek. Essek calls and has terrible (or maybe great) timing.

Reccer says: I really love accidental voyeurism PWP and this has got to be my favorite of the trope!

Artificer Devices from Late-Period Aeor: An Experimental Interpretation from Arcane Reconstruction to Functionality (E. Thelyss, C. Widogast) by renquise (5858, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb replicates an Aeorian fuch-machine for Essek

Reccer says: Super hot, and their care for each other is obvious.

Sweet Desecration by witches_chant (3061, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek ties Caleb up and challenges him to be good to get his reward.

Reccer says: It's so well written, it feels poetic.

open up the deepness (Essek on the beach) by lakrisrot (10599, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek enjoys a bunch of beach days and gets very horny about it.

Reccer says: This is one of my absolute favorites, it's so beautifully written, the characterization is on point and it's a lot of fun - even on the 10th re-read.

for you it could be anything by nox_nocturnal (1614, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb is too attracted to his partner for them to even make it out of the kitchen

Reccer says: They're so in love! The characterization is wonderful, as is the sex

Soup Powered Fuck Machine by VexedVixen (4388, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb makes Essek his favorite soup. Essek rewards him.

Reccer says: Dirty talk and praise kink, yes please! Does the meme justice lol

Hold Fast by Anonymous (3059, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Bondage, Spanking

Caleb endures the best, worst predicament bondage, while trying to be quiet.

Reccer says: The word "hot" doesn't do this fic justice but it is indeed smoking hot.

i still worship the flame by dreadelion (4820, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek experiments with shibari on caleb.

Reccer says: Wonderful fic inspired by wonderful art.

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week, we’ll be back with Lifespan Angst Solutions!

[critter-rarepair-reccs]

Hey everyone! Hope y'all had fun for CR's 9th anniversary yesterday 💕 Today we have five fics with divergent canons! Some diverged before campaign events and some in how the post-campaign played out. As always, you can find them below the cut and if you check any of them out, I encourage you to leave kudoes and comments to spread the rarepair love 💕

I dream of you amid the flowers by glittergarbage (66,967 words, Explicit) Pairing: Mollymauk Tealeaf/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidomauk) Warnings: Mentions of drug use by minors typical of Volstrucker experimentation

Molly comes back after Cognouza instead of Kingsley. Old feelings stir, new feelings are born, and polyam fluff between Caleb, Essek, and Molly ensues.

Reccer Says: A classic SWM fic, to me. It's all so sweet and lovely and I adore the way Essek and Molly's relationship develops. Essek apologizing to Caleb for developing feelings for Molly so fast compared to how long his feelings for Caleb took to develop is just. Imprinted on my brain. And there's so many good moments like that! Also the side of Trent intrigue that comes into play a bit later in the fic is a very fun addition, imo :3

your touch's so sweet (throw me in the water) by quinn_of_aebradore (1,872 words, Teen) Pairing: Fjord/Caleb Widogast (Widofjord) Warnings: None

Champion of Uk'otoa Fjord and Scourger Bren meet to hook up every so often. Fjord knows it's nothing real, nothing that could go anywhere, but when Bren teleports to his ship in the middle of the night he catches himself tempted to pretend anyway.

Reccer Says: A surprising amount of yearning for an evil-AU oneshot, and it's delicious. Fjord knows Bren is a Volstrucker and he still can't resist Bren's obvious moves to manipulate information out of him. Also, it's hot. That should probably go without saying but just in case.

the stranger who was your self by Demenior (60,045 words, Mature) Pairing: Fjord/Eadwulf Grieve/Jester Lavorre Warnings: None

Running away from the fallout of the end of the Volstrucker program (and maybe something Else), Eadwulf joins Fjord's crew, swearing fealty by rather dramatically kneeling before him on the dock and making Fjord very alarmed! He becomes the captain's bodyguard (and by extension, Jester's) and explorations of loyalty and power and, eventually sexy and fraught power dynamics ensue.

Reccer Says: Mostly alternates POV between Fjord and Eadwulf, but also some (very good!) Jester POV. Slow-burn between Eadwulf (aka the Captain's Hound) and the happy couple, plus Fjorester PDA that they think they're being subtle about (they are not). Also featuring Orly not being paid enough for this, despite being paid quite well. Came for the Eadwulf/Fjord power dynamics, stayed for the character studies and also for the crew (and for the power dynamics lbr). Now a series, there's also a threesome one-shot and Orly POV fic, with another installment apparently on the way!

Three Wizards by yesthisisnarumi (1,329 words, Mature) Pairing: Yussa Errenis/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidoyussa) Warnings: None

Caleb has a thing for elven wizards. Elven wizards have a thing for him. Bickering, kissing, and more ensue.

Reccer Says: There is Never enough of these three in the world and this is such a fun take on them. Caleb constantly observing the contrasts between Essek and Yussa is delicious, the jealousy (that only makes them wanna make out more) is delicious, it's all just *chef's kiss* so fuckin good.

ebb and flow, love's sweet metronome by wytch-lyghts (12,972 words, Explicit) Pairing: Fjord/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidofjord) Warnings: Recreational drug use, sex while intoxicated

On-the-run, evil AU Shadowgast pays a visit to their ally and sometimes-lover, Plank King Fjord. Unsurprisingly, they fuck about it.

Reccer Says: It's so hot. Like, insanely hot. Most of the action is between Widofjord and Shadowgast, but there's still moments of Shadowfjord and they're Very Good too. These three make Such a fun triad, especially in an evil AU. The dynamics, the push-and-pull, yes, the sex, all of it is so good. My Ao3 history says I've revisited it like ten times and I nearly got sucked into it for another read while writing this recc lmao

Thank you for joining us this week’s recc list! All the love to everyone who submitted a fic 💕 All enclosed recommendations were submitted by the community via our submissions form, which you can find here. All fic information is as it was provided by the reccer, so it may not be accurate to the author’s intent or the precise contents of the fic itself. Please assume good intent from all parties 💕

Submissions for next week’s list are already open! We’ll be featuring Keyleth Rarepairs. If you have any you’d like to highlight, you can send them in here. The week after that, the theme is Polyamorous Ships and the weeks after that we’re taking recommendations for Enemies to Lovers and Miscommunication fic! Submissions for all of these themes are currently open.

If you want more rarepair fic, check out @cr-summer-wildflowers and their event collections on ao3! If you want some friendship after all this romance, take a look at @critter-genfic-events and their recc lists! And if you’re interested in everyone’s favorite wizards, you can’t go wrong with the lists at @aeor-is-for-reccing !

Thanks all and have a lovely day/night/timezone! 💕

[eljeebee]

House Straud

From left to right: Lilith Vatore, Caleb Vatore, Helen Straud, Overlord Vladislaus Straud

Another noble house with a long history. Originally from a dilapidated town called Forgotten Hollow, the Overlord moved his operations to San Myshuno to watch over the Beau-Asvangs. Their territory is Uptown but extends their watchful gaze over the Spice Market. From time to time, the Strauds will also scout around Forgotten Hollow, making sure it is safe, and no unknown or undocumented occult stirs. The Overlord watches over his children, and the Beau-Asvangs.

Pose: Quadruplicate by @simmireen | Alternate pictures and notes below the cut.

For this one, I interpret this as Vlad always looking over his children protectively. Always at the front. Lilith is at the back, the scout, sometimes stubborn, but sometimes the voice of reason for the Overlord. Caleb, Vlad's right hand, and now Helen, his proclaimed daughter. Also, I wanted it to show that they're leaning on something more luxurious, something that screams, yes we're modern but the dad is still old-school (lol).

[theoriginalladya]

Awwgust In Norman - The Irish Connection

Here is the first of what I hope will be most of the Awwgust fluff prompts set in @happychica 's world of Norman but with a (mostly) Irish twist.

Prompt: Falling Asleep Together

Pairing: Male Shepard/Ashley Williams

Characters: Caleb (Shepard) O'Connell, Ashley Williams, Tadhg (Shepard) O'Connell, Niamh (Shepard) O'Connell, Goliath

Tags: Hallmark Movie AU, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Domestic fluff, Parenthood

Excerpt:

Caleb had become a pro at closing doors quietly.  There’d been an old saying Nan used to share, “Let sleeping dogs – and children – lie.”  He hadn’t understood it much when he was young, but ever since adopting Tadhg and Niamh, he had learned to take it seriously.  Most days, Tadhg and Niamh could run him – and any other adult around them – ragged.  Bundles of energy packed into such small packages, but when they let it loose, they did not believe in half measures. It made Caleb’s shoulder and hip ache just to think about it, but even he couldn’t argue that it wore them out enough that once bedtime arrived, they slept the sleep of angels – deep, unbothered, and peaceful. Recently, however, they’d added a new member to the family, a member who had more energy than the two children combined.

-----

This is a part of Happychica's The Town of Norman series.

These prompts are a companion piece to her Awwgust in Norman prompts. Go check them out!

[enchantedchocolatebars]

Headcanon: Canon Belos / Philip would attempt to kill any adult alternate version of himself that fell in love with a witch because, like Caleb, he's been bewitched + is old enough to know better (his words).

If his teenage or child self were to like or befriend a witch, he would calmly try to dispel their emotions.