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stardusted-bookworm · 10 months

Text

The Experiment

CW(ish): Pet names used as benign manipulation.

Essek squinted down at the piece of parchment on the table. The equations were starting to swim in front of his eyes, becoming both coherent and indecipherable. Essek was willing to admit, though it irked him to do so, that perhaps he had spent much too long concentrating on this specific Aeorian text. What he was not willing to do, however, was admit defeat.

“Caleb, love, would you come look at this a moment?” He figured he should take a break soon or suffer the consequences of eye strain at a young age. His eyes lifted to the ceiling of the Tower, attempting to stave off a mild headache. Curse this body that required care to keep it alive. What he wouldn’t give to be able to study this ancient magic forever.

It had been silent for a rather long time. Which was odd considering where he’d last seen the amber-haired wizard. When he didn't hear any movement whatsoever from his partner, Essek peeled his eyes from the ceiling, eyebrows furrowed and more than a little concerned.

Caleb Widogast was, in fact, exactly in the same spot Essek had left him: sitting on the armchair diagonally to his right. However, instead of the contemplating expression Essek had expected to be focused on Caleb’s own set of Aeorian artifacts, the Zemnian’s eyes all but shimmered as they locked with his own. An immeasurable expression had filled Caleb’s face. An expression so full of emotion, Essek felt his ears begin to heat up.

“What did you just say?” Caleb asked. He moved to the edge of his seat, eyes imploring.

Essek blinked, feeling uncharacteristically nervous under his partner’s stare. “I-I was just wondering if-if you’d be willing to look over this page. A fresh set of eyes may help me uncover these ancient mysteries faster.”

There was a flash of disappointment in Caleb’s eyes, gone before Essek fully registered it was there. And still, the amber-haired wizard slid onto the couch next to the dunamancer, looking at the pages over his shoulder.

Essek tried to keep his focus as Caleb began pointing out connections he had missed before, but the warmth of Caleb’s body in addition to the brief sadness he’d witnessed on the other’s face made concentration very difficult. What had he said that had disappointed the transmutation specialist?

Or, Essek wondered, what hadn’t he said?

The dunamantic prodigy analyzed every second of their most recent conversation, working backwards to find the very instance that had triggered the disappointment. Everything he’d said had been in line with how most of their conversations had progressed in the long weeks they’d been exploring Aeor. Everything, he supposed, except for… Oh!

Essek grinned slightly, a plan forming in his mind. An experiment, if you will.

He waited patiently for the perfect moment, a predator stalking its prey, and was rewarded quickly as Caleb turned to him, checking to see if he understood.

“Thank you, love.” Essek said and kissed Caleb’s cheek. “I think I’ll turn in for the night. Let’s pick up here in the morning, hm?”

Caleb’s skin was slowly turning an adorable shade of red when Essek stood up, smirked to himself, and headed up to his room in the Tower. Oh, yes, Essek thought. This will be a most delightful experiment.

. . .

It was several days before Essek decided to conduct the next trial of his experiment. Long enough that Caleb should not catch on to what he was doing. For if Caleb found out too early, it may ruin the experiment, provide him with insufficient results, and, if Essek was being honest with himself, take all the fun out of it.

The two wizards were spending quality time in Caleb’s Rexxentrum home on a lovely spring evening. Of course, one wouldn’t know how lovely it was outside since the house was shaded to provide protection from the sun. A gift that proved there was space carved out for Essek forever, should he want it. And maybe… maybe… Essek was finally ready to accept the silent question.

But first, the Experiment.

“It’s quite beautiful outside,” Essek commented, lazily flipping a page.

Caleb hummed in response, eyes never leaving his novel.

The wizards sat in armchairs across from each other, tea cold and forgotten on the table between them. It was so easy to forget about simple beverages when enraptured in a book. At this point, Essek didn’t even know why they bothered making tea anymore.

“I was thinking that perhaps we should take some time to enjoy the sun.” Essek’s tone remained nonchalant, even as he fought back a smile.

Caleb’s head finally rose from his reading, brows scrunched in confusion. “I thought the sun caused you immense discomfort, Schatzi.”

Essek hummed. “Yes, it does.”

“Why would you want to willingly put yourself through pain?”

The drow shrugged. “I’ve heard it best to step out of one’s comfort zone every so often. And…” Essek looked up, an amused grin on his face. “I fear if you stay inside with me any longer, you may simply become a ghost due to a vitamin D deficiency.”

Caleb chuckled a bit at that. “I suppose you are right. But I would rather you not be in pain.”

“Not to worry.” Essek flicked his fingers and opened a pocket dimension. Reaching in, he pulled out the black parasol Jester had drawn for him most recently. “I’ve come prepared! Won’t you join me in the garden on this lovely afternoon, darling?”

Because he was watching for it (for the Experiment of course), Essek saw the moment Caleb’s face flushed red, the color spreading all the way to his ears. His eyes became momentarily unfocused, dilating, and his mouth parted ever so slightly.

Interesting, interesting.

Essek noted these observations down in his mental journal. Two of his three trials have concluded with the same result. He was well on his way to proving his hypothesis correct.

He mentally patted himself on the back even as his face was the picture of innocence.

“Caleb, are you quite all right?” Essek walked over to the other wizard and placed his hand on his companion’s forehead. “Are you coming down with something?”

Caleb coughed. “N-no. No, no. I am quite well. Here, let me set up for us. I won’t be a moment!”

Without another word, the Zemnian quickly rose from his seat and headed to the garden, seemingly attempting to put space between him and Essek. It made the elf chuckle. He could get used to this kind of treatment.

With that thought, Essek picked up his enchanted parasol and casually strolled to meet up with Caleb in the garden.

. . .

In an unfortunate series of events—namely almost getting caught by the Aurora Watch and the concerning business with the Apogee Solstice—the Experiment was all but forgotten about and laid on the backburner. It was hard to imagine being mischievous when one was running and/or fighting for their lives.

It wasn’t until Essek—pent up and frustrated from constantly looking over his shoulder and the cat now walking all over his papers with inky paws—snapped, “Caleb, my beloved, could you please get the cats out of this room for the next ten minutes?” that he even remembered it existed.

Unfortunately, the way he remembered was less than ideal.

A hand snaked around Essek’s waist from behind, and a low voice whispered in his ear, “Of course, darling. Your wish is my command.”

Essek’s face heat up so fast, it practically broke the sound barrier. His ears twitched as he stared agape at the man currently shooing Johanna off the counter.

“I-I— Caleb?”

Words were, embarrassingly, not functioning for him right now.

Caleb simply turned back to look at Essek with an evil grin. “You left your notes here last time you stayed over. All of your notes.”

Essek’s brain was still misfiring. He could not comprehend the hidden meanings in Caleb’s words.

Strolling casually toward him, Caleb continued, “I found a rather interesting set of notes entitled ‘The Experiment’.” He stopped a hand’s breadth away from Essek and tilted his face toward the drow. “You wouldn’t happen to know what that’s about, would you?”

Oh… fuck…

Essek had completely forgotten that he had written down his findings from his experiment. It had been habit, considering he does it with every arcane experiment he’d ever conducted. Why wouldn’t he do it with the singular non-arcane experiment?

“I-I-”

Essek cast Teleport, trying his absolute damndest to get out of this situation. Caleb was never supposed to find out! This is almost literally the worst case scenario. Where did all your confidence go, Thelyss? he asked himself. You were so smug when you knew there was little chance of him finding out!

Oh, well. He supposed he could hide out in Nicodranas for a few days. He was positive Jester would enjoy the company. Fjord would probably protest a little, but he would eventually give in. It would just take a little convincing on Essek’s part. That’s all.

Essek could practically taste the scent of the ocean when magic slammed into his face at point-blank range, his Teleport effectively Counterspelled.

Vith.

“You can’t get away from this conversation so easily, my friend.” Caleb was still smirking down at Essek. “I am not mad, Schatzi. If that’s what you were worried about. I am more amused.”

Essek had covered his face at this point, unwilling to look Caleb in the eye. So, Caleb did the only logical thing. He removed Essek’s hands and kissed the drow’s forehead.

Pulling back, the human said, “We have been married for months, Essek. You don’t need to be so shy about liking to ‘see me flustered’ I believe were your notes. It is cute though.”

Essek gently slammed his head into Caleb’s chest. He was never going to live this down, was he? Oh well. Might as well embrace it.

He lifted his head, hand coming up to curl around the back of Caleb’s neck. Stretching up onto his toes, he whispered in the Zemnian’s ear, “Well then, darling. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind doing the dishes today. Isn’t that right, my dearest love? You would do anything for me right now?”

Caleb cleared his throat, more times than was probably necessary. “Yup. Yes. I will get right on that.”

The transmutation specialist promptly turned around and began doing what he was asked.

Essek allowed a small grin. Oh, this would be fun.

#critical role #shadowgast #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #the wizards being wizards #essek is so silly #i love him so much #excuse the ooc actions #the brain rot consumed me #my writing #ace writes

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