#mighty nein: you’re next

[casukaga]

i just think it’d be really funny for fearne to steal something from each member of vox machina like collectibles in a video game

[thebest-medicine]

Day 23: Incoherent

Tickletober 2023 - Critical Role - C2 Mighty Nein - lee!Fjord, brief lee!Jester

[see my other tickletober 2023 fics]

A/N: Fjorester my beloved. I need their silly energy in my life. Little snippet of Jester tickling Fjord and then asking him to do the same to her (a lil fluff, a little sexy, whatever ya feel *eyebrow waggle*)

Words: 1,050

—

“Ah. Oh no. No- no Jessie- ahaHAWAIT!” Fjord squealed before descending into giddy laughter. 

“Wait? What do you want me to wait for?” Jester asked innocently — her fingers, on the other hand, were quite guilty of the quick, nimble scribbling they’d begun inflicting on Fjord’s sides.

His head shook side to side against the pillow beneath it, occasionally bumping into his elbows on either side. His arms twitched and pulled against the silks tethering them to their bed above his head. Jester’s fingers sent electric tingles up his bared torso everywhere they touched. They plucked at his sides and then began spidering wildly over his belly. 

“Aha- I can’t- I hehehehe- AHAHAHA AHH NOHOHOHO- THAHAT TICKLES! THAT TICKLES HAHA- AHAHA JESS!” 

“Well, duh, Fjord! It’s supposed to tickle!” 

The next few minutes were hazy — fuzzy in the best sort of way. Jester was smiling at him, tickling and teasing him to bits. She brought out so much in him that he hadn’t expected, and she had so many silly, wonderful ideas for expressing affection. In the midst of one, she squeezed at his hips a few times, getting a yelp for her efforts.

“I can’t believe how cute you are when you’re getting tickled Fjord! Your face is so cute! I have to draw it for you some time.” 

“NOHOHOHO!” Fjord cried through his cackles.

Jester’s grin widened as she got an idea. A few more quick squeezes to Fjord’s abdomen and she pushed up, hauling herself off of his hips and running over to her sketch book. 

Fjord took a few deep breaths, some broken up with lingering laughter, and stared at the ceiling as he happily accepted the short break. “Wh- what are you planning now?” He asked — sounding a little teasing and giddy, and a lot nervous.

Jester spun around, a smirk on her face as she wiggled her eyebrows at him. In her hand, she held up her sketching pencil. 

Fjord swallowed, watching her. His giggling started back up again. 

Jester perched atop him, eyes hungry. He felt his stomach twist with anticipation, excitement, and nerves. She took the pencil in her hand as though to start a lovely drawing, except that she had the pointy end up. 

Fjord shook his head. Jester nodded encouragingly, the hand not holding her pencil grabbed at the top of his underwear and pulled the waistband down a bit. She lightly drug the back of the pencil back and forth over his hip. Fjord gasped and burst into giggles. His legs kicked out on the bed behind Jester. 

“Ahaha no- nonono!” Fjord whined. 

“Yes yes yes!” Jester chirped in response. She drew figures and circles and whimsical patterns all over the lower section of his tummy, the front of his ribs and chest, his sides, and even up into his armpits and along his neck. 

Tracing the pencil along each rib on one side as she made her way back down to his sides, Jester started wiggling and pinching along the other side of his torso with her free hand. 

Fjord’s laughter grew louder as he wriggled side to side at her two fronted assault. His smile could cause bones to melt, but his laugh was like a cannonball of delight. It was the sort of gut-deep, boisterous sound that ricocheted off the walls of the ship like thunder - and it was impossible for Jester not to grin in the middle of the storm. 

Dropping her pencil, she made a sound of delight and started scribbling up his sides. Fjord wheezed and cackled, his eyes squeezed shut with tears in the corners of them. 

Fjord was already pretty far gone, but he still reacted viscerally to the sound of Jester sucking in a deep breath. “NO- NAHAHAHA NOOO NAHAHOT THAT!” He pleaded.

“Aww, are you too ticklish?” 

“STAHAHAHOP HAHA NO- JES DON’T DO IHIHIHIT!” Fjord wailed.

“Oh alright… I’ll just give you a couple raspberries. Let me know if it tickles too much, okay Fjord?” 

Her fingers continued to scribble and crawl their way from his hips to his armpits, which would have had him in plenty of hysterics on its own. Her lips, adding poison to the dagger, pressed down softly on the middle of his belly before she let out a loud, ticklish vibration against his abs. 

Fjord pretended to ignore the shriek that fell from his lips when she started, and each additional squealing wail that followed when she continued.

“NAHA- STAH- I CAN’T AHHH HAHA AHAHAA-” His thundering cackles quickly devolved into shouts and gasps between wails of desperate laughter. 

 It wasn’t until her nails began to scratch unbearably under both of his arms and she decided to blow her next raspberry on his side that Fjord cried out “SP-SPRINKLE!” between hoarse booms of laughter. 

Jester withdrew with a grin, sitting upright over him and taking in his exasperated, ravaged state. “Wow, you did really good Fjord! I was pretty mean..” She winked. 

Fjord felt a blush rise to his cheeks in spite of his already warm face. “Heh, thanks.”

“Okay.” Jester leaned in, peppering his cheeks with kisses as she untied the silks from his wrists, leaving the restraints hooked up to the bed. “Okay, okay! Me next!!”

Blissed out smile on his face, Fjord took his jelly arms and wrapped them around Jester’s wiggling form, pulling her in close for a cuddle. “You’re too good at that.” He mumbled as he pulled her in to be the little spoon, both of them still giggling. “I’m so tired now, I need to nap first.” He sighed dramatically, closing his eyes as his legs wrapped around Jester’s. 

He pretended to start snoring, exaggerated and loud, and Jester squealed adorably. Then, “sleep-walking” fingers began to trace ticklish paths around Jester’s ribs and sides, over to her stomach, down near her hips. 

“Ah ehehe Fjord!” Jester squeaked out as she giggled harder. 

A loud snoring sound, and then Fjord mumbled. “Fjord’s sleeping.”

“Nohohoho he’s nohot! Fjord’s tickling!”

Another fake snore. “No he’s not. He’s sleeping.” Jester felt him take a deep breath, chest rising to press further into her back. A long, exaggerated snore. “But when he wakes up. He’s really gonna get you.” 

“Hehe hehehee oh nohoho-” 

[kirbyprompts]

𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐏𝐓 𝟐

from critical role's the mighty nein episodes 34-71. feel free to change prompts as you see fit!

❝do they know you?❞

❝do they check weapons at the door, or anything like that?❞

❝i want to see how strong you’ve gotten.❞

❝well, how do i look?❞

❝i like myself just the way i am.❞

❝call this your home so long as you’d like to stay.❞

❝do you still love them?❞

❝love is a funny thing.❞

❝can you recommend any bookstores here?❞

❝hey, crime boss, are you my dad?❞

❝i don’t want people to know i’m still alive.❞

❝you’re asking a lot of questions for a person i just met.❞

❝i think you could snap me like a twig.❞

❝i think, perhaps, it’s destiny. do you believe in destiny?❞

❝i don’t have any dreams at night. is that worrisome?❞

❝it is funny how you keep showing up like a bad penny.❞

❝please don’t kill me.❞

❝i didn’t expect you to come in here and slaughter my contacts.❞

❝who were you supposed to deliver this to?❞

❝you’re not afraid of dying, are you?❞

❝is life always this directionless?❞

❝sometimes the things that are the most beautiful are the things that can hurt you the worst.❞

❝out of idle curiosity why have you been trying to butter me up?❞

❝i thought i had you figured out.❞

❝we’re about to be boarded by fucking pirates.❞

❝i am trying to process this as quickly as i can.❞

❝is there food in this bitch?❞

❝do you want to control the sea?❞

❝how many dudes you think you killed?❞

❝how many fingers am i holding up?❞

❝get out of there!❞

❝these days i’ve spent with you are the most exciting of my entire life.❞

❝this was the worst day of my life.❞

❝i’m getting used to the idea that this wouldn’t be a test if it was easy.❞

❝i think the world is shaping you into something important and i want to make sure that you get to wherever you need to be.❞

❝okay, i feel like shit, so i’m going to bed.❞

❝what was your first kiss like?❞

❝don’t fire on them unless they fire on us, you understand?❞

❝sometimes you can be nice to people too.❞

❝you better be sure this is something you want to die for.❞

❝if you’re lying to me, i’ll slit your throat.❞

❝pleasure to meet you. i have the feeling you’re having a really bad day.❞

❝just keep your mouth shut for like 30 damn seconds.❞

❝this is very dangerous to give to you, but you’re the perfect person to have it.❞

❝i was born to be a cannoneer.❞

❝have you ever sacrificed anything in order to achieve a greater goal?❞

❝i was alone for a long time and ran from everything.❞

❝i feel like a fool much of the time.❞

❝i could fill a book with what i don’t know.❞

❝what if we can never go home?❞

❝this is the best plan we’ve ever had!❞

❝i’m going to summon a demon.❞

❝no, really! she was a really bad person before we killed her and everyone on the boat!❞

❝i’m not an asshole. i’m asshole adjacent.❞

❝of course it’s minimalizing. have you met me? everything i do is minimizing.❞

❝do you ever feel like your relationship with your cat is hindering building stronger relationships with human people?❞

❝i understand when i’m being condescended to! even when i’m drunk!❞

❝hey. sorry for being a dick. bye.❞

❝i go where the wind goes.❞

❝yeah, i’m not a happy guy.❞

❝that’s what we do, we seek out active doom.❞

❝to be perfectly honest, yes, there were quite a few people chasing me.❞

❝best not to call attention.❞

❝i will so gladly introduce you to my cat because i’m very fond of him and love for people to meet him.❞

❝we’re running! it’s bad!❞

❝it was nice to meet you and nearly die next to you.❞

❝i’ve always heard that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but i feel pretty fucking weak right now.❞

❝i think i oddly feel the most comfortable when things are a fraction away from going terribly wrong.❞

❝my mother was a big believer in the buddy system.❞

❝got to be careful with what risks you take, but without risks, you’re never going to get what you want.❞

❝in my loneliness i just turned to anger.❞

❝sometimes you’re running towards something so fast that you can’t remember why you’re running in the first place.❞

❝i get nervous to get close to people because i feel like i lose them.❞

❝i’m either very unlucky or cursed, and i don’t believe in luck.❞

❝don’t forget me. i won’t forget you.❞

❝if you hear the signal, run. you remember the signal? it’s ‘AHHHHHHH'❞

❝don’t turn evil, okay? but if you do, i’ll still be your friend. i mean, it’s okay. you know, some people are evil. it’s okay. just don’t turn evil to me.❞

❝sometimes it sounds like you don’t have much love for home.❞

❝we need to know the ones we love.❞

❝i guess it’s easier to pretend like you don’t care.❞

❝you would do anything for love.❞

❝i would protect you.❞

❝do we look like tourists?❞

❝that could have gone much worse.❞

❝why does it feel like everyone here is hitting on me, but also insulting me at the same time?❞

❝what? why are you looking at me like that?❞

❝i operate alone. that’s how i survived this long.❞

❝i’m a danger to you by proximity, as much as you are a danger to me.❞

❝how was i supposed to get better? you fucking left!❞

❝now, i see great possibility in you. you have potential. but you need to listen to me and think before you act.❞

❝your rash, intense behavior will be your downfall.❞

❝no one has to see what you’re doing is good, as long as it is good.❞

❝i do not do this for accolades. i do this because i serve the purpose to provide a better world for those who. cannot defend themselves.❞

❝i can’t tell your morning voice apart from your just-almost-died voice.❞

❝if you ask, the worst they can do is say no, and throw you in prison, and you’ll never see your family again.❞

❝we are exiles in every sense of the word.❞

❝you made the right call. i’m very proud of you.❞

❝what would you have done differently?❞

❝for the first time in a really long time, i feel hopeful.❞

❝now that i’m with you, i don’t know how i could be apart from you.❞

❝oh boy, i don’t understand anything that’s going on.❞

❝i trust your heart. it’s in a good place.❞

❝i think you might be wrong. i can’t say it with 100% certainty, but you might be.❞

❝i had a very bad dream.❞

❝i think i’ve done something very bad and i don’t remember.❞

❝have i done something terrible?❞

❝i am talking to you as one accomplished liar to another.❞

❝this is our family now and we are looking out for eachother.❞

❝we can remake ourselves into something better.❞

❝those things were fucking scary as fuck!❞

❝it’s a tomb with an exit. that’s the worst kind.❞

❝maybe we shouldn’t go in. let’s just go back.❞

❝i know you lost your family. we can be your new one.❞

❝i’m just doing my best.❞

❝i’ve never seen you get scared.❞

❝are you feeling scared? you should. this is terrifying.❞

❝try what you want. you won’t break me.❞

❝your life hangs by a thread. what have you to lose?❞

❝some of us get tired of macabre fairytales. so you enjoy your mouthful of lies when they choke it out of you.❞

❝we’re being sneaky! stop talking so loud!❞

❝i’m confused. do you want me to stay or not?❞

❝is this conversation appropriate to have in a hot tub?❞

❝it’s been really hard trying to figure out who’s just a traitor and who’s an actual demon.❞

❝all i can give you is my loyalty.❞

[peach-the-owl]

Cuddles

Mighty Nein & Child!Reader (Child of the Nein)

*Crawls out of the void* I still live… *drops post and crawls back into the void*

Jester

You are always eager for cuddles and Jester is just as eager to return them, sometimes the two of you smiling goofily at each other while trying to see who can squeeze the other the tightest (usually Jester wins, but you get a victory every now and again). Other times you both just snuggle together, enjoying the moment of relief from adventuring.

On days when you’re usual enthusiastic attitude is nothing but a distant memory, so to speak, is when extra special cuddles are needed the most. Jester will sit with you, slowly bringing you closer to her as a way of asking if you were okay with it. When you lean in accepting the hug she’ll pull you onto her lap and hum a tune her just like her mother used to while gently petting down your hair in a comforting way, this usually leads to you falling asleep to which Jester will give a kiss to the top of your head.

Nott/Veth

It’s not that you don’t like cuddles, it’s just you’re not used to them, especially when you first met Nott. She was very understanding of this and took the time to help ease you into the feeling. Even now after all this time you’re still slightly hesitant about it but defiantly more eager to curl up next to her for some R&R.

There are days where even though your past is behind you and you’re a brand new halfling, you still feel like that icky runt of a goblin you used to be. Veth is quick to catch you when you’re like this and jumps right into mom mode, letting you curl into her for extra comfort while she makes sure you know that despite everything she still loves you for who you are. Her comfort and reassurance always helps ease your frantic mind.

Caleb

You love hugs and cuddles, Caleb does not, or at the very least he’s not the most open to them. There were two great ways to get them from him though, the most common was to steal Frumpkin as a substitute, the cat purring and rubbing against you while you happily snuggled into his soft fur. The other way was when Caleb polymorphs into an animal, giving you the chance to still snuggle into warm and fluffy fur while also enjoying Caleb’s company (he’s also extra protective of you like this but shhh, that’s a secret 🤫).

The rare off days where you’re the one feeling down are different. At first Caleb just lets Frumpkin handle it, after all the fey cat has helped him through many tough spots. With time and the more Caleb opens up he’ll approach you himself, offering to read stories to you or use Dancing Lights as that’s your favourite spell and especially the way he shifts the glowing orbs around easily helps brighten your mood once again.

Caduceus

Who were you if not usually soft and gentle, figuratively and literally, so naturally you’re always one to enjoy a comforting cuddle and Caduceus is always happy to share a cuddle with you. You’ll sit together and lean your head against his chest, smiling up at him while he contently smiles back, most of the time you’ll have a nice warm cup of tea to go with it, just adding that much more to the comfortable atmosphere between you.

It happens more often then you’d like where your thoughts will sour your mood, locking you in the past and spiralling into what if scenarios. A gentle hand on your shoulder pulls you away from it, and a comforting squeeze fulling brings you back to reality where Caduceus is waiting with a fresh pot of chamomile tea for the both of you. You don’t say much as you sip on your beverage, you don’t have to, he understands you need that space for yourself. He’ll offer you reassurance while you snuggle into his side, wrapping his arm around you that, in a way, helps protect you from those sour thoughts coming back.

Fjord

You’re not one to jump at an opportunity for cuddles but you don’t mind them either. Fjord would argue you actually very much enjoy cuddles, but it’s usually when you’re sleepy but feel too stubborn to fall asleep right away. There are multiple times you’d force yourself to stay awake so you don’t miss something important with the Nein, only for you to curl up against Fjord and end up passing out anyways. He doesn’t mind in the slightest, he likes that you feel safe enough with him to fall asleep.

When you’re having a bad day you’re not exactly willing to say something right away, you’ve gotten better at it over time but there are still days when you just get really quiet and standoffish with everyone. Fjord will almost immediately catch on to what’s happening and check on you, if you need a bit of space but don’t want to be alone, he’ll sit with you until you’re feeling better, if you’re looking for some comfort Fjord will happily lift you into his arms and hold you in a safe and secure grip until you’re back to your usual self again.

Beau

You’re indifferent when it comes to something like cuddles, you don’t hate them but you don’t care much about them either. What you usually do is give Beau a gentle punch to her arm as a sign of affection, she’ll do the same back at ya and you both call it a day.

It’s rare but there are days were you just feel down, your mind almost forcing you to wonder if you were ever good enough for anyone, you usually try to take your mind off it by distracting yourself with training. It’s not long for Beau to notice you’re quiet and sad demeanour, she’ll get you to sit next to her when you take a quick break, wrap an arm around your shoulder and gently pull you into her side. Depending on how upset you are will depend on if you’ll get Beau to also draw small designs on your arm too, defiantly helps you feel better after some time.

Yasha

You’re not the most open to touch, maybe the occasional hug here and there but you don’t initiate it. It’s not that you don’t like them, you’re just so used to keeping your distance with people that you almost feel a bit uncomfortable with it. Yasha doesn’t mind this, of course, she’s about the same when it comes to hugs and cuddles but with time and lots of patience you’re both more open to it, you still don’t seek it out for yourself though.

More often then not you’re caught up in your thoughts, part of you wanting to seek out Yasha for a bit of comfort but the other part of you doesn’t always know how to go about it. Thankfully Yasha has become very good at reading your emotions and is understanding when you need to work things out for yourself, she knows you’ll come to her when you’re ready and even though you fumble through your words she’ll wait for you to finish explaining yourself before offering you the comfort you’re looking for.

Molly

You love cuddles, simple as that. Someone wants hug, you’re happy to offer. There are times you take a running start towards Molly, making him drop whatever he might be doing at the time to catch you when you jump at him for a quick cuddle before letting him finish what he’s doing. It never bothers him when you “sneak attack” him like that, he finds it fun and great for keeping himself aware of his surroundings, win-win all around.

The literal second your emotions get you down Molly notices, your usual upbeat attitude suddenly disappearing never sits well with him. It’s one of those rare times where the Nein, aside from Yasha, will see Molly’s softer, more caring side show itself. The normally eccentric tiefling now calmly and quietly holding you, brushing a hand through your hair to soothe away the bad thoughts that dare tired to enter your brain.

[sapphicquill]

Critickle Role: spin me right 'round, baby (chapter 1/2)

(ao3 link!)

Rating: Teen

Characters: Essek Thelyss, Mollymauk Tealeaf, Caleb Widogast, the Mighty Nein (Veth and Cad are there, just not by name!)

Wordcount: 2149

Nothing the Mighty Nein ever did made terribly much sense to Essek—at least not right away. The group had a habit of putting their own unexpected twist on just about everything they did, no matter how mundane. Considering Essek had only recently emerged from “the sheltered kid-from-a-strict-religious-family cave” (Veth’s words, not his) he didn’t really have much “real life experience” to lean on, so the group’s antics were a relatively moot point anyway. 

But Essek was about ninety-five percent sure that Spin the Bottle was supposed to involve kissing, and the glaring lack of any was a bit confusing. 

Essek relied on a lifetime of maintaining a completely neutral expression at all times to keep from staring bewildered at the screeching puddle of tiefling that was the current focus of the loose circle of friends. Mollymauk, sprawled out flat on his back underneath Jester, was writhing and wriggling as the young woman mercilessly drilled her claws into her victim’s sides. A lavender tail lashed wildly, the only part of Mollymauk in that moment that still had a full range of motion. 

From beside the pair, Caleb cleared his throat.

“That is time, Jester. Let my boyfriend breathe, please.”

Instantly, the blue tiefling sprung off of Mollymauk, though not without groaning theatrically and turning to the human, her own tail wavering behind her in a way that reminded Essek of Frumpkin before the cat pounced on someone. 

“Caaay-leb, come ooon , that wasn’t two minutes!” 

“Ja, it was exactly two minutes, just like it always is.”

“You’re just whiney because you can never make Molly safeword out, Jes,” Fjord pointed out from his spot across the floor. Jester let out a frustrated noise as she crawled back over to her unoccupied spot in the circle next to her own boyfriend. 

“I totally have before, I just want to do it again!” 

“Try harder next time, darling,” Mollymauk said, voice coming out a little wheezy as he sat back up and grinned over at their host for the evening. 

- - -

Essek was, admittedly, getting better at keeping up with the Mighty Nein. With all of them being so genuine and good all the time (and the somewhat inconvenient, very large crush he was harboring on Caleb and Mollymauk), it was hard to resist the siren call of their unspoken offers of friendship and connection. The longer Essek spent around the collective chaos of the Nein, the easier it was to just shrug and go with whatever happened, regardless of how preposterous Essek found it. 

When Caleb had offhandedly invited him to attend the monthly Jester-mandated party/sleepover (a tradition that long predated Essek’s own knowledge of the group), he had accepted without even thinking about it. His nerves over being in such close, extended proximity to Mollymauk and Caleb were easy enough to tamp down, he hadn’t even gotten close to having a proper panic attack over it. He hadn’t even flinched when Jester’s mutt of a dog nearly knocked him on his ass when he cleared the doorway of her and Fjord’s apartment. 

When Jester had lowered the music and excitedly announced it was time for Spin the Bottle, Essek had taken pause, eyes darting to where Caleb and Mollymauk began untangling themselves to get up from the small overstuffed sofa, laughing and whispering to one another between quick kisses. All the same, after a half-second of hesitation, he took a seat on the floor next to Yasha, who was providing rather aggressive scritches to Nugget while Beau not-so-subtly fed the dog little bits of pepperoni, and resolutely ignored the hammering of his heart.

Jester’s version of Spin the Bottle had, apparently, been a tradition for almost as long as they’d been having these gatherings. At least, that’s what Essek had gleaned from Beau’s exaggerated complaints about how unnecessary having the rules explained again was. Jester’s eyes had met Essek’s from across the circle, alight with mischief, before she continued: either say the safeword—“licorice,” for some reason—or last the full two minutes. Before Essek could ask what, in particular, might necessitate a safeword for a kissing game, Jester had leaned forward to grab the bottle in the middle of their circle.

Honestly, Essek should have been less surprised then he was when Jester’s hearty spin of the empty spirits bottle resulted in the young woman tackling Mollymauk and unleashing a rather brutal tickle attack. One of the first things Essek had accepted as “Nein-normal” was the group’s extremely comfortable relationship with tickling. Caleb had tried to fill in the gaps as much as he could—it had, of course, started with the tieflings (“Look, of all the stereotypes, this one’s probably the sweetest and most accurate,” Molly had said) and had spread from there. It was to be expected, if one spent even five minutes with some configuration of their friend group, that some sort of tickling would occur. 

Essek had seen Fjord tweak Jester’s sides as he passed her by; had seen Yasha loop her arms around Molly’s waist and hold him still while Veth unleashed revenge for whatever antics the tattooed tiefling had gotten up to; had seen the soft, sweet, surprisingly gentle tickling that Jester was fond of showering on Caleb. Essek had witnessed quite a lot. 

He’d never participated, though.

- - -

 “Careful, you know she’ll take that seriously,” Beau said, rubbing Nugget’s head roughly enough for Essek to realize she was probably wiping off excess pizza oil on the dog. 

“I’m hoping for it,” Molly shot back, already half-crawling closer to the middle of the circle. With practiced ease, he sent the bottle into rapid circles, watching intently as they began to slow. Essek glanced at Caleb out of habit—it was he who Essek had gravitated toward first, and then whenever he felt out of his depth around the rest of the Nein—and felt his heart stutter against his chest as crystal blue eyes met his own. A small, comforting smile graced Caleb’s lips, the one that always made Essek feel a bit like there were several tiny birds swooping around in his stomach, before the group around them gave a collective, nearly comedic gasp. Essek watched Caleb’s brow furrow slightly, his eyes dropping down to look at the center of the circle before darting back to Essek’s face. His expression was… strangely unreadable. 

Finally looking away from Caleb, Essek felt another swoop in his gut as he took in the scene before him: the others staring at him, Molly’s grin turning nearly feral, and the empty bottle’s neck pointing squarely at him. 

It felt a bit like time had paused, without the sharp ozone of recently-cast dunamis. 

“Ah, Mollymauk—”

Caleb’s voice was soft, his expression still impossible for Essek to parse, as he curled a hand over one of Molly’s shoulders. His boyfriend turned to face him instantly, and Essek felt quietly relieved that the two’s attention was off of him, if only temporarily. 

“Essek’s new to this, ja? So be—” Caleb paused, seemingly searching for the right word. 

“Gentle?” Yasha offered quietly from beside Essek, and if his mouth wasn’t suddenly so dry, he thought he might thank the woman. 

“Of course, darling,” Molly replied seemingly to the both of them, his voice much sweeter than Essek had anticipated. The tiefling turned, and Essek tried to calm the rapid beating of his heart as Molly crawled the rest of the way across their circle of friends. On his knees, Mollymauk was practically towering over Essek’s seated form. Essek expected that same devious grin from earlier to still be settled on his face, but was surprised again to see a much friendlier, kinder smile curling at his lips. 

It was the same smile Molly wore when he and Caleb got lost in discussing complex arcane theory, or when Essek admitted to not understanding some turn of phrase someone had thrown out. 

The flock of birds in his gut doubled. 

“Remember the rules, dear?”

When had Molly gotten so close? Essek licked his lips, eyes glued to the two sets of claws hovering mere inches from his torso. 

“Ah, say ‘licorice’ to tap out…”

“Or last the full two minutes that Caleb counts out,” Molly finished for him, leaning ever so much closer into Essek’s space. 

“Right. Yes. Two minutes.” 

The last time he’d been tickled he’d been a child, Verin pouncing on him after declaring he was being a stick in the mud and unleashing an attack that had left Essek in blubbering hysterics. 

“Ready?” The question seems mocking, but the look in Molly’s eyes is shockingly genuine and Essek didn’t know if he wanted to run or to kiss him. 

“As, um, as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”

The air in the room was still and silent, even Nugget stopping his tail whacking down on the carpet as everyone seemingly held their breath. 

Essek squeezed his eyes shut tightly, bracing for kneading fingers as Molly descended even further. Nervous energy danced like lightning down Essek’s back. 

Then there were two light claw tips, slowly skating down from the tops of Essek’s ribs on either side, and he felt his breath hitch without permission. The light, pinpoint sensations felt a little like pure electricity shooting into his nerves and he started gasping out giggles without even realizing it. It didn’t even tickle that badly—between the anticipation and the fact that it was Mollymauk doing it, Essek felt a bit like he was going insane from the lightest touches. 

He didn’t say anything, though, much less “licorice.” Molly was being so gentle. He could last through this for two minutes. 

Then, the claws reached his hips, and suddenly they were moving much faster and in circles and Essek couldn’t have ever hoped to stifle the surprised laughter that punched out of him. His eyes flew open at the shock of sensation, and the look on Molly’s face made his stomach do a backflip. The tiefling’s eyes glimmered with delight and the kind of affection Essek had only ever seen directed at a certain human wizard. Impossibly, the tickling felt ten times as intense. 

Molly kept valiantly on at Essek’s hips, alternating between skittering spirals and random patterns that Essek couldn’t make sense of. While the majority of his conscious thought consisted of white noise, a tiny section of his mind quietly pondered how different this would be if the rest of the Nein weren’t there—if it was just him and Molly and Caleb sprawled out on the ridiculously opulent bed he knew the two had in their apartment. Maybe there wouldn’t be a countdown at all, just Essek getting slowly driven to pleasant delirium by the two men who had captured his attention and his heart. 

How in the name of the Luxon had it not been two minutes yet?

A sudden third spot of ticklish sensation lit Essek’s nerves like a string of firecrackers. He didn’t even have to open his eyes (though he severely doubted he would even be capable of that at the moment) to know that a lavender tail’s spade tip was dragging ever-so-lightly back and forth cross Essek’s right inner thigh. That, combined with the attack still concentrated on his hips, nearly had him screaming. 

Just as it felt like he might pass out from lack of air, someone spoke up from elsewhere in the circle. 

“Scheiße, that was two minutes and, er, roughly forty-five seconds, sorry, sorry.”

Instantly, Molly let up, his tickling ending so abruptly that Essek almost felt dizzy. Phantom tingles of sensation raced across his skin and his laughter dropped into breathless giggles once more. If not for the near lifetime of practice in self-restraint, he would have let out an aggrieved whine and a soft plea for more. A delightful haze of dazed happiness had descended without Essek even noticing . 

“Wow, Essek, that was like, super impressive for your first time playing!”

Jester’s chirping voice popped the joyful bubble encasing Essek’s mind in an instant, and instinctual chilled terror shot down his spine at the reminder that the rest of the Nein had seen that entire ordeal play out in front of them. He sat bolt upright, vision hazy and unseeing. 

“Ah, ex—” Essek started, a shivering ghost of a laugh rudely interrupting. “Excuse me, I, hah, need to, uh—”

Without even finishing his sentence, Essek stood and hurried from the crowded living room. A chorus of voices sounded behind him, but he didn’t stop. The apartment’s tiny guest bathroom offered a safe place for him to sink to the ground and press his face into his hands, breath slowing even as his heart thrummed rapidly in his chest. 

Even with embarrassment and mild panic coursing through him, Essek’s mind could only conjure the image of Caleb and Mollymauk looming over him with warmth and mischief and affection in their eyes. 

Fuck.

[bambinella]

Day 6 - Hiding

Critical Role - Jester x friends

A/N: I've never written about the Mighty Nein before, and I'm aware this is a crime. Therefore I decided to change that now because I don't wanna go to jail. Enjoy!

“Hey, have you seen my blue ribbon? You know, the one I put on my staff?” Beau said as she walked into the living room of the Xorhaus. Fjord looked up and shook his head.

“Can’t say I have. When was the last time you saw it?” He asked, earning an eye-roll from the monk, as if he’d asked the dumbest question ever.

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be asking you,” She retorted, earning a chuckle from him. She had a point.

“Come to think of it, I was looking for my captain’s hat this morning too. I haven’t touched it in a while, but I’m sure I left it in my room and didn’t move it someplace else,” He said, rubbing his beard with his thumb. Beau raised an eyebrow at that, leaning her shoulder against the door frame.

“Some of the trinkets I put in my hair are also missing,” Yasha suddenly piped up from where she was reading, momentarily startling Beau and Fjord. Sometimes she was so quiet he would forget she was there to begin with.

“Okay one item missing is fine, but two or three things from different people missing at the same time? Now that’s suspicious,” Beau commented. A smile slowly spread on Fjord’s face.

“I think I have an idea where our items went. Follow me, ladies,” He said. The three of them went towards Jester’s room, and he gently knocked twice on the door.

“Come in~!” The familiar voice sang from inside, prompting them to enter the room. Jester sat on her bed and was busy sketching as usual, looking up as she saw the trio. Her eyes brightened at the sight of her friends, yet Fjord could also see a twinkle of mischief in them. He knew that twinkle all too well.

“Oh hey there Jester, what have you been up to?” He asked with a smile, folding his arms as he slowly walked up to the bed. Jester closed her book and sat up straight, looking at them with a big grin.

“Oh you know, the usual! Drawing tiny dicks, chatting with the Traveler,...” She summed up, her tail moving across the bed. Beau seemed to catch on where Fjord was going with this, standing next to him as she smirked.

“Some of our items have gone missing. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, right?” She questioned, and Fjord noticed how Jester’s smile grew a little.

“Beau! Are you accusing me?” Jester gasped playfully while putting a hand on her chest, earning another eye-roll from the monk.

“Actually I am, because you’re not answering my question. Did you take our stuff, Jes?” Beau questioned again, taking a step closer while putting her hands on her hips. Jester huffed. “I have NO idea what you’re talking about Beau! Maybe you should take better care of you– hey!” She squealed when the human suddenly reached forward and jabbed several times all over her torso. Now Fjord had seen Beau stun many enemies during their travels, and those hits always seemed very precise and to hurt quite a bit. But with how much Jester was giggling, he figured that these jabs probably tickled a lot. Beau’s hands were weapons in multiple ways, he realized with a shiver.

“Well what are you waiting for? Get her!” Beau said as she straddled Jester’s lap. Fjord crawled onto the bed and trapped her in a tight hug, which made both Jester and him blush, and Yasha sat herself down on her shins.

“Beheheau! That was mehehean!” Jester protested with a wide smile as her movement returned, looking into the brunette’s eyes. Fjord grinned and placed his chin on the tiefling’s shoulder.

“Last chance, Jester. Where did you put our things?” He questioned, his breath tickling the shell of her pointy ear. She let out a squeal and moved her head, and he had to avoid getting stabbed by one of her horns.

“You’ll never make me talk!” She declared, no longer playing dumb as she stuck out her tongue at them. It was all the confirmation they needed. Beau reached forward and scribbled her nails over Jester’s stomach, making her throw her head back with a loud squeal. She instinctively reached forward to stop Beau’s hands, yet found herself stuck as Fjord used his arms to hold her’s away from her body.

“Oh is that so?” Fjord asked teasingly, sending a shiver down her spine as he gently rubbed his beard against her neck, which sent her in another fit of giggles.

“Fjohohohord stohohohop! Thahahahat’s cheheheating!” She shrieked, scrunching up her shoulders to hide her neck. As playful and mischievous as she was, Jester was reeeeally bad at handling tickles. And it was, of course, the group’s favorite way of punishing her for all the pranks she pulled on them. And they all knew it was her favorite way too, so they had compassion right now.

“You can easily make this end Jes,” Beau grinned, playfully jabbing between her ribs with a single finger. Each poke got a squeal from their blue friend, and Fjord had to use all his might to keep her arms trapped.

“Whehehere’s the fun in thahaha– OHOHO! OHOHO YASHA NOHOHOHOO!!” Jester suddenly cried out, making Fjord and Beau look up at their friend. Yasha had casually reached back with one hand and was gently tickling along Jester’s toes, giving them a shrug.

“What? She looks like she’s having fun,” She said, a sly smile playing on her lips. Fjord suppressed the urge to shiver again. But she was right, Jester was having fun.

“It looks like Yasha is winning by making her laugh the hardest, you better amp it up a little,” Fjord teased, causing Beau to playfully grumble and glare at him. Her hands moved up and started fluttering under Jester’s arms, eliciting a shriek of laughter from the tiefling.

“EEHEHEHEE! OHOHOHO GUHUYS STOHOHOHOHOP!” Jester cried out, shaking her head side to side, a blush covering her cheeks. Beau chuckled and merely shook her head.

“Now we all know you don’t really mean that,” She teased, noticing how Jester’s tail had been wagging side to side on the bed, just like Nugget when he was excited. This only caused her to blush harder, the teasing and the tickles really getting to her.

“Now if you really want it to stop, you just need to tell us where the it– hey!” Fjord protested as he got interrupted by a sneaky tail prodding at his side. He returned the favor by blowing a raspberry on her neck. 

“AHAHAHAHAA! OKAY OKAAY OKAHAHAY!” Jester finally cried out – the raspberry and Yasha continuously tickling her toes had been enough to make her give in – and they immediately stopped, giving her a well-deserved break.

“Well?” Yasha asked with a raised brow, playfully wiggling one of her big toes. Jester squealed at the playful threat, giggling softly.

“They’re under my bed,” She relented and sat up as Fjord released her from the hug. Beau dropped on the floor and retrieved the ‘stolen’ items, ruffling Jester’s hair afterwards. Fjord was pretty sure he heard her say ‘little gremlin’, yet due to Jester’s loud giggles he wasn’t sure. When both Yasha and Beau left the room, he tilted his head.

“Why did you take our items, exactly?” He asked, actually curious for the reason. Jester would often prank them, but not usually multiple people at the same time. She shrugged.

“Everyone seemed a little more gloomy recently, so I wanted to prank you guys to cheer you up!” She declared with a smile, and while it seemed a very reasonable explanation, Fjord knew there was more to it by the look in her eyes. He could tell that rather than cheer them up, she had been needing some cheering up for her own. As playful and happy as she was, even she needed a laugh from time to time, especially in these times. He cursed himself for not noticing earlier.

“You know I’m here for you right?” He blurted out before he could stop himself, and he could feel his cheeks heating up a little. Jester looked at him with a soft smile, before nodding.

“Of course Fjord!” She declared. He smiled at that.

“And you know I’m gonna tickle you to death the next time you touch my hat, right?” As expected she started giggling.

“Of course!” She said again, this time with a wide grin. He chuckled.

“Good. Because I haven’t forgiven you yet, and you have about five seconds to run away before I get my hands on you,” He said with a smirk. Jester’s eyes widened as she squealed, immediately hopping off of the bed to dash out of the room. He grinned and didn’t even bother to wait five seconds to chase her, because if he was really honest?

Her laughter brightened his day.

[copperhawkthoughts]

Here, have a snippet of Chapter 26 of The Nature of Light, that fic where Essek goes to Aeor and canonically Goes Thru It

…Yasha scoops him up carefully, mindful of the wicked wing-spines and heedless of the blood. She doesn’t go far, merely steps around Caleb and Jester to the first clear patch of ground, laying Lucien gently down where Caleb had lain not long before.

He is a gruesome sight. There at the end, as Jester’s final spell was eating its way through his back, he had - Molly had? - ripped his own chest open, exposing his heart. His throat is torn open all the way up to the hinge of his jaw. His legs are mangled, his left foot crushed. His right, a mere handspan from Essek’s knee, has a high, delicate arch.

Caleb moves slowly, painfully, to kneel at Lucien’s head. From the pocket of his tattered coat, he produces a large stone, a river-smooth cobble banded in white, and nestles it into the crevasse of Lucien’s chest, next to his heart.

“Why did we come this far, if not for this? We would do this for any one of us.”

Veth nods, subdued. “I think he’s still in there.”

“I know he is.” Jester’s voice is choked with tears, but firm. Full of conviction.

Caleb is still so pale, his every movement pained. He seems to exist just slightly out of phase with his own skin, so recently bartered back from the Matron. Essek opens his mouth to speak, but no sound emerges. He clears his throat and tries again.

“Are you sure this is even wise to attempt?”

Essek had once thought he hadn’t had a heart to break; he’d lately thought it had done breaking, but it crumbles into diamond dust, evaporates into pearl smoke when Caleb looks down the length of Lucien’s ruined corpse at him and says, quiet and firm, “Once you’re a member of the Mighty Nein, you’re in. You should know that by now.”

Essek has no idea what his face is doing, stripped entirely of the ability to demur or dissemble as something soft and delicate and growing begins to sprout in his chest from seeds carefully sown and haphazardly scattered.

A scarred and calloused hand squeezing his forearm.

A glittering voice in his mind at all hours, cheerful and bright.

Awkward dinner invitations and hot chocolate and acceptance. Trust.

Veth steps close to Essek’s side and squeezes his shoulder, her small hand the faintest pressure through his cloak.

“He’s right, and right now there are only eight of us.”

[saphirered]

Hello :), id love to request a kingsley x reader where theyre a member of his new pirate crew perhaps first mate after he steals that ship from fjord at the end of campain 2

Sorry for the wait on this one! Too many ideas to approach this request turned into procrastination but I finished it! It's pining, it's sweet and fluffy. Hope you like how it turned out! And right in time for the Mighty Nein reunited! 😘

He still doesn’t quite know how this happened or when and don’t get him started on the why’s because every time he tries listing them, he can’t put actual words to it; you’re just everything perfect. When did he turn into some fictional cliché? His fellow chaos maker tiefling would use this to fuel her next novel to be sure. Captain falls in love with his first mate. A match made in hell. Perfect. Just perfect. Kingsley’s tried to play it cool but during mealtimes he finds himself sit next to you, relishing in even just smalltalk. When you have a shift together he’ll be paying more attention to you than to what he’s supposed to be on watch for. When another totally unavoidable skirmish arises, he worries for your safety and always makes sure he’s within some kind of reachable range because he feels safer when you’re near. He trusts few people, and you are no exception. You’re all pirates after all. But unlike anyone else, he actually wants to trust you. He wants to be able to count on you, as you can count on him. Were he ever to tell you this, you’d laugh in his face of course. The last deckhand that did, you literally laughed in the poor man’s face. He’d rather not be verbally torn apart and take that wound to his heart. 

You look over the waves, your post at the helm is one you take seriously. You always have. You’re the goddamn first mate of this ship. You do your best to ignore the staring of your captain who is rather disinterested in the suggestions of the bosun, and favours simply nodding or humming along, when he looks past. He’s focussed on you. You feel heat rise to your cheeks but luckily the appearance of such could be brushed off as the harsh wind cutting at your face. Those ruby eyes, you cannot set out of your mind. Are you not doing your job correctly? Are your capabilities being brought in question? Is there doubt in your loyalty to this ship, to this crew? Did you do something wrong? Are you no longer worthy of this position? All these questions are easier to ask, to consider than to admit to the truth you’re denying; that’s the stare of admiration. There’s a tap on your shoulder and you nearly jump out of your skin. It’s just the helmsman ready to relieve you. 

You retreat into your own mind, build a shield to keep your thoughts from going rampant as you make your way down the steps onto the main deck. It’s probably a good thing you have got your sea legs because a particular wave has some catch themselves just in time. Kingsley, who you missed was midway towards you, lunges and barely manages to catch himself on the railing of the stairs. You didn’t even realise he had moved, but now he stands in your path. Quickly you respond out of reflex, catch his other arm, and help him back to stable feet. Everything around feels numb but the moment you touch him, feel his hand wrap around your lower arm, as you balance him, your cold skin burns and find yourself short of breath, eyes wide. 

“Looks like I can count on my first mate to save me collecting my teeth from the deck.” Kingsley appears as short of breath as you. The moment you’re sure he’s stable again, you pull your arm from his grasp and step around him without another word, making for the stairs down below deck. The tiefling watches you go, and you move so fast, or perhaps his mind has slowed that much. He can’t say anything else, do anything else. You’re gone and he won’t follow. 

So ends another day. And he’ll spend the next night staring at the ceiling of his cabin, unable to take his mind off you; the electricity that ran through his veins when you caught him, and the numbness when you let go. It may sound cliche but when he stood so near to you, when you held onto him, he felt as if he had never seen the world in colour, had never used his senses to their full extend, suddenly everything made sense yet nothing at all did but he couldn’t care less, and when you rushed away, you took that feeling with you and he felt lost again. He’ll day dream about that feeling because he could not find sleep until the early hours of morning. He’s completely and utterly in love with his first mate. No way around it anymore. 

————

Kingsley dodges a punch as someone tosses a chair at another drunkard. The tavern took a turn for the better when an incredibly dull night turned into a bar fight, and a glorious one at that. He’s pretty sure he’ll be covered in bruises, the bloodstains he’ll never get out of his shirt, his knuckles are busted, and his nose just might be broken, still he is filled with cheer and adrenaline. The next punch to the gut sparks it only further as he counters by grabbing the arm, getting close and delivering a punch straight to the face of his opponent. Knocked out cold. Next. He’s distracted when he sees a familiar flash resembling your shape, legs wrapped around someone’s shoulders as they desperately try to throw you off, but you hold on tight, even when your back hits that thankfully sturdy table. This time you let go and deliver a perfect kick to the throat and get back up to tackle the next one coming at you. Then for just a brief second things go dark as pain erupts through his head. He recovers, looking for the source to see the blurred form of some kind of brute. Did he just get punched in the face? His ears are ringing. Just barely does he manage to deflect the brunt of the next hit. 

You let out a battle cry as you kick low, high and strike. You’ll have to admit that when this fight started you were exhausted and didn’t feel like getting into the fray. You don’t exactly know why it started but your captain seemed to be one half of it and then it became crew against crew, and the rest of the bar got pulled in. Your exhaustion faded quickly when some poor sod made the wrong call and made you spill your drink. Screw exhaustion. That’s what you told yourself because in reality, you felt your blood boil when Kingsley took a foul hit. You’ve been on a good track record for the past few minutes. Sustained some damages yourself, but nothing you couldn’t handle. You’ll probably be sore in the morning and have some bruises to show for the eventful evening but such is your life. Everyone needs a good bar fight every once in a while. Every once in a while you’d check up on your captain, search for him in the room. When you have the opportunity to do next, you see him cornered, disoriented and opposing a man twice his size. He takes another hit and is thrown against the table, it shattering beneath the impact of his weight. 

The groan on his breath is cut short as air escapes his lungs and he’s coughing. He barely has time to recover or get up when he’s grabbed by the front of his shirt, the movement registering a second or two later than it should. The brute in front of him has no intentions of letting him go it seems. Squinting he’s pretty sure this is the first mate of the captain he went fist to cuffs with in the first place. Maybe this wasn’t one of his better ideas. Does he have any regrets? No. That captain is short a couple of teeth. Serves ‘em right. Though, given his place now, he might be short a couple of teeth. The punch is incoming and while he does his best to deflect, there isn’t much he can do to turn this into a favourable position for him, so he prepares for the impact best he can though he doubts he’ll be awake to make any counter move. Then, it rains something, shatters. Glass. Glass shatters above him. His opponent goes dazed and the hold weakens. Next a fist swings to bring home the attack and the brute hits the floor with a heavy thud. He’s grabbed by the front of his shirt again and when he thinks the next blow is coming, he just focusses in on your face. With force you get him to his feet, never letting go of the red stained linen as you pull him along, dancing around other fighting patrons until the cool night’s air hits him. He hears shouts behind, but you run, and thus force him along until the sounds muffle and he walks the plank onto the ship. 

Out of breath you set the tiefling on one of the crates on deck as you bend over, take a deep breath and straighten again. Kingsley watches as you run a hand through your hair, and wipe some remnants of blood from your cheek. Your gaze turns to him, analytical. You check him for injury, step close, hold his chin, move his face, touch some scrapes to which he hisses in discomfort, then look him straight on. You hold his nose between both your index fingers and give him a serious look. He can feel the crunch back in his skull as you reset it. He tastes metal on his tongue. Blood. You press a scrap of cloth to his nose and when his response is too slow for your liking, grab his hand and make it take over the position you held it in. 

“You good?” You ask. You sound mostly neutral, as if you would have after any fight he’s gotten into. There’s a hint of exhilaration. Good to know you had your fun too. What strikes him though is the concern that’s hidden beneath. You’re actually concerned for his wellbeing? 

“Yeah.” He groans leaning back only for you to interfere. Right. He’s sitting on a crate. “Saved me yet again. What would I do without you?” 

“You’ve got brain damage. And you’re drunk.” You roll your eyes.

“I’d hate to tell you, but I’m perfectly sober. The brain damage? Now that, I won’t make any statements on.” Ever the witty remarks you snort and cross your arms. 

“Oh really? Captain Kingsley, started a bar fight perfectly sober? What would the people say?” You retort. Maybe it’s the buzz of what little alcohol you did manage to consume, or the adrenaline beginning to wear off but it’s so easy again. You don’t feel like you’re running away from a truth right now. This moment, is just so easy. 

“There’s the sass I love.” He grins. He’s missed this. The times where you’re so easy going. You’ve been avoiding him, you’ve been distant and he’s missed this nature of yours, the one you reserve only for public settings and anything not to do with your person. And yet you close up again after that comment. Your shoulders move in and you rub your arm, only to be reminded of the forming bruises when you find your skin tender. 

“Do I want to know why this fight even started?” You try to change the subject, ignore the comment, pretend it was never said. Love. Love. Love. The word echoes through your mind. Kingsley sighs deeply and the usual attitude dissipates for a slightly more serious one.

“I don’t think you’ll like the answer.” His eyes cast downward. At first you’re brushing it off like a child being caught doing something they shouldn’t but then you see it for what it really is; avoidance. Like you’re avoiding certain things. Your heart clenches. You bite your tongue. No more running. May this tail-end of an adrenaline rush give you the courage to see this through. 

“Humour me.” He looks up and you see his eyes. Gone is the playfulness he usually displays, or the self-confidence and pride. The fuel of an epic bar fight is not enough to linger. 

“A captain from another ship had some choice of words about someone I happen to care about.” Kingsley admits. “I asked the captain if he’d like to take back his words. He did not.” 

“So you punched him in the face?” He drops the rag from his nose, the bleeding stopped and wipes away the remaining blood best he can before he simply shrugs. It’s not like he’s going to deny it and he’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. 

“They were some very offensive words. I take it to heart when my first mate is brought into question.” You thought you could brush over the implication it might have been you, not wanting to get any false hope but this blatant confirmation, that’s it. A small smile creeps onto your features and a warm and fuzzy feeling spreads through out. 

“So what you’re saying is, you knocked out another captain because they insulted me, spiked the ire of their crew until a tavern brawl erupted in which you took a further beating to the point I had to save your ass before their first mate could return the favour?” You step closer and closer until you’re right in front of him. Kingsley looks up at you nodding along and getting smugger with the second. That pride returns. 

“When you say it like that-“ You press your lips to his, your hands falling to his cheeks when he responds to your affections gleefully. Without breaking the kiss he scoots over on the crate and makes space for you. You sit next to him, thigh pressed against his, as you feel a warm palm against your cheek, and the other brushes along your arm, onto your shoulder until it settles on the small of your back and pulls you closer. 

Many things run through his head and most thoughts come as fast as they go because he has no room for anyone but you in his mind. At surface it’s easy. The taste of your lips; remnants of the ale mixed with some metallic taste of blood either yours, or his or both. Then when he feels daring enough to brush his tongue against you and you respond favourably he continues. He feels your arms move from his cheeks where they cupped his face curve around until you wrap your arms around his neck and allow yourself to move closer against him. He runs his fingers along your cheek, into your hair where they tangle, the other pressing against the small of your back, brushing along in gentle circles. Secondly words finally appear in his head, cohesive strings of thought; why did he wait so bloody long? This now, this moment is a blessing but if this is how you feel, and might have felt ever since you retreated from him, he should have done this earlier, should have confronted you earlier and cleared up that misunderstanding. 

Thirdly, Kingsley wants this moment to last forever. He’d fight an entire armada on his own if it meant you would grace him a kiss, even just a single one. But you do pull apart. Forehead against his, eyes still closed, he takes in the proximity to you. previously when you had a moment of physical closeness, you’d bolt the first chance you got. He hopes you won’t. He hopes you’ll stay. But he still makes it clear; if you think this a mistake, something you regret now, you can. He would never hold something like that against you. Sure it would hurt his feelings, but such is the way of life. It’s not just his word that matters here. If you are not one-hundred percent behind this, then it simply should not happen. He wants to be sure you don’t feel there’s no way back, that you feel trapped or like you have to but then he feels your lips peck his once final time before you pull back, unwrap your arms from him as he lets go of you. What he does not expect is for you to grab onto one of his hands, and pick the rag with the other, only to press it to his nose again.

“Your nose bleeding again.” You try to hide your gentle laughs as he just shakes his head in amusement causing you to reach out quickly and hold his head still. Kingsley responds but you can’t make out the words so when you raise an eyebrow he pulls the rag away once more, holding you at the wrist ever so gently. 

“Injury. Forever to ruin the moment. At least I have a good healer.” 

“I’m a pirate. Not a healer.” You deadpan. “If you’d like me to go fetch the healer I’m sure he’s deep in his cups but should be perfectly-“ Kingsley grabs your hand when you poke at one of the forming bruises. 

“Oh, you think you’re funny now, aren’t you? Don’t backtalk to your captain.” You wipe away some more blood, and prevent any further response. 

“My dear captain seems to be incapacitated.” You hum. He pulls away the rag again. This time the bleeding seems to stop and you feel safe to put it down.

“Well then, first mate. I’m pretty sure that puts you in charge. What are your orders?” You grin and tap your chin. 

“I’m sure I can think of something.” You purse your lips every so lightly and Kingsley takes the opportunity to peck them in jest. He’ll have some ideas. Some inspiration for you. The ice has broken and with it all previous tensions. The morning can only tell how things will be when you’re both down from your adrenaline highs and when the world has returned to normal, or as normal as can be on this ship, given that Kingsley did just spark a conflict between his crew and another but he couldn’t care less. He lives in the moment and this is a good one. You’re living in the moment too. You can talk later about how much your lives have been one romantic cliche for the past few weeks. 

[critter-genfic-events]

Misunderstandings: A Critical Role Rec List

Hey everyone! This week we have seven amazing fics that are all about misunderstandings. Additionally, we have a couple of announcements down at the end of the post, so please check those out. Recs under the cut, and as always, remember to comment or kudos if you liked them!

everything built may break by ZPumpkin (2157,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings:

Laudna in the aftermath of the Rock Incident.

Reccer says: This fic especially resonates given the amount of beautiful Laudna and Ashton moments we've seen since this incident. It's a wonderful look at Laudna's pain in the aftermath of her argument with Imogen.

No Respect by LilacConArtist (2212,Teen) Warnings: Descriptions of chronic pain Pairings: Ashton Greymoore & Imogen Temult

Ashton can handle themself. They can handle their pain. They won't slow the group down. They don't need anyone's help or pity.

Reccer says: I like the connection with different types of chronic pain between Imogen and Ashton

Two Weekends by BotchedExperiment (2463,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Beauregard & Jester, Beauregard/Yasha

A modern AU where Beau and Yasha have just started dating and Jester is feeling a little left out.

Reccer says: I've got a fondness for any fic that shows platonic relationships to be as important as romantic ones, and this is a short fluffy fic that explores that feeling of being left out.

Wrong by Moonsp1r1t (1594,Teen) Warnings: Pairings: The Mighty Nein & Kingsley Tealeaf

The Mighty Nein have trouble seeing Kingsley for who he really is. It gets to Kingsley

Reccer says: I like fics that treat Kingsley as his own person, even as it acknowledges how difficult it might be for the other Nein to not see Molly or Lucien.

Pyre of Lies by Swan_Song (6312,General) Warnings: None Pairings: The Mighty Nein & Verin Thelyss

Verin is informed of his brother's death. The Mighty Nein come to pay their respects, and hopefully clear up some misunderstandings.

Reccer says: It's got just the right amount of angst and misunderstanding for the situation

touchstone by fadewords (18223,Teen) Warnings: Dissociation, disordered eating Pairings: Nott & Caleb Widogast

An early Mighty Nein fic where Nott becomes ill. Caleb takes care of her.

Reccer says: It's wonderful hurt/comfort, with the rest of the nein trying to care for each other in their own way.

Wild Fried Rice by Multishipperlove (3059,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Caduceus Clay & Fjord

Fjord tries to impress Caduceus with a home cooked dinner on their first date, but quickly has to realise that more often then not, things do not go as planned. And as it turns out, almost setting his kitchen on fire is not the worst part of the evening. Or is it?

Reccer says: It's a cute story about getting over an embarrassing situation and meeting people where they are.

If you liked this rec list, follow along for more! We'll be posting a new list with a new theme each Monday. And if you would like to make a rec yourself, feel free to reach out to @professor-rye to request access to the submission form! 

Next week's theme: Keyleth of the Air Ashari! And what a time to celebrate the Tempest! It wasn’t planned, but it’s very fitting all the same! So gather your favorite Kiki gen fics and send them our way!

And lastly, just a couple of quick announcements! To start, I think I’d like to move the list from Monday to Wednesday, just for ease of posting and sending off reminders. I will also likely start posting a bit earlier in the day as well, but I’m not setting that in stone just yet. And then second, if you are looking for a community of writers to bounce ideas around and encourage each other while we work on our upcoming Gen Week fics, The Writer’s Corner discord server is open to adding more members! We also post reminders about the various Critter Gen Events there as well, among other cool writing activities. If that’s something you’re interested in, send me a message! 

Alrighty, that’s it for today! See you all next week!

[grayintogreen]

WIP WEDNESDAY

I'm gonna be alternating Wednesdays with Roseverse and LitMoR, so since last week was a Roseverse preview, here's a preview of the next chapter of YCDHN! Featuring the origins of a joke I have been dying to make for SO LONG.

-

Plans never survived first contact with the enemy, and that was equally true of victories. People who spent too long celebrating a win rarely lived to see a second one.

The Mighty Nein (ten plus an additional four) gathered in the dining hall of Kindunos Keep, where months ago nearly all of them had murdered an entire tribe worth of people who thought they were stronger than they were. Reminders of small victories were necessary as they prepared to face the biggest one yet- the one for all the marbles.

Lucien was the one who stood up to take point and leadership. This nightmare had been started at the time of his birth- for the purpose of this leg of the journey, they were all going to look to him now and no one complained about it. Not even Molly looked at him skeptically.

A far cry from where they began, but the world was moving on. “They work fast when they want to,” he explained, looking to Beau, hunched over her hand like if she dug her nails into the eye on the back of it, she would tear it from her flesh. “It starts with dreams and then one by one, they’ll start bringin’ you more gifts.” He looked to Tyffial, Otis, and Zoran with their amulets, to Molly with his- eyes downcast and on the table, the reality of being a thrall still too close to the surface for him. “And once you’ve got nine eyes, you’re theirs. There won’t be anything we can do ‘til they’re dead.”

They didn’t have time to get another amulet made. Those things didn’t come cheap and Waccoh had used up every bit of good will and resources she had to make the ones for the other Tombtakers. There was no scenario where they could buy time for a second and wait this out. If they didn’t leave tomorrow, there was going to be Hell to pay for Beau and for all of them.

“The Somnovem are still being fueled by the Chained Oblivion,” he went on. “And all of them are right pissed at us for bein’ a thorn in their drawers.” He folded his arms behind his back. “Always nice when the apocalypse has a personal touch, hm?”

A small, restrained laugh. It had been a long time since Lucien had to give a speech like this. Nice to know that he could still maneuver around the appropriate beats to keep the mood from souring into hopelessness. Yes, things were dire, but they were going to meet it head-on. Violently.

He went on, pacing. “I know it looks like we have plenty of numbers on our side, but it’s not just nine ancient, batty-as-shit wizards and the god they’re siphoning power off of. It’s the thousands upon thousands of people trapped in Cognouza as well.”

“You lot handle the Somnovem,” Tyffial shrugged. “The Tombtakers will handle whatever else there is.” She smiled at Essek with too many teeth. “That includes you.”

“Why I have no qualms about aiding you in the fight, I think calling me a Tombtaker is… inaccurate, to say the least,” Essek drawled.

Otis leaned over to stage whisper at him. “Nah, we already voted. Can’t back out now. You’re with us forever. Heh.”

While Essek had a crisis over that, Lucien flashed Tyffial a tight smile that she returned, the pair exchanging a heated series of silent messages with only the sharpness of their eyes. ”I don’t recall giving you control over the Tombtakers.” ”Oh really? Shouldn’t have fucked off and gotten yourself domesticated then.”

“That will not be enough to stand against an entire city,” Caleb spoke up. “We are going to need more allies.”

☽

“Hey, Yussa! It’s Jester. We’re just wondering if you’d come with us to Aeor? We’re gonna fight an evil city in the Astral Sea.” A beat. “Please?”

”Aeor is hostile to wizards and I regret that I would prefer not to accompany you there. I could perhaps do some investigating, however.”

“Okay, so I told everyone that and they all freaked out and Beau says you should really, really not do that, like, at all.”

”Ah. Well. I will speak to some of my acquaintance and see about gathering any useful tools you might need, then.”

☽

Beau crossed a line through Yussa’s name in her journal to join several other names that were considered dud leads. Couldn’t get the group in Vasselheim because somebody needed to be on stand-by if they failed; couldn’t recruit anyone from the Cobalt Soul because they were neck-deep in Assembly troubles…

Jester slapped her hands on the table. “What about Shakaste? We could have four clerics.”

☽

“Shakaste, this is Cree of the Mighty Nein. We could use your help with a problem in Aeor, if you would be amenable.”

“Hey, baby, I would love to, but I’m a bit tied up in business out in the Swavain Islands right now. You understand?”

☽

“I hate that guy, anyway,” Zoran muttered, watching Beau strike Shakaste’s name from the ledger.

“What about Cali and Reani?” Yasha offered.

☽

Seconds after receiving Jester’s Sending, a tree in the backyard of Kindunos Keep spat out an overly excitable aasimar druid and her nervous sorceress girlfriend, who looked as if she still couldn’t quite get a handle on tree travel. “Oh my gosh, this used to be the Jagentoth’s place, Cali! I can’t believe I wasn’t there to see them get wrecked.”

Caduceus, who had been waiting for them, grinned as he gestured to the bushes that had sprung up where the Jagentoths had been buried. “You didn’t miss the tea at least.”

The two girls tackled him for a hug.

☽

“This might be a long shot, but what about Keg? Think the Gentleman would give her up, Jes’?”

☽

In a fight club in Nicodranas, Beau stood next to Yasha, waiting patiently for Keg to finish the brawl that had interrupted their conversation. She stepped out of the ring, victorious, her opponent flat on his back and groaning.

“Yeah, what the hell?” She grinned. “I miss knockin’ heads with you assholes.”

☽

“Ooh. What about the crew of the Nein Heroez, Fjord?”

“I… don’t know if they’re going to jump at getting involved in this sort of danger willingly, Jester.”

Veth piped up, tapping her chin. “Twiggy might.”

☽

On the deck of the Nein Heroez, Caleb and Veth laid out the plan to a wide-eyed Twiggy.

“I’m in!” She said, without even pausing to think about it.

☽

“How many is that?”

“Eighteen. Anyone else?”

Eighteen seemed like so many to drag through the tundra, even with it being Molly’s favored terrain and therefore impossible for them to get lost. It seemed like too few to face the horrors of Cognouza and what was waiting for them there.

It also just didn’t feel like the right number, in general.

“I have an idea,” Cree spoke up during a lull between names being offered and dismissed in the same breaths.

[the-kaedageist]

For the WIP ask, I have to know: what is lol essek? 😄

I actually had to check this myself because I did NOT remember writing this at all! It's essentially ~1300 words of Essek being totally furious that he's in love with Caleb because the feeling is driving him absolutely mad. 😂

Here is an excerpt, since I likely won't finish this story! This is more like a complete snippet so I'm putting the majority of it under the cut:

After a day of laughter and wine spritzers – something Essek would not have been caught dead drinking except that a little blue tiefling had insisted – Jester retired for the evening and left Essek to his own devices. He settled in the comfortable little room that he’d been given in the Chateau and prepared for his trance…and his brain refused to be silent.

Caleb, it thought like a spell stuck on repeat. Caleb. What would Caleb think of this tome? Essek tossed the book aside in disgust. What would it be like if Caleb joined you for a walk by the sea? his brain continued, undeterred. What if Caleb was staying here with you? What if Caleb kissed you—

Essek rolled over and buried his head in the pillow, making a muffled noise that he would have sworn before a judge and jury was not something so undignified as a scream. He’d never felt such a way before in all his existence, always left untouched by others before the Mighty Nein had shoved their way into his life and left it hopelessly altered. And they had all been impactful, and he treasured them all dearly, but his feelings for Caleb were—

He rolled over onto his back and stared up at the mottled inn ceiling in despair. His feelings for Caleb were devastating.

The next day did not fare much better. Jester packed up more wine spritzers and dragged Essek to the beach at midday, which he tolerated only because the alternative was to stay inside and think about Caleb. He was so, so tired of thinking of Caleb; he never wanted to stop thinking of Caleb.

Jester spread a blanket out in a small isolated cove and put up the enormous beach umbrella that she’d lugged along with her, tilting it so that it covered Essek almost completely. He glanced up at her, a presence as bright as the sun that plagued him, and wondered if she could help him.

“Jester,” he said.

“Essek!” she chirped, handing him a small travel tumbler filled with wine.

Essek looked out at the sea, dimmed slightly by the dark glasses he wore perched across his nose. He thought about how, even in direct sunlight, the ocean was impossibly beautiful. The only time he’d spent by the sea before his recent adventures had been those horrible days in Nicodranas that led up to his unmasking, the horrible party and its ending in a ship’s hold. He suddenly yearned, more than anything, to create other memories around the ocean with all of the Mighty Nein. With Caleb.

He thought, just briefly, of sending to Caleb to ask him to join.

“What are you thinking, Essek?” Jester asked in a deceptively mild tone that told Essek that the subject of his thoughts was painted across his face.

Essek took a sip of his wine spritzer – it fizzed on his tongue, truly horrendous – and swallowed it for courage. “I was just thinking, perhaps our friends would enjoy such an outing as well,” he said with none of the deceptive coolness that he’d once possessed as the Shadowhand of the Bright Queen. It was possible that the fact that his stupid…feelings…were driving him mildly off the edge of sanity had leaked through.

Jester grinned at him. “You’re so smart, Essek, that’s a great idea!” Before he could reply, perhaps play his comment off as a wistful joke, she was already casting in true Jester fashion, fingers twirling through the air in the somatics for Sending. “’Hi Caleb!’” she chirped. Essek groaned and tried to bury himself in the sand. “Essek and I are having a beach day! I’m sure it’s cold and boring in Rexxentrum, don’t you want to join us?” She wrinkled her nose for a moment before finishing off the message with a little tune of “dododo!”

Impressive, how she always seemed to know when she was short of 25 words so she could add something superfluous (almost as impressive as how she seemed to never know when she was approaching her limit and her messages cut off mid-sentence).

“Jester,” Essek said desperately.

She held up a hand. “He’s tempted,” she whispered to Essek, even though they were the only two in the little cove. She groaned a moment later. “But he’s busy with preparing for his lessons. Boring.”

Essek hated the little drop of disappointment that curled its way around his heart at her words. It was so foolish – he was blessed to even have the company of Jester, his dear friend. There was no need for Caleb to join them for the day to be fulfilling or fruitful. He angrily took another sip of the wine spritzer and coughed on the carbonation, sputtering.

Love has no dignity, he thought sourly as the sound of Jester’s laughter rang through the air.

Ask me about my wips! | Other responses

[ariadne-mouse]

A very belated WIP Wednesday, starring a snippet from the polymorph fic (which I am now editing! progress! it is happening!):

---

Essek sighed. “The threat upon me has not diminished.  The Dynasty yet searches for a traitor, and I am he.  And while Ludinus remains in power, I must assume that he desires my downfall also.  Or else he may try to press me to betray my country again in new and different ways.  Regardless, I must be able to leave at a moment’s notice.”

“But there have been no attempts?  No news from either side?”

“No.  It seems I must await my fate, and hope I am ready when it comes.”

Caleb leaned back in his chair. “Well.  If there is some time before that happens...  You might guess it, but Ludinus is on my list.  After I am done with my old teacher, he is next.” Caleb’s eyes burned as they met Essek’s, angry and bright.  It suddenly seemed entirely logical that he could scorch clay with a touch, if such fire he held within.  It was dangerous.  Enticing.  Caleb wore his fury well.

Essek was also very, very glad he was not Ludinus Da’Leth.  

“If so, he should be nervous.”

“I think so.”  Caleb’s dark, viciously satisfied look slipped to the middle distance and became brittle.   His grip on his teacup became white-knuckled.

“Good,” Essek said, casting around quickly for something to draw Caleb back to the present.  He tapped his fingers against his lips in a contemplative gesture, and then briskly began to clear a space on the desk.  

Yes.  Now was as good a time as any for this. 

“Speaking of preparation, I would like to ensure that we are secure in our resources and abilities before we depart.  Specifically, I would like to give you this.”

A flick of his wrist brought forth his spellbook, and he opened it to the pages for Dark Star.

Caleb’s expression refocused and grew hungry, and he leaned all the way forward in his chair.  He moved his teacup to rest on his knee, below the edge of the table where it could not spill on the book — a small, simple courtesy from one wizard to another.

“This is beautiful,” Caleb said, fingertips hovering a reverent inch from the page.  He looked up through his lashes at Essek.  “You’re sure?  You are not putting yourself in more danger to share?”

“I would be putting myself into more danger not to share it,” Essek pointed out.  “As I imagine our experience in Aeor with only two wizards will be very different than with the rest of the Mighty Nein.  I would have you copy any spell you desire from this book.”

“Essek,” Caleb said, wonderingly, a crease in his brow. “That is— a very generous favor.”

“We are beyond favors, Caleb Widogast,” Essek replied brazenly.  “I would be honored to teach you all of what I know.  Dunamancy suits you.”

[thebest-medicine]

Day 26: Counting

Tickletober 2023 - Critical Role - C2 Mighty Nein - lee!Caleb

[see my other tickletober 2023 fics]

A/N: Jester loves to tease. Caleb flusters easily.

[read on AO3]

Words: 550

—

Caleb squirmed uselessly against the floor as Jester loomed over him, her weight tossed over his hips and her knees pinning his arms to his sides. His cheeks bloomed with the redness of a ripened tomato as he tried his best to close his eyes and block out Jester’s teasing. Her grin was wide as her fingers wiggled teasingly toward Caleb. 

“Jester- wait!” Caleb strained, eyes pleading up at her, the hint of a smile on his lips.

“Okay! Fiiiiive.” As she spoke, her wiggling finger descended in time with her countdown. 

“Fooouuuur.” She drew each number out, words laced with teasing and joy. 

A strangled whine came from beneath her.

“Threeeeee.” A dramatic pause as she sucked in a deep breath.

“Twooooo.” She was getting close to the material of his shirt now.

“No no no no- Jester- Jester please!” Caleb squirmed as far as he could from the encroaching fingers. He could barely fight off the anxious giggles bubbling up in his chest, a few slipped through. 

“What is it, you’re not ready yet?” She pulled her hands back a few inches. “Do we need to count down from a bigger number so you have time to get ready?” 

“No! Please- Jester!” 

“Ten.”

“Nein! Don’t!” 

Jester snorted at that. “Eight!” 

Caleb kicked feebly behind her, knowing there was not much of a chance of evading a tickly tiefling attack once Jester or Molly had their sights set. Best to just get it over with - if only Jester would just do that.

“Seven… Six… Five… Four…” Jester’s nails wiggled closer and closer as Caleb lost the battle with fighting off his smile. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying his best to tamper his giggles. Once his eyes were shut tight, a long few seconds passed without her saying anything else. 

Slowly, one of his eyes peaked open. Jester was beaming down at him, her eyebrows twisted into a faux-stern expression. “Are you paying attention? Do I need to start over at an even higher number so you can get ready?”

“Gods- Jester, don’t-” Caleb whined.

“Twenty-five.”

“Nehehein!”

“That’s not what comes next! It’s twenty-four! Don’t skip ahead!” 

Caleb whimpered through his anticipatory giggles. 

“Twenty-three… Twenty-two... Twenty-one... Twenty... Hey you know this next one! Nein-teen!”

Had he not been so high on adrenaline and anticipation, Caleb might have rolled his eyes at that. Or laughed - well, he still laughed. 

“Eighteen... Seventeen... Sixteen…”

“Nein- no no please- don’t count down- don’t count!”

Jester pouted, her hands drawing back to rest on her hips. “Well now you made me lose count again!” 

“Mein Gott- Jester, please!” 

“Do you want me to just start tickling you?” 

“Nein!” Caleb embarrassingly (see: adorably) squealed out in response. “I- I-”

“Well then I don’t know what you want me to do! You know how I draw all the time? My hands have to stay active! My fingers can only wait so long, they have to tickle!”

Caleb willed himself to melt through the floor. Instead, he just closed his eyes as a deflated whine came out of his throat. 

“How about we try again?” Jester grinned down at the blushing wizard. Her tail whipped side to side with excitement behind her. “Come on, open your eyes, I’ll start over-”

“Nein!”

[mareastrorum]

WIP Wednesday: The Fool and the Soldier, Ch. 7 (Forward)

The Fool and the Soldier is now up on AO3, updated every other Friday. This is an off-week, so here is a snippet from next week’s chapter! Commentary on Chapter 6 will go up on Friday.

Fanfic Summary: Mollymauk Tealeaf survived the Mighty Nein's encounter with the Iron Shepherds on Glory Run Road, but a short time later, a spirit began hunting him, claiming that he stole his body. This Campaign 2 AU begins with Episode 26 and continues on from there.

It was an unfairly gorgeous day. The sun shone as though nothing had gone wrong the night prior, with only a few puffy clouds swiftly traveling in from the south.

The Nein had escaped with their lives and a ship, but none of that had gone according to plan. They had only intended to question Marius LePual about what he knew of Avantika and the ball she had hired the Jagentoths to find. They would up killed nearly the entire crew—which turned out to be pirates, so it wasn’t like it was bad—and taking their ship. She had almost killed another crewman, Gallen Westman, but she managed to bring him back, and he was going to help repair the ship and stay on the crew. He wasn’t even mad or anything.

But other than her, Caleb, Molly, and Nott, the rest seemed sullen over how it had gone. Fjord and Beau talked each other up a little, and Yasha was fine one Molly sat with her for a while.

Caduceus had sat with his knees to his chest as he spoke. “I… had a mission, a holy purpose, a thing that defined me, and I thought that I was honoring it, and now—what if I was wrong? This is not what I thought it was going to be.”

“What was your mission?” Jester had asked.

“My home is dying and… I thought this was what I was supposed to do. I waited for a sign and I thought you were the sign, and now maybe there wasn’t any sign. Maybe I just left, and I’m on a ship in an ocean that doesn’t want me here. It’s been so quiet, and— what if I made a mistake?”

“Well,” Jester replied before a pause. “A lot of times I think that maybe the Traveler has left me and I think maybe things are going poorly and he doesn't like me anymore, but sometimes he'll just show up after a while and tell me that I was on the right path all along, and he just made it fun for me to find it again.”

“And one day will be the last time; what then?”

“You’re not afraid of death, are you?”

Caduceus had shaken his head. “No. Although dying was— I’ve been hurt before and I’ve— almost drowning was a lot.” He seemed to be looking far away when he said that, as if it was something other than what had happened that day, then he laughed nervously. “That was a lot, and the ocean is a lot, and this is a lot.”

Jester patted his back. “Breathe.” The firbolg took a deep breath in and out. “The world is a lot bigger than your cemetery. There are a lot of things for you to see, and you have to break out of your comfort zone in order to find the path that you are looking for.”

“I think I needed to hear that,” Caduceus said as he nodded. “Thanks.”

Caduceus was always so confident and calm until then that Jester had not thought to worry about him. He was a healer, he looked out for the Nein. But he needed someone to look out for him, too. Jester and Molly had cheered him up by cooking with him and showing him the spice pouch Yasha got, so the firbolg seemed calmer by the time he slept. They’d try to do more stuff like that for him to help as they went.

In the meantime, the Nein had made plans to travel out to the Inky Claw Reef in search of Avantika’s ship, the Squalleater. To tie off some loose ends, Jester and Nott had swiftly made their way into the Opal Archways toward the Lavish Chateau. The rest had stayed on their new ship, The Mistake, or gone to the harbor to recruit a crew and spread rumors to cover up what had happened.

Jester was dressed in a disguise courtesy of Molly and Beau: a brunette wig over her hair and horns, makeup to give her a lighter complexion, arm length gloves, and Beau’s light blue coat. Nott had used her new hat of disguise to take the form of a cute halfling: a plump, dark-skinned young woman in simple gray clothes with a round, pleasing face and pretty brown eyes. She walked through town as if they had only just arrived, with confidence Jester had not seen before. It was enough that none of the zhelezo bothered either of them.

While they had a brief reunion, and Jester had nearly decided not to leave, seeing her mother and Bluud one more time was worth it. She assured them that whatever rumors they heard about a blue tiefling dying were made up. They were working on a case! And hit a major lead! And going out to sea! Marion would take care of Nugget and the peacock, since they would not do well on a ship, and even keep the cart for them until they returned.

“Be safe, my little šašek,” Marion said as she smiled and kissed Jester on the forehead. She also put a small pouch in Jester’s hands. “And a token for you, too.”

“Thank you, Mama!” Jester said as she hugged her one more time. “I love you. I’ll be back soon, and I’ll have a lot of stories.”

Marion patted her before pulling back, “I love you, too, Jester. Go! And I will see you soon.”

Jester almost clung to her again, but she nodded and walked out with Nott, tossing one more look back. Marion smiled knowingly and waved once before going to her vanity. Jester took a breath before walking down to bid Bluud and the others farewell, and she was shortly outside once more with Nott.

“You really missed home, didn’t you, Jester?” Nott suddenly asked.

“What? Of course! It was my first time out of the city,” Jester explained as they began walking. “There’s so much I didn’t get to show you! Oh, you know, maybe we’ll be back for the New Dawn parties for the new year. It’s so much fun. There’s stuff all along the beaches from dawn to sunset, and there’s food and fireworks and…” She continued going on about the parties, remembering the times she would sneak out with the Traveler to explore and play some pranks at the snootier galas. The Ruby was usually invited to all of them, but she attended only one in the mornings and then had to recover back at the Chateau. It was so hard for her to leave; she was scared of the outside, only leaving once or twice a year.

“Jester, ah—” Nott trailed off.

“You can’t eat Sprinkle, Nott,” Jester pre-empted, petting the weasel in her hood. He squeaked at her and nuzzled.

Nott balked. “No! I mean, it would be delicious, I’m sure, but that’s not what I was going to suggest.” Jester pouted. “Do— do you want to stay here with your mother?”

Jester shook her head. “I can’t, it’s too dangerous.”

“You could take this hat,” Nott replied, fighting a frown as she patted her hair. “It’s magic, so you could pretend to be one of your mother’s servants or something. You missed, her didn’t you? It’s not right to separate a mother and her child like this.”

Jester felt a pang in her chest, and she looked over her shoulder at the Chateau, still visible over the rooftops a few blocks away. Visiting the Ruby had whipped up so much nostalgia for home, and it hurt to see how lonely her Mama had been. It would be a lie to say she didn’t want to stay.

Yet, when Jester met Nott’s gaze, her face was equally distraught. It was obvious how much it meant to her that she didn’t look like a goblin. She had spoken many times of how much she disliked goblins, but she’d never mentioned that she also wanted to be something else that badly. And what about the Nein? Caduceus had nearly drowned when they fought Algar, and without her, no one would have been able to revive him. Caleb nearly died in that confrontation, too. Without her spells, would the Nein have escaped the zhelezo the night before? No, they needed her.

An image of the Ruby came back to her, a memory of months earlier when her mother hand her a pouch of gold before she fled from Lord Sharpe.

“See the world. As much of it as you can. Find people to love, and people who love you, and send it all back to me.”

There was so much more out there.

“Thank you, Nott, but I can’t,” Jester answered. “I missed my Mama, I did. But you all need me, and I want to go. And Mama wanted me to, too, so I could bring it back to her in stories.” She looked out at the bay, the sun sparkling brilliantly on the water like a jewel. “I’m not done yet. Mama has Nugget to keep her company, and I can send her messages, and we’ll come visit. It’ll be okay.”

Nott inspected her for a moment, then grinned brightly. “Alright. Then we’ll keep an eye out for souvenirs for her! Oh, maybe post cards, or…”

Once more, Jester felt a pull to get one final glimpse of the Chateau. Just one more time. But she resisted it and kept walking forward, keeping a smile on her face as she chatted with Nott about what to bring back to her Mama.

Jester would miss something if she kept looking back.

[peach-the-owl]

Hi, I’ve been obsessed with your writing for a while, and I was wondering if you would write a final part to Far From Home where the reader goes to Tal’Dorei with Allura and the rest of the Mighty Nein after the events at Cognouza and finds Vox Machina again?

Oooooo~ I hadn’t thought about those fics in a while. You are absolutely right, a reunion must be had!

If anyone’s in need of a refresher here’s Part 1 and Part 2

Far From Home (Finale)

Vox Machina/Mighty Nein & Child!Reader

It’s been quite some time since your time travelling escapade, and at least month since your finale battle in Cognouza, the world may not know what you’ve all accomplished but you sure did. As a way to help wind down and move to the next chapter in your lives Allura had invited you all to come to a party in Tal’Dorei, it was possibly a way to share stories and make new connections. Either way you were super excited to go, only feeling a little bummed out when Caduceus said he wouldn’t be joining, only to perk up again as the both of you agreed that you’d tell him all about it once you got back.

Thanks to Caleb’s photographic memory he was able to construct a teleportation circle right to Allura’s tower, of course being sure to have Jester send a message to her in advance as to not shock the woman with an unexpected visit. With things set up and everyone ready Caleb casts the spell and you all step through the portal. The first thing you do is run up to one of the windows and look outside, last time you were here with the Nein you didn’t get the chance to see the city and you’ve been curious. Thanks to the height of the tower you got a good view of the whole city, finally getting to see just how beautiful it looked, defiantly a stark difference to burning and broken buildings. Then you saw it, a short distance from the city stood a lone fortress, the one you were sure was where you followed those other adventurers to safety.

“(Y/n).” Kingsley’s voice pulls you from your thoughts. “Come on, you’re supposed to be my resident know it all. Are you really going to stare into dreamland and leave me to my own devices?” He playfully questions.

“You’d leave to your own devices even if I was paying attention.” You retaliate with a soft punch to his leg, he feigns being hurt by the “attack” making you both start laughing. Looking back to the others you notice Allura now preparing another spell, guess this party wasn’t being held in Emon. Another trip through a portal and you were somewhere completely new.

“Welcome to Whitestone Castle.” This woman looked too fancy to be a simple attendant. “You must be the Mighty Nein, Allura’s told us a bit about you, my name’s Vesper, if you would please follow me to the grand hall.” She then leads everyone to where the party was held. Of course Caleb, Beau and Fjord had their fair share of questions along the way.

“Are you okay? You look a little, umm… nervous.” Yasha asks with concern, pulling in your attention.

“Huh? Oh, uhhhh, yeah I’m okay. Just looking at everything.” You reply.

“Okay, if you need me to carry you just ask.” She gives you a pat on the head. She did technically have a point, you were feeling a little nervous, after all those adventurers you met, Vox Machina you now recalled, could be here. Although would that actually matter, sure those memories are still fresh in your mind but for them it’s been years, did they even remember you? Honestly you didn’t think so, you didn’t do much during your stay in the past and defiantly nothing noteworthy to be remembered by, it wouldn’t be surprising if you did meet them and they saw you as just some kid at the party.

You could hear the chattering of party goers before stepping into the main hall. No one wastes any time splitting up and conversing with others. Beau doing what she does best getting intel with Yasha close beside her, Caleb’s still chatting with Allura and Kima, Jester was trying to convince Fjord to dance with her, Veth doing about the same with Yeza, Kingsley had just disappeared from view entirely hopefully not getting into too much trouble. Unsure what to do yourself you settled for the easy choice of going to the snack table, however as you approached you can’t help but notice the bear just sitting casually next to it. Switching gears you walk up to the bear, trying to remember his name.

“Trek… no. Tricky… no, that doesn’t sound right either.” You mumble, getting the bears attention. He lifts his head and sniffs the air, tilting his head curiously at you before leaning a little closer and puffing air in your face, making you giggle and refresh your memory. “Trinket!” You say proudly, as if understanding you he nods, relaxing his head and letting you pet him. While petting him you catch sight of a beautiful half-elf with antlers resting on her head, you recognized her, she was the one you thought was a princess… Keyleth, that was her name. You weren’t sure how you should say hello to her, still wondering if she remembered you. Shaking you head to clear your thoughts you take a breath and just go for it.

“Excuse me?” You tug lightly on her dress to get her attention. “Are you a princess?” It was a strange icebreaker, but it was the first thing you’d asked her when you first met, a part of you thinking that maybe it’ll refresh her memory. She turns and looks at you about to say something, but when her eyes meet yours she pauses, a surprised look on her face.

“I-It’s you.” She practically whispers, the recognition in her voice makes you tilt your head in confusion, did she actually remember? You had hope they would but didn’t actually expect them to.

“You… you remember me?” You ask, wanting solid confirmation. This makes her smile as she nods, kneeling down to match with your height.

“I do! Wait… come with me a minute, the others have to see this.” She gets up and offers you her hand, after a moment of hesitation you place your hand in hers and let her guide you to where two familiar gnomes were talking to a goliath, Pike, Scanlan and Grog as you recalled. “Guys! Guys! Look who came to visit.” She calls for them.

“Uhhh, hi.” You greet awkwardly, not entirely sure what to say.

“Hello tiny child.” Grog greets back.

“Uhh, sup kid.” Scanlan looks at you as if trying to recall something.

“Hello… Hold on a second, you look… familiar.” Pike takes a good long look at you, her eyes then brighten up in recognition. “Wait! You’re the child that came from the future, or well present now. It was (y/n), right?”

“Yeah! I didn’t think you guys would remember me.” You say still a little shocked.

“Remember who?” Grog asks confused, so he didn’t remember but that seemed reasonable anyways.

“Don’t worry yourself about it big guy.” Pike pats his arm.

“Oh yeah!” Scanlan perks up. “I remember now! Your the one who said you saw my name on a book once.” You give a nod and he smiles brighter. “Well I’m glad to say you spoke correctly because I do indeed have a book. One minute!” With that he disappears into the crowd as two others approach.

“What’s all the commotion about?”

“Percy, you owe me 50 gold.” Pike lightly jabs him, a smug look on her face.

“For what exactly?” He raises a curious eyebrow at her. Pike gestures to where you’re standing, his eyes widening in shock. “What…? It-it can’t be.” The words slip out in a near whisper.

“You’re Percy, right? You’re the one who said I was making up I was from the future.” He stares at you dumbfounded, the half-elf with him kneels down to your level.

“Do you remember who I am?” She asks, an expectant look on her face. You think about it for a moment, before giving her a smile and nod.

“Your Vex! You own that really nice bear, Trinket!” You say happily, she chuckles at your enthusiasm.

“Yes, he is a very loveable companion isn’t he.” She replies.

“Umm…” You look around at all of them, feeling like something was missing, or someone. “Wasn’t there one more with you? He looked a lot like you.” You question, Vex’s expression drops.

“That’s a long story little one, but he’s… no longer with us…” She trails off saddened making you frown.

“Oh,” you stare at your feet and fidget with your fingers. “I’m sorry. I know how that feels...” You also trail off in reminiscence. Vex places a hand on your shoulder both in comfort and reassurance, you softly smile back. “Oh!” You suddenly realize something. “I wanna ask something.” They all give you a nod to continue. “Okay, ummm… Why do you remember me? It was super long ago for you guys, I thought you’d just forget.”

“Well you see-“

“(Y/n)! There you are, we were wondering where you ran off to.” Before they could answer they’re interrupted by Caleb walking over, joined soon after by the others in your group.

“Ah! I assume you’re the ones this child belongs to?” Percy asks quizzically.

“We apologize for their wandering, didn’t mean to interrupt your evening.” Fjord scratches the back of his neck nervously.

“No need, we’ve been enjoying their company and reminiscing a little.” Keyleth pipes up, getting some confused looks from the Nein.

“I’m back! Found what I was looking for!” Scanlan makes a sudden reappearance. “Here ya go!” He hands you a book. “It’s a personally sighted copy of my book. I don’t know if you ever got around to reading it after our previous meeting so now you have a copy of your own and bragging rights to all your friends that the author personally gave it to you.” Scanlan says proudly.

“Hold on. Reminisce? Previous meeting? (Y/n), what have you been up to?” Beau looks at you with a curious but firmly expression.

“Allow us to explain.” Vex steps in catching everyone’s attention. “You see about 20 years or so ago we were under attack by a powerful group of dragons calling themselves the Chroma Conclave. It was shortly after the initial attack on Emon that we found a lost, self proclaimed time traveller.” You look away slightly sheepish.

“At the time we weren’t fully aware of this, but we did know they braved the possibility of the dragons detection to save a comrade and friend of ours.” Percy adds. “And when they did tell us, some didn’t exactly believe their words, brushing it off as childish make believe.”

“We were able to send them home, unsure if it was actually the future or just across the world.” Pike gives you a knowing smile. “Either way, they left us with something vital from that point onward.” Now they really had your attention, wondering just what you could’ve left behind in your short time with them. Keyleth kneels next to you again, a bright look in her eyes.

“You gave us hope.” She says.

“Hope?” You question, utterly confused. “How? I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, dear.” Vex jumps in again. “Despite some of us still being sceptical,” she gives a quick glance at Percy, “the idea of someone from the future, a child no less, looking as well and even cheerful as they were in those hard times, well… it gave us that extra drive to see that future come to light.”

“It wasn’t just the dragons either.” Keyleth speaks up again. “After the Conclaves defeat there were still times where victory felt so far out of reach that I almost believed it was hopeless but then, remembering how you smiled when you asked if I was a princess reignited why we needed to keep fighting.”

“Not to mention, I couldn’t just hear how I’d made a fantastic book in the future only to not write it, that’s absurd! I had to see it come to light.” Scanlan flourishes with a dramatic pose, this gets a light laugh from the rest of Vox Machina.

“I remember that day.” Caleb says after they quiet down. “It was supposed to be a spell for gaining a long rest without much time passing, at the time it was still in development and my… colleague and I lost control of it. I know (y/n) told us as much as they could, but still, I never would’ve guessed this to be the result.”

“Well, I’d like to thank you for such an odd mishap. Who knows how different things could’ve turned out for us if they hadn’t appeared.” Pike thanks. You’re an embarrassed mess, even after all this time you still weren’t exactly used to so much attention, at least not to this degree. You never thought your mere presents all those years ago would affect such a big piece of history… but then again if they hadn’t achieved victory in the first place how different could things have that you wouldn’t have been thrown into the past to spark this hope… it was starting to hurt your brain too much to think about. (paradoxes baby’s!)

“Look at you!” You’re pulled away from your thoughts by Jester picking you up. “Being a brave hero all by yourself.” She twirls you around before squishing you against her and giving little bunny kisses, the both of you giggling as a result.

“You never told me you were a time traveller!” Kingsley says shocked, stealing you away from Jester. “Tell me everything.” With another laugh you start to recount your adventure with him.

“They’re a special kid.” Vex says, watching you happily chatting with Kingsley, Jester and Veth. “You should proud.”

“Oh trust us, we know.” Beau says, glancing over at you, you wave at at all of them.

“And we all are.” Yasha finishes for her.

[demigoddessqueens]

Okay just got done re listening to Episode 109 of the first campaign with the love potion. Okay reader gets dosed with this and how do VM, M9, Bells Hells and Crown keepers helps reader through this?

Love potion hijinks are always the best!! 💕

Vox Machina

So slightly different scenario of when it happened to Scanlan

Percy is still nearby and he’s all confused by your emotions. Vax and Keyleth don’t have time to get away so you’re flirting with all three of them. “How would the Raven Queen and Ashari feel if I were to love their champions?? Percy! Lordship suits you!”

Vex’ahlia sees what’s going down, and despite her trying to get you to bed, you’re flirting her ear off. “Vex! So soon already. How did you know how I felt?”

Grog and Scanlan are snickering away at their prank and give you grief about it the next morning.

The Mighty Nein

It was Mollymauk and Nott’s idea of a prank.

As soon as you take a swig of your drink, Caleb and Fjord are nearby in your view and you’re off

Jester and Essek are like “what the heck?” until Essek sees the traces of it in your drink, leaving both the tiefling and drow confused when you turn your attention towards them like “well, it’d be such a shame to be in a big bed all alone 👀”

Beau, Yasha, and Cadeuces see you. See your drink and then it’s a group effort of “welp ok, you’re going to bed now, sleep it off”

Bell’s Hells

Chetney and Ashton taking prank wars a little too far. Joke’s on them cause you sip your drink and got some look on your face towards them

Fearne, Imogen, FCG and Laudna see you like this. While Fearne and Laudna love the attention, Imogen and FCG are like “Is something wrong with your head? You good?”

Orym and Dorian are blushing messes when you give ‘em a peck on the cheek/lips