#Professor Widogast Series
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Someone called Jester falls down and pops up in Professor Widogast’s class!
...what was the reason for her visit again?
#read left to right#critical role#critical role fanart#caleb widogast#Professor Widogast Series#surprise bet you thought you saw the last of this series#turns out i'm super productive when i'm restricted access from twitter#notes:#i am super out of practice so the pacing is kind of rushed#though if i added any more i wouldve lost motivation#ahhh i missed my student ocs#i have a backstory for each one haha we'll see if anyone wants to know more about them maybe i'll do a little questionnaire for them#the next comic is either a find familiar lesson or beau visiting#also favorite jester noise: ahua ahua ahua
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professor widogast’s modest home in rexxentrum that isn’t bright but warm. all the windows might be shuttered but there’s always candlelight peeking through the cracks and smoke from the chimney that speaks to a hearty fireplace
there’s a garden out back with walls so high that no one knows how anything grows there, except that it does -- lush greenery that spills over the hedges and a massive tree that the whispers say the wildmother blessed
anyone with an arcane eye, and there’s plenty of them in rexxentrum, will tell you the place is warded to the teeth, enough to make your molars ache just standing on the sidewalk. it’s the kind of defense you expect walking past the candles and not a squat house in the tangles
its most frequent visitor is the cobalt soul expositor who always hops the fence, but there are others too: colorful tieflings and a half-orc they call captain, families of halflings and firbolgs, a series of handsome if distant young men who seem to have the same voice
professor widogast’s strange little home in rexxentrum, which is as much of a love letter to his friends as the tower, designed to keep them safe as they pass through the heart of the empire
#caleb widogast#mighty nein#critical role#cr2#shadowgast#(is what specifically kicked this thought off)#there's another thought that didn't make it into this post#that the only times the windows ARE opened up#(usually by that loud halfling woman)#the good professor looks distinctly more miserable#and doesn't perk up again until a few weeks later when the house is suddenly shut back up again#august chats
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Worldbuilding: A Critical Role Gen-fic Rec List
Well hello friends! Please enjoy these nine amazing fics about the wonderful world of Exandria and the heroes who live there! Oh, and don't forget to show the authors some love if you liked their work!
ways of helping by Mikkeneko (3622,Teen)
Warnings: None
Pairings: Beauregard & The Mighty Nein, Beauregard/Yasha
Beauregard is on her period and having a rough time. The rest of their nein help.
Reccer says: It's a nice little bit of hurt/comfort with a side of xenobiology and thought about what it would be like to have to deal with a bad period on the road.
swallowed with all hope by renquise (14319,Teen)
Warnings: None
Pairings: None
In Eiselcross, Essek writes reports, makes new acquaintances, tries not to die in snowstorms, and thinks of all the things he did and could have done.
Reccer says: It's absolutely beautiful and a very insightful depiction of what Essek's time at the Vurmas Outpost would have been like - and I appreciate the amount of thought that was put into the surroundings and what life would have been like in Aeor.
talon two by jhai (honekujira) (3047,Teen)
Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings
Pairings: Cerrit Agrupnin & Kir Agrupnin & Maya Agrupnin
Kir's history of using codenames over the sending stones
Reccer says: Amazing family feels but also a lovely glimpse into what life might have been like in pre-Calamity Avalir.
A Thousand Words for Snow by Schistosity (21016,Teen)
Warnings: No archive warnings apply
Pairings: Jester Lavorre & Mollymauk Tealeaf, Jester Lavorre & Nott, Beauregard & Nott , Beauregard & Caleb Widogast, Caleb Widogast & Yasha, Fjord & Yasha
A series of studies on the Mighty Nein and their language proficiencies. How language fails us, connects us, and defines us.
Reccer says: It's a fascinating study about how different members of the Nein might interact with the languages they know.
You Can Take a Fearne Out of the Feywild... by Beauteousmajesty (2992,General)
Warnings: none
Pairings: Fearne & Imogen, Fearne & Orym
A series of fics about Fearne and her feyness
Reccer says: I love Fearne, and this series does a very good job of exploring why Fearne is the way she is.
once upon a damn-you-all by grayintogreen (615138,Mature)
Warnings: None
Pairings: Mollymauk Tealeaf/Caleb Widogast, Fjord/Jester Lavorre, Beauregard Lionett/Yasha
After their meeting in Zadash, Cree decides to travel with the Nein to try and get Lucien back. Things unfold differently from there.
Reccer says: This monster of a fic (over half a million words, plus multiple sequels) has so much description, worldbuilding, original characters and texture - it's a fantastic read!
Road Rags by Goose (4112,Teen)
Warnings: Discussion of menstruation
Pairings: The Mighty Nein
The women of the Mighty Nein (plus a bird child) talk about handling periods, because Beau is perpetually curious. Later they bother the others about it too, because Jester delights in sowing minor to medium-level discord.
Reccer says: This is a question that I also often ponder, and I love how it was addressed so organically. Also just feels like great girls hanging out vibes
Nova by AnaliseGrey (1221,Not Rated)
Warnings: Some light discussion of starvation
Pairings: Caleb & Nott
Nott discovers that casting magic makes you really hungry, and worries about what Caleb sacrificed for her in the early days.
Reccer says: I love the idea of other, secondary effects of using magic like this, and the way Nott discovers it and the care that it sparks is just lovely
Kinds of Light by Beauteousmajesty (1420,Teen)
Warnings: Major Character Death
Pairings: Two Original Characters
A view of Aeor before the fall, from the eyes of those that just live there
Reccer says: I liked it
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, we'll be presenting gen fics focusing on parents and parental figures! Moms, dads, great-great-grand papis and stern sea captains who totally are only offering you a job, that's definitely it, no more.
#critter genfic rec lists#critical role fan fiction#cr fan fic#exandrian lore#the mighty nein#bells hells#critical role fan fic rec list#gen fic#worldbuilding
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Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Essek Thelyss, Caleb Widogast, Ludinus Da'Leth, Fjord Stone, Jester Lavorre, Calianna Mordsson, Astrid Beck, Verin Thelyss, Eadwulf Grieve, Other(s), Angst, Coercion, Dunamancy (Critical Role), the Slumber form of a 9th-level Imprisonment is basically a Sleeping Beauty AU, not unreality per se but heads up for realityweirdness
Ludinus Da'Leth needs a dunamancer--any dunamancer, really--to cast a spell for him, and he knows just the Soltryce Academy professor to enchant if he wants a very talented chronurgist to do his bidding. Unfortunately for Ludinus, dunamancy extends beyond his understanding of it, hearts are more complicated than they appear, and the dunamancer he has found is about to defy his understanding of both.
#fic#cr2#essek thelyss#caleb widogast#shadowgast#my contribution to the 'if ludinus hurt caleb or essek to hurt the other one would that be fucked up or what' subgenre#playing fast and loose with the mark hulmes calianna twitter lore since she probably wouldn't#have her partner and kids for a few more years technically#cad is also here slightly but i was trying not to bruce banner effect him lmao. thus the others tag
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love for you (is like a religion)
by molerein
sometimes she misses caleb so much she disrupts his classes. or, a journey in never falling out of love and your husband being the hottest transmutation professor the academy has ever seen.
Words: 2587, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Critical Role (Web Series)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: F/M
Characters: Jester Lavorre, Caleb Widogast
Relationships: Jester Lavorre/Caleb Widogast, Beauregard Lionett/Yasha
Additional Tags: caleb teaches and jester goes to see him, because she misses him!!!, alternatively: a snippet in their life post canon, Established Relationship, THEY'RE MARRIED AND IN LOVE YOUR HONOUR, because I love them and I said so, or; nyx gets sucked into yet another fandom, Post canon fix-it, beau and yasha are briefly there too
source https://archiveofourown.org/works/41747100
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[Podfic] Get Help by professor
by TheLordOfLaMancha
This is a Podfic of Get Help by professor.
Author Summary:
“Do you have a better plan?”
“No.”
“We’re doing it.”
“We are not doing ‘Get Help’.”
Words: 56, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Series: Part 54 of TheLordOfLaMancha's Podfic
Fandoms: Critical Role (Web Series)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: Gen
Characters: Essek Thelyss, Verin Thelyss, Caleb Widogast, Beauregard Lionett, Nott | Veth Brenatto, Jester Lavorre, The Mighty Nein
Relationships: Essek Thelyss & Verin Thelyss, Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast
Additional Tags: Rescue Missions, Fluff, Brotherly Bonding, Hijinks & Shenanigans, the thelyss brothers do 'get help', Background Relationships, Fluff and Crack, Crack, Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes, Audio Format: MP3, Audio Format: Streaming, Download Available, Podfic & Podficced Works
source https://archiveofourown.org/works/39181302
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Things that make me cry: Percy de Rolo making many many wonderful clockwork toys for his kids (and several little bears for Vex because she thinks they’re so cute.) There are lots of little moving animals and dolls and music boxes, but he never makes any toy weapons. He doesn’t mind his kids playing with them, but he doesn’t want to ever make weapons again, not even pretend ones.
and Professor Caleb Widogast writing children’s books on the side (illustrations by Jester Lavorre.) His series about a magical cat that goes on adventures is especially popular in the Empire, and was posthumously translated into Undercommon and published in the Dynasty by a mystery benefactor.
Just….deeply traumatized individuals who were so caught up in their own self loathing to ever imagine a happy ending for themselves, getting to use their genius to make nice, gentle things for children after they lost their own childhoods to trauma.
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Do you ever draw something incredibly meticulous just to feel something? Anyways Professor Widogast is canon
Hi this is part of a series of post campaign illustrations. Go look at the other ones too:
The Sapphire and Captain Tusktooth
Expositor Beauregard and the Orphan Taker
A day at the Brenatto’s
A Visit to the Blooming Grove
#critical role#critical role fanart#criticalrolefanart#caleb widogast#soltryce academy#the mighty nein#cr fanart#critrole#critrole fanart#cr#lomo art#just like caleb this piece took a lot of attention to detail
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Professor Widogast stumbles into his classroom one particular Monday morning, silencing the murmurs of "if he's more than 15 minutes late, we're legally allowed to leave!" Well, he presumes that's what they're saying; his ears are still ringing from last night.
He gives his students a quick logical puzzle as a warm-up. However, more than a few moments later, the kids are all still gaping at him. Caleb doesn't blame them; it's not every day that your teacher comes in looking like a human punching bag. There's gashes still visible on his neck and hands, and his body is basically one big bruise. Even Caduceus’s healing paired with a long rest wasn't enough to fully restore him.
"Aright," he sighs, resigned. "Who has questions?"
Every hand in the room shoots up simultaneously. Caleb feels an amused smirk pulling at his lips- at least they're curious.
"Wonderful. Once you complete the warm-up, you may bring it up to my desk and ask one question each."
The sound of pencils scribbling across paper fills the room. The children start quietly muttering to one another, some discussing the problem, most discussing their teacher. Caleb rests his eyes for a moment. Ohhh, that feels nice.
It feels like not a moment later when his trance is broken by the sound of confident footsteps and something being placed on his desk. Without opening his eyes, he responds, "Yes, Elise?"
An assertive, yet slightly squeaky voice answers back. "How'd you get so hurt?"
"I got into a fight last night." He says matter-of-factly.
The room bursts into sounds of disbelief. "No way!" one boy exclaims, as another one shouts "I told you!" Caleb peeks his eyes open and sees a few hands exchanging some copper, as twenty students start demanding more answers out of him. Caleb allows the volume of the room to rise a little longer before trying to regain some control.
"Please calm down everyone, I do not need the other teachers angry with me. In fact, I believe Professor Biesdorf is giving an exam right now, so let's tone it down a notch."
The students are not relenting, so Caleb decides to remind them of the rules. "I am not answering another question until there is another paper on my desk."
It helps a little. Some kids are too busy staring at him in awe to continue. They all must have assumed he slipped on some ice or tripped over one of his cats. These students are too young to have been taught of any of his exploits, so to them, he's just a stuffy professor who spends too much time in the library.
Another paper gets tossed onto his desk. "What did you fight," a boy named Otto demands. He's trying to act unfazed, but there's excitement sparkling in his eyes.
Caleb pauses for a moment for dramatic effect. "Someone I used to call a friend." Gasps echo around the room.
Not much longer, another paper is slammed in front of him. “Did you kill him?”
Caleb grins, “Ohhh, no. She’s much too clever for that.”
Soon enough, there’s a steady stream of worksheets being scattered around him, as his students congregate excitedly on the other side of his desk.
“Did you win, though?”
“Hmmm… I would say no.” Caleb squints his eyes faux-menacingly. “But you better not tell her that.”
“Who is she?”
“For security reasons, I cannot give her name out.” An uncontrollable smile fills Caleb’s face. “However, in this room only, we may refer to her as Fiona Fancypants.”
“Fiona Fancypants?” One girl manages to say through her giggling.
“Yes,” Caleb says with wide eyes. “And you better not underestimate her.”
“Why? What can she do?”
“She is not a sorcerer, and yet, she can create magic without a god, without music, and without a spellbook.”
“But isn’t that supposed to be impossible?”
“It is, yes.” (A/N: don’t come at me if i’m wrong, im dumb and its 2am)
“What kind of magic can she do?”
“I’ve seen her send large beasts to another plane of existence. I’ve seen her glue together petrified people and then bring them back to life. I've seen her deceive an ancient hag with nothing other than her own cunning and a moldy blueberry cupcake.”
“Are you in love with her?”
Now it’s Caleb’s turn to laugh in surprise. “No, but I do love her.”
“Then why did you fight her?”
“She betrayed me.”
“What did she do?”
“Yes, what did she do?” a deeper voice asks from the doorway. All the kids spin around to identify the unknown voice. There stands a dark elven man with curly black hair that sits at his shoulders. In his left hand he is carrying a brown paper bag. Caleb mentally kicks himself. Since he used up all his spell slots last night, he slept at the Blooming Grove with the rest of the Nein, and then he teleported right to the Academy in the morning. Which means he forgot to pick up his lunch from home.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet… Ussek.”
Essek, who has started making his way (🎵making his way🎵) through the classroom, momentarily freezes in bemusement. “Ah, yes. My name is... Ussek. It’s very nice to meet all of you. I’m sorry to interrupt, but even the smartest teacher in the world forgets things sometimes.” Essek places the paper bag on Caleb’s desk, next to the cluttered mix of papers. He picks one up and studies it with a serious expression before turning it around, revealing it to be nothing more than a series of scribbles. “Hard at work, I see,” he says in the driest of voices.
“Yes, well thank you for the reminder. We were all just getting back to our seats.” Caleb gives his class a pointed look. The kids all groan as they return to their spots. They watch closely as the two men turn away from them, speaking in hushed voices.
“So what did Fiona do?” Essek teases with a quirk of the eyebrow.
“... It was a complicated-”
“She challenged your word in Scrabble again?”
“Yes! Every time we play!”
“And you responded by attacking her?” Essek asks dubiously.
“What do you think?” Caleb retorts.
“That she attacked you?”
“Ah, at first it was just Thaumaturgy, but then it… escalated.”
“Well, do not worry. Next week, I’ll be there to protect you.”
Caleb looks at the ceiling and sighs, a smile dancing on his face. “I am going to ignore the insinuation there, and just say that everyone missed you at family dinner.”
Essek mirrors his boyfriend’s easy smile. “Of course they did. I do float, after all. Now, you better return to your students before they figure out my identity and rat me out to the Bright Queen.”
And Caleb most certainly does not blush, because there is no way his super hot boyfriend just made him forget that he’s supposed to be in the middle of a lesson.
Essek holds Caleb’s gaze as he does a quick series of hand motions and vanishes. Caleb just rolls his eyes as he turns back to his class, because he knows Essek just Dimension Door-ed into the hallway to impress the kids.
And it worked. The entire class has their mouths agape once again. Except for one terrified-looking child in the back of the room, who has his hand up.
“Yes Charlie?”
“Is Fiona Fancypants still looking for you?”
Schiesse. It was not Caleb’s intention to traumatize any children, so he shakes his head and responds, “Do not worry, she is on a boat right now on the other side of the world. She has no idea where I am.”
And indeed, Jester is sitting on the deck of The Nein Heroez on the other side of the world. However, at this moment, she is giggling through her scry spell as she’s describing all of this to her own boyfriend. (“He looks sooooo fucked up right now, Fjord, you have no idea.”)
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Ooh shadowgast and 8 (touches)?
shielding the other with their body
It was only a matter of time before the Dynasty caught up with him, Essek thinks. He's been their most wanted person for a year and they've finally traced him. He first noticed it in the market. He was wearing a disguise so he appeared like a human man, no one should have recognized him.
But as he was scanning a table of fresh vegetables, he caught something out of the corner of his eye, the symbol of the beacon. Essek inhales sharply. A Kryn soldier wouldn't risk being caught in Rexxentrum for anything less that the order of the Bright Queen.
Essek slowly puts the squash he had been checking down and tries to appear casual as he walks through the market. Immediately, he can tell two Kryn are following him.
Heart pounding, Essek takes series of winding turns, hoping to lose them, but he knows there's no chance. Now that they've found him they would leave until he's in their grasps.
Essek curses softly under his breath. "Think," he mutters to himself. In his mind he scans through places to run, even teleport. He can't go home without risking Caleb's life. He can't go to the Archive or the Academy.
"Fuck!" He exclaims softly. He can hear the soldiers' footsteps picking up pace. So he teleports out of the street, no real destination in mind. And that, as it turns out, lands him directly in the middle Caleb's office.
Caleb's head snaps up from where he had been working on a rather large stack of papers. "Shatz?" Caleb jumps to his feet and runs over to Essek. "What's going on?"
Essek stumbles back from Caleb. No, no, no he can't be here. He's putting Caleb in danger. He has to get away. Essek starts to run towards the door, but as he does a loud knock echoes through the room.
Essek stumbles back in fear, his heart beating like a jack rabbit when on the other side he hears, "Professor Widogast, we have reason to believe you know the whereabouts of a Kryn operative loose in the city. Open up, we need to talk."
"One moment, please!" Caleb calls to them as he manhandles Essek towards his supply closet. "I just need to finish grading this paper."
Essek lets Caleb shove him into the closet, though it's really more of a cabinet. The door shuts behind him with a barely audible click, leaving Essek alone in the dark closet. He holds his breath, not daring to move or make a single sound as Caleb opens the door and begins talking with the Crownsguard on the other side.
Essek knows he needs to focus on what they're saying, but all he can hear is blood rushing in his ears. He doesn't know how long he waits there, how long Caleb talks to the Crownsguard, but eventually, the handle turns and begins to open.
Essek tenses, ready to teleport again or to summon a ball of gravity to his hand. But on the other side of the door is Caleb, looking incredibly worried. "They're gone," Caleb tells him quietly.
"I'm sorry," Essek says, "I didn't mean to put you in any danger. They were following me and-and I didn't know what to do."
Caleb shakes his head and tugs Essek into a hug. Essek almost collapses against Caleb's chest. "It's okay, Shatz." Caleb rubs his back gently. "I'm not going to let them take you."
"I don't want you to get hurt," Essek admits softly.
Caleb's arms tighten around him, "You don't need to worry about me. I can take care of myself. We'll figure this out," Caleb assures him.
Essek just nods, knowing that it will probably be much more complicated than Caleb is saying. But he just lets himself be held, completely trusting Caleb to keep him safe.
#my fic#shadowgast#shadowgast fic#mighty nein#mighty nein fic#critical role fic#essek thelyss#caleb widogast#this didn't really follow the prompt don't hold it against me
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eight months ago, after the campaign 2 finale, i wrote myself a list of prompts for post campaign fic ideas (here). time to check in and see how we're doing from where i thought i'd go
beau and caleb taking baby monks and baby wizards on shared trips to break down the schism between the cobalt soul and the academy
i need to write some baby monks - that's certainly on the to do list
the nein helping astrid revamp the tower she has inherited in the candles (with fireball and hammers). fuck you, trent.
inheritance of the archmage - the rexxentrum fam go to the tower to collect evidence for the soul. they find more than they were anticipating: astrid needs a hug
wizard field trip to pumats to teach baby wizards to be nice to pumat or else
control flames - a view of professor widogast, with surprise guest lecturer expositor lionett, as they work to stop baby wizards being mean to shop keepers (among other things)
the nein taking it in turns to solo the victory pit in zadash for fun
i've got a wip with victory pit nonsense in, maybe one day you'll see it (been working on it since september)
'relaxing family cruise' on the nein heroes
i need to write more stuff on the nein heroez - ngl i have a lot of wips on the heroez but i should finish some of it. the opening of zemnian housewarming has a taste of nein heroez chaos, but i've got more in the works
astrid, beau, and caleb going for treason brunch to talk business whilst wulf and yasha do the farmer's market
the rexxentrum crew are always off screen in my fics - need to fulfill this one ngl. have unto the earth for now. it's missing astrid and wulf but the rest of the permanent rexxentrum crew are there. alternatively, gloria has essek's view on caleb, beau, and astrid in their post canon roles
veth fights a crab, part 2 (brenatto beach picnic)
veth fights a crab part two is the emotional ending to bread and buttons! this is one of my fav fics i've done!!
jester can and will organise a party on this boat. everyone's invited. they've got lots of wizards for transportation and jester wants to waltz
boat party is coming!! promise (this is the september wip again)
caleb finally goes to pick up that book on hoe technique that he has put aside for two silver in trostenwald. the bookseller is waiting, caleb. i don't care if you're a powerful mage, get your hoe technique book, essek might like it
fuck i need to write the fic about the hoe technique book from episode one. the concept is too powerful
the gang go to hupperdook, part 2 (where better to show kingsley fireworks)
this is (once again) in the september wip! it's coming, just very slowly
tea and cakes at the grove with the clays. yasha made biscuits!! reani is visiting with essek and she and clarabelle make copious weed/flower crowns
tea and cakes with the clays can be split into two, here. there's the entire nein doing it in the september wip, but for just essek, try a recipe for spaaldl
family meet up in trostenwald. they show essek all the sights (window we climbed out of, place veth stole from, table jester drew a dick on). the local government is not impressed to see them back
back to trostenwald, huh? i haven't done that. i do have a back to felderwin fic tho - you'll hear when i do
essek and caleb spending a year putting a permanent teleportation circle at each of the locations members of the nein can be found so that they can hop between places easily. unfortunately, the permanent teleportation circles give everyone else easy access to caleb's office whilst he's teaching
well the teleportation circles don't get their own fic, but they pop up in a lot of my post canon series. there's a little map in my head of the nicodranas houses and i can point out their circle on that. the nein heroez circle also shows up in guiding bolt. caleb's academy circles show up in control flames
jester showing kingsley her sketchbook when he's ready to see her catalogue of adventures and sharing her art supplies with him as they sail
jester and kingsley my beloveds. i don't have a fic dedicated to them quite yet, but you can see them interact in remembering how to love each other, guiding bolt, and jester lavorre, godmaker
ngl i've had a great time these last eight months. for the rest of my post canon stuff, check out my when we stop running series - i've done a lot of things i didn't anticipate eight months ago. let me know if you have more prompts or you just want one of my wips finished
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There’s a captivating substitute teacher in Professor Widogast’s class today!
(aka Essek if he’s not in the m9 reunion)
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[i could be purple / i could be anything you’d like]
“This is nonsense. At most an average person becomes acquainted with like, three purple people in their lifetimes. Purple people are special.”
“Professor Widogast, who picks up a new purple lover every month, is an outlier and should not be included."
Three of Professor Widogast's students gossip about his newest lover. One of them has a revelation.
listen, purple people are real and i know this because my roommate (beloved) is very much one. she had this idea for a fic and how could i say no to making it a reality?
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Relationships: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast
Characters: Minor Original Characters, Caleb Widogast (mentioned), Essek Thelyss (mentioned)
Words: 1004
Posted: 6 October 2021
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@capitola tagged me in this fun fic game! Copy the first few lines of your last ten fics, note any fun observations, then tag a few more friends. I only have six since I started publishing again actually. Here Goes!
1) Messes Together (594 words, Veth/Caleb)
Of all the adjustments that Veth had to make when she became Nott, getting used to the hands came slowest. She had the faint scars on her face and arms to prove it, clear records of all the times she had absently scratched at an itch only to find herself bleeding.
2) I Have Been A Fool For Lesser Things (3,154 words, Veth/Caleb)
Caleb Widogast sat in a quiet corner of a crowded tavern, polishing off the third in a series of bad decisions and watching Nott The Brave in her element.
3) To Find Out Who We Are Without The Fall (6,206 words, Beau & Caleb)
His name, Beau recalled, was Bren Aldric Ermendrud. It had to be. The man striding across the room towards her was the only one present at the gala matching the description Dairon had laid out in their briefing.
4) Whatever You Choose To Be (3,003 words, Yussa & Wensforth)
It has been four days since Yussa Erenis showed up at the curiosity show where the goblin had spent his entire life. Three days since he’d offered the goblin an escape from the only world he’d ever known. Two days since that offer had gone horribly sideways, and the two of them had fled together.
5) Three Words That Became Hard To Say (Veth & Yeza, Veth & Beau, 3429 words)
Beau is just beginning to dream when the knocking starts. She rolls over with a groan, burying her face into Yasha’s sternum and hoping that whoever is at the door will decide to wait until the goddamn morning.
6) Not Too Late (1,382 words, Veth/Caleb)
Veth’s salad has been eaten. Caduceus has delivered his speech. There is no time left. Anyone who’d wanted to say something had been given the opportunity, she’d made sure of it, and Caleb had stayed silent.
Observations!
I seem to enjoy starting with a character doing an action verb, which for most of these ends up being an efficient way to lay out plot and establish pov. Also I notice that I write a ton of widowbrave. A lot of my stories specifically start of someone reflecting or acting on another person who's important to the story. I guess contemplative characters are good for exposition.
Ok I'll tag @operafloozy, @catalists, @professor-rye
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waltz of four left feet
by tambuli
I don’t think
my cause of death will be because
I cannot hold your hand in mine,
your hand in mine.
I am ready, I can live with my own foolishness
Without you in my life, there is no sadness
Jester Lavorre and Caleb Widogast aren't just friends, but the journey from friends to more than that is difficult, especially when she's the poster child for Repression of the Depression and he's still learning to breathe in a world in which he's allowed to be happy.
Luckily, there's well-meaning found family.
Words: 7189, Chapters: 1/3, Language: English
Fandoms: Critical Role (Web Series)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: F/M
Characters: Jester Lavorre, Caleb Widogast, Astrid Beck, Eadwulf Grieve
Relationships: Jester Lavorre/Caleb Widogast, Astrid Beck & Eadwulf Grieve & Caleb Widogast
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Professor Caleb Widogast, (not yet. he doesn't have tenure), Soltryce Academy (Critical Role), Pining, Mutual Pining, Jester Lavorre-centric, Anxiety, References to Depression, Past Astrid Beck/Eadwulf Grieve/Caleb Widogast, Song: Waltz of Four Left Feet (Shirebound and Busking)
source https://archiveofourown.org/works/42193728
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Just a fic about Caleb buying a house in Rexxentrum with Beau and Yasha, and coping with that kind of change and newfound stability (and becoming Professor Widogast). Angst and fluff are at war in this fic.
Chapter Summary: Caleb was loved, in so many different ways, by so many people. The Nein were a whirlwind of chaos and dick jokes, but they were his. And Essek... even when Essek did not use the words "I love you", every word he said and every touch he offered was proof enough. In other words, the Mighty Nein crash at Caleb and Beauyasha's place and shower them with affection.
Notes: Chapter title is from Five by Sleeping at Last. Here's some fluff. Caleb is still Caleb, but everyone loves him and wants him to be happy. Hug your sad wizard friend/research partner/it's complicated.
****
Chapter 2: But something gets lost from a safe distance and now I can't put my mind to rest
There was enough furniture in the house to sleep for the night. After an enormous grocery shop that made gratuitous use of Yasha’s muscles, Beau’s superhuman balance, and Caleb’s telekinesis, the three of them collapsed on the couch.
Beau piled her feet onto Caleb’s lap, resting her head on Yasha’s. “Hey, Caleb?”
“Ja?”
“You good now?”
“I think so.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Nein.” Caleb had zero interest in talking about how much he had cried on their kitchen table earlier. He wasn’t ready to process it.
“Cool. Good talk.”
Yasha smiled down at Beauregard, fondly but with an edge to it. “Shh.” She put her finger on Beau’s lips. “Let us just… be quiet for a while.”
Caleb tipped his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. He drifted close to sleep, but Essek’s voice filled his mind.
“Caleb. How was the house? I am in a safe place. I will visit when you have a safe landing spot. Talk soon, love.”
Caleb couldn’t help burst into a grin. “Hallo, Essek. We bought it. Veth gave me the money. Go to the Grove when ready. I will come get you. Ich liebe dich.”
“Gross,” said Beauregard. “You know I can understand you now, right?”
Caleb pinched her ankle. “I remember.”
“Beau,” sighed Yasha.
“I’m kidding. I’m happy you’ve worked things out with him.” She shifted, digging her heel into his thigh. “Look, I don’t give a fuck about your sex life--”
“Good.”
“--but you know you can tell me shit, right? It was just the two of you for weeks, and now it’s… not. Are you okay with that?”
Caleb sighed; he already missed Essek dearly, but he always knew it would be like this. “Ja. We talked about it a lot. We want to be together as much as we can, but we are practical people, ja? I will bring him around soon, for a few days at least. Rexxentrum is not safe for him.”
“Well, good thing you have your own space. I don’t wanna hear that shit.”
Caleb rolled his eyes at her. “We are more likely to stay up late talking.” Sex with Essek was more of a (great) side benefit than a core element of their relationship A relationship they had never bothered to define. It was what it needed to be in the moment.
“That’s even worse, Caleb.”
“How the fuck is that worse?”
Beauregard shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s fuckin’ romantic as shit.”
“Ja, I am sure that you, the woman who makes out with her girlfriend in front of all our friends, is disgusted by romance.”
Beauregard grumbled incoherently at him.
****
Caleb was soon preoccupied with ferrying the Mighty Nein to the new house. He first collected Veth, Fjord and Jester from Yussa’s tower. Kingsley had wanted to explore Nicodranas for a while, without Fjord and Jester’s supervision. They had tentatively allowed it, not that they could’ve stopped Kingsley even if they had wanted to.
“Omigosh it’s so pretty !” Jester screeched upon seeing the house. “The windows are kinda boring, though. Can I paint them?”
Caleb was not in the habit of refusing Jester anything. “I suppose. Ask Beau and Yasha.”
“Which door is theirs?”
“The right. It should be unlocked.”
Jester tore ahead and disappeared inside. Fjord hooked his thumbs into his belt loops, gazing up at the exterior.
“It’s bigger than I expected,” he said.
“Ja, the previous occupant is a professor at Soltryce Academy. She lives alone, and it was too much space for her.”
“You’re okay with that?” asked Veth.
“Ja, she was very nice. She lives on Astrid’s estate now.”
“Trent’s old place?” asked Fjord.
“Ja.”
He whistled softly. “That must be weird.”
Caleb didn’t want to talk about it. “The professor gave us a good deal. I am meeting her for coffee tomorrow to talk about Evocation.” He looked down at Veth. “Thank you for the money.”
“I just wish I could’ve given you more, Cay.”
“It was plenty, Veth.” Caleb led them inside and picked Veth up so he could give her the hug he had wanted for days.
******
Next, Caleb teleported to the Blooming Grove. The grass had grown back where it had once been burned, and the house had been repaired. The tangled residuum trees had held strong, keeping the corruption of the Savalirwood at bay. It was quiet, save for the distant clattering of dishes coming from the house.
Caduceus appeared in the doorway before Caleb had taken more than a few steps. “Oh, excellent. Essek’s in the garden. Go get him. I’ll be out in a moment.”
Caduceus didn’t specify where in the garden, but Caleb assumed he was giving him the satisfaction of figuring it out for himself. Caleb walked further into the grove, occasionally stopping to cradle a blossom or sniff a particularly sweet scent.
He spotted Essek’s broad-brimmed hat first. On loan from the Clays. Caleb approached quietly, watching Essek hover over the bed of a herb garden, wearing the rose gloves Jester had made him while he carefully pulled weeds with a look of utmost concentration. The kind of look that made Caleb remember how attractive it was to watch him work.
As Caleb drew closer, Essek froze. Looked up. Relaxed as his face broke into a smile.
“I am sorry I startled you,” Caleb said, closing the distance.
Essek floated away from the herbs and opened his arms, accepting Caleb into them. “It’s all right. You know I’m a little… jumpy these days.”
Caleb kissed his neck; Essek was taller than him when he floated, and only when he floated. “Are you sure you want to visit Rexxentrum?”
“No one will expect to find me there. It will be fine for a few days.” He kissed Caleb’s forehead, and then lifted Caleb’s chin to kiss his mouth. “I wanted to see your new house. And you.”
Caleb dropped his head to Essek’s shoulder, breathing him in. This was the only peaceful moment they would have all day. Essek tucked Caleb’s head under his chin and gave him a squeeze.
“Caleb, are you all right?”
Caleb laughed softly, remembering the first time Essek had asked him in the heat of battle. “I don’t know. This is a lot.”
Essek kept squeezing; they had both discovered one rough night in Aeor that Caleb found this kind of careful pressure extremely comforting. “I understand. This is a huge change for you. Are you overwhelmed?”
“Ja, very.”
“I hope having me there will help, for what little time I can give.”
“You are already helping, Essek. Danke.”
Essek kissed the top of his head. He had slowly begun to initiate more physical contact, and their time together alone in Aeor had accelerated the process. It let Caleb pull back a bit and let himself accept Essek’s affection once in a while instead of constantly being the one to initiate. It was good. They were good.
Fuck , Caleb had missed him.
****
After saying his hellos and goodbyes to the Clays, Caleb palmed a small stone Yasha had dug from the garden bed behind the house and teleported himself, Caduceus and a disguised Essek. They landed in Caleb’s currently sparse sitting area, as planned.
“This is my side of the house. We are working on the furniture situation.” Caleb took them on a quick tour of the house, and was pleased to find Essek equally excited by the possibilities of the study as he had been.
They then used the door on the middle floor to cross into the other side and down the stairs into the crowded sitting area. Yasha was sitting on the rug, stitching a thick floral fabric to make curtains while Jester “helped” by painting tiny dicks on it. Beau and Fjord were sitting on the couch, watching with a mix of amusement and concern. Veth had probably been with them, but launched herself at Caleb for a hug as soon as he had appeared.
She had more or less glued herself to him since she had arrived, evidently sensing his lack of equilibrium. He was grateful she was there to ground him. For a long time, she and Frumpkin had been all that held together the tattered shreds of his mental health.
Caduceus slipped into the kitchen, but was the least sneaky man alive when he wasn’t trying to prank his siblings. He had a parcel in his hands, brought from the Grove. Caleb followed him.
Caduceus carefully stripped off the brown paper packaging to reveal a small wooden crate, from which he lifted a tea set complete with a kettle. He filled the kettle with water and set it over the fireplace, directing Caleb to light it. Caduceus pulled out a few small boxes of tea and cooking herbs from the Grove, arranging them in cabinets.
“I’ll bring another set next time I visit,” Caduceus promised. “Until then, you are required to spend time with the ladies. No locking yourself in the study and forgetting to eat.”
Essek chuckled from the doorway, knowing full-well Caleb would do exactly that. Repeatedly.
“We’ll go shopping together tomorrow,” Caduceus continued. “There are some things you three need for a good, complete kitchen and I don’t trust you to remember any of them, even with your memory.”
“Thank you, Caduceus.” Caleb was getting emotional again. “I, uh, am having coffee with an Evocation professor tomorrow morning, but we can go after that.”
Caduceus smiled at him. Soft, knowing. “I look forward to it.”
****
The Nein had apparently agreed without Caleb’s knowledge that they would stay on Beau and Yasha’s side for the night to give Caleb and Essek some privacy.
Caleb had ultimately decided to use the larger bedroom (the rest of the Nein may have insisted he treat himself). He was glad for it now that he had Essek in his bed. They were too tired for sex, and not really in the mood, but cuddling is a lot more comfortable when you’re not afraid of falling out of bed.
Essek had arranged things so he was lying on his back with Caleb curled around him. Caleb rested his head on Essek’s chest, listening to the gentle drumming of his heart, while Essek drew lazy patterns on his back with a finger. Spell symbols, mainly. Some Caleb recognised, and some he didn’t.
“This is a good location,” Essek said quietly. “Beauregard showed me a map of the city. It is central, but not too close to anything that would upset you more than the city in general already does.”
“Rexxentrum doesn’t upset me,” Caleb mumbled, halfway to sleep already. He tended to sleep better with trusted company these days.
“Beauregard told me what you said the first time you stepped foot here in years,” Essek said softly.
I don’t know if I can do this. “That was some time ago. It’s… easier now.”
“That does not mean it is easy.”
Caleb sighed deeply, closing his eyes. “Okay. It’s not. But that’s not… the last time I had a house was the Xhorhouse, and we all knew that was never permanent. The only home I’ve ever had that was supposed to be long-term… I burned it. The shitty hospital room they kept me in for eleven year was a roof over my head, one I barely remember, and that was… not a home. I was homeless for a long time. I have slept in the woods, in the streets, under bridges, where I could find even the tiniest bit of shelter. Now I own a house .”
“Caleb, I told you in the Grove this is a huge change for you.” Essek’s voice was soft but firm, as it often was when he thought Caleb was being needlessly stubborn or foolish. “You have been through so much , and now you are doing normal things like buying a house and putting down roots. And you have many painful memories here. I believe you will be okay, but you do not have to be. Not before you’re ready.”
Caleb felt foolish for letting this get to him so much. The last few days had been full of nothing but good things. But he was exhausted nonetheless, and eternally a hair’s breadth away from tears. Even in his worst moments, he had never been fragile in this way, like he was a bucket of water with a hole in it that would leak at the slightest provocation.
Essek pressed his palm down between Caleb’s shoulder blades, forcing him to exhale. “Caleb. Be gentle with yourself. Give yourself time.”
Caleb chucked a little, despite his mod. “That is your specialty.”
“And I have taught you well.”
“The best teacher I ever had,” Caleb said quietly.
“You deserved better. Let yourself have better now, in your own time.”
“I’m trying.”
“I know. Stop pushing it. You know better than anyone it doesn’t work that way.” Essek’s hand slid into Caleb’s hair, cradling the base of his skull. “You of all people deserve patience and kindness, most of all from yourself. I will remind you of this.”
“Thank you.” Caleb pushed himself up on his elbows, finding Essek’s features in the dark. “You know, this is probably the safest I have been in close to twenty years.”
Essek reached up, tucking a strand of Caleb’s hand behind his ear. “Good. You deserve it. Even if I never have a moment’s peace for the rest of my life, all I want is for you to have all the safety and kindness you could ever need.”
“I would give it up in a heartbeat if I could help you.”
“I would never ask that of you,” Essek said warmly, but with a firm edge. “There are a great many things we have already given up. That one is not an option. Of all the people I have known in my 120 years, you deserve a lifetime of peace the most. Even if you will get bored eventually.”
Caleb slid a hand over Essek’s cheek, rubbing the soft skin with his thumb. “Remember when we thought we would never be the kind of people who would make big declarations of love at each other?” Because even if Essek wasn’t explicitly saying I love you , the words he did say were dripping with diamonds of unadulterated affection.
Essek huffed a soft laugh. “Most things between us do not need to be said. This does.”
“Thank you, Essek. I love you too.” Caleb rested his head over Essek’s heart once again, and let the gentle rhythm lull him to sleep.
#shadowgast#caleb widogast#essek thelyss#critical role#cr2#fanfiction#my fics#the pomegranate's professor widogast fic
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