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awaytobeunshaken · 5 months

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Ashrym Week Day 6: Alt prompt (spoilers) - Orym takes the shard

Today was… probably what they should have expected from a gauntlet of team-building exercises devised by an insane archfey and a well-meaning but naive robot. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t exhausting. Which probably explains why, as a group, they’ve mostly drifted off into singles and pairs: from team-building to ‘I don’t want to be anywhere near these people’. And they’re all so fucking valid for it. That doesn’t mean he’s not upset to see Orym out on a balcony on his own.

“Hey,” Ashton says, stepping out to join him. Orym looks over to acknowledge them but otherwise doesn’t move. “I just wanted you to know, that I can see how lonely you are; I have seen it. And I just wish I could help.”

“Come here.” Orym pats the floor behind him and Ashton sits and drapes his arms over Orym’s shoulders, letting the halfling lean into him. “I’ve noticed you reaching out, trying. And I do appreciate it.”

“Does it help at all? Does this?” It’s probably foolish to think it might, and Ashton tries to remind himself that it’s for Orym’s sake, and not his own.

“Maybe? A little? I don’t know.”

Of course it doesn’t, Ashton realizes, recalling the other thing Orym had revealed during the honesty trial. They’re not who he really wants; they’re not even close. “Was it better when Dorian was here?”

“I don’t know,” Orym repeats. “I don’t know if it’s him or if he was just close enough to what I actually want and I know that sounds awful.” He takes a deep breath. “I was on my own for a really long time.”

“You’re not now, though. And I’m here if you want me to be.” It’s a stupid thing to say. How could they be what Orym needs, as much as they’d like to be. They’re nothing like Dorian; they’re nothing like Will as far as they can tell. He loosens his arms around Orym’s torso.

Orym pulls them close again. “Thanks. I think it does help, a little, having you around. Either way, I’m glad you’re here.” He sits there for a long moment before twisting his head around to look at Ashton. “I think I should take the shard.”

“Don’t.” Ashton’s answer is immediate.

“Who, then? You already tried, Fearne’s turned it down, it obviously can’t go to Laudna… and honestly, I think maybe you’re right. I’m not sure any of them can be trusted with it.”

“It could kill you.”

“It could kill any of us. But that’s the other thing. I’ve got nothing else for it to fight with.”

He pulls Orym even closer. “But I like you like this. What if it changes you?”

Orym starts to stroke his fingers down Ashton ’s calf before correcting to a firm massage. “People change, Ash. They change every day. And it’s not always some big dramatic event that does it. Sometimes it’s just getting to know the people around us. Who knows who I’d be if I hadn’t met Dorian, and Fearne, and you all?”

“Yeah. I guess I’ve seen my share of that. Who I’d be if… if a lot of things, I guess.” Ashton sighs. “Are you gonna be able to convince the rest of them you should have it? Because I won’t.”

“If I can’t, I guess it stays in the bag. We didn’t go through all that just to go back to hiding things from each other.”

Ashton thinks about how much they ’d like to just sit here holding Orym forever. Maybe kiss him. Maybe more. “Right. No hiding things.” If only they had a choice.

ao3

#critical role #cr3 #ashrym week 2023 #ashton greymoore #orym of the air ashari #ashrym #cr spoilers #critical role spoilers #cr fic #my fic

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