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grigori77 · 8 months

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Critical Role, Campaign 3 Episode 70

Thursday Night on WEDNESDAY Night this time ... crazy ... with a bit of luck we should be back to NORMAL schedule for next session. In the meantime ...

Matt: "What are you putting on your head, Sam?" Me: "Oh gods ..."

Yeah, this is gonna be so bad. Are we looking at a recipe for motion sickness this time? Marisha: "You're so close to me, stop!" Sam: "The hood is saying I should battle Travis!" Travis: "I will destroy you." Yeah ... Sam: "Laura, maybe you should --" Laura: "Stay away from me, Riegel!" Also yeah ...

Ooh, delicious pastries ... damn you, now I'm hungry again ...

Ah yes, the end of Shithead ... Sam: "That was the first main character death in a long while." XD

Back in Bassuras, then ... okay, what's going on here, then? Oh lovely, more god police, that's lovely, that is. Apparently Vasselheim has come ...

A skyship just BLEW UP? What? I'm sorry, what the actual?

Hmmmm ... is there some casual insurgency going on here right now, perhaps? Interesting.

Ashton: "It looks like we might have walked in in the middle of someone else's issue here." Yeah ...

Issues? Hmmm ... so ARE THERE problems with the skyships or IS THIS some kind of uprising?

Oh yeah, Kimothee Chalamet, of course ...

Kiki bird! Awwwwwww ...

FCG; "When a dead lady's worried about your health you should listen."

AAAHH!!! Fucking crawler! Watch it!

Keyleth going solo ... yeah, I am NOT too confident about that ...

Wait ... is Travis rolling an insight check on the TRESHI BALL? Like a Magic 8 Ball?

Off to Joe's, then ... ah, yeah, still early ...

Trap check? Oh boy ... please don't pull a drunk Nott, Chetney ...

Chetney unlocks the door, then Imogen uses her Mage Hand to open it ... before Laudna has a crack at just SCARING THE FUCK out of Joe ...

Wait ... has something HAPPENED to Joe? Oh fuck ...

Wait ... NINE PEOPLE in here? Crazy ... oh shit, what's THAT?!!! Fuck, emergency dex rolls! Crap!

Awwww ... Chetney protecting Imogen ... which has NO effect on what happens at all ...

Lightning damage? Crap ...

Meanwhile Fearne and Ashton are round the back ... did they just do that to keep from suffering ill effects? Bit sneaky, guys ...

Laudna Spiderclimb! Yay! Always fun ...

Ashton turns his hammer into a platform for Orym to climb over the fence. Cute ...

Ah, an ambush ... of course ... oh, is Joe alive, then? Hmmm ... oh no, more bad guys ... oh no, THERE'S Joe! Phew ...

Stealth good, Orym ...

Back door? Okay, somebody coming ...

Layout? OH YAY!!! Battlemap!

Oh sweet ... Nice place, Joe! And Sam TOTALLY ballses up the plug ... XD

Shield of Help? Nice ... additional AC to Dancer, that's sweet, Letters.

Interpretive dance? Imogen: "Are you confused?"

Yeah, not sure SUMMONING THE BEES is a good idea, Laudna ...

Every time Marisha starts PERCHING I know we're proper in the shit ...

Balls ... here we go all too soon ...

Wait, WHAT?!!! Fuck AND it's a sneak attack? Fuck ... Laudna, NO!!!

Roll for Initiative! YEAH, NO SHIT!!!

Wow, these are some HIGH initiative scores, guys! Is that good? Oh, except for Imogen ... 5? Ouch ...

Dancer rolled a NAT1? Oof ...

Laudna up FIRST? Oh fuck ... yeah, Form of Dread IMMEDIATELY. She is PISSED, clearly ... a FIREBALL?!!! You're sure about that play?

Boom! Crap ... black powder? Oh shit ...

NOW we roll damage? 25 points of Fire damage? Oof ... and ROLL FOR FEAR!!! Yup ...

Yup ... scuttling Laudna for the maximum creep factor ...

Oh, that was almost hairy ...

Whoa, full on MONK SHIT?!!! Great ... that's not good at all ...

Save the mini, Matthew!

Bird skull? DUSKMAVEN!!!

Shield! Nice save, Laudna!

Fucking Paragon's Call! Damn it ...

Fearne does a Mirthful Leap and Travis does a goat bleat ... XD Oh, hello Mister! Oh, she DOES have Sneak Attacks? Hmmm ... but she's already moved ... crap, now she has POPPED HER KNEE!!! Great ...

Okay, flaming monkey shit! Here we go ...

Dragonborn? Okay, then ...

Shit! Sneaky monk ninja shit! Oh fuck ... TWO attacks hit? No, Fearne! Aaaaaargh ...

Here we go, invidible Chetney on the attack! Go, wee man! Blood Curse of Bloated Agony? Here we go ... but NOT invisible now ... balls, znd now he's using the sword for the first time? Hmmmmm ...

The talking sword DISTRACTS Chetney enough to full on MISS the first hit ... but at least the SECOND one hits ... wait, he's CHARMED now? How the fuck ... Chetney, you spawny bastard ...

General Ratanish? Oh fuck ... and HE'S RAGING!!! Shit ...

Fuck, Chetney gets hit BAD ... ouch ...

FCG: "Dancer, hide, use your Pussy for protection if you have to!" Oh my gods ...

Banishment? Fuck, Sam ... Holy shit, Ratanish rolls a ONE for Charisma? Fuck ... yeah, HE GONE ... For a minute. Use it wisely, guys!

Wait ... did they MISS? Oh no, now Chetney's BAKING inside his armour ... 12 points of Fire damage? CRAP!!!

Yes ... get the dick monk, Ashton! CHARGE!!! Advantage since he's Raging ... here we go! Beat that monk ass WHOLESALE, Ashton! Boom! Yeah ... 20 points of damage AND a strength save? Okay ... and he SHOVES her! Okay ... Chaos Burst? Reckless ... whoosh ... POW!!! What's THIS gonna do? 23 points of damage in the back of the head? Ouch ...

Orym is GTAing a crawler? Crazy ... yeah, that didn't work ... and now it's just a fucking TIME BOMB ... rescuing Fearne instead, then ... crap, no hit ... TWICE? Bollocks ...

Scared guy attacks Chetney and HITS?!!! Crap ... strange confusion ensues as the Charmed one PROTESTS ... oh, interesting save ...

Dragonborn attacking Fearne ... oof .. thanks to Orym at least, only SIX points of slashing damage ...

Imogen just PUNTED the monk off the roof? Sweet ... heading in, then ... help Chetney, girl! 4th Level Lightning Bolt? BOOM!!! Not great damage, though ... 10 points only ... nuts ...

Dancer is JOINING the fight? Okay ... oh, SHE'S helping Chetney? Okay then ... Cure Wounds through Pussy 2? Yeah, that causes a lot of unnecessary jokes ... and she's peacing out again ...

Spell Sniper? Oh that's cool ... whatcha gonna do, Dead Girl? She hits one ... but at least it's the one she WANTS ... 12 and 9 damage ... and that's it for the Charmed condition, then ...

Step of the Wind ... AND Flurry of Blows? Crap ... except it MISSES FCG on the first ... but the second hits! Crap ... punted! Ouch ... oh no, the Banishment? Oh thank gods that held ...

Scorching Ray in Melee? Hmmm ... okay, Charm Person instead? Okay ... it works! Nice ... and she STEALS HIS CROSSBOW?!!! Cute ...

Laura thanks Keyleth for leaving just before they REALLY NEED HER ...

Mister's TAKING DAMAGE?!!! My gods, that NEVER happens!

Taliesin: "I have a dumb plan that may or may not work." Travis: "I love those."

A miss on the knife throw ... but it HITS the core? Crap ... and NOW Matt finally crit-fails ... oh my gods that couldn't have happened at a better time ...

"Chetney Tatum"? Yes, that IS terrifying ...

Laura: "God, I hate him! I never thought I'd MISS Craven Edge!"

Chetney gets the HDYWTDT!!! Nice ...

Is there an ON switch? Yeah, dunno if THAT'S a good idea ...

Meanwhile they're all comparing him to a border collie obsessed with the sword ... XD

13 points restored from a Healing Word on Chetney? Nice save, FCG! Then he goes to attack the monk with thesaw blade ... AND HITS!!! Nice ... Divine Smite? Sweet ... 14 damage! Sweet ...

Shit, Chetney's STILL burning? Crap ...

4th Level Erupting Earth? What? Oh dear gods ... oh, that's NOT NICE!!! THREE of our group take hits? Crap ...

Oh balls ... goodbye Banishment ... oh no, scratch that, it succeeds after all? DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT, Matthew!

Turns out the monk is a SMEAR now ... Nice ...

Ashton going crazy to rescue Fearne ... yay! Batter him, mate! Nat20! Sweet ... Crusher? Oooooh ... a BRUTAL Critical? Nice ... I love when he has to math it up, means it's gonna be SO HIGH ... 33 damage? Fuck ... AND he rolls ANOTHER Nat20 on the second attack! 28 AND pushes them back ... oh yeah, that REALLY fucking hurt, clearly ... Ashton, you scary sometimes and I love it ...

Orym is ONCE AGAIN gonnatry and steal the crawler? Hmmmm ... okay, yanks the guy out instead ... ties him to the crawler? Hmmm ... what ARE YOU doing, Orym? He keeps CRITTING the bike ... and a TRIPPING attack? Marisha: "Can you also steal the bike's lunch money?" LOL

Oh fuck, that worked ... and that guy just gets BLOWN THE FUCK UP!!! Nice ...

Oh I love that ... he gets out but then the second one FALLS ON HIM?!!! Oh yeah, Dragonborn is SO DEAD now ...

Oof ... that's 15 slashing damage against Imogen? How dare you, sir?

Laura asks how high the ceiling is? Hmmmm ... oh, okay, yeah ... "That's telekinesis, Kyle!" XD She just SLAMS the guy into the wall AND dumps him into the fire ... 22 damage! Nice ...

Pussy 2 and Shocking Grasp? Oof ... miss? Crap ... anticlimax!

Spell Sniper again, this time on the caster ... Eldritch Blast and A NAT20! NICE!!! And another hit! POW! And again, BOTH hit again ... yeah she is just POURING hits down on this fucker!

Armour of Agathis! Sweet ... and now she BOOTS the door open! Okay, then ... looking for Joe? That won't work ... so she sends Mister to Joe instead, but not enough movement to make it ... do he just chucks some more flaming shit instead. 12 fire damage AND MISTER GETS THE HDYWTDT?!!! Nice ...

Oh that's just ... he shoots the flaming shit IN THE GUY'S MOUTH ... fuck ... exploding head ... charming ...

Chetney bursts in ... "Hi!" Yeah, that WOULD be terrifying ... and bang ... oh yeah, this guy just gets SPLATTERED!!! Nice ...

Blood Curse of Bloated Agony on the caster? No they're too far away ... crap ...

Mass Healing Word at FIFTH Level! Okay ... everybody gets 10 points back ... Nice one, Letters!

And the Bolt Thrower at the caster ... DOUBLE crit-fails? FUCK!!! It just misfires entirely ...

The caster POLYMORPHS into a big fucking bird and grabs Joe and the other guy? Not fair! Attack of Opportunity! Turn this around! Come on Fearne ...

Moon sickle ... okay WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON WITH THAT RIGHT NOW? ONE POINT OF DAMAGE? SERIOUSLY?

At least it's now STUCK IN THE DOORWAY!!! Try again, people? Go, Ashton! Oh, BOOM!!! 23 points of damage! And yet it STILL keeps flying ...

Reckless, and he jumps, WORMHOLE STRIKE?!!! 22 points of damage? The bird pops and ... now EVERYBODY IS FALLING ONTO THE BROKEN FENCE!!! Matt: "And THAT'S where we're gonna go to break!"

And we're back! With Joe Bout to DIE!!! Do something, Ashton! Violent Gateway? Oh fuck ... and he has NO CHOICE in this ... SHIT!!!

Yeah, again this is just CHAOS ... Ashton catches Joe, now Orym's trying to do the same with the other guy ... but he's just a little guy! Is this even gonna work?

15? Hmmm ... 60 feet up ... oh boy ... Bait and Switch ... oh shit, so now ORYM is falling on the fence instead! AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

Imogen trying to grab them both with her telekinesis ... CAN SHE grab both since Orym has hold of them? Fuck ... wow, oh ... no, instead she's just SHOVING THE FENCE AWAY instead ... so they just crumple and roll instead ...

And now the caster is KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT!!! Okay ...

So 40 seconds before Ratanish reappears ... TIME TO RUN!!! GO NOW!!!

The other one's a Lagamore? Bunny guy! Okay ...

Oh, they're gonna fight after all? Okay ...

FCG heels Joe a little. It's appreciated ...

FCG: "Dancer, you wanna come smash this guy with your Pussy?" Wow ... Samuel ...

Chetney is holding Inflict Wounds, Imogen's prepping Psychic Lance ... here we go ...

So we're ready?

Oh, so Laudna's summoning her Hound as well. It just DROPS from the ceiling and splats before reforming ...

Ratanish reappears ... and they all go OFF!!!

Chetney unleashes, Laudna casts Blight, FCG casts Scramble the Dead(with modem noises?), Fearne casts Scorching Ray for 3 hits but only ONE actually hits ... plus Mister chucks more flaming shit! Imogen looses her Lance, so he is INCAPACITATED as well as hurt! Orym just slashes at his weapon arm, which he fails so he drops his axe, then stabs him in the leg ... znd THAT'S IT!!! That's the HDYWTDT!!!

Wow, he DROPS Ratsnish so he falls at Ashton's feet ... who just delivers the coup de grace upon him in beautiful style! Nice ...

Well that's that on Ratanish, then ... oh, and the druid failed all his death saves too ... charming ...

Okay, here come Joe's neighbours to check on him ... oh yeah, nice save there, Joe! Way to cover for us ...

Oh, the lagamore is a woman? Okay. Who's this then? Verna the Viper? Interesting ...

So Ashton already knows of her? Okay ... specialises is strange esoteric explosives? Intriguing ...

Don't forget to loot the bodies! Laura is INSISTING!!! Ms Bailey, your Vex is showing again! :3

Oh, spoils! Goody!

Yay! Laudna gets some new bones! XD

They show Joe the harness and Verna is intrigued too ... oh, so they've been put to work by Ratanish after the Solstice? Hmmmm ...

A Brumestone nullifier? Gods ...

TRAVIS GETS A WHISPER!!! What is he learning?

They have a Whisper Sponsor now? Beard Sorcerer? What the hell, Sam?

Wow, cool go-bag, Joe! Yup, time to go! Need to go!

Oh yeah, need to meet Keyleth! What now, then? Need to move ...

Verna know the All Minds Burn? Intriguing ...

Fearne is STEALING SHIT on the way out just like you'd expect her too ... meanwhile Laudna creates a nightmare fuel booby-trap for whoever's coming ...

So where to? Hondir's place? Might be smart ...

Group Stealth Check ... with Pass Without A Trace ... HOT TABLE!!!

Wait, so is Hondir not here either? Hmmmmm ... yeah, he's gone, clearly. Just squatters ... crap ...

So they're staying anyway? Okay ... just resting then while Joe and Verna continue their inspection of the harness ...

Oh, so this would likely NOT be safe to use? Hmmm ... so it's gonna be a question of supplies and equipment ... where to go, then?

More Timothee Chalamet jokes ... XD

Calloway ... oh, so Verna knows Fearne's folks? Interesting ... but perhaps not surprising.

Short rest! Yay!

Residuum? Do they have any left? Hmmm ...

Two weeks ... sounds fair for such a specific job ... OH YEAH!!! Send them to Whitestone! Yes! Percy! Are we poking fun again?

Reverse the Funnel to siphon the power OUT of Ludinus? That's really smart ... would that work?

Is Laudna flirting with Verna a little bit?

"Suck in moon power?" That's a ... worrying idea ...

Ashton and Imogen sneak out to look for Pocket. Asking around ... Persuasion check? With gold for advantage ... nuts, they've gone underground. That complicates things ...

Weird shit? Oh ... yeah, I thought that would be it ... yeah, off to the All Minds Burn ...

Ashton: "Try not to read anybody's mind." Yeah, that is REALLY sound advice here ...

Oh, is this a goliath? Shady Sally? Oh boy ... apparently THIS is a name from Ashton's past ...

Debts to settle? Oh, that doesn't sound good ...

I see ... so she's one of Ashton's old crew, who abandoned him near death ... and he hits her! Okay ... and she catches it. Okay ...

Here we go ... and she FUMBLES completely! Oh boy ... Ashton just flips her on her arse.

Justi! Hey! I love this creepy bitch so much ...

So Ashton is proposing they clear their debt to him by getting the Nobodys back together to help fight against the Ruidus shit ...

Yeah, clearly NONE OF THEM are up to fucking with what Ashton has in HIS mind ...

Ashton's never been this deep in here? Oh, that's worrying ... and masks? Great ... not a scary sign at all ...

Oh yeah, this place is ALL KINDS of wrong ...

She lowers her defences a tiny bit ... a Wisdom save? FUCK ... oh yeah, this is some SCARY ARSE LOVECRAFT SHIT right here ...

"Pus coloured"? For fuck's sake, Matthew ...

A mass of organic matter ... oh boy ...

Yeah, I'm just watching Travis this whole time and he is NOT ENJOYING THIS AT ALL ...

THIS is the All Minds Burn? Oh my gods ...

Fuck ... Imogen, are you SERIOUSLY actually trying to COMMUNICATE with this nightmare fuel?

Ashton admits that his mind would hurt them without him meaning to ... that is interesting in a really worrying way ...

Imogen's memory lane ... sweet experiences intermixed with her most awful moments ... fuck ...

Whoa ... it wants to see the moon? Intriguing ...

The Brood Pit? Dear fucking gods ... "It wants to be seeded." Okay ...

So the idea is, if they go to Ruidus, they take this with them and leave it up there ... riiiiiiiiiight ...

Justi: "It means no harm, it's just ... lonely." Okay then ...

Imogen: "Well, that is NOT what I expected it to be." You don't say, luv ... yeah, Imogen, you really do make some very strange friends sometimes ...

Ashton: "I've spent my entire life taking up space and being ignored, and I've learnt that it's the things you ignore that get you in the end."

Laudna: "It's happened! Ashton's finally abducted Imogen!"

I love how much Imogen is geeking out telling Laudna about what she's just experienced, it's absolutely adorable ...

Stealth check with Pass Without A Trace ... and Marisha still completely TANKS her roll ... blimey ...

SQUIRREL KIKI!!! It's got antlers and everything! Adorable!

The Bloody Bridge? Yeah, that fits ...

So it's chaos, then? Sounds like business as usual in Exandria again.

Yes. Whitestone is the smart move here. Do that.

Introducing Keyleth proper to Joe, Verna and Dancer. Okay ...

Jirana the Shore Shrew ... "Shoo shoo shoo" .. Matt: "I will murder you all." XD

Cool! Tree portal! Always fun ...

Yes! Get in there quick! Go! Stop with the advice Kiki! They go through ... and THAT'S IT for tonight!

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captainsspnanon · 10 months

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C2E69 - The Kings Cage - rewatch reaction

The episode that should have been NiceTM, and was not.

Whyyyy are the subtitles so fucked for this episode? They’re covering Travis’s face! I’m guessing it’s because of the PC icons that showed up. Wait, is this the first time that this has happened??? *checks previous episode again* Oh man, I’m so used to seeing this that 1) I didn’t notice when it wasn’t there and 2) I didn’t realize that this was the first time they showed up! I don’t remember this fucking up the subtitles before or in other episodes….maybe this was first time issues?

I am super distracted by Matt not noticing Sam’s shirt.

Funnily enough, this entire scene matches what the one dnd playtest is talking about with warlocks. Sometimes they are the only one calling for a short rest and you have this disparity in what the players want to do.

It is now July 4th, I last touched this a full fucking month ago. I have watched ~30 minutes of the latest Candela Obscura, but am struggling to get into it (a sad reality of me and CR one shots and mini-series.) SO LET’S GET BACK TO THE DRAMA!!

...I’m only 17 minutes in….*starts over from the beginning*

Oh geez I forgot that this was episode 69. They went into this with teasing hype for months about ‘lul 69’ and then they got this heart wrench of an episode.

Sam and Laura play the “I have Not(t)” bit really well. There’s just a touch in Jester’s tone which is inserting a comma in there ‘I have, Nott’, but it’s a clever bit of attempted deception as well, even though it fails.

I’d forgotten that Nott claimed the flask defined her as a person. T.T Once the campaign is over, it’s easy to remember the goblin alcoholism as mostly jokes, but there were some really deep and painful moments. I don’t personally know anyone who struggles with addiction, so I know there are aspects of this emotionally that I don’t relate to, but there these small moments are incredibly well done. Sam talked about how he discussed Scanlan’s attempts at addiction with Brian, I don’t recall if he also went to him for Nott?

The juxtaposition of Jester very seriously expressing her worries to Nott about how when Nott is drunk, she’s less cautious and will run straight at things without looking for traps, versus everyone else loosing their shit when she says ‘or trigger them’. I’ll have to try to pay attention, but I think even after this RP, Nott still doesn’t become someone super careful about looking for traps. We, of course, know her big moments in the future (happy fun ball time!), but I’m unsure if Sam/Nott is more on top of it.

I really do love the push/pull relationship that Nott/Veth has with her family and her love of adventure. In hindsight, I feel like Sam managed to hold the balance of it very well and very realistically. For most of the PCs, I feel like the epilogues give me enough to have a very good idea of their lives going forwards, even if only for a while. Veth is the one I’m curious about the most though, how does she continue to balance her love of adventure with her family? The dynamics have certainly changed from how they were pre-campaign, and that helps a lot, but I wonder if sometimes she may instigate small things for the Nein to go on, or if she insists she get invited along to someone else’s trip (maybe one of the trips to Aeor?). Or does she find herself content with the chaos of the summer camp in addition to her homely life?

LOL Sam and Laura pushing for Caleb to have a chin that matches Liam, and Liam at every instance making it clear with official art that Caleb absolutely does NOT have a cleft chin.

Does the whip ever actually get used in combat? I know it gets given to Fjord when he loses his power…. TELL ME, CRITROLESTATS. Actually transcript search might be better for this, I don’t think critrolestats says what weapon is used. I think it’s only used in the Obann fight here, and then with the purple worm by Fjord, and then by no one else ever again. XD It gets mentioned in another episode or two as a possibility to use (catching someone who might fall), but I don’t think it does?

WE NEED MORE CALEB AND YASHA MOMENTS!!! Him suggesting she be in the middle of the group, her not being sure, him saying that protection is not a bad thing, her saying it could be and then almost asking him permission to be on the front, him making it clear he’s not telling her what to do. Seriously, this pairing has SUCH a good dynamic and it only gets better from here, but we have so little interaction. :( I will forever grump and mourn and exclaim that we need more Liam and Ashley scenes. We were robbed of Pike and Vax moments in C1, robbed on Caleb and Yasha moments in C2, and I could ALWAYS use more than we currently have in C3.

LOL at the matching nat 1s for trying to determine what the sigil is. Very very glad that Caleb had fortune’s favor and could re-roll. The sometimes frustrating aspect of dnd is some PCs failing at stuff they should 100% be able to do. I’m reminded of the Hand’s heart scene where Liam kept failing checks for Caleb where everyone else was succeeding, despite the fact that it was arcana related.

...Torog? Moradin? Sehanine? What’s with all these 5e names, Matt? I’d thought you’d thoroughly switched to unique epithets by now. You’re even using with with the Allhammer and Moonweaver!

Why do they immediately assume devil upon red skin, yellow eyes, two horns? They’re all gasping before he gets to the wings, but couldn’t he just have been a tiefling with the description?

Did we ever find out what Obann thought he was actually getting from the Angel of Irons? We know they opened abyssal rifts, and that they were trying to free Tharizdun (without knowing that’s what they were doing). So like, is it just an image of an angel saying ‘free me by doing this, oh and also tear the planes apart to let demons in?’ ..demons? devils? This is the hardest part of 5e for me, dammit. Demons. Demons from the abyss. But Obann’s a devil. Aaagh as much as I enjoy the angel of irons subplot, it’s also I think the sketchiest plot in all of CR with no clear understanding of goals or what or why.

...Is this the first “making my way”??? *checks transcripts* Oh, it’s not – the first was in episode 60. BUT I think this is the first time since then, so here’s where it becomes a running gag?

Huh, not letting Fjord get off his eldritch blasts that triggered the whole initiative.

“what do a devil and a tree have in common? Intelligence” …..not gonna lie, I don’t get the joke at ALL. Tasha’s Hideous Laughter would fail just because I’m so confused. I’m ASSUMING that it’s just calling Obann dumb….if so I feel like it would be better if the object were ‘rock’ or ‘brick’, based off of ‘dumb as a rock’ or ‘dumb as a brick’.

I’ve seen some people say that Matt picked up the trick of stating a DC ahead of time from Brennan, but here he just stated that Beau needed at 25 DC acrobatics to do a flurry of blows on Obann (she fails with a 22), so it’s something that he has done beforehand. I think it’s just not something that he prefers to do much.

Only two rounds to free the Laughing Hand? Well, I guess it’s something that Matt really needed to have happen so that makes sense. I think I would have liked three or four rounds to give the PCs more time to do shit, but that’s just personal preference.

Oooo!!! I forgot that over the break he replaced the sarcophagus mini with a broken open sarcophagus! Fun!

Counterspell a Shield! Not quite a counterspell a counterspell, but still sexy.

Ashley interrupting to inform Matt that because of her Ring of Protection, Yasha’s saving throw was actually 3 instead of 2. I LOVE HER.

I really love the moments where something truly horrible starts happening to the PCs (Yasha being turned against them, being an unwilling creature for Fjord’s thunderstep) and while the PCs are NOT happy about it, the players are stoked and excited! It’s a fun juxtaposition of the true fun of ‘what’s going on’ in the game especially when compared with the more settled RP moments where the players are in full PC mode and their personal enthusiasm is sometimes hidden by the RP. Fjord is furious with Yasha for betraying them, but here Travis is wiggling and singing “this is getting interesting!”

I’m not going to research it, and a comments check didn’t help, but I wonder how many PC rolls the Bless-that-should-have-dropped actually helped. Quick check of the livetweets for critrolestats, maybe Yasha’s saving throw against the Hand’s laughter, and the rest are Beau attacks. However, Beau had advantage on many of them, rolled consistently high, and I think actually forgot the bless a number of times? So honestly? I think even if bless had dropped correctly, things still would have played out the way they did. Oh wait...Fjord’s last hit for the HDYWTDT was because of bless. (very sad the the critrolestats livetweets did not include Ashley correcting for Yasha’s 2 to 3 for the wisdom save XD)

MIGHTY NEIN ONE SHOT ANNOUNCED AS FIRST LIVE SHOW SINCE THE PANDEMIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (though I’m seeing some people saying they’ll be level 20, but can’t find any actual statement saying what level they’ll be?? Hoping before I post this that someone will let me know)

Beau using Stillness of Mind to end fear, UGH SO GOOD. Seriously, with the new UAs and everything for the new dnd I keep hearing about how bad monks are, but I haven’t ever experienced it because Beau is so GOOD (and I haven’t played with a monk yet. Someone had done a monk/cleric multiclass, but that game ended while we were still in level 2 due to some session 0 miscommunications)

Lesser Restoration not being able to cure fear, but Greater Restoration does just seems weird to me. Like, Lesser can cure blind, deaf, paralyze, or poison. While Greater…..wait. Greater doesn’t cure frightened either! It only reduces exhaustion, ends charmed or petrified, undoes a curse, undoes an ability score reduction, undoes an effect that reduces hit point max. Fear is none of those. So, neither of the restorations RAW end fear??? Well, I guess that’s the reason for Calm Emotions.

NOTT GIVES YASHA A FLOWER FROM HER HAIR I’m having my heart being crushed by things I didn’t remember! And Jester knew that Yasha was controlled, she tried to Charm her back but it didn’t work! All I really remembered from the Nein was Jester being very sad and Fjord and Beau being very angry, I didn’t remember that others knew she didn’t have a choice!

Oh FUUUUUCK I never realized that when Fjord is brought down by Yasha, only to come back with Relentless Endurance, when he asks her “why” he asks her in his true voice. MY HEAAAART.

I know everyone mentions it, but Ashley’s exaggerated sad-face when Taliesin starts to count her then skips her for Bless, then Matt winking at her and her grin. Even when they have such heavy emotional episodes like this combat turned to be, signs like that are some of the clearest that they’re all still having a blast.

Obviously didn’t say much for the combat itself, I think my only ‘analysis’ of it is that it’s one of the higher stakes combats in C2, easily matching the level of some C1 fights. Even a good chunk into C3, C1 is still the reigning champion for most intense combats. While I don’t all into the hivemind that shouts that Matt takes it easy on them, I do think there are times when Matt is taking it HARDER on them, and this certainly was one of those combats. I really do enjoy the combats where they are fighting an intelligent and evil enemy who is fully intent on destroying them. You get such great tactics and some real creativity in those moments that you don’t get as strongly on a standard 6v1/7v1 creature combat.

Ending the episode with the side by side of Matt and Ashley as Matt gently narrates the confusion in Yasha, the uncertainty of if she is being controlled or doing this on her own, it’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and perfect. (aside from the fact that because of the table layout, they end up facing away from each other during the close ups XD Who knows, maybe that makes it more jarring to go with Yasha’s mindset?)

#cr c2 rewatch #critical role #the mighty nein

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thequeenofmyownscreen · 11 months

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Sixteen things I noted about CR2E136 “Hell or High Water” :

3 eyes and Beau and Caleb have True Sight !!!!!! Maybe there's a bright light to those fucking eyes, like Laura said.

Ok, one thing I (kinda) knew about Campaign 2 before starting it was "Artagan is a weasel ???" and that was IT, no more context ! So let me tell you, I was still falling off my chair at the reveal that SPRINKLE IS ARTAGAN, because I'm a dumbass who did not put two and two together, or, as it is, the logical conclusion of : Jester's god is the Traveler and Jester bought a weasel -> the Traveler is in fact Artagan -> Artagan is in fact inhabiting a traumatized red weasel. BUT THIS IS THE GREATEST THING EVER

Caleb : "[Artagan being Sprinkle] is the only reason he's still alive." Artagan/Sprinkle : "You're not entirely wrong... it's been a journey !" I'm laughing so much oh my god, of course Sprinkle is only maintained alive by the grace of 3000 years old archfey who loves a little blue tiefling. The image alone of Sprinkle talking in Artagan's voice is sending me. I love how Jester is pretty chill with it, like "It makes perfect sense !"

THEY CAN READ EACH OTHER'S MINDS AND SEND THOUGHTS TO OTHERS ??? not even 25 minutes into this episode and so much has happened already

the DM : "These walls are smooth and there's a slight residue left on them... These walls are lined in lead." The impulsive barbarian, quietly : "I was just going to taste it, but I will leave it alone."

A time travel device ? That is Caleb's first goal !!! OOOOOooooh I see what you're doing, Mr Mercer, the temptation ! And this is relevant to Essek too ! "Correcting mistakes" indeed

They spend 20 minutes arguing what they should or should not do to avoid the monster, both in AND out of character. Liam : "This is like if we, us, not the characters, us were trying to save the world." Marisha : "How have we ran a company successfully for the past... how many - years - ?" Taliesin : "Pure luck."

THEY GOT GOT !! Lucien, the fucker, also made a clever ambush with the psychic charges !!

Yoooo, the sequence where they were trapped between the monsters and the tunnel with maybe more intuit charges was awesome, what a challenge

The stargate !! I knew it, but still it was nice to hear Matt say that this portal was linked with the Water Plane and that it was why a flow of perpetual water was coming through.

"Here's my plan : we're all cows !" ooooh nice call-back

Marisha, nervous, as she's prepared to have Beau talking to Lucien : "I'm playing a 20 charisma character next campaign." Me, checking out Laudna's stats : "not yet, but she is a warlock ! So she will get there"

Molly is still in there, either fragmented, or a piece so small it can't be seen most of the time. Except when Caleb called him "circus man"

Caleb is a sheep ! What follows is 30 minutes of sheep-related puns : "You sheep-shifted ?", "He got baaaaaaa-nished", "In space no one can hear you bleat", "Baaaaaaaa-yyye !", "Sheepleb !", "Don't be sheepish get in there", "This is shear terror", "Caleb's already hoofing it that way", "This is veal bad, you guys", *obligatory Taylor Swift goat scream reference*, "Everybody flock together", "We are wool-fully unprepared for this"

Yasha : "Where's my girlfriend ?" Matt : "Beau is 10 feet from you, on the stairs, still facing of with the creature, which is now faced in that direction. Boobs and all, facing off with Beauregard." Yasha : "She knows how to handle that !" (Marisha does a *you got that right* kind of face)

Oh my god, for all the jokes about "coming back to the beginning", the fight with the water elemental where Jester was the only one left in the room at the end gave me HUGE flashbacks of that fight with the blue dragon where she was almost left alone too (if it wasn't for Nott)

#my thoughts #critical role #cr campaign 2 #CR2E136

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eponymous-rose · 3 years

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Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E123 (Feb. 2, 2021)

After last week’s thoroughly relaxing and brief episode, tonight’s guests are Sam Riegel and Liam O’Brien!

Brian, to Sam: “You look like Tim Curry moved to Nantucket to become a sommelier.”

How did Caleb and Veth approach the ally-ship with the Tombtakers? Sam: “I mean, we got some information, and I think we got a little closer to Lucien and knowing whether he has any of Mollymauk inside of him, which is I think the most important knowledge that we’re seeking right now. Is there someone to be saved inside there? We got glimpses, and we got a little hint that Mollymauk is maybe still in there? Maybe? And we got a little more insight into their plans, so that was useful.” Liam: “We know why we were having that fucking dream.” Sam: “But other than that, it was just a road trip with assholes.” Liam: “All our plans have been ripped in a new direction, and it’s just been improvisation.” Sam notes that it feels like we’re always about to rip into Caleb’s backstory, but haven’t yet followed that thread all the way through. Liam: “It’s partially frustrating, to be sure, but also I like the idea that-- his whole shit has been selfish, it’s been dealing with the trauma that he’s been through and not the greater world, and that’s been shifting somewhat.”

Does Caleb think the book was worth it, and is he still interested in reading more? Sam: “How do you ask Caleb not to read a book?” Liam: “Caleb has spent enough time with the Nein to know you shouldn’t put a hand on a hot stove. After what happened with the book, he knows it’s a terrible idea. But maybe. But it’s a really bad idea. But reserve judgment, but it’s a really terrible idea. I think that Caleb is very aware that mages and people like him very easily fall prey to their curiosity and it can lead to bad places. But there is still that amount of scientific endeavor where you think there is value in knowing and learning, and maybe we can ride that line. He was True Neutral at the start of the campaign, and maybe he’s Chaotic Good now, but part of him is hubris, even if it’s a little bit, still.”

What about Otis has drawn Veth’s focus? Sam: “I mean, he’s a little shit. She was curious about Otis because he’s a small like she is, and in talking to him, he seemed to be real creepy, but he was just creepy and distant and didn’t value his past or family or anything like that. She sees someone who’s like her, but so not like her, and maybe that scares her a little bit more.”

How does Caleb feel about Beau being on this ride with him? Liam: “The dream is another example of how Caleb had very narrow vision of the things he wanted to do. It used to seem so massive to him, but now... To have Beauregard involved feels right. If anyone in the group is going to stop him from grabbing something he shouldn’t, it is probably Beauregard. She’ll punch him in the fucking face to stop him, which I think he needs, to a certain extent. They’re two different kinds of nerds, and I kind of like that, that this group of nine philosophers, they’ve reached out and somehow grabbed the two nerds in the party.”

How do Caleb and Veth see the Somnovum? Sam: “I mean, they seem real bad. Anything that’s a quorum of powerful entities heading towards your planet to unleash an energy of any kind, typically bad? I assume they’re bad, or at least the Tombtakers wish them to do ill.” Liam: “I think they want the kind of peace that comes from snapping your fingers and turning people to dust. Caleb sees them as a cautionary tale; they’re the worst-case scenario for arcane inquisitiveness.” He sees Allura Vysoren as the antidote to that.

Why the staunch refusal to use Halfling Luck? Sam: “I don’t like Luck! I just don’t like Luck. I think it’s cheap, I think it’s a cheat, I think it’s stupid. It just feels like a do-over.” Liam: “I am your antithesis! If I ever voice a halfling, I am going to hammer that feature!” Sam: “What I love about D&D is that you don’t know what’s going to happen. If you roll bad, okay, that’s it. If you roll well, it makes the success more enjoyable to know that it’s a pure success and don’t one where you’re like well actually... it’s so stupid. If someone was about to die, I would probably use the fuckin’ Luck feature. Well. It depends who. If it was Travis, yeah, no, he’s fucked, sorry.”

Liam drops that he’s picked Sam’s character class and race again for a hypothetical campaign three. Sam: “It’s not what I was thinking for future characters, but I’m excited to explore.”

Cosplay of the Week: an amazing Mollymauk by KatofValkyrie!

What was it like to bring the Tombtakers into the tower? Liam: “It is complicated, because he does not like him. Lucien’s just a fucking dick. But Caleb also knows that Molly’s in there somewhere. That tower’s only for the M9, and Lucien’s not in the M9. Their situation with these people is shitty, it’s terrible. Caleb doesn’t feel like they have the upper hand. He doesn’t like that they’re even going on this journey per se, because life is bigger than his bullshit. He feels like they’ve been losing over and over again, so it was a gamble to try to get on equal footing.

What spurred Veth into making sure she and Yasha have some one-on-one time? Sam: “Yasha hasn’t been getting a lot of moments to shine. Now that she’s back, I just got the impression that Yasha feels out of place sometimes, or timid, or unsure of herself. When Veth was Nott, Nott certainly had her share of those moments. I think she sees a kindred spirit and wants to make sure that she’s been giving all the opportunity she can to flourish and thrive. Dani, you’re just laughing at my mustache, aren’t you?” Dani: “Yes, that’s the only thing I’m laughing at through this whole bullshit.” Sam denies all knowledge of trolling, but eventually admits, on the topic of Yasha and Beau getting together: “They’ve made me wait this long... I’m going to make them wait a little bit longer!”

What was it like to show his friends the upper floors? Liam: “I kinda expected somebody to sneak up there before that. That being part of the tower is not even a conscious choice of his, it just is. The reason Caduceus has creeped Caleb out for a long time is because he talks about how-- Caduceus is a really kind person and wants Caleb to let go of the past. And in a really simplistic way, turn that frown upside-down. And that’s just not who Caleb is, and it’s not who everybody is. There is something to be said for trying to stay open and positivity, but thinking you can shut out the past, especially a traumatic one, is just not true. When things happen to us, we carry them. But to candy-coat it and say, ah, I’m free, or everything is good, or I’ve turned the corner... life is way messier than that. It’s not flipping a switch, it’s not bad-to-good, it is such a work in progress. Even when you make strides and start to get to a better place, you can backslide a lot. So the tower is who he is, and the tower is 7/9ths love for his friends, and 1/9th hope, but there’s still a percentage of him that carries everything from the past, and knows that he should, and knows that he should not go back to where he was. And the way to do that is not to say everything is rainbows, but to remember it. The tower is just like an extension of who he is. He’s never going to forget the past, and he’s never going to be like, I’m good, or I’ve turned a corner. He should remember the past, and he should do better, always.”

Does Veth still believe it’s possible to get Molly back? Sam: “Well, she was a person trapped in another body for many years, so has some experience there, and definitely believes that the spirit and soul of Molly is in there and just needs to be unlocked somehow.”

Fan Art of the Week: an amazing group shot by HarpySN!

How are Caleb and Veth dealing with their guilt and fear about being in the middle of this? Sam: “It definitely was a deep conversation that might have repercussions going forward. The problem with all of what we’re doing now is that we don’t have time to deal with our petty problems anymore. It’s all high tension all the time!” Liam: “It’s true; they’re not in control of their situation at all anymore.” Sam: “It’s good to have these check-ins, but it’s not like we can do anything about them. We’re reactive right now.” Liam: “He’s not happy with where they are, but they wouldn’t even be this far if the goblin hadn’t pulled him out of the mud. So part of it is, you saved me from where I was and got me on my feet again, and now it’s disconcerting to see it all just get knocked sideways by something he never could’ve predicted. I think Caleb felt nostalgic for when things were simpler, in a way, for them, when we’re both troubled drifters.”

What was it like to see Gelidon’s return? Liam: “I am the least superstitious person at the table. Ashley’s dice suck.” Sam: “It was fun fighting a dragon!” Liam: “Two massive battles in one episode, neither of which came away with a victory. I guess surviving is a victory.” Sam: “I’d forgotten about the dragon, honestly.” Liam: “I loved it. I was so upset at the idea that we were going to stealth and not get into it.”Sam: “Mercer doesn’t keep a live dragon around and not do something with it. That dragon’s coming back.”

How do Caleb and Veth feel about going to see Essek? Sam: “He can be very helpful, I believe, but as Sam Riegel, a player of D&D, I’m super suspicious. What the fuck is Essek doing up there, so close, now? I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. And I can throw him pretty far because he floats.” Liam: “I 100% agree with you. I do not understand what Essek could bring to what we are going through. I know the audience loves him, I love him too. He’s a really cool character. But he’s fucking toxic. He out of curiosity caused a war between two nations. And Caleb has been changed for the good by the M9 from months of travel with them. Essek has had none of that. Caleb has changed for the good, but not because of people like Essek. Essek is where Caleb came from. We kept the lid on the pot during the whole treaty at sea and it almost all went fucking sideways, and only because we pressed him into a corner. I hope that guy finds some sort of balance and peace for himself, but I do not see how his input here would be helpful. There’s other heavy hitters that I would try to pull in.”

Liam notes that the Cloven Crystal is in the Bag of Holding. Sam: “Do I have Fluffernutter, or is Fluffernutter gone?” Liam: “Nope. 300 pounds of fireworks? Gone. A dead mage, a threshold crest, and fireworks.” Dani: “Your basic essentials.”

#critical role #critical role spoilers #talks machina #talks machina spoilers #long text post

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loquaciousquark · 3 years

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Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E136 & 137 (May 11, 2021)

Good evening and good night, everyone! Tonight on Talks are Laura Bailey & Sam Riegel. I was seriously hoping for Travis after the oh-so-spooky ending to last week's episode, but we'll make do! Tonight, Sam joins us while exercising on his Peloton (apparently in a full workout program led by Peloton teacher Tunde(?)) in front of a green screen. Boy, this is gonna be a thing, huh?

We're not even to the first question and Sam has already been photoshopped into a carwash. Oh, brother.

How is everyone feeling diving into the Cognouza ward? Laura doesn't want to be there at all. She knew Liam desperately wanted to see it, but she didn't. Neither did Sam: it's like being in someone else's gross bathroom where you really don't want to touch anything. Isn't the whole city a body? Is there an earwax room, Sam wonders?

Dani called that Sprinkle was Artagan waaaay back when. She thought it was either a Hollowed One or the Traveler. Travis and Laura were joking about it at home a while back as well, but she didn't think it was real. Sam assumed Matt just didn't want to retcon Sprinkle dying after various adventures & never expected him to tie a plot point to it.

Sam thinks the campaign is winding down & he's trying to get Veth one-on-one time for everyone. Laura is his favorite due to Jester's & Nott's relationship. Laura very much wants to open a real detective agency in game if they both survive this fight.

Laura can't believe Sam is committing to the Peloton bit. "I just had no idea that you were going to do this the whole time. I genuinely thought you were choosing to wear a sleeveless shirt." Sam: "I like that we're at that part in our relationship where you're like, 'well, this is a mistake for him but I'm not even gonna bring it up.'"

If Jester wasn't in a relationship with Fjord, she'd have wink-wink'd at Charlie.

Veth on Devexian: she's very drawn to confidence and sexy voices. There are no men in the M9 who check those boxes. Jester: "Fjord is very tall, dark, and handsome!" Sam: "Yeah, but he's got those little stick arms!" Brian points out that Yasha is the most tall, dark, and handsome of the group, and Sam laments that he already tried that too. She's not going to sleep with the robot, but she can appreciate beauty.

Laura starts to tell us about the Shape of Water while talking about Devexian's functionality and makes THAT GESTURE, YOU KNOW. She then collapses with laughter at being shy about it. She tells Sam Jester isn't shy at all and draws all sorts of humanoid species dicks.

They both agree the powers Caleb & Beau have right now are awesome but will 100% come back to bite them. Sam thinks the 3/9 eyes means there's a 1/3 chance Molly can control them.

Once Molly takes them over, they both agree Beau must be killed first. "She could kill all of us in a heartbeat."

Cosplay of the Week: kairiceleste on Instagram with an amazing Caleb. Great fire photoshop as well! Brian pulls the digital CR gift card off a genuine Bafta. These kids, I tell you what.

Jester still wishes they had access to the Wild Magic chaos since it seemed perfectly harmless and only funny. Laura, on the other hand, knows it's a good thing they've left it behind since not all of them are so benign.

Both Sam & Laura are delightedly astonished to remember Veth is still like a foot tall. Sam says he would have been doing an even higher-pitched voice had he known.

Laura feels great about her Parent Trap success. She likes that it was grounded and not fanciful. It was very bittersweet to leave them behind, choosing not to say goodbye. It almost felt like Jester has accepted whatever fate has in store and if something happens to her, she knows that at least someone will take care of Marion.

Right now, Jester feels a stronger purpose than anything to stop the city. It's so hard to marry that serious & driven purpose to Caleb's desire, for example, to explore a room and pick up a piece of paper. She really thinks she did see that vision of the eye that Matt mentioned last episode, contrary to what Matt thinks.

It wasn't as satisfying as Sam had hoped to kill Otis. He wanted to face off in a fair duel and win via superior cunning & scrappiness. "Who knows, maybe Otis will come back to life!" Maybe they can Speak with Dead and Veth can rub it in.

Laura desperately wants to go back and explore the city. It felt like a video game level with a time limit; it killed her that she couldn't take as much time as she wanted to explore. "There was so much loot!"

Sam wasn't expecting the Somnovem to have distinct personalities. Dani has a theory about them being heightened emotions. Sam: "Like Inside Out??" Laura: "Inside Out in the flesh city." There has to be a way to sweet-talk them into helping. Laura never expected that they'd actually land in the city at all.

The only thing that is stopping them now is that Lucien hasn't placed his threshold crest yet. Laura thinks that if he does, the city will go back immediately and--she suspects--the nine Somnovem will rise again in power like gods, and drive the city to destroy Exandria.

Fanart of the Week: gazedraws with a lovely Devexian. Great gold work on the neck and face! Sam: "It would take a while to put a hickey on that, but I could do it."

Brian's entirely imagined neon sign dropping from the ceiling with the gift card is powered (apparently) by Sam's Peloton. Laura complains that the light isn't bright enough because he isn't pedaling fast enough. I can't believe how intricate this has become.

It makes perfect sense for Jester that there is power that comes from belief. She's coming to terms with the idea that the Traveler isn't a god.

All three of them forward-nostalgize about sitting on a couch together. Soon, friends!

They're dying to know about the weapon Veth found. They need time for Caleb to identify it.

Lucien's visible reaction to being called Circus Man has to be a clue from Matt that Molly's still in there. Both Sam & Laura are convinced that they can reach Molly somehow if they can just say the right thing. They are determined to try to get Molly back before Travis just kills Lucien. Laura wonders if they're going to encounter the consciousnesses of Yussa and Molly somewhere in the city.

Sam and Laura think they have good odds against Cree, even with legendary actions. Sam's sure there will be some wrinkle to either make the fight harder or delay them in the fight against Lucien. Laura suggests splitting the party. Brian: "You should be careful splitting the party; without Caduceus, there's no healing!" Laura: "...that's true." Sam thinks that Cree will be able to control Beau or Caleb (or other party members) with the blood vials she took so long ago.

Sam has gone 14.1 miles on the Peloton. What a nice workout!

And that is that is that! Is it Thursday yet?

#critical role #critical role spoilers #talks machina #talks machina spoilers #long post for ts

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failedskillcheck · 3 years

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Change with the Tides (Part 1/??)

A/N: Hiya! This is a little thing that I wanted to write, where the reader is a changeling wizard/rouge working for the Gentleman and joins the Mighty Nein! This takes place around 2x14-2x16. I’ll probably write it for the whole campaign.

You grew up in the various orphanages of Wildemont, starting in Port Damali, then Alfeild, Nogvurot, Trostenwald, Rexxentrum, and Deastock, eventually ending up in Zadash.

Due to your race, people found it hard to trust you. You didn’t really blame them, you had been picking pockets since you were seven. In Alfeild, you managed to steal a few spellbooks off of a traveller and began teaching yourself magic. Mostly Illusion spells, but you got your hand on some water-based magic as well.

When you grew out of the system, you were in Zadash, so you went about looking for the Gentleman. By the time you were 23, you had a secure career with him.

That is until a group barged into the underground bar, a strange collection of individuals calling themselves the Mighty Nein… but there were only seven.

From your seat at the bar, you couldn’t see them. You subtly put up your usual disguise, a human woman with brown hair and dark eyes, except you keep the hair a platinum blonde, the closest colour to your true form.

Cree noted one of the adventurers, a purple teifling she called Lucien. The man was a literal peacock. In fact, you’re pretty sure you saw a peacock tattoo creeping up his neck. You noted the others. An aloof half-orc, an energetic blue teifling, a massive woman who could probably crush you, a human woman in Cobalt Soul blue, and a human man in dirty brown clothing, sticking close to a small goblin. The goblin surprised you. You were all too aware of what people thought of monstrous races like hers.

The group went to the Gentlemans’ table, and you snickered, sipping on your drink. Then, Clive comes over and leans over the bar, “He needs you.” You sigh, down the rest of your drink, and walk over to the table, knowing that the drink will be paid off later.

“What’s up Boss?” You say as you reach the table, grabbing the chair closest to him. You’re his best employee. He knows that, everyone here knows that. There’s very little you can’t get away with.

“Ah, Y/N. Meet the Mighty Nein. You may recognize those two,” he gestures to the purple teifling and the monk, “as the two who murdered the High-Rictor. They’ve agreed to do me a favour, in exchange for me clearing their names.”

“So you’re the sorry sods he’s making go to that blasted facility,” you turned your head to the Gentleman, “Let me guess, I’m going with them?”

“You are the one who found it.”

“So when do we leave?” You asked, looking back at the group, who all seemed to be talking to one another. All of them except for the half-orc, who was instead watching you.

“Tomorrow, we need to prepare first.”

The Gentleman waved you off, and you went to your bed in the upper part of the Evening Nip, then preparing some things for your mission tomorrow. You went down to the bar, waiting for the Mighty Nein.

They finally arrived, and they were blindfolded and escorted to a dock, where you parted ways with you’re colleagues and rowed down the river with the Mighty Nein. You led them down the river, not talking and very aware that the half-orc and the monk were watching you. The Nein then decides to pull a race, and the goblin uses her ring of water walking. Until she hits a rock.

As she’s being pulled into the boat, you see a dark mantle drop, wrapping around her head, as well as the man and the half-orc. Luckily, you’re able to defeat them with almost no injuries.

“Those weren’t there before, I swear.” You say as the monk woman accuses you of trying to kill them. As she’s yelling at you, she stops and urges everyone to go faster due to rock monsters.

You drift downward before docking and sitting on the gravel beach as the large woman and blue teifling clear the rockslide.

“Mind telling us your name?” the half-orc asks, sitting beside you,

“Y/N,” you say, looking over, “And no, no last name. What about you?”

“I’m Fjord,” he says, then points to his party, “That there’s Beauregard and Jester. Then Mollymauk and Yasha. Those two are Caleb and Nott.” He pointed to where the goblin was braiding flowers into the man’s hair.

“Right. Apologies for the cave-in, when I first discovered this place, my group got attacked, one of them decide to destroy the wall.”

“Not a problem Y/N!” says Jester, clearing away the last rocks, “See, already cleared”

Mollymauk walks over and offers you his hand to helo you get up, as he does, he pulls you close to whisper in your ear, “Do you have any clue who I was?”

Was. Interesting choice of words, Mr. Mollymauk. “No, Cree seemed to though. So whatever little gang you two were in, I certainly wasn’t a member.”

“Something tells me there’s more to you than meets the eye Y/N, and I for one, am interested to find out what.”

Mollymauk back off at my shocked expression, walking away before saying over his shoulder, “And it’s just Molly, dear.”

We go down the stairs, through many trapped rooms (which Nott kept forgetting to check, leaving you to pick up her slack), Fjord almost falls down a pit, before finally reaching a large chamber.

The first thing you notice in the room is a teleportation circle, though it’s broken. You tell this to the Nein, which makes Caleb give you a quizzical look “And how do you know what a broken teleportation circle looks like?”

“I may be nothing more than a thief, but I am somewhat educated.”

You all begin searching around, and eventually, Caleb finds a journal written in Draconic. As you discuss it, the temperature drops and a skeletal form stretches from the group, ghastly skin stretched over its face.

“My secrets are yours.”

After that, you and the Nein launch into battle, and shockingly, you all fight very well together, working in sync.

You watched Jester sink to the ground, your own head pounding from the mental attacks. Molly charged at the undead Siff Dunder, and you shouted “Finish this Mollymauk!” as you ran towards Jester, giving her a healing potion you kept in your pocket.

The temperature drops again, cold energy emerging from a bookshelf. You can physically see Caleb remembering something, his eyes lighting. He mentions a physical form, like will o’ wisps and you swear under your breath as a series of attacks knocks Yasha unconscious. Jester is by her side instantly, healing her, before she and Beauregard pull down the bookshelf.

A large urn stands amongst pots and small cases, and Molly reaches through and destroys the urn. Siff, who was just attacking you and Fjord as you tried to distract it, disintegrates, and you both breathe a sigh of relief.

You all take a bit of time to collect yourself, and Fjord once again sits beside you, “Alright, I need to know. Why no last name?”

“Never got one.” You said, drinking from your waterskin and checking for any injuries.

“Orphan?”

“Yeah”

You notice a flash of something like sympathy on his face, and but in “I don’t need your pity. I’m perfectly fine without parents.”

“I was gonna say me too.”

You look at Fjord, “Right, sorry.”

Fjord looks like he’s about to ask another question, but you’re interrupted by Nott rubbing oil on herself and squeezing through the hole. Yasha just breaks the wall.

Why was that hot? You think to yourself

You see Nott bent over a case with her thieves tools out, trying to open a lock. Two minutes pass and you hear a gas leak and repeated coughing. “Poison,” she croaks, handing out the jewelry she found, even handing you a piece.

Beauregard searches through the urns, finding a spellbook, which she gives to Caleb. He traces some pattern in the air and finishes the spell, looking around the room. Your back is turned, but he gives you a look, nodding at Beau. You’re definitely hiding abilities other than the rouge ones you’ve displayed.

He points out a sword called the Magicians Judge, which Yasha takes. Molly, Jester, Fjord, and Beau leave to investigate further down the river, while you make camp with Caleb and Nott.

“You know magic,” Caleb says after a long stretch of silence. “How?”

A simple question, but you were reluctant to answer, Fjord already knows too much about you. “I stole some books off of a travelling wizard when I was 15. I was going to sell them, but they seemed interesting, so I taught myself.”

“How old are you?” Nott asked in between sips of her flask.

“23.” You answer, resting your head on your bag.

“What spells do you know?”

“Just a few illusions. Makes thievin’ easier.”

The interrogation seemed to stop then, and a few minutes later, the others return, and you all fall asleep.

You dream of being chased through Alfeild after stealing the books. You ran and ran, jumping on carriages until you deemed yourself far enough away. Late nights of learning magic, trying to get a hold on precious components with no money. Slowly learning.

When you woke up, you realized you shouldn’t have slept around strangers, your true form peeking through. You shift slowly back, keeping your cloak wrapped around you.

“Fjord, you have a little something right here.” Jester says, pointing out the dried blood on the corner of his mouth.”

“Oh, yeah, I grind my teeth,” Fjord explains blushing slightly as he wipes it. As he does you notice his tusks are shorter than other half-orcs you’ve seen.

Jester notices it too and starts questioning him about them. Fjord gets nervous and says “When I was younger, they used to make fun of my teeth, so I got rid of the target.”

“The kids at the orphanage?” You ground out, all too familiar with asshole kids

“Yeah, it just kinda became a habit.”

“Did you ever kill them?” Yasha asked, looking very serious,

Nott quickly became concerned “Yasha. Have you ever killed a kid?”

No answer.

Immediately, the Mighty Nein promised that if he grew them out they’d support him. You had a moment then. These people hadn’t known each other long, minus a couple of obvious pairings, but you could tell they were good people. Certainly better than the Gentleman’s goons.

You all make your way up to the Gentleman’s lair, keeping quiet. You’re lost in thought, right up until you take the blindfold off of the Nein. You pull Fjord aside before he gets to the Gentleman.

“I still have to talk to the Boss about it, but would it be alright if I maybe tagged along with you guys for a bit? You seem like good people, and I think I need a change of company.”

“I’d have to talk to the other, but I don’t have a problem with it. You’re a good fighter Y/N, we could definitely use you.”

You nod and wait for the Mighty Nein to finish the meeting with the Gentleman before you sit down with him.

“Hey, Boss?” You say, waiting for permission to speak, “I was thinking, I might try travelling around a bit. I’ve never been good at staying in one place, you know my past. And those Migh-”

The Gentleman held up a hand, and you felt the entire bar fall silent. He was going to say no, you knew it.

“Y/N, you’ve been my best employee for the last several years. Your talents are unmatchable, and I don’t think I’ll ever find a replacement. But I get it. A change of pace is always needed. Go pack up your things, and don’t worry about your bar tab, I’ll pay.” He slid a pouch of gold across the table, “Here’s a little something to start you off.”

Holy shit.

“Thank you, sir.”

The Gentleman nodded, and you ran to pack your things. Fjord said something about the Leaky Tap, so you headed over. Right away, Jester threw her arms around you.

“Welcome to the Mighty Nein!”

#mighty nein x reader #mighty nein #jester lavorre #fjord stone #beauregard lionett #caleb widogast #mollymauk tealeaf #nott the brave #Change With The Tides #fanfiction #Critical role #this wasn't supposed to be so long

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intergalacticwanderer · 3 years

Text

The concept from this post of Molly haunting the M9 but disappearing when the Tomb Takers resurrect Lucien is something that I just. Keep thinking about.

First realizing something is up when Molly accidentally possesses Beau during the assault on the Sour Nest. Everyone being very confused after the fight as to why Beau is so agitated and shouting at nothing. Finally put two and two together that Molly is THERE but can only be seen or heard after possessing someone and there’s a bunch of sudden body hopping and even more shouting. Caduceus being very apprehensive and warning everyone else about the potential dangers but settles for being watchful when they insist it’s okay.

Molly hovering anxiously around Yasha while waiting for her to wake up, but not being able to explain the situation to her before visiting the grave and her still leaving the group in grief. Heavy conversations at the grave about what things are like for Molly now and that honestly, he really doesn’t like being a ghost, but not seeing a way out of it besides being destroyed because he doesn’t even know WHY he’s a ghost. Making an informal goal to fix things for Molly somehow, and Caduceus calmly and comfortingly offering to help him find a way to move on if he’d prefer to do that instead. A coat is still left behind as a promise.

Yasha meeting them again after they travel to the coast and the emotional moment where they’re finally able to explain what’s going on. The whirlwind of the next few weeks and months as they all travel together, Molly spending short stints riding along with someone else so he can at least FEEL something for a little while. Acting as a scout and look out for danger for the rest of the group, but everyone else being careful to not say too much about him around others.

(Standing on the deck of their ship, looking at the night sky splashed with stars and waves crashing around them and Molly longing, aching for the chance to feel the sea breeze in person. Wanting to chase the horizon and new experiences, bound to nothing and no one except for what he chooses.)

Being forced to watch, helpless, as Yasha is taken by Obann. A turning point as Molly insists on staying behind with Yasha, staying with her even as she’s controlled, he knows what being possessed looks like, that’s NOT her. It’s dangerous, yes, but less dangerous to him, he can stay with her, do his best to keep watch, she’s worth the risk. Truly splitting up for the first time since he started haunting them, barely seeing each other, connecting for a few frantic moments during a tense chase through the woods at night before Molly is gone again, following Yasha and Obann as they teleport away. Not realizing as they enter the Folding Halls of Halas that that was the last time they’d see him.

A hard fought but victorious battle at the Chantry of the Dawn. Yasha returned to them, only to be followed by that horrible moment of, wait, I thought he was with YOU, what do you mean he’s not with you? But Molly is no where to be found. By anyone. The realization that he might truly be gone for good, and no one was even there to see it happen.

Delayed grief hits home and it hits HARD. They lean on each other, be there for each other, and try to keep themselves occupied with the next tasks in front of them. A dinner with a possible new friend. Tricking a hag. Visiting the Menagerie. A betrayal, returning Nott to Veth, a party, a tough conversation with hope for the future, ending a war. Finally making their way to Traveler Con and Rumblecusp, memories slipping away under a strange influence (there was a coat), stopping that strange influence once and for all and receiving a vision more important that any of them could realize.

Going home and looking for information while deciding what to do next. Eventually coming to the decision to visit a grave for answers. Wondering if this might finally be the chance to give their friend what he’d been looking for, a chance to live, to feel again, but also guilt that they couldn’t do it sooner, worry that it might already be too late. They start digging for the body.

A body that’s not there.

A body that’s not there because he’s already alive again.

There’s elation and shock but also confusion and wariness. Why was the coat left behind? Why had no effort been made to contact them, to contact Yasha? What is going on?

Finding out what's going on several days later with the abrupt murder of Vess DeRogna and everything being thrown into chaos. Giving chase to figure out the answers to all the new questions, and upon finally catching up to this mystery, the person with the face of their friend? No memories, no recognition. Not Mollymauk. Lucien.

Being told that Mollymauk had just been a fragment of a larger whole, an insignificant speck that didn't matter (but he mattered to them) and has been reabsorbed. Putting two and two together with the timing of Lucien's resurrection and Molly's disappearance. Grappling with the implications of what this might mean, what does this mean for their friend? Not knowing the answer but pushing forward anyway, knowing that Lucien has to be stopped, and hoping somehow, someway, they might get their friend back, but not seeing how.

Traveling together is unexpected and even more confusing. Seeing echoes, reflections of their friend in Lucien, seeing the roots of where he came from but simultaneously seeing the ways he is NOT him (let her have her?!) and not knowing what to do with it. Having the choice made for them in the night, chasing after and fleeing away for their lives. Finding safe haven with a guiding star.

Taking only a moment to breathe before rushing ahead. Nearly tripping and falling when Caleb’s past comes calling but (barely) managing to get up again, returning and making their way into Aeor with Essek at their side. Felling three of the Tomb Takers and then the chase is on, racing against the clock and Lucien before catching up with him and Cree at a gate. Noticing something strange in how Lucien reacts to certain words, keeping it in mind as they jump after him into the astral sea.

Dealing with the figurative and literal nightmare that is Cognouza, stopping Cree, plane shifting a threshold crest, saving Yussa. Witnessing a coup by Lucien, who, for some reason, still tells them to run. Leaves them alive (why did I leave you alive?). A battle for the fate of the world.

Fighting back, talking back, and something inside him listens. Hears them as they reach out. Hammer, hammer, hammering away with both weapons and words in the hardest fight of their lives. Some even losing their lives, until, finally, they triumph, Cognouza Incarnate slain. Two lost lives restored... and one more left to try. To give another chance.

It fails.

They mourn, heartbroken. Figuring that if nothing else, he's no longer trapped. Wishing that they could have done more. Hoping that he will be able to rest. Caduceus sending up a prayer.

It succeeds.

Elation, shock, reunions, tears. Single words that speak volumes. Showering with love, they did it, they kept their promise, they did it! Returning to the Blooming Grove hand in hand, all nine of them at last.

Checking in with their restored friend that night and the next day. Coming back to himself and yet not. Memories are gone but he's not blank either, knowing he's with friends but not knowing how he knows. A mind that can't remember but a heart that does, feelings instead of names. A new name and a new start.

Danger follows them, briefly, but it is smacked down, dealt with. Humbled and brought low and given the amount of respect it deserves, which is to say, none. They exhale, exhausted but accomplished. Taking time for much needed rest.

Noticing things about him during the rest. Hugs that linger, clinging a little too tight. Hours spent lying in the grass, hands running through the blades over and over while watching the clouds. Visits to flower after flower, touching petals and breathing deep. Almost crying over a new food, a new taste before eating himself sick. Leaning in at any music, any song, attention lost towards anything else. Closing his eyes and listening to the sounds of nature in the evening, just being. Existing. Living.

Later traveling to Nicodranas. Him watching the ocean, transfixed. Walking to the shore, closing his eyes and breathing in as the sea breeze blows through his hair. Starting to cry without even knowing why. (His mind can't recall the memory, not yet, but his heart does, aching at the clarity. An ache that can hopefully be soothed, now that that longing has been fulfilled.)

Not even questioning it when he joins the crew of the Nein Heroez. Parting ways, but also knowing that they will ALL be seeing each other again soon (too much love amongst them for anything else), starting the next journey. Getting a second chance.

Living life. Being happy. And knowing that he will never have to be alone again.

#Critical Role #cr spoilers #Mollymauk Tealeaf #Mollymauk #this ended up as a weird cross of an outline and a fic #partially inspired by Tal's comment that Molly would have been miserable as the lingering soul class #my writing

45 notes · View notes

lucky-katebishop · 3 years

Text

What I Read in July 2021

Oh, man, this is gonna be a long post. I bookmarked 33 fics, all of them Harry Potter related, with a few cross-overs.

Forget-Me-Not by Lomonaaeron *favorite*

Plot: Harry isn’t the Boy-Who-Lived, but his parents still died, and Albus Dumbledore, concerned that Death Eaters might seek the boy’s death, cast a powerful charm on him to make wizards ignore him before Harry was left with the Dursleys. Except, with the Elder Wand in play, the charm was far too powerful, and made others essentially forget Harry existed when not directly interacting with him. Sorted into Ravenclaw at Hogwarts, Harry lives a contented life with no one either loving or hating him…until the charm breaks on his seventeenth birthday, and he’s suddenly plunged directly into the middle of a living world at war.

Characters: Harry, Theo Nott, Dumbledore, Neville, Ollivander, Lupin, Rabastan Lestrange, Ron, Hermione, Draco, original non-human characters, Peter Pettigrew, Umbridge

Relationships: Harry Potter/Theo Nott

Warnings: none apply

Tags: ancient runes, socially awkward Harry Potter, Ravenclaw Harry Potter, Harry Potter is not the boy-who-lived, angst, romance, horcruxes, muggleborn registration commission, blood magic

My Notes: I inhaled this in one sitting and then cried for like 10 minutes afterwards, it’s so beautifully written, it became an instant favorite

*complete*

He Turned Around by ChipOfftheOldSoul *favorite*

Plot: When the Goblet of Fire spit out Harry's name that Halloween night, he was told to join the other champions. Instead, he turned around and walked away.

Characters: Harry, Snape, Draco, Ron, Hermione, Victor Krum, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Crabbe, Goyle, Daphne Greengrass, Fred & George, Marcus Flint, Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis

Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter; Harry Potter & Severus Snape; Draco Malfoy & Severus Snape

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse, mentioned homophobia

Tags: book 4, good Severus Snape, good Draco Malfoy, good Slytherins, smart Harry Potter, Dumbledore bashing, manipulative Dumbledore, past child abuse, runes, slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers, Slytherin Harry Potter, Hogwarts House re-sort, no Ron bashing but he’s not great for a while

My Notes: I’ve already read this twice in less than a week period and I cannot wait until it’s updated (hopefully it’ll be updated) and I absolutely love the way it’s written and Harry’s characterization. I also very much appreciate that there won’t be Ron bashing, I’ve read too many Ron bashing fics, but I am here for all of the Dumbledore bashing!

*incomplete* [last updated June 2021]

Stars by LilyIsAwesomerThanYou

Plot: When Snape discovers Harry's abusive past during an Occlumency lesson, Harry panics. Snape is forced to take care of him in the aftermath. Mentor/guardian fic. As always, no slash.

Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione

Relationships: Gen

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, depression

Tags: Severitus, angst, drama, past abuse, hurt/comfort, mentor Snape, guardian Snape, occlumency

My Notes: Snape is a dick in this one, and so far he has not gotten any better, just a warning, but there’s some great Harry angst going on here (that’s why I bookmarked it). Yeah, Snape is pretty evil in this one, there’s some victim blaming and just straight up verbal abuse from him.

*incomplete* [last updated 2018]

violet hill by rejectedreality

Plot: Where Harriet Potter is Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes’ soulmate.

Fandoms: Harry Potter & MCU

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Harry Potter, Steve Rogers, Hermione, Ron

Relationships: Bucky Barnes/Harry Potter; Steve Rogers/Harry Potter; Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers; Bucky/Steve/Harry

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse, emotional/psychological abuse

Tags: fem!Harry Potter, soulmate-identifying marks, age difference, angst with a happy ending, it gets worse before it gets better

My Notes: this is so, so, so fucking beautiful! I am straight up in love with this fic, and I am so sad that it hasn’t been updated for a few years because there was so much potential. There are some hints at underage couples, as Harry’s 15 while Bucky and Steve are adults, but nothing actually happens.

*incomplete* [last updated 2017]

trapped in a blue haze by MourningElegance

Plot: “And in that moment, Draco knows. He knows that all his deep-rooted suspicions about Harry’s childhood are terribly, horribly true.” As their relationship grows, so do Draco’s misgivings about Harry’s past.

Rating: Explicit!!!

Characters: Harry, Draco

Relationships: Harry/Draco

Warnings: explicit sexual content, implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: established relationship, smut, porn with plot, explicit sexual content, fluff and angst, hurt/comfort, cuddling, post-war, post-Hogwarts, auror Harry Potter, POV Draco, character study, sickfic, epilogue what epilogue, injury

*complete*

From the Dungeons by huntersg1rl

Plot: One conversation goes slightly differently. How much does it change? Features a caring Snape, supportive Malfoys, strong friendships, and Slytherin Harry.

Characters: Harry, Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Daphne, Snape, Narcissa, Lucius, Sirius, Remus, Pomfrey, Dumbledore

Relationships: pre-Harry/Draco; Severus Snape & Harry Potter

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: Slytherin Harry Potter, Good Severus Snape, good Lucius Malfoy, good Narcissa Malfoy, manipulative Dumbledore, POC Harry, animagus transformation, wizengamot, politics and culture

My Notes: YA’LL! This one is so cool! It’s going under some major maintenance at the moment, so it’ll be a bit of a wait until it gets going again but I recommend reading it immediately before the changes get enacted. I don’t want to spoil anything, but Harry’s a BAMF in this series, especially when we get to book 3

*incomplete* [this is a series, first three parts are completed, last updated February 2021]

Fighting for Freedom by dreamsofmermaids

Plot: At the end of a horrific fourth year, Harry overhears something on the train back to London that sets in motion a series of events that will reveal truths, change decisions, and send Harry on a path to true freedom. But nothing comes without a fight.

Fandoms: Harry Potter & Criminal Minds

Characters: Harry, Snape, Aaron Hotchner, Spencer Reid, Jason Gideon, Emily Prentiss, Sirius Black, Voldemort

Relationships: to be announced (I know, I’m sorry, I hate this too)

Warnings: graphic depictions of violence, major character death, attempted sexual assault, implied/referenced child abuse, suicide attempt, kidnapping

Tags: Dumbledore bashing, Weasley bashing, Hermione bashing, Harry runs away, Snape bashing, not so evil Voldemort, trouble magnet!Harry

My Notes: this one is really good and it features a Harry and Dobby friendship. I’m gonna spoil it right now, Hotchner is Harry’s dad, I hate it when it doesn’t state it in the tags

*incomplete* [last updated February 2021]

From Grace by silver_fish *favorite*

Plot: From the top of the Astronomy Tower, the stars always look brighter. Funny, how Harry can’t seem to find them at all anymore.

Characters: Harry, Snape, Hermione, Ron

Relationships: Harry & Snape

Warnings: suicidal thoughts, implied/referenced child abuse, attempted suicide

Tags: set during Ootp, insomnia, nightmares, teenage angst, emotional hurt/comfort

*complete*

A Beautiful Lie by Panis_fluvium

Plot: Harry receives his letter while the Dursley's are on vacation. Harry takes it upon himself to find out if the letters he receives are true or if someone is playing a massive joke on him. What happens when he journey's to Diagon Alley alone? What happens when he finally gets to school? Will he finally fit in? Will he finally escape the abuse?

Characters: Harry, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Blaise, Pansy, Ron, Hermione

Relationships: Draco/Harry; Pansy/Blaise; Snape/?

Warnings: graphic depictions of violence, implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: Severitus, Slytherin Harry, bullying, shy Harry, slight Ron bashing, fairly good Voldie, misunderstood darkside, manipulative Dumbledore

*incomplete* [last updated June 2021]

The heir of something or other by diregewithoutmusic

Plot: When kids in the Slytherin Common Room tossed jeers at the pudgy feet of Millicent Bulstrode, Harry rose up to do something about it. This Harry, now one of Snape’s own, got fewer House points lost but many more detentions– it had never been the colors on his hem that Severus hated. This was not wishing Harry an easy path. This was not wishing the boy a warm House. This was Harry, three weeks in, sleep deprived and considering running away and going back to Privet Drive. This was Harry in the back of Potions class, blank-faced under Snape’s disdain the way he’d perfected under the Dursleys’s torments. When Quirrell shouted “troll in the dungeons, thought you ought to know,” and Harry overheard that there was a girl in the bathroom crying, he still ran off to make sure she got out okay. He hesitated first, at the back of the little pack of Slytherin first years (at the back so that no one could get behind him)– he hesitated. And Millicent Bulstrode, who could never quite keep her tummy tucked in enough, could never brush all the cat hair off her robes, never quite keep her temper in check, hesitated, too.

Characters: Harry, Millicent, Colin Creevey, Hermione, Dennis Creevey, Luna, Ron, Draco, Astoria, Daphne, Pansy, Neville, Susan Bones

Relationships: gen

Warnings: major character death

Tags: Slytherin Harry, canon typical violence

My Notes: this made me cry. It like actually made me cry. I don’t cry when I read fanfiction, but this one actually made me cry, it’s been two weeks and I still feel like crying thinking about this fic, but that being said it’s written so beautifully.

*complete*

Conditionally by Lomonaaeren

Plot: Harry finds out that he's Snape's son. It goes as badly as possible.

Characters: Harry, Snape, Dumbledore, Sirius, Hermione, Ron, Seamus, Umbridge, Rita, Neville, Voldemort

Relationships: minor Lily/Snape; Harry & Snape; Hermione & Ron & Harry

Warnings: graphic depictions of violence, suicidal thoughts, minor character death

Tags: Severitus, present tense, powerful Harry, Snape is Harry’s biological father, unhealthy coping mechanisms, independent Harry

My Notes: wow this one made me so mad for Harry. Sirius and Remus are not Harry’s friends, nor Dumbledore. Be warned, as good as this fic is, you will be very angry at all the adults in this fic. Snape isn’t a loving father type, and their relationship isn’t the greatest but it’s better than nothing by the end.

*complete*

Harry Potter and the Secrets Within by WhoWroteThis

Plot: Harry Potter is a very special, but very abused little boy. When a giant drags him into a world unknown, he'll need all the help he can get to understand his newfound belonging. Lucky for him, he has a snake, a dragon, and a horde of protective allies on his side.

Characters: Harry, original animal characters, Snape, Draco, Lucius and Narcissa, Portrait Salazar Slytherin, Basilisk, Blaise, Hogwarts ghosts, Quirrell, Voldemort

Relationships: Harry & Voldemort; Harry & Draco; Harry & Snape

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse, internalized homophobia, implied/referenced alcohol abuse, suicide threats and thoughts

Tags: Harry Potter needs a hug, parseltongue, Harry Potter has a pet snake, powerful Harry, metamorphmagus Harry, good Malfoy family, Slytherin Harry, slow burn, Slytherin politics, Hagrid bashing, Hermione bashing, Ron bashing, Dumbledore bashing, rituals, centaurs, dragons, cats, snakes

My Notes: I will literally never be trustworthy of the basilisk after reading Antithesis but I have to admit the basilisk in this fic is pretty great

*incomplete* [last updated August 2021]

The Tainted Blood of the Father by StarLight_Massacre *favorite*

Fandoms: Supernatural & Harry Potter

Plot: Harry has broken away from his chains after the Dursleys go too far. A simple desire to make a withdrawal from Gringotts leads to something much larger and exposes more than he ever knew about himself. A rushed, impulsive trip to America changes his entire life as he might have just found himself a true family to call his own.

Characters: Harry, John Winchester, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby

Relationships: Gen

Warnings: graphic depictions of violence, implied/referenced child abuse, attempted sexual assault

Tags: Awkward Winchesters trying to deal with Harry, cinnamon roll Harry

My Notes: The dynamic between Harry and the Winchesters shouldn’t work this well, but they absolutely do. Harry is a little Sam, he acts so much like him it’s so cute and everyone finds it so cute. Really great amount of angst and hurt/comfort. Doesn’t deal with the wizard side of things that much but I expect that’ll change in the upcoming chapters. Author has stated they don’t know if the Winchesters ever will find out that Harry’s a wizard, however, so keep that in mind

*incomplete* [last updated April 2021]

On a Pale Horse by Hyliian

Plot: When Dumbledore tried to summon a hero from another world to deal with their Dark Lord problem, this probably wasn't what he had in mind.

Characters: Harry, Death, Dumbledore, Hermione, Remus, Voldemort, Ron

Relationships: Gen

Warnings: none

Tags: master of death Harry, dimension travel, summoning rituals gone horribly wrong, godlike Harry, Dumbledore bashing, crack treated seriously, does major character death count as a tag when the major character is Death?

My Notes: so absolutely creepy, I love it so much, our Harry is not really all that much like Harry at all because he’s an immortal eldritch being of horror

*incomplete* [last updated 2018]

tell me whether he is dead by LullabyKnell *favorite*

Plot: Harry suffers a few side-effects of dying but not dying. “Hey, can someone help me with this? The mirror in the bedroom’s stopped working for me. “What do you mean ‘the mirror’s stopped working’?”

Characters: Harry, Ron, Hermione

Relationships: Harry/Ron/Hermione

Warnings: none

Tags: post-canon, epilogue what epilogue, post-battle of Hogwarts, post-Deathly Hallows, haunting, implied/referenced character death, gen or pre-slash, fluff and angst, oblivious Harry, master of death Harry

My Notes: so fucking brilliant, this author literally never misses, the relationship between the golden trio is so fucking cute and I love them so much

*complete*

A New Place to Stay by DebsTheSlytherinSnapeFan *favorite*

Plot: Harry Potter is called up to Dumbledore's office and told he was being moved elsewhere to keep him safe. He no longer has to stay at the Dursley's, but Dumbledore tells him he has to stay with Severus Snape. For a few days it seemed like a bad idea. Until Severus Snape uncovers the truth of who Harry Potter really is and what he's been through. Watch as Severus does as nobody else has done before him. He takes care of Harry. Watch him flourish into who he was meant to be, a boy with the heart of a Gryffindor and smarts of a Slytherin. The Dursley's, Umbridge and Dumbledore had better watch out Severus is out for revenge. Spy or no spy, Severus is not allowing anyone away with hurting Harry.

Characters: Snape, Harry, Dumbledore, Neville, Luna, Hermione, Ron

Relationships: Gen

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: Severitus

My Notes: I’ve read so many of these types of fics that even though this is more than 300k words I can’t remember a single thing about this but it must’ve been good because I labelled it as favorite, so

*complete*

Silver Lining by BloodyRed_Queen

Plot: Harry has a disastrous Summer with the Dursleys and is brought to Hogwarts early. In order to protect him, drastic measures are taken and Harry finds himself living with one Severus Snape.

Characters: Harry, Blaise, Draco, Snape

Relationships: Harry/Blaise; Harry & Snape

Warnings: Rape/Non-Con, implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: animagus, father-son relationship, severitus, Snape adopts Harry, good Slytherins, Ron bashing, Dumbledore bashing, therapy, manipulative Dumbledore

*complete*

truth’s like blood underneath your fingernails by Choices_We_Make, questionsthemselves

Plot: "Slytherin would do well, help you on the path to greatness," the hat seems to be coaxing him, but for something that can read his mind, it sure doesn't seem to know him very well. Harry doesn't want greatness. He doesn't need his name in lights and on everyone's lips. He wants meals, hot ones, whenever he wants, with people that he likes and that like him. Friends he can have adventures with, huddle under the blankets with at night and laugh with. People who might think… think he's worth something. In which Harry is sorted into Slytherin, and Snape deals with the fallout.

Characters: Harry, Snape, Draco, Theo, Blaise

Relationships: Harry & Snape

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: Slytherin Harry, Severitus sort of, angst with a sort of hopeful ending, Snape discovers abuse

*complete* [part of a series, incomplete but first two parts are finished, last updated 2018]

Harry Potter and the Immortal’s Playground by May_May_o_o

Fandoms: MCU & Harry Potter

Plot: Living forever isn't all it's cracked up to be. Harry Potter learns the meaning of immortality when everyone he loves dies again and again after becoming the master of death. After millennia of love lost, Death sends him to "Elsewhere" in order to give his master something new and different. Harry emerges from ash in New Asgard. What's a man like Thor to do but offer the traveler a home?

Characters: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Death, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Clint, Natasha, Loki, Thor, Bruce, May Parker

Relationships: Harry/Ginny; Thor/Harry; Harry & Avengers

Warnings: PTSD, suicide attempts

Tags: master of death Harry, magically powerful Harry, panic attacks, hurt/comfort, post-snap

My Notes: I don’t usually like Harry paired with any of the Avengers other than Peter, but Thor and Harry are so soft and written beautifully, I love this author so much

*incomplete* [last updated June 2021]

Another Mind Game by May_May_o_o *favorite*

Plot: Harry’s occlumency reveals his disturbing home life which sets off a chain reaction that cannot be undone. Snape finds himself begrudgingly caring about the bespectacled boy, Harry discovers what it's like to have adults who care, and Hermione finds herself becoming an accidental crime lord. Draco Malfoy is very much along for the ride, in all senses of the word. A ridiculous blend of hilarity and tragedy, Another Mind Game is the multi-faceted fanfiction you didn't know you wanted but will absolutely adore. Featuring a sassy Harry Potter, good friends, and a great deal of sarcasm.

Characters: Harry, Neville, Hermione, George, Fred, Snape, Ron, Luna, McGonagall, Dumbledore, house elves

Relationships: Draco/Harry; Hermione/Ron; Snape & Harry

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse; presumed suicidal (it makes sense when you read it)

Tags: mentor Snape, strong Harry, sassy Harry, slow burn, fluff and angst, Dumbledore bashing, crack treated seriously, Snape adopts Harry, protective Hogwarts, magically powerful Harry

My Notes: favorite, absolute favorite, read it three times already and it’s only been three weeks! The endnotes are so funny and add a lot of levity to the story

*complete* (unfortunately, I wish I could read more)

Not Just Pretty Words by LullabyKnell

Fandoms: Harry Potter & The Addams Family

Plot: On an unexpected holiday to America, Harry Potter meets a strange girl at a zoo, finds out that he's a witch, steals a snake, and is cordially invited to the Addams mansion for dinner.

Characters: Harry, Wednesday, Morticia, Gomez

Relationships: Gen; Addams Family & Harry

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: Harry needs a hug, worldbuilding, happy ending, found family, light angst

*complete*

Bruised Words by starknjarvis

Plot: After Harry blows up Aunt Marge, Dumbledore decides it's not safe for Harry to spend the rest of the summer at the Leaky Cauldron, and instead sends him to stay at Spinner’s End with Professor Snape. It's tense, awkward, and teeming with misunderstandings...but it might be the best thing that's happened to either of them. They're both been without a family for a very long time.

Characters: Harry, Snape, Dumbledore

Relationships: Harry & Snape

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: traumatized Harry, miscommunications, Snape adopts Harry, sickfic

*complete* [part of series, incomplete, last updated 2020]

The Freak Who Lived by DeviantHufflepuff, Zaharya

Plot: When Harry's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire, he is kicked out of Gryffindor Tower by those he thought of as friends. It isn't until Snape finds him that the truth comes out about The Boy Who Lived.

Characters: Harry, Snape, Pomfrey, McGonagall, Viktor Krum, Fleur, Cedric, Draco, Neville, Blaise

Relationships: Sirius/Remus; Harry & Snape; Harry/Blaise

Warnings: graphic depictions of violence, implied/referenced child abuse, PTSD, trauma induced age regression (not intense), suicidal thoughts

Tags: book 4, Severitus, Snape adopts Harry, panic attacks, seer Luna, Harry needs a hug, McGonagall is basically Harry’s mom, manipulative Dumbledore but he’s not evil, big brother Draco

My Notes: Snape is pretty cuddly in this one, he’s not shy with feelings and showing Harry that he’s loved which is nice and a nice change from other Severitus fics. Don’t be off-put by the age regression tag, it’s super low-key, there’s only a couple throw-away lines about it.

*incomplete* [last updated February 2021]

Dudley Dursley’s Most Unexpectedly Fortunate Flower by aTasteofCaramell

Plot: Dudley Dursley is leading a perfectly normal life, his contact with his odd cousin limited to Christmas cards and peculiar memories. Until his daughter sneezes and sets the curtains on fire.

Characters: Harry, Dudley, Dudley’s children, Petunia and Vernon Dursley

Relationships: Dudley & Harry; Harry/Ginny

Warnings: none

Tags: humor, Dudley has a magical child, redeemed Dudley, post-series, Petunia and Vernon still suck, Harry Potter Next Generation

*complete*

Unexpected Consequences by Siebenschlaefer

Plot: The Ministry letter after the Dementor attack has far greater consequences than everybody could have anticipated and at the start of his fifth year in Hogwarts Harry has to be sorted again. And this time there is no negotiating with the Sorting Hat.

Characters: Harry, Snape, Draco, Dumbledore, Hermione, Sirius, Lupin, Blaise, Ron

Relationships: Snape & Harry

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: Slytherin Harry, resorting

*incomplete* [last updated March 2021]

Stinging Nettle and Milking Pails by Oceanbreeze7 *favorite*

Plot: Are you a witch or / Are you a fairy? / Or are you the wife / of Michael Cleary? “The fairies will do wicked things sometimes,” Harry murmured gently, “Steal the milk when they get a chance, or skim the cream off the milk crocks.” “Do they ever steal anything more?” Luna asked him rhetorically. Harry couldn’t answer.

Characters: Harry, Luna, James, Lily

Warnings: author chose not to use warnings

Tags: wrong-boy-who-lived, Harry has a twin, dark fairy tale elements, fairy tale style, druids, fae and fairies, James and Lily live

My Notes: Oceanbreeze7 should straight up be a horror writer. This is the writer who wrote Antithesis, the fic that I was literally unable to finish because I was too heartbroken, and they did not disappoint with this one! It’s so good! It’s so horrific! It’s so heartbreaking!

*complete*

Sarcasm and Slytherin by orphan_account *favorite*

Plot: After ten years of misery with the Dursleys, Harry Potter learns that he has magic. Except, in this story, it's not a surprise-the only surprise is that there are others like him. Including his twin brother, Julian Potter, the savior of the Wizarding world. This isn't the Harry you think you know.

Characters: Harry, Theo, Blaise, OMC, Hermione, Ron, Neville, James Potter, Luna, Daphne, Snape, Dumbledore

Relationships: none

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: wrong-boy-who-lived, Slytherin Harry, Harry has a twin, Slytherin politics, no pairings before 4th year, potential Dumbledore bashing, James bashing, potential Snape bashing, Draco’s still annoying

My Notes: I’m not sure why it’s now an orphan account or if it will ever be updated, but I’ve seen a lot of people on reddit compare this with Prince of Slytherin (a series I haven’t read because I chose this one over it) so be cautious of that. I straight up want to murder James Potter, though, so that’s a nice thought. I finally finished it! I started this back in early June and I miss it a lot, I spent many hours reading this.

*incomplete* [five parts, last updated 2019]

The ones that seek and find (six years in the relationship of harry and luna) by Terapsina

Plot: By chance of fate Harry Potter meets Luna Lovegood in his second year instead of his fifth. It doesn’t really change anything for the magical world at large but it changes quite a lot for the young witch and wizard themselves. Here are six glimpses into their relationship from the moment they meet until the end of the war.

Characters: Harry, Luna, Ron, Hermione

Relationships: Luna/Harry; Harry & Ron & Hermione

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse, canonical character death

Tags: fluff and angst, blood quill, angst with a happy ending, no character bashing, epilogue what epilogue

*complete*

Blame it on the Nargles by Pixiestick_cc

Plot: One kiss under the mistletoe changes everything for Harry and Luna.

Characters: Harry, Luna, Hermione, Ron, Lavender Brown, Xenophilius Lovegood, Fred and George, Percy

Relationships: Luna/Harry

Warnings: none

Tags: fluff, romantic friendship, kissing, book 6

My Notes: this one is so cute, I’ve read it five times already, Harry’s able to see the creatures Luna can when he kisses her!

*complete*

Finders, Keepers by Magi_Silverwolf

Plot: “I’m here to kidnap you,” Luna said. “Will you be so kind as to get in this trunk, please?” “I’m fairly certain that kidnappers aren’t supposed to politely ask you to go with them.” “Duly noted,” Luna commented before gesturing to the trunk again. “Get in, Harry. We have a schedule to keep.”

Characters: Harry, Dumbledore, Luna

Relationships: Luna/Harry

Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse

Tags: book 5, fairy Luna, werewolf Remus, magically powerful Harry, manipulative Dumbledore

*complete*

Not Right For Him by JJ Rust

Plot: How will Hermione react when she learns Harry and Luna are together?

Characters: Hermione, Luna, Harry

Relationships: Harry/Luna

Warnings: none apply

Tags: romance, drama

*complete*

The dreamy one by Levi Snowfractal

Plot: Harry finds himself thinking about Luna Lovegood while in detention.

Characters: Harry, Luna

Relationships: Harry/Luna

Warnings: none apply

Tags: romance

*complete*

She Made Him Feel Silly by ArtemisRoseShadow

Plot: The hero usually fell in love with the ever-so-loved princess. It still felt like that to Harry.

Characters: Harry, Luna

Relationships: Harry/Luna

Warnings: none apply

Tags: romance, drama

*complete*

Oh thank god I finished that, that took three hours. Alright check out more of my recs, I have more! Thanks for reading, let me know if you read any of them :)

#harry potter #fic recs #fanfiction #hogwarts #fanfiction recs #recommendations #my posts #my recs #harry james potter #marauders #harryxluna #drarry

18 notes · View notes

melanielocke · 3 years

Text

Lost in the Shadows - chapter 11

AO3

Chapter list is getting a bit long, link to all chapters is on my pinned post.

Taglist: @nott-the-best @foxglove-airmid @alastair-esfandiyar-carstairs1 @justanormaldemon @styxdrawings @ipromiseiwillwrite

Cordelia dreamt of a castle in the middle of the forest. She wasn’t sure what was happening, all she knew was she needed to get away, this wasn’t right. There was a woman with empty eyes and long dark hair, something similar to what Thomas had described when he’d seen the washer woman? She was carrying a basket with bloodied clothes and bent over into a stream to wash them. This had to be her, the same woman Thomas had seen.

‘Bearer of cortana,’ she hissed, her voice an awful shriek. ‘Beware the thief of souls.’

Cordelia woke up and when she checked her phone she realized it was noon. Everyone had to be up already, she rarely slept this late. She had gone to bed at eleven yesterday and fallen asleep rather soon, which meant she had slept for thirteen hours. Cordelia wondered why, she rarely slept this long. Yesterday had been a long and exhausting day for sure, but this exhausting? She picked out a simple dress and changed. Dresses were easy in that regard, since it only required her to pick out one item of clothing and she was done, instead of having to match several pieces.

Lucie was eating at the table, and Cordelia wondered if that was her breakfast or lunch. Considering the time, probably lunch.

‘Did you sleep well?’ she asked. ‘I was beginning to wonder if you were going to wake up at all, or if you needed a prince to come kiss you awake. Or princess. Royal figure of indetermined gender.’

‘I did have a weird dream,’ Cordelia said, rubbing her eyes. ‘I only just woke up. Which is weird, because I don’t usually sleep for thirteen hours.’

‘You must be very well rested then,’ Lucie said, getting up from her seat to make Cordelia some toast.

Cordelia yawned. ‘Not really. Any news?’

‘You’re the only one who slept late,’ Lucie said. ‘Thomas and Alastair went to take another walk, they’re not back yet. I’ve been theorizing on what Tatiana is doing, or what Grace is and where she came from, but so far I’m not getting any further than her trying to bring back Jesse.’

‘Alastair is an early riser, always has been,’ Cordelia said. ‘Thomas too, apparently.’

Alastair often had nightmares and with his irregular sleeping pattern, Cordelia sometimes wasn’t sure if he slept at all. And he wondered why he was always tired.

‘Uncle Gideon still thinks he might be able to reach his sister, and went into the village again,’ Lucie added. ‘Dad is with him, he doesn’t trust Tatiana but is willing to give it one more chance. So far, they didn’t find her.’

Cordelia didn’t know Tatiana and didn’t want to judge, but if her intention was to bring back her son, she wasn’t sure Gideon would be able to change her mind.

‘Have you ever heard of the thief of souls?’ Cordelia asked.

Lucie frowned. ‘Maybe… It does sound like something out of a book, maybe. Although that could have been thief of hearts too. No, doesn’t ring any bells.’

‘In my dream someone said “Beware the thief of souls”,’ Cordelia said. ‘It could be just an ordinary dream, but I can’t be sure. It might be important.’

Cordelia tried to connect the term with what Lucie had learnt about Jesse Blackthorn. He’d died, and he’d disappeared somewhere, reappearing recently around the same time a washer woman warned Thomas of unpaid debts.

‘What if Jesse didn’t just die?’ Cordelia suggested. ‘What if this thief of souls is called by that title because it takes people’s souls in exchange for whatever someone asks for, and that’s what happened to Jesse.’

‘And then Tatiana made another deal to get him back, and right now he is a ghost,’ Lucie said. ‘Which might explain why the debt is no longer considered paid even if Jesse is still dead.’

‘But if that’s true, then how can we save Thomas?’ Cordelia asked. ‘We’d have to give back Jesse.’

‘Or we defeat the thief of souls,’ Lucie suggested. ‘That way we can save both Jesse and Thomas. No one deserves to be held as a price by such a being.’

‘Can something called the thief of souls even be killed though,’ Cordelia mused. ‘It sounds like a very powerful, perhaps even immortal being.’

‘They say cortana can kill anything, right?’ Lucie said.

‘You’re right, they say it can even kill immortal beings. But I’m not sure even with cortana I would stand a chance against such a thing, there’s also the matter of fighting it. I’m not giving up on either of them and if it comes down to a fight, I will fight. But perhaps we’re overlooking something and there’s another way to save them both.’

Still, if there was a way to kill such a thing, it was cortana. Cordelia would give it her best. She’d always wanted to be a hero, now she would have to prove she had what it took.

‘I don’t like giving up on Jesse’s soul,’ Lucie said. ‘And we definitely can’t let Thomas die.’

‘Either way, I’m going to practice,’ Cordelia said.

She and Alastair had practiced fighting together in childhood, both carrying wooden swords that had been made to match cortana in weight distribution. Since the real sword was so sharp, practicing with it together was too dangerous, but the wooden swords had worked. Alastair had lost interest in his early teens after cortana had chosen Cordelia, only joining her in practice when she begged him to.

She was used to the sword now, to its weight, the way it felt in her hand, and she knew how to fight with it. She’d never actually fought anything though, and according to her father that was the best way to learn. He’d trained her when she was very young. Their training together had become less and less frequent though, and for a long time Cordelia thought it was because he’d gotten sick.

She practiced her movement with the sword, repeating combinations of both attacks and defenses in one fluid motion. Cordelia had never doubted that someday she would fight evil with cortana. It was her destiny after all, and someone had to carry the sword. She’d always wanted to be a hero, like her father once was.

But now everything was coming much closer than she liked. Now Thomas’ life was in danger and Cordelia had no idea how to save him. Now she realized cortana alone might not be enough. Not when she had no idea what to fight, no idea what was coming to claim Thomas’ life. She wasn’t so sure anymore if this life was going to be what she dreamed it would be. She was scared she would end up like her father. Alastair refused to admit it, but Cordelia suspected he shared that fear, even if he had decided he didn’t want to devote his life to the supernatural.

‘That looks good,’ Lucie said. ‘Could you teach me, how to use a weapon?’

Cordelia frowned. ‘I only have cortana, I don’t have any other swords. Alastair does have daggers though. When he comes back, you could ask him to borrow one. Even if you don’t know how to fight with it, you would have a chance to defend yourself.’

Cordelia continued with some more complicated moves, practicing swift dodges followed by attacks. She had to be ready for anything. Lucie returned inside, and emerged a while later with a glass of water.

‘You need anything to drink?’

Cordelia gratefully took the glass of water and drunk it all as fast as she could, spilling a few drops. When training, Cordelia tended to get lost in herself and forget to drink. Lucie had the same problem when she was writing, but had several daily phone alarms telling her to drink.

‘I looked up that boy in the lake to see if they made any progress in the investigation,’ Lucie said. ‘So far it seems like he drowned, but the parents requested an autopsy because they think it’s unlikely since their son is such a good swimmer.’

Cordelia had expected as much. ‘At least now the parents have some closure. Poor child.’

‘I can’t imagine,’ Lucie said. ‘And the story of being trapped, it’s so similar to what Jesse said. Although the boy didn’t mention seeing any monsters or being stalked by something.’

‘There are vague stories of people getting trapped in places in the wild, but I’ve never seen anything that proves it’s real,’ Cordelia said. ‘Nothing like you described, at least not in the stories I remember from my father.’

‘I imagine most people don’t live to tell the tale,’ Lucie said.

‘I know, but… My father might have survived such a thing, and I don’t think I ever heard about it from him.’

Cordelia suspected that with the many years her father had travelled the world to slay evil creatures, he had told her and Alastair the most exciting stories and there were a few she might not have heard. Though she imagined something trapping people would be considered exciting. Perhaps her father did know more, but Cordelia was terrified to contact him, and she didn’t want to ask anyone else to either.

She still felt betrayed by him. She could sympathize with an addiction, it was an illness and she couldn’t blame him for seeking something that eased his pain. She knew her father had seen things most only saw in horror movies, she understood why he might want to forget. But he’d lied to her about it. She knew why Alastair had wanted to protect her, she didn’t blame him for not telling her the truth. Her father though? He’d gladly gone along with Alastair’s attempts to keep her in the dark, pretending to be overcome with sickness when he was drunk. Pretending the scent of alcohol was really medication for his illness. He’d often asked for her when he was sick, and she’d gone to read him stories, to keep him company while he rested. She hadn’t understood at the time, why Alastair didn’t like her taking care of him, why he’d insisted Father was sick and needed sleep even when her father kept asking for her.

As a dutiful daughter, she’d always gone when her father asked for her. She’d read him stories, kept him company, believing he was sick and not drunk. She had given up other obligations for him. She’d missed school parties she’d been excited about, because she couldn’t bear to leave her sick father after he’d asked her to stay.

Only now did she realize that as a father, he should have encouraged her to go anyway and have fun. That taking care of her father was not her responsibility and he should not have expected her to give up so much for him. Alastair had always tried to convince her that it was fine, that he could take care of Father too and he didn’t need her there. A couple of times he had managed to convince her, Alastair insisting she would regret it for a long time if she missed Lucie’s birthday party. She was still grateful that Alastair had practically dragged her away that day. No one else had shown up for Lucie, all the other children she’d invited thought she was weird and at that age Lucie had been desperate to be liked by her peers. Cordelia had almost abandoned Lucie too.

Now she understood why father had always asked for her, and not Alastair or her mother. She’d always believed it was because she was more like her father, because she was more affectionate whereas Alastair and her mother were rather closed off. Now she understood her father had preferred her because she was the only one who didn’t know he was drunk, because she would be kind and feel sorry for his sickness whereas Alastair resented him for being too drunk to be take care of his children. No, even if he knew the most about the supernatural from all his travels, Cordelia was not ready to call him to ask and she would never ask Alastair to do such a thing. No matter how betrayed she felt, what he’d been through was worse and he should never have to speak to their father again.

‘You alright, Daisy?’ Lucie asked.

‘Just thinking,’ she said. ‘Maybe my father does know more, but I can’t… I really can’t ask him.’

Lucie nodded. ‘I understand. If you really think he knows more, perhaps dad can call him instead to ask. And perhaps uncle Gabriel and aunt Cecily know more as well.’

Cordelia figured she could ask, but she feared her father would make it difficult for them. She’d learnt just how manipulative he could be, and she could easily imagine him refusing to talk to Will unless he’d let him talk to her.

Cordelia decided to practice a little longer, it had been a while with everything that had happened lately, and there wasn’t much space or opportunity at her aunt Risa’s apartment. She couldn’t be unprepared.

Lucie sat down to watch, book in hand, but Cordelia didn’t think she was making any progress reading. Instead, Cordelia caught her staring at her movement. Perhaps Lucie was studying her movements, in an attempt to learn more about fighting herself. Ultimately, it all came down to practice though. You didn’t learn how to fight by watching other people do it.

‘Aren’t Alastair and Thomas taking a little long?’ Lucie wondered. ‘They left early in the morning.’

‘I figured they’d be at the cottage with Sophie,’ Cordelia said. ‘They’re not?’

‘Mom is there with aunt Sophie,’ Lucie said. ‘She just texted me, we could come over for some tea as well. She mentions all four of us, apparently aunt Sophie would like it if Thomas came back for tea as well. So mom must have assumed they returned here after she left.’

Cordelia frowned. ‘What time is it?’

‘Four in the afternoon,’ Lucie said. ‘Dad also texted that he and uncle Gideon couldn’t find Tatiana and are coming back. But I haven’t heard anything from Alastair and Thomas. I’m not sure about Alastair, but it’s not like Thomas to disappear for so long and not let anyone know.’

Alastair could lose track of time on his long walks, but this was extreme even for his standards, and he would have at least texted her by now if he’d changed plans.

‘That is one long walk’ Cordelia said. ‘I’ll call Alastair.’

She turned cortana back into her necklace and took her phone out of her pocket, calling her brother. He didn’t answer, which was unlike him. She tried again. Nothing. She texted him instead, asking him if he was alright and when to expect him back. Alastair didn’t receive the message, maybe his phone had died. He rarely forgot to charge it though.

‘He’s not answering,’ Cordelia said. ‘I’ll try Thomas.’

Thomas didn’t pick up either, after several tries, and when Cordelia texted him he didn’t receive anything either.

‘Nothing either.’

‘Perhaps they don’t have cell service,’ Lucie said. ‘If you go far enough into the woods, that would happen.’

Cordelia guessed Lucie had a point, but that didn’t explain why they were spending almost a whole day into the woods. They weren’t experienced hikers, they must get tired at some point, right? And they would have at least let someone know if they would be gone for so long, this was worrying even for Alastair.

‘Maybe we should go looking for them.’

‘They could be making out though, maybe they don’t want to be interrupted,’ Lucie suggested.

Cordelia frowned. ‘In the middle of the woods?’

Lucie shrugged. ‘Who am I to judge?’

‘They’ve been gone for long enough that I think we should go looking,’ Cordelia said. ‘They could be in trouble.’

She put on some different shoes that were better suited for the forest and texted Will they were going to look for Alastair and Thomas, warning them to come find them if they took too long.

‘Do you really think they could be in trouble?’ Lucie asked when they walked into the forest, nervous.

Cordelia understood Lucie was scared, but if she was then how had she run after Tatiana into the woods just yesterday evening? If anything, her friend was chaotic.

The forest was a bit darker than she was used to in the bright sun, which was odd. The fog was a little thicker than usual, and Cordelia made sure to stay close to Lucie.

‘I don’t know,’ Cordelia said. ‘But only one way to be sure.’

A howl pierced the air. Cordelia could only tell the general direction it was coming from. It didn’t quite sound like a wolf, but it was similar enough.

‘Stay behind me,’ Cordelia said, removing her necklace and taking cortana into her hand. ‘I don’t know what that is, but I’m not going to let it harm my brother.’

#Cordelia Carstairs #Lucie Herondale #Thomas Lightwood #Alastair Carstairs #Lucelia #Thomastair #Fanfiction #fic #the last hours #tlh

17 notes · View notes

lutbys · 3 years

Text

Christmas Party

Day 1 of Christmas at Hogwarts:

1st – You and Draco are sworn enemies. Always have, always will. But an evening spent decorating the Slytherin common room has got you both rethinking your choices.

a/n: MY DUMB ASS! I woke up this morning to no notifications for day one and i was lowkey sad bc I thought no one like it but when I checked again, I POSTED IT PRIVATELY UGHHGUGG *biggest facepalm of the century. No, at this point I've smashed my head against the wall* So I guess its on the 2nd of December then hHHHH I’m truly sorry for my dumbmity.

Draco Malfoy x Slytherin reader

“You want me to do this all by myself!” you gawked at the boxes upon boxes of Christmas decorations Pansy dug up for tonight. “And how do you expect this to look good?”

“That’s where you come in silly! I’ve seen your decorating skills back home and its impressive. That’s why you’re our party decorator” Pansy replied, gleaming at the shiny tinsel and the mountain of fairy lights. Who knew there was enough space in this dungeon to store such cheerful items?

“But I didn’t agree to this stupid party in the first place!”

“Typical of y/n to back out at the last minute. What next? You didn’t plan on getting married so why host a wedding?” you hear Draco scoff as he descended down the stairs that lead to the dorms, his arms tucked into each other and his face disgruntled just like how he would every time he caught sight of you.

“Shut it Malfoy. I don’t see you being of much help either.” To that he only scoffed and turned his back to join in on a conversation with Blaise.

It wasn’t rocket science for anybody to realize you and Draco were never on the same page. Its been like this since the first year, from the awful hair pulling to sabotaging each other’s cauldrons during potions class. You never knew why but when you first caught sight of the boy, you’d knew you’d hate him.

“Now that the venue is all settled, Nott, Zabini and I are going to Hogsmeade for the snacks. Draco you coming?” Pansy ticked off errands from her endless to do list, her eyes racking through the list multiple times like the perfectionist she is.

“Waste my time walking around? No thank you.”

“Then its settled, Draco you can help y/n doll this place up. The faster, the better.” Before he could utter an excuse, the busy girl had pushed the two other boys away and exited the common room.

You stood in awe at the situation your best friend put you in. The two of you stood dumbfoundedly among the boxes as you raked your brain on how you were going to turn this musty dungeon into a welcoming hall.

“I suggest we throw all this shit out and call it a day.” Draco grunted, kicking a box of ornaments till it toppled and you watched as three glittery green globes fall and break into little pieces. “Unlike you, I actually have important things to do.”

“Like what? Being a git? Who do you think is going to clean that up Draco?” You bit back, pointing to the scatter of broken glass that once used to be delicate trinkets.

“you know what? I’ve had enough of you for today. I’m going to decorate this part of the room” You gestured your hands around the fireplace “And you can decorate all the way over there”

With a dramatic roll of his eyes, Draco agreed and moved over to the tables along with his pick of decorative items.

You’ve been staring at the fireplace for longer than you wished but your mind is blank. Completely blank. And you dreaded to turn and see how much Draco has done because all you’ve been hearing for the past half hour are the crinkles of the tinsel and his frustrated moans whenever the wrapping paper didn’t fold the way he wanted it to.

Your eyes shifted from box to box as you tried to come up with something creative. Sure, your living room back at home would look extravagant to guests but that was all mom’s doing, all you had to do was help put them up.

It was the absence of the gold chain that once perched itself on top of the dodgy Santa stuffy that caught your attention.

I swear I saw it a moment ago

You were also wondering why the gold star for the tree was missing too! After rummaging through the countless number of boxes, there was only one other person you could think of to have stolen it.

“Oi Malfoy! Next time you take something from my side, ask!” You rolled your eyes at his obliviousness.

“Why would I want things from your side? Mine looks better to begin with.” “Then where did the star for the Christmas tree go?” your confusion grew as he mirrored your expression. What is happening?

Just then, you caught sight of a little dark grey blob running across the room, its little feet making little to no noise against the carpeted floors. You and Draco turned to each other with wide eyes, Care of Magical Creatures taught you well enough to identify it as a Niffler, the little rodent who steals.

“What the hell are we going to do?” you whisper-shouted, eyeing the single seated sofa you last saw it run by.

“Its your problem y/l/n. I’m not touching that thing.”

“Don’t be daft Malfoy, if we don’t catch it, your stupid watch will be next!” Draco scoffed at your exaggeration, but his reaction quickly dimmed as he fingered his wrist at where his fathers watch used to be.

“My watch! You jinxed it you little minx.”

“See! If we don’t catch it now who knows what will be nex- Hey!” you watched the sly critter reach out for the string of tinsel on the floor, barely grabbing hold before going back into hiding.

Your feet worked faster than your brain as you lurched towards the sofa, trying to grab hold of its little tail but to no avail, it was faster. “Draco look out! He’s coming your way!”

Before it could dodge the white-haired boy, Draco had caught it swiftly. The poor creature tried to wriggle himself to escape, but Draco’s grip was stronger. “Hagrid’s right. It does feel funny.” His face grimaced at the sight of the thing, its flat beak and teeny arms was not sitting right for him.

“From what I remember, all you have to do is hold it by its hind legs and shake it.” You watched him follow your instructions and everything instantly fell out of its pocket. From coins to a small piece of confetti, it rained gold. You laughed in bewilderment at the sight in front of you. Sure, you’ve learned anything and everything about these magical creatures but having the opportunity to see one in real life was quite a scene to remember. It seemed Draco too was amused with the sight.

“What a cheeky little rat! Look at all he’s stolen.” Draco said after trapping the Niffler in a nearby crate. “I don’t think this is the only house he visited.” He held out a gold Gryffindor badge that once belonged to a prefect.

“That was pretty impressive. Never seen one in my life!” your hand raked through the lost knick-knacks like it was a treasure chest. “I’m going to put this back, Pansy should be back anytime now and I know she’d freak if she came back to this mess.”

Draco too took the liberty of scooping from the pile and just then, your hands touched. You couldn’t tell if it was the adrenaline of having seen a Niffler or never have had contact with Draco, but it felt different. Almost, nice.

It was when you looked up when you realized how close you both were to each other, close enough that your breaths mingled, close enough that if your lips were to touch-

“We’re back and we’re ready for the biggest party yet!” Pansy excitement boomed from the picture frame they entered through; her hands filled with bags from Honeydukes.

Like acid being poured over, you both pulled away instantaneously. “What the hell happened in here!” The once happy girl’s smile went agape when she saw the mess beyond her. The chairs were toppled, the lights that were supposed to be on the walls were scattered on the floor, and a suspicious looking crate was moving on its own.

“We had a bit of a Niffler situation” you scratched the back of your neck guiltily, you had failed the one task you were given, and miserably at that. “But it’s okay! I promise you I will fix all of it.” Your words seemed to encourage her, knowing her trust on you was strong.

“You have an hour and an HOUR only.”

“The most memorable party of the year!”

“This beats Gryffindor’s for sure”

You rolled your eyes at the cocky compliments thrown around, knowing well enough it all came from your group of friends. You didn’t know how, but you miraculously made this place lively with the time given. Having your friends entertain you whilst at it added bonus points. Now, you awed at how the lights made the room glow and the green, black and white banners hung proudly by the fireplace.

But one thing kept running through your mind as the party went on in full swing.

Draco.

You couldn’t get this afternoons incident out of your head. You never noticed how his eyes were so mesmerizing and his scent so intoxicating that you would have all your clothes doused to smell like it.

And he couldn’t get you out of his head too.

Draco stood lonely near the staircases, having no mood to mingle as he was knackered from the days events. But it was also an excuse to think over things when it came to you. He rewinded the scene over and over again, wondering what would happen it the moment never stopped, if Pansy wouldn’t have opened her loud mouth and disturbed them.

You both parted -quickly at that- as soon as the group came back, not daring to look into each others eyes for the rest of the evening.

But here you were, searching through the crowds for the one pair of eyes that had made your heart stop.

And you found them.

Staring straight back.

#Draco Malfoy #Draco #draco x reader #prompt #hogwarts #christmas #draco x you #draco x oc #draco smut #draco

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all-pacas · 4 years

Text

when i say that veth has a strong sense of self, i mean —

when we meet him, who is caleb? he is a person who is on the run, who is not bren, whose entire life is now based on his past, his regrets and guilt, and his desires to undo them. he wants only to erase time: even the name caleb is an accident. the day before he met nott, he was someone else. over time, he has started to define who caleb widogast is, and what that person wants and desires and cares for. caleb’s best friend is veth. caleb loves and needs her and beau in his life; beau is his study buddy and nerd partner. “caleb” wants things, and those things are slowly changing and defining themselves, but “caleb” as a person is only about a year old, an identity borne from the wreckage of bren and bren’s likes and dislikes and skills, but who also didn’t exist until he met nott and needed to stick to one name.

okay. who is fjord? well, fjord isn’t sure. he was a bullied kid, and then he worked on a ship, and he’s been chosen by entity after entity and tossed back and forth and doesn’t really know what he wants, what he’s looking for, whose voice he speaks with. the others call him captain, and so he imitates someone else, but what is fjord like? fjord doesn’t know: he’s been trying to figure that out.

okay, okay. those two were layups. who is jester? she’s the daughter of the ruby of the sea. her best friend is the traveller, also known as artagon. she knows what she likes and what she dislikes, but what does she want? she starts out cripplingly sheltered, and the early episodes are littered with jester’s unthinkingly being unkind, being thoughtless, being callous. she’s become more thoughtful; she’s become more and more intentionally kind, stubbornly forcing kindness on everyone. she’s who she was before, but more crystalized — more fully formed. jester is still jester, but more and better defined.

so who is veth?

well… that’s where it’s interesting. because veth has literally changed more than anyone else: her name, her appearance, her body, her species. she’s pretended and lied and hidden things more than anyone else — sure, fjord faked an accent, and caleb hid his past, but veth straight up tried to come up with a new identity for herself, a new history and story and life… and she failed. nott starts out the campaign terrified and shy and unwilling to speak up for herself, and yet… in zadash, she loses her temper and in a real way becomes veth, declaring herself caleb’s protector and essentially telling the mighty nein to go through her if they want him. in alfield, she’s terrified and meek and doesn’t want to scout in the cave, until she sees a small child in danger, at which point she rushes ahead. when molly dies and caleb wants to flee, she pushes back against caleb, angering him when she calls him out for lying about his feelings. time and time again she has these little bursts — of impatience, of temper, disliking being talked down to or assumptions of her naivety (assumptions that she herself let and told the mighty nein to believe! they treat you like a child because you were pretending to be one!), of a brash, dangerous desire to protect — she keeps trying to be someone else, to be nott, and failing.

the interesting thing to me is that veth defined nott by what she thought she was, well, not: veth isn’t brave or smart or pretty or good, which means that she thinks (or thought) she was cowardly and dumb and ugly and bad. but that also means that veth knows, or thought she knew, what traits those were and what they looked like and how to define them.

she’s absolutely changed as a person, literally and figuratively. nott’s impulsive recklessness grew more and more dangerous until it actually got her killed; veth has been obsessive about checking for traps since, and has generally been advising caution and mastering the ‘hide’ action and teasing beau for being reckless with no sense of irony at all — but at the same time, who veth is as a person haven’t changed as much. she’s stubborn. she’s quick to forgive but also dislikes being talked down to. she’s protective to the point of dying; she loves her family and her people and wants to be with them. she’s always wanted to be herself again and to be with her family: the interesting thing about her now is that veth is faced with the problem that comes with knowing and getting what you want, which is… now what? and it’s not surprising that it’s now that she’s starting to question who she is and what she “should” be doing. she’s never doubted who she was, even when she was someone else: she’s always known and known what she liked and disliked and wanted and feared. she’s changed in superficial ways, and by being more honest, and by being less reckless and reactive — her opinions, though, have largely stayed the same. so now what? she’s reached the end of her story, but she doesn’t want it to be over. so what do you do next?

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unicyclehippo · 4 years

Note

beaujes + "when did you know"

‘can i talk you for a second?’

‘talk you?’ fjord repeats, looking up from polishing his shield with a teasing grin. the expression falls away when he sees the serious look beau levels his way. ‘yeah. yeah, of course. here? or do you wanna...’

beau looks around the clearing, at the others still too close, and she tilts her head toward a nearby set of trees. the spreading vines that wrap tight around the trunks and hang from the branches make a decent curtain but they’re not too far if something comes up. fjord nods and follows her over.

‘everything...alright?’ fjord broaches when beau doesn’t speak for a while.

lightning blue eyes flash to him and for a moment he thinks she’s mad at him—she’s scowling and tense, arms folded—but then she breathes out and the electric charge that surrounds her is gone.

it feels strange; he hadn’t noticed when that tension had begun but now that she has let it go...he thinks it might’ve been there for a while. it’s nothing like her usual energy, always watchful but easy about it. it’s as though that watchful energy had, bit by bit, been needled so many times that she’s completely on edge, unable to slow down or stop looking, and fjord wants to kick himself for not realising it sooner. but he can’t, because she has set that watchful burden down now for the first time in—if he had to guess—a week, set it down at his feet, is trusting him to take it from her and listen and watch her back. the trust makes his heart clench cold and small in his chest, an answering call somewhere deep in his gut that says, if it comes to it, fjord will draw on some pretty terrible powers to protect this girl, his best friend.

‘everything’s fucked,’ beau sighs, rubs a hand over her weary face.

‘not everything. we still have you.’ fjord isn’t as practised at pushing true emotion into his voice as he is at controlling it, but he thinks he succeeds at sounding thankful, and pleased, and relieved, and maybe a little sad when beau looks quickly up at him and then away, rubbing at the back of her neck.

‘yeah. uh. yep.’

‘do i need to have this conversation again?’

‘please don’t,’ beau bites out. fjord nearly laughs but there’s a new desperation in her voice he can’t place.

‘beau?’

she shakes her head. presses her folded arms tighter to her chest. ‘um. look, there’s - something i wanted to talk to you about. and it’s -‘ her forehead crumples into a frown she directs down at the jungle floor. kicks a curious beetle that is crawling over her booted toe somewhere deeper into the underbrush. ‘it might ... change some stuff.’ her face is smooth, other than that hint of a frown, and he can’t pick what she means from it. ‘about me. and you.’

fjord has no idea what that could mean. he goes about asking subtly. ‘what do you mean?’

‘it’s - i appreciate,’ she says, picking her words carefully, ‘what you said. yesterday.’

‘shit, beau - about caring about you?’ now it’s fjord’s turn to rub at his eyes. ‘it’s not something to appre— it’s the truth, beau.’

‘i know, i know,’ she’s quick to assure him. he’s assured for less than a second because she continues with, ‘i know you think that. but-‘

fjord sets his hands on her shoulders. pulls her to face him dead on. ‘i love you, beau. you’re my best friend - nothing could change that. yeah, you’re a shit kicker and you’re smarter than all of us, especially with,’ he flicks the headband, ignores her petulant ow. ‘but even if you were dumb as a brick and couldn’t punch for shit - you’re still our beau.’

‘you don’t know that,’ she points out, which he’s relieved to hear sounds more amused than anything. ‘like, it’s impossible to know that. if i couldn’t punch people, i wouldn’t be me.’

‘you do like to punch,’ fjord agrees, allowing the sidestep, the distraction. ‘you’re good at it.’

‘great at it, thanks.’

they share a grin. fjord hopes that’s the end of it—she needed reassurance and he is happy, more than happy, to provide it. but then beau’s smile slips, first from one side of her lips and then the other before it washes right off her face. he watches as she forces herself to look him in the eye, hold herself steady.

‘i gotta tell you something,’ she says, ‘and it - i’m never gonna do anything about it but it might change things. it will. and,’

‘something i won’t like?’ he asks. beau just looks at him, which is a yes. ‘if you’re never doing anything about it, why tell me? are you trying to make me hate you or something?’

something flickers in beau’s eyes. her voice is abruptly hoarse when she speaks. ‘i don’t want you to hate me. that - would suck. but i gotta tell you now because i- already told someone else and if it comes out ... i don’t want you blindsided and hating me more.’ her voice cracks, quavers the smallest bit and she swallows hard, turns her head away to clear her throat.

he stares down at her, confused. his fingers squeeze gently onto her shoulders out of instinct; she’s shivering, shaking with nerves.

‘okay,’ he says, and when she looks up at him, eyes wet but not yet overflowing, face set in determination that can’t quite cover fear, fjord feels something in him settle. he knows, even if she doesn’t, that there’s nothing she could say now that could break this. nothing that could make him not love her. fjord imagines himself a deep ocean, the one that comes to him when he meditates—uk’otoa’s gifts sunken in its far reaches, the wildmother’s gifts the sky and sea and sunlight, and within that ocean there are boundless stretches that is all him, all fjord, and the tides that pull him pull in one direction—toward beau, toward his friends, toward this weird little family they have made. he’s never said anything like that before so there’s no reason beau should know that, but he knows now. ‘tell me,’ he says, and he fixes his attention on her, meeting her eyes with all the calm certainty of a tranquil sea.

beau opens her mouth. her nose is going red with the effort of not crying. she closes her mouth. makes a sound in the back of her throat like she’s clearing it.

‘i - didn’t mean to,’ she says. ‘i need you to know that, i didn’t mean to, it wasn’t supposed to happen, i didn’t intend for—‘ she stops when he rubs his thumb soothingly over her shoulder. draws in a steadying breath. ‘i like jester,’ beau tells him, and for all that she is technically meeting his eyes, she’s entirely checked out, sunken so far back behind her walls that fjord can’t hardly see her. ‘i like her a lot, and i’m never gonna do anything or tell her if i can help it but nott knows and—‘

‘she runs her mouth on a good day, let alone halfway through withdrawals?’

‘yeah.’ there’s a flicker of normal beau, cautious, when he doesn’t immediately denounce her. he doesn’t know if he could denounce her, not when he knows how that feels. if anything, if anything, could it just be another thing they share? ‘she hasn’t said anything yet, so i’m hoping—‘ she cuts herself off when fjord frowns.

‘hold on.’ he tries to temper his tone, he really does, but a lash of sharpness still makes it in there. beau curls deeper into herself. ‘you thought i would hate you?’

‘i—‘

‘that’s insane!’

‘no, it’s not!’

‘yes, beau, it is.’ he gives her a gentle shake, like he can somehow get her brain to finally sit right and understand what he is saying. ‘how the fuck could i hate you for—you don’t—that’s mad, beau! you can’t pick and choose who you fall for, and if it’s anyone’s fault, let’s be real here, this is jester’s fault for being—what did vendetta call her?’

beau snorts. ‘aggressively likeable.’

‘aggressively likeable,’ fjord repeats, nodding. ‘that’s our girl.’ he waits a moment, turning over reassurances and questions in his head; he can admit that he doesn’t really know what to say so he just goes with his instincts, which have only failed him a few times, and pulls beau in for a hug.

her folded arms are trapped between them and fjord feels her tense even more before suddenly she’s wriggling in the cradle of his arms and freeing her hands, wrapping them tight around him. he groans dramatically at the pressure, grins when she laughs.

‘so,’ she says, quiet, soft, nervous. not like beau at all. ‘you - don’t hate me?’

fjord’s arms tighten around her. ‘no.’ the word is firm. certain. he feels it hit and stun her, feels her go lax against him. ‘your parents really fucked you up, huh.’

beau snorts wet against his shoulder. ‘a bit. i had a hand in it too.’

‘no, i don’t think you did,’ he tells her thoughtfully.’

‘you don’t know—‘

‘i’ve never seen you look the way you did when you told us about the winery,’ he continues over her and beau falls quiet. ‘i didn’t—i actually think it might’ve been the first time you’ve admitted to wanting something.’

‘you make me sound like a freak,’ beau grumbles.

‘not a freak. well. a bit of a freak,’ he amends, and is pleased to peek down and see the hint of a smile on her face. ‘it’s a shitty kind of parent who makes a kid feel like they aren’t allowed to want things.’

‘i could want things,’ beau defends instantly. fjord waits. then, ‘it just...had to be the same as he wanted.’

‘mhm. i hate your dad.’

beau’s fingers drum restlessly against the leather of his chest piece. ‘he’s—‘

‘say complicated again. i dare you.’ beau stays silent. ‘you don’t have to hate him. not entirely. you don’t have to pick one way or the other. but i can hate him for you. if you want.’

beau leans heavier still into him. he wonders at it—this is the longest they’ve ever hugged before, the longest he’s had beau stand still before, and he’s surprised to realise that she’s short. she fits snug under his chin, which he rests atop her head.

‘jes—she wants me to forgive him. or try. she thinks he loves me.’

‘reckon that had any hand in your whole spiral? wanting to leave us?’ he regrets the snide tone immediately when beau pulls away. she doesn’t fold into herself again, looks a little more even keel, but she’s closed off somewhat.

‘i said i’m sorry.’

‘you don’t—beau,’ he sighs. ‘you don’t have to be sorry. i’m not gonna stand here and say i understand but...we just wanna know you’re not gonna offer that again. or walk away next time we zip to zadash.’

‘oh, alliteration.’

‘thought you might like it.’

‘i—‘ beau looks away.

‘jester would be really upset,’ fjord tells her, and grins broadly at the look of outrage that crosses beau’s face.

‘no! absolutely not! i didn’t tell you this so that you could use it against me—‘

‘just so i’d hate you and give you a reason to run?’ that had clicked, finally, and he knows he’s right when shame engulfs beau’s expression.

‘i’m sorry,’ she says again, and he can only sigh.

‘do you even know what you’re apologising for?’ beau looks to hesitate. fjord shakes his head. ‘whatever it is... just make sure it isn’t - that you’re not apologising for being you,’ he says and prods a finger against her chest. ‘i spent months pretending to be someone else, and years before that hating who i was so...i get what you’re feeling. kinda. i was shit scared giving up my powers because i’d let them be who i was instead of something i used.’ beau nods reassuringly and fjord feels a flicker of fond exasperation. smiles down at her. ‘i don’t need to be supported, beau, i’m supporting you.’

‘you were fuckin’ - brave and awesome, okay? i can support that. shut up.’

he rolls his eyes. when he’s done, he frowns down at the ground, the knotted roots and vines.

‘sacrificing yourself ... isn’t your power. it’s not what we need from you, like the snea snakes power wasn’t — what i am, all that i am. we want you, beau.’

he knows it’s not over, not yet fully understood, but he counts it as a success when beau nods slowly. she looks thoughtful, which is better than despair. far better.

‘did you really think i’d hate you?’

beau’s eyes drop and she shrugs, looking every inch an awkward teen. he wonders idly how old she actually is—older than twenty, maybe mid-twenties? she mutters something he doesn’t catch.

‘huh?’

‘how do you feel?’ she snaps. a little louder and crankier than intended, obviously, because she winces.

‘about—‘ he gestures to her and then back toward the camp. beau nods. fjord tucks his thumbs onto his belt, shifts his weight as he thinks, knowing beau won’t be reassured by a half-answer. ‘i don’t know.’

beau grunts.

‘things are complicated.’

she laughs. ‘tell me about it.’

‘there’s so much that i still don’t know. about me. about what the hell we’re doing. about my powers and whether when we get to the ocean uk’otoa is going to drown me,’ he says, which earns him a long, thoughtful look. he hadn’t meant to say it but he’s glad that it was beau he said it to, rather than anyone else. she’s steady, usually, and has his back.

‘i’m a good swimmer,’ she says.

‘you’ll pull me back on the boat?’

‘on the quick, captain.’

they trade smiles. fjord continues.

‘i don’t know how much space there is in that for romance. and - and i like jester, i do, it’s just... sometimes i think, and it’s not her fault i pretended to be someone else for months, but i don’t think she sees me all the time. she can’t,’ he tells beau. ‘i don’t even know who i am, so how can she?’ beau nods. she doesn’t try to convince him or reassure him, just puts a hand on his arm. ‘can i ask you something? you can say no.’ he waits for her to nod, then, ‘when did you know? that you liked her?’

for a moment, he thinks she’s not going to answer. but then the words start, haltingly at first before he recognises the softness in her tone and everything comes a little easier. that’s the jester of it all, he knows. it’s easy to love her.

‘it’s - been a bit. a long while, i guess. not from the start. she just - was always funny and fun, yknow?’ he nods. he does know. ‘and then things started getting hard and i dunno, i was ready to protect her because she’s jester but she—she’s strong. really strong. and kind? and even though we kept seeing all this awful shit, she keeps being kind and it’s weird in a totally jester way. it’s amazing? and i don’t know when it happened but one day i just realised i’d do a lot to make sure she never felt like that effort was wasted and maybe help her out and—yeah. i’m not—it’s not something i’m gonna do anything about,’ she is quick to assure him, ‘i’m not gonna tell her or anything, it’s just a crush,’ beau lies, ‘but it’s there.’

fjord thinks—he doesn’t know, he never seems to know anything for certain anymore, the world so much more complex than he had ever given it credit for, but he thinks—that there is something deeply sad about the idea that beau won’t tell jester. there’s a hurt in his chest at the idea of jester being with beau, but it doesn’t hurt as bad as he thought it might. whether that’s because he loves beau too, or because he doesn’t love jester as much as he thought, or because he knows how good beau is and how well she would love jester...he doesn’t know any of that either. but when he thinks on it a second more, a minute more, he can see it. and the sadness tugs at him again, knowing that beau won’t even allow herself to want it.

‘i get it,’ is all he says, because they’ve talked about enough heavy shit, he thinks. ‘kinda makes you wonder what’s wrong with everyone when they’re not head over heels for her, right?’

beau snorts. her eyes brighten with obvious surprise and a hesitant kind of happiness. ‘yeah,’ she agrees, and when fjord doesn’t react poorly to it, to yet another acknowledgement of how she feels, she relaxes into it. shoulders dropping from where they’ve been lifted around her ears the entire time. ‘yeah.’

#cr tag #prompt fill #tagging my stories #i love the brjeus

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eponymous-rose · 4 years

Text

Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E85 (Nov. 19, 2019)

Here we go! Tonight’s guests are Marisha Ray and Liam O’Brien.

It’s the 3-year anniversary of Talks Machina! Everyone talks first impressions. Liam: “I tried to compare it to all the other talk shows related to Dungeons and Dragons and how they do it...”

Brian: “Talks Machina: It’s Good Enough(TM)”

Announcements: the Adventures of the Darrington Brigade one-shot is happening live in Austin, Texas this Saturday! They ask that anyone in attendance at the show avoid spoilers---it will be aired online for everyone on the 29th at 7PM! Brian has a special thank-you for everyone who watched the Undeadwood finale: he appreciates all the wonderful feedback and misses all the characters so much. Liam: “You two people sitting here have created something really, really beautiful, and I’m so proud of you both.” For the month of November, CR has partnered with OSD.

Twelve minutes in, we get a title screen, so it’s time for...

Episode 85: The Threads Converge

Stats for this week’s episode: Caleb cast his twentieth Magic Missile spell this episode. Caleb also cast his tenth Cat’s Ire spell. “Well, we haven’t been around horses much, so not a lot of call for it.” Beau used her 200th ki point for Patient Defense.

How long has Beau liked Jester? “I have been obviously tagged in this question a few times, and thinking about it all weekend and up until now, how I’m going to answer it. And it’s hard, because there’s no real defining moment. [to Liam] You’ve been through this before. It just happened. Like relationships. Just... they’ll do something, and it kind of cocks your head, and you’re like, aw, fuck, that was cute. And you go like, hm. And you forget about that, and something happens. And then they build. And then they build.” She highlights that Beau wouldn’t have let Jester dress her up if there wasn’t something going on there. “The way she views things. She’s very empathetic and looks at things from a positive-- in a weird way, she reminds me of Keyleth, where she sees the good in everybody first. Fuck, that’s endearing.” Getting into the campaign, Marisha didn’t want a relationship in this one, and got a bit blindsided by Beau’s feelings.

Liam brings back the Cuddlefish voice.

There’s an accidental ad for Men’s Warehouse, as you do. And much discussion of pistachios.

Caleb hasn’t been consciously connected to Rexxentrum for a long time, and before that he was a farmboy from the outskirts, but it’s still a part of him. “He did spend a couple of years enjoying Rexxentrum. My sense of Rexxentrum is that it’s more the heart of old Zemnian. That shit stays with you. Yeah, he still feels very much a part of that.”

Beau’s feelings for Jester are much more, and “non-comparable” to her previous flings. “Sex for Beau has always been like a bandaid.” Liam mentions, as a viewer, that he’s curious about how the dynamic between the three might change once Yasha comes back.

“If you’ve been paying attention through the campaign, Caleb’s been very protective with [Jester] with her mother and her search for her father, because he’s fucked up his situation beyond reparation, but she can have the things she wants.” That was a conscious decision. “Kids should have that. Young people should have that. Everyone should have that.”

The show in a nutshell:

Brian: “Let’s check the tape, Steve.”

Dani: “I’m right.”

“Beau feels like her dad is a shithead, so she’s gonna feel like, well, if your dad’s a shithead, then fuck your shithead dad. Beau is desperately compartmentalizing all that.” She mentions that for all the times Kamordah has been brought up, they still haven’t made it there, and Beau’s starting to prepare for the possibility of actually having to go back.

Liam and Marisha talk about how amazing an actor Laura is and how much fun it is to watch her do improv scenes like the discussion with the Gentleman at the table. Marisha: “It’s so much fun to work across from as an actor.”

Cosplay of the Week: the entire Mighty Nein, all by Christina Silvoso (xtinaiscrafty on Twitter)!

Caleb isn’t sure how focused he is on the crisis at hand versus just being freaked out at being back in Rexxentrum. Caleb’s major drives in life are starting to feel small and less significant: “he doesn’t really want to believe that, and he really wants to stay focused on his narrow”. Both Caleb and Liam are freaked out (and also excited, in Liam’s case) at the potential for Caleb’s backstory coming back to haunt him here.

Beau’s definitely been thinking about the Cobalt Soul’s connection to Ioun lately. “I kind of view Beau as someone who goes to catholic school because it’s better than the public schools in the area. I never imagined religion as being Beau’s rebellious point, so I think she was always just like, aw, fuck, aw, cool, this bitch seems awesome. Just, yeah, fine with it. She doesn’t have a lot of emotional investment, but yeah, I’ve thought about it.”

Caleb sees similarities between himself and Yasha: “first of all, I feel like they’re the two nerdy loner outsider kids in class who don’t talk to each other, but just look over and go, hey, you’re fucked up like me too. And then they also have-- they’re both murderers, and they have both been, and one is currently being manipulated and abused in the extreme. So Caleb hasn’t made Yasha his number one driving focus, but he empathizes with her a great deal.”

Caleb feels like he doesn’t know enough about the Assembly to judge Yussah’s assertion that not all of them are bad. “He might talk a good game about how the Assembly needs to be eradicated, but it’s more personally motivated. No question that Trent is a monster, and I think that the leadership of that organization is pretty wacky, but one or two neutral parties in there.”

How does anti-authority Beau feel about getting placed in higher and higher positions of authority? “Oh, fuckin’ great, it’s what she always wanted. Doing great, yeah. Fuck yeah, look at me now, bitches!”

Fan Art of the Week: Nott and Caleb falling through the storm (by Alex Payne).

What was going through Caleb’s head, reading the letter from Astrid? “Letter seems like a trap. Really wonders-- he’s not optimistic, because he knows what happened to him and them, he knows the state of the Scourger they fucked with in the Dynasty, so that was a bad sign. But... I don’t want to tip the scales. I mean, Astrid is very much on his mind. So is Eodwulf, but Astrid especially. I’m really looking forward to that nut getting cracked open, and not knowing what it’s going to be.”

Beau had “a lot of regrets about Molly, and the fact that she really liked Molly and was an asshole to him the whole time. He was a big lesson to her, because they were just coming from such opposite ends of the spectrum. He ended up being a lot of the starting point of a lot of Beau’s growth. So yeah. I had that [tattoo] in mind for quite some time, and I almost just got it as a tattoo as a character” and then Orly showed up, and it worked out well, along with the all-seeing eye symbology. “It’s got layers.”

Liam on Beau confiding in Nott: “Sometimes, when you share secrets, it’s because you want to be found out.” Marisha: “How dare you. No.”

#critical role #critical role spoilers #talks machina #talks machina spoilers #long text post

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weilongfu · 4 years

Text

BECAUSE WHY NOT MAKE UP THE LAY TALAY TRIPLETS STORY I’M SURE SOMEONE WANTS TO READ AFTER WATCHING YYY THE SERIES.

------

Aon was beyond certain that the plate of French macarons Boy had left for him on his desk in his dorm room were a trap. Mostly because they were his favorite black macaron with sour black cherry jam and semi-sweet dark chocolate and coffee frosting keeping it all contained right in the middle. They were also Not Cheap. They were the specialty of a bakery at least an hour away from campus and Boy would have had to run out early to get them and come back before Aon was done with his Life Drawing class.

And as much as Aon loved Boy and was sure that Boy loved him, Boy would only exert this much effort if he needed something.

“So tempting...” Aon’s hand hovered over the forbidden offering. “Boy won’t notice if I eat one, right? Then he can’t say I accepted payment to do something, right?” Aon muttered to himself.

“There you are!” Aon jumped as King threw the door open. “Aww... The cactus I gave you is almost dead, are you watering it too much?”

“P’King!” Aon punched King in the arm and King yelped. “What are you even doing here?”

“Can’t I come see my favorite brother?”

“That’s a lie. Neither of us is your favorite. You love your plants more.”

“You’re both my younger brothers. How can I not love both of you equally?”

“Younger by a few minutes!”

“You’re the youngest, don’t quibble.” King waved a hand. “But, have you heard from Pun recently?”

“Hmm?” Aon absentmindedly stuffed a macaron into his mouth while checking his phone. “Mphe mphasn’t texphed phu?”

“Not once since his last fight with dad.” King reached for one of the macaron’s and Aon smacked his hand. “Hey! I’ve come all this way and you won’t even treat me nicely?” Aon glared and handed King one of the delicacies. “Oooo... Are these?” Aon nodded as he continued texting. “Wow... So fancy... Who bought them for you?”

“Ai Boy,” Aon said between bites of another one. “Pun hasn’t said anything.”

King frowned. “You don’t think...”

Aon looked up at King. “He wouldn’t.”

King’s eyes widened. “He would.”

Aon picked up his bag and King stuffed another macaron into his mouth. “Did you bring your bike Phi?”

“Mn!” King swallowed quickly. “Let’s go!”

As the two rushed out, Boy rubbed his eyes, certain he was suddenly seeing double. “What?”

“Sorry Boy!” Aon yelled from down the hall. “Family business!”

“What?” Boy started to run after them. “Wait! I have my car!”

------

Ram: P’King, where are the notes you promised me?

King: Ah! I’m sorry! I have them with me, but something came up.

Ram: Where are you? I’ll come get them.

King: It’s really not convenient right now... King: I’m searching for my brother.

Ram: What happened? Can I help?

King looked up from his phone. “Any idea where Pun might have run to?”

“Cheapest apartments near home probably,” Aon said without looking up from his. “Is he texting you?”

“No, just a nong.” Aon looked over at King as he tapped out a quick message and politely ignored the pink tint to King’s cheeks. “I’m going to get him to help.”

“It’s really freaky to hear you two talk to each other,” Boy said without removing his eyes from the road. “It’s like listening to Aon in stereo.”

“Wait until you meet Pun,” Aon said with a sigh. “Then it’ll be surround sound.”

“This was not what I was expecting when you told me you had brothers, Aon.”

“Surprise!” King said while waving his hands. “Now drive faster.”

King: Can you check out this apartment complex? It’s at XXXXXXXX-XXXXX

Ram: I’m on it. Ram: What does your brother look like?

King: Just like me!

Ram: .... Ram: Wait, really?

------

Nott sighed as he gently swung his bag of takeout. “How can someone not have a dream?” Nott looked up at the apartment building. “Well, no harm in helping Pun find one, right?” It was at that moment that Nott saw Pun sneaking around the outside of the apartment building. Or at least, what looked like Pun sneaking around.

“Hey! Why are you sneaking around?” Nott asked while running up and grabbing Pun’s hand. “Let’s go up together.”

“What? Let go of me!” Pun struggled for a moment but Nott held firm.

“Hey, why are you freaking out?” Nott leaned in and Pun leaned back. “Don’t you remember our agreement?” he whispered.

“What? What agreement?”

Nott covered Pun’s mouth. “Shh! If Porpla-jie hears you, we’ll be screwed, remember?”

Pun’s eyes seemed to narrow and before Nott knew it, the sky and the ground seemed to flip right before his very eyes. With another twist and turn, Nott’s arm had been twisted behind his back and Pun was sitting on him. “Explain yourself,” Pun said with an unrelenting grip on Nott’s arm. “If I don’t like your answer I might just-”

“What are you doing?!” Nott’s body jerked as another Pun ran from out of the building to confront the Pun sitting on his back. “N’Aon, let go of him!”

“N’Aon?!” Nott looked over his shoulder to see “Aon” scary expression and Pun’s mildly irritated one. “Pun? Aon? What the fuck?”

“You’re in for it now,” Aon said without letting up on Nott’s arm. “P’King is out looking for you too.”

“What?!” Pun frowned. “Why did you two even-”

“Did you honestly think we wouldn’t come looking for you?” Nott felt his mouth drop as a THIRD Pun appeared with two other boys in tow, both incredibly handsome and both looking just as disoriented as Nott felt. “You’re our brother, of course we’re worried since you RAN AWAY FROM HOME.”

“Don’t even start with me!” Pun backed away from the circle of people gathering. “You both don’t understand!”

“Then explain it to us,” King said softly. “We’re here to help you, we’ve always helped you.”

“P’King is special because he’s the oldest and the smartest. N’Aon is the baby and he gets to do whatever he wants.” Pun crossed his arms. “And what about me? The middle triplet? All dad does is complain about how I’m not either of you!”

“And you don’t have to be either of us,” Aon said as he finally eased off on Nott’s arm. “Come back. We’ll talk to dad together and get him to ease up on you.”

“No! I’m not going back just to be more like whatever he wants.” Pun took another step back and King took another step forward. Aon even got off of Nott. “I need to be away from them. I need... I need to find out who I am.”

“Pun...” King’s fingers twitched and Boy and Ram seemed to move from behind him slowly to circle around. Nott pushed himself up and barred the way.

“Pun’s not going anywhere,” Nott said firmly. “He doesn’t want to go back.”

King smiled and Aon cracked his knuckles. “So... you think you can protect him?” King asked.

“Of course! No one is going to bother Pun until he finds himself.” Nott looked over his shoulder at Pun’s frown. “I promise.”

King and Aon shared a look before looking at Pun. Pun nodded from behind Nott. King pulled Ram back and Aon nudged Boy. Both of them stepped back. Pun also put a hand on Nott’s shoulder. Nott blinked and Pun tilted his head. Nott walked to the side. The two other brothers sighed before opening their arms. Pun ran into them.

“Silly Pun,” King said softly while messing up Pun’s hair. “You could have just stayed with one of us. You know it’d be fine.”

“You promise you won’t tell dad where I am until I’m ready?” Pun asked his two brothers.

King sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine, but you have to come have dinner with me and Aon once a week so we know you’re doing okay.”

“Once a month.”

“Once every two weeks,” Aon said.

“Deal.” The three brothers each bumped fists.

Meanwhile, Ram, Boy, and Nott watched the interaction from the side.

“I’m so lost on how this all works,” Boy said. “Identical triplets?”

“When a mom and a dad love each other very much and the zygote splits three times...” Nott began.

Ram rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone. King’s phone beeped shortly after and he untangled himself from his siblings to check it.

“Oh, Cool Boy, that’s a good idea.” King put his arms around Aon and Pun’s shoulders. “Cool Boy says we should all have dinner and catch up properly.”

“Like a... triple date?” Boy suggested. Boy then looked at Ram. “And Cool Boy?” Ram only glared at Boy and Nott laughed.

King, Aon, and Pun all looked at each other before huddling. A game of rock-paper-scissors later, Aon sighed. “We’re paying, Ai Boy. Come on. There’s a hotpot place I saw around here anyway...”

“I don’t remember agreeing to this.”

“Well, you’ve wanted to meet the rest of my family right? Time for you to pay the price.”

#YYY the series #NottPun #My Engineer the Series #RamKing #AonBoy #Cornetto commercial #WHATEVER HAVE SOME CRACK FIC #Lay Talay

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sockablock · 5 years

Text

It is later, and raining outside.

Somewhere else in the house, Fjord is helping Caduceus stack the dishes and clean. Jester and Beau went up to Yasha’s room, maybe to search for desperate clues, or to wait.

The world has been made aware of his return—of the plot of Tharizdun, the Chained Oblivion. And though the war on Wynandir still rages, at least the Queen and the Archive had listened. At least both sides had promised to prepare.

And so, the Mighty Nein had returned home. Returned to a home, anyway.

Nott hears his footsteps shuffle through the door.

She looks up, sets her crossbow aside. Its handle has been polished once, and once again.

Caleb looks grim. His jaw, set and hard. He says:

“Nott, we...need to talk.”

She’d been expecting this. She leans back.

“Alright then,” she says, and it’s not as soft as always. “Out with it, then. I know you’re mad.”

Caleb sighs. His voice gives him away. He sits down in another empty dining room chair.

“You...you didn’t check for traps.”

She nods. That much, at least, is true.

“I know. My fault. I won’t do it again.”

Caleb makes a quiet, twisted sound. Part of Nott wants to reach out, to reassure, to stroke his hair and tell him that she’d been fine.

The other part of Nott is too angry to let that happen. Her crossbow has been polished once, twice, even more. Its handle gleams in the pale orange light.

Caleb says, “Nott, but...that is...you died—”

“I know, I know,” she says hurriedly. “I know, but Jester brought me back, right? And really, I’ll be more careful next time.”

Caleb gives her a long, low look.

“Will you?”

“Of course.”

He glances down.

“I don’t believe you.”

Nott throws her head back and shuts her eyes. “Well, that’s...that’s fine,” she says, after a while. “It’s not like I can make you, right?”

There’s a pause. And then the sound of scuffing wood, of Caleb dragging his chair toward hers. He comes to a stop and she can feel the weight, the heavy, pleading stare, the unrelenting force, she can know without seeing that his shoulders are curved, his elbows on knees, he’s bending to her level, trying to peer deeper, to understand—

He’s always been a clever boy.

And then, suddenly, she snaps.

“So why can’t I be reckless?” she shouts. “Why can’t I forget? Why does it matter that I check for stupid traps?”

His confusion is palpable. She knows he’s leaning back.

“Was? But...you would...is that not obvious?”

“Is it?” Her eyes refuse to open. “Is it obvious? Tell me, then. Is it really because you care about me? Or is it just because I’m with the group?”

The sudden venom in her voice scares even her. Then she tastes it.

She drinks it in.

Caleb is struggling to find the right words. Tentatively, he tries:

“Nott, ah...I know. I understand. This is...a lot. And different, and...too much.” His tone is soothing, placating, honey-sick. “But...but we have a mission, now, yes? We have an enemy, and a everyone to think about. We have...the world depends on our success—”

“So what?!”

There’s a pause.

“B—excuse me?”

She hadn’t meant to say that. Now, she has.

She whirls around, and her nails cut into wood. “So what?” she repeats, through jagged teeth. “So what if the world is about to end? So what if suddenly, it’s all going wrong? So what if we fuck up and so what if we lose? So what if you think everyone’s going to die?!”

“Wh—Nott!” Caleb blinks. “But—how could you say tha—”

“Because I’m dead!” she screams, rips through the night. “Because I died! Because...because I’m already gone.”

In the silence that passes, she makes a fist. Her crossbow, at her side, has been polished so deeply that the metal handle shines like a mirror.

They are still.

Nott goes first.

“I...of course I care about you,” she mutters. “Of course I care about the group. But...you’re not the only ones I care about. And I’ve lost so much time with...the rest.”

Her shoulders tremble. Her arms fall.

“Even now, sometimes, you all treat me like a kid. Like I don’t check for traps because I don’t know any better. And...okay. Sometimes, I do forget. But sometimes, Caleb...sometimes, I just don’t care.”

This time, he’s the one who looks away.

He manages, “I see.”

“I know it's selfish. I know it's cold.” Her voice is shaking, a breaking breath. “And I know that you....you were right to not trust him. But...in the Dreadnaught, when we saw those spells, I—for the first time, my only goal wasn’t a dream. It was...Caleb, it was possible. Halas could have done it. And I know,” her hand goes up, “I know what you’ll say. I’m not an idiot, I know that he isn’t a good man. But for that second, for that...moment, none of that mattered. It just mattered that I’d found a way. I could go home. I could be...me, again. I had a way, and, and, and...isn’t it natural that I wanted to take it? Doesn’t it make sense that I wanted to accept it? Don’t I deserve a little hope? Haven’t I earned a little selfishness?”

Her fist goes slack.

“You get it, don’t you, Caleb? You of all people know should what it’s like when you finally find your way.”

Eventually, he nods.

That old part of Nott, soft and patient, steals a sentence.

“I...I don’t blame you,” she mumbles. “I don’t...I don’t think so. I know you were...right. I’m just...I mean, look at me. What even am I, anymore?” She gestures to herself, a half-grin full of razors. “I used to be someone. And then I died.”

Caleb instantly begins, “But you are Nott—”

“I wasn’t always,” she says it gently, even now. “You just never knew her. Now I barely do.”

There’s a faint hum of acknowledgement.

“...ja, but there are still two people who did. Very well.”

He’s always been a clever boy.

“Yeah,” Nott agrees. “And I miss that, every day.”

Somewhere in the house, a lonely floorboard creaks. A window opens to the humid, silent breeze.

“I am sorry.”

“I know. And I’m just angry.”

"I...ja, well, you certainly have more of a right than I do to be upset about your own death.”

Nott snorts, and shakes her head.

“Yeah. And I don’t know if I’ll stop being mad. But...still, I do get it. It just...it really has been a lot. And if it means...well, anything, at all, I...I really don’t want to die again. Not when I’m this...well, this close. And not around you guys. You can believe me, or not.”

She hears him shuffle around in his chair. And then Caleb says:

“Okay. But on one condition.”

She turns. She raises her brow.

He is meeting her gaze, crouched so low that now he is almost looking up at her.

“I swear to you, Nott the—to you, Veth, that I will do everything in my power to finish the spells. And to bring you back. And to make sure that, above all else, you will make it home.”

He doesn’t blink. She doesn’t turn away.

“I swear this to you. And I hope that you believe me.”

And eventually, she nods.

Caleb leans back.

“Okay then. Okay. That means we both now have promises to fulfill.”

“Right,” she says softly. “Right. I won’t die. And I’ll...do my best not to put anyone in danger.”

“And I will complete the ritual,” he repeats. “I will do this thing for you. And I...I will not pretend to always understand.”

She gives him a funny smile, at that.

“You weren’t,” she tells him. “You were just doing your best.”

Caleb lifts an eyebrow. “I...I think you might be enabling me, my friend. Your praise is...not always deserved.”

She leans over, and pats him on the arm.

“I know,” she says. “I’m just doing my best.”

It’s a familiar gesture.

It helps.

And then, Nott stands up from her chair. She points at the ceiling, gives Caleb a nod.

“I think I want to go outside,” she says. “Just for a little bit. To clear my head. Do you want to come?”

He knows he finds the smile.

“Of course,” he says. “I always do.”

Nott brushes off her dress and puts away her crossbow. Caleb stands too, motions for her to lead, and together, they wander up to the roof.

It is damp from the rain, but the stars are bright.

—

✨Ko-fi✨ | Writing Tag Here | Requests Are Closed!

#critical role #oh boy do i have emotions #critrole #critfic #fic #cr2 #cr spoilers #caleb widogast #nott the brave #jay writes #long post #fanfic #text #fanfiction #I DONT KNOW IF I HAVE HER MOTIVATION NAILED OKAY BUT I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT WHATS HAPPENING AND WHOSE ANGER TAKES THE LEAD #and goddamit im going to write angsty fanfiction about it

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