#while Vox is busting his ass trying to find a way to ask him out | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

blues824 · 1 year

Note

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa do you watch vtubers? i saw the requests were open and was gonna request housewardens with a reader like vox akuma but i was hesitant because i didn't know if you watched vtubers or not. twst and nijisanji(en) are my big hyperfixations rn and I put vox's streams on in the background while im playing. (you don't need to watch vox's streams to get his persona down if you wanna do this request actually. watching 'the vox akuma experience' on youtube would be enough ;-;)

I do watch VTubers! Ninomae ina’nis was the first one I’ve watched since I had a request a while back, and that brought me into the world of Vtubers. Gender-neutral reader.

Riddle Rosehearts

When he heard that you were a voice demon, he thought you were something akin to a siren, but in demon form. He appreciated how you dressed very formally, and how you remained polite in all of your interactions.

Then you started getting comfortable with being in Twisted Wonderland. That’s when you busted out the lewd and crass jokes, the flirty comments, etc. and he was just so freaking flustered all of the time. You even once got close to his ear and said that his shoelace wasn’t tied in a very seductive manner just to mess with him.

He would’ve collared you by now if you weren’t a demon who could easily overpower him. You had battle experience that he has only read of, so you were nearly indestructible. You never took your amusement too far, though. After all, you didn’t want your beloved queen to get too angry.

You and Trey team up to make meals for Heartslabyul. Riddle tries to help you both (because he’s jealous whenever you two hang out by yourselves in the kitchen), and he’s not all that bad. You don’t play pranks on him like the Vice Housewarden. The Housewarden absolutely loves every type of food you make.

Leona Kingscholar

At first appearance, he thought you had a stick up your ass. I mean, you had a very formal way of speaking, plus you dressed in a suit every single day. However, he eventually found out that you were the exact opposite person he thought you were.

You both got to a point that you flirted with each other more than you just casually talked to each other. One thing that became apparent was that you both were very competitive in charm and seduction and would always try to make each other flustered.

He doesn’t mind the fact that you are a demon, as long as you don’t do anything that annoys him or disrupts the productivity of his dormitory. The chances of that happening are very slim because you’re usually napping with him.

He loves the dishes you cook for him, even if it contains vegetables. You somehow make the veggies taste so good that his mouth waters when he smells the food. You have essentially replaced Ruggie in the Savanaclaw kitchen with your awesome cooking.

Azul Ashengrotto

If you weren’t a voice demon, he would have tried to find a way to get you under a contract. Unfortunately, your magic was demonic and therefore not the type of magic that can be taken away like that. He also appreciated how you dressed formally no matter the occasion.

When you started bringing out the flirting and the lewd jokes, he was more flustered than he has ever been in his whole entire life. He couldn’t even imagine returning the behavior since he stuttered trying to talk to you in general.

He also doesn’t mind that you are a demon. In fact, with your permission, he uses it as a threat to other customers who don’t comply with the rules of the Lounge. It tends to scare off unwanted people, and helps profit stay stable.

Azul asked if you wanted to try cooking for the Mostro Lounge because your food was really good and could probably sell. You made gourmet food, which is much different than they originally had on their menu. So, your cooking went on a secret menu.

Kalim Al-Asim

He wasn’t wary of you at all. He thought your clothes were interesting because surely you must get hot in that suit. Then he grew worried whenever you visited Scarabia since it was always hot in the desert that was the dorm.

He absolutely had no idea what you were saying or trying to do when you were trying to flirt with him until Jamil explained it to him. That is when his face just goes completely red and he feels so dumb. He mentally beats himself up for not getting what you said at the moment you said it.

This continues and he is just so flustered all the freaking time. You were just flirting with him over and over. He eventually uses his innocent charm to compliment you and ‘flirt’ with you in return, but he always fails to make you blush.

He wishes he could eat your food, but he doesn’t know if it is poisoned or not. So, you offer to have Jamil watch you cook so that everyone is sure you didn’t sneak anything into the meal. He is so happy, and when his Vice Housewarden gives the ‘ok’, he digs in and is in love with all the different flavors.

Vil Schoenheit

He almost squealed in excitement when he saw how good you looked. You knew how to dress very well, you did your makeup well to accentuate your features, you were basically his dream significant other. He praised any higher being above that you walked into his life.

You both tend to flirt with each other since it proves to boost self-esteem. Everyone besides Rook gag at how lovey dovey you are. The hunter volunteers to be the flower girl at your wedding (reminds me of when Hercules Mulligan was the flower girl at Hamilton’s wedding, iykyk).

He also doesn’t mind that you are a demon. It wasn’t like you would go ballistic and slay everyone out of nowhere, so he was relaxed around you. You often play as his voice of reason with all the wisdom you’ve accumulated over the years.

You both work to promote healthier eating, and you try to cook for the dorm and have a few of the Pomefiore members help out. You refuse to cook fish since you don’t like the smell or taste, you just incorporate more of other foods to replace it and Vil is okay with it. He can tell that the entire dorm is just a bit healthier as well.

Idia Shroud

He most definitely squealed because you looked and acted like his favorite VTuber Koe Daemonium. Mans worshiped you. He considered himself as one of your kindred, and when you told him that he was your lover after a while, he nearly died of joy.

Idia gets nose-bleeds whenever you act more seductive or lewd. Ortho always thinks that he’s having a brain aneurysm and tries to perform medical aid only for you to tell him that he was just a tad flustered.

He also doesn’t mind that you are a demon, what he’s worried about is you taking a liking to someone else and leaving him for them. He is insecure and shy, so he wouldn’t be very surprised if you picked someone over him, and this worries you. So you make a vow to him to always make him feel loved.

One way you do that is you make him food, and good food at that. You were aware that he didn’t get adequate enough nutrients in his diet, so you fixed that problem for him. Idia reported feeling better than he had in a long time, and you were glad that you could be a part of the process.

Malleus Draconia

Oh, goodness. We have a demon and a dragon; in my mind, they are both very possessive creatures, and it shows with you and Malleus. You like to make sure that you both will be safe when one of you is going somewhere without the other.

He doesn’t understand what you are trying to do when you flirt or say something lewd to him, so Lilia kind of has to act as a translator. Of course, he tries his best not to get flustered when he finally understands what you were trying to say. Instead, he reciprocates your affection.

Lilia absolutely adores having chats with you. You both have past battle experience, you enjoy gaming, and you both dress well. Silver likes hanging out with you and sparring against you. Sebek absolutely despises you, and it’s mostly because you are a demon and therefore “aren’t a good example for Waka-sama”. You didn’t care, though.

Everyone became grateful for you when you took over cooking, saying that Lilia deserved a break. The old fae didn’t mind being treated by his future child-in-law, and the food you made was heavenly (get it?). Malleus makes a big deal, saying how the future co-ruler of the Briar Valley shouldn’t have to cook for anybody, but you laugh it off and say that it’s fine.

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koogl001 · 1 year

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What about Alastor with his fem! Future s/o who is a podcast type demon? Like she was a podcast host in life, i think shed have similar powers to both him and Vox as there are video and audio podcasts. (How about without the big ass tv head tho lmao) love your work! Happy New Year!

One-Shots and Headcanons Masterlist

As a professional podcaster, you gained quite the attention not only during your life, but during your death as well

Your powers include the ability to broadcast yourself thru any electronic device that has either a screen or a speaker, the ability to spy on people thru any electronic device that has either a camera or a microphone, the ability to corrupt and bend other broadcasts to your will (for example when airing the news, you can control what is said and done during them) and the ability to manipulate other occupants of hell with your voice

Some people even started comparing you to both Vox and Alastor

Alastor, as someone who prides himself on his abilities, gets quite annoyed when the public starts claiming a new rival with power even greater (or at least in this aspect) than his has resurfaced

No one was a better radio show host than him, and he was ready to prove it

Searching for you wasn’t hard, he just had to follow the wavelengths of your broadcasting to your exact location

You, however, were prepared as you knew that due to your abilities, at least one of the two overlords was bound to go after you at some point, so you kept tabs on both of them

When you felt Alastor approaching, all of the demons nearby were long under your spell as you ordered them to slow the deer demon down as much as possible

The process of getting someone under your power was a long one, after all

You were confident you could get him under your control within the time bought by your troops, but oh how wrong you were

When he busted into your studio, a blood bath behind him, you knew you had no chance of defeating him

And as Alastor looked at you, he knew that as well

You were very different than what he pictured you to be

You were small, meek, and weak

He took you to his home, locking you down in the basement

Your powers were too fascinating how him to let you perish too soon, he needed to find a way to utilise them for himself

His first go-to was, of course, making a deal with you

In exchange for your freedom, he could call upon you and use you whenever he needed to

The second option was to threaten you, be it with your life or the lives of those you hold close

The third option was to mentally manipulate you into using your powers for him willingly

But as you were too stubborn to form a contract with him, too new to Hell to have anyone dear here and too willing to give up your own life if it meant he wouldn’t get what he wanted, he had to settle for the last resort, the third option

You were free to roam the house as long as you wouldn’t try to escape, which you didn’t

No, you were much too interested in his plan, wanting to see just how far he would go to gain your trust

He brought you anything you asked as a way to bribe you, be it money, clothes, gems, jewellery, modern technology or even the souls he made deals with during his years down in Hell

But for each item, he would require information about you

Information that he could later use to his advantage

Despite coming from very different eras, your passion for broadcasting was something you soon started bonding over

The deer demon started gaining feelings he wasn’t even sure he would be capable of feeling, completely turning his plan against himself as you were now the one gaining his trust

And the more trust you gained, the more freedom you got till one day, you were able to escape, but not for long

Alastor, finding his home completely empty, shifted into his more demon-y form, sending his shadows out and joining them in their pursuit of retrieving you

“Sweetheart, did you honestly think that I would ever let you leave me?”

He whispered into your ear while he was running his fingers though your hair as you were chained down to his bed

There was no escaping now

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jq37 · 5 years

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i know you posted your thoughts on the big arguing scene in “we need to talk about pete” but i was wondering if you were going to post a full breakdown? that episode was a lot and i love hearing your thoughts on eps. ignore this if you have done a breakdown and i’m dumb and just missed it lol

**spoilers for the war of bugs and rats and we need to talk about pete**

What’s up denizens of Magic NYC? Now, I unfortunately live in normal NYC where I have to pay bills and stuff so I’ve been MIA with recaps for the past few eps but, no sweat. We’re gonna do a double feature of the above two eps and then I’ll group in the last battle episode with the upcoming episode. So lets catch up on what’s been going on in The Unsleeping City There’s a LOT to get through so vámanos y'all.

First up, we have our big bug fight in Queens, which Sophie enters with a camelback full of box wine because Emily is Emily.

“I’ve heard of gentrification but this is crazy!”

Brennan enjoys making those gross, chittering, bug noises way too much.

Have we talked about Pete’s cowboy hat? Because, for real, what is up with Pete’s cowboy hat? It seems absolutely apropos of nothing. Was he just like, “Sick,” and he decided to wear it everywhere? That seems to be how he makes all of his decisions.

“Butthole 2: Electric Boogaloo.”

Emily clocks the cat *immediately*. Like to the point where I’m almost thinking, “Did this cat exist before Emily mentioned looking for one?” And I want to say yes because La Gran Gata seems very fleshed out, specific, and intentional. But folks, we are living in a post-Avanash world so idk what to think. (Edit: The cat does have a mini now that I’ve gotten to that but idk, that insert shot could have been shot post ep so like, who knows?)

Anyway, Emily’s entire mission objective immediately becomes saving this cat she’s vaguely aware of.

“5E you crazy.”

The Cast, Knowing Emily just rolled a 25 and still has a 1d8 Bless in Her Back Pocket if She Needs It: Brennan, Just Ask.

The horror on Emily’s face when she realizes that she just called an attack on the cat cocoon.

So Emily goes off on a very Emily side quest to rescue a random cat but happens to unlock a very cool NPC–La Gran Gata–who is like the spirit of all the bodega cats out there. Sophie immediately calls upon the entirety of her limited Spanish skills to try and make friends with the cat, and succeeds.

The, “To arms, to arms my brothers!” thing kills me every time. Are all rats just Like That? Is that what they’re like when they’re out and about too?

Kingston rolling a nat 20 to literally walk across the store is wild.

Oh also, Pete failed a wild magic surge roll which just lets him fly. So far, those wild magic surges have really been working out for him.

Anyway, Bug Boss Becky turns Ricky into a “buff-ass” dog.

Zac playing dog-Ricky with almost exactly the same self-awareness (or lack thereof) as normal-Ricky is so funny. He’s an Akita and I was expecting Dalmatian but that makes sense too. Ricky, the very good boy, attacks Becky and–as a Sentinel–stops her in her tracks.

Emily does a ton of damage and Brennan, about to describe her attack, is like, “Are you still drunk?” Emily shuts down the opportunity to look cooler and is like, “I am a messy, drunk bitch. Describe that.” Emily isn’t here to be cool. Emily is here to roleplay.

I had never heard the word brindled before now and Brennan uses it to describe two separate animals in this ep.

Siobhan rolls a nat 20 to dispel magic on Ricky which is objectively good but also I would have loved for him to be a dog a little longer. Also, this moment makes me really, really want to get some backstory on Misty. Like, clearly there are some serious Fae Shenanigans going on with her and I need specifics yesterday.

Also, Ricky comes back with pointier ears and wolfier senses and I’m just picturing Channing Tatum in Jupiter Ascending.

Before I forget, Sophie, Pete, and Misty yoink magical items from the magic bodega within the bodega La Gran Gata opened up. Sophie’s is a magic ring that amps up her punches. Misty took a mirror and Pete took a grill (like for your teeth). Not sure what those do yet.

The fact that this whole fight wasn’t under the Umbral Arcana and there are people out there that remember is a little concerning for me. I can’t quite tell if it’s the sort of thing that will come back or more of a warning of what can happen if the U.A. goes down again.

Post-fight, Sophie asks La Gran Gata for mismatched David Bowie eyes like the cat has. Siobahn goes, “That’s what you’re gonna ask? You drunk bitch.” But Sophie has her wish granted. I’m sure that won’t raise any questions with people who have known her her entire life.

“She’s gonna fuck that cat.”

So the fight’s over and they realize that the Key to the City is missing which I can’t imagine is a good thing.

This brings us to the RP ep, We Need to Talk About Pete, which picks up directly where the previous ep ended.

Ally and Emily go for the exact same joke of getting Guinness’s post-fight. Kingston–as a medical professional, Vox Populi, and sanest adult of this troupe–loudly objects (smacking the beers out of Pete’s hands multiple times) and wants to know what the hell is going on with the bugs they just fought.

Sidenote: Sophie took a level in Warlock with La Gran Gata as her patron because of *course* she did. I wonder if this was the plan from the beginning or if Emily was watching all her friends spellcasting and started getting the jitters from magic user withdrawal.

Murph’s “What?” face when Emily says, “I’ll be waiting, but not in an impatient, desperate way,” is gold.

They search the bodega and find a thing of 1000 Hour Energy and Kugrash gives it to Ricky over Pete’s objections. They also find Holy Grail Laundry Detergent (Kingston pays for it), The Grill I mentioned earlier (Kingston hates this), and this bagel.

All the magic users show up. Alejandro wants an explanation pronto and everyone points a finger at Pete who explains everything in his typical, nonchalant, vague, kinda spaced out way which Alejandro is not digging at all. He starts to go off on the enormity of the situation and Pete starts dropping acid.

I’m gonna stop here for a sec to talk about how Ally is playing Pete. There are moments when I feel like Ally is doing something as a comedian for a bit. And there’s kind of a sense of, is this funny? Obviously. But what are the in game implications of this move? Like the running joke of Pete constantly being high on something is funny, out of game. But, in game, it’s massively concerning. And I’m really curious about where Ally is choosing to draw the line between doing the funny thing and doing the prudent thing. I almost said the in-character thing but Ally made a character so consistently bonkers that whatever he does could plausibly be the in-character thing. Pete is kind of a massive disaster.

Anyway, Alejandro drives home the point that Pete’s actions have consequences and have caused actual deaths at this point. Pete’s magic is internally going wonky as he gets more distressed (I really wanted to see a wild magic surge fail here but alas). But he’s still outwardly like a 4 on the giving a damn scale when the situation is a 13 out of 10. Pete is only half listening to this because he’s halfway out the door, smoking. Alejandro plans with Kingston to discuss Pete later.

Misty, always sowing seeds of chaos, suggests Alejandro stock up on Juul pods before they stop selling them completely. Kingston hates this (this is basically his mood for the episode).

Outside, Pete gets a text from Priya which ends with them planning a meet up for later after leaving her on read for a while. Pete dips without saying anything to anyone but Kingston who ignores him (and also Sophie who Emily hilariously guilts Ally into including out of character). Dipping on the conversation about how to fix YOUR mess isn’t the wisest move but Pete isn’t the wisest guy.

In the meantime, Ricky does the Twilight Bark to summon a dalmatian (yes!) to help him find the stolen key to the city. Kugrash turns into a busted ass dalmatian who has trouble keeping up.

Ricky doesn’t have the plate mail armor that usually makes a Paladin so unstealthy but he is so hot as to have the same lack of stealthiness which is one of my favorite adaptations of the game for this setting. Anyway, Ricky does the superhero thing of running through the city, helping everyone with a problem along the way, and loses the key in the Financial District which smells like death (feels about right).

Siobahn playing Misty as, “Oh, I can’t believe I didn’t realize it was Emma Lazarus,” when, in reality, she was the first person who made the connection was great. S/o to ppl who separate player and character knowledge. Misty partied w/ Emma of course because she partied with every historical figure that’s passed through NYC since she showed up.

Post adventure, people need to go to their day jobs. Misty has a +10 to performance but rolling a 3 is rolling a 3. It’s not her best work. Later, her assistant brings her holly, silver, and assorted other stuff which sounds like Fae BS if I’ve ever heard it. Misty cuts her off before she can elaborate more. I know we’re getting a secret spilling episode next time so I’m really hoping we get some Misty lore because she is being frustratingly cagey. She talks so much but says so little that means anything.

Kugrash sneaks into his son David’s house (while Emily learns a rat fact she clearly didn’t want to know) and Murph and Brennan tag team go for the proverbial emotional jugular.

Murph rolls a nat 20 on his investigate and so he gets a lot of his old files and puts together that Robert is Robert Moses–a famous historical figure in NY who I actually heard about for the first time very recently. Or maybe I should say infamous. He did a lot with NY infrastructure–especially highways–(Emily connects this to the Highway Hex immediately) and he wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type. His bread and butter was working the system. There’s a Pulitzer winning book called The Power Broker about how he was able to amass power and influence. I don’t know enough about NY history to run my mouth off about the guy but the little I do know is in character with his T.U.S. incarnation. Also, just FYI, irl this dude died in the 80s. So, you know. That’s interesting.

Brennan, I guess: Why invent new bad guys when history is full of terrible people I just have to give magic to?

Brennan, continuing his tradition of letting people get emotionally destroyed by nat 20s, has Murph find a crushing letter from David to Kug which was never mailed.

Note: So, as I was writing this, my video timed out right at the line, “I don’t expect this letter to find you before my funeral,” which is kinda good bc idk if this is what I need at 1 AM. Anyway, back to the pain.

The letter reveals that David has devoted his life to stopping crooks like him (Kug) and that he’s mostly upset about how his leaving has affected the younger, more fragile Wally.

“I leave the letter because I’ll remember it.” Yeah I bet you will.

It looks like Kug is gonna confront Wally next ep which I am now even more excited to see.

So let’s move onto the SECOND big gut-punch of the episode. Kingston goes down to the station to give a statement about the Santa Incident. He sees a shit elemental in a lineup which isn’t super relevant to the main events but I can’t not mention something like that.

Anyway, guess what? Kingston’s ex (Liz) isn’t dead! She’s an attorney for the justice system of The Unsleeping City and she’s pissed the hell off. During their interview, he stops the tape recorder to cuss out Kingston for going on a “date” with Misty and for getting her involved in all the magical junk which means she has to do things like fingerprint shit elementals instead of being on track to be D.A. like she originally was. The way she described it made it sound like she was press ganged into it which seems like it shouldn’t be how this works, you know? Is there no blue pill option here? Also, not to be all grass is greener but I actually am a lawyer in NY (closer to Kug’s job, minus the crime) and I would swap with Liz in a heartbeat.

The fact that anything Kingston says as Vox is per se admissible is a cool detail.

Sophie fights an old man (Jackson) in a CVS and joins a monastery which sounds like a shitpost but it isn’t. With La Gran Gata’s blessing she is now a member of the Order of the Concrete Fist.

I saw the Staten Island joke coming the second Brennan started talking but it was still hysterical when it landed.

At the same time, Pete is getting knuckle tats because, sure. And he also goes to see Priya who I am baffled was with him for any length of time. Maybe it’s the artist thing?

Also, Sophie keeps postponing her meeting with Mario which is concerning to me. The story is still happening when you’re not interacting with it. Brennan specifically said when she texted him that she got no response which doesn’t make me feel good about what’s going on with him.

Ricky has three super jacked, fratty firefighter bros, all named John who are like woke as hell. I wish I could follow the dude around for a day because every single facet of his life is wild.

Well, this episode promised we were gonna talk about Pete so let’s talk about Pete.

The gang, sans Pete, meet up with the magical powers that be to discus the destruction the newest Vox his leaving in his wake.

Sidenote, wild that Sophie has been magic for like 15 minutes and got to go to this meeting.

Alejandro wants to know what the plan is for if Pete’s powers go off the rails again. Kingston, who has clearly seen Old Yeller, offers the most drastic solution immediately: if it comes to it, we take him out. (Cut to Ally’s “Yikes” face). Kug, Sophie, and Ricky push back on that.

Misty, hilariously (and also suspiciously), is mainly concerned about NY because she needs theater to keep happening. This woman is chaotic something and I’m not convinced it’s chaotic good yet.

Anyway, I already did my big write-up on this part of the episode, but I’ll say it again: Kingston is right. He’s harsh but he’s right. This is some Phoenix Force BS that’s happening and do you know how that arc ends (the OG one, not the million other Phoenix Sagas that have happened since)? It ends with Jean Grey killing herself so she doesn’t lose control and eat another planet. Ricky is too dangerous for his own good and he doesn’t seem to have the emotional maturity to care (or at least to care at the correct level). Like, he was a drug dealer when this started which is already not ideal. He caused a huge mess and then just bounced without trying to help fix it. He thought that a week was enough time for human casualties to be water under the bridge. Frankly, not considering the nuclear option and just having to figure out if killing him is something the group is willing to do on the fly would be the more irresponsible option.

And not including Pete in the discussion would bother me more if he hadn’t openly blown off every serious discussion people have tried to have with him so far. If he’s not going to take things seriously, it makes sense they don’t invite him to the serious discussions.

The version of this story where Pete accidentally gets a bunch of people killed, finds out what he did, cries about it for a full day, and then finds out they’re talking about possibly killing him is a story where Pete is more sympathetic imo. But still, finding out that people talked about killing you under any circumstances has got to be rough.

IMO, the order of things that should be done right now are (1) putting magical training wheels on Pete, (2a) getting Pete trained or his powers transferred if it’s possible/he wants out, (2b) either way, getting Pete into therapy (like, he needed therapy before he got magic. now it’s just a matter of life and death–besides just his own), (3) talking to Pete again about the stakes and telling him point blank but not in while heated that there’s the possibility of a scenario where his powers go out of control and you have to understand that at that point it’s a matter of saving as many lives as possible. Like, Kingston can say, with conviction, “If I go rogue, you should do the same to me.” They’re in the same boat. Kingston’s just been rowing longer. Well, similar boats anyway. I imagine the Vox Populi powers are less inherently chaotic. And maybe the knowledge that a nuclear option is on the table would make Pete not want the job or want him to have his powers muted or something. Cool. Then you have that discussion at that point. Just, these are the conversations that need to happen. And maybe his own mortality will be the thing that helps get Pete’s head in the game.

What jewel did Ale take out of his pocket during this conversation? Taking note of that. (Juul, not jewel. Duh. Thx thethief )

Pete gets in touch w/ Alejandro’s granddaughters who tell him that Alejandro’s still pretty pissed (which is surprising to Pete but like, bro. People died). Then, Robert shows up to sweet talk Pete and show him the video (that he somehow has) of Kingston talking at the Pete Meeting. When I was watching this the first time I was like, “How long before this blows up in their face–oh, almost immediately. Cool.”

He takes Pete to his vampire nightclub and hits him with Pete’s own “I didn’t create the demand” line that you just know Brennan put a pin in to hit Pete with that Uno Reverse card.

Robert tries to get Pete to summon Nod and then just does it forcibly with some kind of blood magic when Pete is hesitant. Pete wild magic surges, kills a bunch of vamps, and Nod (super injured by being in the waking world) teleports them both to the subway.

The group (including Alejandro) meets them there so they can catch the L train to Nod but Epona shows up. And you already know from Fantasy High that Brennan is on the ACAB train (or is that AFCAB?). Epona is now wearing a crooked badge–crooked badge for a crooked cop. She wants Nod. No can do. The gang gets ready to–to quote Mr. Cubby-make some bacon while Alejandro tries to cast a spell to summon a train to Nod (the place not the person).

So I’ll see y’all next time (whenever that is) for some subway fighting and some backstory unlocking!

#asks #bbistrashbutwhatevs #dimension 20 #the unsleeping city #d20

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motherhen-bear · 7 years

Text

Critical Role Relationship Week: Day 6 - Kashaw & Shaun Gilmore “A Sweet Torture”

Kashaw moved his chin from resting in his left palm to his right, fighting back a yawn as the time difference between Whitestone and Vasselheim continued to fuck with him.

Vox Machina could kiss his ass, the ungrateful shits.

Life was weird sometimes. Instead of walking the path of the solitary man, he now sat at a long table beneath a castle with a fucking floating orb of death less than a hundred feet away, amongst reigning Ladies, Arcanists, Wizards, and Sorcerers, members of the Council of Emon, Paladins of Bahamut, and Spy Masters. He sat there, Zahra to his right, and tried not to look like he'd rather be anywhere else, as everyone planned for whatever shit show lay ahead. If the smirks the purple-garbed sorcerer with the impressive goatee was giving him were anything to go by, he wasn't doing a very good job.

After another hour or so, Cassandra finally dismissed them. Kashaw winced as he stood, his body still sore from the trip, but when Zahra reached out a hand to steady him, he waved her off.

"I'm alright, Z, don't worry," he promised.

"I always worry, darling. You won't get me to stop as easily as that," the red tiefling teased, tapping his nose with one clawed finger. "How about we get some dinner?"

Kashaw shook his head and, at her side, began the trek out of the Ziggurat. "As tempting as that sounds, I have a feeling I'm more likely to fall in my food than eat it. Think I'll just head back to the barracks and get some sleep."

"Want me to go with you?" she offered as they began ascending the stairs back up to the castle's main floor. "It's getting dark out. We wouldn't want you getting lost now."

The human cleric rolled his eyes, "I think I can manage it."

Zahra smiled, "I have the utmost faith in you," she said and after giving him a quick peck on the cheek, sauntered off.

Kashaw watched her go and then glanced around. Most of the others that had been at the meeting had already separated to go about their own business - only Allura, Drake, Kima, and the old, crusty wizard had stayed back below when the rest had scattered. Kashaw looked about the fancy main hall with its towering ceiling, climbing pillars, and tapestries hanging off the wall adorned with a sun-and-keep design. The room broke out into at least six different directions on this floor and had at least two main winding staircases leading up into what he was sure would be a dozen more doors and corridors. Bypassing them all, he headed to the main entrance and looked down over Whitestone where the city was already alight with the evening lamps.

"Right," he muttered to himself. "So was it three lefts and a right, or one left and three rights?" and he headed down the stone steps into the city.

An hour later, the cleric was ready to take a page out of the big man's book and start smashing. There were too many damn buildings filling up space, too many damn streets that led to other streets, and he was taking too many damn turns at that damn giant tree in the center of the damn town. It was really starting to get dark now and Kashaw had a sinking suspicion he wasn't anywhere closer to the barracks than he'd been when he'd started. There wasn't much choice - he was going to have to ask for directions.

Swallowing his pride, he picked one of the modest, yet well-put-together homes at random, walked up and knocked on the door. After a few moments, the door opened and there standing in the light extending from the interior stood a familiar-looking man with dark sun-kissed skin, long dark hair and a braided goatee, dressed in purple evening robes and holding a steaming cup of what appeared to be tea in one hand.

"Well well, Kashaw Vesh gracing my doorstep. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

Shaun Gilmore stood before him, looking rather bemused, but also adapting to the situation with his regular grandeur. Kashaw hadn't many, if any, real one-on-one interactions with the sorcerer beyond general introductions upon his arrival and the odd meeting between Vox Machina's Whitestone allies, but even someone who'd had only the briefest of meetings with the man would find Gilmore very hard to forget.

"I was really just picking doors at random, didn't mean to disturb you."

Gilmore's smile, beyond comprehension, actually grew wider. "Well then, this night is certainly a fortuitous one if it has gifted me with a rare sighting of the mysterious and ever-brooding Kashaw the recluse."

Kashaw just stared at him. "Yeah, lucky you."

He knew he was being rude, but it wasn't intentional, not really. Zahra had told him once that he was something of an "acquired taste," and that if he smiled a bit more others might "enjoy the flavor". However changing an entire demeanor, one that he'd built up ever since the day he'd discovered that the deity his mother told him he was destined to marry was actually a life-sucking enigma of darkness and pain, was not exactly as easy as changing what he wanted for breakfast.

To Gilmore's credit though, he didn't seem offended. More like amused as if he had just stumbled upon an interesting sideshow performance or an unconventional use for health potions. Whatever his thoughts, he turned around and reentered his lodgings, motioning behind him for Kashaw to follow. After a moment of lingering oddly in the doorway, he followed the other man inside and shut the door behind him.

Without a word, the sorcerer led to the kitchen-slash-dining room and motioned for him to take a seat at the table before moving to the counter where a kettle sat, steam rising from the tip. He refilled his cup.

Kashaw stood awkwardly in the center of the room before addressing the man that had his back to him. "Really, I was just looking to get some directions to the barracks. I don't need any tea."

Gilmore snapped his fingers and a teacup, saucer, and spoon magically floated off the shelf and into the cleric's hands.

"Nonsense," he replied, turning around and taking a seat himself as the kettle floated after him. "It's been too long since I had a guest for more than a minute or two and I intend to take advantage of it. Also, and pardon the intrusiveness my friend, you look like you could use a cup of tea more than most dragons could use a good slaying." He waved his hand again and the chair opposite him pulled out from the table. "Come! Sit for a spell and then I'll be sure to send you on your way."

Reluctantly, Kashaw took a seat and held out the cup for the enchanted kettle to fill. Taking a sip, he held back a slight grin as the refreshing flavor spilled over his tongue.

“So, how was your visit with the iron-asses and zealot-types?” Gilmore asked after a few minutes, throwing a wrench into the surprisingly comfortable silence.

Kashaw felt a vein in his head begin to pulse. “Oh, great. Y’know,” he bit out, words like acid on his tongue. “Only took me a goddamn week to pretty much sell myself to the Huntmaster for two insanely expensive contracts, and then come back through the frozen wasteland to find out, ‘oh hey, yeah so we don’t actually need those anymore, thanks anyway!’ Yeah, it was fucking fantastic.”

“I heard,” Gilmore smiled sympathetically. “Our intrepid adventurers aren’t exactly known for their patience. Or planning.” He took another sip before continuing. “Still, I’m sure they do appreciate your efforts.”

“What, like they do yours?” Kashaw spit out and proceeded to seethe, while the other man just looked at him awhile.

He felt bad for saying it. He did. It wasn’t kind and it wasn’t necessary, especially for someone like Gilmore, who had been busting his ass alongside Allura to keep the city off the map. Compared to them, Kashaw really hadn’t lost a whole lot, even if time was a rare commodity these days, but dammit that could have been a week spent healing in the medical tent, a week training recruits to have at least a fraction of a chance if the inevitable should happen and the dragons shifted their attention north. A week spent with one tiefling over another.

As if reading his mind, and who knows maybe he was, Gilmore put down his tea and leaned on the arm of his chair, “Time is a precious thing, especially when the days are measured by long you go without hearing the beating of leathery wings or seeing dragon fire on the horizon. For those left waiting for the shoe to drop, it’s agonizing, but for those actively racing against the clock… it must be a living hell.”

He smiled then, a bit sad, but still warm. “The latter clings to the things that bring them comfort – love, friendship, or even just reliability. Sometimes all three. Sometimes all three in one person.”

Kashaw huffed a breath, “Not really fair.”

Gilmore chuckled, “No, perhaps not. Tell me though,” and he leaned towards him, “Isn’t it interesting to know that not one, not two, but seven people if not more believe you to be one of the few who absolutely will survive?”

The cleric stared into his tea, the scent filling his nostrils with warm, slightly sweet steam.

In his life, Kashaw had spent a good portion of it intentionally trying not to make friends. Being the only living cleric to a vengeful Goddess of evil and despair didn't usually endear him to very many. Being her husband didn't typically score him very many points either.

So, he felt it was in everybody's best interests to keep himself separate, go where he was needed or where his fancy struck him, and just get by without having to deal with the messy bits that liking people typically came with.

Of course, that was before.

Before he'd been recruited into training hopeless, would-be soldiers in a city he'd only just arrived in. Before he reached out to a force he loathed and a half-elf started breathing again under his hands. Before he met Z and for the first time, actually started to think there was something to this whole "emotional ties" thing. Before dragons came crashing out of Gods-knows-where and began setting the world on fire. Before he met the most crazy-ass, ridiculous family he'd ever seen, helped kill a giant cat demon to clear up a debt, and kissed a very pretty and babbling druid before walking off into the sunset, secretly hoping he'd see them all again.

Before he actually started to give a damn.

Kashaw let out a long sigh, rubbing his hand over his face. “Giving a damn really sucks, doesn’t it?”

Gilmore chuckled and leaned back in his seat, picking up his tea from its saucer. “Oh yes, my friend. It really does.”

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