#widobecke
Text
It frustrates me that a good chunk of the fandom just completely doesn’t understand Astrid or her relationship with Caleb. They are a formative part of him and it’s clear in the campaign that they both still care quite a lot about each other.
Caleb mentioned this campaign that he has a “friend” in the Assembly. This friend is clearly Astrid and it seems obvious to me that they talk as often as they can while Astrid is in hiding. This may not be the case, but it seems likely considering the current evidence. It seems like he also helped them get this hiding place.
He’s also often used friend in the Zemnian way, where there is only context to reveal if they are platonic or romantic. He’s done this for Astrid, Wulf, AND Essek.
It’s possible for Caleb to have feelings for multiple people. Astrid is not a “threat” to Essek in regards to Caleb because they each know him in different, polyamorous ways. He loves them both in different ways because they are different people, though they do have a lot of similarities.
I’m almost 100% certain that the “Bren sends his regards” was not a threat or anything negative.
Caleb has certainly told Essek about everything by now. He still responds to Bren, he doesn’t hate it. It’s not his deadname, he just chose to continue life as Caleb Widogast.
In Essek saying Bren to Astrid, he was trying to tell her that HE is safe. That SHE is safe with him. He only has the Hells attempt to detain her because he knew that she would freak out, because Caleb knows she’d freak out because he knows how much danger she is in from Ludinus.
TLDR; Astrid and Essek can both be important to Caleb because Caleb is poly and both are extremely important to him.
#critical role#critical role spoilers#cr3#bells hells#essek thelyss#bren aldric ermendrud#caleb widogast#shadowgast#widobecke
267 notes
·
View notes
Photo
BLUMENDREI
#critical role#talks machina#blumendrei#blumentrio#caleb widogast#astrid beck#eadwulf grieve#widogrieve#widobeck#cr gifs
4K notes
·
View notes
Text
"Just know there are eyes on you"
Hey so the acting in this scene was INSANE right! This may be one of my new favourite episodes yet! ;u;
#critical role fanart#critical role#widobeck#caleb widogast#astrid beck#listen i wanted to draw the lesbianstoo but theres only sm time in a week#ill draw them more later !!#also i tagged matt and liam on twitter i hooopppee that's not like ANNOYING to them idk how toact on twitter#i rly drew this bc i was like#uknow#if iwas famous dnd player and my fake ex gf npc didnt get neerly enough recognitiondespite being played by one of the most legendary dms eve#and her story was rly complex and cool#id want art ofit ya know#but thats just me#so#i kinda drew this w the intention of it being a gift but like also im but a smol artiste on the internet so#a little nervous ngl#my art#ijust love astrid smu guys i think shes so neat
2K notes
·
View notes
Text
A New Seed
Characters: Astrid Beck, Luc Brenatto, Caleb Widogast
------
A flash in her periphery is her only warning before a crossbow bolt appears out of nowhere. Just in time, Astrid flings up her shield, a follow up spell dancing on her finger tips, every sense alert.
Had they been found? Where there others? Who had-
"Wow, that was so cool!"
The high chirp sounds from her right, and half hidden in the leaves, she spots the head of the small halfling boy.
With a soft curse, Astrid lets the disintegrate spell fizzle.
"I can see you, you know," she snaps angrily. She ignores the responding "aww" with a roll of her eyes, and forces her quickened breath back under control. No child in Blumenthal would have been able to get away with such behaviour.
She sighs and leans back against the tree, idly spinning her dagger in her hand. The muscles of her underarm are tense, the unreleased arcane energy crackling through the crystals. Sure, the child might have been harmless, but another Volstrucker could sneak up at any moment. She wouldn't put it past her late master to have prepared a fail-safe, and given her fellow Volstrucker orders in case Bren proved more than they could handle. Master Ikithon always had a plan. He should not be underestimated, even with his hands bound and his voice silenced.
The dagger is light as it dances between her fingers. The aasimar protecting Ikithon would not be able to stop her if she forced her way inside. Only Caleb's soft but persistent whisper had stayed her hand thus far. But as she dragged up years and years of pain for her testimony, killing the source of her anger became harder and harder to resist.
She clenches her hand around the hilt, her knuckles turning white. One tiny cut and the world would be rid of him forever. He had taught her well. If she positioned it just beneath the collar, she could-
"Can you teach me that?"
Astrid flinches. The kid is standing in front of her, his wide gaze trained on the dagger.
"Mom only showed me how to shoot," the kid pouts, shifting from one foot to the other, his toy crossbow hanging limply in his little fist.
Astrid runs her hand through her hair and glances around. Sadly, there are no other adults are in sight to distract him.
"Has your Mom even used a dagger?" she huffs.
The boy nods eagerly, voice filled with awe.
"Mom had a dagger, but it was cursed! It ate her alive, and she almost died!"
Astrid grunts non-committally. It is hard to tell if the boy is telling the truth, but the story seems in line with the Mighty Nein's shenanigans.
"Have you ever fought a monster?"
Astrid blinks at the change of topic. Involuntarily, her mind flashes to the man locked inside the house. She pushes the thought away and rakes her memory for a suitable situation as the kids keeps staring up at her.
"I fought an ogre once," she admits.
The kid frowns.
"What's an ogre?"
"A very big man."
His face falls in disappointment.
"But my Mom has fought many of those," he whines. "That's boring!"
"Well, was your Mom only seventee-"
Astrid snaps her mouth shut, cutting off her own indignant retort.
What is she doing? Feeling upset that a four year old does not deign her monster 'cool' enough? It had been her first real mission, and she and Wulf had won through a clever use of a lightning bolt, which had triggered an avalanche. But she is a Volstrucker. They do not argue with children.
A tiny hand pats her own.
"Don't worry," the boy chirps. "You'll fight cool monsters someday too!"
Before she can reply, he darts away. As she stares after him, dumbfounded, she almost misses Caleb, who is approaching with two bowls. He glances at the boy and back at her.
"He likes you," he mutters with a soft smile.
Astrid shrugs, and for a second Caleb stares down at her.
"Ehm, Caduceus has made us some food. If you want."
Tentatively, he hands her the bowl, pointedly ignoring the dagger. Astrid slips it back into its sheath, refusing to feel self conscious, and takes the bowl.
"Danke," she mutters. The food smells good, as always. Caleb sinks down into the grass next to her, and she takes a tentative bite from what looks like to be an aubergine.
"You are good," Caleb says after a moment of silence. "With him"
Astrid raises an eyebrow and Caleb shrugs.
"You did not scare him away," he amends.
Astrid scoffs.
"You did not teach him proper fear."
Caleb chuckles. "Ja, that is true. He is a menace."
They both pick at their food, both glancing everywhere but at each other, until Astrid can't take the silence any more.
"Why are we here?" she blurts out.
He frowns, turning towards her. "You know why-"
"Not that. Why are we here?"
She gestures at the Grove. Down near the patch of destroyed plants, Wulf is holding a shovel, accompanied by the drow. The drow is wearing colourful mittens. Wulf is wearing a straw hat. Trent Ikithon is locked inside the house, being spoon-fed by a firbolg.
"This is ridiculous."
It comes out as a whine. A plea. Pathetic, she thinks, but she can't stop tears burning behind her eyes.
The firbolg has joined Wulf and the drow, holding flowers to replace the ones that died.
"Ridiculous, yes," Caleb mutters, following her gaze. "But that is life."
But Caleb's expression is not one of happiness. He looks at them with wistful longing and apprehension, and Astrid wants to scream. Because if he does not understand this, he who crashed back into her life, disrupting everything - if he can't show her what she is supposed to do, then how can she deal with it on her own?
Be Bren! she wants to yell at him. Be the boy who made me laugh. Who held me during the night and who kissed me until we were both breathless. Be the boy who was happy.
Instead, his voice stutters as he recounts Ikithon's experiments. Instead, he buries his head in the halfling's shoulder, whole body shaking. Instead, his gaze lingers on the drow, uncertain and prepared for disappointment.
Astrid takes a shuddering breath. Ikithon would have berated her for showing even a little emotion. Instead, she feels a brush against her palm as Caleb slips his hand in hers. He is watching her again, gauging her reaction.
She thinks of pulling away. They can't be what they were, the three of them. Too much has changed. Too much is steeped in regret. But she is so tired. And is she not allowed this one little comfort? So she rests back against the tree and closes her eyes, one hand clutching her waist and the other clenched in Caleb's.
Their fingers are still entwined when Jester bounces towards them to summon them for dinner. Caleb stands first, but before she can miss his touch, he holds out his hand to her with a small smile.
She swallows, before letting him pull her to her feet. He keeps holding on as they are submerged in the whirlwind that is the Mighty Nein, and they sit next to each other during dinner, Wulf having joined on her other side.
As the sounds wash over her, Astrid finally relaxes. The group is loud and overwhelming, but their clamour drowns out the sceptical voice inside her head. The expositor nods at her from across the table, expression serious. The halfing woman is recounting another one of their adventures to her awestruck child and exasperated husband.
"Astrid, I made my hair look like yours!"
Jester grins at her.
"Sehr schön," Astrid answers.
"Caleb, was that good? I assume it is good!"
"Ja, it was."
Astrid shakes her head as Jester turns her attention to the half-orc. Caleb squeezes her hand, and with a huff, she meets his small smile with her own.
It won't be the same as before. But maybe, with Ikithon truly locked away, they could plant something new.
#critical role#blumendrei#blumentrio#astrid x caleb#widobeck#widostrid#astrid beck#caleb widogast#luc brenatto#my fic#first CR fic!!#and of course it is going to blumentrio angst#shadowgast#mentioned#I have caught the FEELINGS you all
63 notes
·
View notes
Text
Astrid was HAPPY but SURPRISED to have Bren/caleb come back into her life.
I am curious about the surprise specifically. And think that’s why she’s helping him. Let me explain.
The first time she saw him, when he came to her alone, I believe she was thinking that he had moved on in a sense. Like, ‘he’s going to just leave again and pursue his own interests. I miss what we were to each other but he has moved on while Wulf and I are stuck here under Trent. It doesn’t make sense for him to want to come back to this.”
but then Caleb came back. He agreed to dinner with them and Trent. She saw him and his family not be under trent’s thumb, and actively subverted what he tries to do to manipulate caleb. And I think that made her want even more to be out from under Trent’s thumb, and perhaps this instance began a shift in her perspective. “Race you to the top” vs “he’s an old man and eventually, he will die.” Something to wait for becomes something to race towards. And I do agree she has her own goals, she likely wants a spot on the assembly or some other seat of power, but I do think she has a strong motivation to get out from under Trent’s control. Maybe that is even her STRONGEST motivation.
Then Caleb comes back AGAIN, after it is presumed the Nein took down Vess in some capacity when he reached out to her specifically, she said, knowing he is being watched, THANK YOU and came to him and followed through when he asked.
Basically, she sees him doing BOLD things in the face of The Assembly and Trent- things that SURPRISE her- and I think her seeing him and his friends make these bold moves inspires her to do the same. Sure, she’ll go behind Trent’s back to get the Sanitorium’s plans, sure, she’ll warn the Nein that Trent is on his way to chase them.
Bren got himself out from under Trent’s thumb. Maybe he’s showing her and Wulf how to as well.
#astrid beck#idk if this is eloquent at all i just am thinking that there is definitely background changes happening in astrid#bren aldric ermendrud#brenstrid#widobeck#Caleb widogast#blumentrio#not really do to with wulf so im not gonna tag him#trent ikithon#that is a content warning#talks machina#talks machina spoilers#cr2#tm9
66 notes
·
View notes
Text
Also, for the record, I am NEVER NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR LOST LOVES RECONNECTING. NEVER. OVER MY DEAD BODY, I SAY!
I acknowledge all the problematic nuances and perspectives surrounding the reconnecting between The Gentleman and Mrs. Lavorre and all I have to say is I Agree To Terms and I Wish To Continue ☑ .
BRING ME THE PARENT TRAP!
#if you're here then you know what this is all about baby#the gentleman#marion lavorre#(also thinking about changing the tags I use like brenstrid/astrigast officially to widobeck from now on because it seems it's catching)#(I saw it first in RuViGaPo's art and I love it tbh if more people are going to join in then LET'S GET TO IT!)#critical role#cr spoilers#c2e129
49 notes
·
View notes
Text
Blumendrei Ship Week // April 5 - 11 2021
Happy Thursday! The Blumendrei Discord is organizing to celebrate our favourite wizard polycule from Critical Role with a series of prompts:
• Monday, April 5th: Dance // Tyrant
• Tuesday, April 6th: Flower // Redemption
• Wednesday, April 7th: Memories // Flame
• Thursday, April 8th: Vice // Wish
• Friday, April 9th: Scars // Home
• Saturday, April 10th: Recover // Secret
• Sunday, April 11th: Time // Hands
If you wish to participate, all you need to do is tag your posts with #blumendreiweek on Tumblr and Twitter. We look forward to reblogging your work!
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
Seen some stuff about Astrid being problematic in the same breath as praising Essek. I know media literacy is tough, but let’s examine.
How is Astrid problematic and Essek isn’t? They both are manipulative when it’s called for. Both are capable of lying, killing, and other untold horrors. Both are incredibly powerful.
One has had a lonely by choice and privileged life as the weird but useful son of the head of a Den.
One has had their identity stripped from them in a way that combines the worst of cults and the military. Tortured, experimented on, changed in ways we don’t even know the extent of.
One has had the pressure of his Den, his mother, his father, his brother, his whole community pressing on him his whole life. He stepped up into the air and took the weight as if it was effortless. He focused his life on study because it was the only thing that gave him worth in this society and it was genuinely what he enjoyed, whatever enjoyment was for him then. He had access to materials, books, almost anything.
One has had the pressure of her community, her background, in her face as she tried to beat the odds. The expectations for her were nothing, but she said fuck that. She studied with nothing, clawed her way into the venerated halls of higher magic learning. She does everything for the Empire, for Trent. She wants success for herself, because that is what gets her approval, keeps her safe.
One is in a position of power in his society. He has the ability to pull strings. He doesn’t think about how his actions impact his community or really anything besides himself. Sure maybe he wants to find something to impair the religion in the region, but it feels like even that starts out as a quest to prove himself right. His life is largely his own, despite the derision of some.
One is continuously tortured, tested, forced to PROVE herself. Cut her hair, stomp out any resistance to her mentor through any means necessary. Find some solace in their two peers. Made to kill their family to prove themselves based on a lie. She is conditioned to fight because who else will protect her country in the dirty, dark ways she has to? She is trying to salvage her sacrifices into a purpose. Bren is one of those sacrifices.
One kills indiscriminately if they get in his way. The man the Nein dropped off at the peace talks? I still remember how sad it was as he tried to piece together his broken mind, a mind Essek broke to save himself.
One kills for their country. Follows orders, kills when they find it necessary to protect those who cannot protect themselves. This is what she believes.
One GAVE AWAY a powerful religious artifact to HIS PEOPLE’S ENEMY. The intent was purely selfish curiosity.
One helped protect and study that artifact to PROTECT her country. The intent is curiosity to assist in her job, protect her country.
One finds the strength to allow himself to be loved and have friends after years of solitude. Because he just never was so fully loved. He finds the strength to let the ultimate time travel power and the knowledge that he was right go. To become comfortable with time he has left.
One finds the strength to listen to one of the only real, genuine relationships she’s ever had. Her first love. A reminder of her younger, hopeful self. She changes. She realizes the lies she’s allowed herself to believe. She finds the strength to not kill her torturer just to kill him. She finds the strength to testify. To promise that no other kids will suffer. Justice. To become comfortable with the time she has left.
One is a he.
One is a she/they.
I wonder what the issue is.
These characters are two sides of the same coin. They are both INCREDIBLY WELL THOUGHT OUT characters. They are more than just paramours of Caleb Widogast.
#critical role#critical role spoilers#cr2#cr3#astrid becke#essek thelyss#caleb widogast#shadowgast#widobecke#character analysis
68 notes
·
View notes
Text
White cat named Prudence, huh Astrid? Who had a white fluffy cat last hmmmm? HMMMM?!!
I see you. I SEE YOU!!! You Bren simp, you.
Also though:
Prudence
pru·dence
1: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
2: sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
3: skill and good judgment in the use of resources
4: caution or circumspection as to danger or risk
I see you too Matthew. Perfect characterization in the smallest way. Fucking masterful.
46 notes
·
View notes
Note
1 & 5 for the artist ask meme! :D
Oh man hmmm...
* b u f f e r i n g *
Okay but it's Gotta be this tho right?? Like.. hello shoujo anime
I will say tho like.. im still soft for these two:
Like im just proud of them?? And the tension in those few eps was rly juicy and i was all about it tbh
It was a good time.
Murder and all.
1. Earrings! Earrings go wiggle.
2. That half burned candle in Essek's room at the outpost. I think one person clocked the implication of Essek lighting a candle in the arctic bc he is Yearning.
#assume if i draw essek and fire that he is yearning#it is symbolism#muffin rambles#shadowgast#widobeck#essek thelyss#ask a muffin#critical role fanart#ALSO THANKS FOR ASKING UR THE REAL MVP
50 notes
·
View notes
Text
*thinks about how liam said in talks yesterday TWICE that the 9th level represents hope and possibility for the future and how that parallels with how he told essek he does not trust him but he does hope for him, and also how the 9th level, like beau said, is a contrasting parallel to memory and the past, and how he asked aloud to himself in Astrid’s room if he can trust her or not, because he knows his past love and fondness for her might be coloring his point of view AND how many complicated feelings Caleb must be feeling is right now and how he probably does not want to be having bc right now, as liam said, he is in improv mode and having to put his personal goals aside for the benefit of goals that are larger than his and how expanding his worldview is something that veth taught him to do and how, as liam said, he is feeling guilty that he is looking back and wishing for simpler times and how that validated SO MUCH of how i see his relationship with ‘Nott’ Veth bc he feels weird about his relationship with her ever since he learned she is a wife and mother and how they acted together was, like, as each other’s person, but Veth had people she was trying to get back to and Caleb’s growth involves accepting that he CAN’T go back to the people he wants to (especially his parents) and how Caleb is dealing with ALL OF THIS OUTSIDE OF HIS CONTROL and HE LIKES BEING IN CONTROL. AND I JUST LOVE ALL OF THE LAYERS OF CALEB BC HIS PATH IS ABOUT BROADENING HIS GOALS IN A WAY THAT HAS MOVED HIM FROM LAWFUL EVIL TO TRUE NEUTRAL AND NOW APPROACHING CHAOTIC GOOD AND i LOVE HOW HE IS PORTRAYING THAT WHILE STILL BEING TRAMATISED AND AFFECTED BY HIS PAST HE IS STILL BECOMING A FORCE FOR GOOD*
#Caleb widogast#widobeck#shadowgast#qpr widobrave#maintagging this bc i am letting chaos reign#critical role#empire siblings#wall of text#i just CARE A LOT ABOUT CALEB OKAY#HONESTLY feel like he's going to jump off a cliff and turn into a goldfish sometime soon#i explore a lot of this in the thing i've been calling my caleb essay#so this is a sneak peak into that i guess?#lmao i've been NO ONE UNDERSTAAAAANNNNDDDDSSS CAAAAALLLLEEEEEBB#for like the past 24 hours since the disked horse started#but hey it broke my hyperfocus away from crochet and back onto this? for now at least#i do wish the disk horse was not happening tho bc im just SO EXCITED every time we learn more about caleb bc i am 100000 percent here for it#it being whatever and however liam is choosing to portray caleb :3#and im just so validated every time liam has been on talks bc i'm like 'yup that checks out with my understanding of Caleb'#sorry to those who don't like liam's choices but im different#cr2#brenstrid#astrid beck#essek thelyss#veth brenotto
87 notes
·
View notes
Text
he. wants to... dance. with astrid. rip me
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
“the pretense” fjadklafjsdlfj caleb lying to yourself about your feelings you JUST said you still care about her
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
...
#one thing i am kinda :/ about with the bi maelstrom thing is#i've seen more than one post that just completely ignores caleb's feelings for jester in them#and it's weird bc i don't even ship it??? like i don't think jester has any romantic feelings for caleb#i think she does love caleb and cares for him a lot#and this is me thinking as im writing just as a disclaimer#i think maybe#i feel like it's a kind of#it has to be mutual otherwise it doesn't count#attitude?#which.... i don't like that#caleb's feelings are important regardless of jester returning them#in the same way#and i think.... caleb gets that#he doesn't need jester to return his feelings#he knows she loves fjord#and like.... his self hatred is what prevented him from expressing his feelings#but like.... i think it's important that he knows that he has them#especially for her#even tho i ship widobeck and shadowgast and blumentrio and widowulf and support caleb having a recovering evil wizard polycule#there just something that bothers me about caleb's feelings for jester being dismissed#like.... those feelings are important to his character in a way i can't quite articulate#so it just makes me sad that they are ignored
4 notes
·
View notes
Note
I do think if it happens it will probably be very little in the actual campaign like pikelan, but I saw that he still cares is attracted and Imo once they actually have a long proper conversation about what they want things will flow. Him being attracted to all these people isn’t something that bothers me or anything
I see. I think I agree that I have more hope on her side. There’s a lot she can explain about all these years and the intentions behind her actions after Trent is out of the way that can rekindle something inside of him, but I think he’s too afraid to try it out with her with everything happening right now, so we’ll keep having only crumbs, haha.
He asked what she was up to before going to the Sanatorium anyway, right?, so undoubtedly the littlest of hope still exists inside of him.
#there might be more ways it might play out#but all of astrid's silent actions have not been enough so#a proper conversation is our last hope#and those are the hardest to long for in this campaign because it very easily can simply not happen#I will still keep wishing at least for a formidable closure for astrid because she so deserves it#I just wish she got some love back too sometimes#widobeck#talks machina#ask
2 notes
·
View notes
Note
Sam our captain lol
Not the hero we deserve but the hero we NEED!
#ask#here's how widobeck can still win: *shows picture of deranged hollywood d&d player celebrity*#widobeck#I've decided I'm going to start calling them that now lol#well at least it clarifies that we aren't making shit up at least right?#liam o'brien I trusted you (not that much actually)#talks machina
1 note
·
View note
Last Seen Blogs
unabashedmusicblizzard
Sem título
inky-hawke-warden
Anders apologist? He's done nothing wrong
drycleanersindwarka-blog
Dry Cleaning Service In Dwarka
kk-htf
based and flippypilled
sadlovatic
тωσ ριєcєѕ †♥