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kai-writes-fan-fiction · 4 years ago

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In Hiding

Heyo friendos! It's me, Cay. This reader insert wasn't a request; it was more or less indulgent. I'm still taking requests, though, so please send them in! I'm thinking about making this a series; please leave a note if you're interested in seeing more! This was also written in the 2nd person. One last tidbit: I’d recommend listening to the songs mentioned in the story for effect, your choice tho!

Word count: 1029

Main pairings: Avengers x enhanced!fem!reader, and later on may change.

Synopsis: Reader is a shapeshifter, capable of almost anything. They've been running from Hydra, The Avengers, and the Government. What happens when the Avengers find the reader?

Warnings: Like 1 swear word, angst, fluff and more cursing in next chapters, really un-graphic violence

——————————

You had been hiding from everyone: the Avengers, HYDRA, and the Government. You were one of the last enhanced persons that hadn't been killed, captured, or recruited by the Avengers.

You were hiding out in a small flat in New York City. In it, you had the bare minimum, a couch, a laptop, a hot plate, and clothes for a week. Thanks to your powers, you didn't need much more. Being a shapeshifter, you could do almost anything, turn into anyone.

Lately, you'd been using your powers to shift into avengers and use their powers to your benefit.

See, the way that you worked was that when you shifted into a person, object, or animal, you gained their strength, appearance, and abilities. This came in handy when you needed to get food, you'd turn into a cute puppy and beg people, or you'd steal using Wanda's telekinesis.

Your hair and eyes were naturally bright blue, a result of your powers. When you shifted into anything with hair or eyes, it was also blue. When you shifted into an object, its surface was blue.

After a month or so of hiding in New York, you decided it was time to step up your game. You began planning bank heists and hacking into government files to completely remove yourself from the system. You were one of the greatest minds and most powerful beings the world would ever know, but no one knew of you.

After your first successful bank heist, you’d been noticed by the police. Watching the security footage from your theft, they became confused. Who was this teenaged girl already pulling bank robberies? Dumbfounded, the authorities decided they needed help from higher up. Dealing with enhanced individuals was tricky, and the most experienced would be the Avengers. The police sent the security footage, and now you were a wanted woman.

———————–——–

It had been three weeks, and you had a steady income. You'd been doing low-profile jobs for gangs, running drugs, and still robbing banks. Life was good. You were never hungry, you had clothes on your back, and the gangs you did jobs offered protection.

Back at your apartment after a particularly lengthy job, you decided to turn on music and take a nap.

Walking in and collapsing on your couch, you shifted into a cat to become more comfortable. Little did you know, someone had snuck into your apartment and was hiding behind your sofa.

The intruder jumped up in an attempt to grab you, but your keen feline senses alerted you. You jumped up, quickly shifting to your human form.

Tackling him, you took notice of his appearance. The intruder was… Spiderman? What was a hero doing breaking into your house?

“Hey!” He yelled, struggling under your knee, trapping him to the ground.

Eyes glowing blue and growling, you shifted into a blue wolf. Your appearance frightened the Spiderman, and he whimpered.

“Please don’t rip my head off!” He begged.

Your face contorted, and you sighed. Releasing the boy from your grip, you pushed him away. After standing and staring for a few seconds, you shifted into your human form and waved your hand, telling him to leave. He took the clue and ran out of your apartment and onto the fire escape. You watched him swing away.

You needed to leave. Now. The Avengers knew of you and your antics, or they wouldn't have sent anyone to try and capture you.

Quickly as you could, you packed up anything you could carry, but you were tired, and as a consequence, you were slow.

After ten minutes, you heard talking from outside.

“Here, kid?” Whispered a man.

“Yeah, here. She's a shapeshifter! Isn’t that cool, Mr. Stark?” Whispered an over-excited boy.

You recognized his voice quickly; it was Spiderman. And Mr. Stark? Like Tony Stark? The iron man was after you too!

“Pipe down underoos! They probably heard us!” Whisper-yelled Tony.

“S-s-sorry, Mr. Stark.” The boy stuttered.

“What's the plan?” A gravelly voice asked.

“Well, we don't want to kill her, and she's supposedly powerful, so I'm thinking sedation?” Another voice announces.

Sedation? They didn't have a plan. Sighing, you shifted into a blue iron man suit in hopes of confusing them. You sat on your sofa and waited patiently for them to enter. You motioned to your self-built speaker, which was motion activated. It began blasting bass boosted Frank Ocean.

Conversation on your fire escape went silent.

“They know we’re here. Shit.” Said a feminine voice.

“What now?” Asked Spiderman.

“We attack.” Said another voice before seven Avengers swiftly entered your apartment.

You grinned. This was going to be easy. They had sent Spiderman, Iron man, Captain America, Black Widow, The Winter Soldier, Vision, and, for some reason, Loki.

They all cocked their heads upon seeing the iron man suit on the couch.

“Uh- Tony? This yours?” Asked Captain America.

“Nope,” Tony says, confused.

You stand up, turn to the Avengers, and motion to your speaker to start playing your “fight playlist” because you knew someone would come for you eventually. “Wow.” by Post Malone, bass boosted, began blasting.

Grinning, you created clones of yourself, shifting them into the heroes standing in front of you. You stepped back, letting your clones have their fun.

——————————

After about 10 minutes of fighting, “Let Go” by Ark Patrol began playing. The trance-like feeling of the song drew you away from the fight. Your dustracted state gave Loki to create a clone of himself. Sneaking up behind you, he grabbed your neck and around your waist. His sudden movement and grip on your body paralyzed you, and your clones evaporated. The rest of the Avengers ran over to you and Loki. He must've been using magic, as you could no longer shift.

“Stop squirming.” He growled into your ear.

In return, you bit him. His clutch, however, was unwavering.

“I said to stop moving.” He hissed, his grip tightening.

He was choking you, and you were beginning to see stars. You lost and you'd been captured. The last thing saw before the world went black was the Avengers staring at you in awe and confusion.

Should I write a part 2? Maybe even make it into a longer series?

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excaive · 2 years ago

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You could have the worm tendrils like have like the bendable and changeable “pipe cleaner” design. Like the sparkly not awful fabric u mentioned but also hehe pipe cleaner esque maneuverability :)

Also hi cai, (DOES A LITTLE DANCE ON UR BLOG)

GOD UR LITERALLY SO RIGHT!!!

I was actually thinking about having the whole worm adjustable but I also like the Soft quality, so I could 100% get down with the tendrils being like u mentioned 💖💖

AND HI ASH (throws an earthworm on your blog and it also does a little dance)

#ask #<3

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mysteryshoptls · 3 years ago

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SSR Silver Halloween Personal Story: Part 1

"I should enjoy this to my heart's content"

Part 1 (Part 2) (Part 3)

[The Other Dimension – Sparkling Chamber]

Cater: A beautifully decorated venue and a table filled an abundance of various dishes…

Cater: I was able to get a bunch of picture-perfect photos～! The ghosts' Halloween party is the best ♪

Cater: Even better, I was able to take a video of Malleus-kun playing the pipe organ with such fervor.

Cater: I wonder what I should snap next～ Ah, I found Silver-kun! And what's this, he's being called to by a female ghost!!

Cater: I gotta zoom in and take a close-up pic of Silver-kun's prince-like smile! …Is what I would do but, did he just turn her down?

Cater: He's got a bit of a long face… When we were all dancing earlier, he was really into it, I wonder what happened.

Cater: Cay-kun loves a happy Halloween, so I'm a little worried… Alright.

Cater: Hey～ Silver-kun!

Silver: Cater-senpai. Is something the matter?

Cater: You had a bit of a depressed look, so I was wondering if maybe you had a stomach ache or something～

Cater: Right, Jamil-kun?

Jamil: ! So, you had noticed that I was behind you…

Silver: Jamil. Do you have business for me as well?

Jamil: You looked strangely absentminded, so I thought perhaps you had been possessed by a ghost again… so I was just checking in on you.

Jamil: But it seems like it was just a needless worry… Now that we know everyone is safe, did you lose all your energy and get sleepy?

Silver: It seems I caused you worries. Apologies. I am neither possessed nor sleepy.

Jamil: …Then that is fine. I was also wary of whether I had been a burden on you while we were traveling together.

Silver: There were many times that your knowledge and insight really helped us. I am grateful to you.

Silver: Thanks to you, we were able to reach Lilia-senpai and Malleus-sama.

Jamil: I didn't do anything special.

Cater: At one point I was wondering what all was going to happen, but… it's great that it ended up being a fun Halloween.

Silver: True. All this chatting, eating, and dancing… Each and every person seems to be having a good time.

Silver: I was just watching everyone from here. Now that we've confirmed that everyone is safe, I finally feel as though I'm at peace. However…

Jamil: Something is tugging at you?

Silver: Right as soon as I felt relief, I realized something. Something extremely terrifying happened today.

Cater: Absolutely. Halloween is an amazing event to capture, but having it never end is a little…

Silver: That's not it. I wasn't frightened of time stopping…

Silver: There may come a day where Fath… Lilia-senpai and Malleus-sama will disappear from my life without warning.

Silver: When the thought occurred to me… I was so scared that I couldn't do anything.

Silver: That's because I had never once thought that the day would come that I would part from those two.

Part 1 (Part 2) (Part 3)

Requested by Anonymous.

#twisted wonderland #twst #cater diamond #jamil viper #twst silver #twst cater #twst jamil #twst translation #twst halloween event #endless halloween night #mention: lilia #mention: malleus

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r1ch-ln4mst3r · 3 years ago

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im honestly kind of surprised by the constant discussion of china human rights abuses during the olympics. not that things should be excused, but it’s just super hypocritical coming from the us news media. today on the pbs newshour, they said “there will come a day when consumers will demand that their chinese coke bottles aren’t made with slave labor.” have people forgot that chiquita and nestle employ slave labor? also coke is a us company, so the fault is not entirely on the chinese governement... us oil companies and rare earth metals employ child soldiers. what about the prison slave labor used within us borders, where most of the prisoners are ethnic minorities, and where most of the prisoners will never see a trial or be officially convicted of a crime. if you shop at trader joes or whole foods, you are buying goods produced with ethnic minority prison slave labor.

then there is the question of chinese ethnic concentration camps. like the us ethnic concentration camps run by the immigration department to hold people who will never see a trial? some of which are concentration camps specifically dedicated for children and infants who are imprisoned by the us after their parents have been deported to another country. or what about the international concentration camps that the us runs in cuba, the middle east and africa, where the us will pay bounties for any and all new prisoners, which leads to random people being kidnapped and sold to the prisons for money, one of which was the MIT-educated leading neurosurgeon of iran.

then some people like to bring up tienamen square. like when the us military masacred college students on campus at kent state? or maybe even in the 2010’s when the campus police at university of california berkley lined up students on their knees and sprayed bear mace in their face at point blank.

again, the human rights abuses of the us does not mean that it’s excusable for other nations to do the same, but the hypocrisy is amazing.

i like the winter olympics for the snowboarding super pipe. im interested to see if chloe kim gives an interview about china human rights record. two of the greatest snowboarders of all time and x games medalists cai xeutong and liu jaiyu are chinese. most of the x games have taken place in the us. do athletes get these same questions about human rights abuses when they compete in the us? i’m honestly curious about this.

idk if i’m just getting older or if the news media is actually actively getting more facist every day. maybe a little bit of both.

#ref

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professorthaddeus · 4 years ago

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Out of Sight

This is a companion piece to @io-kj-cr‘s heartbreaking fic, Decisions, an AU of 2x128 where Caleb gives himself up to Trent. Would highly recommend checking it out!

also on ao3

——————————

They let him go.

The chips were down, they were out of options with enemies at the door, Mama and Yeza and little Luc were not going to be trapped in a building with Icky-thong, and in that moment of weakness, they let him go.

“Cad, what do you see?” Fjord, grim. Caduceus is standing at the one window in the room, chosen for his keen ability to read people to keep an eye on the exchange.

The exchange. They’re selling Caleb back to the grossest person in the Empire, to his literal lifelong tormentor, and they’re just sitting here like it’s nothing.

“They’re not hurting him. They’re just talking.” Caduceus’ voice rumbles in a steady cadence, ever the rock in the rapids. But Jester sees how his knuckles are clenched white around his staff.

“Is he… how does he look?”

Veth, piping up from the floor, clutching Caleb’s spellbooks to her chest. Yeza’s holding her, Luc sitting uncharacteristically still by their side. He’s got a book in his hands as well. Jester’s heart thuds painfully when she recognizes the title as a collection of Zemnian fairy tales.

“He’s standing tall.”

Of course he is. They’ve all seen Caleb file away his fears and stitch himself together in the moments that really count. They’ve also seen him shake apart immediately afterwards.

This time, none of them are going to be there to help him pick up the pieces.

“This doesn’t sit well with me,” Yasha says quietly, fingers twitching toward her swords.

“Yeah, no shit.” Beau, pacing, coiled like she’s ready to pounce. “This was such a bad plan. I say we go ahead and attack them now. They’re busy with Caleb, so we could absolutely ambush them in a pincer move, or—“

“They’re gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?” Beau rushes to the window, where Caduceus is stepping aside. He leans back against the wall, looking lost in a way Jester hasn’t seen since his first time on the sea.

“I mean he and his friends stepped into a portal and disappeared.”

Beau’s jaw tightens. “They’re not his friends.”

“I don’t know,” Fjord murmurs, though Jester knows he would definitely be fuming as well if Beau wasn’t so close to the edge right now. “They did warn us they were coming.” He holds up his hands when Beau shoots him a withering look. “It could be a good thing. They might help us get him back.”

“With or without their help, I wasn’t kidding when I said our next step was going to be a jailbreak,” she mutters.

“Agreed.”

Veth lets out a shaky breath. “And he’ll be okay until then. He just has to hold on for one night, and we’ll go get him. He’s the smartest, most capable of us all; he’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, he’s way more powerful than them,” Jester adds, automatic. Something twists in her chest.

“Sure, except he doesn’t even have his fucking spellbooks.”

For once, Veth flinches instead of snapping a retort back at Beau.

“You keep these safe for me until I return, ja?”

“I don’t like this, Cay. There has to be another way.” There’s a tremor in Veth’s hands as she takes the books.

“There isn’t, and we are running out of time. Besides, he won’t kill me. He… ah, he has said many times already he simply wishes to talk.”

Jester winces. It’s going to be a long time before she forgets the haunted look that appeared in Caleb’s eyes every time Trent’s voice slithered into his ear today.

“Be good for your mother and father,” Caleb’s saying, ruffling Luc’s hair.

He straightens to look at the rest of them, meeting their eyes one by one. Jester can almost hear him counting in his head.

A wall slams down over his expression as he squares his shoulders.

“I am so sorry about all this.” He continues before any of them can protest. “Thank you all.”

Jester tries not to think it sounds like a goodbye.

She shoves the image of Caleb’s pale, determined face out of her head, swallowing the building lump in her throat. The last thing she needs—the last thing Mama needs—is for her to break down right now.

“Well,” she hedges into the silence, “he’s got like, a really good memory, you guys. Maybe he doesn’t need them. Maybe he remembers all his spells.”

“I don’t—“ Beau starts, before taking a deep breath. Yasha’s hand is slipping into hers. She softens her tone. “I don’t think that’s how it works, Jes.”

“Oh.”

“Jester, I’m so sorry.” Mama speaks up from where she’s been sitting anxiously beside her. There’s so much regret in her face. “Your friend, he—”

“No, no, Mama, no.” She’s been so strong today, and Jester’s so, so proud of her for facing her fears, but she never should have been forced to do it. “This isn’t your fault at all. We brought them to you.”

Technically, she brought them here. Caleb can blame himself all he wants, but Jester’s the one who put a target on Nicodranas in that letter to Astrid all those months ago and the one who dropped Mama’s name into a conversation with an enemy guard just a few hours ago.

“Who… are they?”

“They’re, um.” Her voice wavers. She swallows again. “They’re bad people. Really, really bad people.”

“Oh, my Sapphire,” Mama hums, and it’s kind of crazy how those three words can sound like music from her lips. She reaches up to cup Jester’s cheek. “You and your friends are some of the most amazing people I’ve met. “And you,” she brushes her thumb gently across her skin, “are more creative than anyone in the world. You’ll find a way.”

Mama presses a kiss to the top of her head and then takes her hands. They’re smooth, warm. Jester looks down. Red and blue, just like when she was little, except now her hands can’t be fully covered by Mama’s. She’s grown up and stepped out of Mama’s arms and the sanctuary of their Chateau. Just like she always dreamed and plotted with Artie. It’s all she can do not to cry.

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right,” she manages, tries for a watery smile.

“Jester,” Yasha ventures gingerly. “Can’t you talk to him?”

She shakes her head, blinking away the blurriness. “Not until tomorrow. I don’t have the energy left to cast a spell.”

Caduceus clears his throat. “Good.” The rest of them look to him, startled. “Now there’s nothing to do but get some sleep so we’ll be ready for tomorrow. Mr. Wensforth, can you help us set something up for the night?”

The poor goblin looks up from where he’s been wringing his hands in the corner. Jester doesn’t blame him.

Man, Yussa’s gonna be super pissed when he wakes up to find so many people in his tower.

She can’t imagine how she’s supposed to fall asleep, but Caduceus makes her drink some tea, and eventually she feels the tension of the day seep into her bones. Before it claims her consciousness, she brings the symbol of the Traveler to her chest.

“Artie, look out for him, okay?”

———

In the morning, Beau and Caduceus wake her and the others, careful not to disturb Mama, Yeza, or Luc.

Jester tucks the blanket around Mama a little more securely before heading out.

They all cluster together in a smaller room off of one of the tower’s winding stairwells. Caduceus starts passing around breakfast, but she declines, sitting in the middle of the floor instead and prepping a familiar spell.

Fjord gives her an encouraging nod, holding ten fingers up at the ready.

She focuses on the image of her friend, on the furrow in his brow as he wields magic like a weapon, on the way his eyes crinkle when he offers one of his soft, rare smiles. She fires up Sending.

“Caleb! Are you alright? Where are you? Are you hurt? Are you in Rexxentrum? I’m sorry, I had to wait until today to Send to reach you but we’re—”

Fjord’s nudging her, signaling the end of the spell. Jester blows a strand of hair out of her face, tapping her fingers against her knee.

She waits five seconds, ten, a minute. No response.

She bites her lip. “You guys—”

Beau’s there already, tugging her into a hug as Fjord gives her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Veth lets out a muffled noise of frustration.

“He could just not be in a place where he can talk freely right now, we don’t know,” Caduceus says evenly.

“Maybe I should try Astrid?”

Beau shifts, but she doesn’t let go. “I dunno, man, I don’t trust her.”

“She loves Caleb,” Veth says, but again, none of her usual ferocity is there.

“Yeah, maybe.” Beau’s face darkens. “And now she has him back.”

Her words hang heavy in the air.

Jester shakes herself. “Look, fuck it, I’m just going to do it.” She takes a deep breath.

“Astrid,” she chirps. “Is Caleb with you? Tell him to talk to me when he can. Oh also, if any of you hurt him, we’re totally gonna find you and make sure you never—”

“That’s it, Jester.”

“You should send another one. Let her hear the end of your threat,” Yasha says, and Jester swears she can hear thunder roll beneath the mild suggestion.

Fjord cracks something resembling a smile. “As entertaining as that would be, I think—“

Jester shushes them as Astrid’s voice comes back.

Good morning, Jester. Bren is well and unharmed. He is here with us and under no restraints or compulsion. He is home now.

Jester growls.

“What did she say?”

“That Caleb’s okay and like, he’s home, or some total bullshit. She’s wrong, obviously.” She has to be. Jester ignores the building pressure in her chest, flicks her wrist to cast again.

“Please, tell me something, tell me anything, tell me you’re fine, or dead, but please, we need to hear from you, we need to plan our next moves and we can get you out of there as long as you just—” Fjord squeezes her hand. Stupid, stupid spell with stupid word limits.

Nothing on the other end anyway. Her eyes sting, and this time, Jester doesn’t try to stop the sob in her throat.

“I’ll keep messaging you, please Caleb, we’re scared and worried, please tell us where you are, we can fix this, we can get you back!”

Finally, finally, Caleb speaks.

I am well, Jester; returning was my decision, and I am unharmed.

He sounds so tired.

I need you all to stay away. Stay safe. I am sorry.

Silence once more.

Jester’s messages have reached across thousands of miles, over oceans and barren wastelands and enemy lines. This is the first time she’s felt the yawning distance the magic has to travel.

She swipes at her eyes, glaring through her tears.

She knows what he’s doing. It’s what he’s always done, protect and shield and give and give and give like it’s all he’s good for. But she’s also seen him start to unfurl, seen him laugh more and trust more and take one careful step after another out of the shadows of his past. He knows he’s part of their family. They just need to help him remember what that means.

“He said something,” Veth guesses.

“Something awful and self-sacrificing?” Beau mutters.

“Yeah.”

Jester pushes back her sleeves, and she can feel a breeze drift into the chamber, the rustle of a green cloak at her side.

“It doesn’t matter. We’re going to get him, now.”

#critical role #jester lavorre #caleb widogast #marion lavorre #beauregard lionett #veth brenatto #fjord #caduceus clay #yasha nydoorin #my writing #jester's pov was such a challenge to write omfg #also juggling 6+ characters in a scene for my first cr fic haha #any feedback is much appreciated as I find my footing w these characters #also a huge thank you to io-kj-cr for inspiring me and giving me permission to post this!#my ramblings #cr fic

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keeppushingme-bookboy · 4 years ago

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Here it is, my first CR fic! It's such a me move to finish my first CR fic the week the campaign ends. I am so happy to have this finished and really excited to get it out into the world. I hope you all enjoy!

All I Want is to Trust You

Word Count: 4278

Summary:

Essek and The Mighty Nein set off for Aeor and what could be their final adventure, but encounter an old "friend" on the way... Or, Ashley Johnson rolled another dragon.

Read on Ao3 or below the cut!

Luxon, it’s bright. Essek thinks for the third time in twenty minutes. The parasol Jester gifted him several weeks ago offers some relief from the sun above them, but the reflection off the snow is relentless. Even the others, with no naturally ingrained light sensitivity, squint at the glittering landscape around them. He had been doing his best to hide his discomfort throughout their travel. They have only been on the road for a few hours; he couldn’t let them question for even a moment that he couldn’t handle this, that they had made the wrong decision.

“Sunny day,” Caduceus remarks, and not for the first time Essek wonders if firbolgs can somehow read minds. “How’s that treating you?” the cleric nods towards the spiraling configuration of lace and silk casting inappropriately-shaped shadows over Essek’s form.

“Ah, it is doing well enough.” Essek offers a smile that feels a bit more like a grimace. “The glare can get a bit irritating. But I’ll be fine.”

Jester snorts out a laugh somewhere to his left. “What did your soldiers and stuff say when you used that at the outpost?”

“I, uh, have not had the need for it until we disembarked. I do not spend much time on the walls outside of brief inspections, which I usually do when the sun sets. But it is certainly coming in handy now.”

“Not that he would use it around his people anyway. Gotta keep up appearances, right, Shadowhand?” Beauregard calls over her shoulder from her position at the front of the pack with Yasha, packing an extra note of sarcasm into his title.

His mouth begins forming a retort, but a soft Zemnian voice cuts through from somewhere close behind him, “He has to command respect from his people, Beauregard. Not all of us can punch our way through a bureaucracy.”

Beauregard mumbles something that sounds vaguely insulting and turns her gaze back on the fractured and frozen landscape ahead of them. Essek looks over his shoulder at Caleb, shooting a brief but genuine smile before quickly turning to focus again on the snow several inches below his floating feet. Gotta keep up appearances, right? sneers once again through his mind, laced with mistrust and a wound still far too fresh. Another voice creeps in: Time. It takes time. He had meant that for Essek’s change, for his growth and healing, but he supposes it’s true for the rest of them as well. Choosing him for this journey is a good step in a lengthy process, but perhaps he can speed it up a bit. Time is one of his specialties, after all.

Taking a deep breath and bracing himself for the chill Essek glides gently down until his feet rest on the snow’s surface. It is much softer than he thought, and he sinks several inches further down with each step. He glances at some of the Mighty Nein around him, hoping he looks as though he is scanning the surroundings rather than watching for their reactions. Jester brightens and Fjord’s mouth quirks up at the edges. Caduceus’ easy smile widens for a moment. He will not turn around to look at Veth and Caleb, that would be far too obvious, and Beauregard and Yasha are too far ahead to have noticed so he is unsure of their reactions. But for a moment he allows himself to imagine Caleb’s eyes crinkling at the edges, some of the ice crusted in his beard shifting and falling into his scarf as he smiles.

He starts to imagine brushing the crystals from his scarf, resting a hand on his shoulder, then the side of his face, leaning in slowly… when Caduceus stiffens beside him, squinting at something in the distance. He motions for the others to stop and calls a low warning to the fighters in the front. “South.”

Essek turns and looks southward and struggles for a moment to see what has Caduceus worried. When he does, though, the chill beginning to seep into his feet and legs travels directly to his heart. A white dragon, and a big one from the looks of it, is swooping low over the tundra. Beauregard’s voice momentarily breaks him out of his panic as she and Yasha rejoin the group.

“Aw, this bitch again? She doesn’t know when to let up. Are we hiding or fighting?”

Again? Light, they’ve fought an Ancient dragon before?

“She certainly wasn’t pleasant to encounter last time, and we had Lucien and his group with us then. Perhaps we hide and continue making our way towards the ruins when it’s safe.” Fjord replies.

“But we have Essek with us now! He’s super powerful and the Tomb Takers didn’t care if we died in that fight. Essek does!” Jester pipes up.

“U-um,” Essek stammers. Coward.

“I am also sure he cares if he dies in that fight, Jester.” Caleb comes to his rescue once again. “Perhaps we take cover for now and prepare for the worst?”

The Mighty Nein begin scanning their surroundings for something large enough to offer all of them enough cover. The ice spires have been increasingly sparse as they moved closer to Aeor, but Yasha manages to spot a few groupings of broken spires and large sheets of ice that may be able to offer some cover. Essek stows away his small globe of warmth and Jester’s parasol and follows the group as they attempt to silently make their way to cover.

Upon further inspection they will have to split the party between two clusters of spires and fragmented ice sheets roughly 35 feet apart. It will make for good cover but will also make it difficult to plan in case of an attack.

After a few moments of tense bickering about what to do next Beauregard grabs Caleb and Caduceus by the elbow. “There’s no use fighting over a plan we’re going to abandon anyway. Separate the clerics and wizards, stay hidden until you can’t anymore, and fuck that dragon up if we need to. Everyone good with that?”

Everyone nods their agreement and Beauregard drags Caleb and Caduceus over to the farthest ice cluster with Yasha close at their heels, leaving Fjord, Veth, Jester, and Essek to take cover at the closest.

They spend a few moments crowding closely underneath the ice, Essek readying some components in case things turn sour. Luxon, he hopes they are hidden well. He will not run from this fight, and has complete faith in the Mighty Nein’s combat abilities, but an ancient dragon? This is not exactly what he bargained for when he signed up for an adventure with this group.

Veth perks up for a moment and glances quickly at Essek and the others before whispering “Yeah Cay, we’re ready. Does Deucy see anything? I can’t see around Fjord’s skinny ass.”

“Thank you?” Fjord comments, his blade shimmering faintly in one hand and the other firmly grasping Jester’s.

Veth shoots a lingering look at Essek in the silence, presumably listening to another message. She whispers again to thin air, “Yeah, he looks scared shitless but I’m sure he’ll be fine. Right, Essek?”

Essek Thelyss, Shadowhand of the Bright Queen, Traitor of the Dynasty, is confident he has never been described as ‘scared shitless’. And it has never been more accurate. “I’ll manage,” he replies through gritted teeth.

She pulls out a wire and whispers into cupped hands, “He said he’ll be fine, but baby boy Fjord needed Jester to hold his hand,” she chuckles into her gloves before muttering “youcanreplytothismessage” and shoving the wire back into a pocket of her pastel-hued winter garb. Essek has a moment to briefly wonder if she ever gets the wire tangled in those peculiar antlers before there is a soft whooshing of wings nearby.

Jester and Fjord, who had been softly talking strategy, fall immediately silent. Everyone huddles impossibly closer in an attempt to stay hidden, and Veth manages to disappear completely in the center of their clump. They all hold their breath as the dragon, called Gelidon as someone mentioned, flies closer to the hidden party.

The beating of leathery draconic wings grows louder with each passing moment, Gelidon releasing a thundering roar that sounds far too close for Essek’s comfort. He can’t help glancing in Fjord’s direction out of fear. The half-orc has always had a calm, steadying nature in the face of the Nein’s dangerous brand of chaos. Now he looks towards the direction of Gelidon’s fury, his hand shifting to Jester’s waist while she gathers spell components.

Fjord catches Essek looking at him and gives a tusk-filled grin. “We like to take all of our friends dragon-fighting on their first adventure. Really gets the blood moving.”

“Yeah Twiggy really seemed to enjoy it,” Jester chuckled lightly, twisting the ruby at her throat with a nervous tremor in her voice.

“You are some very interesting people,” Essek returns Jester’s nervous chuckle before his focus is pulled once again to the dragon-shaped shadow racing across the tundra. The hulking beast lands with a crash about a hundred feet away from the group’s hiding spot, kicking up a wave of snow around her taloned feet.

She crouches low towards the snow and moves a few feet in their direction, nostrils flaring as she breathes deeply. Her breath escapes in a low laugh that reverberates directly into Essek’s nerves.

“I have not forgotten your scent, you little cretins.” She breathes deeply once again. “There are fewer of you, now. Split off from your little friends, did you? And hiding too. Cowardly without their protection-“ Gelidon roars the last word, whipping her tail through a pile of ice and snow nearby. It explodes in a shower of shimmering crystals and frozen rubble around her.

“I suppose that’s our cue,” Fjord mumbles before whispering a few arcane words, the runes along his blade lighting up as he flies through the air towards Gelidon. Jester holds out her hand and a bubblegum pink light gathers in her palm before streaking off, striking the dragon in the side, and surrounding her with a faint pink glow.

“Thanks, Jessie!” Veth calls as she darts out from behind Jester’s back and runs towards Gelidon, taking a shot with her crossbow that sinks deep into the joint where shoulder meets torso. The dragon roars in pain and begins flying towards the now-revealed party members, far faster than Essek had anticipated. She meets Fjord mid-air and snaps at him with her jaws. He manages to fly out of the way before they close around him, but the motion leaves him open for her claws to rake across his chest sending him spinning through the air.

Seeing the bleeding gash in Fjord’s coat Essek immediately begins searching his components for a black marble, deciding that he would like to stay as far away as he can from the ancient fucking dragon his friends had somehow angered. He brings his hand forward with the marble sitting in his palm and mutters a few arcane words before closing his fingers around the marble so tightly his knuckles turn white. A black sphere of dunamantic energy appears just behind and beneath the dragon, attempting to pull her towards the earth without catching Fjord in its crushing radius. Essek growls in frustration as Gelidon manages to wrench herself out of the gravity sinkhole’s grasp, still harming her slightly but not pulling her to the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye Essek catches Beauregard running with frightening speed across the snow, barely even leaving a footprint as she sprints towards the dragon. Yasha runs behind her, also unnaturally fast. Essek has a moment to catch the faint shimmer of transmutative energy indicating a haste spell before Yasha is running up an ice spire that has fallen at a slight angle. When she reaches the top she leaps, and Essek lets out a small gasp of surprise as pure white wings erupt from her shoulders and spread into the air. She goes into a steep dive and scoops Beauregard off of the ground. Essek hears a faint “Remember me?” and laughter as Beauregard is deposited on Gelidon’s back.

Essek glances around the edge of the ice cave he continues to hide in, looking for Caleb and Caduceus. The cleric is slowly making his way towards the fray with Caleb close behind, tucking some licorice root into a coat pocket.

The next few moments are a blur of battle, everyone trading blows with Gelidon as she roars and thrashes through the air. Fjord and Yasha strike out at her with steel and she returns with tooth and claw. Beauregard runs up and down her spine, managing to find weak points in her scales and driving both staff and fists into her body. Veth shoots bolt after bolt, some of them crackling with arcane energy. Jester and Caduceus weave divine energy to help their friends and cause further harm to their draconic foe. Essek sends a variety of ranged spells her way, still determined to keep out of range of her ice breath and teeth.

Caleb does the same, weaving combat spells and slinging fire with such ease that Essek has to force his own attention back to the battle at hand. Every time a bolt of fire or magic missile hits true on their foe Essek glances back at the other wizard as he ducks back into his own icy hiding place, his blue eyes as cold and determined as their surroundings.

His gaze returns to the battle as the dragon roars once again, thrashing violently in the air after a strike from Beauregard. She throws the monk’s body into the air, smashing her with her tail as she falls. Beauregard gets up and appears more annoyed than injured, shaking some snow out of her coat.

“Can someone take this bitch down? Or get me back up?” she calls to the others.

Essek searches his mental catalogue of the spells he prepared for the journey and brightens as he remembers the magnify gravity spell currently at his disposal. He can help, he can be useful and prove that it was worthwhile to bring him on this journey. He begins to weave the incantation for the spell before he stops short. The range on this is much shorter than gravity sinkhole. In order to be useful, he must get closer and risk being frozen, or worse, by an ancient white dragon. Essek spends another moment watching his friends throw themselves at this creature with little regard for their own safety and remembers why he came on this adventure in the first place.

I am on borrowed time, he had said at the outpost. The world is in danger, they had told him after a battle that had almost taken them from him before he had a chance to offer his aid. I will do what I can, he has told them so many times. I can do this, he thinks to himself, for them, I can do this. Essek takes a deep breath and steps into the blinding sun, towards an ancient white dragon.

He runs as far as he can and throws his arms forward, drawing his hands together then pulling them towards his body and yelling the incantation for magnify gravity at the top of his lungs. Gelidon roars once more, attempting to fly out of the pull of the spell before being yanked into the snow, unable to fight the additional arcane strength that Essek had funneled into it.

“Ha!” Essek cheers as Gelidon attempts to stand and fly once more, but is held firmly to the ground for the moment.

Beauregard gives him a thumbs-up and a “Thanks, man!” before running towards her to lay more blows into the dragon’s thick hide. The rest of the Mighty Nein take advantage of Gelidon’s momentary stationary position and attack with renewed force before she is able to right herself.

Which, much to Essek’s displeasure, she manages to do. He knew it would not keep her down for long, but he was hoping to give everyone a bit more of an edge. Now she rises on her hind legs, screaming into the sky and thrashing with her claws. As she lands back on all fours she beats her wings and takes flight once more, rearing her head back as ice gathers at the corners of her mouth. Realizing what she is about to do, everyone attempts to brace themselves for the incoming ice breath.

Essek has never had much need for a sturdy physical form. His weapon was his mind, and that was the muscle he chose to focus his energies strengthening. It has been the correct path for most of his 120-odd years of existence, only truly irking him when Verin would wrestle him to the ground while playing “ambush” or when an experiment went awry and he suffered some physical malady because of it. Now, however, when completely encased by the frozen hell of a dragon’s breath, he finds himself briefly regretting a few of his life choices as he takes the full force of the impact.

It chills him to his very core. His white cloak and mantle are immediately stiff with ice and it takes great effort to move his hands out from under the frozen material. He can feel frostbite beginning to encase the tips of his ears, turning them a deeper purple than his drow skin. As hard as he tries he cannot control the shivering while the pain nearly brings him to his knees. Beauregard appears to be having a similar reaction, while the others either did not take the full force of the blow or were outside of its range.

“Scheiße!” Essek turns his head to see Caleb coming towards them. No, turn back, he wants to yell. You cannot take a hit like this any better than I can. But all that comes out of his mouth is a strained whimper as he tries to recover from the pain.

“Essek, I need you to trust me!” Caleb calls as he pulls something from his coat. Essek almost laughs. You are not the untrustworthy one in this equation, he thinks bitterly. But he only nods and allows the warmth of Caleb’s magic to wash over him. It is only as he begins to feel his form shift that he notices the cocoon in Caleb’s hand. Shit-

He is…tall. Far taller than he has ever been while floating. He has used levitate spells to reach high shelves in places before, but this is different. He is tall, and his feet are firmly on the ground. As he looks down he is caught even further off guard by the presence of ivory tusks and a long, furred trunk. And his fur is…purple?

Before he has another moment to consider this strange new anatomy, he is caught by the sounds of a dragon roaring in front of him. Oh, that’s right. He’s fighting a dragon with his friends. The realization jars him almost as much as his new physical form did.

In the time it took Essek to ponder his new mammoth form the Mighty Nein had managed to ground the dragon once more. She is bleeding from several wounds and appears to be staggering a bit in place. In her desperate frenzy she begins striking out at anything and anyone around her, trying to escape the adventurers who now have her surrounded. Essek charges into the fray, trumpeting a sort of battle cry as he digs his tusks into the exposed side of the dragon attacking his friends.

A burst of flaming magic erupts into her from the snow beneath her. She turns toward its source, and Essek spins his gaze with her to see Caleb standing a short way away, a cat’s cradle of yarn in his hands. Wind whips stray strands of hair around his head and into his face as he stands firm. Gelidon begins to crawl towards him in a rage and he immediately blanches, realizing that he has now drawn the ire of this creature. Essek attempts to strike out with his tusks once again but they scrape uselessly against her armor-like scales. A few of the others get a hit in, but she takes the blows and charges onward toward her quarry.

Caleb looks up at the dragon, fear in his eyes as she unleashes a flurry of frenzied strikes into him. Blood blooms across his chest, arms, and face as her teeth and claws all hit home. Caleb throws an arm up with a magical shield beginning to form around his body, but it is shattered against Gelidon’s fury. With a final slash of her claws Caleb is thrown across the snow and lays motionless.

Essek is shunted back into his elven form and the pain of his previous injuries screams through his nerves before something else overtakes him. His heart pounds and cheeks heat with a terrified rage at seeing Caleb lying in the snow. One arm is bent awkwardly under his body, legs curled to the side as the snow blossoms a stomach-churning pink around his unconscious form. Essek cannot see his face at this angle and is briefly thankful to avoid seeing the wizard’s freckles shrouded in specks of blood and gore.

As his fear and fury build Essek feels gravity begin to coalesce around him, the magic sparking through his nerves like the beginning of a lightning bolt. Instead of electricity, Essek summons the rest of his strength to draw on the dunamancy around him. He brings out a shard of onyx from his components and slashes it across his palm. The drops of blood are frozen in space in front of him, and as he waves his hands they create a small circle in the air. A black void of deep nothingness appears around Gelidon’s torso as she licks her lips, turning back towards the others now that Caleb is down. She rears up on her hind legs and unleashes a roar that quickly turns into an ear-splitting scream as Essek crashes his hands together, pulling the blood into a tight sphere no bigger than a marble. The sound that emanates from Gelidon’s ribs is reminiscent of a tree being struck by lightning. The cracks echo over the tundra before Gelidon’s body turns a deep gray and falls away to dust.

They all stand in silence for a heartbeat before Jester and Caduceus are running to Caleb’s aid. Essek nearly stumbles to his knees as he follows close behind while trying to stay out of their way. Caduceus places his hands over Caleb’s chest and pink lichen spreads over his coat. A deep, verdant green light glows beneath it before the lichen shrivels and crumbles off the wounds. Caleb lets out a low groan and rubs at his forehead.

“Hey there, good to see you back with us.” Caduceus smiles and leans back on his heels.

“Is she dead or did she run?” Caleb attempts to sit up and look around before wincing and laying back down in the snow.

“Essek took care of her actually, and quite handily,” Fjord answers over Caduceus’ shoulder.

“It was so cool Caleb! He did some sort of awesome fucked-up gravity magic and she turned to dust! To dust, Caleb! Oh my gosh, I really wish you were conscious for that because you would’ve thought it was so cool.” Jester bounces on her toes and looks between the wizards with a half-cocked smile.

“Perhaps you will have to show me that one some other time,” Caleb says as he turns to Essek. “Are you alright, mein freund?”

Essek’s laugh comes out a little more breathless than he would have liked. “Which one of us is lying in the snow right now?”

“Good point,” Caleb’s eyes crinkle at the edges and Essek desperately hopes his blush is mistaken for post-battle adrenaline. “Shall we sit for a moment, catch our breath?”

“Good plan, you wizards are looking pretty fucked up,” Beauregard calls from where she leans heavily on Yasha, clutching a gash in her side. “Good shot though, Essek. Although I would’ve liked some of those dragon teeth to put with the T-Rex.”

“I will try to kill the next ancient dragon a little less thoroughly next time,” Essek retorts. Beauregard smirks and begins limping her way back to the fallen ice spires to take cover while they rest.

As the rest of the Nein follow her Essek falls into step with Caleb at the back of the group.

“You turned me into a mammoth.”

“I did. Squishy wizards need to stay in the back.” Caleb gestures to the partially-healed gash in his side.

“It was a bit, ah, strange. Is that a strategy you employ often?”

“Only when things get bad. Couldn’t have you getting knocked down in front of a dragon like that. We protect our friends, here in the Mighty Nein. Seems like you’re catching on to that.” He gives Essek a tight smile.

Friends. Essek feels the ice from the dragon’s breath melt slightly from the warmth spreading through his chest. “I am unsure that I can protect all of you all of the time, but I want to try. I cannot undo everything that I have done, but that much I can do.”

Caleb doesn’t reply, just smiles a bit wider and gives Essek’s shoulder a squeeze. And maybe it’s because he was injured, or perhaps it was Essek’s imagination, but he swears that Caleb lets his hand linger for just a moment longer than usual.

#this was so much fun to write #i love combat dunamancy yall #and the wizards #also very fitting that my first cr fic was mildly shadowgasty #critical role #the mighty nein #essek thelyss #caleb widowgast #shadowgast #gelidon #cr fanfic #cw: blood

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seabreeze2022 · 3 months ago

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The Bahamas 2024, part 6. Conception Island.

We made it to Conception Island! It was the bucket item for this short month long cruise. Being fairly late in the season very few cruisers were here. In the middle of the season when the weather will be good for 4 or more days. Up to 20 boats might be here. It has great bottom for anchoring but is exposed to the west and might have rolly waters in high winds from any other direction.

This is Conception Island. About 3 miles top to bottom and 2.75 miles at its widest.

It sits about 25 miles south of Cat Island, 15 miles north east of Long Island, and 15 miles northwest of Rum Island 30 miles west San Salvador. San Salvador claims to be the first landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World. Interesting that the island in this part of The Bahamas are called “Islands”, whereas most others in The Bahamas are called Cays (pronounced Key).

I always wonder how the early Bahamian sailors found their way around. No GPS, no chartplotter, no maps or compasses. But on the way here I could tell where the other islands were by the clouds building up over top of them. Cat Island to the north has some high ground which is easy to see from far off shore.

Rum Island and San Salvador are the bucket items for our 2025 cruise as well as returning to Conception.

Two boats came to the island about the time we did. But both left early the next day. Then we had the whole island to ourselves.

Conception Island is a national park and a no take zone. You would assume the corals would be alive and fish would be abundant. I understand it used to be. But due to climate change many of the corals in shallow waters have died off. Not that we did much diving.

Miles of beautiful beaches on the west side of the island where the anchorage is.

We walked up to the north tip and crossed the short spit of land to checkout the North East beach. We will climb the cliffs seen in the top left corner of the photo.

Nancy just prior to walking up the sandstone cliff with the assistance of the rope on the right.

Previous cruisers have secured rope to help climb the slippery slope.

You never really know what the rope is attached too, until you get to the top. Being chivalrous I had allowed Nancy to go first.

View from the top. There is a sunken boat in between the coral heads broken in thirds.

Nancy descending the cliff.

Our dinghy is still here. Always a good sign after being out of sight for an hour. We always use two anchors.

This is the remains of a ship wreck on the beach. It is the windless, chain and hawse pipe the anchor chain ran through.

Very little else remains of the ship wreck.

Another beautiful day comes to a close. Nancy relaxing in the bean bag with her wine nearby. Note no clouds on the horizon. We are in an excellent place to view the “Green flash” at sunset.

Our second day on the island we were totally alone and took the dinghy down to the southern end of the island to explore. On the top of the picture is where the Loyalists of the late 1770’s built 5 small houses. We tracked those down.

This was the smallest. It had three windows and a door. Just big enough for a bunk and a place to turn around in. Guessing only, but I think it might have been for a single slave to live in. If it was for a slave I believe it was referred to as a pen house. Trust me the other houses were not much bigger. Apparently the Loyalists did a slash and burn agriculture to plant cotton. Cotton crops only last 3-5 years in The Bahamas before the land was depleted and the crops failed. Meanwhile erosion on this island excelerated and changed the depth of the interior lake.

A quarter mile south is a fresh water well. Undoubtedly the reason the houses were built on the highest land nearby. High land is preferable for cooling breezes, sighting sailing ships and better survivability of hurricanes.

This is the fresh water well. Don’t know how much of it was hand dug. In the 1960’s the concrete was added to keep the sand from filling it in. Local fishermen relied on this water supply. Water was a yucky green when we visited. Next time we come back I will put a weighted line down in it to see the depth.

We continued further south to the entrance to the interior lagoon. Once we got through the mouth of rough water and shallow corals it smoothed out with sand bottom. We took the road less traveled and turned right to the blue pin in the bottom of the photo.

This is a man made dam across the narrowest point. The Loyalist trapped the saltwater behind the dam where it would eventually evaporate. Then they collected salt from the rocks and shoreline to be shipped out.

Green Turtles are everywhere.

After cruising the west beach some more we headed back to the boat. While making water a couple of sharks checked us out. I believe the rhythmic noise transmitted through the hull by the watermaker attracts sharks. I need to check that theory out in the future. Probably not the best time to be swimming around the boat. Above is another great dinner of cracked conch and salad.

The next morning we motored to Long Island, while the weather was good. The Columbus Monument is on the high bluff in the photo above. We have driven there in the past and watched sailboat pass by. Now we are returning the favor. Now that we have left our bucket item island and it is late in the season it is time to scurry home before Hurricane season. Our insurance doesn’t allow us to be in the Bahamas after June 1.

I will end this part now, standby for Part 7.

#seabreeze2023 #seabreeze2024 #seabreeze2022

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salamanderskin · 4 years ago

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For the anon who wanted Caduceus + Sniffles

Thanks for ask, fellow Caduceus fan. This is brought to you by my obsession with Cad saying ‘uh-oh’ before he sneezes, Team Cleric and found family taking care of each other.

The kitchen in the Xhorhaus is bright and warm, populated by one familiar firbolg who is tackling the enormous pile of dirty dishes. Caleb had only meant to grab a glass of water before returning to his books but it is impossible not to pause when Caduceus calls out, "Hey Caleb, there's tea and cookies on the table."

No matter how long he lives with his friends, Caleb will never, ever get used to this. It always makes him warm inside as he takes one and sits at the long wooden table, reading forgotten for now. "Did you make these?" "No, Jester did." "And you are cleaning up after her because-?" Caduceus just shrugs and is soon up both elbows in washing-up.It's very calm in the kitchen, though not quiet. The part of Caleb's mind that is always alert tracks the slight sounds of sloshing water, dishes in the sink, creaks on the floowboards above and soft sniffles from Caduceus every few minutes.

-snf snf-- as Caduceus carries a stack of pots over from the stove.

A more insistent -snfSNF- followed by the clatter of pans put down quickly and-

His first panicked thought is that Caduceus might be crying. He hears the chaotic gasps of breath, sees his broad hands reaching to hide his face

."heh… heh-- 'chsshoo! 'scuse me." Ah, it was only a sharp little sneeze, half-smothered into the cup of Caduceus' hands.

"Gesundheit."

"Thank you." The firbolg runs the back of his wrist under his muzzle and sniffles again before returning the washing up.Caleb is paying closer attention now. It is a little comical, the way Caduceus can't itch at his nose because both his hands are soaked with soapy water, forcing him to scrunch up his muzzle and sniffle. His progress is hindered by sudden, flinching sneezes which he tries his best to direct away from the sink.

"Uh oh… uhhCHshhhoo!- CHsshoo!"

Despite his efforts, soap suds drift into the air. Those plus the steaming water can't be helping at all, Caleb thinks.

The third time it happens, Caduceus actually has to stop what he's doing, dry his hands on a tea towel and pinch under his nose under the sneezing stops. He looks so uncharacteristically frustrated that Caleb comes over to place a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, just…" Caduceus scrubs at his nose again, "sniffles."

"So I hear." "I'm sorry, it must be very annoying."

"Worse for you, I think- gesundheit!"- Caleb finishes as Caduceus sneezes another sharp IIiSshhoo! that rocks him back on his heels.

"If you keep this up I will set Jester on you."

"Hah." Caduceus laughs. "I'm sure there's no need. I'm gonna go grab a hankie and take a tea break and I'll be good to go."

"I'll hold you to that." Caleb affirms and takes the rest of his tea back to the study where he can drink it in peace.

. ……….

They share dinner that evening. Caduceus is really getting the hang of cooking the unfamiliar foods available in Rosohna and most of it is quite delicious, though perhaps heavier on mushrooms and lighter on rats than the rest of the party might prefer. After the meal Caleb looks to his friend to offer thanks and finds him looking distinctly worse for wear. Caduceus clears the plates away as if on autopilot, his eyes looking somewhere else. When the human taps him on the shoulder, Caduceus starts in surprise.

"Oh, sorry, I was somewhere else." His voice sounds soft and hoarse, punctuated by a few rogue sniffles. Caleb is no cleric but even he can see that Caduceus looks tired and unwell. He raises an eyebrow.

"You look done in. Sit down, someone else can do the dishes. Possibly Jester"

"Did someone say my name?!"

As if summoned, everyone's favourite blue tiefling appears out of nowhere to lean against the counter.

"Ah, I was just suggesting that you could do the washing up."

Jester huffs and rolls her eyes theatrically but grabs her apron nonetheless. "We really, really need to get some servants or something. I shouldn't be expected to- oh, what's the matter with Caduceus?"

"I'm fine." Jester shares a glance with Caleb as Caduceus chooses that moment to double over and sneeze "heh-- 'chsshoo!" into his elbow as discreetly as he can manage.

"Come here. Let me look at you."

"Just a -snf- just a s-seh-cond-" His voice cracks. "hah-chIISShoo! Oh dear."

"Bless you. Now come here."

Caduceus casts a wary glance at Caleb who pats him firmly on the back.

"I'm not letting you escape this one, my friend. Let her do her job for once."

"Yeah, let me--- hey! Cay-leb!" Jester's cheeks colour in outrage at the gentle jab. "I'm a very good healer, actually. It's not my fault that normally Caduceus gets in there before I get a chance. You just watch."

It's a little comical: Jester rising to her tiptoes to try and examine a seven foot tall firbolg who does not look at all convinced, until he concedes and kneels to let her examine his features at her own level. He actually blushes a little, which only draws more attention to how red and sore his nose looks.

"Aw, your ears are all pressed back against your head. Like a sad puppy." Jester mourns.

"They do that." Caduceus sniffles. "Say aaah." Caduceus duly opens his mouth and gives them both a good look at his tonsils. Jester's hands wander to the side of his neck, feeling his temperature and probing for sore glands. "How do you feel?"

"Nothing serious. Tired. Throat's a little sore. Runny nose."

"Aww." Jester coos and presses a kiss to the crown of his head, into the soft pink hair. "You're sick for sure."

"Is that your diagnosis, High Priestess Cleric?" Caleb laughs. "What about treatment?" She sighs. "Well, I didn't actually prepare any restoration spells today and I'm assuming you didn't either, Caduceus, or you'd have healed yourself already?"

Caduceus nods and returns to standing, coughing to clear his throat.

"That's true, though for minor illnesses my family usually just let it run its course. It builds your immune system."

"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard!" Caleb can only nod in agreement. "From what I understand, the theory is sound, but we may need you fighting fit at a moment's notice. Besides, I do not want to see you uncomfortable. None of us do."

That makes Caduceus smile even as he sniffles.

Jester nods, making her mind up. "Caduceus you should go and sit down, Caleb will do the washing up and I will make hot chocolate for you."

"I already have some tea-" He protests.

"Yes, but what you really need is hot chocolate. Cleric's orders." Jester gives him a stern look. "Do I argue with you when you're healing people?"

Before the firbolg can protest that yes, she often does, he is taken by the arm, led into the common room and pushed gently onto a sofa between Yasha and Fjord.

"Caduceus is getting sick so everyone has to be really nice to him, okay?" Jester announces to the room at large. Beau laughs from her place beside the fire.

"Aahh, I was considering beating him up, but it can wait."

"I wasn't planning on being anything else?" Fjord says a beat later, bemused.

"I will return with hot chocolate for everyone. It's medicinaaaal," Jester sings as she disappears back to the kitchen, leaving the rest of the Mighty Nein blinking in surprise and Caduceus looking embarrassed but pleased.

"Are you really sick, 'Deucey?" Veth asks cautiously.

Caduceus can only sigh and nod. The cracked edge to his voice speaks for itself so he just adds, "Just a little sniffly. Jester is determined to take very good care of me and it's in everyone's best interest to do what she wants."

"That sounds wise." Veth nods. "And hey, hot chocolate! I'm gonna put booze in mine!"

"Can I put some in mine too?" Yasha pipes up.

This devolves into a heated discussion about whether whiskey or rum would be a better choice. Caduceus lets it wash over him and leans back onto the sofa. He does feel tired now, the joint aching tiredness that comes with a cold. His throat feels sore and hot, his sinuses full and itchy but he is too comfortable to reach for a handkerchief just at this moment.

He can feel the half-orc's body heat and is grateful for it. Without thinking leans until he rests against Fjord's shoulder, his long hair sweeping over them both like a veil. A shiver runs through him and Fjord responds by tucking an arm around him. It's really, really nice.

He has to ruin the moment by wrenching upright to sneeze away from his friends and over his lap.

"huhhKShh!- KKShh!- ehhKSshoo!"Ugh, he can't stop and the others paused in their conversation to stare at him. "Heh- s'cuse mbe- KKHssshhoo!" He is vaguely aware of Fjord rubbing his back as he sneezes a few more times. "Ugh. Sorry," he excuses himself and flops back into the sofa with a groan.

Fjord is still looking at him fondly, unphased. "Can I say Wildmother bless you? Is that a thing?"

"I guess so. Thadk you, Fjord."

At that moment Jester and Caleb reenter the living room carrying trays of steaming mugs. Jester looks positively joyful as she takes in the crackling fire, her friends gathered round and her patient resting on the sofa. Even Caleb looks somewhat at peace. Frumpkin is around his shoulders, purring. "This is nice, isn't it guys?" Jester says for all of them.

"It really is." Caduceus says, and means it. He'd put up with a lot of sniffles for this.

#salamanderskin's fic #sneeze kink

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