#caleb || threads

[stardustedknuckles]

It's looking like there's a growing divide between Campaign watchers and Tlovm watchers in terms of like. We're here for the characters. 12-episode seasons aren't. They can't be. I'm already making peace with everything we'll lose in the Mighty Nein show, and I know I will enjoy it for what it is but I also know that almost nothing that made the story so special will translate to the screen, because turning it into a show automatically means (in this day and age) that plot must be the number one priority. They've already come out and told us it's going to be different, the characters we know and love but new stories.

Because that's how this has to work. And I feel bad for campaign one lovers, because while it is certainly the easier of the two to translate to a big, overarching story, even though it's a more "traditional" high fantasy story with easier archetypal characters, the archetypes and the plot aren't what cemented most people's love for the campaign. So much of the love for critical role is stored in the interpersonal dynamics and the payoff that comes from hundreds of hours of tiny interactions that one day become cornerstones of development and even affect or dictate the plot.

There's no room for that. There's no room for Bard's Lament in a story that cannot afford to remove and replace a main character. A lot of tlovm is for people who have been here for all of campaign one. Most of it, however, isn't. It's for a new crowd. While CR may have creative control, you can bet your ass that there were months and years devoted to figuring out how to map a character-focused love of the show into a plot that hits the right beats to be viable in the show market.

And it worked. Tlovm has consistently high viewing numbers, and its popularity has brought and will continue to bring new people into the universe who have never interacted with CR previously. That's not a bad thing - imagine finishing your favorite show and discovering it has another FIVE HUNDRED HOURS of the equivalent of behind the scenes content. That's incredible for these newcomers. But man, it is in many ways a loss for us.

[c-kiddo]

was worried parts of cr2 would not hold up on rewatch (especially seeing people hate the aeor arc so much) but ngl so far its either been good and fun as hell (travellercon, pirate arc) or just straight up banger after banger. like the xhorhas to angel of irons through to refjorged arc and then the cathedral.................. unrelenting slay

[sleg48]

After the Total Drama reboot’s Rematch, the post-season drama is still going strong…

[thebramblewood]

You mean you don't show affection for your one and only brother by repeatedly throwing the love of his life's tragic fate in his face?

Featuring a very tiny cameo by @moonfromearth's Veronica!

Previous / Next

Caleb: You look… refreshed.

Lilith: Yes. Thankfully, Veronica’s supply hit the spot. [appraising glare] I could say the same to you. I can smell her stink from over here.

Caleb: [momentarily alarmed] Whose?

Lilith: [rolls eyes] Don’t play dumb, Caleb. That spellcaster bitch! I can always tell when you’ve been gallivanting around the Realm.

Caleb: I’m sorry. Do I need your permission to visit a friend?

Lilith: Of course not. I just don’t know why you still bother. The only thing you two ever had in common has been a literal pile of ashes for years.

Caleb: I’m not talking about this with you now - or possibly ever again.

Lilith: Oh, she got you all riled up. [shouting] I know you’re hiding something! You’ve drawn an iron curtain across your thoughts, but I’ll tear it down eventually. I always do!

[dent-de-leon]

It shatters my whole heart that Caleb was the one who fought the hardest to save Molly in that final battle, that Caleb is the one who dreams of “reunion.” Tries to dig Molly’s corpse up with his bare hands because he believes he’s already damned, because he thinks his soul is beyond saving but Molly isn’t. “I’m already going to hell anyway.”

Caleb feeling lost and aching and directionless in Aeor, his only guiding light Mollymauk. “I know that we are supposed to go where Molly is, or we wouldn’t have seen the things we’ve seen. We wouldn’t be the Mighty Nein.” “Why did we come all this way, if not for this? Why did we go so far, and fight so hard…?”

Caleb pleading with the rest of the Nein to give Molly one last chance, to try and risk a resurrection. Caleb being the one to cast the spell, perform the ritual, and still…even as Caleb promises Molly, “Empty no longer, Mr. Tealeaf,” he still doesn’t let himself give one of the offerings. He lets other members of the Nein have that moment to reach out to Molly and connect, to bargain with his soul and try to convince him to return to them.

Caleb wanted the rest of the Nein to have that, because he cared so much for all of them. Because he knows how important Molly is to Yasha, Beau, Jester—how badly they’d want to tell him that. And yet…it’s tragic, that Caleb starts this ritual, pours all his heart and soul into it, and then doesn’t let himself take an active part it. How it mirrors the way Caleb just happily watches Molly reunite with the rest of the Nein from afar, content to just stand by and watch the others “descend on Mollymauk” and embrace him. Caleb who has such deeply intense feelings about Mollymauk, who longs so badly to bring him home, and yet. He’s always holding himself back.

Caleb not letting himself tell Molly how badly he misses him until after he’s already lost him. Caleb only returning Molly’s forehead kiss when he thinks he’s gone for good, when he’s afraid he’ll never get another chance to return Molly’s affection…

Do you think the ritual could’ve gone differently if Caleb had let himself give an offering too? If he kissed Molly back before the spell was over, would it have made a difference—

[youruinedmylifebynotbeingreal]

Anyone else still shocked that The Owl House crew actually managed to get a knife with blood okayed to have in the episode

[essektheylyss]

I do in fact hope that Chetney takes out that dispel magic function because Wildmother I crave violence Ludinus Da'leth getting eaten by a motherfucking blue dragon

[feuerwizard]

starter for @sanguisarcana | caleb & astarion

Despite the simmering frustration brewing within Caleb towards his fellow companions on this particular evening, he still found it in himself to agree to conjure the tower for those who desired it. In truth, it may have been more for his own sake than anyone else's, as he preferred the spaciousness and privacy of his tower over the cramped and dingy campgrounds or a small, spare room in a tavern in Baldur's Gate.

The wizard’s usually level-headed demeanor replaced by a recent air of stress, his mind consumed by the ticking time clock represented by the tadpoles in their heads. And to add to the pressure, he was once again faced with seeing Astrid and Eadwulf again. And as time progressed, Caleb's frustration reached a boiling point as most of their group dismissed the idea of taking on Cazador as a priority.

He craved solitude, just a few blessed hours to collect his thoughts and regain some semblance of sanity. The weight of recent events was bearing down on him, threatening to crush his already fragile mental state. After a while, with his head properly back upon his shoulders, it was time to pay a visit to the one person with more of a right to be frustrated than him—Astarion.

A quick stride brought him down the hall to Astarion's room, its dark wooden door only a few steps away. He paused for a moment before knocking softly, teeth sinking into his lower lip as he waited for a response.

[loftylockjaw]

TIMING: Sept 27th LOCATION: Kieran’s birthday party! PARTIES: Wyatt (@loftylockjaw), Caleb (@dirtwatchman), & Kieran (@debauchfairy) SUMMARY: Caleb and Wyatt attend Kieran’s birthday bash together, and very quickly get caught up in the festivities, where Kieran joins them. CONTENT WARNINGS: Drug use/abuse, wrspice (not explicit)

—

It didn’t take them long to find something for Caleb to wear out of Wyatt’s wardrobe — he was taller, sure, but not by a large margin, and they made due. And though Wyatt hadn’t really dressed himself up like he used to in quite a while, it felt nice to clean himself up and slip into one of the old waistcoats that’d been hanging in his closet, neglected. Adjusting the collar of his button-up once they’d climbed out of the car, Wyatt circled around it and held an arm out to Caleb. It’d be mildly entertaining at least, he thought, for them to roll up to the party together. Not that he doubted Kieran’s ability to bed half this damn town if he wanted to, of course, but he was picky, and perhaps he didn’t expect two of the men he’d decided were suitable enough for him to end up ‘going steady’, as it were. They’d find out, he was sure. In a small, wrapped box in his hand was the faun’s present, left along with the rest once they’d made it past the bouncer and into the warehouse. Wyatt had told himself he wasn’t going to seek out Kieran’s company tonight, knowing how that usually went, but it was a given that he’d probably run into them at least once. Wyatt just hoped that composure would be maintained by all parties in that situation, which… seemed more unlikely the longer they took in their new surroundings. The party favors, likely of the same caliber that’d been fed to Caleb, were hard to miss. “Alright, well, first thing’s first — I need a drink in hand,” Wyatt said into Caleb’s ear, leaning in close enough so that the other could hear him, lips brushing against it. “What’ll you have?”

—

Nerves bundled in Caleb’s stomach as he got ready with Wyatt. This was so far out of his comfort zone that he almost wanted to back out but he’d agreed to new things when they were talking about their relationship so the zombie was willing to try new things outside of that as well. Not that he hadn’t been to parties before but if it was anything like the night he’d had with Kieran previously he was sure this would be an adventure. Confidence already a little dampened by the doorman, he was glad to feel Wyatt’s lips brush against him as he spoke. “A whole bottle?” he replied with a sheepish grin. “It takes a lot for me.” And he would need it to loosen that knot that had bunched so tightly in place. 

It was not lost on him that there were a lot of those little pills from his last night out floating around them. He could see people taking them every so often, all smiles and no thoughts. It looked familiar and…nice. It probably would have been easier if he just took one but Caleb wasn’t sure becoming that loose was a good idea. “Oh, and this.” He turned his head to press his lips to the others, lingering for just a moment and noticing that it was enough to help just a little before he was taking in the rest of the craziness. “I didn’t realize it was going to be this crazy.”

—

Wyatt broke into a wide grin after Caleb pulled back again, letting out a laugh. “Well hey, I’m not goin’ nowhere, yeah?” He reached for Caleb’s hand to thread their fingers together. “And if it gets to be too much for you, we can always leave. Now, let’s get you that bottle…” 

Pulling Caleb in the direction of the bar, Wyatt sidled up to the only open space and leaned onto the bartop, ordering a couple fingers of whiskey for himself. The bartender left the bottle on the counter after pouring Wyatt’s drink as they went to grab something else, and the lamia reached for it. He quickly pulled the speed pourer out of the top of it, dropping that onto the countertop and swiping the bottle. “I’ll take the whole thing, actually, thanks cher,” he said quickly before they could protest, pushing it into Caleb’s hands and ushering him over to the other side of the room, cackling all the while. “Still mostly full, even! Lucky us.” He winked at the zombie and knocked back some of the whiskey in his glass, appreciating the numbing effect of the loud music that made it difficult to really think hard about anything. 

—

“Wyatt…” It was said as a warning as the other started to work on taking the bottle but Caleb was grinning all the same, amused by the antics. As bad as he could feel for stuff like this it was also kind of funny watching the bartenders face morph into pure annoyance. He mouthed ‘sorry’ as Wyatt led him away, not really apologetic which was made clear by the laughing. 

He tipped the bottle back, taking a swig of the liquid that should have burned on its way down but the zombie didn’t feel a thing. He could have chugged the whole bottle if he wanted to but it wasn’t just for him. “Yea, lucky me.” Looking around them, he thought about the offer that Wyatt had made, the one where they would leave if he wanted, but his boyfriend was in his element. Shaking his head, he started to take his jacket off one arm at a time, switching the bottle to a different hand to get the second one off. “Let's stay a while. It’s not too bad, right?” Reassuring words for himself, a confirmation that he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon for Wyatt. “You should have fun…as much fun as you want.” Caleb sent him an encouraging smile to try and get his point across. ‘Go wild, I’ll be here. I’ll look out for you.’ He wanted the lamia to relieve some of the stress he had been under and try to forget about his troubles for the night. “You deserve it.”

—

“Hey now, I’m not goin’ wild without you,” Wyatt argued, staring at the bottle in Caleb’s hand for a moment before letting his gaze wander the crowd. He knew that the booze wouldn’t do much, and even what it could do probably wouldn’t last very long. But there was a better alternative available, if Caleb was down to do it a second time. The seating area with little platters set out caught his attention again, and he took Caleb’s free hand to start pulling him in that direction. “C’mon. I wanna dance with you, but first…”

Perched on the edge of a couch, Wyatt held two pills in his hand. The first he rolled forward to pinch between his thumb and index finger, his pinkie and ring finger curling protectively around the second to keep it from falling to the floor as he popped the first in his mouth. Downing it with what remained in his glass, Wyatt set that aside and opened his hand up again to offer the second pill to Caleb. “It’s really okay if you don’t want to. But I’d like you to come with me.” He’d done it once, right? And with Kieran, who was practically a stranger at the time. Surely he trusted Wyatt enough to… well, it didn’t matter. If he didn’t want to, he didn’t have to. But Wyatt had already boarded the train. 

—

Dancing. Shit, he couldn’t dance. The one time he’d done it in public he’d been too messed up to care but he still let Wyatt lead him wherever the man wanted. If he wanted Caleb to be his usual two left footed self, who was he to say no? He watched curiously when the lamia grabbed the pills he’d been craving since his first taste, eyes going wide when one of them was washed down by him. They just said they both needed to quit this but the offer…it was tempting. Being messed up on these things had been the closest that Caleb felt to alive since he’d died and with Wyatt throwing caution to the wind he wasn’t opposed to doing the same. Besides, the zombie trusted him explicitly. 

Stepping between the man’s legs, he took the pill and without any more hesitation swallowed it quickly. For good measure, Caleb leaned over to set the bottle on the table before grabbing another of the favors to pop into his mouth. It had taken two last time so two it was this time. Leaning into Wyatt, he grinned down at him, one hand going to brush over the nape of his neck. “I’d go anywhere with you.” The smile on his face turned slightly reluctant but he was just being playful as he continued. “Even to the dance floor.” This time it was Caleb taking Wyatt’s hand to pull him to the wide space where others were already swaying to the beat. 

—

He cracked a grin as Caleb sidled up to him and took the pill, following it with another and leaning into him. Wyatt’s hands snaked up his thighs to his hips, a breathy laugh tumbling out when he made a show of dreading the dancefloor but still pulling the lamia to his feet all the same, pulling him away from the plush couches and pillows strewn about. 

Lights flashed in the darkness, swinging across the dancefloor and strobing on the high ceiling, creating a dizzying effect when combined with the heavy beat of the music and very dim lighting. Wyatt had no expectations as far as Caleb’s dancing skills were concerned — this wasn’t exactly the music for the salsa, anyway. The crowd of people in front of the DJ booth were all in their own worlds, just moving in whatever ways felt good, either by themselves or with whoever was closest. Bearing this in mind, Wyatt kept Caleb hugged close to his front, ignoring any other hands that found a home on either of them. As the minutes ticked by, sobriety began its slow fade into the background and that charmed sort of playfulness in their shared amusement at the people around them who were much more far gone turned into something else. They were slipping away, too, and it was okay. It was fun. 

Wyatt had nearly forgotten that this was a celebration for Kieran by the time he opened his eyes again, thoughts muddled by the noise and the drugs and the booze, a permanent smile on his face. He was just pulling back after leaving a string of kisses along Caleb’s neck when his eyes noticed movement that felt more intentional than the mass of writhing bodies that’d been surrounding them for a while now. He looked over, finding himself face to face with the birthday boy himself, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “Wow, you found us.”

—

There was no way to tell if tonight surpassed last year’s festivities as the occasion called for a big, flashy event each year - it was hard to confine yourself to something outrageous only when the birthday was a big one since a) Kieran didn’t bring attention to his age and b) he couldn’t really be expected to not throw an outrageous soiree every year. He was a faun, for fuck’s sake. As for whether or not it surpassed last year, well, the memories from a year ago were blurry to say the least and his recollection of tonight would no doubt be similarly vague. Specifics didn’t matter, as long as one remembered whether or not they’d completely and utterly enjoyed themselves. 

Speaking of enjoyment, Kieran had been very pleasantly surprised to see not one but two familiar faces getting cozy on the dancefloor, both wearing an expression the faun had seen before. Of course he threaded his way through the crowd to greet those guests he knew a bit more intimately (even if they were far from the only ones in that category), met with a blissful laugh from Wyatt. “Would have looked for you sooner if I’d realized there was an ‘us’ to find,” he told the shifter with little regard for personal space, eyes shifting to Caleb as he grinned. “Good to see we all have the same impeccable taste,” Kieran mused, the fluid motions of the dancefloor forcing him even closer to the pair, hand finding the small of Caleb’s back. Under different circumstances, the faun probably would have made a fuss about the bullshit of monogamy but seeing as he was almost as blissed out as the two men he had enjoyed on separate occasions, Kieran’s mind saw only opportunity and the joy of all this good company. 

—

Dancing wasn’t his forte, no, but Caleb found himself swaying along as Wyatt held him close. The company he was keeping made it much easier to allow his body to become...less rigid (for the most part) but as the high started to set in it was so much to not think and just move. He loved this feeling a little too much. Every nerve ending was coming alive again with the press of Wyatt’s hands against him, the brush of other people’s fingers and shoulders as they also lost themselves to whatever was coursing through their veins. He almost felt like a different person, like someone he would want to be, and having his boyfriend on this journey with him made it ten times better.

Hand deep in Wyatt’s curls, he tugged gently in protest when the other pulled his lips from Caleb’s skin. He wasn’t even paying attention to whoever the man was talking to, still lost to the pulsing of the music vibrating through him and the sight of Wyatt’s easy smile until a hand landed firmly on his lower back causing him to turn his head. “It’s you.” His muddled brain had him stating the obvious, his own grin forming at the dumb observation. “Happy birthday.” It then fell when a thought came to mind, his eyes drifting over to Wyatt and then back to Kieran. “I didn’t get you a gift. I didn’t know I would be here tonight.” 

He wasn’t sure why he felt that was important to say but Kieran felt like the kind of person who might have liked to receive such things. Not to mention, Caleb was enjoying the favors left out by him so it only seemed right that he returned the generosity. “Don’t even know what you’d want.” 

—

Kieran was as comfortable as ever drawing himself in close, which didn’t come as a surprise — every time Wyatt had ever crawled over to the faun’s apartment for the sweet release of magical euphoria, they’d ended up breathless and entangled. It was just the nature of their relationship, an exchange of one pleasure for another, and it was hard to not fall right back into that honeyed trap as Kieran stood beside him, looking at him like that. Even harder with the cloud of chemical bliss that muddied his thoughts and slurred his speech, but lifted his spirits in a way that few other things could these days. Even with Caleb in his grasp, who he clung to just a bit tighter as Kieran’s hands began to wander, he felt his heart start to race as flashes of nights past called like siren song. 

Caleb halted the burgeoning trance by speaking, saying something about a present. It only broadened the smile on the shifter’s face, the boundaries he might’ve set for himself in any other situation completely conquered by the drugs he’d so eagerly taken part in. “Oh, I know what he wants,” Wyatt mused, letting his attention jump from Caleb to Kieran, giving the latter a very knowing look with heavy-lidded eyes. “Isn’t that right?”

—

It hadn’t been too long since the zombie had allowed himself to let loose with Kieran and it seemed he’d wasted no time in finding another fun influence, just as he’d clearly jumped at the chance to chase the high provided by the faun. So, the two guests that currently held his attention were just a couple of peas in a pod, at least in all the ways that mattered to Kieran. Caleb finally seemed to register the host’s presence, which could be forgiven judging by how spaced out he was, not to mention trying to practically bury himself under Wyatt’s skin. 

“You’re still absolutely precious,” he cooed, enjoying the genuine regret on Caleb’s face, caused by the silly habit people had of trying to make sure no one’s feelings got hurt. Kieran hadn’t expected gifts, at least not in the traditional sense since he’d definitely accepted the offered drinks, dances and touches during what had passed of the evening so far. Judging by Caleb’s earnest doe eyes, he wasn’t being suggestive but that didn’t stop his current dance partner from chiming in just before Kieran managed a crude comment of his own. The faun’s grin was ecstatic, any thoughts of it being a bad thing that Wyatt and Caleb were here together completely dismissed. “Well, it is my birthday,” Kieran reasoned coyly, even if it didn’t seem like much convincing was necessary. 

It happened naturally, slotting against Wyatt’s back just like the first time they’d met, now with the added benefit of Caleb bracketing the shifter on the other side. A hand reached around the nice fabric of Wyatt’s jacket to pull instead at Caleb’s clothes and waist as if there had been any space left to remove between the two men. Warm breath moved over the shifter’s ear and neck before the focus turned fully to Caleb, free arm snaking around to grab the back of his neck, pulling him in for a heated kiss with Wyatt fully trapped between them - something Kieran doubted would be a cause for any complaints. 

—

A furrow of his brow was the only indication that he had heard what Wyatt just said, confusion cutting through the euphoric feelings he’d so been enjoying. Caleb wanted those back. He didn’t like worry and doubt creeping into the beautiful mix of rare happiness and nerves being ablaze. The look on Wyatt’s face was…suggestive though, Caleb having seen it more than enough times to recognize that smile. Yet, he was still confused as Kieran slinked up to the shifter’s back and pressed against him.

Was his present going to be Wyatt?

If that was what they wanted he was okay with letting tonight go that way but he couldn’t help the disappointment that had settled over what had previously been such a serene existence. He’d been looking forward to letting loose with someone who deserved to see that part of him. The zombie was seconds from backing away from the two until a hand pulled Caleb closer. His eyes widened as he watched Kieran’s lips ghost over Wyatt’s skin before they were pressed against his own in a feverish exchange, the intent of both of their words starting to hit home. 

Oh. They wanted…he couldn’t…could he? Not with his brain short circuiting the way that it was. He couldn’t even let a full thought process before instinct set in and Caleb’s body started to react on its own. Eyes fluttered shut, a hand came up to cup Kieran’s cheek while another pressed into Wyatt’s side and squeezed as if to ask if this was okay. Sure, his boyfriend had told him that he was free to be with others if he wanted and he’d basically already encouraged it but it still felt like he was doing something wrong as the shifter got caught between them. As much as he wanted to throw caution to the wind, as much as those lips were sending him spiraling through a world he’d missed so dearly, he pulled back to glance warily between the two before finally settling on Wyatt. “You want this, right?”

—

“Merde,” Wyatt hissed as he watched them lock lips, Caleb only fumbling for a moment before leaning into it. He leaned his head back against Kieran’s shoulder, eyes closing as a sigh slipped from him, the feeling of two people pressed against him having become one of his very favorites. Turning his head to the side, his lips grazed Kieran’s neck and jawline, hands mimicking the one Caleb had pressed against his side as the zombie looked for approval. But it wasn’t enough, of course, this almost certainly being his first foray into this kind of situation, and so Wyatt lowered his chin again when he heard the man’s voice asking him if he wanted this.

“Yes, baby,” he breathed. “Long as you do.” There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Caleb did, if his reaction to Kieran kissing him was any indication. Besides, no matter how the chips fell tonight, he knew for a fact that they’d be having a great time together. In an effort to really drive home the assertion that this was fine, Wyatt craned his neck forward to follow Kieran’s example and taste what alcohol remained on the zombie’s lips and tongue. 

As the shortest in the trio (and being the one sandwiched in the middle), he was at the mercy of their movements, but still found himself clutching at them both, head tilted up toward the ceiling and eyes closed again as he let the intense sensations of the high drown him, his lips cracked in a wide grin whenever he wasn’t using them to tease one of his dancing partners. He could stay here forever, he thought — hell, if there was a way to remain in this moment, he’d have taken it. The sunflower bud was opening up again, petals stretching toward the sky, face aglow. A pity it only ever seemed to happen in dark places.

—

Caleb’s brief state of panic hadn’t been given much notice, hard to see in the dim lights and through the haze of bliss but mostly because Kieran wasn’t looking for it, assuming all parties were on the same page. A correct assumption if the vigor in which the usually timid zombie responded to the kiss, opening up just like that first night, pliable and full of want. It was a wonderful contrast, the nice chill of Caleb’s hand almost gentle in its touch opposed to the warm and considerably more obscene feel of Wyatt’s lips. If this was always the case with couples, Kieran would have no objections to people’s incessant need for monogamy. Well, loose monogamy if that were the case. Even the slight interruption to talk about feelings didn’t irritate the faun, his skin and insides too alight with the promise of this, but the question was ridiculous - there was nothing but want here. As it should be. 

The faun’s smile was bright and a bit dangerous as the two men kissed, the deal seemingly sealed as Kieran was flawlessly integrated into what had previously been a blissful experience of two. And blissful it was, every touch heightened, whether the brush of lips or warm breath, the teasing promise of groping hands or the friction of bodies moving uninhibited to music. The familiar taste of Wyatt felt just a bit brighter than other times, only vaguely noticed as Kieran had more pressing matters, literally, to focus on. Enjoyable as this was, there was room for more and since overindulgence had always been the name of the game…

“I think he’ll like seeing you that way. You look so pretty when you beg.” The words were spoken right against Wyatt’s ear, Kieran’s hand splayed across the throat of a predator in human form while his gaze stayed on Caleb, another killing machine reduced to the pure instinct of seeking out pleasure. Finding Caleb’s hand, Kieran moved it with purpose up the chest of the man bracketed between them, leading the touch, his own body thrumming in appreciation at the responsive way Wyatt’s unhinged euphoria deliciously ebbed and flowed. And then the grip was turning to Caleb’s wrist, tugging and leading him along with a wicked grin, well aware that the shifter would be right behind them in the pursuit of some privacy. 

—

As soon as Caleb had asked the question he’d found it to be a useless pursuit of knowledge he already had. Wyatt looked so unconcerned with the scene unfolding, satisfied even, just before the shifter’s words took away any remaining worry that might have lingered and kissed him as Kieran had moments before. The time lost for it to sink in that the three of them were all in with this new arrangement for the night felt like the biggest travesty but the concern melted away along with everything else that wasn’t the feel of both men wanting him. The zombie would never understand it. He would never be able to comprehend why two of the most beautiful men he had ever met would want him of all people but he wasn’t going to question it again. It was something he couldn’t focus on when all he wanted was more of the euphoria their touch brought on.

There was a small groan against Wyatt’s lips to accompany Kieran’s dirty mouth, the words prompting him to break the connection to stare over at the fae just as his hand was led over the muscle he relished. Lips parted, eyes roaming between the both of them, he was glad that his stare was broken by Kieran leading him to god knows where so that he didn’t continue blinking dumbly. The zombie didn’t care to know where they were heading, more than happy to follow blindly as long as they would both be there with him. 

He quickly took hold of Wyatt’s hand as if he wasn’t aware the other would follow, lacing their fingers so the blind could lead the blind, the touch of their skin against his spurring him on. Caleb pulled gently until Wyatt was next to him, his arm curling around the shifter's waist before he leaned close to whisper bold afterthoughts against the shell of the man’s ear. “You look so good when you’re pressed between us.” He said the words as if he wished to see that very image for the rest of the night. 

— 

There sure were a lot of compliments being thrown his way, and Wyatt was nothing if not the kind of person who would do anything to hear more. He was familiar with the kind of dynamic that Kieran preferred when it was just the two of them, which seemed to have not changed. As for Caleb, well… this was breaking new ground, in a way. New, fun ground. However the duo wanted him, who was he to argue? He wanted this. Kieran understood him in all the ways that he’d tried to hide (but no longer did), and Kieran provided that effortless release into utter bliss that even drugs could no longer provide on their own. Caleb, dear Caleb, was someone that he adored. That he wanted to share in this euphoria with, wanted to be able to show that side of himself that carried none of the weight usually clinging to his back like an aufhocker, growing heavier by the day. It was fucking impossible without help like the influence that Kieran could provide, so he was glad for this. And he was going to make the most of it. 

Caleb’s confident declaration was met with a look rather than words: one that assured him that such an arrangement could absolutely be found again. Once they were beyond the threshold of one of the private rooms, drenched in colored light and surrounded by the deep thrum of the music’s bass line, Wyatt untangled himself from the pair and started to disrobe with an expression on his face that could only be described as hunger. 

What a feast this would be.

[nicolekart]

The bunch of doodles inspired by the latest chapter of this amazing fanfic I've been crazy about for a few weeks.

(I was sketching this yesterday, when I saw The Mighty Nein news :3)

the golden thread around your neck whispered visions of my undoing by MarsBar2019

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43430334/chapters/111900268

[eremington]

@caleb-lycaon

After everything that had happened with Jax, Elijah had asked to meet with Caleb so the two of them could talk in person. He'd been disappointed to hear about Jax leaving the pack but had kept any doubts to himself so he wouldn't undermine Caleb. Still, the state the beta had been in had been concerning, and that was how he'd ended up here fighting between the side of him that wanted to admonish Caleb and the side that understood where his distress came from. He knocked and stood back, hooking his hands into his pockets. "Caleb? It's Elijah."

[sleepyyghostt]

sylvester lycidas is someone who will Take matters into his own hands

[mikaels0n-elijah-writing]

@choserage aks: "you look tired. should i take over? // caleb i.e. keeping an eye on her" + blood stains his clothes and hands yet he pays no mind to either. it wasn't his and he hadn't stopped to change when he'd heard about her recent run-in with hunters. he'd gone to her to make sure she was alright to find her sleeping, though not peacefully. it's there that Elijah finds him, lingering in the doorway. "i'm failing her," he said softly. "i can keep her safe from demons and angels or other monsters but there's nothing i can do about the hunters." they won't stop until they're eradicated yet he'd made sure that nothing could kill them. he can't be here 24/7 and it ate him up inside. he's fully aware of the debt he owes Elijah and it's that which he addresses now. "thank you for being there."

The vampire nodded briefly. He was tired. He hadn't really slept for a few days and even if it wasn't absolutely necessary for vampires, he could feel the strength leaving him. Human blood helped, but not everything was possible to compensate for and Elijah didn't know the last time he'd been hunting... should he dare?

„Please call me if you have any problems. I can be back here right away.“ He and Caleb were whispering, so the man slowly rose from his chair and took one last look at Ana. Her breathing was calm, she was fast asleep. Then he left the room with Caleb. Elijah said goodbye and walked out of the door. He desperately needed blood. 

It was like a thunderstorm that broke over him when he got back to the flat. Caleb was covered in blood, his clothes literally sticking to him. Since Ana was safe, even if her sleep was restless, the vampire took care of Caleb for the time being. The blood that was on him didn't belong to him, so that was secondary. The vampire helped the other to his feet and helped him to the sofa. It could be reupholstered if the blood didn't come out. He sank down next to him.

„She means something to me,“ Elijah confessed. When he was with Ana, it was nice. It was different. It helped him. But even he was powerless over what had happened here. Demons and other creatures that he first had to get to know. „You have to teach me the weaknesses of demons. If you're not here, I need to be able to take them out.“ His voice was quiet, but sounded serious.

[reiremington]

location: fire station with: @caleb-lycaon

When getting back into town, he knew he had to get a job sooner rather than later. He only had so much savings that he could coast on before he would need income, and he wasn't about to go looking for help from his family. It seemed like a no-brainer to call the fire station, especially when he'd spent the last several years fighting fires in another city. Rei could only hope he wouldn't see anyone who recognised him on the way.

To his surprise, when he arrived at the fire station, there was a face he was actually happy to see. "You wouldn't happen to know if there's a job opening here, would you?"

[nellasbookplanet]

Actually loving how the different critical role campaigns exist in relation to themselves, each other, and the world at large, and how their different narrative structures ripple outward.

Campaign 1 was story driven. Not to say the characters weren’t deeply important and dynamic, but their growths were largely driven through and by the plot. They were on a mission and grew along with that mission, and as a mission driven archetypically heroic party they also left very few loose threads by the end.

Campaign 2, meanwhile, was more insular and character driven. Where Vox Machina traveled all over the world and planes outside the main setting of Tal'Dorei, the Mighty Nein largely stayed in Wildemount, allowing for a more intimate and political look at it’s cultures. Instead of story and characters revolving around plot, plot revolves around character. We only got to see Yasha’s tribe in the epilogue, because her growth didn’t require facing them. We didn’t face Uk’otoa, because Fjord’s arc culminated in embracing the Wildmother, not in facing his former patron. Similarly, while the entire Assembly was an antagonistic force, only Trent was dealt with directly, because he was the only one directly tied into one of the pc's arcs.

The larger world building let us know about Molaesmyr and Ludinus, about the Luxon, even about Ruidus to some extent, but the Mighty Nein weren’t a typically heroic party here to save the world and solve every mystery, but a group of broken people finding it in themselves to heal, and to end their journey ready to face greater threats in the future. They were still getting the Assembly and Uk'toa, they just weren’t doing it in the main narrative, because they were irrelevant to the growth of the characters. Of course, that also left a lot of threads hanging, which brings us to campaign 3.

By now, it seems pretty clear that campaign 3 is another plot driven story rather than the more meandering, character driven narrative of c2. That leaves the cast free to pick up on the many larger mysteries in world building left in the wake of the last campaign. What is the nature of the Luxon? Of Ruidus? Of Aeor and the aeormatons? Half the party was just plopped down not far from the ruins of Molaesmyr, Ludinus' former home - will they go there? One of them is tied to the Luxon and dunamancy, another to Ruidus and Predathos - will we get to know the true nature of these entities?

Much like c1, the characters of this campaign are driven and shaped by events rather than shaping their own events. The difference is, c1 began as a blank slate, whereas c3 has history. Powerful allies and enemies alike are tied to former campaigns because such is the nature of the world. Mysteries left to solve were introduced earlier but approached only now because this is a campaign whose narrative and characters are served by approaching them. The world is dynamic. Alive. One story merges into the next, and new heroes are born on the shoulders of the last, ready to be shaped by their own narrative.

[the-cosmos-withinus]

Shadow Puppets AU - Just some sillies