#do I make Lithe Durge for the dramaTM????

[fatale-distraction]

I’ve been thinking about this for the last 48 hours so I hope you don’t mind further contribution to this ridiculous situation

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Durge wakes up one morning, having once again fallen asleep to the soothing sound of Barcus tinkering away, narrating his process and musing aloud. They roll over, fumbling for their phone, checking for new messages. There’s nothing new incoming, but…There’s an outgoing message they don’t remember sending. A message to Barcus.

“With a voice like that, you could have a different kind of channel altogether.” And three, THREE gushing water emojis. THREE.

GODS! When did this happen?! How did this happen?! They were practically sexting in their sleep, and how?!

Durge spends days on Read with no response. They check their phone obsessively, hoping to at least see those three little dots bobbing in the chat window, but nothing. Barcus continues to upload videos, all using sound clips edited together from things Durge has already heard. Nothing new, and nothing in their DMs.

Then quite late one evening, the phone chimes.

Durge hurtles across their apartment, leaving chaos in their wake as they scramble for their phone, swiping their messages open. There’s just one thing; a new sound file from Barcus.

It starts out as they usually do. The awkward bumps and curses as Barcus sets up the mic and fiddles with the settings, muttering to himself all the while.

Then…

The creak of bed springs and the rustle of fabric. A long pause and a frustrated sigh.

“I don’t know why I’m doing this, honestly.”

Durge’s heart is thundering.

“I’m not even positive this is what you meant, I—I can’t imagine what else you could’ve meant, but…”

Blood rushing.

“I’ve never done something like this before���I mean, recording it, that is. Obviously I’ve—well. Hem. N-nevermind.”

They’ve forgotten completely how to breathe, afraid to make the slightest sound.

“Alright. Here goes.”

There’s a long moment of silent air, and then the softest exhalation, tinged with a desperate edge. Harder breathing, punctuated by dry-mouthed gasps and needy whines. A slightly wet slap emerges from the background, slow at first and barely audible. Then faster and louder and wetter. Longer moans, the rustle of sheets being twisted in a tight fist. Open mouthed panting and breathless swears. Finally, a strangled groan, the noises abruptly slowing and quieting. A gentle “fuck,” the labored breaths easing. The crinkle of sheets as he flops back against them, then a clunk, “shit,” and the painful screech of feedback as the mic tumbles to the ground.

Hells.

I read a wonderful post about BG3 social media headcanons by @fatale-distraction and now I'm getting delerious ideas trying to fall asleep.

Barcus runs a tutorial channel. He likes it. He likes interacting with fans. He likes hearing that he helped people, and that he makes them understand. He likes tinkering. He likes video editing. He is a little annoyed at filming, but nothing can be perfect.

I imagine his channel to be kind of small. Not a lot of subscribers since most people find the tutorial they need and go. Therefore, that one comment stands out to him.

User273: I've been listening to your videos to fall asleep. Your voice is really soothing.

Now I don't even know if User 2(b) 7(g) 3(3), haha see what I did there, is Tav or... Durge??? Desperately seeking comfort and distraction from hearing their own thoughts?

Either way, they join the patreon, their parasocial comments feel more social as Barcus keeps thinking of them, and one thing leads to another where they start messaging. Kindness incarnate Barcus sends 273 full sound files from the videos unedited, for longer listening. It's charming. It's soothing. It's all 273 could want... Or is it? As nice as the voice is to fall asleep to, wouldn't you want to talk with that cute, humble man? Hear what other noises he can make?

Wulbren is there, not so gently urging Barcus to get a dating life. It's an attempt to rid them both of the awkwardness in their friendship post Barcus' confession. Unbidden until now, Barcus thinks of that one fan who likes hearing him talk. The fan who he has already crossed some boundaries with. Would it be wrong to get to know them better? Or would he be the bad guy with these ulterior motives?

I'm not committed to write this, but holy hell am I enjoying this blorbo while I can. Doesn't mean I'm sleeping, but I will manage eventually...