#jester having a childish crush on him then giving up on it and then fjord realising and sloooowly gently pursuing her instead

[chockfullofsecrets]

Fjord and 17 for the writing prompt? No pressure tho :)

17. Worst “someone finding out you’re ticklish” experience?

“You okay, man?”

Everything hurts. Fjord doesn’t even bother keeping the whine from his voice. “I think this is it for me, first mate… it’s getting dark…”

“That was, like, seventy sit-ups, come on - I’ve literally seen Jes feeling up your abs, so I know you have them-”

“Tell the others to remember me kindly,” he groans, hiding a grin as Beau scoffs at him. “And tell Veth if she touches my stuff I’ll haunt her from the afterlife.”

That earns him another laugh, this one a little louder as his impromptu drill sergeant stalks over. “Up and at ‘em, sailor, you’ve gotta give me fifty more pushups before breakfast!”

With one arm flung lazily across his face to block the first searching rays of dawn, he’s caught completely off guard as Beau digs her bare toes into his side. “Nnh! - hey -”

He flings his arm down to protect himself, already squirming away from the prodding sensation before he catches the look on Beau’s face. “Ouch,” he rushes out, trying to distract her, “gods, did your teachers kick you like that?”

“Yep.” She somehow manages to pop the last letter while maintaining the biggest leer he’s ever seen. It’s terrifying. “How the fuck have you kept that a secret for so long?”

Fjord eyes her warily. “Somehow, it never came up.” Somehow being a lot of held breaths and stifled coughing while various clerics poke at him. He’s not half as bad as some of the others, anyways, as far as he knows - and maybe he wishes it would come up, sometimes, sitting at the edge of piles of tangled limbs and easy laughter and muffled squeals of protest that never seem to be serious enough to take notice of, but - well. That’s a can of worms he’s not really sure how to start opening.

Beau’s still grinning. “So… pushups or I tell Jester?”

He gapes. “You wouldn’t.”

Beau shrugs. “Don’t have to, if you’re laughing your ass off loud enough to wake her up.” 

She levels ten wriggling fingertips in his direction. Fjord shudders, an involuntary motion starting somewhere around his tailbone and shooting up to prickle at the back of his teeth. “And if I’m not going to get those pushups without some encouragement, then-”

Fuck it, he’s never been good at waiting for things to happen to him. “Yeah?” he jabs, rolling to snatch Beau’s calves and bring her down on top of him before she can retort.

“Fuck,” she yelps. And then, more desperate, as he wriggles a hand into the soft part of her side - “Fuhuhuck!”

He laughs and levers himself up on an elbow, just about ready to declare his victory - and then Beau clamps an arm around him, pushing him down flat as insistent fingers worm between them and onto his stomach, and he can’t stop laughing. 

“Hhhah - ahahha - shit, shit, help-” He wasn’t joking about everything hurting, and even as he does his best to wrestle her off he’s finding his muscles don’t want to help with much except curling up into the fetal position and letting the writhing, helpless feeling dancing under his skin squeeze every last bit of breath out of his lungs. 

“Oh, now you want help? Didn’t seem like you wanted my help with training, asshole,” Beau threatens - but she’s laughing too, almost childish giggles leaking out of her as she crushes him into a bear hug and tickles at his sides.

“Pleheheeese,” Fjord wheezes. “Ow, shit, my face hurts.”

“Fiiine,” Beau complains,finally, a little breathless herself as she rolls off him. Not that it stops her from digging her knuckles painfully into his shoulder. “The pushups aren’t going away, though, we’re just gonna do them tomorrow.”

It’s objectively a bad idea to try and tickle her again in revenge, Fjord thinks. He does it anyway. 

[sunflowersloth]

Onesie- Caleb Widogast x Reader

Requested By: Anon.

Request: “Would you maybe do angst #8 with Cad and/or Misc #11 with Caleb? :0″

Warnings: Bit of swearing and some awkwardness

A/N: Okay so I love Caleb so much, I had so much fun writing this and I hope that you all like it as much as I do! He’s a really interesting and fun character to write. Enjoy!

Frumpkin loves you, like a lot. You blamed Caleb for it since he used the cat as a means to comfort you. Sure, Frumpkin still loved Caleb more than you, but given the chance, the orange cat loved to curl up in your lap and nuzzle against your torso. You loved the cat as well, always willing to pet him or give him a place to rest on your lap.

You were sitting in the room you shared with Yasha when a soft knock came at the door. You stared at it, before turning back to the book you held in your hands.

“It’s open!” You called. The door softly cracked up and you looked up to see Caleb step softly into the room, Frumpkin sitting on his shoulder. You smiled up at him, marking your spot in the book and placing it down next to you.

“Hey, Caleb! What brings you to my humble inn room?” You asked as you stood up and walked over to him. Caleb gave a light, and rare, smile at you as you looked up at him with your bright eyes and big smile. It was the same look that you gave everyone, but when it was directed towards him, he felt like he was the only man in the world who you looked at that way.

“Caleb?” You asked, staring at him with a, now amused, smirk on your lips. The Zemnian man realized he had been staring at you without saying anything for a while now. He cleared his throat, looking away from your eyes as a light flush painted his cheeks.

“Oh, ja. Um, Fjord, Beauregard, and I are going to the bookstore in town and I was wondering if you would look after Frumpkin for me? It won’t be for very long, just an hour or so.” He said. You stared at him, eyebrows furrowed.

“Really? I mean I’d be happy to, but you usually take Frumpkin everywhere.” You observed. Caleb nodded, twiddling with his fingers.

“Ja, normally I do, but I’m afraid Frumpkin won’t be allowed in this particular shop, and the guards here aren’t particularly fond of random cats,” Caleb said, shivering at the memory of a guard kicking his cat out of this plane of existence. You nodded in understanding, a smile once again gracing your features.

“I see. Well, Frumpkin is always welcome to stay with me!” You exclaimed, reaching out to pet the cat on Caleb’s shoulder. Caleb froze ever so slightly as your hand was so close to his face and he could smell the vanilla-scented oil that you used on your wrist as a relaxation scent. Frumpkin nuzzled into your hand, and as you pulled away, he poofed off of Caleb’s shoulder and onto yours. 

“Well then, I should probably go. Fjord and Beauregard are probably waiting. You nodded, and just as Caleb began to walk out the door, you perked up, remembering something.

“Wait!” You exclaimed. Caleb stopped, turning back to look at you with an expression of concern and worry. You gently lifted Frumpkin onto the bed, before grabbing your coin purse and handing him 5 gold pieces. He furrowed his brows at you as you smiled. 

“I’m almost done with my book. I trust you the most of anybody to get something good for me to read. You can keep the change, maybe buy yourself a book!” You said, your voice clear and bright. Caleb flushed as you stared at the gold and back to you. 

“Um, sure. Of course.” He said, before nodding to you and rushing out the door. You smiled at the place where your favorite Zemnian wizard had stood. You turned back to Frumpkin, sitting on the bed and petting him gently. The cat purred as you ran your hand down his back and along his tail. 

It wasn’t long before Frumpkin moved to lay beside you, curling up and looking up at you. Not moving as to not disturb him, you practiced bits of magic with your hands. The latest bit of magic was simple but would help with sewing and mending clothing that needed to be made or mended. 

Frumpkin watched you happily as you took little bits of cloth that you bought at the store and used your magic to form a small blanket. There was a sudden knock at the door, as you jumped slightly and looked over. 

“Open!” The door opened and you smiled as a blue tiefling bounded in, smiling at you. 

“Hey Y/N! I thought I’d come over here cause Beau is gone and I’m really bored.” She said as she walked over and plopped down at the edge of the bed. You smiled at her and nodded as she picked up the blanket with curiosity. 

“Oh, were you practicing your magic?” Jester asked, looking at the sewed piece of cloth. You nodded.

“I figured it might be useful, to mend clothes and make new ones if needed.” You said. Jester nodded, and there was a moment of silence before she got a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Y/N, you know what you should do? You should make Frumpkin a little onesie!” She exclaimed. Your eyes widened as you shook your head.

“No, I don’t think Caleb would like that very much.”

“Y/N, just because you have a crush on Caleb does not mean that you shouldn’t have a little fun every once and awhile.” You blushed red at Jester’s comment as you felt your heart flutter.

“I do not have a crush on Caleb!” You exclaimed. Jester gave you a disbelieving look as you spluttered out the sentence.

“I know you do. You’re not very subtle about it. You always talk to him in the back of the cart and offer to go to the boring book stores with him, and you bought him that ring at the festival and-“ With every reason Jester gave nonchalantly, you blushed even more until you finally had enough. 

“Fine! To prove that I don’t have a crush on Caleb, I’ll make a onesie for that cat!” You exclaimed, taking a bit of cloth and putting pieces under Frumpkin and on top of him. With a bit of focus and some hand movement, the cloth turning into one piece, loose enough that it could be taken off, but tight enough that it would stay on without danger of it falling. Jester squealed happily at the sight. 

“Aw, Y/N it’s adorable!” She exclaimed, and you had to admit, Frumpkin looked cute in the green wool onesie around his body. Frumpkin even seemed to enjoy it, nuzzling into your torso and your arm as you and Jester cooed at him. You were both so invested with the cat that you didn’t notice the door opening.

“Jester, Beau is looking for you-“ Your eyes widened as you looked to the door to see Caleb staring at the scene in front of him. Jester, hearing Caleb’s statement, gave one last pat to Frumpkin and a wink to you before getting up. 

“Alright, I’m going to go! Goodnight Caleb, Y/N!” She exclaimed, before exiting the room and shutting the door. You and Caleb were still staring at each other, an awkward silence in the room, before Caleb cleared his throat. 

“Is the cat in a onesie?” He asked. Your cheeks flushed as you looked at Frumpkin and back to him. 

“No?” You said, but you knew that there was no way to act like Frumpkin wasn’t in a snug, wool onesie. There was more silence before Caleb spoke up again. 

“How did my cat get a onesie on him?” Caleb asked. You stared at him for a moment before your explanation came tumbling out in an attempt to explain yourself. 

“Jester came in when I was working on my sewing spell and told me to make Frumpkin a onesie and I told her no, but she said that I shouldn’t let my crush on you stop me from having fun and I didn’t want her to be right so I made a onesie and-“ You stopped short as your brain caught up with your mouth. You realized that you had just revealed your crush on Caleb, and your eyes widened as your face went red again. 

“You… you have a crush on me?” Caleb said. He sounded shocked, and a bit confused. You looked away from him suddenly as you groaned in frustration, feeling upset at the fact that your crush had been revealed in such a rash and embarrassing way. 

“Shit! I wasn’t going to tell you until I had a plan, or if I knew that you liked me back. It was supposed to stay secret.” You said, covering your eyes with your hands so you wouldn’t have to look at him. There was a moment, but it felt like an eternity. Your heart pounded and face burned. 

“Well, I wasn’t going to tell you until later… but, um, I like you too.” Caleb’s voice was timid and he seemed very unsure. You hesitantly took your hands from your face and stared at him. He was avoiding your gaze, fidgeting with his fingers. As you look at him, you suddenly giggle, realizing how incredibly childish this felt. Caleb looked at you, confused and worried, but you shook your head, laughing.

“I’m happy! I am! This just feels like a situation fifteen-year-old Y/N would have been in back at the academy I went to.” You explained. Caleb relaxed slightly, before letting another rare smile slip onto his face. 

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He said. You stood up off the bed, picking Frumpkin up in your hands. You set him on the shoulder and smiled at Caleb. He was nervous again, after all, you were so close to him, smiling at him with that smile. 

“I’m glad we feel the same way about each other.” You said softly. Caleb nodded, staring at you awkwardly. You smiled brighter, before glancing down at his lips, asking for permission. With a burst of almost strange confidence, he leaned down closing the small distance between you. 

Your lips tasted like vanilla too. It was strange to him and also nice to know that your taste matched your smell. Your lips moved along with his chapped ones and you smiled into the kiss at the feeling. His lips felt nice, though warm and chapped. You pulled away, eyes gleaming and smiling as you stared into Caleb’s blue eyes. 

“You should go before Yasha walks in and thinks something that’s not happening is happening.” You said. Caleb nodded, smiling gently at you, before moving to leave. Halfway to the door, he stopped turning back to you and grabbing something from his bag. He pulled out a book, handing it to you. You smiled at the romance novel you held, a genre guilty pleasure that only Caleb knew about. You smiled, thanking him, before watching him leave with a onesie clad Frumpkin. 

When Yasha entered a few minutes later, you were still smiling and had begun to read the gift from Caleb. You didn’t stop smiling even as you went to bed that night, smiling at the small mended pillow, covered in cat hair, that sat on the ground by your bed. 

[a-wanderin-whirlybird]

Trust, Stress, and Love A Mighty Nein Fic

Ooookaaay. I’m gonna put my hand into the Critical Role fire and first gonna explain this web of a Poly ship I have for the Mighty Nein. Fjord, Caleb, Jester and Molly are a unit, Yasha and Beau are a unit and Nott has a massive crush on Yasha. So yeah not gonna explain the platonic and familial connections I headcannon here but enjoy the fluff!

Nott for all her abrasiveness and selfish tendencies, really did like the family she had found herself in. And, though she feared to even think of such a thing, she trusted them very quickly. Caleb was a given, he was her boy, but realizing that she trusts Beau, Fjord, Jester, Yasha and even Mollymauk scared her. But no matter how much her own trust scares her she wanted to show them all she cared, that she did trust them and wanted them to be ok. And for one of them she wanted to show them that she cared just a bit more. The plan arose after the failure of a heist at the High Richter’s home. Tensions were high, and everyone was stressed to hell and back. Nott had just realized how much she wanted to watch over these childish idiots, they had become her family as well. And the plan had entered her mind. Now it had been a year and it was done she just needed one more thing but... It required trust.

"Do you trust me?" Nott asked over dinner that night to the confused glances of the Mighty Nein. In a great stroke of luck even Yasha was there and she watched Nott carefully.

"Of course, Nott!" Jester said with a big smile.

"I'm more curious why you're asking." Fjord said in his slow drawl. "Don't think it’s that important right now."

"Oh, but it is. Because I've been doing something, and I need you to trust me when I finish the last bit of it." Nott said trying to dodge exactly what she had been doing.

"You're not planning on blowing up on of the Trispires are you?" Molly asked in his usual Casual voice.

"Oh no! Gods no! It’s a surprise but I need a bit of Hair from each of you. Just to finish it off."

"You're not cursing us or anything yeah? Cause if you are-"

"-You'll beat me senseless. I know Beau. But I promise that its good, but it’s not done, and you won’t know what it is until we need it. Please just trust me!" Nott begged. She wanted this to work.

Suddenly a matted lock of black and white hair was thrust into Notts hand and was quickly joined by a greasy red lock and a fluffy blue Lock. Nott looked up and smiled at Jester, Caleb, and Yasha.

"Thank you." Nott mumbled as a Lavender lock, a green lock and a brown lock joined the pot. Though the latter was given reluctantly.

"Now Nott, we are putting our trust in you blindly, try not to lose it." Molly warned, trying to look serious, but there was that playful twinkle in his eyes that showed when Molly was excited.

"I know. And I promise it won't hurt anyone." Nott then darted upstairs with a big worried smile. She was so close.

The next day Nott was gone before anyone woke up. She grabbed the hair and her bag and quickly made her way to the Invulnerable Vagrant. As she had for the last few months she snuck around back and knocked. One of the Pumatts opened the door with a beaming, if sleepy, smile.

"Well! Come on in little Lady! We have the last ritual all ready if you got the last ingredient."

"Yes! I have it and I'm ready!" Nott smiled as she hurried in. It would take some time before she knew if this all worked. But Nott could be patient when the need arose.

It took a week for Nott's surprise to reveal itself. Sadly, it wasn’t at the most opportune time. They were back in the Gentleman's presence when Molly, who had been subtly fidgeting as Cree stared him down, suddenly vanished in a puff of peacock feathers. Nott mentally smiled, the exit had occurred as she wanted but now she had to do damage control. It was surprisingly easy to lie to the collected criminals about what happened. She simply said that 'Lucien' likely wanted to go check on something and used a magic item to teleport. It helped that the Gentleman trusted her more now. After that things went downhill.

Beau was the next one to vanish, her anger getting the better of her and she vanished in a puff of fluttering blue fabric. Which in turn made Jester, Caleb, and Yasha vanish. Jester vanished in a puff of glitter, Yasha had flower petals, and Caleb had paper. Fjord waited to round on Nott until they reached the tavern where he immediately vanished in a puff of green smoke. Nott nodded and whispered a command word to join her family, leaving behind a plain bag on the floor of her room.

Nott popped into existence in a maze of pottery and glass. It was all still intact which made Nott worry.

"She probably didn’t find it yet. Its fine." Nott muttered to herself as she made her way past the maze and to a large space filled with paints, paper, clay, and all manner of art supplies, also all untouched. Nott really began to worry as she passed the beach, the game filled alley, the sparring ring, and the library and all had been untouched. Maybe it had failed? Maybe they had vanished, and Nott had just lost the family she fallen so hard into.

"Nott?" Nott froze as she was darting through the stocked outdoor kitchen and turned to find Yasha, an arm full of all kinds of flowers and a bag of books behind her. Nott released a shaky breath at the sight of Yasha. A small blush crossed her hooded face at Yasha’s almost soft and innocent stare.

"I-is everyone here? They're ok?" Nott shakily asked, Yasha nodded.

"They're in the field. Nott did you-" Nott didn’t hear a word Yasha said, she was rushing off to the Flower Field. That Field took four months to finish and every ounce of Nott's intelligence to make. Nott was relieved to find everyone sitting in the field staring around at the blue sky and the rolling clouds as a light breeze blew by. Jester turned to see Nott and dashed towards Nott scooping her up into a massive hug.

"Nott this place is amazing! Did you make this?" Jester asked in a whisper as the rest of the party joined. Caleb joined the hug wordlessly as Nott nodded.

"Yeah, well everyone gets stressed all the time and I thought a place just for us where we could relax, and you know, be us would be good."

"How much did this cost?" Fjord asked. " I imagine you didn’t do it alone and this could not be cheap."

"The Pumatts helped a lot but don’t worry about it."

"You didn’t sell yourself to some shady business, did you? Do we have to beat someone up for  you?" Beau asked cracking her knuckles.

"No! No no! I just have to help Pumatt with a new spell he's working on. And well I don’t have a collection anymore but that's ok. This is better." Nott said, her voice muffled by the now growing group hug she was enveloped in.

"Nott, you didn't need to do this." Caleb whispered sounding more relaxed than ever.

And that’s why she did it. Everyone was always stressed. None of them really had a childhood. That’s what all the games were for. And sometimes you just needed to break stuff, or draw, or find a quiet corner out in a field or by a lake shore. Or maybe a nice meal in peace.  

“What is this place even?” Fjord asked looking around at the Mountain rimmed valley. “Is it a Pocket Dimension or what?”

“Well no. Um we are in a bag, but the bag is more like a portal to a Valley in the Wilds. Pumatt and I spent a long time finding a good Spot with enough Ley Lines to get the Protection enchantments set up.” Nott fidgeted a bit as Fjord and Molly joined the group hug. In her nervousness Nott used an age old nervous habit of hers. She info dumped.

“See I wanted to make sure you didn’t feel like you were in a confined space cause Molly and Caleb don’t like those, Jester likes the sky, Fjord and Yasha are used to open spaces and Beau always looks happier outside of a building. But doing a Dimensional Pocket wouldn’t give you that you’d know you were in a pocket and an enclosed space, so we decided doing a portable portal to a secured place in the wilds would work best. So we spent two months using a lot of divination to find a good place and we found here and no monsters come here and no travelers come through here because there is no resources or roads but we still needed to make it safe and no random person or monster could wander in and the Gentleman couldn’t track us so Pumatt and I made protective enchantments but we had to invent them ourselves and once they were in place I had to get it all nice and warm. So I sold my Collection to get the supplies I needed to dam up a River and divert it down here and make the lake and beach and get water for the field and so I could build the Kitchen and the Library and stock it and so I could get the alchemy ingredients to change the weather from cold and snowy to nice and comfortable and I had to talk to so many kids to figure out what Games they like and how to play them and I bought out about 30 potters and glassmakers and Pumatt enchanted everything so they will repair themselves and the Kitchen will never run out of food and I had to figure out how to plant the flowers and get them to grow and I had to go into Chastity Nook to get all those romance and smut novels for Jester and some specially picked ones for Beau and Molly and lots of History books, and other stuff that Fjord and Caleb would like and Yasha too. And the Sparring arena took a lot of time cause I had to sneak into the Kobold Sol to see what they had and by then I had no money so I did a lot of work for the Gentleman so I could get the money and stuff I needed quickly and then I needed your hair so that The portal enchantment would recognize you and if you got too stressed or needed an out it would teleport you here there’s even a safe word and its Hawk so if you need to go quick without waiting you can just say it and If you want to leave you say Lollipop and- oof!” Nott was very quickly smothered by her family giving her the biggest hug, even Beau had joined in. 

“Nott… thank you.” Molly whispered.

“You really did good. This... This is amazing.” Yasha said a little awkwardly. 

“Yeah. ya did good.” Beau added.

“Nott. this is amazing. You did amazing, thank you.” Fjord said his voice a bit shaky.

“We can keep adding stuff to it I think. But we can’t really sleep here because it’s a portal in a flimsy bag and if it breaks then everything falls to shit here. but uh, it is ah good... it’s good.” Caleb added, knowledgeable as ever.

“Nott just one question,” 

“Yes Jester?”

“What does Pumatt and the Gentleman want in return for all this?” Jester asked, fear trickling into her voice as the Group hug separated, though Caleb kept holding Nott on his hip.

“Oh well, I just did some Sensitive jobs for the Gentleman that were high stakes and I did them really well. Pumatt had to call in some favors from the Cerberus people and so he wants me to test a new enchantment he’s working on and report the effects to him. He said I might like the Spell’s effects so I’m not too worried, but I will have to stay at his shop for a week or two.”

“Oh Nott.” Jester said with a Little gasp. 

“Nott. You really... that’s a lot. Just for us? That....” Yasha trailed off unsure what to do, Nott was a bit hypnotized by the light blush on Yasha’s face. Beau... Beau and Molly looked to each other and to Fjord who nodded. 

“Right we can discuss that later. Now Nott you know how to play those games yeah? Care to teach us?” Nott brightened and nodded. This was good. Very good.

As Fjord, Jester, Caleb and Yasha were led away by Nott, Beau and Molly turned to each other. Beau hissed.

“I have the Gentleman. You go to Pumatt.” 

“I was thinking the same thing.” Molly sneered. “If that fuck tries anything kick his ass.” 

“I was going to say the same thing to you.” and with that they both spoke the exit word and moved through the tavern and out into the city at Dusk.

First, Beau moved to the Evening Nip proper. She bustled down with a dangerous air, and the Gentleman smiled, like he was expecting perhaps a request for a job. Beau slammed one of the many business ends of her staff down on the sweaty elf’s table and glared him down. 

“What the fuck do you have on Nott? Whatever the fuck it is I want it gone. Now.” It was satisfying to see the Gentleman’s face screw up in confusion and... Oh! Ooooh! There was some fear there! Oh, that was beautiful! She had to get Jester to immortalize this and stick it in the new Kitchen for the future.

“I... do not know what you mean.” He said, carefully.

“You know that I know that you know what I mean.” Beau hissed, leaning in real close to the elf’s sweaty face. “She took some shadier than usual jobs from you. Things that she won’t mention outright but you can use to blackmail her later. I know how this dance goes. I’ve fucking danced it myself so I’m cutting it off here, now.” Beau’s grip on her staff tightened as she whipped around and smashed it into the Goliath’s face, she then brought down the end of the staff and vaulted herself up and kicked the Ogre in the face. The two went down like a sack of bricks. As the Gunslingers took aim she flipped back and pulled a dagger, holding it to the Gentleman’s throat. 

“Woah, woah! No need for that!” The Gentleman coughed. “Men, please. Put those away. Cree? Please fetch the... contracts for our friend Nott’s work. And get Cara to cover any... extra tracks.” 

Everyone started moving except Beau and the Gentleman. Only once Beau watched as every single bit of evidence of Nott’s involvement in any incident in the city or beyond was erased did Beau release the Gentleman. She made a show of scraping the ashes away and with a smirk walked silently out of the Evening Nip, right as she reached the open air, Beau vanished in a flurry of blue fabric. 

While Beau made an impression on the Gentleman, Molly strode to the Invulnerable Vagrant. He had purpose and he looked uncharacteristically grim. Nott put a great deal of trust and love into the little Family Molly had found and joined. Molly was never one to think too much on things but... the entire deal with Pumatt sounded wrong. He needed to at least know what it was Pumatt was planning.

“Ah, it’s good to see you again my friend.” One of the many Pumatt’s drawled. “Did you like the Little Lady’s surprise?” 

“Oh, we certainly love it but there is one little thing that needs discussing.” Molly said leaning against the counter.

“Ah well, if something’s wrong with any of the enchantments we’ll be happy to fix them for yea.”

“It’s not about the Magic friend, that works wonderfully. It’s the matter of the deal you and Nott made.” the Pumatt’s brow furrowed.

“Ah I see you’re worried about the agreement. Do not worry the spell we are working on is something very good, we just don’t want the Little Lady getting hurt and not be close by, so we can fix it yea see?”

“I understand that completely, but it would put us more at ease if we knew what you were trying to accomplish.” Pumatt twisted his lips into a confused pout. 

“One moment.” The Pumatt then vanished into the back room. For a while there were some hushed whispers that put Molly at ill ease. Then Pumatt prime appeared.

“Alright. I understand your fear, so I’ll even show you what we are working on, but you have to promise me one thing yea hear.”

“Of course.” Molly said.

“Don’t tell the little Lady. It’s a surprise for her.” Molly nodded and joined Pumatt Prime in his workshop, his worry slowly fading away.

After a long day of Showing her new family their new hidden safe space, which they named the Nein Valley, Nott and the others went to sleep. Nott watched as Beau and Molly whispered with everyone else. When she asked about it Molly just told her they tied up a lose end and that they trust her and asked if she trusted them.

It took a lot of effort to admit that she did out loud, but it made Molly smile and even Beau smiled her terrifying smile. It was good to. Nott turned to Caleb with a little smile and caught a glance at Yasha. A small sigh and a frown pulling at her lips. She had done good. Very good. It FELT good to! But. But…

She was still a Goblin. Always a Goblin. And sure, Caleb never said that he cared and Jester put flowers in her hair and call her pretty. But. Yasha never looked. That was something Nott secretly wished, she wanted Yasha to look. To really look. And maybe to see someone pretty.

But that wouldn’t happen. Nott knew that. It was like she told Molly under that Charm spell. She needed to change. She wanted to be normal, and pretty. Maybe then Yasha would look at her. 

Then the next morning Nott went to Pumatt’s like she had for an entire year, bright and early. When she entered the Magical ritual, she had seen Pumatt Prime make for 5 months was finally ready with the four Pumatt’s waiting in their places. Pumatt 2 (Nott had learned how to tell which one was which, she did not know what to do with this knowledge) smiled and beckoned her into the center of the ritual circle.

“Alright Little Lady, just sit there, now you may get sleepy, that’s fine you can go ahead and fall asleep. Now yea ready?” Nott nodded nervously as she sat. 

The ritual lit up and after a few minutes Nott suddenly crashed into unconsciousness. which was fortunate, Pumatt 3 would not later. She wasn’t awake to feel the sudden large surge of magic wash through her. Two hours later the ritual stopped and the Pumatts smiled as they began to check the Sleeping Nott over.

Caleb and Molly waited in the front of the Invulnerable Vagrant, Pumatt had sent for them a few hours ago stating that Nott was good to leave, and they didn’t need to wait a full week. He did not mention if the spell was a success or failure, so Molly was trying to comfort Caleb while the man paced nervously. When Pumatt walked out with Nott wrapped in a blanket Caleb shot forward and took his friend from Pumatt, not even stopping to look down. Molly sauntered over and smiled.

“So. This was your spell?” Molly asked as Caleb held onto the sleeping Nott.

“Yea well, the Little Lady spent a few long nights here and mentioned a few things here and there. We figured she could use a nice gift to yea know?” Molly smiled as Caleb gasped.

Nott woke up feeling warm, and with a light breeze washing over her. She blinked in the bright sunlight of the Nein Valley sitting up from her spot in the Nesting grounds as Jester named the pit full of blankets and pillows. As Nott tried to stand a blue hand shot up and pulled her back into a cuddle pile that had formed around her. As Nott went tumbling down she caught sight of something odd. 

Her skin was a deep brown and her hair was tightly curled, poufy, and black. Nott started to shake. Jester sat up pulling Nott into a hug and yawned.

“You awake Nott?”

“What? What is it?” Nott hissed between breaths.

“Pumatt’s spell worked, do you want to see?” Jester asked already reaching into her bag of holding and pulling out a mirror. Nott didn’t say anything, she just gasped.

She was a young, normal, Halfling girl. With brown eyes, Brown curly hair, and tan skin, her ears were pointed but not as big as they used to be. Nott felt like crying. 

“I’m... I’m normal.” Fjord sat up from beneath Jester, pulling them both into a hug.

“It’s a more powerful Disguise Self spell. No one can dispel it but you, and it doesn’t show as a spell. But if you ever want to go back to be your nice Goblin self you can. You can also be your equally nice Halfling self.” Fjord said with a yawn. Nott froze.

“You... you like me as a Goblin?” Nott asked her voice shaky.

“Of course!” Molly said sitting up, his arms and leg’s tangled with Caleb’s. He pulled Caleb up with him as he rose, and Caleb blinked. “You’re Nott either way.” 

“You’re still our slippery little thief either way.” Beau said from Yasha’s lap. “Oh, by the way, The Gentleman sends his regards, and all proof of your involvement with him is ashes.”

“You beat the crap out of his men, didn’t you?” Fjord asked, and Beau laughed. 

“Hell, yeah I did! Jester drew a picture of the Gentleman’s face when I did it!” 

“It’s a really good face.” Jester said with a giggle.

“But so, I can be a Halfling as much as I want? And you guys don’t care if I am not a Halfling? But...” Nott trailed off and Yasha moved over and picked up Nott from Jester’s Lap. There was a gasp as Yasha kissed Nott, right on the lips. Beau whistled.

“Hot! when do I get one?” Beau teased and got flicked on the head by a laughing Caleb. 

“Uh... what?” Nott asked.

“Nott I’ve wanted to kiss you since we cleared out the Will-o Wisps. You’re beautiful as a Goblin and as a Halfling.” Yasha hissed quickly. 

“But... I thought you liked Beau?” Nott asked Beau laughed.

“Girl’s got a lot of love for us Ladies. I like you Nott but not like that. But I’m willing to share Yasha since Yasha’s willing.” Nott suddenly blushed. This had to be a dream.

“Ow!” Nott squeaked as Jester pinched her.

“Nnnnope! Not a dream!” Crap she said that out loud!

“Yeah you did.” Molly teased.

“Still didn’t get your answer Nott! Yasha wants to date you Goblin or not!” Beau called. Nott nodded.

“Yeah. Yeah ok! I do want to try this! Yes!” Nott exclaimed kissing Yasha herself to the snickers and cheers of the family around her.

Trust built families. Trust built lives. Trust built love. And Nott would be damned if she didn’t love these people and trusted them with all her soul. And they loved her to.