#shadowgast prompt

[maddyscrsideblog]

[ID: A digital illustration of Essek Thelyss and Caleb Widogast from Critical Role. Essek is a floating purple goat and Caleb is an orange sheep. End description.]

Aeor is for lovers (getting turned into farm animals)

[hello-eeveev]

Doodles? 👀 how abouttttt Caleb being silly and distracting while Essek is trying to knit? XD :3

Local wizard decides he is in desperate need of cuddles while his bf is in the middle of knitting.

But once Essek finished his row, he was happy to oblige 💕

[ariadne-mouse]

The wizards visit Frumpkin in the Feywild and he looks, uh, different. But more importantly: nap time.

@lady-shikibu drawing this lowered my blood pressure, thank you!

[kmackatie]

hey friend, 'garden' for the march writing prompts! ♥

hey friend! thansk for the prompt 💜this is also sleepverse, a few years down the line

(ask me a march writing prompt)

"How has he been?" asks Beau, kicking back until she's balancing dangerously on the back two legs of her chair. She does this often, with a disregard for how quickly it could backfire on her, but then her reactions are quicker than Caleb's. Still. If he uses his foot to make it rock slightly under her to see the brief flick of fear across her face, that is between him and himself. "Obsessive," Caleb replies, sliding his foot back carefully as the chair rocks back onto four legs. "Hey!" "What? He is!" "No, for the fucking--you asshole." Caleb flinches back instinctively--the dining table between them isn't any protection from Beauregard's flying elbows--before he grins. "He has spreadsheets for the optimal watering schedule and exactly when they need to be rotated to maximise the sun!" "Coming from Mr 'I tracked my notebook usage to set up an auto-delivery every six weeks' Widogast. Pot, kettle, black, Caleb." "And does the wildflower know when the rain is coming? No! Yet it still grows!" "Let the man have his passions!" Caleb snorts. Essek has many passions, plants being the most recent. Though in all honesty, this one he quite likes. He hasn't mentioned it yet, but having greenery around is nice. Calming. And it makes him smile to see Essek pottering around with his little watering can and moisture monitor and talking to the plants. He really did need something that got him away from work. But half the fun of arguing with Beauregard is the argument itself, regardless of the content. "Beauregard, I no longer have a laundry. It's become a greenhouse!" "You really should look at moving. Apartments really are not set up for gardens, and it's good for him. Good for you too." Caleb swallows past the lump in his throat. They have spoken about it, about how it might be time to start looking for somewhere a little bigger, with a little more space, they just can't quite agree on where yet. It's also something he never thought he would be in a place to achieve--a relationship, or a house, or anything stable. A blessing, and he's terrified of moving too quickly least the house of cards comes crashing down around him. "Eventually. " "I'll send you a listing that Dairon was talking about recently. Has a vegetable garden and a small greenhouse. I think you might convince him once you see it." "I--it's not necessarily him that needs convincing. It feels... the apartment is safe. But a house?" "You could have a library. A whole nerd room of books. Isn't that worth doing something a little scary?" He thinks about it. Takes a breath. "Ja. Ja, it can be. No promises, but send it to me later." "We'll make a proper adult out of you yet."

[critmaswishingtree]

Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Astrid Becke & Essek Thelyss, Astrid Becke & Caleb Widogast Characters: Astrid Becke, Caleb Widogast, Essek Thelyss Additional Tags: Light BDSM, Flogging, Book giving is the wizard love language, Verbal threats against plants Summary:

Essek, Caleb, and Astrid have an unconventional arrangement where everyone gets what they need.

There is a new book on the table. New to Essek, at least. Its leather cover is scuffed, but the gilt embossed border speaks to a certain level of expense. More than that, it’s the discolored edges of the parchment that catch his eye. They’re uneven, aged. He hangs up his light outer robe, stacks his shoes by the door, and dispels his disguise. It is a relief to see his own hands again. He is walking, but his footsteps hardly make a sound. He approaches the table, runs a finger across the beautiful cover. There is a harsh crack that echoes from upstairs, but he does not flinch.

This is part of the Critmas Wishing Tree Prompt Meme.  

Submit your own prompts here!

Fulfill other people’s prompts here!

Any questions, check out the FAQ!

[tepid-tea]

Hey all!!!

So one of the big reasons I’ve come back to Tumblr is I want to get back into writing. Some personal shit killed my creative flow but I want to heal that :3

So PROMPTS!!!!

Please send me something!!!

Anything:

Arcane- JayVik (I’m new to this fandom but it claws at meeeeee)

James Bond- 00Q

Critical Role- Widowmauk, Shadowgast or anyone really from C2

BG3- anything character for that! I also will do either my Tav or if you give me a run down of your Tav I can do that too :3

Uuuhh if you have any other suggestions let me know :3 and I will try!!

[bloopitynoot]

Shadowgast AUs I would 10000% read (if they exist/ed);

The Devil Wears Prada- you know exactly who Miranda is and exactly who Andy is - but instead of platonic, it's a slow burn, and they definitely get together in the end.

***Greys Anatomy- instead of wizards, they're surgeons in different specialties

Chef au 🙏 Essek is an established and respected chef Caleb is new(ish) to the scene with his restaurant

writer AU where they know of eachothers works but not by their name since they both write under an alias- maybe meet at a writing convention/conference?

Punk band au: There's a spot open in the Mighty Nein and Essek auditions?

Queer bookstore by day- bar by night, of course owned by the mighty nein. Closeted Essek keeps coming back for the literature and definitely not the cute ginger co owner 👀

***EDIT: There is a shadowgast Greys-Au in the works by @godanti it's got a chapter, and it's fantastic so far.

[ravendruid]

Tea Time

This fic is part of this writing challenge, as well as based on the prompt Tea Time from this prompt list. Day 3 - Use the words: kitchen, date, music [Read on AO3]

It has been a few days since Caduceus heard news from his blue tiefling friend, Jester. It doesn’t bother him much because he knows if something wrong happened, someone would have contacted him already, but he has to admit that he misses his friend’s bubbly voice in the mornings wishing him a good day and telling him news from home. Caleb doesn’t contact him as much as Jester does, so his silence is not as worrying, and as for Veth, she rarely messages him anyway. Of all his friends (they truly are nine now), only these three have means to communicate through long distances (well, them and Essek, but since the Drow is still a fugitive, there aren’t many opportunities for him to contact Caduceus or to appear at the grove), so Caduceus never expects the rest of the Nein to reach out.

But, as it happens, sometimes silence does not mean good things are afoot, and even if bad news travels fast, on some occasions, it doesn’t travel as fast as a teleporting purple Elf who appears in the middle of Caduceus’s garden. The Firbolg man is elbows-deep in mulch when a hint of purple and silver light flickers a mere few feet ahead of him and Essek, in his dark purple and black robes and curly white hair, flashes into existence.

“Mr. Clay,” The man greets, huffing as if he has been running for miles and miles. “I am sorry to appear unannounced. I was wondering if you have heard news from our friends?”

“Now, now. Take deep breaths, Mr. Essek,” Caduceus’s voice is calm as there is no need to panic just yet. He dusts off his hands and wipes them on a rag hanging from the pocket of his gardening apron, then adjusts the large brimmed sun hat on his head and takes a long good look at his guest. Essek’s hair is disheveled, his eyes are full of fear and worry, and his robes are somewhat askew. The nails of his shaky hands are bitten harshly, but what makes Caduceus worry the most is that the Drow’s feet are touching the ground. Essek must be in a real state of distraught if he didn’t even bother to cast his levitation spell.

“Please, come inside. Let me make you some tea,” Caduceus offers. Essek nods and follows him inside the cozy cottage. He sits on the stool at the kitchen table and watches as Caduceus removes his apron and cleans his hands. He then brings a kettle to boil on the wooden stove top and prepares two mugs with loose-leaf tea. Essek watches, his eyes wide and pupils blown and a leg shaking underneath the table, but he doesn’t speak. 

“I have not heard from anyone in a few days,” Caduceus pours the boiling water over the leaves in the teapot and closes the lid to let it steep. He then sits down on a second stool in front of Essek. “I didn’t think anything of it.”

“I am afraid that something has happened, Mr. Clay,” Essek’s hands shake on his lap. “Caleb—Mr. Widogast and I had a… meeting of sorts scheduled for last night,” Essek’s purple cheeks deepen in color at this information and he hesitates. Caduceus shifts his gaze to the teapot between them to allow the man to gather his thoughts in privacy. After a few seconds of silence, Essek continues, “You know he never forgets anything. He is always on time, but last night… he didn’t appear, Mr. Clay, and I can’t help but fear that something has happened.”

Caduceus ponders the information in silence. He slowly removes the strainer of tea leaves from the teapot and pours two cups, one for him, one for Essek, who takes his with shaky hands. Caleb does indeed have a keen memory and an even keener punctuality, so if Essek is this distraught about his friend missing their “meeting”, then it must certainly be a big deal. But Caduceus isn’t learned in magic like Essek and Caleb, who get their arcane knowledge from books. Instead, he gets his powers from his deity and nature, so he has no way to contact his friends, but maybe the Wildmother can help.

“I have an idea, Mr. Essek,” he finally says. Essek’s eyes snap up with hope, but the Firbolg doesn’t offer any more information. Instead, he rises from his stool and walks out onto the grove. Essek tracks behind, towards a nook where the Clay family holds a shrine in honor of the Wildmother. On a stone pedestal sits a clay statue of the Goddess, a full-figured body enveloped by wild tangles of hair, leaves and vines, and underneath, a wreath of leaves and dried berries with a crooked staff in the middle. Caduceus gestures to a fallen log nearby, inviting Essek to sit before the Firbolg sits cross-legged in front of the statue. He gestures his hand to the ground and mushrooms, flowers and other greenery appear from the earth, as if the cleric has grown them himself, then he lights up a stick of incense and pours a bottle of a translucent liquid into a small bowl. 

Caduceus closes his eyes and concentrates for a minute. The rustle of leaves turns into the sound of crashing waves, the smell of the moist earth beneath him becomes the salty scent of the ocean, and the music of the wind-chimes shifting in the morning breeze is replaced by the loud scream of gulls in the distance. When he opens his eyes, Caduceus sees that the hard rock he sits on ends on a tall, rough cliff, dozens of feet above the crashing waves of the Lucidian Ocean. 

“Hello, Wildmother,” he says, smiling. An ocean-scented breeze caresses his cheek and ruffles his hair in greeting. “I was wondering if you have news from my friends. Are they together?” The breeze is soft and temperate when it rustles his pink hair, and for a moment, Caduceus swears he hears a warm, feminine voice whisper Some are. “Are any of them hurt?” Caduceus asks. The wind turns warm and brings the scent of copper in affirmation. His stomach turns nervously. Caduceus only has one question left, so he ponders his words well before he says, “Are they coming to seek my help?” Again, the warm breeze shifts past in affirmation, but this time it carries with the familiar scent of the Blooming Grove. Caduceus nods politely and wishes goodbye to the goddess. When he opens his eyes, Essek is standing on his feet, glaring anxiously.

“We must prepare,” Caduceus explains as calmly as he can, “They are alive but hurt. We need to get ready to help.” Essek nods, and as soon as his host is on his feet, he stalks him inside, where they ready cots, herbs, poultices and anything they might need. 

Right on cue, as Essek finishes wiping the sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his cloak, a light flickers outside, bright orange like fire, and Caleb, Beauregard and Yasha fall to the ground, bloodied and gushing for air. Essek runs as fast as his legs allow him—he notices he’s out of shape since he rarely uses them anymore—to hold Caleb aloft as Caduceus runs to Beau and her Wife.

“There is no time for questions,” Caleb’s voice is hoarse, his face is scratched and blood gushes from his abdomen. Essek shakes his head and raises him to his feet, but both men’s legs shake with the weight. “Scheiße,” Caleb curses between his teeth, covering his injury with his free hand. 

“Mr. Clay, we could use some help over here,” Essek’s voice shakes. His pupils are wide and refuse to leave the red stain that keeps growing on his lover’s torso. Caduceus runs back from the doorway where he left a not-so-injured Yasha to carry Beau and holds Caleb on the opposite side of Essek. Together, they manage to bring him inside and lie him on a spare cot and the healer is on him in an instant, cleaning the wound and channeling the Wildmother’s powers to cure him.

Caleb raises his rough hand to Essek’s damp face, a thumb wiping the tears that fall silently, and the Drow leans into the touch with his eyes closed. He knows one day the fugitive life will catch up to him and permanently separate him from the human he cares for so much, but Essek never considered the possibility that his lover could be the one to find himself on the wrong end of a sword sooner rather than later. Yet, here he is. Barely alive, yes, but here. “Sorry I missed our date, liebling,” Caleb apologizes with longing in his voice. It still pains him to see his frail human so hurt, so full of guilt for failing his promise. They don’t have many opportunities to be together, so they treasure every second, and for Caleb, missing out on a full day of Essek cuddles and reading must have been torture. So Essek smiles, even if it doesn’t reach his eyes, and says, “Do not worry Caleb Widogast. I will make sure you make it up to me.”

[somestreptomyces]

Read on ao3

Caleb paused in the kitchen doorway, intentions for tea entirely forgotten in the wake of the scene before him.

"Is that…a scale?"

The waspish reply he received was somewhat diminished by the smear of flour dusted across Essek’s high cheekbone. "Yes."

He carefully removed a spoonful of flour from its dish, glaring at the needle indicating its weight as it bobbed. "Your kitchen instruments were inaccurate and I will not let this fail due to lackadaisical measurements."

Caleb pressed his lips tight, smothering any teasing reply he might have made. He watched as Essek nodded with satisfaction, plucking the bowl and setting it aside before replacing it with an empty one, marking a bit of parchment with the weight and quickly scratching out the arithmetic. Caleb stepped further into the kitchen, noting the neat little row of other carefully measured and labeled bowls spread across the table. "I don't know, " he said, plucking one of the clearly already weighed chocolate morsels and popping it into his mouth, "my mutti always said she measured with her heart and she was an excellent cook."

Essek pursed his lips, pulling the bowl out of Caleb's reach. "Baked goods cannot be left to whimsy, Caleb Widogast."

He didn't quite manage to suppress a snort of laughter this time, though he quickly schooled his face neutral again under Essek's withering glare. It didn't last long, however, irritation melting into genuine unease. He plucked at his lower lip in nervous habit, casting his eyes down at the table before him.

"Jester made her displeasure with my last offering quite clear. I do not wish to disappoint her again."

Caleb reached around the scale, drawing Essek’s flour-dusted fingers from their fussing and pressing their backs to his lips instead. "I am sure she will be delighted that you took the time to bake for her, even if they do not turn out as perfectly as you hope."

Essek smiled self-consciously, squeezing Caleb's fingers and sighing. "I don't really know what I'm doing."

"Well,” Caleb said, releasing Essek’s hand to tie his hair back and look over the contents of the table, “as it turns out I am an excellent kitchen helper. You've got your butter and sugar measured out? Let me start creaming them while you finish the rest."

based on this prompt list

When baking chocolate chip cookies

[gaygoetia]

I wanna get back into writing fanfiction but I have zero inspiration. With that in mind:

Please send me Critical Role fanfic prompts!

Particularly for these ships

Imogen/Laudna

Ashton/Fearne

Ashton/Orym

Caleb/Essek

Caleb/Astrid/Eadwulf

Caleb/Lucien

Or these platonic groups/pairings

Ashton & Laudna

Imogen & Orym

Jester & Essek

Verin & Essek

Verin & Caleb

Though prompts that fall outside of any of the above will still be considered.

I like to write

Dark/Angsty/Emotional stuff

Sexual tension

Mutual pining

Friends to Lovers

Unhealthy or unrequited relationships

Sibling relationships (NOT in an incestuous way for the love of God)

AU's (whether it's just canon divergence, modern au or a complete genre change I simply like to be freed from the shackles of canon)

I don't like to write

Action scenes

Fluff

Non-con

Incest

Established relationships (unless they're particularly messy, complex or toxic)

*Disclaimer that this is by no means a guarantee that I will write all or even any of the prompts I receive. I am chronically unreliable and all sorts of stars have to align for me to actually write something. That said, inspiration (e.g. prompts) is a good way to get them to do that so please don't let this put you off!

[lessattitudemorealtitude]

Next Aeor Shadowgast oneshot!

After finishing a trance, Essek explores the tower. He was not expecting to find Caleb sleeping on the Eighth floor.

The floor he claims is 'complicated'.

Whumpril prompt: "Do Not Push Me Away"

[moondrops-and-ink]

It hadn't meant to be a sad discussion, and Caleb had repeatedly apologized for ruining the mood, but Essek wasn't focused on that. Essek had a mission now.

The first year after the Nein settled into their home lives had presented some challenges for Caleb. The man had not had a home since he was a teenager...making a home for himself had caused a different kind of stress. What did one do when they didn't have to run anymore?

Caleb obsessively checked the wards and locks every night before bed in the same order. He had taken up gardening and was growing green beans on the windowsill outside the kitchen, but he still sometimes forgot to water it when he got busy. Some nights, Caleb told him how he'd sit alone in the quiet and feel like he couldn't breathe, it was too peaceful. He missed the chaos. Sometimes he'd drop a vase on purpose just to have something broken to fix. To feel useful.

Another problem had come up about a week ago. Caleb and Essek had been sitting on the couch together reading, Essek had been able to visit for a few days longer than normal. The man had seemed on edge since he had arrived, but the Drow had not pushed it, not wanting to make it worse.

"....I am thirty five now." Caleb had murmured quietly, looking down at a book. Essek blinked and sat up more, looking over at him quizzically. "Since when?" He asked.

"As of twenty two hours and thirteen minutes ago." Caleb stated, schooling his face into something neutral.

"Today was...your birthday." Essek's stomach had dropped. He hadn't known. It had never come up. Essek hadn't celebrated his own in so long. The most thought he gave it had been the business letters of birthday recognition with a small basket of treats. He had always been much too busy.

But this was Caleb. He was human. Every birthday was so special for a short lived species.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked quietly, setting his book aside and moving closer. Caleb sighed, head leaning back against the couch to stare up at the ceiling. "I wasn't sure if it mattered." He shrugged, a frown now tugging at Essek's lips.

"Of course it matters, Caleb Widogast. Did you think the Nein would not want to celebrate? Did you not reach out?" He inquired further. Caleb's cheeks seemed to redden in shame. "...I...thought they would remember. But...perhaps they did not with how busy they all are now. Fjord and Jester have Moll-I mean Kingsley to take care of..." Essek noted the slight crack in Caleb's voice when he said Molly's name, there was some unresolved guilt there he knew he couldn't take from him. "Yasha and Beau are hard at work...Beau is so busy assisting me with Ikithon's case...and Veth has her family...Caduceus has the Grove to help run..." Excuses.

"And me? What? Was I too busy for you?" He asked. Caleb shook his head. "No, my friend. It...well. It is my first birthday alone since...I was a young man." He mentioned. Essek immediately put it all together. This was Caleb's first birthday in his homeland since his parents had died at his hands. He had no memory of his time in Vergesson...this was a first for him.

"Caleb-" "They used to make apple tarts for me...on my birthday." He whispered. Essek closed his mouth, scooting closer until their legs were pressed together. "My parents could not afford ingredients for cake...but making apple tarts was easier. My Mutter would caramelize the top to make it crunchy...usually I got a book. Some years I didn't. But my birthday always had two things: apple tarts and dancing."

Essek took all of it in, reaching for Caleb's hand shyly. "....You were afraid, then? Of today?" He asked, watching Caleb nod. "I spent so long ignoring my birthday. Pretending that mark of time did not exist. Now I have nothing to hide behind. No world ending demigod...no grand adventure...no war to stop...I am thirty five years old..." The statement hung heavy. Caleb was thirty five years old, but the way he said it translated effortlessly to Essek. He was able to focus on himself as an individual for the first time in decades, no longer a part of some machine. He was older, he was no longer the young man trapped in Trent's clutches. He was Caleb Widogast now, a man who lived in a cottage right outside of Rexxentrum, a retired adventurer, a full time scholar.

"It is hard to contend with feelings you have kept buried for so long. I understand." Essek murmured, squeezing his hand. Caleb let out a shaky breath. "I just miss them so much...I'll never see them again. I destroyed my only solution to. There is no more planning...no more searching....I will never have my mother's apple tarts again, and I will never dance with my father, or hear that they are proud of me." His voice shook as he spoke, Essek's heart breaking. He knew Caleb made the right choice, but it didn't mean it was painless.

He laid his head on his shoulder and dared to hold his hand properly, fingers twining with Caleb's. "Tell me how the tarts tasted...every detail." He said gently.

And Caleb had. Essek had left the following morning for Uthodurn, a promise to return soon. His stay with Reani had not been for penance this time. No, he came to her with a simple request. "Teach me to bake."

She had. They had spent the week going over basics and Essek had read books and scrolls and recipes.

"Essek, what are we going to do with all these tarts?" Reani asked, looking at the multiple trays they had done. Blueberry, lemon, strawberry, and apple. "....Eat them? Ah...I will take what you do not want and give them to the Nein. I'm sure they'll enjoy them." They weren't perfect. But they were good. Essek wasn't satisfied though, he couldn't make caramel to drizzle over the apple tarts. Burnt. Burnt. Burnt. He let out a frustrated "uuuuugh!" At the fourth attempt, nose wrinkling the smell.

"We don't need the caramel, buddy. It's okay." Reani soothed, frowning when Essek shook his head. "No. I have to get it right. The recipe had it. Caleb's mom made it with this topping." He was determined. Sighing, Reani began to clean the pot. Her house was going to smell like burnt sugar for weeks.

---

All of that had led to Essek standing outside of Caleb's door currently. He had a covered basket filled with the different tarts, and on top were the apple ones. Essek had finally made it. He was worried the caramel was slightly burned, but it had the right color and had poured over the tops of the tarts nicely.

"Hallo?" Caleb opened the door, blinking at the familiar face of Essek's disguise. "Oh, my friend it...I was not aware of your return. This is a very nice surprise, please come in." He stood aside and held the door open, Essek smiling some as he walked in, no footsteps heard. Once the door shut his disguise melted away, leaving Essek feeling much better.

"It was a matter of importance, but I was able to solve it rather quickly." He informed, removing his mantle and cloak and setting them on the hooks Caleb had begun to leave empty for him.

"And you have brought gifts?" Caleb questioned, Essek nodding. "Yes. Um...the kitchen," He floated towards it and set the basket on the counter. He was nervous...he wanted this to be good. He had hated seeing how unsure and scared Caleb had been.

"Sit down please." Essek ordered, Caleb blinking but obeying as he took a seat at the small table. "And...close your eyes." Caleb raised an eyebrow, but did so. "Essek, are you giving me a surprise?" He asked, lips twitching in a smile. Essek blushed and nodded, only to realize Caleb couldn't see it.

"Yes. Now hold out a hand." Caleb did so, looking rather cute in his white poet shirt, sleeves rolled up...no shoes and his brown pants. He looked so at ease. Essek took an apple tart from the bag and set it in his waiting palm. Caleb pursed his lips and tilted his head. "Was?"

"Open." Essek said. Caleb's eyes slid open slowly and he started down at the tart, recognition flitting in his gaze. "Oh, you bought some pastries?" He asked, Essek shaking his head. "No um...I...made them." He explained, cheeks darkening.

Caleb's eyes widened. "You...made...wait-" He looked closer, the scent familiar. The man sat up more and took a bite of the tart, Essek watching nervously. Caleb's face went on a quick but complex journey. Recognition, confusion, slight distaste...oh no.

"Ah, the caramel topping proved to be quite difficult. I understand if it is not the best. Here, I have others that turned out much better, let me just..." Essek turned and began looking for a different flavor, feeling a little disappointed that he had failed. It wad such a simple thing Caleb had craved..

He jumped as arms embraced him from behind, a familiar nose burying in his shoulder. "Caleb?" He froze where he was, not used to him being so forward. He thought he heard a sniff, and he panicked. "Oh my...was it really that bad?" He asked, wincing. The arms held him tighter.

"You tried to make mein Mutter's tarts, didn't you?" Caleb asked softly, voice tight. "I did, yes. I...was that not the correct action? You seemed very nostalgic last time we spoke...I thought maybe I could...you know..."

"Danke..." Caleb pressed closer. "You spent the whole week obsessing over it, didn't you?"

Essek bit his lip. "....Reani's house might have a...permanent burnt sugar smell now." He confessed. Caleb laughed quietly, the sound wet. "Caleb, I am sorry if my actions upset you, I truly did not mean-"

Caleb turned Essek around forcibly and hugged him tightly, Essek clinging to him in surprise. "I do not deserve this kindness...you went out of your way...this is very sweet of you, Essek. I am overcome with fondness right now, I am not upset." He assured him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Essek held on a little tighter.

"They were good then?"

"Oh, nein. Das ist nicht lecker. The caramel was still burnt and the apples were still hard." He said, chuckling. Essek's ears drooped. "Oh..."

"No one has made those for me since I was younger...I am so happy." He pulled back to hold Essek's face. "You...made me my favorite dessert. Even if it wasn't good...you tried. For me. That is the nicest thing I have ever gotten from you." He wiped his own eyes and smiled at him like he had hung the moon, gaze warm.

Essek couldn't stop the smile he had if he wanted to.

"Happy Birthday, Caleb Widogast." He murmured.

"Thank you, Essek..." Caleb replied.

do you think Essek taking up knitting and baking is not only for presents for caleb, but to give Caleb homemade gifts in the way he used to get and misses from his family

imagine Caleb's first birthday post-nein, without his mother's apple tart, him quietly and sadly telling Essek. Essek immediately taking it on himself to learn to bake and give him something. It can never be the same but he can remind Caleb he is loved.

[shrugsinchinese]

Height difference shadowgast for a prompt?

Huge fan of this classic trope

[ariadne-mouse]

For the "I wish you would write a fic where…" I don't know if this counts because it's not a new fic, but:

"Was? Essek? I thought you were out of town?"

Caleb wakes up with obsidian flakes of a'a in his hair and and no memory of the last few years. His very-new boyfriend has adopted his cat, there's a court case for his attemped murder, and he might have been a ghost?

A followup to The Fire Kept Closest, from Caleb's POV, filling in the timejump to the epilogue.

Thank you for the ask! It took me a minute to get to this ask game, but here we are. I am not writing exactly to the prompt, but I hope you like this 830-word slice of post-fic Volcaleb nonetheless!

-

"I would like to go, I think."

Essek paused where he had just gathered a scoop of cat kibble. The awaiting dish lay on the floor, empty. "Are you sure?"

"Ja," Caleb answered. He folded the local newspaper he had been reading in half, the headline visible: Corporate Clash: Cerberus takes the stand. "I know it's best my situation stays out of the spotlight, at least for now, but I want him to see me. To see my face, and know that I know." His expression darkened. "I want him to sweat."

At Essek's feet, Frumpkin yowled his impatience, unaware of corporations, or bureaucracy, or indeed the significance of newspapers beyond the fact that they were sometimes fun to sit on.

"Calm down, calm down," Essek tutted, and gave the beast his meal. He smoothed a hand down Frumpkin's back, thinking. "I'll go with you, if you really want to go."

Caleb smiled grimly. "Danke. I would like that. But I have an idea, also - you can help."

-

Vence Nuthaleus cleaned up well in a suit, and he knew it. It was unfortunate that the volcano on Rumblecusp had popped its top as soon as it had, but he was still safely ensconced in respectability - and more importantly, plausible deniability. Research was only as good as records available, and his land use recommendation report had been scientifically sound with the data from the island's active seismometer network.

It didn't even alarm him that he was playing a kind of mutually assured destruction game with Cerberus. They wanted to publicly shed him as a "bad actor", especially convenient given his contractor status - but if they did, he'd reveal they had been the ones to disconnect the last seismometer. He had enough leverage in writing to make the accusation compelling, and they knew it. The thing they might most want to pin on him... well, they didn't have any evidence of that. All told, it was in Cerberus's best interest to protect him. And so he wore his most approachable suit, and a polite smile, and answered questions as earnestly as he could when he was on the stand. Mardoon Estate only wanted money, after all, and Cerberus certainly had plenty of that. Vence didn't need to be scapegoat for it all to work out eventually.

The courtroom around him was full for the spectacle. The door creaked open every so often as the gawkers and media came and went, like bees buzzing on a hive. He sometimes saw familiar faces from the island: Dr. Vilya, Beauregard, Thelyss. Today the last of these was sitting in one of the back rows by himself, glaring at Vence like he always did when he was there. Too bad; being a stuck-up trust fund baby wouldn't help Thelyss here.

It was some minutes before Vence's attention was drawn by a spot in the standing room in the back that had not moved at all for some time. Even as his mouth answered the current question on autopilot, his eyes were drawn to look at the vacuum of stillness.

A dead man was looking back at him.

Vence's words curdled in his throat, choking his breath.

He was there. Caleb Widogast was there, standing among the throng.

"Mr. Nuthaleus?" prompted the examiner.

"I... I..."

The ghost - it could only be a ghost - stared at him with those eerie blue eyes, unblinking. He was dressed like he had been, for a hike on the mountain. There was even a lightweight heatsuit half-zipped and tied around his waist.

He looked exactly like he had when he had died. When--

Vence couldn't pull his gaze away. "Could- could you repeat the question?"

The examiner repeated it, and again Vence did not hear.

Nearby, Thelyss was standing up. He favored Vence with a last look of contempt before making for the double doors. The crowd parted to let him pass, but Widogast did not move. And Thelyss... walked right past him, like he wasn't there.

A chill rolled down Vence's spine and his breathing came faster. He could hear a ringing noise, his vision was narrowing.

With effort, he turned a smile to the judge. "I'm sorry, I think I need a moment."

When he turned back, Caleb Widogast was gone.

-

Outside in the hallway, Essek leaned on the wall next to Caleb, who sat heavily on a bench. The heat suit was stuffed back into a bag.

"Feel any better?"

A muscle in Caleb's face twitched, and his hand balled in a fist. "A little. I don't know. Seeing him-" His breath left him in a gust. "It was harder than I expected."

Essek touched his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.  "Come, then. Let's go. We can learn what happened later. Frumpkin is waiting for you at home."

This last tactic was always a surefire way to bring a little smile back to Caleb's face, and it proved to be so now.

“Ja,” Caleb agreed, straightening up.  “Let’s go home.”

[kmackatie]

For prompts, how about 'flutter' for "Sleep With Benefits" Caleb and Essek?

oooh sleepverse! keen for that

(ask me a march writing prompt)

A crack of thunder pulls Caleb from his sleep, his eyelids fluttering as he shifts. He reaches out instictively--Essek's a lighter sleeper than him, more prone to waking with the slightest of reasons--and his hand touches cold sheets. It's been while then. Light flashes, blinding out his partially lidded eyes, and a second crack follows right on the hells. He swears he can feel the wind, the phantom rain, can feel the skin prick as if he was standing in the open and not lying in Essek's bed. Blinking, Caleb stirs fully, sitting up and letting the sheet pool around his waist. He beerily peers around, yawning as he tries to locate his partner. He realises why he could feel the wind; Essek is standing before the balcony, the curtains drawn back and the door wide open. His silver robe is slipping off one shoulder, caught in the maelstrom that is raging outside. Another flash, and Essek is silhouetted against a white sky before it plunges back into darkness, the door rattling with the force of the storm. It takes Caleb's breath for a moment, for the way Essek doesn't even flinch in the face of nature's fury, a statue. Slipping from the bed, Caleb pads across the room, wondering how best to draw Essek from whatever is holding him. How to reach him. Essek hasn't given any indication that he's aware of Caleb's presence and he doesn't want to startle him. In the end, he opts to step up next to him. It doesn't entirely stop Essek from jumping, from flinching back before he realises who it is and who is there. "Caleb." "Hey." Another flash of lightning, illuminated Essek's white hair and turned his usual storm-grey eyes silver. The rain is hitting them here, blowing in with the breeze, and he can't help but shiver. "Everything okay?" "Hmm?" Caleb nods towards the open door, the storm raging around them, and winces as thunder cracks again. "Yes. I couldn't sleep." "Something on the mind?" "Mm. I'll come in soon." Caleb watches him, watches how Essek looks far away, eyes scanning and tracking the rain. He leans in and kisses Essek's cheek. "Don't stay too long, you'll catch a cold."

[critmaswishingtree]

Final Week for the Wishing Tree

One more week to go! Time to put those finishing touches on those fills and hit publish!

As a reminder: You can add or edit a work after the collection closes, but you can't upload a new work. So if the fill got a little longer or more complicated than you anticipated, you can upload what you have, and add the rest in a new chapter later.

Still have time? Want to make someone's day? Check out all twenty-seven unclaimed prompts under the cut, and see if you can write or draw something for them! It doesn't have to be long, a drabble will do.

You can claim any of those prompts here!

Candela Obscura

Title: Fic or Art: Relationship or Characters: Candela Obscura, Evelyn White, Jacqueline "Jackie" Renoux, Jacqueline "Jackie" Renoux/Evelyn White Potential Fill Ratings: Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

Would love to see more of the ladies from Circle of the silver screen getting into trouble... And maybe some stramy romance as well?

Campaign Crossovers

Title: Outsider POV M9 + Ring of Brass Fic or Art: EIther Relationship or Characters:, Ring of Brass, The Mighty Nein & Essek Thelyss, The Mighty Nein & The Mighty Nein, POV Outsider, The Mighty Nein as Family Potential Fill Ratings: Not Rated, General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

I would love a story of the ring of brass watching over the mighty nein and their hijinks from the astral sea

(Can include ships but doesn’t have to) (If so please essek/Caleb and Essek x Jester friendship also empire siblings )

Title: Keyleth and Vilya or Korrin talk about Vax Fic or Art: Fic Relationship or Characters:, Keyleth, Vilya | Viridian, Korrin, Potential Fill Ratings: Not Rated, General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences Description of Prompt:

Keyleth and her father have both had to deal with their past love coming back, or not quite being able to move on from that experience. I'd love to hear what Korrin or Vilya has to say about the Vax situation.

DNW: Korrin or Vilya being depicted as a bad parent (they can be complicated, give advice, and make mistakes, but I'd like it if it seemed like they tried their best.

Title: The Mighty Nein | The M9 as a Candela Circle Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Candela Obscura, The Mighty Nein, Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature Description of Prompt:

The Mighty Nein as a Candela Circle solving a caper in Newfaire. That's it. That's the prompt. I don't have any ship or character preferences, though I'd prefer to focus on the Mighty Nein sans Essek (mainly because there are already very good Candela crossovers with Essek).

Title: Kash & Zahra | CR3 Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:, Kashaw Vesh, Zahra Hydris, Zahra Hydris/Kashaw Vesh Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature Description of Prompt:

Was anyone else screaming WHERE IS MY BOOOY at all this Vasselheim stuff and famously no Slayers' Take input on the whole war going on? What's Vesh's stance on the moon situation? Is Kash staying out of it? What's this doing to Zahra, whose warlock pact involves A moon, if not THAT moon, specifically? I'd love a fic that deals with how they're coping in Moonmageddon.

Title: Vilya and Keyleth at Winters Crest Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:Keyleth & Vilya | Viridian Potential Fill Ratings: Not Rated, General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences Description of Prompt:

It'd be nice to see them be able to be a family and together again.

DNW: too much angst

Title: Fic or Art: Any combo of Essek, Caleb, Ashton, Dorian, and/or Orym + size shenanigan smut Fic or Art: Either! Relationship or Characters:, Essek Thelyss, Caleb Widogast, Ashton Greymoore, Orym, Dorian Storm, Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Orym/Dorian Storm, Ashton Greymoore/Orym/Dorian Storm Potential Fill Ratings: Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

Any combination of these guys, as few or as many as you like but someone changes size for some reason. The how and the why is totally up to you.

DNW: rape/noncon, scat/watersports, feet stuff

Title:Artagan/literally any male PC or NPC: your choice smut Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Artagan, The Traveler Potential Fill Ratings: Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

Literally Artagan/The Traveler with any male PC or NPC from any campaign. My favorite chaos fey deserves to get some! Feel free to put him any encounter you want.

Some ideas: - Artagan finally grips and chokes more than just Vax’s neck. - Percy hates to admit it, but he’s really curious about what he’s read regarding fey intercourse. Artagan is all too happy to participate in a hands-on experimental study. - The Traveler shows Fjord just how powerful he really is, and how much joy his “tricks” bring. - Artagan observes Fearne, Orym, and Dorian as they journey through the Feywild and watches as Orym or Dorian (or both?) sneak away to take the edge off. (Does Orym and his high perception eventually realized that Artagan is watching him/Dorian? Does Orym know the whole time?)

DNW: rape, scat, piss

Title: Chetney and the Tombtakers Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:Chetney Pock O'Pea, Lucien, The Tombtakers Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature Description of Prompt:

Technically Chetney only spent a short time with the Claret orders in 843, but that timeline never made much sense anyway and it's not like Chetney hasn't lied about other things. There's definitely a world where they were all in the Claret Orders at the same time. Or maybe they just ran into him in the Savalirwood at some point.

I'd like some creepy fuckup to creepy fuckup interaction.

Title: Hey we saw you from across the campaign, Imogen/Laudna/Yasha/Beau Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:, Laudna, Imogen Temult, Yasha Nydoorin, Beauregard Lionett, Laudna/Imogen Temult, Beauregard Lionett/Yasha Nydoorin, Beauregard Lionett/Imogen Temult, Laudna/Beauregard Lionett/Yasha Nydoorin/Imogen Temult Potential Fill Ratings: Not Specified Description of Prompt:

After the frequent jokes in c3ep111 I think Imogen deserves to get railed by Beau. If Yasha and Laudna are involved or just aware is up to you!

Do not want: cheating/infidelity

Title: Kingsley during the Solstice Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:Kingsley Tealeaf Potential Fill Ratings: Not Specified Description of Prompt:

What's Kingsley up to during the Apogee Solstice? Is he on Darktow? Is he even aware of what's going on?

Bonus points for including Marius or Orly

DNW: Kingsley with Molly's personality

Title: Bells Hells meets the Darrington Brigade Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Bells Hells, Darrington Brigade Potential Fill Ratings: Not Specified Description of Prompt:

I want to see these two crazy crews meet with resulting shenanigans.

Bonus Ideas: -Ashton fanboys over the Owlbear -FCG meets Tary and Doty -FCG's hate of birds vs Lionel being a Duck Totem barbarian -Buddy calls the witches pretty, they tell him about Pretty

Campaign One

Title: Vax at his job and things going well for a change ft the Matron Fic or Art: Fic Relationship or Characters: The Raven Queen & Vax'ildan Potential Fill Ratings: Teen And Up Audiences, Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

I don't have any strict requests for tags, but I'd love to see a fic of Vax doing some champion's work, either in his VM days or after he ascended. I would love to see him have a good day at work for once (lol), and maybe have a nice conversation with the Matron? Up to you. TYIA!!

Title: Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Vax'ildan, Keyleth, Keyleth/Vax'ildan, Happy Ending, Potential Fill Ratings: Not Rated, General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

Any rating… Vaxleth in canon getting their happy ending please

Title: Grog and Scanlan whump Fic or Art: Fic Relationship or Characters: Scanlan Shorthalt & Grog Strongjaw Potential Fill Ratings: Not Rated, General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature Description of Prompt:

I love the friendship between these two in the campaign and I'd like to read something with a bit of hurt/comfort (with a side of canon-typical shenanigans). Can be anything from expending on a canon moment to something completely original. Does something befall Grog? Scanlan? Both? Pre-canon/canon/post-canon? Author's choice!

Title: Anna Ripley/Cassandra de Rolo Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:Anna Ripley, Cassandra de Rolo Potential Fill Ratings: Not Rated, General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

this ship deserves art or fic because it has potential basically anything, any rating, any tags, complete creative freedom but please make Cass over 18 if you'll do smut

Campaign 2

Title: Dairon and Essek have an awkward conversation Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Dairon, Essek Thelyss Potential Fill Ratings: Not Specified Description of Prompt:

At Beau and Yasha's wedding, Dairon quickly recognizes Essek through his disguise. Dairon not-so-subtly informs Essek that they know he stole the beacons, and that it's only as a favor to Beau that they're keeping quiet about it.

They also find common ground by commiserating about hating parties.

Title: Cree/Lucien | Backstory fic Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:Cree/Lucien Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature Description of Prompt:

I am always demanding more Cree/Lucien content, specifically of them pre-stream. Can include references to TNEOL, but I would rather Brevyn just be omitted entirely from the narrative please and thank you.

Prompt ideas:

- Cree and Lucien as kids in the Run - Cree and Lucien in the Orders - Lucien showing the tome to Cree for the first time

Not interested in PWP, but I'd be fine with porn with plot.

Title: Caleb Widogast | Caleb leaves the Mighty Nein after the Iron Shepherds Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Caleb Widogast Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature Description of Prompt:

Liam mentioned Caleb leaving the Nein was a real possibility. I'd love someone to explore that idea. What would he do, instead? Would he go back to Trent? What if he ended up having to go up against the Nein because Trent considers them loose ends. I'd love an unhinged Winter Soldier-esque Caleb story. Whatever ending is fine. I would just really love someone to explore the idea of early canon Caleb being forced to abandon the Nein and find other ways to achieve his goals and what sort of dark path that might lead him down.

Bonus points if you can include references to The Dark Tower and Roland's own journey, since Liam has said that the two have similar mindsets early in their narratives.

Title: Caleb/Neo-Somnovem Lucien + Caleb has a smutty dream of the Neo-Somnovem Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:, Caleb Widogast, Lucien/Caleb Widogast, Explicit Potential Fill Ratings: Explicit Description of Prompt:

Sometimes, when Caleb dreams, he dreams of Lucien. He dreams of the muscular, powerful body of the Neo-Somnovem’s form and what it is he could do to Caleb.

He’ll never admit to a soul just how attracted he was to that form. With Mollymauk and Lucien’s easy charm and all of that raw magical power, it’s like magic catnip for Caleb. He can’t resist.

Caleb yearns for those pleasurable dreams when he revisits the Neo-Somnovem.

DNW: rape/noncon, scat/watersports, feet stuff

Title: Shadowgast, Caleb meets the family Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:, Essek Thelyss, Verin Thelyss, Caleb Widogast, Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast Potential Fill Ratings: Not Rated, General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature, Explicit Description of Prompt:

It's been implied that Caleb has met Verin before, and I'd like to see what that looks like!

+ the two of them meeting without knowing one another's relationship to Essek + Verin flirts with Caleb, because who can resist the dirt wizard? + Essek and Caleb aren't together yet, and Essek is prompted to make his move on Caleb because of Verin's flirtatious overtures + Verin attempts to give Caleb a shovel talk (despite Essek being incredibly powerful in his own right)

DNW: anything that necessitates and archive warning, dead dove, AU

Campaign 3

Title: Marwa - what's she up to? Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Marwa Endalia Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences Description of Prompt:

What's Marwa up to these days? I miss her.

Any ship, any other characters DNW: Anything permanently bad to happen to Marwa.

Title: FRIDA/FCG - FRIDA finds out that FCG is dead Fic or Art: Either! Relationship or Characters: Fresh Cut Grass/F.R.I.D.A., F.R.I.D.A. & Deanna Leimert Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences Description of Prompt:

Someone finally tells FRIDA that FCG is dead. Maybe Deanna helps them through it?

Title: Ashton/Marwa | Awkward date Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Marwa Endalia/Ashton Greymoore Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences, Mature Description of Prompt:

I really wanted Ashton and Marwa to have at least one awkward date before everything popped off. What would that be like? I must know.

Smut not necessary. I'd prefer it to be fade to black, but if your heart leads you to awkward smut, I would not be disappointed. I would just rather it be more humor than titillation.

Title: Relvin Temult's POV Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters: Imogen Temult, Relvin Temult, Liliana Temult, Imogen Temult & Relvin Temult, Liliana Temult/Relvin Temult, Potential Fill Ratings: General Audiences, Teen And Up Audiences Description of Prompt:

I'm just wondering what he thinks about all of this. Could be when Imogen was young, or during the campaign, or anytime in between.

Title: Will Lives! Bonus points for Will/Dorian/Orym Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:, Dorian Storm, Orym, Will | Orym's Spouse, Orym/Will | Orym's Spouse, Orym/Dorian Storm/Will | Orym's Spouse Potential Fill Ratings: not specified Description of Prompt:

What if Will survived the attack? Can be canon divergent, canon compliant, or straight up a different AU or a modern setting. SFW & NSFW both welcome.

Go feral!

DNW: major character death & other warnings

Title: FIC or ART: Fearne: Therapist to the Gods Fic or Art: Either Relationship or Characters:, Fearne Calloway, Asmodeus the Lord of the Nine Hells, The Raven Queen | Matron of Ravens, Corellon the Arch Heart, Pelor the Dawnfather, Lolth the Spider Queen Potential Fill Ratings: Not Specified Description of Prompt:

Okay okay okay. I don't think this is going to happen. But. Caleb mentioned that the gods could just sort out their own problems, right? The gods should decide among themselves what they do, maybe with a mortal arbitrator/relationship counselor/family therapist.

Who is the person in Bells Hells that would step up to the task for being a family therapist to the gods? Fearne. She's already a professor princess.

I wanna see what this would look like.

Could be primes only or primes and betrayers.