#tremellabutter

[hello-eeveev]

For the ask game:

All the boys in the mighty nein... are doing what? 👀👀

They are being ace-spec! Caduceus and Essek are canonically on the asexual spectrum, and I have loooong since headcanoned Fjord as demisexual and Caleb as grey ace! (Like, since the pirate arc for Fjord, Caleb since… idk forever I guess. He just gave me vibes periodically throughout the whole campaign.)

“All the boys in the mighty nein are aspec” is a little song I sing to myself sometimes (to the tune of “camptown races”) so that’s where the “title” comes from!

This what written around the same time as On the Nature of Attraction and tbh there hasn’t been much thought put into this idea outside of there being a discussion about asexuality and this little exchange:

“So we know that Caduceus isn’t interested at all and Fjord needs to feel comfortable with someone first, and now you two…” Jester looked between Caleb and Essek.

“Ah, no thank you,” Essek said.

Caleb shrugged. “Largely neutral.”

She gasped. “So that means all the boys in the—wait!” She turned to Kingsley, who was relaxing near the hot spring some fifty feet away. “Kingsley! How boy are you feeling today?”

Kingsley looked to Jester, then off to the side as they considered it. “Eh?” they called back, hand wobbling back and forth in a so-so gesture.

Jester slammed her hands on the ground and leaned close into Caleb and Essek’s personal space. “All the boys in the Mighty Nein are aspec*! That’s so cool!”

“Is it?” Essek asked.

“Of course! Especially because in all my books, all of the guys are so horny. Like, all the time. It’s cool to know that that’s not always true!”

*figuring out the language to use here is difficult because the word ‘aspec’ feels so out of place with the language typically used in critical role? What do???

So yeah. Just boys being ace-spec :) just guys being pals on the ace spectrum :)

[spottedenchants]

What about echo and/or sword with Essek and Kingsley?

Fight! Fight! Fight!

18. echo + 79. sword (Essek + Kingsley)

~

“You little-! Help, this way?!”

Attention snapped to the call, Essek spots Kingsley, sword crossed with an enemy’s as his whip is held underfoot.

What can Essek do here-? He skims his mental catalog in an instant. Prepared offense is resisted. Imprecise. Not powerful enough- perhaps defense? Kingsley’s very capable. Enhancement? Maybe that.

It’s worked for the others before.

Tugging upon the dunamis threading this pocket of space, Essek sets his focus to speeding time’s localized ebb, links this manipulated flow into Kingsley’s potential and- there!

Immediately, a manic light takes to his bright eyes, shining red as his blood as he manages a quick slip, efficiently carving down his assailant in a single strike. Suddenly turned to Essek, those eyes hold an echo of something that should be wicked, but is instead ingenuous.

Tail lashing and with a triumphant laugh from a wide smile, Kingsley bounces on the balls of his feet as if made of springs, a child stuffed with sweets.

“FJORD!”

Jester’s distant cry rings over the clamor, claiming Essek’s attention as he spins in time for horror to strike.

He would think himself hasted the way motion slows around him.

Over an eon, Fjord collapses beneath a looming figure, blank shock across his blood-spattered face.

Skewered once, a second impending.

Not again.

Not again, not again not again.

Essek reaches for the threads of fate itself-

But, a blur of lavender, and Kingsley has already felled the fishy foe, now kneeling by Fjord’s side, cork between grinning teeth and bottled life in hand.

A century of a heartbeat-.

And then Fjord coughs.

He was breathing. He is breathing.

“Upsy-daisy, Cap!”

With a kiss to Fjord’s temple, Kingsley hefts him to sitting before bolting towards Shelda and the opponent harrying her.

As he rushes by, Kingsley leaves a matching, if haphazard, sear on Essek’s forehead.

“Thank you kindly, Magic Man!”

Sublimated from frozen, Essek has hardly a moment to consider anything at all before he sends off yet another round of Magic Missile to keep Marius away from the precarious edge of certain doom.

The din dies as quickly as it started, the gentle soughs of wave and wind left in its wake.

After a few alert seconds and darting glances, Essek takes a breath somewhere between relief and hope.

It seems Fjord was the true target- no one else has much beyond a scratch to show, even Marius, despite his terrified taunting.

Jester rushes from the bow and promptly tackles Fjord into a hug that is likely intended to heal rather than harm.

Assured the fight is truly over, Essek broadens his narrowed concentration.

Then, a thud sounds from the starboard deck.

Oh gods, the spell.

He swivels, discovers Kingsley supine as a starfish, chest heaving.

Before concern can well up, Kingsley punches out, fists raised as though celebrating the sky.

With the motion, he whoops into a tired laugh.

Essek sighs, not bothering to fight off a smirk.

He’ll be fine.

[spottedenchants]

For the ask game:

That scene from A Hundred Mini Dreams and a Healing Scar where Essek lays in bed and counts stars while Caleb sleeps lives in my head constantly. It really captured that peaceful space between idleness and contentment of watching a partner rest and being there in that moment with them and their trust. Just. I sigh every time.

A Hundred Mini Dreams and a Healing Scar

Ahhhhhhh that’s such a quiet little bit, and I’m glad it’s stuck out in your mind 🥺 a nice little pocket of peace for our wizards!!

Thank you!

-

ask game

[spottedenchants]

@tremellabutter

I am feral and vibrating over this!

(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))

lil snippet because i can't wait until wednesday xD

Caleb remains perfectly still except to turn his head while Essek brings himself to kneel before him, crouched just enough to be below eye level; coiled, or cowed? Either way, Essek admires - the faint stubble he’s gradually working into a fuller beard, his patient lips, bright eyes, the way his chest moves as he breathes steady, the shift of his pretty hair over collarbone as he tilts his head just slightly - as though he is the most voracious of votaries. Slowly, slowly, Essek raises a humming hand, and he isn’t sure who he is afraid of scaring more. With his freezing heart fluttering so loud, how is he to tell if he is the creature stalking, or the one who is wary prey? He brushes fingertips to Caleb’s rougher cheek, and Caleb finally relaxes with a long, soft sigh as he leans into the touch. Still watching, observing with focus, but his gaze has lost all its sharp edges, sanded fond. Good, good good good. Essek tries not to vibrate out of his own skin. With every ounce of restraint, he hopes his slowness is question enough as he leans, because he can’t formulate words with any meaning while thrumming thoughts tangle. Essek kisses Caleb’s cheek, holding soft, then withdraws. A ghost of warmth lives on his lips. And like a dam’s hairline fracture, a faint rumble begins in his ribs, so, so quiet. The room around is quieter.

[spottedenchants]

@tremellabutter

🎉🎉🎉🎉

🎉🎉🎉🎉!

i’m going to finish this fic today i am GOING to finish this fic today