#the mighty nein fic rec | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kmackatie · 1 year

Text

shadowgast fic rec list: the modern au edition - part one

This has been a long time coming, and hopefully the start of a few, but I have been intending to make some fic rec lists for a while. I am time-poor and generally bad at remembering to bookmark fics, but I figured I shouldn't let that stop me.

I have a love for modern au's, I write many of them, and I often see arguments against them when the source material is fantasy based for a number of reasons. But, I wanted to shine a light on some out there that tickle that box for me of being delightful.

Listed below the cut are a bunch of fics I have enjoyed, in no particular order and of varying lengths. I will of course forget some, but I hope to do some more lists in the future as I have more tabs open than I can reasonably fit in a list.

Fundamental Forces Other Than Gravity by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi)/@mllekurtz (1/1 chapters, 40,676 words, E, no warnings)

- A shadowgast college au with great characterisation and weaving of the Nein throughout. This one has chronic pain Essek, and I love how it is handled. As a note, Essek is briefly one of Caleb's professors, however, there is little power imbalance between them.

the fire kept closest (burns most of all) by mousecookie/@ariadne-mouse (3/3 chapters, 21,822 words, M, warnings: MCD)

- The fic that created the vocaleb tag. Essek is scientist on a research team studying a volcano, for which a tragic accident occurred years prior. It's told in a series of present and past, and the slow build of the relationships throughout the fic are gorgeous. For those eyeing the MCD warning, know that it is also tagged with 'angst with a happy ending'.

I've been lost before (and I'm lost again, I guess) by toneofjoy/@fireryn (21/21 chapters, 165,080 words, E, no warnings)

- The boys are rock climbers in this one. I know, it sounds odd, but trust me and read this. It has incredible characterisation and conversations about sexuality and gender (I hold the cafe scene in my hands so gently), as well as some wonderful sexual tension that builds until it bursts. This fic also got me into recreational rock climbing and I owe the author for it big time. As a note, Essek is Caleb's coach in this fic and this is a plot point for the background of their developing relationship.

starting with your heart (bright heart) by 2manyboys/@cluelessheroes (1/1 chapters, 9,914 words, E, no warnings)

- This has the sentence "Have you been taking four legged showers with Essek Thelyss?” in the summary and it has lived rent-free in my head ever since. Modern-wth-magic university au where they are both students with some lovely build-up of sexual tension between them. Hot smut to go along with it.

disputable presumptions by hanap/@callingvoicemail (3/? chapters, 9,606 words, E, no warnings)

- The corporate lawyer au of my dreams where they are friends with benefits and hiding it from the rest of the Nein. This has a delightful background of plot, along with ambiguous not!wizards hiding their true feelings behind an air of casualness, and snappy writing that keeps you reading.

Inside Edge, 3 Turn, and Closed Hold by MithrilWren/@mithrilwren (3/? works, 16,060 combined words, T/G/M respectively, no warnings)

- The shadowgast figure skating au I didn't know I needed until I read it. I've reread this one so many times and keep coming back to the characterisation and the way the story is slowly told across all three fics. There's a richness of the world behind what we see, and I adore coach!Beau in this one. Another with chronic pain Essek, and generally a careful understanding of the risks that go into the sport.

Labor of Love by OMGitsgreen (6/6 chapters, 43,331 words, M, warnings: CNTW)

- Bakery au. It's a classic, and it's done so well here. This is one of the earliest fics I remember reading, and it's a warm hug on a cold day that is great for when you're wanting something nice.

fermata by canyon_wizard/@canyon-wizard (8/8 chapters, 65,403 words, E, no warnings)

- A classical music au (there really needs to be more of these, please) where they are both piano students. The focus of this one is less the music world and more the character dynamics, and they are incredibly well done. The smut is hot, there is delightful miscommunication, and tense dynamics (ha) throughout.

(your face in my hands is) everything good I need by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi)/@mllekurtz (8/8 chapters, 25,884 words, M, no warnings)

- Professor au where they meet at a conference, Caleb a professor of modern history and Essek an expert in Latin. This fic has everything--wizards being nerds in every universe, first kisses, developing feelings, long distance relationship, emotional stakes, and dramatic declarations of love. I adore Mlle's writing (it really should not be a surprise at this point) as they have a way of capturing emotions and turning them into stunning pieces of prose. This one is also a love letter to Paris and Berlin, and please give it a read!

#shadowgast #critical role #critical role fanfic #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #the mighty nein #fic rec #fic rec list: modern au #my writing #I have definitely left of fics but I am intending to make a second list eventually #authors if you wish to be removed or untagged please let me know #cr: fanfic

265 notes · View notes

daisychainsandbowties · 4 months

Note

any imodna fic recs??

🥺 i really like imodna but it’s not a pairing i read much fic of aside from the occasional snippet on here while i’m gaying in the tag, but these are the few i have read & really loved 🥰💖

///

let’s just go and fall in love// read this the night of the kiss and. oh my god. beautiful beautiful. by @sharkodaktyl

the veins grow in slow// the prose. oh my god the prose in this one. by @foibles-fables

where the spirit meets the bones// this one makes me consider eating flowers (good) by @somethingwritey

a soul is a wild thing// daemon au. this one is… they are both the strangest girls and it’s breathtaking. by @unicyclehippo

high speed connection// streamer au. this is incredible 🙏😌. by @wvearp

#imodna #critical role #as you can see i’ve only read a little but 🥺 these are the fics that stuck with me so far #i have read more mighty nein fics because i love caleb (am a little trans gay 🥰💖😌🔥) but yeah. the writing for imodna is top-tier #anon #fic rec!

58 notes · View notes

critter-genfic-events · 2 months

Text

This week, we have eight amazing timeskip/future fics recced! Some skip ahead a handful of decades, while some skip ahead centuries, but all of them are wonderfully heart wrenching and hit just the right spot. Check them out under the cut, and as ever, comment or kudos if you like them!

The Matter of Lot 19 by pagerunner (10102,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings:

Keyleth returns to Whitestone after many, many years to see about a unique and precious clock that's up for auction. But she's not the only one intending to bid...and her competitors might not only be interested because of the clock's connection to a certain legendary de Rolo.

Reccer says: Beautiful and Bittersweet and has a lot of great older Kiki and Sun Tree moments.

Library Magic by westwind (2739,General) Warnings: None Pairings:

After the Mighty Nein's adventuring days are over, Caleb travels with a library in an enchanted wagon. He comes across a stranger who's nevertheless familiar.

Reccer says: I liked it

The More Things Change by FinnsKeeper (4922,Teen) Warnings: Major Character Death Pairings:

Beau is hurt. The best chance they have of saving her is asking for her to be consecuted

Reccer says: A heartbreatking but fascinating take on the nein being consecuted

Unexpected and Predictable by alullabytoleaveby (2131,General) Warnings: Pairings: Verin Thelyss & Caleb Widogast

The last thing Caleb expects to hear on a rainy Tuesday evening is the sound of a knock at his door and Verin Thelyss, Ambassador of the Bright Queen to the Dwendalian Empire, on his doorstep. But he should have expected it. After all, Essek had already prepared for this eventuality.

Reccer says: I love this glimpse of Verin, and Caleb being able to explain his relationship to Essek's brother.

What Makes a Home? by literalfuckinggarbage (3188,General) Warnings: Child abuse, abusive parenting Pairings: Beau & TJ

TJ turns up on Beau's doorstep after running away from Kamordah. Beau takes care of her little brother.

Reccer says: It's really lovely seeing an older Beau step up to being an older sister and the relationship between her and TJ is incredibly sweet. They have a rapport, they banter, and the love that's grown between them over the years is plain in each word between them. The ending is so wonderful too and it's a concept I really should rotate more.

cycles by justsleepwalkin (500,General) Warnings: Major Character Death Pairings: Caduceus Clay & Essek Thelyss

Caduceus and Essek take a walk among the falling leaves and have a talk about endings and beginnings.

Reccer says: Beautiful and atmospheric - a perfect moment between the two of them.

From the Mixed-Up Files of The J. Lavorre Catalogue Raisonné by renquise (2328,General) Warnings: None Pairings:

An art history report on the famous artist Jester Lavorre

Reccer says: I adore epistolary fics and this perfectly scratches that itch. Seeing what people might say about Jester and her friends centuries after they are gone is a treat!

a little birdie told me by Ink_Beneath_Her_Fingernails (1647,Not Rated) Warnings: None Pairings:

Kiri absently wonders if the Gentleman somehow had the foresight to keep her name out of their ears, and how he'd managed it for all these years. (Or: The mob boss Kiri we all deserve.)

Reccer says: Mob Boss Kiri - what's not to love?

This is one of our weekly communally-generated gen rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. Please note that the summary and content notes are provided by the reccer, and may be different than what the author has provided. Please assume good intentions all around. <3

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring prank fics!

Then, it'll be Ashton focused, Hair Care, and Pre-Campaign!

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

If you're looking for some more, check out some fics written in the critter genfic bingo tag, or the older rec lists! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

#critical role #critter genfic rec lists #timeskip au #future fic #keyleth of the air ashari #vox machina #caleb widogast #beauregard lionett #verin thelyss #tj lionett #caduceus clay #essek thelyss #jester lavorre #kiri critical role #the mighty nein

31 notes · View notes

bloopitynoot · 7 months

Text

Shadowgast Corporate/Office-Au Rec List!

Hello I'm back again with more disaster wizard (well and in this case working professional but more office-like setting) recommendations!

This list is a little bit more bawdy than normal (I love a good smut fic, but I also try to vary the ratings on these lists for those who may not share my enthusiasm).

If you want to see my other shadowgast rec lists- they are linked at the end of this post. ANYWAYS- let's get into it!

______________________

1 As per my last email

As per my last email (11651 words) by LivThael (I don't think they are on Tumblr- if they do please comment so I can tag- but they have a twitter listed in the notes of the fic) Chapters: 11/11 Rating: Explicit Summary: Essek Thelyss is an asshole with a questionable taste in spreadsheets. Caleb Widogast has more important and certainly more interesting things to do than filing travel expense claims. A series of mails turns into a escalating meeting. Or: Please stop writing me emails, I genuinely hate you. - Explicit content only in chapter 10.

What I loved: Anyone who has worked in an office knows a passive aggressive email when they get one. Plus we have the added bonus of having to deal with accounting to get expenses covered- ugh, so good. The energy of these passive aggressive- yet flirty workplace emails between new hire Caleb and kind-of-an-asshole Essek in accounting is *chefs kiss*. The build up to their meeting was written so well! I also really love the way the fic is formatted- the email style gives it an immersive feel.

_____

2 Paradigm Shift

Paradigm Shift (114,291 words) by full_time_dreamer_behold (I don't know their tumblr, please totally feel free to tag if they have one- i'll add it). Chapters: 28/28 Rating: Teen and up Audiences Summary: Recently moved to Rosohna, Caleb accepts a job at a prestigious law firm, but the work turns out to be menial and dull. Thankfully, his life takes a turn when he makes new friends and starts taking a curious interest in the IT Manager- the handsome and intriguing Essek Thelyss. Could he be reason enough for Caleb to stay in this place? He certainly intends to find out.

A friends-to-idiots-to-lovers slow burn with a sweet ending.

What I loved: This was such a lovely slow burn. It covers hard topics in a corporate kind of setting including racism, nepotism, and power dynamics that really suck but it handled with care and well written. I also really love the disability representation here! This slow burn is so so good, I super recommend! Also bonus it's the length of a beefy novel!

_____

3 the golden thread around your neck whispered visions of my undoing

the golden thread around your neck whispered visions of my undoing (172812 words) by MarsBar2019 (If you know Mars' tumblr please comment and I will tag- I couldn' find it in the notes). Chapters: 38/? Rating: Explicit Summary: Caleb Widogast does not belong here. The world of sharp suits, board meetings, and billion dollar budgets is a far cry from Caleb’s preferred domain: the research lab. Where nobody cares about his faded T-shirts and raggedy jeans. But a year of industry experience will look good on his CV, and the hefty pay bump wouldn’t hurt either. How hard could a secretary gig be? What he finds behind the glittering edifice of Auriga, Wildemount’s leading name in arcane technology, is CEO Essek Thelyss, who maintains his domain with an acid tongue and an iron fist. It’s difficult not to find him intriguing, this handsome, guarded, brilliant man. It’s even more difficult not to want to please him. Caleb knows to keep it professional, though. Working late nights together at the office and lingering glances here and there don’t cross the boundaries of propriety. That is, until they do.

Or: the one where Essek Thelyss loses focus and has a consensual workplace relationship.

Updates weekly on Mondays.

E-rated chapters: Ch. 4, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18, 22-23, 26, 32, 38

Why I love it: Out of all the recs this one is the SPICIEST (and I love that). Head the warnings - there may be stuff that isn't for you, but if you, like me, enjoy a 6/5 spicy level fic- congrats this one will not disappoint. This story is in progress but updates weekly which is fantastic. We have big time and hot mess CEO Essek and his personal assistant disaster bisexual Caleb- of course it's an HR scandal waiting to happen, but also, Essek might come out a better person for it. I cannot recommend this enough, this fic is so so good. In addition to the smut, it's also just a really fantastic story.

_____

4 sleep, with benefits

sleep, with benefits (62272 words) by KmacKatie @kmackatie Chapters: 12/12 Rating: Explicit Summary: Caleb Widogast wakes up from the first good night of sleep in far too long. It takes him a moment to realise it's because he's not in his bed. Is it the better mattress (lump-free and like a cloud), or the fact he drunkenly slept with Essek Thelyss, the colleague he's been secretly crushing on for the last six months?

Why I loved it: Let me just start off by saying kmackatie is brilliant and everything shadowgast that katie writes makes my heart sing. In this fic Essek and Caleb are captured so well- they are both big idiots who act like scared cats around one another (even though they both want the same thing) but honestly- can there be any other dynamic? This hot mess of them not using their words eventually leads to the best of endings and you should all read it because it is so lovely.

_____

BONUS FIC: (high school teachers, less corporate feel, but not what I would throw on a professor or academia list so its a bonus for this one).

5 all this science i don't understand

all this science i don't understand (8858 words) by mllekurtz @mllekurtz Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Mature Summary: Caleb knew how he was with crushes, he was aware that historically they’ve brought him nothing but trouble, and vowed that he wasn’t going to develop one on his new colleague. This resolution lasted a remarkable twenty-four hours. * Small-town high school science teacher Caleb Widogast has his life more or less figured out, or so he thinks. Then an unexpected variable gets thrown into the equation in the form of the new addition to the teaching staff: the handsome and clever Essek Thelyss.

Why I loved it: This fic was so sweet. I have a soft spot for fics that play with chronology in their story telling and this one does a bit of that. It is a shorter read but honestly that works really well for this love story. Caleb of course falls hard and fast and Essek does not mind at all. Some angst, but they are written so well and so soft, Brilliant <;3

_____________________________

My Other Shadowgast Rec lists:

Shadowgast fics that made me ugly cry

Shadowgast Space Opera-AU list

Shadowgast Bakery/Coffee/Tea Shop-AUs

As usual I devour all fics shadowgast so if there is a rec list you want to read that is tried and true- dm me or leave a comment. I always prefer to use my librarian degree for chaotic neutral purposes so hmu.

[I am totally thinking about doing a Professor/Researcher OR College-AU OR Time is a Weird Soup list next but we shall see!]

#shadowgast fic recs #shadowgast #for the shadowgast shippers #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #critical role #critical role fan fiction #mighty nein #cr 2 #I honestly love making these lists so much #if you have a theme you like to read let me know #I will totally make you a personalized list

63 notes · View notes

unfortunatelyevent · 7 months

Text

I have the urge to read all the shadowgast aeor date fics in existence can someone send all your favorite fics my way please 😭

#I just need a bit of wizards going on a study date and realizing they're in love in my life yk #please please please #I miss them so much I may be dying #shadowgast #Caleb widogast #essek thelyss #critical role #mighty nein #cr2 #fic rec #fic recs

55 notes · View notes

wild-karrde · 9 months

Text

NEW WEEK, NEW RECS! START SENDING YOUR FAVORITE FANDOM CREATIONS FROM THIS WEEK IN FOR ME TO QUEUE UP FOR FRIDAY!

The goal of Fandom Friday: provide a place where people can shout-out their favorite creators from the week, whether it’s a piece of fan art that made you smile or a fanfic that moved you. Drop a link to your favorite creations this week into my ask box along with what you loved about it, and I will give them a shout! It doesn’t have to be Star Wars either! If it’s on another website (AO3, Twitter, etc.), please be sure to state that as well.

This happens each week, so don’t feel like you’ve got to get out everything in one week. Just keep track of them throughout the week or send me an ask whenever you find something, and I’ll drop them all on Fridays (or throughout the weekend if I get a lot). You may submit for this week until THURSDAY MORNING (I'm in the Pacific timezone). Anything received after that will roll to the next week. A summary of the weeks’ recs will get added onto this post on Saturday, so check back here for all of the awesome fics and art! And be sure to go give the creations on that list some love (and don’t just share the ask responses I put out).

This week’s submissions will start posting on Friday, August 4.

Rules and additional details under the cut! PLEASE make sure you read the rules before sending something in. If your submission violates any of the rules, I will delete it.

Rules:

Please send submissions to my ask box (sending them all to one place makes wrangling them easier each week). In your ask, please include the creator’s handle, a link to their work/post (if links aren’t working for the ask, please DM me them), and what you loved about it!

Please ensure the link is to the creator’s original post and not your own reblog or repost of their work (if they’re on another platform). The idea is to drive people to visit the creator’s page!

The creation does not have to have been posted this week! It can be something older. Also, don’t worry about whether or not a rec is a repeat from a prior week. Just looking to celebrate things that made an impression on you this week, whether you’ve seen it before or not!

NSFW is alright! Just make sure you note it in the ask so I can flag appropriately! Since I’m including 18+ material, minors may not participate. 18+ posts will be tagged with NSFT/lemon/lemony lemon (trying to cover all my bases).

NO incest, underage, cl*necest/incest, master/padawan (or similar power dynamics), dub-con/non-con/rape. Also, no H*rry Potter. There are a few others that I also won’t share due to my discomfort with them (i.e., R*xsoka), so if you’re not sure, ask. Also, many of you submit multiple works at once, and that’s fine, but if one of those works contains something that violates the rules, I will delete the entire ask, so something to be extra careful about when submitting!

If your rec involves spoilers from a show that’s currently running, please include that info in the ask so I can tag it appropriately (I will normally tag a few different ways, but I always use #<show title> spoilers if you need to filter, for example: Andor spoilers will be tagged #Andor Spoilers). I will stop tagging spoilers two weeks after the show stops airing.

You can submit GIF sets or edits, but please ensure you are submitting from the blog that actually created them. Wanted to add that caution since there’s been a lot of people stealing/reposting GIFs and edits in particular recently. So just be cautious.

Try to avoid commentary in your ask that might make others feel bad (“the only person who knows how to write XXX correctly…”). It’s important to be able to appreciate creators without making others feel bad, so let’s try to keep the commentary complimentary without being off-putting for other creators.

Self recommendations are allowed and encouraged! Shout out your own hard work! You deserve the recognition!

*Rules subject to change so PLEASE make sure you read them before sending something in. If your submission violates any of the rules, I will delete it.

**If you have any questions about any of the rules, don’t hesitate to DM me!

In addition to sending me asks, I highly encourage you to go either leave a comment on and/or reblog someone’s work (tag me or use the #Fandom Friday tag if you do!). Let’s get the interaction back up on this website and show the creators that work so hard on their stuff some love!

48 notes · View notes

critterfloozy · 8 months

Text

Summer Wildflowers Reveals and Recs!

I did less for wildflowers than typical this year - it's the first time that I haven't written more than one fic. Mostly because I'm still gearing up for Critter Gen Week (next week!). But I still enjoyed reading through a lot of them, and here's a couple that I enjoyed. Created with the reccing template I created, small plug small plug small plug

Vicissitudes by firefright (1818, General) Pairing/Characters: Essek Thelyss & Verin Thelyss, Background Caleb/Essek Warnings: none

When Verin and Essek were small, perhaps not even eight yet, their mother took them into the sealed vault that lay at the heart of their den to show them their history. Recced because: I enjoy it when Verin is allowed to have some complicated feelings about Essek's growth, and this delivers

mask of many faces by SongOfWizardry (1638, Teen) Pairing/Characters: Dairon & Essek Thelyss, Beauregard Lionett & Essek Thelyss Warnings: None

Long after the Xhorhaus, a (disguised) Essek runs into an (undisguised) Expositor Dairon. Recced because: Literally and figuratively written for me! I love the little subterfuge and tension between Dairon and Essek, and the amount of double speak going on between the two.

driftwood and light by Windward_wings (3220, General) Pairing/Characters: Fjord & The Mighty Nein, Beauregard Lionett & Nott | Veth Brenatto, Jester Lavorre & Kingsley Tealeaf, The Mighty Nein & Original Character(s) Warnings: None

Tavi's lived in the Driftwood Asylum in Port Damali for as long as she can remember, and there have never been any other tieflings besides her. And today, there are two of them, talking with the Headmaster, and that's how everything begins to change forever. Recced because: It's everything I would want for orphanage heist - the POV character is darling, and the fic is very sweet.

Just Swim Towards the Storm by CitizenMocha (2603,Teen) Pairing/Characters: Fjord & Nott Warnings: None

Fjord takes first watch and Nott picks at her wounds. Recced because: The characterization is just right - both funny and allowing for depth underneath

fata morgana by quanshi (burningdarkfire) (1877,Teen) Pairing/Characters: Astrid Beck/Jester Lavorre Warnings: None

An attack on the Tide's Breath leaves Astrid and Jester stranded, together, alone with their secrets. Recced because: It's got a great dynamic between a serious mastermind Astrid and a trickster Jester. I also love the little bits of worldbuilding in the background of this AU.

And then there's mine:

Sick Leave (2518,General) Pairing/Characters: Caduceus Clay & Kingsley Tealeaf Warnings: None

Kingsley sends Caduceus a message when he's feeling ill. He's the only one Kingsley trusts. Author's note: The prompt was for soft Caduceus and Kingsley, and the Writer's Corner suggested some hurt/comfort to help achieve that dynamic. I think this is the first hurt/comfort I've written? It was fun thinking of reasons why he wouldn't just cast cure disease without making it too serious, plus letting Kingsley have some post-fever/post-migraine euphoria, which is a trip (I got the post-fever version after my last covid vaccine).

#Critical Role #Critical Role Summer Wildflowers #Caduceus Clay #Kingsley Tealeaf #Astrid Beck #Jester Lavorre #Fjord Stone #Nott the Brave #Verin Thelyss #Essek Thelyss #Dairon #beauregard lionett #The Mighty Nein #Fic Rec #CR fic recs

11 notes · View notes

marymauk · 2 years

Text

Fic recs: The Oldies

Early M9 my beloved; in honor of the upcoming anniversary of the Mighty Nein's finale I present to you a selection of the earliest m9 fics from my bookmarks, mostly pre-ep 26. Nearly all are wildly off canon by 2022 standards, but honestly? Still great reads.

Unfamiliar by CurrieBelle, G, 4k, January 2018

After the slaying of the Nergaliid, Fjord's unknown patron grants him a new spell. Fjord seeks help from the nearest unwashed wizard in order to master it.

Mildly widofjord, such a cute concept. And art!

the sea, take us back by vannral, T, 9k, February 2018

The sea says: You are not welcome here. This place is not for you.

Caleb Widogast fights with everything he has to get back what was once ripped from him.

I loooovee ocean mythology…. Forever obsessed with this fic. Mildly Widofjord, again. I think this is from before we knew about Trent?

the line between nothing and everything by whichlights, M, 12k, May 2018

Molly didn’t sign up for any of this. Not any of this Lucien bullshit, not any of this scrutiny, and definitely not for all these feelings.

Widomauk friends with benefits with feelings and an emphasis on genderfluid Molly. What more could you want?

Basically the cutest thing ever, basically by wristpockets, G, 1k, June 2018

Jester goes to her room early so she can draw for the Traveller. Kiri joins her.

Cuteeeee

Are We There Yet? (or: The One Where The Road Trip Had Metaphysical Implications) by eponymous_rose, T, 1k, July 2018

The Stormlord, the Traveler, and Eyeball McGee embark on a road trip to get their followers out of a jam.

That's one way of responding to ep 25… asdfshds this is so funny

twisters chasing storms by flashbackforward, T, 7k, July 2018

Molly groans behind her softly, “Really? Did you really have to—oh, alright then—,” but he doesn’t step in, and he doesn’t stop her.

“Stay down,” Beau growls, and the guy—did she ever get his name? She doesn’t think so—presses a hand to his face and swears, but doesn’t rise up off the floor.

Caleb, half-turned on the bench where Beau had been sitting a moment before, takes a slow sip of his drink. “Tonight is not the night to fuck with us, friend,” he says.

…An alternative response to ep 25.

you changed the melody every time by QueenWithABeeThrone, T, 2k, July 2018

Kashaw looks down at his son’s sightless red eyes, the gaping wound in his chest. He’s going to find the fucker who did this, and he’s going to—well, he’s going to let his boy have a go at them before he does. But first he’s got to bring him back.

Ep 26 fix-it fic that dares to ask: What if Lucien had a high level cleric dad on speed dial?

#okay thats all for now folks #ohh i miss the early m9 #critical role #m9 #the mighty nein #widomauk #widofjord #cr fic #fic recs #my post

78 notes · View notes

tiamat-zx · 2 years

Text

Because I'm bored, here! FIC RECS!

Seen Through The Deadlight, by @wintershades. Post-campaign Fjorester-focused story where their unfinished business comes back to haunt them. Rated M, currently ongoing, two chapters to go (as of this post). Updates on Sundays.

The Expositor's Guide to Wildemount, by @jtr-99. A post-campaign ongoing anthology series focused on Beau and Yasha encountering increasingly dangerous situations. Plenty of Hurt/Comfort AND deep diving into the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount source book. Stories are connected to each other. Updates every Saturday.

Part 1: In the Forest of the Forsaken

Beau and Yasha are separated from the Nein and stalked by a deadly creature in the Lushgut Forest. Rated T, Complete.

Part 2: Blood on the Sails

The Sentinels get swept up in dealing with some nautical ne'er-do-wells up to no good, and experience the pirate life, especially the most brutal parts of it. Rated M, Complete. Specific TW for flogging, just so you know.

Part 3: Shadows of Rancor

Blightshore and loose threads from the Lucidian and Lushgut await Beau and Yasha. Rated M, ongoing as of this post.

Once Upon A Damn-You-All, aka "I know that canon has made a decision, but given that it is a stupid-ass decision, I decided to break it" by @grayintogreen. Also known as the "Creedemption Saga". A true slow burn. Expect plenty of it, especially for all you Widomauk lovers. Rated M, ongoing. 40 of 47 chapters so far.

45 notes · View notes

ravendruid · 8 months

Text

Now that I'm done rewatching Campaign two, I am finally ready to dive into the scary side and start reading C2 fanfics.

Does anyone have any suggestions of fics (multichapter and one-shots) or writers? Not gonna lie, I'm scared of digging through the Campaign 2 tag on AO3, mostly because I feel like there are going to be so many fics, so I'd like to have some references beforehand.

#critical role #looking for fic recs :')#mighty nein #me completely ignoring my huge tbr list on ao3 #I'M SO SORRY OK #I'LL GET TO IT... EVENTUALLY

3 notes · View notes

kmackatie · 9 months

Text

shadowgast fic rec list: the modern au - part two

[part one]

I said on my first rec list that I would make another, and here we go. A few more new ones, and some old favourites, here is the second collection of modern au fics. I still have such a love (and plan on writing many more), so wanted to continue the love-sharing for one of my favourite au genres.

Do you have a favourite I haven’t listed? Let me know or add it to the reblog!

resonance broadening by toneofjoy/@fireryn (5/7 chapters, 25,015 words, M, no warnings)

Working in the same lab, Essek and Caleb aren't exactly friends, more like reluctant colleagues who have to play nice. I have such a love for au's where they have to come together, and this one is no different. The banter is fantastic from the start, the author knows the material of research in an academic setting, and this fic makes me feel wanderlust for a fictional city that I am sad I cannot visit.

Dancing Cheek to Cheek by soot_and_salt (1/1 chapters, 3,871 words, M, no warnings)

As a ballroom dancer prodigy, Essek is used to winning and he is tired. Enter Caleb. This au is full of wonderful character beats told in the liminal moments of unexpectedly crossing paths. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and have been thinking about it often.

Hard Light/soft shadow by aravhy/@aravhy (1/1 chapters, 3,108 words, T, no warnings)

An adorable meet cute, Caleb left his phone in Essek's car after a night out and Essek returns it. The Nein are wonderful in this one, and the feeling of discovering something new that might go somewhere is threaded throughout. A true gem!

In A Class of Thier Own Making by Dragonslaeyr (2/2 works, 9,415 words, T, no warnings)

A professor au told in two parts, the first being told from the perspective of their students who just want a break and have the wonderful idea to set them up with each other. There is a lot of humour, some delightful shenanigans, and it really is a fun fic to read when you need a pick-me-up.

when I fall by darundik/@caltracat (6/6 chapters, 12,541 words, T, no warnings)

This is one of the earliest modern au's I remember reading, and it sticks in my mind even now. It's a love letter to meeting people in public places, and it's worth a read.

and to round out this list, another hyper-specific au

overture: excerpts from a curtain rising by hanap/@callingvoicemail (1/1 chapters, 5,091 words, T, no warnings)

A ballet au that grabbed my soul as solidly as the ice skating au I added on the previous rec list, this fic is a delight of character moments, as is the follow up fic. Caleb sneaks in to see Beau's big break as a soloist and her dance partner snags his attention.

#shadowgast #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #the mighty nein #critical role fanfic #critical role #cr: fanfic #fic rec

102 notes · View notes

criticalfic · 1 year

Text

Lay Your Bones

Lay Your Bones by LadyOrpheus (53,587 words)

a post-campaign 2 AU in which Verin and some other Dynasty soldiers come to arrest Essek after learning of his whereabouts, only to find him with his child. They still take him back, but Verin ends up staying behind, meeting the Mighty Nein, and eventually helping them to free Essek. i loooovvveeeddd this fic! i was itching for something long and plotty recently, and i found this, and what a delight it was!!!! i think the plot is super cool and has layers to it that i didn’t expect, and verin is a delight, and the m9 make for a great ensemble cast. i fully admit i know nothing about kids, so idk if the kid character in this is realistic, but i thought she was cute and believably childlike. the action sequences really reminded me of critrole episodes too, which is always a hard thing to do in writing but i thought this author nailed it

#critical fic rec #cr2 #essek #verin #calebessek #mighty nein #GOD it has been SOOOO long since i popsted an actual rec #as always i'm so sorry yall #feel free to send me recs i may or may not read them

4 notes · View notes

critter-genfic-events · 4 days

Text

Post-Campaign Recs

This week, we have six fics that take place post-Campaign 1 and 2! Check them out under the cut, and as always, if you liked them, don't forget to comment and kudos!

He kindly stopped for me by metonymy (5919,General) Warnings: Major Character Death Pairings: None

Vax'ildan sees all of Vox Machina one more time.

Reccer says: Sad and sweet and a perfect coda for Vox Machina

A Conspiracy of Ravens by Senor_Sparklefingers (77384,Teen) Warnings: Canonical character death, pregnancy, choose not to warn Pairings:

Keyleth never claimed to be a good liar. And yet, in spite of that fact, she was able to lie to her closest friends, her family, for an entire year. She hadn't meant to...it just sort of happened.

Reccer says: It's beautiful and bittersweet and won't leave my mind, long after I first read it

The good professor by Stickandthorn (19717,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Minor canon relationships

There’s a new Professor at the Soltryce Academy, and he’s about to make life (and gossip) at the school far more interesting.

Reccer says: A fun look at what Caleb is like as a professor

You Try Having Friends Sometime by sunburstsky (1768,Teen) Warnings: lifespan differences, major character death Pairings: Jester Lavorre & Essek Thelyss

Jester promises to message Essek every day. He doesn't believe her. He should've.

Reccer says: It's a very sweet Jessties fic with a bittersweet ending

The Widogast Files by NyxKamelot (2762,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings:

Three times Professor Widogast hinted at being more than he seemed, and the one time he confirmed it.

Reccer says: A fun professor widogast from his students point of view fic!

keeping your feet off the ground (but never sneaking) by protectoroffaeries (1547,Teen) Warnings: Choose not to warn Pairings:

Velora and her friends talk about siblings

Reccer says: It's a beautiful and emotionally complex outsider point of view

This is one of our weekly communally-generated gen rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. Please note that the summary and content notes are provided by the reccer, and may be different than what the author has provided. Please assume good intentions all around. <3

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring fics featuring Marquet! Taking place in Marquet, about important figures or events in Marquesian history, Marquesian culture - all work!

After that, it'll be Blindness/Deafness, Focusing on Jester, and then one of the Critter Gen Week Prompts for this year!

Oh! Also! Critter Gen Week is happening! Prompt suggestions are now open, if you've got any ideas.

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit! If you're looking for some more, check out some fics written in the critter genfic bingo tag, or the older rec lists! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

#critical role #critter genfic rec lists #gen fic #the mighty nein #vox machina #keyleth of the air ashari #vax'ildan #caleb widogast #Velora Vessar #vex'ahlia #jester lavorre #essek thelyss

32 notes · View notes

bloopitynoot · 7 months

Text

Shadowgast Space-AUs I love

I read a LOT of Shadowgast fics, and one genre that has my heart in the best of ways are the Space AU's and Space-Opera AU's!

Here are some of the ones that I just love (not all of them are complete, there is one WIP that I am following).

1.Icarus to your certainty

Icarus to your certainty (11429 words) by @essektheylyss Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Summary: Essek Thelyss is an arrogant researcher trying to reach a black hole on the edge of known space when his mistakes and intellectual zealotry result in the deaths of the rest of the crew and leave him stranded with nothing but a short-range radio. After seven months alone on his space station, the black hole spits out a shuttle, as lost as he is.

Why I loved it: I read a lot of sad/sappy/and poetic genres and this one was just that. The way it was written was so intentional and so to the point, every phrase just added to the development of the story. The writing style, the character development, and the raw emotional processing of survivors guilt was just so beautiful to read through.

____

2.The wine dark sky (series)

**I went with the second fic in this series because it was much more Essek/Caleb centric but honestly ALL of them were fantastic to read.

The Schwarzschild Solution (13650 words) by dawl_and_dapple (if you know their tumblr, let me know and I will tag them here!). Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Series: Part 2 of the wine dark sky Summary: Caleb pressed his palm into his chest. The weight of this affection grew and waned in intensity while Essek drifted in and out of his life, like a moon and her tides, but they never showed signs of withering in spite of the uncertainty of their relationship. As it stood, Essek was a satellite. He seemed happy enough to remain as such, as far as Caleb could tell, and Caleb was more than happy to be blessed by the tides of his love. A series of meetings between Caleb and Essek across the Wynandir galaxy. Written for Shadowgast Week 2021 - Day 1: Gravity/Attraction

why I loved it: The writing style of the entire series is just gorgeous. I love when the chronology of a story is played with and the story is told almost like each segment is a short scene in a movie. This story in particular was just beautiful in the way that it shared moments between Essek and Caleb- it really felt like the ebb and flow of a tide (also I am such a sap for happenstance meetings and two souls connecting so naturally). Anyways lots of space and space travel and I totally recommend for a shorter read.

___

3.A Tapestry of Stars

*Currently a WIP but it has been wonderful so far.

A Tapestry of Stars (100725 words) by cinderstorm (if you know them her eon tumblr, let me know and I will tag them!). Chapters: 39/50 Rating: Explicit Summary: “This is not a negotiation.” Deirta Thelyss’s voice cracked the air like a thunderclap, sharp enough that even her ever-bustling flock of attendants twitched. “You will agree to this marriage, or I will have you cast from Den Thelyss for dereliction of duty. Is that clear?” Essek held himself stiffly, his shoulders rising in affront. A dangerous lapse of control, considering the woman standing before him, and one he would berate himself for later in the privacy of his tower, but he couldn’t help it. To be bartered off as—as a diplomatic representative of all things. It was absurd, insulting. Was the prestige his accomplishments brought to the den not enough? The Bright Queen herself had awarded him the title of Shadowhand for the advancements he’d made to the field of dunamancy, advancements that had secured countless victories in the war. Why should he have to upend his entire life to accommodate some human he’d never even met? Or: A Shadowgast Arranged Marriage AU in Space~

Why I love it: I adore the arranged marriage but they fall for eachother slow burn happy ending AU's (I don't know if this will be a happy ending but I am hoping for it very much so). Put that arranged marriage au in SPACE with a looming war, secrets, and blackmail and well- I will take that space opera. This AU is so well written, my heart goes out to both Caleb and Essek and I am just happy to be here on the journey while the plot unfolds.

___

4. Among the Nein

Among the Nein (124172 words) by @nellasbookplanet Chapters: 14/14 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Summary: Beau only needed someplace to hide for five minutes; she never intended to stow away on a glorified research vessel headed for Ruidus. Caleb only wanted a chance to get at the arcane knowledge surrounding the further moon; he never meant to get involved with the foreign spy hiding among the crew. Both of them were making do with the situation at hand. And then someone murdered the captain. AKA the Among Us-inspired AU no one asked for (no prior knowledge of the game required; if you like space and murder you'll be fine).

Why I loved it: The space opera-au/Among Us fic I didn't know I needed. I fully admit I had no knowledge of Among Us going into this fic (it is not at all needed) but I am so happy I decided to read it anyways! It was such a good story! A happy ending after a path of secrets, trust issues, and loads of self-loathing. It is a multi ship fic so you get shadowgast but also lots of beauyasha as well. I did not sob, but I did tear up- so you know this story is a good one.

------

One more: Special shout out to one of my absolute favourite shadowgast fics and an absolute space opera (I wanted to mention it here but I have already mentioned it in my "Shadowgast that Made me Ugly Cry" list) it get's an honourable mention

5. what luminous worlds await another fantastic piece by @essektheylyss . This fic has my entire heart. I was destroyed and rebuilt in this Space Opera-AU.

#for the shadowgast shippers #shadowgast #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #critical role fanfiction #mighty nein #shadowgast space opera au #shadowgast fic recs #all of these are absolutely lovely #10/10 would read again #beauyasha #beauregard lionett #yasha nydoorin

68 notes · View notes

acebender · 4 months

Text

for just one night

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Keg/Beauregard Lionett Characters: Keg (Critical Role), Beauregard Lionett, mentions of the rest of M9 Additional Tags: One Shot, Short One Shot, Canon Compliant, POV Keg (Critical Role), POV Outsider, mentions of Beauyasha Summary:

"Gods," Keg finally managed to utter. “You sure know how to give a girl a workout, dude.” Beau just chuckled, sounding entirely too cocksure and not as winded as Keg. She looked at Beau as she stretched the muscles of her hand and wrist. Catching Keg’s eye, she smirked as she stretched her jaw and neck. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I also got a bit of a workout.” -- Beau and Keg take a breather from their private party and have a chat

#critical role #keg cr #c2 #the mighty nein #mighty neing #beauregard lionett #beau lionett #fanfiction #fic rec #fanfic #one shot

0 notes

wild-karrde · 9 months

Text

NEW WEEK, NEW RECS! START SENDING YOUR FAVORITE FANDOM CREATIONS FROM THIS WEEK IN FOR ME TO QUEUE UP FOR FRIDAY!

The goal of Fandom Friday: provide a place where people can shout-out their favorite creators from the week, whether it’s a piece of fan art that made you smile or a fanfic that moved you. Drop a link to your favorite creations this week into my ask box along with what you loved about it, and I will give them a shout! It doesn’t have to be Star Wars either! If it’s on another website (AO3, Twitter, etc.), please be sure to state that as well.

This happens each week, so don’t feel like you’ve got to get out everything in one week. Just keep track of them throughout the week or send me an ask whenever you find something, and I’ll drop them all on Fridays (or throughout the weekend if I get a lot). You may submit for this week until THURSDAY MORNING (I'm in the Pacific timezone). Anything received after that will roll to the next week. A summary of the weeks’ recs will get added onto this post on Saturday, so check back here for all of the awesome fics and art! And be sure to go give the creations on that list some love (and don’t just share the ask responses I put out).

This week’s submissions will start posting on Friday, August 11.

Rules and additional details under the cut! PLEASE make sure you read the rules before sending something in. If your submission violates any of the rules, I will delete it.

Rules:

Please send submissions to my ask box (sending them all to one place makes wrangling them easier each week). In your ask, please include the creator’s handle, a link to their work/post (if links aren’t working for the ask, please DM me them), and what you loved about it!

Please ensure the link is to the creator’s original post and not your own reblog or repost of their work (if they’re on another platform). The idea is to drive people to visit the creator’s page!

The creation does not have to have been posted this week! It can be something older. Also, don’t worry about whether or not a rec is a repeat from a prior week. Just looking to celebrate things that made an impression on you this week, whether you’ve seen it before or not!

NSFW is alright! Just make sure you note it in the ask so I can flag appropriately! Since I’m including 18+ material, minors may not participate. 18+ posts will be tagged with NSFT/lemon/lemony lemon (trying to cover all my bases).

NO incest, underage, cl*necest, master/padawan (or similar power dynamics), dub-con/non-con/rape. Also, no H*rry Potter. There are a few others that I also won’t share due to my discomfort with them (i.e., R*xsoka), so if you’re not sure, ask. Also, many of you submit multiple works at once, and that’s fine, but if one of those works contains something that violates the rules, I will delete the entire ask, so something to be extra careful about when submitting!

If your rec involves spoilers from a show that’s currently running, please include that info in the ask so I can tag it appropriately (I will normally tag a few different ways, but I always use #<show title> spoilers if you need to filter, for example: Andor spoilers will be tagged #Andor Spoilers). I will stop tagging spoilers two weeks after the show stops airing.

You can submit GIF sets or edits, but please ensure you are submitting from the blog that actually created them. Wanted to add that caution since there’s been a lot of people stealing/reposting GIFs and edits in particular recently. So just be cautious.

Try to avoid commentary in your ask that might make others feel bad (“the only person who knows how to write XXX correctly…”). It’s important to be able to appreciate creators without making others feel bad, so let’s try to keep the commentary complimentary without being off-putting for other creators.

Self recommendations are allowed and encouraged! Shout out your own hard work! You deserve the recognition!

*Rules subject to change so PLEASE make sure you read them before sending something in. If your submission violates any of the rules, I will delete it.

**If you have any questions about any of the rules, don’t hesitate to DM me!

In addition to sending me asks, I highly encourage you to go either leave a comment on and/or reblog someone’s work (tag me or use the #Fandom Friday tag if you do!). Let’s get the interaction back up on this website and show the creators that work so hard on their stuff some love!

46 notes · View notes