thesebitchywitchesgay

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

I don't post much here besides my gay little writings, but I think I nailed the dynamic between Laudna and Pâté in this fic

#critical role #cr spoilers #laudna #pate de rolo #it was such a throwaway line but it ended up being so impactful looking back

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Laudna/Imogen Temult Characters: Imogen Temult, Chetney Pock O'Pea, Laudna (Critical Role) Additional Tags: Hurt No Comfort, Canonical Character Death, Imogen needs a hug, Rings, no beta we die like laudna Summary:

Sometimes it's easier to pretend.

  Sometimes reality won't let you.

#critical role #imogen temult #laudna #imodna #rings #just something I couldn't get out of my head #might add to this later

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

Strings of Fate

Based on this post, specifically the tags

"Why did you call yourself a puppet?"

Laudna is taken aback for a moment, unused to such a direct question from anyone besides Imogen and villagers who have already decided she is to blame for their misfortunes.

"Well," Laudna starts. She nervously glances at Imogen as her hands start to fidget.

"I, um," she stutters, mentally categorizing what information is pertinent and what isn't. "I recently... lost control of my body."

The rest of the Hells immediately stop all other conversations, though Laudna ignores them. She would much rather focus on this stranger who has finally asked the question Laudna has been desperately trying to give an answer to.

"What do you mean? Were you drugged or mind controlled or something?" Dusk reaches a hand out and gently places it on Laudna's arm, her eyes so warm and concerned. Laudna blinks away the tears that are beginning to form.

"I suppose," she begins, her voice low and gravelly from the tears she refuses to shed, "that it could be called mind control. But it felt more like I was a prisoner in my own body."

At this, the rest of the Hells begin to speak up. But one voice is more insistent than the rest.

Orym stands and reaches across the table, putting both his hands on one of Laudna's.

"Did Delilah take control?"

Laudna can't stop her lip from quivering as she nods, blinking rapidly as she keeps her eyes on Orym's. She refuses to look at Imogen, too afraid that her best friend might think she's lying once more. What she doesn't expect is for Imogen to leave.

Laudna watches as Imogen angrily stomps off, presumably to their rooms. She lets the tears fall then, collapsing into Dusk at their side.

Through her blubbering tears, Laudna explains what happens, how Delilah tricked her into touching the rock, how her arm was locked in place while the rest of her tried to beg Imogen for help, and how the rock was drained of power and shattered in her hand. Dusk holds her as she cries, soothing her in ways Laudna has been craving since The Incident happened.

"Hey," Dusk whispers once Laudna begins to calm down. Laudna sniffles loudly before leaning away so she can look at them.

"I don't think you're a puppet, but maybe we can help you try to cut your strings?" Dusk looks at her with hope and something that could maybe one day be love, but Laudna quickly dismisses it.

"I think I would like that very much," she whispers, her eyes welling with more tears but her heart filling with gratitude for this person that has given her this wonderful opportunity to finally ask for the help she so desperately wants but never let herself seek.

Because try as she might, not even Laudna could turn this horrible event into something easier to deal with. Maybe it's time to finally let herself feel the pain and fear and sorrow she was convinced she'd moved beyond.

Laudna wipes her eyes, taking in her companions. As she looks towards FCG, her eyes glance past and she notices Imogen, glaring at her from the shadows. Laudna's heart stops and she holds her breath, waiting for her girl.

Imogen?

The younger woman flinches and shakes her head, her scowl deepening before she turns and stalks off. Laudna deflates once more, but does her best to move the conversation to a new topic. Once that is accomplished, she sends out one last thought before closing her mind.

It wasn’t my doing, but I hope you can forgive me anyway.

#critical role #critical role spoilers #cr spoilers #laudna #imogen temult #dusk cr #orym of the air ashari #bells hells #bell's hells #imodna #duskna #lusk #daudna #angst

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Laudna/Imogen Temult, Laudna & Imogen Temult Characters: Imogen Temult Additional Tags: POV Second Person, Trying something new, pre-ep23, Not Actually Unrequited Love Summary:

She grabs your hand but she doesn't think about how nice it feels. She holds you throughout the night without marveling at how well your bodies fit together. She wipes your tears after one of your nightmares but never dares to think about leaning forward and kissing you. 

You're in love with her, but she only loves you. 

Or, Imogen reflects on her relationship with Laudna

#laudna #imogen temult #imodna

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

Dusk doesn't learn that Laudna and Orym are from Tal'dorei until the group gets to the theme restaurant, but immediately they're all over the two of them with questions about the authenticity of the food.

Orym seems taken aback and uncomfortable, but Laudna soaks in the attention like a dying plant after a long rainstorm.

Imogen does her best to sit as far away from the pair as possible, electing to sit between FCG and Chetney. She tries to keep her eyes elsewhere, but she can't block out their loud conversation. Imogen clenches her jaw, her already-frayed control getting weaker. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Laudna's signature wild gesticulations as she regails Dusk with some story or other about authentic Whitestone cuisine.

It's only when Laudna mentions the feast she had before her death that Imogen finally looks back at the two.

"Wait, you were killed?"

Laudna looks uncertainly at Orym before turning back to Dusk.

"Well, yes. I was... some sort of warning message to Vox Machina, and they hung me from the Sun Tree."

Laudna's eyes seem to unfocus as she looks down at Pâté, her smile more bitter than anything Imogen has ever seen on her before. Her chest aches, and her hands twitch at the new information Laudna had kept from her. She didn't know Laudna was an effigy, and now she wonders what else she doesn't know.

Dusk takes a moment to study the woman beside them, before taking a hand and gently cupping Laudna's face, lifting her eyes towards their own. Imogen nearly breaks the glass in her hand at the tender moment, and her heart cracks wide open at the desperate vulnerability she finds in Laudna's eyes.

"I don't know who Vox Machina is," they say softly, "But you seem so amazing and I hope you know you didn't deserve to be killed."

Laudna's lip begins to quiver and Imogen looks away, but not before catching the eyes of a few other members of the group. She blushes, trying her best to block out their thoughts but she still hears questions about why she's not comforting Laudna, why she's so angry, and why Laudna looks more fragile than ever.

A single black tear escapes down Laudna's cheek and Dusk gently wipes it away. "It's ok to cry and grieve, you know. I hope you've given yourself that grace since you died."

Laudna gives a watery smile, before the first sniffle escapes her. Without a word, she extricates herself from the elf and walks quickly to the restroom. Orym runs after her first, and Dusk stands as if to follow.

I think you've done enough, Imogen projects into their head. Dusk startles before turning to look at her.

I obviously said something that hurt her, so now I need to go fix it. And maybe set some boundaries for the future. They give Imogen a curt nod before running off after Orym and Laudna.

Imogen groans and let's her head fall into her hands, a migraine starting to form behind her eyes. At least, that's what she tells herself when she feels tears start to well up.

How did everything get so fucked up? She should be the one to comfort Laudna, to hold her while she cries. But instead, she's just sitting here being useless.

Once again, she can feel the eyes and thoughts of the rest of the team. She does her best to keep everything out, and this time she's actually successful. It doesn't stop the feeling of being watched, though.

With a sigh, Imogen looks at the rest of the group through her fingers.

"What."

They look at each other, and if Imogen didn't know any better, she would think they had telepathic abilities too. Finally, Fearne seems to decide that she's done waiting.

"What happened between you and Laudna? Are you mad at her?"

The air gets sucked out of Imogen's lungs, and she feels like she's just been punched in the gut. Suddenly everything feels like too much. She hurts everywhere, and she doesn't know how to make it stop. Laudna broke one of the few potential solutions Imogen had, and now all Imogen can feel is betrayal. How can she trust Laudna again? How can she let down her walls when Delilah could always just take over Laudna's body and leave destruction in her wake? But Laudna, she was so afraid. And Imogen did nothing.

No, that's not true. Imogen left Laudna all alone. She brushed her aside and pushed her away right into the arms of a caring, lovable stranger.

Imogen let's the tears fall, as she finally admits what she's been feeling all day.

"I'm not mad, Fearne. I'm fucking terrified."

Fearne cocks her head to the side, confusion clear on her face.

"Of Laudna? She's not that scary."

Imogen chuckles darkly, her eyes focused on her scarred hands.

"No, Fearne," she whispers before clenching her hands into fists. "I'm terrified of losing Laudna to that bitch in her head."

Ashton and Chetney both lean in, the latter placing a small hand on her fist.

"We won't let anything happen to her," Ashton promises. The others nod along.

Chetney pulls on Imogen's fist, waiting until she's looking at him before speaking.

"If you don't wanna lose her, then stop fucking pushing her away."

Imogen wants to be upset, but how can she when he's right? She gives a small nod, but doesn't say anything else. Instead, she watched the bathroom, waiting for Laudna to come back.

I don't know if I'll ever trust you the way I did before, but I can't lose you too, Laudna. I just can't.

#critical role #critical role spoilers #cr spoilers #laudna #imogen #dusk cr #imodna

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

Rationally, Imogen knows she's overreacting. It's just a rock, and it's not like she needed it before she found the damned thing.

Rationally, Imogen knows that Delilah Briarwood is known for her necromantic abilities, has read about the Briarwoods and their deadly rule over Whitestone.

Rationally, Imogen knows that Laudna has never lied to her, and wouldn't have a reason to start lying now.

But Imogen is beyond rational thought, beyond logic and reason. All she can feel is anger and hurt and betrayal. Why would Laudna lie to her? Why would she break the only thing that makes her feel truly safe?

She lies in her cot, her throat tight and her jaw clenched as she tries her hardest not to cry. It's not a difficult task for her, in fact she got good at this kind of thing years ago. But that was before Laudna's comfort and care. Before Imogen knew what it felt like to be loved unconditionally.

And now Imogen wonders if she ever knew that feeling at all.

Laudna lied, and Imogen doesn't know what to do with that. Her mind replays the memory over and over again, from handing over the rock, to Laudna's flashing green eyes, to the stone broken within her friend's taloned hand. Her anger and fear was too great, and now she can't even remember what either of them said during the encounter.

She can't remember if she's ever wanted to hurt someone the way she wanted to hurt Laudna in that moment, either.

Imogen presses her hands to her eyes as a soft whimper escapes her lips. Gods, she hates herself for how she feels. She doesn't want to hurt Laudna, but every time she even thinks of the other woman, all she can feel is rage over that stupid broken rock. It shouldn't mean as much as it does to her. She's only had it for less than a month! But oh, she never felt safer.

Not even with Laudna.

Another whimper escapes. Imogen brings her hands down to her mouth, trying to smother any other wayward sounds that might sneak out.

Her anger flares up, cursing Laudna for causing her this pain and heartbreak. She wanted to spend her life with Laudna, but now Imogen wonders if that's such a good idea. What if the reason Laudna sounds like music is because she was meant to lure Imogen into whatever plan Delilah has? What if her thoughts and words always match because she's been fooling Imogen the entire time? No one else has ever sounded as beautiful as Laudna, and maybe that should have been a warning instead of a blessing.

Imogen roughly turns on her side, wrapping the meager blanket around herself tightly. She doesn't want to keep thinking about it. Thinking about Laudna hurts right now and she's already been through enough pain to last multiple lifetimes.

They're stuck here on the airship for at least another couple of days, unless Imogen wants to risk flying herself down below and finishing her journey on the ground. She quickly pushes the thought aside. It would be too dangerous, and she wants answers more than she wants to get away from all of this.

With a sigh, Imogen resigns herself to staying on the airship. She'll try to stay civil with Laudna, but there is only so much she can deal with right now. Let Laudna explain what happened, she thinks. Even if the others believe her, Imogen can't. She doesn't want to think about this anymore. She doesn't want to think about Laudna anymore.

Imogen breathes deeply and slowly, her anger and rage slowly ebbing until all that remains is a persistent ache deep in her chest. She'll protect herself until they can be off this fucking airship. She'll block out Laudna completely. She might even suggest splitting the party once they get to Bassuras. Maybe then she'll stop feeling this pain.

Maybe then she can forgive Laudna for breaking her heart.

It's been two days, and Imogen still won't talk to her.

They're about half a day away from their destination, and all Laudna wants to do is hold Imogen close and never let go. But how can she, when her girl won't even look at her anymore?

(Can she even call Imognen her girl anymore?)

Laudna had to explain what happened after that night, because Imogen would simply walk away whenever anyone dared to broach the subject with her. She could barely keep the black tears at bay and she pleaded to the rest of the group, begging them to believe that she didn't do this, that her patron had taken control.

Orym is the first and most adamant supporter. He heard the stories of what Delilah Briarwood was capable of, and he knows this would be laughably easy for her to accomplish. Then come FCG and Ashton, followed by Chetney and Fearne. They all believe her, except for Imogen.

Laudna doesnt know what to do without her best friend. Imogen even switched rooms with one of the ship crew so she could be as far away from Laudna as possible. It hurts, and she doesn't know how to fix this. Every attempt is met with silence, to the point that she's noticed the lack of a tingling sensation in the back of her head where Imogen's voice used to be.

Now all that's there is silence, and the echo of Delilah's laughter.

#laudna #imogen temult #southerngothic #imodna #critical role #critical role spoilers #cr spoilers #part of Imogen's perspective #unreliable narrator

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

It's been two days, and Imogen still won't talk to her.

They're about half a day away from their destination, and all Laudna wants to do is hold Imogen close and never let go. But how can she, when her girl won't even look at her anymore?

(Can she even call Imogen her girl anymore?)

Laudna had to explain what happened after that night, because Imogen would simply walk away whenever anyone dared to broach the subject with her. She could barely keep the black tears at bay and she pleaded to the rest of the group, begging them to believe that she didn't do this, that her patron had taken control.

Orym is the first and most adamant supporter. He heard the stories of what Delilah Briarwood was capable of, and he knows this would be laughably easy for her to accomplish. Then come FCG and Ashton, followed by Chetney and Fearne. They all believe her, except for Imogen.

Laudna doesnt know what to do without her best friend. Imogen even switched rooms with one of the ship crew so she could be as far away from Laudna as possible. It hurts, and she doesn't know how to fix this. Every attempt is met with silence, to the point that she's noticed the lack of a tingling sensation in the back of her head where Imogen's voice used to be.

Now all that's there is silence, and the echo of Delilah's laughter.

#laudna #imogen temult #southerngothic #imodna #critical role #critical role spoilers #cr spoilers #just a little ficlet that i might flesh out later

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Laudna/Imogen Temult Characters: Laudna (Critical Role), Imogen Temult Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Up until C3 episode 19, Friends to Lovers, Pining, Love Confessions Summary:

“I love you so much.”

Laudna stilled for a moment before leaning back just enough to look at Imogen, her smile soft and oh so loving. “I love you too, darling. More than anything in this world.” Her eyes flickered down, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

Imogen felt her heart stutter, the temptation to dive into Laudna’s mind stronger than ever. She refrained, but not without effort.

“Even more than Pâté?”

OR

Imogen has another nightmare and Laudna is there to comfort her like always.

#laudna #imogen temult #imodna #southerngothic #Excessive use of darling

[thesebitchywitchesgay]

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Laudna/Imogen Temult, Fearne Calloway & Imogen Temult Characters: Imogen Temult, Fearne Calloway, Fresh Cut Grass (Critical Role), Laudna (Critical Role), mentions of other characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Marriage Proposal, discussions of kink, disabled FCG, Nonbinary FCG, ace FCG, Collaring Kink, not beta we die like betrand Series: Part 1 of To Build a Home Summary:

Fearne tilts her head to the side. “What’s really making you so upset?”

Imogen’s eyes go wide.

“There are so many shops we can go to, and you can always order a ring online too.”

Imogen sees FCG nod their head before feeling both sets of eyes on her.

“I know,” Imogen rushes out, her cheeks reddening as she pulls her hand away from Fearne and crosses her arms. “But I want this ring to be special.” She drops her gaze, unable to look at either of her friends. Realistically, Imogen knows she can’t expect to find a perfect ring in one day. She just wishes she knew why nothing felt right.

“You’re already asking Laudna to marry you,” FCG says. “What could be more special than that?”

 Or, Imogen struggles, their friends help, and Laudna gets something she's always wanted but never thought she could have.

#imodna #laudna #imogen temult #southern gothic #southerngothic #modern au #no powers #fearne calloway #fcg