#shadowgast fluff

Tickletober 2023 - Critical Role - C2 Mighty Nein - lee!Essek

[see my other tickletober 2023 fics]

A/N: based on the lovely idea that Essek has ticklish palms

[read on AO3]

Words: 460

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“Ah, and do you see how it- and here!” Caleb explains excitedly, drawing a copy of their newly integrated glyph, combined from some others they had been studying. Essek hums along and watches him, also thrilled by the invention or alteration of a new spell, but he can’t stop himself from glancing up at Caleb’s face as he speaks, face lighting up with curiosity and joy.

Caleb dips the quill back into the ink, brings it back up and continues to scrawl. But, the paper only picks up a smudge of the line he attempts. “Ah.” Caleb mutters, glancing around for a bottle. His eyes settle on Essek. “Here.” He reaches out, gesturing for Essek’s hand.

Essek places his hand into Caleb’s open palm with a raise of his eyebrow. “Look, Schatz.” Caleb starts, tracing the glyph shape on Essek’s palm. “This here? I think we’ve finally figured it out,” The drow lets out a soft sound of surprise, his fingers curling inward. “Once I grab another bottle, we’ll be-” 

Caleb stops when Essek trembles, sucking in a breath. Caleb’s eyes flick up to him, soft. “Are you okay?”

“Y-Yes, I-” Essek takes a breath, glancing down. “If you wouldn’t mind..” He tugs his wrist back a hair. When he looks back up, Caleb is still wearing a look of interest, of curiosity. 

Caleb traces his index finger, deliberate, slow, down the center of Essek’s palm. 

“Ah-” Essek flinches, his fingers flexing again. He tries to close up his hand a bit. Caleb is smiling this time, when Essek looks up at him, and he fights the urge to smile himself. “Wait, Caleb.”

 "Why don't you allow me?" he had a cocky glint in his eye and Caleb’s interest was piqued. Caleb raised an eyebrow, heart already picking up speed at the prospect of what Essek was offering. He and Essek had something of a spells arms race ongoing, each trying to impress and outdo the other at every turn. Caleb was positive that if Essek had mastered the tower with no instruction and in only a few short weeks, he very well may just keel over and die on the spot from an abundance of attraction.

 He watched as Essek placed down an onyx miniature portal, a silver spoon that he recognized from the tea set Caduceus had gifted them as a gift before their journey,  a small piece of purple wood and a pearl. He began confidently running through the somatics to cast the tower. It did appear to be correct thus far and Caleb watched with growing anticipation as Essek deftly finished the last few sequences.

 Essek turned back to him, and Caleb was certain his face was nothing less than awe which earned him a haughty smirk in return.

 “After you?” Essek said, gesturing to the portal shaped entrance, a soft purple and white circle that glowed gently before them.

 Caleb, lost for words, simply nodded, stepping forward eagerly, looking forward to peering into Essek’s mind and preferences. How would their towers differ? Where would they be similar? How intimate it was for Essek to allow him in, quite literally, this way. Caleb understood how much such things could mean. He had made the tower as a love letter to his dearest friends but was nearly overwhelmed now, receiving the same treatment in return.

Did someone say soft wizard fluff??

One glorious summer day, Essek and Caleb were lazing about in bed, enjoying the simple fact that they had nowhere in particular to be. Caleb slowly closed a book and sighed as he placed it on the large, precarious and still growing stack next to his bed.

“The end of a good book is always bittersweet. Always happy to see things concluded, but sad to know it has come to an end.” He mused.

“This is true. You were particularly interested in that series too were you not? Is that the last volume?”

“The last volume for now at least. I believe there is a final book to come but it will likely be a few more years until I can get my hands on it.”

“Ah the bookworm’s plight.” Essek sympathized, allowing his floating spell to drop from where he had been resting in the air, lazily drifting over the bed, so that he could come to nuzzle into Caleb’s embrace as he closed a book of his own onto Caleb’s chest.

“Indeed. A tragedy I am sure is familiar to you.” he kissed the top of Essek’s head.

“Certainly. The Kryn are the worst for such things. Several authors have been known to wait until their next lifetime for a continuation, hoping to garner new perspectives in the process of passing through the Luxon. It is ridiculous! There are series I fell in love with as a child that I may have to wait until I am 300 to resolve.”

Caleb appeared absolutely horror struck.

“Alright. We must add one to the score for humans here. That is a crime.”

“Agreed.”

Caleb sat for a long moment, twiddling Essek’s now grown out hair, betwixt his fingers.

“You know, I do not believe we have ever had the pleasure of book shopping together. I have bought you books as gifts and certainly you have done the same but we have never actually gone together.”

Essek sat up slightly, leaning on his elbows to look Caleb in the face.

“Surprising but true.”

“What would you say to going out with me today in search of the next greatest literary adventure?” Caleb asked. “We’ll make it a proper date.”

“We haven’t actually dated in some time. What a lovely idea.” Essek agreed

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Essek Thelyss & Caleb Widogast, Fjord/Jester Lavorre, Shadowgast - Relationship Characters: Caleb Widogast, Essek Thelyss, Caduceus Clay, Fjord (Critical Role), Jester Lavorre, Yasha (Critical Role), Nott | Veth Brenatto, Beauregard Lionett, The Mighty Nein Additional Tags: Fluff, Polymorph Spell, Cats, Cute Ending, Touch-Starved, Pet Names, Spells & Enchantments, Demisexual Essek Thelyss, Mutual Pining Summary:

-SPOILERS- ASSUMES CANON TO C2E133 and then some headcanon from there on-

Sometimes it's easier for soft wizards to express themselves when they polymorph. Essek enjoys an evening running around as a cat and receiving some much needed physical affection and a break from his own intelligence. Leads to a sweet moment with Caleb.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Essek Thelyss & Caleb Widogast, Fjord/Jester Lavorre, Beauregard Lionett/Yasha Characters: Nott | Veth Brenatto, Caleb Widogast, Yasha (Critical Role), Essek Thelyss, Fjord (Critical Role), Caduceus Clay, Jester Lavorre, Beauregard Lionett Additional Tags: Fluff, SO MUCH FLUFF, that sweet sweet emotional intimacy, Shadowgast, beauyasha - Freeform, Fjorester, Mighty Nein, M9, critical role - Freeform, cute pairing, Demisexual Essek Thelyss, Romance, new romance - Freeform Summary: