CR c2 fic recs
Feb. 24th, 2022 09:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkWar in Europe. Shit. It was weird having to go to work today like everything was normal. I'm horrified and exhausted.
As a distraction, a Critical Role campaign 2 fic rec list.
Community Service by![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
starkraving
6k, Essek & Reani, post-canon
Summary: Essek meets up with Reani. The Lightbringer is working very very hard to take a softer and more nuanced approach to the obliteration of all evil. It’s hard not seeing the world in black and white. But the good news is community service is excellent restitution. It would suck, after all, to stab hot boi Essek to death after their mutual friends literally sent him to hang out with her.
Reani and Essek fight crime. (Whether Essek likes it or not.)
Why I love it: A great mix of fun, a drop of angst, thoughts about morality etc. I love it, and I would read a book about their adventures.
amongst the things left unforgiven bynonwal
64k, Essek/Caleb/Astrid/Eadwulf, post-campaign
Summary: Essek goes home, and there is no one waiting at his door. This should be some manner of relief. But his towers haven't felt like a safe haven for a long time now, long before errant scourgers appeared to harass him with strange questions. He misses the immediacy of that threat, prefers it over the slow and indulgent terror of whatever punishment is coming for him, someday soon.
He tells himself that he misses only that, the simplicity of being unsafe in the company of predators, and that he does not miss the company itself.
(In which a pair of scourgers shows up at Essek’s doorstep and saves him from himself.)
Why I love it: Wonderful character voices and slow relationship development and characters who are aware that they have done terrible things in their past and trying to atone for it supporting each other.
Carry It Until We Die bystarkraving
64.5k, Molly & M9, canon divergence AU
Summary: Mollymauk Tealeaf wakes up in a grave by the road ten years after he died. Things have gone a bit wrong since then and he might be the only one who can set things right… since it’s the Mighty Nein themselves who’ve gone wrong. AU: Where Molly comes back to yell at his super-powered Level 20 friends.
Why I love it: Unlike most fics in this list, this one was written fairly early while the campaign was on-going, so it features things like gnome!Veth, but even while rereading that didn't bother me at all. The future AU versions of the M9 are all very interesting, and the various flavors of angst are delicious. I especially loved Molly's, uh, reckless use of his new "abilities," and the surprise "guest star."
proof by contradiction byChrome
19.6k, Dairon & Essek, h/c
Summary: When Beauregard asks for Dairon's help freeing a friend held captive by the Cerberus Assembly, they agree, expecting a rescue mission to clear the way to bring down Trent Ikithon for good. But when they meet Essek Thelyss in the depths of the Vergesson Sanatorium, they discover that Beauregard hasn't told them everything.
As the clock runs down and Dairon and Essek find themselves in a game of wits not only with the Assembly but with each other, they must find a way to trust each other--or risk neither of them making it out alive.
Why I like it: Great Dairon and very nice h/c.
Mirror-Colored byaboxthecolourofheartache
3.6k, Essek/Caleb
Summary:Essek’s hand grips his knee, knuckles lilac-pale. Caleb takes a risk and brushes the backs of his fingers against Essek’s.
-
Essek spends a night in the tower, and nothing really goes as expected.
Why I like it: Additional tags: "Mutual Pining, Sort Of, Denial of Feelings, Emotional Manipulation, Flirting, Mind Games, Trust Issues, it wouldn't hurt if it weren't real, Unspecified Setting, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Emotionally Repressed, two emotionally wounded sharks circling, because the alternative is scary" – makes for delicious heartbreak.
Deep Dive byJungleJelly
11k, Caleb & Essek & Yussa & Allura
Summary: The invitation comes by regular mail, which should perhaps surprise Caleb, but it doesn’t, not really. Yussa strikes him as the sort of person who likes to do things properly, take his time to gather his thoughts. Besides, it’s not like this matter could fit inside a twenty-five word message, or two, or even ten.
-
(An all-wizard Happy Fun Ball expedition? In this economy?! It's more likely than you think.)
Why I like it: Nerdy wizard group date! This was fun.
spider silk vows byhanap
50k, qp Beau & Essek arranged marriage, AU, WIP (13/20, ~weekly updates)
Summary: Shadowhand Essek of den Thelyss has been stripped of both title and den in all but name, but Light forbid he forget his manners. Even if his betrothed is, apparently, a woman with enough skin left bare to make him lower his gaze out of respect for her modesty.
[In which an arrangement between the Cobalt Soul and the Dynasty to foster peace between nations becomes a cover for exile, betrayal, and espionage, and perhaps even--at the end of it all--a real marriage.]
Why I like it: The fic I read today that made me want to make this rec list. A very cool and intriguing AU with many exciting revelations and good angst and fluff both in moderation.
One of my favorite things about c2 fic is how much of it focuses on atonement and not on redemption or forgiveness. As is probably obvious from the above list, Essek is one of my favorite characters, and now I kind of want to watch his episodes again. (…but I also want to catch up on campaign 3, and rewatch the Briarwood arc, and probably none of these are going to happen, idk.)
Also, have I mentioned recently how annoying it is that the fandom tag on AO3 is simply "Critical Role" because they did not anticipate multiple campaign when they started (same problem as "The Adventure Zone.")
As a distraction, a Critical Role campaign 2 fic rec list.
Community Service by
6k, Essek & Reani, post-canon
Summary: Essek meets up with Reani. The Lightbringer is working very very hard to take a softer and more nuanced approach to the obliteration of all evil. It’s hard not seeing the world in black and white. But the good news is community service is excellent restitution. It would suck, after all, to stab hot boi Essek to death after their mutual friends literally sent him to hang out with her.
Reani and Essek fight crime. (Whether Essek likes it or not.)
Why I love it: A great mix of fun, a drop of angst, thoughts about morality etc. I love it, and I would read a book about their adventures.
amongst the things left unforgiven by
64k, Essek/Caleb/Astrid/Eadwulf, post-campaign
Summary: Essek goes home, and there is no one waiting at his door. This should be some manner of relief. But his towers haven't felt like a safe haven for a long time now, long before errant scourgers appeared to harass him with strange questions. He misses the immediacy of that threat, prefers it over the slow and indulgent terror of whatever punishment is coming for him, someday soon.
He tells himself that he misses only that, the simplicity of being unsafe in the company of predators, and that he does not miss the company itself.
(In which a pair of scourgers shows up at Essek’s doorstep and saves him from himself.)
Why I love it: Wonderful character voices and slow relationship development and characters who are aware that they have done terrible things in their past and trying to atone for it supporting each other.
Carry It Until We Die by
64.5k, Molly & M9, canon divergence AU
Summary: Mollymauk Tealeaf wakes up in a grave by the road ten years after he died. Things have gone a bit wrong since then and he might be the only one who can set things right… since it’s the Mighty Nein themselves who’ve gone wrong. AU: Where Molly comes back to yell at his super-powered Level 20 friends.
Why I love it: Unlike most fics in this list, this one was written fairly early while the campaign was on-going, so it features things like gnome!Veth, but even while rereading that didn't bother me at all. The future AU versions of the M9 are all very interesting, and the various flavors of angst are delicious. I especially loved Molly's, uh, reckless use of his new "abilities," and the surprise "guest star."
proof by contradiction by
19.6k, Dairon & Essek, h/c
Summary: When Beauregard asks for Dairon's help freeing a friend held captive by the Cerberus Assembly, they agree, expecting a rescue mission to clear the way to bring down Trent Ikithon for good. But when they meet Essek Thelyss in the depths of the Vergesson Sanatorium, they discover that Beauregard hasn't told them everything.
As the clock runs down and Dairon and Essek find themselves in a game of wits not only with the Assembly but with each other, they must find a way to trust each other--or risk neither of them making it out alive.
Why I like it: Great Dairon and very nice h/c.
Mirror-Colored by
3.6k, Essek/Caleb
Summary:Essek’s hand grips his knee, knuckles lilac-pale. Caleb takes a risk and brushes the backs of his fingers against Essek’s.
-
Essek spends a night in the tower, and nothing really goes as expected.
Why I like it: Additional tags: "Mutual Pining, Sort Of, Denial of Feelings, Emotional Manipulation, Flirting, Mind Games, Trust Issues, it wouldn't hurt if it weren't real, Unspecified Setting, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Emotionally Repressed, two emotionally wounded sharks circling, because the alternative is scary" – makes for delicious heartbreak.
Deep Dive by
11k, Caleb & Essek & Yussa & Allura
Summary: The invitation comes by regular mail, which should perhaps surprise Caleb, but it doesn’t, not really. Yussa strikes him as the sort of person who likes to do things properly, take his time to gather his thoughts. Besides, it’s not like this matter could fit inside a twenty-five word message, or two, or even ten.
-
(An all-wizard Happy Fun Ball expedition? In this economy?! It's more likely than you think.)
Why I like it: Nerdy wizard group date! This was fun.
spider silk vows by
50k, qp Beau & Essek arranged marriage, AU, WIP (13/20, ~weekly updates)
Summary: Shadowhand Essek of den Thelyss has been stripped of both title and den in all but name, but Light forbid he forget his manners. Even if his betrothed is, apparently, a woman with enough skin left bare to make him lower his gaze out of respect for her modesty.
[In which an arrangement between the Cobalt Soul and the Dynasty to foster peace between nations becomes a cover for exile, betrayal, and espionage, and perhaps even--at the end of it all--a real marriage.]
Why I like it: The fic I read today that made me want to make this rec list. A very cool and intriguing AU with many exciting revelations and good angst and fluff both in moderation.
One of my favorite things about c2 fic is how much of it focuses on atonement and not on redemption or forgiveness. As is probably obvious from the above list, Essek is one of my favorite characters, and now I kind of want to watch his episodes again. (…but I also want to catch up on campaign 3, and rewatch the Briarwood arc, and probably none of these are going to happen, idk.)
Also, have I mentioned recently how annoying it is that the fandom tag on AO3 is simply "Critical Role" because they did not anticipate multiple campaign when they started (same problem as "The Adventure Zone.")
no subject
Date: 2022-02-24 11:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-25 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-26 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-26 09:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-25 12:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-25 05:40 pm (UTC)spider silk vows is a lot of fun and I look forward to the fall-out from like five different things happening at the same time.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-25 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-25 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-26 06:11 pm (UTC)And yeah, a sub-category for each CR campaign on AO3 would be oh so helpful!
no subject
Date: 2022-02-26 09:51 pm (UTC)I'm so glad Essek's storyline went the way it did! That could have gone veery differently and it would have been a shame. And it's not impossible that he'll show up in campaign 3 eventually ;)
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Date: 2022-03-06 08:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-26 06:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-26 09:52 pm (UTC)