Chapter Text
It was snowing in Rosohna.
A light, calm snow that was nonetheless piling up on the windowsills and balconies and rooftops. The first few days, Jester was elated. Growing up on the Menagerie Coast, she had never seen snow. She had read about it in her books, there were some great scenes where the beautiful maid and the handsome knight had to share blankets- and more- for warmth during cold, snowy nights. And traveling, in Uthodurn, there was only like a day or so to enjoy it.
So she took advantage of the time to experience snow. She filled the front yard with snowmen. Some of them were even anatomically correct, and she made sure those were facing the rude neighbor next door. She painted the Tree covered in icicles.
Jester was even able to convince Veth to coordinate a no holds barred snowball fight- Jester, Fjord, Veth, and Caduceus against Beau, Caleb, and Yasha. Fjord had used Control Water to dump a large amount of snow on top of the trio, but Caleb had melted it and then Beau had rapid fired a whole round of snowballs right in their midst.
Each side insisted they had won.
But after the third day, when the snow was getting a bit too deep to comfortably walk in, the shops were closing up due to the amount of snow, and the cocoa was all gone, a message from Marion gave just the distraction Jester needed.
Seems that a client had admitted to the Ruby that she had stolen a very valuable magical artifact- from another of the Ruby’s clients, oddly enough. And if Jester and the Nein had nothing else to do, could they possibly come to Nicodranas and retrieve the wand? It was a very dangerous artifact that should probably stay with someone who knew how to properly use it.
And so the Nein gathered in the Happy Room, plush rugs and floor pillows moved aside to make room for Caleb’s teleportation circle.
“Hmmm, I’m running low on chalk…” Caleb muttered, filling in the arcane runes. “I have enough for this circle, but I’ll need to get more in Nicodranas.”
“Did we tell Yussa that we’re dropping in on him? He’s gonna be pissed if we just roll up!” Beau said. “Where’s Jess? Can you send a message?”
“Of course I can send a message! I’m right here! I was finishing putting on my boots!” Jester bounded into the room, curls bouncing, her new boots clicking on the floor. They were in a Xhorhassian style, which she thought contrasted very nicely with her bright Nicodrana dress. “Fjord, count for meee!”
Fjord dutifully held up his fists, ready for the message.
“Heeeeeeeyy Yussa it’s the Mighty Nein can we come through your houuuuse we have something to do in Nicodranas we have some more tea for—“ the message cut off.
After a few moments, a long suffering sigh sounded in her ear. “Hello, Jester. The tea would be nice. When will your wizard learn to teleport without my help?”
“Okay so Yussa says he is SO EXCITED to see us and he is SUPER EXCITED for more tea and also he wants to know if Caleb is single!”
Beau let out a guffaw of laughter. “GET IT, Caleb! All the hot wizards knocking on your door!”
Caleb was flushed to the roots of his hair. “I am very certain that Yussa did not say that.”
“How do you know? Did you already ask him out and get rejected? Oh, Caleb. You are too good for him anyway!” Veth placed a kiss on the top of Caleb’s head.
“No! I did not ask him out! Do you want me to finish the runes or not?”
The group shared a last chuckle at Caleb’s embarrassment.
“Are we all ready? Have everything we need? Then here we go!”
And Caleb finished the last rune.
Poof! Poof poof poof! Everyone began stepping into the circle. But Jester’s new boots had a very tall heel, and she stumbled on her way forward. “Oh no!!!” She tripped and fell backwards onto her bright pink backpack. Six seconds. Five seconds.
Caleb, hearing her cry, turned and went to help her up. Four seconds, three seconds. But Jester’s boot was very stuck. Two seconds. She finally found her feet, but in doing so, pulled Caleb off balance. One second. Jester tried to shove Caleb back on balance, and he fell flat on his seat in the middle of the empty floor.
The circle was gone, and Caleb was out of components.