Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Fjord and Jester hopped off their horses, finally teaching The Blooming Grove after a long day of travel. Tying up their horses and stretching their legs after the long trek they took a deep breath, the last time they were here nothing particularly good happened.

Jester knocked on the door, the new wood and window were already starting to show decay and wear, much like everything else at the Blooming Grove. Moss grabbed at the sides and the window already had stains on it from steam and smoke.

Clarabelle opened the door, her face lighting up and the dirt in the creases of her skin showing up at the sight of her brother's friends, "DEUCES, YOUR FRIENDS ARE HERE!" She shrieked.

Caduceus emerged from the side, giving them a smile and holding a teacup. "Come in you two, family doesn't need to knock." He nodded his head inside.

Fjord and Jester stepped through the door and a wave of herbal and earthy scents hit them. The house had changed, been updated, redecorated and cleaned to erase the damage Trent had done. 

"Come on, I've got a hot pot of tomato soup on the table." Caduceus said, beckoning the two to the wooden table with his hands.

Fjord and Jester took seats next to each other at the table, waiting for Caduceus to come back from the kitchen.

Cad walked in with a large fresh loaf of bread and sat it next to the soup pot, sitting down across from the pair.

"So, good to see you two." Caduceus smiled, he took a piece of bread and dipped it into the soup.

"It's good to see you too Caddy, I'm glad to see the Grove has been built back well." Fjord replied, following suit with the bread and soup.

"It looks suuuper duuper good, like brand new but still homey." Jester added cheerfully.

"It's been... tough but, anything for family." 

"Have you been keeping up with the others?" Fjord asked.

"Yes, writing to Yasha about her garden, Essek and Caleb visit for tea often because they can teleport and I've been sending old baby items to the Brenattos since Clarabelle is outgrowing some things." Caduceus warmly answered.

"Wow... We've been kinda isolated because of the sea but when we came back we visited everyone for a little bit." Jester chuckled.

"How was the sea?"

"Fun, mostly, Kingsley has a penchant for getting in trouble but nothing we're not used to." Fjord answered.

They all laughed and silently ate the dinner, sharing small anecdotes about their time away from each other.

It only came to the late night when the emotions really started to spill over.

Silent and calm tea drinking, interrupted by Jester's small and hesitant voice. "It's kinda scary being out there without you Caduceus, without everyone."

"I know I don't feel as strongly as you but I say the same Jester, despite the chaos and danger, it's kinda sad sometimes not hearing you all in the background of my tasks or prayer." Caduceus said, a hint of playful teasing peaking through.

"Yeah well also I guess having to be an actual healing cleric in battle is getting annoying, Artie thinks it's boring when I ask him for healing spells." Jester playfully added, faking rolling her eyes.

Fjord wrapped an arm around Jester, rubbing his thumb over her shirt sleeve.

"I have had to learn a lot of healing spells to make up for it..." Fjord laughed, setting down his teacup.

"Oh yes, speaking of, how is your relationship with the Mother going?" Caduceus pried.

"She's really been looking out for me, at least it feels like that. Teaching me things, making me feel safe, she even fended off Uk'otoa when I felt him near. She's not very fond of Artagan though, it's made for some funny interactions with two of them."

"That's good to hear,"

"It really is," Fjord paused. "I really- I can't thank you enough, for leading me to Her, I don't want to think about where I'd be if you hadn't seen me and had faith in me and taken me under your wing."

"I can't imagine a world where I didn't, you were so alone and I love family, I love bringing people into family and I'm glad you found Her as well." 

"You're our family Caduceus, don't ever forget it."

Caduceus calmly smiled and leaned over to pat Fjord on the shoulder.

The conversation pattered off as the night continued, Fjord and Jester eventually retiring to the guest room of the home.

"It was good to see him, yeah?" Fjord asked in the silent space of the room.

"Really good." Jester replied, tucking herself closer next to him.

The sheets were soft beneath them and their pyjamas were probably overdue for a clean or replace with a new set. Jester wore her plain nightgown and Fjord his plain shirt and pants.

"Do you ever feel bad, about us? Because of our... God differences..." Jester asked, semi nervously.

"Well," Fjord turned to face her, looking deep into her pink eyes in the darkness of the room, trying to communicate the care he often felt overwhelmed with for her, "She's never really angry, I don't think she's very fond of Artie but I don't think it's that important. You've never hurt nature you just annoy assholes which is very much in the natural order of the world."

"Yeah but he isn't even a real god, my magic isn't really even like real."

"I think we don't need to ponder it unless they get mad, we've been doing fine so far."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Fjord kissed her hair softly, keeping an arm around her as they drifted off to calm sleep.

Chapter Text

Fjord and Jester arrived at the Lavish Chateau as the sun began to set, it was a simple weeknight, no performance from Marion.

Bluud greeted them at the door, leading them up to the private dining room adorned in red and purple lavish furniture. It hadn't changed in the year Jester left it, some paintings being swapped and noticably a new painting of Jester and Marion hanging on the wall.

Marion rushed in from the hallway, wearing a casual blue dinner dress and moderate makeup. "So sorry I'm late you two, the dress I wanted to wear tonight turned out to be taken for washing." She huffed, standing in front of her chair on the right side of the table.

"It's ok Mama, I'm happy to see you!" Jester happily said, running up to hug Marion tightly.

Marion smiled, petting back Jester's hair as a servant brought in a roasted chicken, a salad bowl, bread and soup for dinner and set it on the table.

Once they finally broke the hug Marion cleared her throat and sat down, Jester walking to the other side to sit next to Fjord.

"So, how have you two been? I've heard some word of mouth about your pirate exploits but your messages can be... Confusing.." Marion quietly asked.

"Momma it was so much FUN! Kingsley is kind of wild and annoying sometimes but he makes a great negotiator and we fought monsters and other pirates and got money and treasure and now Kingsley is in Darktow aaaaaand we painted and it was a lot of fun!" Jester rambled.

Marion and Fjord met eyes with their creeping small smiles, the amount of love they held for this tiefling was insane.

"It was quite exciting, your daughter is pretty mean on the battlefield with a sword. We also reunited with some of our old pirate crew from last year which was lovely, some of them had heard of you and wanted us to mention they're big fans." Fjord explained, raising a glass.

Marion laughed, "Sailor boys, they always have the best taste."

"They really do," Fjord chuckled in reply, shooting a look at Jester, her cheeks turning a deep purple.

Marion cleared her throat, "We should start dinner, we have some fish soup from fresh fish and bread as a starter." She motioned to the bowls of soup and slices of bread at the table, digging into the soup with her spoon and bread.

The pair followed suit, quickly finishing the bowl of a very fine soup before the plates were whisked away and a salad sat where the soup was.

They silently began eating the salad before Fjord decided to cut into the silence, finishing a bite of leafy greens and tomato he said, "So, how has business been?" 

"Well, since my sudden weeks long disappearance and subsequent return, people are happy to see me again. My performances are getting more and more packed and I've been booked for private visitors months in advance." Marion happily said.

"That's incredible!" Fjord replied, Jester's eyes lit up but her mouth was full of food.

Jester swallowed her bite, "Yay Mamma! I'm glad everything is working out. I was getting worried we'd ruined something..." Jester nervously laughed.

"Even if you did I wouldn't be mad, your safety and you is the most important to me." Marion softly said.

"Thanks Momma," Jester quietly squeaked as they finished the salads. The servants brought out sliced chicken.

"Have you been looking after Jester?" Marion asked, quickly turning to the powerful, terrifying woman Fjord had seen when she was protective of Jester.

"Of course, she's always my number one priority. If anything happens on my watch, I'd never be able live with myself." Fjord sternly replied.

"Momma- No need to be like that, I can take care of myself. Fjord is taking great care of me on top of that but-" Jester was cut off.

"I'm sorry, Fjord, Jester, I'm still always worried about you Sapphire. Fjord, you're very lovely and I'm so glad you and Jester are together." Marion apologized quickly. "You're always welcome here and you're part of our family." She continued.

"T- Thank you Marion," Fjord said, clearing his throat as a lump of emotion gathered in the back of his mouth.

Jester picked the conversation right back up cheerfully, telling Marion about their fights with sea monsters and Orly's exploits and their great cook. She showed off her new tattoos across her arm and Fjord's matching shoulder set of waves.

The dinner continued comfortably, the emotional tension never fully leaving but only being translated into happy energy.

Chapter Text

Vandran opened the door, expecting Fjord and Jester as they messaged him a few hours before that they would be near the island in a short while.

The smell of fresh cooking fish poured onto the pair as the wooden door slung open, Vandran's smiling face greeting them.

"Hello you two." He said, motioning inward for them to enter his cabin.

They walked in following where his hands pointed.

"Where do we-" Fjord started as Vandran shuffled to the dining room.

Vandran motioned for the small table, three chairs evenly spaced around it.

"Ah," Fjord finished.

They sat down, the dingy atmosphere setting into their noses as Vandran walked off to get their meal.

Jester took Fjord's hand, rubbing the cuff of his shirt on his wrist. She caught his eyes and gave him and understanding look, he only then realized his heartrate was rising. He stopped to take a few deep breaths, returning her gaze. 

"It's going to be alright Fjord." Jester whispered, flashing her fangs in a small smile.

"Thank you Jessie," He whispered in reply.

Jester leaned forward pressing a small kiss to Fjord's lips as Vandran returned with a large plate with a fish and three plates of rice and cooked seaweed.

Vandran sat down, laying the napkin across his lap and wiping his hands off as Fjord and Jester followed suit.

"It's good to see you two," He plainly said.

"It's good to see you too," Fjord replied, keeping a soft grip on Jester's hand under the table.

"How have your pirating exploits gone? Your messages have been... Interesting..." Vandran chuckled.

They both laughed back, picking at the rice with their free hands. "It's been interesting... Different from when we were all together on the sea." Fjord answered.

"More good food and not just create food," Jester added, putting a piece of fish in her mouth.

"Yes, definitely." Fjord laughed.

"Less crazy cult followers..." Jester said, rolling her eyes.

"Seriously..." Fjord muttered, a hint of anger stick in his voice.

"Fuck Avantika," Jester toasted with her glass of water.

"Avantika?" Vandran choked.

"Yeah crazy cult bitch she tried to kill us twice on the sea before this trip." Fjord explained.

"I was entangled with an Avantika." Vandran replied, eyes wide.

"Like ENTANGLED or entangled?!" Jester exclaimed, butting into the conversation, wiggling her eyebrows.

Vandran choked on his bite of food again, "She hired me on a crew with the intent to release Uk'otoa. But yes, we were, involved."

"Like father like son," Jester giggled.

Vandran and Fjord froze their expressions in shock at the words, father and son, they never said-

Jester stopped giggling and noticed the pause in conversation, she shrunk, pulling her eyes to the floor and whispering, "Sorry,"

Fjord rubbed his thumb over her hand in his and took a deep breath.

"It's alright Jessie,"

"Don't worry," Vandran added.

They sat silently, holding the quiet for another moment.

"It is pretty funny though," Vandran laughed.

From there the tension fizzled, Fjord quietly thought to himself that this is what felt right, old family blending with new.