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It was a clear, star-filled night in Wildemount. The crickets were chirping their usual chorus and the moon was almost full. Various grunts and snores filled the small clearing as the members of The Mighty Nein dozed off peacefully under Caleb's dome of protection, trusting their companions to keep a watchful eye out for any danger.
Only Caleb and Jester remained awake huddled around the dying embers of the fire.
Usually on nights like these Jester liked to sing quietly to occupy the time, she knew she'd never be as good as her mother but she enjoyed it anyway. Caleb never minded the distraction from his thoughts either, but Veth had been complaining recently that she couldn't sleep and she just ended up with the songs stuck in her head, so Jester had to find something else to entertain herself that night. She started by trying to do some paintings in her book for The Traveler, but the lighting wasn't great so eventually she gave up. After that, she tried teaching Sprinkles some tricks, but quickly abandons that after the third bitten finger. She even tried doing some cartwheels but stopped after she accidentally landed on Yasha.
Yasha didn't mind being jolted awake when a big ball of blue landed on top of her. She was having the same bad dream she always had. She’s reaching out with one hand, the other still full of flowers from her wife, running full pace. The distance only seems to be getting wider and wider the harder she pushes herself. She's always too late to reach Zuala before the crimson blooms from her chest, whetting the blade deep in it. As she looks down at her hands and the flowers have turned to ash, slowly mixing with blood that isn't hers. Then lightning erupts from nowhere and everywhere at the same time and Yasha usually wakes in a cold sweat. Not that night though, she didn't make it past running this time. Not wanting to return to the dream, Yasha joined Jester and Caleb on their watch.
Caleb never minded taking his turn on the night watch. It gave him a chance to sit still and read through his books, taking notes and working on his spellcraft. He enjoyed when he got to do it with Jessie because he loved hearing her sing. She had a beautiful voice but she got too self conscious when the whole gang was listening. After Veth complained though he understood why she stopped. Although he hated the silence it was alway entertaining watching Jessie whatever she did. The cartwheels were a new one. There wasn’t a lot of room in the small clearing and Caleb was not surprised when she inevitably landed on Yasha.
So two became three, and the silence only lasted a few minutes before Jester announced
“Hey you guys I'm super bored. Oh I know we should totally play a game. Have either of you got cards? I know this super fun game called kings strings… ” she trailed off for a moment in thought while the others waited for her to continue.
“I just remembered that's a one person game sorry guys. Actually I only know one person card games”.
A look of sadness briefly flashed across her face before Yasha piped up.
“I know a few games actually, Molly taught them to me” a mirrored look of sadness appeared on Yashas face that time.
Not wanting his friends to be sad Caleb quickly added “I have a pack of cards in the bag of holding, if you'd be so kind as to teach us your games Yasha?”
“Of course” she replied.
At this Jester jumped up and rushed over to where Fjord was sleeping.
“You guys, we might have a slight problem.”
As the other two looked over they could see Fjord fast asleep hugging the bag of holding tight to his chest like a teddy bear. Jester returned to the campfire and sat back down slightly defeated.
“Maybe we could just talk for a bit, yeah?” Jester said hopefully.
“Fine by me, what would you like to talk about?” Caleb replied. Yasha grunted in agreement.
“Oh maybe we could talk about donuts! Or maybe unicorns or like crazy big dragons that fart glitter!” she giggled at that last one. Caleb and Yasha both smiling in response.
Still with a smile in her voice Yasha suggested
“How about you tell us a story Jessie?”
“That is a Fantastic idea” Caleb chimed in.
“Ok! What do you want to hear a story about?”
“How about you tell us about your life” Caleb said
“Ok, well there is this really funny story from when I was little and mama got so busy with clients that she forgot to feed me for like a week! It was hilarious. I snuck down to the kitchen and stole pieces of food from all the plates just sitting on the tables and like most of it was hardly even eaten!” she was smiling until she looked at the grave faces of her companions.
“What you guys, it's funny!”
“Jester that sounds bad”. The serious tone in Yashas voice was unmistakable.
“No it wasn't like that mama just got super busy sometimes. Like this other time some random guy booked mama out for a whole month and she completely forgot to tell me so I cried like every night because I thought she had died or something but then she came back and we laughed about it, so it's like totally fine.”
“Did stuff like that happen a lot Jessie?” Caleb's brows creasing as the words come out.
“I mean yeah but it's totally ok cause I had The Traveler to play with and mama's bodyguard Bluud would bring me food and stuff. Plus if mama forgot about me long enough she would give me a butt ton of money to go and buy myself super pretty dresses and stuff.”
“Jester, that’s neglect.” Yashas serious tone was unmoved.
“No, don't be stupid, I love my mama. She was just busy with important stuff like work.”
“Jessie, you are important too, you know?” Caleb added.
“I know” She said with a smile.
“Jester you are very important to us I hope you know that,” Yasha said, softening her tone
“I know” Jester replied with a slight waver in her voice, the smile faltering for a split second.
“It's just that mama was working super hard all the time and I didn’t want to be a burden or anything so I would just stay out of her way. And besides she always took time to hear about my adventures outside the Lavish Chateau, and to tell me off when I got caught.” A sadness started to creep its way into her eyes as she said this. Putting all those experiences together like that made her smile fade away. She had never considered that her childhood wasn’t normal until she met the Mighty Nein, and even then, they pretty much all had traumatic childhoods, nothing like hers. She wasn't kidnapped like Beau or orphaned like Yasha and Fjord. She wasn't bullied or abused like Veth and Caleb. She was happy! Or did she never used to be? Oh gods. Maybe she never used to be. The stories she told herself were all mixed up with reality in her mind.
The silence was broken by Yasha.
“Jester, you're not a burden. We love having you around.”
At those words, tears spilt down Jesters cheeks, and they didn't stop. She tried not to cry too loudly but the others were already starting to stir. Beau was the first one to awake. As soon as she heard Jesters sobs she leapt out of her bed roll and scanned the surrounding forest for danger. When she found nothing there she walked over to Jester, knelt down in front of her, and said
“Hey Jessie what's wrong? Why the tears? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you cause I will fuck them up.”
Jester looked around and saw that everyone was now awake. Before she could apologize Caduceus said,
“Oh, well now that won’t do, I'll make some tea.”
Fjord was next to her rubbing gentle circles on her back trying to calm her down so she could tell them what was wrong.
Despite all their efforts, Jester only sobbed harder.
She managed to get out a few words between the waves of tears
“I - I lo-ove you g-g-guys”
At this they all came in to hug her (Except Caduceus who was still making tea).
“We love you too Jester” Beau said, while being crushed between Jester and Yasha.