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— Zadash, 11:30 PM —
“Caleb—found your team, staying in Zadash tonight. Met with one of your old friends in Chastity’s Nook, onward to Aeor tomorrow.”
“I do hope you gave Astrid my regards. Are you at home tonight? I find myself in want of some of my notes.”
“An inn. I have a bone to pick with you: were you going to tell me one of them has a head full of Dunamis?”
“What are you talking about? I would think I would have noticed that.”
“The earth genasi, with the glass skull. It’s—I… cannot quite describe. Light, he’s incredible. I need to perform additional study.”
“If it has you that excited, it certainly warrants additional study. I do so love hearing you uncover a mystery, dear.”
“The theoretical implications—ah. I do actually need to rest to teleport them all tomorrow. Will update later, then. Goodnight, my love.”
“Rest well, my heart, and do be careful in Aeor. I will speak with you when you return.”
— the Widogast Residence, 9:00 PM —
“Back from Aeor, hope you are well. I have far too much to tell you, when will I see you next?”
“Essek! My love! Good, I am glad nothing ate you in Aeor. I am well. Extremely well. Ikithon escaped, but it’s sooooo good now.”
“Caleb Widogast, are you drunk? … I am impressed by your precision in word count even while intoxicated.”
“Oh, Essek, do not drink an entire barrel of ale right before the dragon form vanishes. I believe I am beyond drunk.”
“ESSEK!!! It’s me, Jester! Guess whaaa-aa-at? I’m getting married! Will you be my best man? Fjord says we should both get a best man and—“
“Ah, congratulations, I presume this is why Caleb is drinking? I was briefly alarmed—“
“And a maid of honor! Sorry, nobody’s counting. Oh MAN, yeah, Caleb is wasted. I’m sure he’ll come home soon, but ESSEK, answer me about—“
“Of course, Jester, I am honored. Will need to compare with Xhorhasian wedding traditions, as my hand to hand combat is lacking.”
“What? No, you don’t have to fight anybody. Unless we get attacked again, and then you can just crush them with your mind or whatever!”
“Understood. Please tell Caleb not to drink and teleport.”
“Got it! And byeee, I love youuuu!”
“I love you all, too.”
— the Widogast residence, 1:15 AM —
“Essek. Essek. I love you so much. When I next see you, I shall refuse to be parted from you for four or five hours.”
“Caleb, I am trying to trance. It is past midnight. Go to sleep, please. I love you also.
“Caduceus, this is Essek. Please ensure that my boyfriend ceases his cavorting and goes to bed.”
“Yeah, well, you know that saying about herding cats? Nevermind. Point being: I’m trying, but they’re a bunch of rascals.”
“You may cast Sleep on him.”
“I’m telling him you said that in the morning. G’night.”
— the Widogast residence, 12:45 PM —
“Essek, dear, I apologize. Ugh. I woke up in a haystack. I wish I could say it was the first time, but you’d never believe me.”
“Ha! None necessary, love. The magical procedure I performed yesterday will need to be discussed in person, anyway.”
“Mm. Anything you want to share that does not need to be discussed in person? I am dying for a distraction from this headache.”
“Are you asking for gossip? Very well. There are two of these Bell’s Hells which remind me of the beginnings of our romance.”
“Do tell. Ahem. Jester is eyeballing me like I shouldn’t waste a spell on two words. I am not going to ask him that, Jester.”
“They are dancing around one another like two very awkward birds, both entranced but afraid their affections are unreturned. And they’re very stupid about it.”
“Ah, young love. A beautiful thing, except for when your newly engaged friends throw a party that is truly destructive. Where are you headed next?”
“Vasselheim. Will I see you there? And, it isn’t a beautiful thing, I can’t look at them without immense secondhand embarrassment.”
“The Nein are on hold for Allura. It is possible we will join the forces at Vasselheim, or be deployed elsewhere. After we sober up.”
“Perhaps I shall meet you then. I do long to see you, Caleb Widogast. Fare well.”
— Vasselheim, 3:40 PM —
“I regret to say I won’t meet you at Vasselheim. Leylas is here, and I must make my escape.”
“Be safe, Schatz, we will fight her if we need to. Would prefer not to, all the same. We aren’t going to Vasselheim yet anyhow.”
— the Nein-Sided Tower, 10:45 PM —
“Hallo, Essek, things have settled down a bit. It turns out combining the Mighty Nein and Bells Hells is chaos. How are you?”
“I am fine—and I could have predicted that chaos. If you were wondering, I did manage to say something to Dorian before I left.”
“As could I, it is something else to see it, though. I spoke with Orym also—truly, there is little time left for pining.”
“Indeed. While I cannot allow myself apocalyptic thinking, feelings are better made plain. The world may not end before I kiss you again.”
“I treasure your fierce determination, dear. Out of curiosity, what did you say to Dorian? This is the first I’ve met him—he is very charming.”
“Only that he is breaking hearts— shoo, Kingsley, I am Sending —ah, Kingsley says hello. Hm. Do you think our intervention has helped?”
“Absolutely. We were exceedingly straightforward with our advice, I am positive they’ve asked each other out by now.”
“I await updates, then. On our silly gossip, and as to your success, for I know no other outcome. Best of luck, my light.”