Perchance to Dream

[gloriouslygood]

Who: Shaun Gilmore & OTA
What: Waking up at home & reaching out to the Nein



I. Waking Up in Emon

It was a shock to wake up in his own bed in his richly decorated home in Emon. Shaun knew immediately it was home from the feel of the sheets around his body and the familiar scents of incense in his room. That strange island could have easily been passed off as a dream except for the ring on his finger which was not there when he went to bed.

At least, it wasn't on his finger here in Emon.

Shaun was immediately out of bed, quickly dressed, and then began to send out rapid messages. He check in with Sherry to see how much time had passed, none, and how the business is, fine. She asked if something was wrong and honestly, Shaun didn't know how to answer.

He told her he planned to take a trip to Wildmount to see about expanding the business. He couldn't see her but he knew she rolled her eyes in her reply of "okay boss".

Oh, it was good to be home.

Then he began to message Vox Machina. Keyleth first, then Percy and Vex, and Pike. Were they home? Were they okay? They should come to his shop or his home, they should compare notes on their experiences. Or he could come to them. Whitestone might make the better meeting place.

Still, he wondered... was it real? It had to be real. It felt real.

---

II. Wildmount

After a week or so of getting his affairs in order and doing a bit of investigating Shaun set off on a journey. He hadn't traveled like this since he was a younger man but he had to be sure his new friends were home and taken care of as well. He couldn't just wait around Emon until they showed up at his door, though that would be the smarter plan. Sherry could run the business until he came back.

His plan was very simple. Find the Mighty Nein and set up a teleportation circle wherever they had settled. They would all be able to come and go as they pleased then. There would be no long sailing trip or riding horses from city to city. In the blink of an eye they could all be together.

Shaun made brief stops in Nicodranas, Zadash, and Rexxentrum for potential store locations. This was, objectively, supposed to be a business trip. Then he went north. Very north to where his new friends said they often settled.

"Hello?!" He called, voice booming out with its usual jovialness. "I'm looking for the Mighty Nein. I've heard they're a worthy band of adventurers. Possibly good customers for a businessman such as myself."

When he saw them, he grinned. Look at them. Happy, healthy, and home.

Comments

[passedthroughfire]

Keyleth had just woken, herself, from what she thought was a very strange and somewhat awful dream. It had felt so real, and there had been so many things...and Vax had been there. He'd been there, he'd been alive, and...well, sure it had ended on a strange, somewhat painful note, but most of her dreams about Vax did. There had just been so many other things that set it apart...

But she'd woken up in her bed in Zephrah, and although for a moment she'd reached out, foolishly, for Vax, she'd known that he would be gone. Time to get up, she supposed, and try to forget about it.

Until the strange message from Shaun arrived. "I was just dreaming about you--what do you mean, our experiences? I can come to you, of course, I've got the tree, but--what?"

[gloriouslygood]

"I'm not certain it was all a dream, my dear," Shaun said with a little laugh. "It might have been very real. We can speak over messages if you'd prefer. You're probably pretty busy, love. But if you can speaking in person here would be better."

It seemed easier in Shaun's head. They could sip tea or wine and talk about everything. And plan what to do next. There wasn't much they could do about Vax but he wanted to find the Nein. He wanted to look after Keyleth like Vax had asked.

"I'm so very glad you're alright, Keyleth."

[passedthroughfire]

She mulled over what that might mean for a few moments, and then, tentative: "I'll come." That was a lot to take in, and the idea that it may have happened, somehow, was...she wasn't sure if it was better or worse.

"I think...I think I'm okay," she conceded. "Are you?" Already gathering her things and gettnig ready.

[gloriouslygood]

Was he okay? Shaun rubbed his thumb against the ring on his finger. "In some ways, yes. In others... absolutely not." He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "He's gone again."

And the loss hurt him as freshly as it did the first time. Shaun had gotten to live out a few months where he loved Vax as freely as he always wished for. They had been blissfully happy. That was over now and Vax was gone.

He shook his head. "But he was never mine to keep. He still belonged to Her even on that island." And always would, no matter what others wished.

[passedthroughfire]

Keyleth thought about how she was going to respond--stopped and started, a few times--but ultimately decided that some conversations were better had in person.

Her heart hurt for Shaun maybe even more than for herself--if her memories were correct, they'd gotten a second chance in a way she and Vax hadn't quite gotten to. That in and of itself was painful, but she wanted to be strong; to keep her promise to Vax to take care of Shaun.

So, after letting some of her staff know where she'd be, and after a brief chat with the tree, she was in Emon, making her way to Shaun's shop.

"I don't know how to accept it like you can," she said, once she'd greeted him. "So I want to try to get him back."

There was a pause, and then: "And if it was real, then I want to find Caleb."

[gloriouslygood]

As soon as Keyleth arrived Shaun drew her into a tight, fierce hug. She looked the same as he remembered. Healthy and whole. He held her face in his hands and searched her expression. She was clearly determined, steady as one of her beloved trees.

"Taking on the Goddess of Fate and the Dead will not be easy," he warned, though she probably knew that already. "But if you must try then I won't stand in your way."

He would try to talk her out of it bit by bit. They shouldn't interfere with the cycle in action here.

"Oh, I'm certain they're real. I'm going to Wildmount to find them once I'm certain all of Vox is alright and my business is fine." He got her a cup of tea since they would talk for a bit. "I should expand into Wildmount anyway. I remember the places they talked about and I'll check them. You can come with me, if you'd like. Or would you rather focus on getting Vax back?"

[passedthroughfire]

She hugged him back with equal ferocity, glad to be back with him again, and then nodded when he spoke. "I know. But I can do it. And I want to." Over time, it was possible he would be able to convince her not to, but right now, besides finding Caleb again, it was the only thing she could think about.

Accepting the tea gratefully, she nodded. "I'll come with you. Caleb--I want to find Caleb." She also wasn't particularly keen on separating herself from Shaun now. "Have you heard from anyone else yet? Vex? Percy? Pike?"

[gloriouslygood]

Shaun won't get his hopes up. There's only so much hope is poor heart can take. He will come to terms with Vax's loss again. That was the healthiest thing he could do.

"Don't worry, we'll find them." Shaun had already ordered a map of Wildmount and any information about trade and major businesses.

He shook his head. "Not yet. I imagine Vex and Percy are busy smothering their children with love at the moment and will be in touch when they're done."

Which was fine. They deserved that time with their children and the happiness that brought them.

[passedthroughfire]

On the other hand, holding onto that hope is the only thing holding Keyleth together,

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm sure they'll contact us as soon as they're done giving the babies hugs and kisses." She leaned her head on Shaun's shoulder again.

"Whenever you're ready, we can try the tree?"

[gloriouslygood]

Shaun turned his head and kissed the top of hers. "When we're ready we can try it. If Percy and Vex don't reach out we can take your tree to go see them in Whitestone and make sure everything is alright."

Shaun wasn't sure a tree could take them all the way to another continent but it would certainly be worth trying. If they could cut travel time down he would be quite happy.

"You can stay with me while here in Emon if you want." He would always welcome her and now they could share a bed even if it was just to cuddle.

[halforc]

Still at the Blooming Grove as they await Caleb and the others, Fjord spots Shaun at the entrance of the gates and gives a wave, straightening from tending weeds (an extremely light job when the Clays seem to love every single plant, weed or not). Hr drops his handful and strides over, offering a hand and a one-armed hug.

"Shaun! When did you get here?"

[gloriouslygood]

"Captain!" Shaun slaps Fjord on the back warmly as they shake hands. "It's good to see you. I've been in Wildmount for some time. Looking for all of you. I had to make sure you were all okay."

And it seemed like they were. Fjord didn't look any different. In fact, he seemed lighter and more at ease being back home.

"And see if everyone else remembered that nonsense we went through." He gestures vaguely with a hand meaning the weird island they had been trapped in.

[halforc]

"You have? Shit, we should have told you where we actually lived, all the time we were in that damn house."

Which is the point of Shaun's visit, surely. He nods when asked if he remembers, a wry smile in place.

"I do, I ... I think the memories come back the more we think about it." Gesturing for them to walk and talk, he takes a lightly trodden path through the trees that circles the temple for now. "I arrived first, then Molly and Jester, Beau. We've been waiting for the rest before we leave Caduceus's family home, it's certainly big enough to house us.

"You woke up back in Tal'dorei, I take it?"

[gloriouslygood]

"I also did a little business while I was here." Shaun waves a hand to brush away Fjord's concerns. It wasn't nearly as serious as he seemed to think. Exploring had been quite fun even with his concern about his new friends.

He folds his hands behind his back as they walk. The gardens are beautiful. Even though he also occasionally spots a grave in between all the flowers and plants. "I did. In my home. I messaged the others and talked a little. They're safe."

But there is no word from Vax. Shaun knows he's back with the Raven Queen just as he thought.

"Once I was certain my business was in order I came to find you all."

[halforc]

Itching to ask about the others, he swipes a plant and fiddles with the leaves as they walk, excited to see Shaun and even more to know the others made it back safe. or ... maybe all of them.

"Is Vax back home too?"

Who knows how it works with the Nameless Island returning them? Perhaps he went home with Vex'ahlia. Fjord has been hoping as much.

[gloriouslygood]

"No."

Shaun says it simply, straight forward. It's a simple fact even though the word makes his heart lurch painfully in his chest. Gods, he's had to grieve him all over again but he hadn't been alone in that. He had Keyleth.

Now, the rest of the Nein would grieve as well.

"If he's not still on the island he's with the Raven Queen again."

[halforc]

"Ah, shit."

That won't do. Fjord doesn't have any idea where to find a Raven Queen temple and he isn't about to ask Shaun to accompany him, not when they had a similar conversation months ago in a different dimension. He knows how he feels and why, but there's an angry part of Fjord that wants to stab his sword right through the Raven Bitch and isn't afraid to try, not if it means he can get Vax back to his friends.

The grim set of his jaw likely says enough, betrays his thoughts. Either that of the twisted plant in his hands that he has to consciously relax strangling.

"Well. You should stay here as long as you like, the others will love to see you again. I never thought I would until I sailed over your way."

[gloriouslygood]

Whatever plans Fjord has, Shaun is confident he'll discover killing the Goddess of Death and Faith will not be as easy as he imagines. He hopes, with time, Fjord can come to accept and understand Vax's fate. He's a paladin after all. He knows a thing or two about faith.

"I could have waited for all of you to make your way to me," he admitted with a little nod. "But I'm a man of action when something matters. I wanted to see you all."

And if they hadn't been here, Shaun would've gone home and waited for when they did return and find their way to him.

[halforc]

"I thought there was thirty years between our companies," he muses, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. "You arrive home just like this? In our timeline?"