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

[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?"