CriticalFics

18+, They/Them. So, how would you like to read this? Requests always open

[criticalfiics]

Bells Hells as a video game group

This has been stuck in my head so enjoy

Ashton

Outside of gaming with the hells he is silent unless talked at. 

Curses ALOT then apologizes right after only to do it again. Type to get angry as shit then reassure everyone hes not actually mad

When playing with the hells he does not shut up and will defend them on mic

Shit talks playfully with friends, seriously with randoms

Has been banned from both voice and text chat before

Defaults tank characters, dotes on the healers, gives the dps shit

Always up to game but is never the first to ask 

Would befriend the enemy team and then team kill them all 

AGGRESSIVELY protects his team and will haul ass to go and save them

Imogen

Gets so short and snippy with people when they start being mean

Basically turns into Ashton when provoked but makes REALLY personal insults

very kind natured otherwise, gives good callouts and reassures everyone its okay to suck

will tell you if you suck though without holding back

Mains either the more annoying DPS or mains the high DPS support characters, can play exactly one tank really well and swaps with Ashton alot.

Is one of the two who normally get the group together to game

would remark at the enemy team trying to befriend her as shes killing them: “Aw, they’re waving at me! guns them down”

has been timed out of the chat before for shit talking someone

Laudna

Pure support

Pockets Imogen and Fearne

just says sorry in chat when people get onto her about healing

not great with comms but super positive

would spectate more than play

encourages the group to get matching skins 

ONLY talks on mic with the hells

would be super aggressive towards the other teams healers and would target them

Everyone eats up her cheering and praise

Chetney

Worse team player to ever exist

wonders off ALOT trying to flank or do something cheeky, gets killed more than he succeeds

would troll a bit in chat 

plays mainly dps or tanks, typically plays high damage characters 

shit talks constantly but really weirdly like would ask people if their mother made breakfast for them or would remark their dog doesn’t love them 

has the worse KDA 

picks one of his friends to annoy at the beginning of each match then hangs around them the entire time, ignoring any objectives 

reminds everyone, right after he gets super tilted, that its just a game and its okay to get a little mad but to remember we are all friends 

Fearne

Support and DPS main but the type that are little shits

plays the most annoying characters to make the enemy team mad then sends :3 in chat when they get tilted at her

some how never dies despite putting her self in harms way CONSTANTLY its mainly Ashton and Chetney keeping her alive

Targets people who kill her friends then tbags them

holds grudges against her teammates and her enemies 

will withhold heals and make you beg or bar for them

swaps off support because “i think we need more damage” then gets one good play and nothing else 

blames the others for getting hurt so much instead of owning up to not healing people

would egg on the others trolling as well as troll herself, BIGGEST troll at times 

would flirt with people on mic and convince them to throw then call them stupid

Orym

Flex main. Often fills for what ever the team needs and can play pretty much anything

Always tries to get the team to work together but will cave if they want to do memey plays

very positive and even apologizes for the other hells

moment he leaves the team vc and is only with the hells is he ranting and going off about their bad teammates/enemies

picks on the hells for doing bad plays or making bad choices

carries the team ALOT 

always checks on everyone as the game continues 

has to be baited into shit talking and will only shit talk the other hells

REALLY good at roasting randoms who are being dicks for some reason. Is the first to mention they have two kills and twenty deaths then really politely asks why that is

the other one who gets the group together to play

does keep the other hells in line when they get to tilted or mean, mandatory break enforcer as well

FCG

Tries to fill, is really bad at it

really good at support but is SUPER good at a single tank character and only them. 

plays the same character and is only really good at them, has trouble learning others

Very nice on comms but super bad at them

When people are mean to him hes kinda naive about it or asks why they are being so mean which usually either results in people rage quitting or shutting up

the rest of the hells use him to gauge how bad the team chats gonna be 

Has the best aim out of the hells

loves telling people to git gud 

can easily be made to say weird or trolling shit by the other hells 

likes to emote/dance when he kills people as he thinks its a nice little victory dance and isn’t him being mean.

is the one dragged into the games by the others when they need an extra teammates

[criticalfiics]

The fighter and the healer

Pairing: Orym X M! Reader Warnings/Disclaimers: Uses masc terms and descriptors, Reader is a paladin devoted to Sehanine, no reader race specified other than you being taller than Orym/a halfling but shorter than Fearne.  Rating: Sfw, little angsty  Multi part: maybe, idk yet Premise: The group takes on an extra healer to help manage the party better.

Nestled in your rented shop you were busy tidying it before heading out for the evening. You had only been in this town for a few weeks, making your living before you headed off once again to who knows where. For a while you had been a traveling doctor of sorts, taking up residence in various towns for weeks to months at a time. Your skills were somewhat scarce in Jrusar, as well as most of the other places you traveled, so you were able to make plenty of coin this way. This had been your way of life in the years after you took your oaths, avoiding conflict in place of serving by providing aid instead. What made you so appealing to weary travelers or the cities' residents were your reasonable prices. Compared to most career healers you were practically giving away your services. Your potions were top notch and barely five gold, alchemy materials were gathered daily and sold for a fraction of the typical cost. Everything about your business was desirable to a wide variety of folk ranging from single mothers with sick children to thugs who didn’t want to deal with any questions. Of course you used your medical training more than your goddess given powers. You knew better than to flaunt a gift with magic to the broader public, especially healing or resurrection magic, so to most you were just a kind doctor selling their services and wares for far too cheap. The city you were currently stationed in was just a small town on the path to the spires, resting on the edge of Jrusar. They didn’t have many clinics or physicians of their own so you fit in well and had been pulling in ample coin from travelers. Today had been a busy one as many passed through your business to stock up on goods or get advice as they went on their ways. Your healing items were dangerously low with not a single healing potion on your shelf and a scarce amount of bandages elsewhere. It was perfectly fine to be out of stock this late in the day and you were currently in the process of closing so it didn’t really matter, you’d be stocked back up by the next time you opened anyways. As you tucked away some scraps of herbs there was a rapid pounding coming from your front door. It wasn’t unusual for someone to get in a pinch and need your services but you were clearly closed. Before you could call out to whomever was awaiting your help you heard muffled voices laced with panic.  “Are you absolutely sure they’ll help?” A thick accent fluttered through your ears that you recognized as that of a farm girl.  “They have to,” the other voice was rough, grumbly, annoyed, desperate; all things you were used to hearing from customers. 

“They aren’t even open Ashton, why are we here?!” The girl snapped at the other just as you pulled open the door. Six stood before you with a Seventh cradled in a genasi’s arms. The group was diverse but you’d seen crazier however the faun was a bit more unusual but still not too out there. A purple haired woman looked surprised as the genasi stepped past her, their face carrying a silent plea. 

“I’m sorry I know you’re closed but you are the only person in town who can help,” you matched the second voice to him, it still carrying its roughness but also a tinge of sadness. “He’s in rough shape we just need him out of the woods and conscious.”  “I can do that,” not even taking a moment to think you responded, fully confident in your abilities. “Bring him over to the cot and give me any healing items you have then run me through what happened.”  As he obeyed your orders you saw your patient. A halfling in homely armor that was tinged a deep red. He looked rough, his breathing shallow and body splattered with bruises and blood. You were taking vitals the moment he was placed down as well as locating the worse of his wounds. Nothing had been passed your way so you cast a quick look at the group, “You don’t have anything do you?”  “No,” The purple haired woman who you could now identify as the farm girl spoke up as the others shared looks of worry. “We used it all to get him here, I’m sorry.”  “That’s alright,” Compassion flooded the room as you spook, their frowns softening only slightly. “I have a stashed away first aid kit under the counter, can you grab it for me?” with a nod she sped off, grabbing said kit and running it to you side before taking her place sat there. “So, what happened?” Starting by removing his armor carefully, each motion done with care as to not agitate any wounds. You were focused as she started talking, nodding along to her story.  “We were just on our way back, we weren’t doing that great but we thought we could make it without things gettin’ bad again.” She was calmer than most in this situation yet you could tell her hands shook as she fiddled with them in her lap. “Something attacked us, I-i don’t know what it was but it came out of nowhere.” Voice wavering she blinked away tears as she looked away from her injured friend to the others. You had found the worst of the injuries, that being a large set of slashes on his torso. What you had wouldn’t be enough even if you worked carefully. If you had a potion you could at least get him to a workable point but with only a pitiful pile of gauze and some suture martials he was a goner. Cleaning the wound with an attentive eye you did your best to keep the group unaware to you dismay but someone shifting behind filled you with unease. “Orym took most of the hits for us, he kept us from getting hurt too bad.” Motioning to her own arm she showed a few scratches and some bruising, nothing a bit of rest wouldn’t fix, barely a fraction of the damage he had. “Before we knew it he was down and losing a lot of blood. We grabbed him and ran until we got here then we asked around to see if anyone could help and someone pointed us here so Ashton booked it over.” Losing her composure a few drops feel from her eyes onto her shorts. From the corner of your eye you saw the faun eyeing you closely, watching you as you aimlessly cleaned him up in hopes of figuring out a way to manage this without disappointing them. 

“He is very very rough,” you spoke honestly, lifting your hands from him to look at them. “I don’t have a lot, there isn’t much I can do.”  “But you can do something right?” the faun spoke, her voice young but filled with hope. Her face scrunched up while her hands found themselves balled up on her chest, “yo-you have to, he’s our friend, our best friend, please.” A gnomish man gave her a pat on the leg as she tried to get the words out, choking on them as you looked at them solemnly. 

“Please, we will pay or give you anything you want.” The genasi fidgeted as they spoke. “We don’t want to lose him just, fuck, please man.” His volume increased as he threw his arms down to his side, running hands across stone hair not long after. With a nod you breathed in, readying yourself. Using your magic wasn’t ideal. It was incredibly taxing on you and to make it worth it you’d have to push yourself further than you’d like. Saying a silent prayer to your god your hands found his chest, just above his fading heart beat. Casting cure wounds as strongly as you could you closed your eyes, silently focusing. Energy swelled in your body before leaving it, moving into his and leaving you drained. Come on, breath, please breath. You weren’t entirely sure if you were saying it to yourself or him, maybe both were true at this moment. A shaky breath lifted his chest followed by a gasp. Heartbeat stabilizing, he took more shaky breaths, his friends rushing to his side as you sat back and took one of your own. Your body ached and you felt more tired than you’d been in weeks but it was worth it. Smiles covered their faces as they hugged their friend, him passing his own back as he sat up. The faun hugged him tightly to which he winced at, patting her head as she released him. It was a sweet scene and reminded you as to why you did this. Even if it drained you of every drop of power you had you wanted to help, even if it just meant raising someone's odds and that seems to be what you had done.  “Thank you thank you thank you,” The faun crashed into you, her hair blinding you as it fell over your face. Despite seeming incredibly dainty she was a force of a woman, nearly taking your off your chair while she squeezed the life out of you.  “Easy on him Fearne,” your now fully coherent patient smiled as he watched her pout before letting you go, a hand petting your head as she stood back up. “Thank you friend.” His smile was warm and kind as he looked at you in appreciation. The others followed and gave their own thanks, some mumbled some loud, it was all the same to you.  “It’s fine, it’s what I do.” You shrugged before standing, stretching in hopes of working the soreness out of your body. Moving across the room to tuck away the barely used first aid kit you addressed the group, “So, you seven got a place to stay?” Sheepish looks passed across the group before the purple haired woman stood and spoke up.  

“No, but we should be able to find something, you’ve already done so much for us,” Waving her hand dismissively she looked back at Orym. “We might need a few minutes to just collect ourselves then we will be out of your hair.” “Its fine,” you lazily looked at her, sleep already creeping its way into you. “I’ve got some spare space and blankets, besides it’s probably best if you stick around until hero here makes it through the night.” Orym flushed at the nickname with some of the group sharing small laughs and poking fun at him. They reluctantly agreed after some nagging from Orym and Fearne then introduced themselves to you before getting set up for bed. Final thank yous were sent your way as you took your own place on a couch in your main shop area, sleeping on and off through the night while checking on Orym. 

When morning came you gave the group some look overs while primarily focusing on Orym. Your magic had helped kick start his bodies healing process well enough that he just had some fresh scars covering his chest. To say the group was grateful was an understatement as they tried to shove various forms of payment at you. Each you turned down kindly, not wanting payment for saving someone’s life using your last ditch effort. It was then that their automaton spoke up.  “You said you travel a lot right?” He sounded similarly to Imogen but much more upbeat, his quirky little voice filling the shop as he wheeled in front of you. “Well why don’t you travel with us? You’re good with medicine and after the past couple days I think we could use a little more help, right guys?” Turning to his friends they looked between each other before nodding as if they were seeking validation before agreeing.  “I don’t know,” You had never traveled with a group before not for lack of trying. A lot of adventures needed a heal machine that could patch them up for fights which, while it fit what you enjoyed doing, was not exactly what you were looking for. You didn’t want to be used for just your skill or magic so people could save a quick buck. “Why would you need another healer? You said you can heal FCG and you said Fearne could as well.” Crossing your arms you looked at them with a raised brow, waiting to see how they responded.  “Well you are a lot moooore rational under stress,” Laudna played with her hair as she batted her eyes at you nervously. “And we would pay you of course, after all what kind of friends would we be if we didn’t split the cut?” She spoke as if it was common sense, everyone nodding in agreement.  “Friends?” You asked mostly out of confusion. The cut of profits did sound appealing and would probably be a lot more money than what you had been doing a lot faster however you were still cautious.  “I mean if we travel together we are friends or at least i'd like to be,” FCG wheeled between his friends as they gathered their things. “We could always not be friends but i don’t think that’d be very nice.” With seven set of eyes placed on you expectantly you could only sigh, “Fine, let me get my things then we can go. It might take a second, i’ve got a lot to sort through.”  “We have a hole you can put it in!” Fearne said cheerfully as she reached into her cleavage.  “You have a what?” Your alarm was silenced as she pulled out a black piece of fabric before placing it on the ground. As a show Ashton stuck his hammer into the hole before pulling it out, showing it was indeed a sort of pocket dimension for storing things. Despite the strangeness of the situation you complied with your new team, hoping this would not be the start of many more questionable decisions.