Chapter Text
Kremy sat down at the bar in the seat next to the man he thought to be Gideon’s Pa. He ordered another drink for himself before turning to the older man, “Wattado there sir. Can I buy you a drink?”
The man gave him a suspicious glance over and spoke in a voice more accented than Gideon’s, “That depends. Do you want somethin’ in return for that drink?”
“I don’t know, see I’m not usually in the habit of conversin’ with dead men.” Kremy said.
“That a threat?”
“Oh, I would never, sir.” Kremy replied, sliding the photograph of the younger Gideon and Mr. Coal across the counter.
The man’s eyes widened, then narrowed. He pulled a small silver gun out of his waistband and pressed it inconspicuously into Kremy’s side. “Where did you get this photo?”
Kremy chuckled and smiled sadly, “Gideon entrusted it to me to look after for the time being. I thought I recognized you from it, but I needed confirmation. Which I think the gun you have pointed at me serves as more than enough, Mr. Coal.”
Mr. Coal shook his head, “That's not possible. Don’t lie to me. Where in the fuck did you get this, cause it can’t have been from my son. He’s long gone. Do you work for them?” The man’s voice shook with sadness and anger as he pressed the weapon more firmly against Kremy.
Kremy knew he needed to talk fast in order to avoid getting a bullet embedded in his stomach. This would probably be the time to pull out the (metaphorical) big guns, “Sir. I have both good news and bad news for ya. The good news is, my husband, Gideon Nathaniel Coal, is currently very alive; he’s been traveling with me and my Krew for the past ten odd years. The bad news is, he thinks you’re the dead one. He thought he lost you to those hobgoblin fucks when they raided your village, twenty years ago or so.” Kremy said, “Do you need some more proof, sir? Cause I have it.”
The man’s eyebrows raised at the word husband. “Of course I’m gonna need more fuckin’ proof. You’re makin’ some mighty outrageous claims an’ I’m gonna need more than your word and this old photo to prove it, ‘sides how can you be married to Gideon, you’re not even wearin’ a ring.”
Kremy nodded and reached into the bag of holding. He removed another photograph, the old letter and a pair of rings he’d stolen from a snobby rich couple a while back and slid them over the counter to Mr. Coal. The older man’s eyes widened as they scanned the parchment before turning to the photo. It was of the entire Krew; a selfie taken by Twig a few days after they finished their Feywild quest. In it, Gideon and Kremy were snickering to each other over some inside joke, elbowing each other in the ribs, Torbek had Gricko on one of his shoulders, the two were roasting marshmallows on a small campfire, Frost sat next to them, Hootsy’s head resting in his lap as she snored peacefully, and Twig's face smiled ecstatically in the corner of the frame. The older man traced over Gideon’s face with a thumb, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
“I’m sorry I don’t have more. I could show ya his belongin’s but, unfortunately, all of ‘em he bought after he escaped, nothin’ that would prove connection to you.”
He looked up from the more recent of the two photos, “Well, why are you the one here talkin’ to me? If my Gid is alive and travlin’ with you then why ain’t he here?”
Kremy sighed and made a request, “If you want me to tell you sir, I do have to request that you put that gun away. You’re not gonna like what I have to say and I don’t want to end up with a bullet between my ribs.”
Gideon’s Pa paused for a moment before relenting, placing the gun back in its holster, “Fine. Why isn’t my son here right now?”
Kremy’s voice cracked on the words, “They got him again, sir. The hobgoblins. They found us at a small town nearby and, with the help of the local government,” Kremy took a shuddering breath, “drugged and kidnapped Gideon. The Krew and I tracked the train’s next location to here, where I saw you.”
The man’s hand tightened around his drink. “How the fuck did you let that happen?” He spat.
“We had a disagreement. I stayed at the inn. He went to a bar and was given a spiked drink. There was some sort of charm potion inside and he walked out with them. My Krew found, interrogated, and killed the woman responsible for giving it to him and are now on the hunt for the hobgoblins. We aren’t gonna rest until we get him back.”
“Fuck.”
“Indeed. If you’d like, Mr. Coal, you could join my associates and I at our booth. We are makin’ a plan to raid the train when it comes through here in two days time.”
“Two more things. One; who exactly are you?”
Kremy stood and flashed a smile at Mr. Coal, “Wattado, sir, the name’s Kremy LeCroux. Husband to Gideon and ringleader of Carnival LeCroux.”
“Two, if I find you’ve lied to me at all here, I will personally ensure it’s the last thing you do. Am I clear?”
“Crystal, sir. Now, the table is just this way.”
Mr. Coal nodded and stood to follow Kremy, handing back the more recent of the photographs and the rings, but keeping the older one and the letter. Kremy decided not to comment. The pair made their way over to the table where the Krew sat. Frost and Gricko were on one side, Gricko in a booster seat. The other held Torbek and Twig, Twig on Torbek’s shoulder. Kremy pulled up a chair at the end of the table for the older man before sitting down next to Torbek. Everyone stared at the man, eyes wide.
Kremy spoke first, introducing the Krew, “Mr. Coal, this is Torbek, Twig, Frost, and Gricko.”
“Hi, folks. My name is Nathaniel Coal, Gideon’s father. I understand from Mr. LeCroux here that y'all have been traveling with my son for some time.”
“Please, sir, call me Kremy.”
“Yepperoni!” Twig said, fluttering down onto the table and sticking her hand out to shake Mr. Coal’s, "I'm Twigfield Toadspring. You can call me Twig! ”
“Pleasure to meet ya.” The older man said, shaking her hand. He had seemed to relax slightly, which Kremy took as a good sign. Twig generally had that effect on people.
She continued pumping her arm up and down as she said, “Woahh, you’re Gideon’s dad?! But you’re not red at all. That’s okay though, I still think you're cool. Gideon’s told us a lot about you!”
Gid’s dad barked out a laugh as he smiled broadly at her, “Thank ya much, Miss Twig.”
Twig finally stopped shaking his hand and took a step back, “You’re very welcome!” She took a seat on the napkin dispenser.
Hootsy let out a small hoot from under the table.
“Oh well, who is this young’n?”
“That’s Hoosty, Mr. Coal, sir!” Gricko said enthusiastically, “She’s my daughter and the cutesiest owlbear in all Avantris!”
“Well aren’t you such a sweet little lady.” Mr. Coal said, ruffling Hootsy’s feathers, “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Hootsy.”
Hootsy chirped appreciatively and ducked back under to continue playing on her fly-pad.
“Mr. Gricko, I presume.”
“Yup, that's me!”
“Mr. Frost?” He asked, turning to the tabaxi. Frost nodded.
“And Torbek’s Torbek.” Torbek added.
“It’s a pleasure. Now,” Mr. Coal said, turning to Kremy, "here's what my experience has been in trying to get Gideon out. I’d been chasin’ the train for a while. The first time I caught up and tried to get on board, I failed. That was 15 or so years ago. It’s how I ended up with this.” He gestured to his metal leg, “Second time, around 10 years ago, I almost got there, made it to where he was bein’ held an everythin’ but he was gone. One o’ the hobgoblins, think his name was Terrence or somethin’, but that’s unimportant, anyway, he said he’d almost got out on his own, but he ended up dying on the side of the tracks. So I stabbed that fucker in the throat and was able to get out.” It was around this area. So I stayed here, and now whenever the train passes through, I do my best to derail that fucking monstrosity whenever it comes through here.”
“Alright. How’d you manage to get in?”
“The bastards are overconfident. Leave the entire thing unlocked whenever they stop places. It’s easy enough to sneak in if you turn invisible or disguise yourself as one of them.”
“Alright. That’s definitely a start.”
They talked strategy for a while, determining their goals. Saving Gideon was, obviously, the top priority. They would likely need some form of distraction to keep the hobgoblins busy and away from Gideon. Frost suggested a secondary goal: taking the train out of commission. It would strand the hobgoblins for a time, giving them more chances to get Gideon out, in case they weren’t successful. And as a third thing, the entire group wanted to try to get the other prisoners out. Kremy was more wary of this because it could delay Gideon’s rescue, but if Gideon was safe, it wouldn’t hurt to have some people in their debt.
Just then, the waitress brought over Kremy’s drink, and Mr. Coal used it as an opportunity to change the subject, “Where are you folks stayin’?”
“Just upstairs.” Twig responded.
“Well that won’t do. I have a house a ways out, if you can get yer money refunded, you can stay with me. I should have enough rooms for all y'all.”
“That’s mighty generous of you, sir, are ya sure?” Kremy asked.
“O‘course. I got alotta space I’m not doin much with right now, you’d be more than comfortable there. Plus, it's more private.”
Kremy glanced at the krew. Gricko was nodding enthusiastically, and Torbek gave him a thumbs up, “We’d love to take ya’ up on your offer, Mr. Coal.”
“Wonderful. I’m gonna go close out my tab and I’ll see ya at the entrance.”
The Krew all began walking through Elsewhere, led by Mr. Coal. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the city. Kremy noticed all of the people on the streets, pockets exposed. It would be so easy just to nick a few items, but he kept his sticky fingers in his own pockets. The group stopped at a more forested part of the city, at the end of a path.
Twig was first to speak, gazing at the building in front of them, “Woahh! Is this your house? It’s bigger than my inn!”
They had indeed arrived at Mr. Coal’s house. It was on the outskirts of the city and absolutely massive. Two stories with a porch and a chimney rising out of the back. It was made out of slate grey carved stone bricks and beautiful, deep brown wood, accented with glimmers of copper. Flowerboxes were under every window, each holding a rainbow of brightly colored daisies.
Kremy brought up what was on all the Krew’s minds, “May I ask, sir, why is your house so big? Don’t you live alone?”
Mr. Coal stood at the end of the path, hands on his hips, staring up at the small mansion in front of them, “Well, ya see, Kremy, when I learned Gideon was dead-when I was lied to- I was very depressed for a while.” He said matter-a-factly, “I eventually realized I needed somethin’ to channel myself into, so I didn’t let the grief consume me any more than it had already done. I just kinda started buildin’. I didn’t ever really stop; I’m workin’ on a shed right now.”
“This is quite impressive, especially if you’ve done it all without magic as I suspect you have.” Frost said.
“Yup. Nothin’ but blood, sweat, and tears. There were a lot of tears. Well, why are y'all standin there? Come on in!” Mr. Coal replied and started up towards the house, unlocking the door and holding it open for everyone.
The inside was just as impressive as the outside. The door opened into an entryway that led directly into a kitchen and dining room on the left, a staircase and living room straight ahead, and a small guest room off to the right. Next to the kitchen entrance hung several coat hooks and a shoe rack. Mr. Coal kicked his boots off, hung up his leather jacket, and walked into the kitchen.
“Can I get anyone anythin’? Water? Tea? Deserts?”
The Krew all stood dumbfounded in the doorway.
“This looks like the kinda place we’d steal from, Kremy,” Gricko whispered.
“Don’t.” Kremy whispered back, then spoke louder to Mr. Coal, “Some tea would be lovely, sir.”
“I’ll put a kettle on the stove. Make yourselves at home!” The old man whistled cheerily as he started prepping the beverages. Twig did just that, flitting around from room to room.
“YOU HAVE A BASEMENT!” She shrieked delightedly, upon discovering the downward leading stairs, “Did you dig it out yourself?!”
“Nah, there was a house here before I got here. I used their foundations to build.”
“SO COOL!”
While the rest of the Krew also took off their shoes and filed into the kitchen, beginning to chatter amongst themselves, Kremy hung his jacket up next to Mr. Coal’s and, after requesting that Torbek let him know when the tea was ready, snuck back outside. He sat on one of the porch’s rocking chairs, lighting up a cigarette. He took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. The stars were starting to make their appearance, and a chill swept through the air. Kremy shuddered but made no effort to warm himself. Everything felt dark, and there was a pressure building on his chest. There was
“Could I get a light?”
Kremy silently flicked the lighter he’d bought when they’d arrived elsewhere, holding it out for the older man. Mr. Coal lit up a cigar and sat down in the other chair. They sat in silence.
“So, I didn’t really ask at the tavern, but I’ve been meaning to. How’d you meet my son?”
Kremy thought back, smiling at the memories, “I think it was ten years ago or so, only a week or so after he escaped. We were in a tavern in a backwater town. I was gettin’ harassed by this fellow when Gid intervened. Showed that fucker who was boss and got kicked out for doin’ so. I snuck a drink out to him and offered him a job as my bodyguard. We traveled around for a few years together, doin’ heists and the like, eventually pickin’ up Frost and Gricko. The other two started following along a lil while ago.”
“That sounds like my Gid, always had that sense of’ justice.”
“Can I ask you somthin’, sir?”
“Course, son.”
“Gideon always said that you weren’t a very talkative person. What changed?”
“I ain’t had anyone to really connect with in the past twenty years. Didn’t want to get hurt again. So, yeah, I got a lot of words saved up.”
“But then what made you change up your tune on us so quick? You went from threatening me with a gun to inviting us to your home in less than ten minutes. Why?”
The older man sighed and gazed at the cigar, “I suppose,” he began slowly, “I suppose I’m just tired. Tired of bein’ alone. Tired of struggling against the hobgoblins. Tired of hopelessness. Y'all came along and offered me a solution to all that shit. I figured, why the fuck not. If you could deliver on your promises, great! If not, well then I’d just be back where I started.”
“I understand. I was feelin similar before I met Gid.”
“Is he good to you?”
“Hmm?”
“You know, like all that relationship stuff. I always wanted him to meet someone, but there wasn’t really anyone in our old town for him. But we don’t have to talk about that. I guess, I just wanted to know what he’s like.”
Kremy didn’t really know how much he wanted to disclose to this man, but talking with him just felt right, and he trusted that this information wouldn’t get back to the others. And, for the first time in his life, he actually felt the weight of his emotions on his chest. Probably because he didn’t have Gideon to vent to, he decided to just let the words spill out, “He’s amazing. Strong, kind, and smarter than he lets on. Been my closest friend pretty much since we met. I’d trust him with my life, and on several occasions, I have.”
“That’s amazing. Does he still box?”
“Yeah, more than that now actually. He’s a really skilled fighter in general. But now he prefers using his chains to fight.”
“His what?”
“They were originally the ones the hobgoblins put on him. I don’t really know how, but he reverse engineered them to strengthen his fire abilities instead of takin’ them away, and he used them to fight in addition to his fists. Told me once that he didn’t view them as a reminder of his past, but as a promise of his future, or somthin’ like that.”
“That's quite poetic.” Mr. Coal said, smiling sadly.
“Eh, I’m probably embellishing it a lot, and there were definitely strings of profanity thrown in there.”
“That sounds about right. I suppose I should ask the big question; when and how did you two get married?”
Kremy really wasn’t sure why, but with this man, he felt relaxed. At this point, it only felt natural to be honest, “We got married just over a year ago. It was a very spontaneous thing, but it kinda felt right. And it didn’t really change much; it felt like we were already married, common law and all that. But, well, sometimes I’m not sure he sees it that way.”
Mr. Coal gave him a questioning look, but didn’t push the subject. He took a drag off his cigar and said, “I guess that makes us family then. I could use some of that, haven’t had any in a long while.”
“Me too, sir.”
Mr. Coal laughed, “I don’t believe that for a godsdamned minute. You cannot tell me that you don’t consider those folks inside your family.”
Kremy paused to consider, “I’m not really sure, sir. But, I suppose I could, from a certain point of view.”
“Thats what I thought. Now, my cigar’s almost out and the water is gettin’ cold, so I just have one more question for ya.”
“Fire away, sir.”
“Does my son make you happy?”
Kremy didn’t even need to consider this question; he smiled softly at the ground and responded, “He does. Yes, sir, he does.”
“Then that’s all I need to hear. Come in whenever you’re ready, I’ll get a cup of tea for ya.” Mr. Coal rose and entered the house, shutting the door softly behind him.
Kremy finished the cigarette with a long drag and stared at the sky again. The weight on his chest was a little lighter. The stars were glimmers of hope on the inky black canvas of the night. He could do this. He would save Gid, and he’d find a way to save himself too. Kremy LeCroux was not going to die any time soon. Not if he had anything to say about it.
About 10 minutes later, Kremy made his way back inside. Just as promised, a steaming cup of herbal tea sat on the countertop in the kitchen. He took off his shoes and picked it up, taking a sip. The flavor was good, nothin special, but it warmed him from the inside up, getting rid of any remaining chill from the night air. Laughter echoed from the living room, and so Kremy walked over there, letting out a big yawn.
“Sorry to interrupt fellas, I was just wonderin what our roomin’ situation was. I’m ready to hit the hay.”
“Right, I have 2 extra rooms upstairs plus one on the ground floor, one in the basement, and the couch.”
“I'll take the couch!” Twig volunteered, ‘It’ll be a normal-sized bed for me!”
“ Four rooms to go. Anyone want the ground floor?”
“Torbek will taaake that onnneeee.” Torbek interjected.
“Hootsy likes basements, so we’ll stay there.” Gricko added.
“Alright then, Frost and I wil be upstairs. Mr. Coal if you wouldn’t mind showin’ me which one, I’d greatly appreciate it.”
“Of course Kremy.”
Mr. Coal led him upstairs and into one of the rooms. It had a wonderful view of the city and a large four-poster bed.
“Thank you for everythin’, tonight’s been wonderful. Goodnight, Mr. Coal.”
“Goodnight, Kremy.”
Kremy set his stuff down, changed into his pajamas, and went to bed. He wasn’t sure what he was hoping for, if maybe he could try to convince the baron to lift the sentence. Unfortunately, his sleep was dreamless, and the dawn came quickly. The morning was spent planning. Frost and Gricko would be good for the distraction. Their goal would be to cause a commotion near the middle of the train to draw the Hobgoblins there. Torbek, Twig, Mr. Coal, and Kremy would then sneak on and make their way towards Gideon, who was likely being held towards the front. Then Twig and Torbek would break off and head towards the engine car in order to cause enough damage to strand the train there for some time. Kremy and Mr. Coal would be the ones to get Gideon. It was a pretty good plan, especially knowing the Krew’s track record; anything too specific would definitely fail almost immediately. No sooner had the plan been finalized than Pigtunia flew inside, snorting.
“You saw what?” Twig asked, then gasped, “Pigtunia saw it! The train is here!”
The train had arrived early. It was time to set the plan in motion.