The Temporal Tornado, by novembersmith (G)

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Fandom: WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE
Pairing: Cecil/Carlos
Length: wordcount 3,616
Author on LJ: novembersmith
Author Website: novembersmith on tumblr; works on AO3
Notes: Kid-fic; spoilers for ep. 22, “The Whispering Forest”
Why this must be read:

A temporal tornado reduced our most beloved scientist, Carlos, into a darling little toddler version of his already darling self, didn’t it? Yes it did, oh yes it did! Plus, a jellyfish migration is underway, a mysterious series of unexplained crevasses are appearing in the streets of Night Vale, and valuable advice is provided on the care and feeding of children.

If you’re still trying to figure out whether or not you’d enjoy WtNV, reading this fic is a great test; novembersmith not only replicates the show’s format (there’s even an embedded weather segment!), she completely nails its tone. Everything is perfect: the opening epigram, the news stories, the word from the sponsor, the calls from the Faceless Old Woman and the Glow Cloud — dead on.

If you’re already a fan, then you should read it because it turns out that the only thing more hilarious than Cecil’s swooning over Carlos is his squeeing over toddler!Carlos.

And, by the way, you might think you have an inkling of just how perfectly adorable a baby Carlos is, but I assure you, you do not. You cannot possibly imagine the magnificence of his tousled little curls. And his rosy cheeks! His teeny, tiny glasses! And oh, the way his entire little face just squishes up when he smiles at you!

“The Temporal Tornado” on AO3; podfic linked in notes

Comments

[stars-inthe-sky.livejournal.com]

I was skeptical until I read the excerpt in Cecil Baldwin's voice. And now I'm sold. Off to AO3, thanks much!

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

This story so completely nails Cecil Palmer's speaking pattern -- the cadence, the stresses -- it's downright eerie. I totally hear Cecil Baldwin's voice in my head when I read this.