#*elton john voice* I CAN BITCH I CAN BITCH 'CAUSE I'M BETTER THAN YOU

[waltwhitmansbeard]

go on, claim my heart: chapter thirteen

see my masterpost for what came before this.

Percy is deep into an account of emptying cemeteries in Whitestone when his shoulder is shaken roughly, jerking his attention up and away from his reading. Vex smiles softly down at him, dark circles under her eyes. "It is late. We ought to sleep before we leave."

He looks reluctantly down at the report in his hands. He cannot stop now, not when he is, for the first time in over a decade, learning about his home. "You go on," he says, nodding toward the door. "I'll be in in a bit."

She frowns at him. "You're no good to anyone exhausted, Percival. Not Keyleth, and not them." She gestures to all of his reading on Whitestone, and he knows what she means.

He takes her hand and kisses the back of it. "I will be in soon. I promise. I just want to finish this."

It is a lie, and they both know it, but she lets him tell it anyway. She kisses the top of his head and makes for the door. Percy nods to Vax, who is ushering an exhausted Keyleth out as well. Pike pries Scanlan off of the book he's been drooling on for hours and waves good night to Percy and Grog, who, too big for any of the beds in the house, curls up on a nest of blankets on the floor in front of a crackling fire and passes out, and then, Percy is alone.

In the past several hours, he has learned a great number of things about his home. Both imports and exports have declined steadily since the Briarwoods have come to power, suggesting a declining population and workforce, and tourism, once a thriving segment of the Whitestone economy, has all but ground to a halt. For years, those with family members in Whitestone have filed complaints with their own rulers, citing unusual silences from their loved ones and claims of being denied access to the city to see them.

The Briarwoods make themselves known in neighboring courts sparingly, maybe once or twice per year, enough to keep up appearances without needing to answer too many questions. They were last seen about six months ago at an event in Emon, the wedding of one of King Uriel's children. Percy recalls Sovereign Korrin and Keyleth receiving an invitation to that event, but given that it was scheduled right around the time of Vilya's birth, the Ashari Nation sent a gift in their stead.

Most disturbing are the whispers coming from within Whitestone itself, rumors that the dead walk again. This is not a surprise to Percy; shortly after he arrived on the doorstep of the Zephran castle, scarred and terrified, Sovereign Korrin sent spies to investigate the Briarwoods that Percy had claimed slaughtered his family. One of these spies was able to relay that the Lady Briarwood had studied the necromantic arts on the continent of Wildemount before word returned that said spy was found dead, mysteriously drained of blood. That Delilah Briarwood has reanimated the dead of Whitestone for her own aims does not shake him. What does is the idea that some of those dead might share his blood.

Percy's eyes are starting to cross, so long has he been staring at these reports by dim candlelight, but it is only the creak of the parlor door behind him that moves him to look away. He turns to see a most unwelcome sight at the entrance to the room: Syldor Vessar, still dressed himself, frowning at Percy. "Do humans not sleep?"

Percy grits his teeth. "We do, my lord. Perhaps I do not do so as much as I should."

Syldor enters the room, eying the snoring Grog by the fireplace with disdain, and approaches the table upon whichPercy has piled his completed reading. "My wife tells me you are a de Rolo."

The air in the room goes very still. "I am."

"It is...surprising to learn that a member of that family still lives."

"It is a piece of information that the Ashari Nation graciously kept to themselves these many years." Percy tips his head, curious. "Were you acquainted with my family, Lord Vessar?"

Much to Percy's surprise, Syldor settles in a chair beside him. "As city-states in a world of kingdoms, there has long been a...friendship between Syngorn and Whitestone. We have advocated on each other's behalves on numerous occasions, and our trade partnership goes back further than even I remember. I was...saddened to hear of the illness that took your family, though, I suppose that is the way of humans." He pauses, his frown deepening. "Though I am starting to believe that the story we were told about the fates of the de Rolos contains fewer truths than we once believed."

Percy gathers up as much of the reading on Whitestone in one hand as he can and tosses it closer to Syldor. "Read for yourself. The Briarwoods murdered my family and have, in the intervening years, clearly attempted the same to my home. I will not know for certain how well they have succeeded until I see it with my own eyes."

Syldor does not move for the pages. "And these are the people who have kidnapped my...son's daughter?"

He wonders what is harder for Syldor, admitting that Vilya is his granddaughter or admitting that Vax is his son. "Yes. Lord Briarwood leaves behind a...signature of sorts. One that I saw with my own eyes as a child, and again the morning Princess Vilya was discovered to be missing."

"Then I should wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. Syngorn would enjoy a...renewed partnership with Whitestone, should the rightful caretakers be reestablished."

"Is that what concerns you? Syngorn's relationship with Whitestone?"

Syldor bristles. "Lord de Rolo—"

"Please, I am the lord of nothing and no one. Call me Percy."

"Lord de Rolo, I understand that you have a..." His eyes flick up to the ceiling in annoyance. "...rapport with Vex'ahlia, one that I prefer to know nothing about—"

"How wonderful, I prefer to tell you nothing about it."

"That being said, I do not know the light in which my children have painted me in their time in Zephrah, though I cannot imagine that it is flattering."

"No need to imagine, Lord Vessar."

Syldor's nostrils flare; it is clear he is not used to being spoken with such flippancy to by someone who is technically his peer. "The twins were nightmares while they were in this house, and though I regret their manner of leaving, I cannot deny that I felt relief at their absence. You may feel however you wish about them, about her, but know that I will not be chastised in my own home for doing what I believe is the best for my family."

Percy blinks. What a thing, to live as many years as this elf will, and to spend all of them in such self-imposed, abject misery. He leans forward to rest his forearms on his knees. "Lord Vessar, no one would ever accuse you of not doing what you believe to be best. It is clear from every syllable from your lips, every expression of scorn on your face that you are utterly consumed by achieving whatever passes for best in your sad, cold world. You have expressed to your children an intense desire for them to be as far from your gloomy little kingdom as physically possible as soon as the dawn breaks, but let me tell you this: your nightmares are the rest of the world's dreams. Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia are bright, dedicated, compassionate, loyal, and, most importantly, undeniably better than you."

"Good sir—"

"Oh shut up. Have you not heard enough of your own voice? Do you not grow tired of objecting to every inconvenience and slight that musses your impeccably pressed robes? Do you care more for your perception at court than for the lives of your own children, children whom, might I add, would not exist without your indiscretions in Byroden?" Syldor's face colors in embarrassment and outrage. "Let me be clear: I do not care if you get to have the light of your children in your life. I do not care if you lock yourself in these marble walls and mold over like bread kept in a cupboard. How you craft your misery for yourself is your business. But while they are here, while they are in earshot of your contemptuous tongue, you will speak to them with respect. You will remember that you speak to the Champion of the Raven Queen and the husband of the future sovereign of the Ashari Nation, and you will remember that you speak to the Captain of the Royal Guard of Zephrah and the chosen of the rightful heir to Whitestone. And so help me, Syldor, if you ever again speak to them as you did today, Syngorn's future relationship with Whitestone will be the least of your problems."

With that, Percy shoves himself to his feet and stalks from the room, not giving Syldor a breath to respond. He storms down the hall to the room he is to be sharing with Vex and, quietly as his rage allows, pushes inside. Vex is asleep, sprawled in the middle of the bed in such a way that Percy has no idea how he is meant to get in bedside her. Rolling his eyes affectionately, he strips down to his underthings, sets his eyeglasses atop the beside table, and manages to nudge her limbs so that he can slip beneath the covers, claiming what slice of the bed he can.

Clearly sensing him there, Vex moves in her sleep, twists until she is curled into his side the way a puppy snuggles into its littermate. Percy presses a kiss into the top of her head and marvels at her beauty in the sliver of moonlight peeking in through the curtains. How that man could be so ignorant of the gift he has given the world, this wonderful thing he created and set loose like a song on the wind, melodious and heartbreaking? Percy should be endlessly proud of a daughter half as capable, half as scintillating, half as intelligent as Vex. He slides an arm over her to pull her in close and closes his eyes, breathing her in as he drifts off into whatever dreams, dark and haunted as they may be, await him.

[hailhydrasheads]

Jack Rollins had been away on another mission. He was finally home and happy to be there, so much that he started singing Elton john. "Oh, the bitch is back. Stone-cold sober, as a matter of fact I can bitch, I can bitch 'cause I'm better than you It's the way that I move, the things that I do."

“Jackie!” Brock perked up as soon as he heard the other agent’s voice. Getting up to bound over to the taller man and grinning widely.

“How was the mission? They give you any trouble?”

[mab1905]

More Fitzjames content? Yeah... here’s a playlist for ya’ll...

These are songs which I think describe him at different points in his character developement or simply different aspects of his personality. Somewhat James/Crozier (Fitzier) but all about James.

(25 songs, 1 hour 33 min)

Song List + Most Character-Relevant Lyrics:

Fancy — Orville Peck

We didn't have money for food or rent / To say the least, we was hard pressed / Then Mama spent every last penny we had / To buy me a dancin' dress / Mama washed and combed and curled my hair / And she painted my eyes and lips / Stepped into a satin dancin' dress / That had a slit in the side clean up to my hips / It was red velvet trim, and it fit me good / Starin' back from the lookin' glass / There stood a woman where a half-gown boy had stood / ... / It sounded like somebody else that was talkin' / Askin', "Mama, what do I do?" / She said, "Just be nice to the gentlemen, Fancy / They'll be nice to you" / "Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down / Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down / Lord, forgive me for what I do / But if you want out, well, it's up to you / Now don't let me down now / Your mama's gonna move you uptown"

gold rush — Taylor Swift

What must it be like / To grow up that beautiful? / With your hair falling into place like dominos / ... / At dinner parties / I call you out on your contrarian shit / And the coastal town / We wandered 'round had never / Seen a love as pure as it / And then it fades into the gray of my day old tea / 'Cause you know it could never be

The Name Of The Game — ABBA

Your smile, and the sound of your voice / And the way you see through me / Got a feeling, you give me no choice / But it means a lot to me / So I wanna know / What's the name of the game?

Spectrum — Florence + The Machine

And when we come for you / We'll be dressed up all in blue / With the ocean in our arms / Kiss your eyes and kiss your palms / And when it's time to pray / We'll be dressed up all in grey / With metal on our tongues / And silver in our lungs / ... / And when we come back we'll be dressed in black / And you'll scream my name aloud / And we won't eat and we won't sleep / We'll drag bodies from the ground / So say my name / And every colour illuminates / And we are shining / And we'll never be afraid again

Dreamy Bruises — Sylvan Esso

How can we question / What we knows feels right / Black eyes turn to marigolds / In the morning light / Ohweeohweeoh kids move so slow / Shaken all over like some dogs at the pool / Ohweeohweeoh kids move so slow / They’re kicken all the records over acting like they hanging water / Ohweeohweeoh kids move so slow / Down in the basement where the sun don't show / Ohweeohweeoh kids movie so slow / Naked dollars wonder piles dreamy bruises rotten lovers / And they say I want you / To bend me back in two / To make me sing your tune / To make those words so smooth / Fill me like a song do

Wolf — Sylvan Esso

But no birds nor beast does he eat / He only wants the tenderest meat / And oh the sounds he makes them speak / Under all different patterns of sheets / ... / The modern wolf, the modern wolf / Drippin' in all the lives that he took / He'll go on home, try to wash them off / But when he shaves, he hears them call

Francis Forever — Mitski

On sunny days I go out walking / I end up on a tree-lined street / I look up at the gaps of sunlight / I miss you more than anything / I don't need the world to see / That I've been the best I can be, but / I don't think I could stand to be / Where you don't see me / And autumn comes when you're not yet done / With the summer passing by, but / I don't think I could stand to be / Where you don't see me

James — MGMT

James / If you need a friend / Come right over / Don't even knock / And I'll be home / The door is always open / And we both can say, "Who's laughing now?" / Oh, James / My little doll / You just go outside and you call / Oh, James / Oh, you're never too far off / If your fire's out / There's no need to shout / I'm always home / And walk on in / I'll make you tea and breakfast / And we both can say, "Who's laughing now?"

South London Forever — Florence + The Machine

I drive past the place that I was born / And the places that I used to drink / Young and drunk and stumbling in the street / Outside the Joiners Arm's like foals unsteady on their feet / With the art students and the boys in bands / High on E and holding hands with someone that I just met / I thought it doesn't get / Better than this / There can be nothing better than this / Better than this / And we climbed onto the roof, the museum / And someone made love in the glass / And I'd forgot my name / And the way back to my mother's house / With your black cool eyes and your bitten lips / The world is at your fingertips / It doesn't get better than this / What else could be better than this? / Oh, don't you know I have seen / I have seen the fields aflame / And everything I ever did / Was just another way to scream your name

Oh! You Pretty things — David Bowie

I think about a world to come / Where the books were found by the Golden ones / Written in pain, written in awe / By a puzzled man who questioned / What we work here for / All the strangers came today / And it looks as though they're here to stay / Oh You Pretty Things (Oh You Pretty Things) / Don't you know you're driving your / Mamas and Papas insane / Oh You Pretty Things (Oh You Pretty Things) / Don't you know you're driving your / Mamas and Papas insane / Let me make it plain / You gotta make way for the Homo Superior

Venus As A Boy — Björk

His wicked sense of humor / Suggests exciting sex / His fingers they focus on her and touches / He's Venus as a boy / ... / All across your lips, oh, then until / Well be that it's a little now, until / He believes in a beauty / He's Venus as a boy / He believes in a beauty and gentle

Winds Change — Orville Peck

Had a lover but I lost my patience / Gonna get a song on a radio station / Got a fire but you just can't use it / I don't mean no lies, baby, please don't lose it / Lost my way on the other side / I know why, I don't know when / From the way that we said goodbye / I knew I'd never see you again / Left my mind in the Salt Lake City / Met a lot of men who would call me pretty / Pack of reds, watch the days get colder / Don't it make you cry, how we're getting older?

Fluorescent Adolescent — Arctic Monkeys

Oh the boy's a slag / The best you ever had / The best you ever had is just a memory / And those dreams weren't as daft as they seem / Not as daft as they seem / My love, when you dream them up... / Flicking through a little book of sex tips / Remember when the boys were all electric? / Now when she's told she's gonna get it / I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it / Clinging to not getting sentimental / Said she wasn't going but she went still / Likes her gentlemen not to be gentle / Was it a Mecca dauber or a betting pencil? / Oh the boy's a slag / The best you ever had / The best you ever had is just a memory / And those dreams weren't as daft as they seem / Not as daft as they seem / My love, when you dream them up / Falling about / You took a left off Last Laugh Lane / Just sounding it out / But you're not coming back again.

Cheerleader — St. Vincent

I've had good times / With some bad guys / I've told whole lies / With a half smile / Held your bare bones / With my clothes on / I've thrown rocks / Then hid both my arms / I've played dumb / When I knew better / Tried so hard / Just to be clever / I know honest thieves / I call family / I've seen America / With no clothes on / I don't know what I deserve / But for you I could work / Cause I don’t want to be a cheerleader no more

Queen Bitch — David Bowie

She's so swishy in her satin and tat / In her frock coat and bipperty-bopperty hat / Oh God, I could do better than that / Oh, yeah / She's an old-time ambassador / Of sweet talking, night walking games / Oh and she's known in the darkest clubs / For pushing ahead of the dames / If she says she can do it / Then she can do it, she don't make false claims / But she's a queen and such a queen / Such a laughter is sucked in their brains / Now she's leading him on / And she'll lay him right down / Yes, she's leading him on / And she'll lay him right down / But it could have been me / Yes, it could have been me

Boys Keep Swinging — David Bowie

Heaven loves ya / The clouds part for ya / Nothing stands in your way / When you're a boy / Clothes always fit ya / Life is a pop of the cherry / When you're a boy / When you're a boy / You can wear a uniform / When you're a boy / Other boys check you out / You get a girl / These are your favorite things / When you're a boy / Boys / Boys / Boys keep swinging

Caterpillars (Of The Common Wealth) — Will Connolly

You know you'll always be my valentine / Now swear to god that you will never tell / They're streaming every indiscretion live / For caterpillars of the commonwealth / Gotta go / You can stay / Make yourself at home / Gotta go / This campaign / Don't run itself you know / You've got potential little parasite / I tie your hands so i can wish you well / Cuz i'm a gentleman and you are like / A caterpillar of the commonwealth / Gotta go / I said no / You need to know your role / Gotta go / I said no / It's all under control

Imposters (Little By Little) — The Fratellis

You wear your mask, I'll wear mine / They don't come cheap, but they fit just fine / You can be her and I can be him / We can both sink when the rest all swim / ... / We can pretend that our fates were entwined / A beautiful lie is the beautiful kind / Everybody knows that the sun still sets / And everybody gives and everybody gets / ... / I could be the one that you just can't shake / Till you swear that your eyes go blind / We can disappear till the sun burns a hole / In the life that we left behind

Sweet Painted Lady — Elton John

I'm back on dry land once again / Opportunity awaits me like a rat in the drain / We're all hunting honey with money to burn / Just a short time to show you the tricks that we've learned / If the boys all behave themselves here / Well, there's pretty young ladies and beer in the rear / ... / Forget us we'll have gone very soon / Just forget we ever slept in your rooms / And we'll leave the smell of the sea in your beds / Where love's just a job and nothing is said

Super Trouper — ABBA

Super trouper beams are gonna blind me / But I won't feel blue / Like I always do / 'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you / ... / So I'll be there when you arrive / The sight of you will prove to me I'm still alive / And when you take me in your arms / And hold me tight / I know it's gonna mean so much tonight

Babooshka — Kate Bush

She sent him scented letters / And he received them with a strange delight / Just like / His wife / But how she was before the tears / And how she was before the years flew by / And how she was when she was beautiful / She signed the letter / All yours...

Paris is Burning — St. Vincent

I write to give word the war is over / Send my cinders home to mother / They gave me a medal for my valor / Leaden trumpets spit the soot of power / They say, "I'm on your side / "When nobody is, 'cause nobody is / "Come sit right here and sleep / "While I slip poison in your ear" / We are waiting on a telegram / To give us news of the fall / I am sorry to report / Dear Paris is burning after all

Dream of Sheep — Kate Bush

Oh I'll wake up to any sound of engines / Every gull a seeking craft / I can't keep my eyes open / Wish I had my radio / I'd tune into some friendly voices / Talking 'bout stupid things / I can't be left to my imagination / Let me be weak, let me sleep and dream of sheep / Ooh, their breath is warm / And they smell like sleep / And they say they take me home / Like poppies, heavy with seed / They take me deeper and deeper

Hunger — Florence + The Machine

At seventeen, I started to starve myself / I thought that love was a kind of emptiness / And at least I understood then, the hunger I felt / And I didn't have to call it loneliness / ... / Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free / The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me / Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen / We never found the answer but we knew one thing / ... / And it's Friday night and it's kicking in / In that pink dress, they're gonna crucify me / Oh, and you in all your vibrant youth / How could anything bad ever happen to you? / You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment / I forget to worry