#Vax out here looking in her face and seeing

[arabella-strange]

And this is actually exactly what some of the more divinely inclined folks (Caduceus, my beloved, front and center) might have said if asked what the gods are good for and why it might not be great to get rid of them...

Because when the system works well, the gods and mortals work together.

~~~long post of musings, but hear me out: ~~~

[This is D&D so the DMG explicitly states as one of the game's "Core Assumptions" that "Gods Oversee the World," that they are "real," "exert[ing] influence over the world" such that "[w]hile some folk might refuse to honor the gods, none can deny their existence" (DMG 9).]

The gods operate at a broader wavelength, because their powers enable them to see farther, to wield heavier powers, to intervene against larger threats. But the gods are neither all-powerful nor all-knowing. Mortals act within and are caught—esp. in the CR universe—amidst the "weave" of fate that the gods (plural! often in tension or open opposition!) have woven. But those same mortals—Vax! Essek! Caduceus! Laerryn! Zerxus!—exert tremendous force upon that same weave and sometimes manage to shunt or tug those threads in a way no one god intended. Green beans move toward green beans, but floods and frosts and deer and blight sometimes get there first.

Meanwhile, the gods need help to act on the prime material plane. To lock away those Big Bags™️ who now seem to be at risk of escaping. Vecna? Orcus? Obann? The Laughing Hand? The Chained Oblivion? Uk'otoa? (Uk'otoa???) Rau'shan and Ka'Mort, the Primordials? Anybody else just chilling beneath Bazzoxan? They get sealed by mortal hands wielding divine power. But the gods, for their own safety as much as for mortals', stay since the Calamity behind the Divine Gate—and thus, they REQUIRE mortal agents, champions or otherwise, to assist in stopping colossal evil from overtaking the world.

The problem with the gods is not that they have all the power and mortals have none; the problem with the gods is that—once again, to quote Caduceus—"higher powers have the best interests of everything [at heart], and sometimes the best interests of everything don't necessarily line up with the best interests of each of us.... Or what we want" (c2e74).

There is always, inherently, going to be a tension between the individual, living beings who do have agency and do want to find joy in their own ways vs. the immortal entities whose desires/plans are diffused across the weave.

[Laerryn got closest by imagining that if mortal beings could harness divine abilities, they would be as good as gods. But on its face, there is nothing wrong with allowing some entities—let's call them gods—to exert influence on the "higher" scale of everything-everywhere-all-at-once [e.g., Raven Queen], while other beings—let's call them people—continue to exist in the fresh, mundane, acutely joyful and painful, limited sphere of mortality and history, here and now.]

Things that could have been released/largely unprotected at this point: Ikithon, the Horn of Orcus, Halas...

[utilitycaster]

Whenever people are like "well LIAM'S characters never faced any backlash when HE played characters in the spotlight" and "no one will let WOMEN have negative qualities" when Caleb and Vax and Orym have received pretty constant hate for main character/sadboy/scene stealing and when meta writers outright stopped talking about Imogen because a particularly mindless set of hit dogs are still hollering about how she is so good and kind and how dare you call her selfish, it's really like...in the service of trying to make your failure of a point you've just said something that literally anyone with a memory lasting longer than the apocryphal goldfish length can immediately debunk, which in turn absolutely shreds your credibility going forward, if you had it.

More generally there's something very vile here, because on the surface this statement does look like an attempt, if one ignorant of pretty much any fandom conversation, to defend women. The thing is it's come from a place of defending Dorian and Ashton's plan - a man, and a nb person who would not identify as a woman - that requires a particularly great deal of sacrifice from the women of the party. So of course they just switch tactics. Instead of "how dare the fandom not think women are always best" it's "how dare the fandom disrespect a disabled nb person and a person played by an indigenous actor." And I'm sure they'll switch again. Because pretty much every character in this campaign is on some axis of oppression, and there's a few people in this fandom who, instead of considering these things as important details that inform these characters, seem to largely treat their minority statuses as ammunition. Feminism and antiracism and queer advocacy are all just part of a shell game to them - accuse everyone who disagrees with them of being a bigot, say that their opinions are inviolate because they match that of literally any character who isn't a cis het white man, of which Bells Hells has none. Unsurprisingly, it's that social media purity culture that's just the evangelical church with a gay hat: they are always the victim, and everyone who disagrees is the devil, and being a good person always happens to line up with what you already wanted.

There are several posts from the past day or so accusing people of liking Campaign 3 less than the two previous ones which refused to accept that this might be due to the hurry-up-and-receive-an-infodump pacing, the singular focus without much time spent on backstory, the gaps in party composition, and the fact that the plot manages to combine the weakest elements of each campaign - the fetch quest/NPC guidance heavy nature of C1, and the meandering/slow start of C2. No, it must be the awful, sinful fandom unable to handle the lack of a major M/M ship (false; Dorian and Orym aren't canon, but neither were Vax and Gilmore, and the latter was sunk far sooner) and the fact that a female character is at the center of the story (see above re: how hostile the same people making these accusations have been to anyone who actually wants to discuss Imogen in a way that doesn't fit their specifications). Just to repeat this: many fans have outlined a number of purely narrative and structural reasons why C3 isn't working for them. These people have assumed this is all a lie, because assuming otherwise that would require either addressing these critiques, which in turn would require admitting other people can have valid opinions that oppose their own without being horrible bigots - in favor of throwing out whatever random accusations they think might stick. It doesn't matter what's actually being said; they're not actually listening, and for all they might talk about fans of color they sure all seem to be white; for all they talk about misogyny and queerphobia they sure won't hesitate to immediately assume the worst of queer people and women who say things they don't like. And rarely do they address any of the actual ongoing bigotry that does exist in the fandom; it's all random accusations because you agreed with the white woman instead of the brown man or vice versa; or it's the constant dredging of years past discourse that, as the first paragraph indicates, they will then ignore whenever convenient.

These are all pretty transparent signs of a bad faith actor spreading misinformation. To be clear I don't think this is any kind of conspiracy or has any organization to it. I think it's a just handful of deeply self-absorbed people who either refuse or literally cannot comprehend that someone could disagree with them without being a bad person and who will gleefully cry wolf with these accusations of bigotry. But it's been going on for quite some time and it's been a problem this campaign in a way I at least do not recall it in past ones, and it's had an absolutely devastating effect on the fandom conversation. Ironically, by trying to boost Imogen and Campaign 3 by shutting down any criticism of them, they've shut down far more of the conversation, hopefully not irreversibly, and I think it's time to point that out.

[burr-ell]

On the subject of Vex's flaws, I think it's interesting to compare and contrast the conversations she has first with Vax and then with Percy in 1x63. Right before the episode break, Vax goes to Vex to talk to her about the title Percy gave her and tells her that while he appreciates that it made her happy, to him it's like "gilding a lily" and that she's "already perfect" to him. She insists her strength is an act and he immediately replies "bullshit".

Immediately after the break, Vex seeks out Percy, and thanks him for the title and tells him how much it meant to her that he took up for her that way. Percy says a title is "mostly there to remind you you don't really need it" and "it doesn't change anything", and they have a brief discussion about the logistics of what her title means. He teases her that "I imagine you're eventually going to become very insufferable" but then adds that "you have to be".

Now on its face it seems like Percy's saying the same thing Vax is! But there are a couple of crucial differences. For one thing, the comments Percy makes about her becoming "insufferable" (and then that actually she should be) are clearly playful, but it's also an acknowledgment that she can be exasperating. Lighthearted it may be, but it tells Vex that Percy's not afraid of her flaws or put off by the ways she could potentially be annoying. For another, he openly admits that she doesn't actually have any land—the land isn't his to give; it's Cassandra's, as the actual ruler of the city. Percy's promising her what he CAN give her, with an honest explanation of what that is. Like with the come-from-money conversation, he's being both kind and objective. It's at this point where he says a title "doesn't change anything", and I think that allows Vex to see his gesture for the totality of what it is and make her own choice about what she does with it. It's like the arrows; he's giving her the tools to forge her own path, trusting her judgment.

Now I'm not at all hating on Vax here, but I do think Vex's conversation with him revealed some flaws in their relationship. Vax only emphasizes how Vex is cool and strong, and when Vex directly states that it's an act, Vax dismisses this and says he needs her to keep being strong. And he clearly means well! But it's a fascinating choice from Laura to go from that conversation and then talk to Percy the first chance she gets, and one of the things that says is that Vex does not trust Vax's judgment of her in that moment. He's her brother, and he just explicitly said she's perfect! Vex has, by this point, started to see her own flaws clearly enough that just telling her how amazing she is doesn't address the issue, and she's less inclined to trust the opinion of someone who does it. She wants to know that someone can see her flaws, assess her honestly, and still love her.

And the conversation with Percy shows Vex someone who looks at her and sees through her, who has seen and done terrible things and is clever and pragmatic and ruthless, someone who does his best to evaluate a situation as objectively as possible and someone who's striving every day to become better. And that person trusts her, wants to see her succeed, and gives her everything he can to make that happen.

[waltwhitmansbeard]

Hello! may I request any prompt of your choosing from the hurt/comfort list if I specifically ask for tlovm vaxleth? thank you!

10. "Don't worry about anything now."

It's cold in Whitestone, especially at night, but Keyleth doesn't feel it. Her body is warm, hot even, pressed back against Vax like this. His arm is draped over her, his chin hooked over her shoulder. Her naked shoulder. Because she's naked. They both are. Because they had sex.

Vax's breathing is slow and even, and Keyleth is working overtime to keep hers the same way. It's not that she's freaking out—she's not. Not really. Except her body is sore, pleasantly so, dully tingling in the memory of his hands on her, in her—oh, and while that was happening, the people of Whitestone were burying their dead. And Thordak was still burning Emon. And Raishan was probably plotting her inevitable betrayal. And Percy was lying in a tomb, surrounded by generations of deceased de Rolos. But oh gods, the things Vax's tongue can do.

She's a bad person. That has to be it. She gets together with Vax in their dead friend's home? While Vex is in mourning? Who does that? Sure, she was waiting for Vax to pull his head out of his ass long before Percy died, but still, she could have waited, should have waited, found a better moment, done everything differently—

"You're thinking so loud." Vax's voice is a sleepy rumble in her ear as his arm tightens around her.

She laughs nervously. "Sorry. Just, um. A lot to think about."

His nose trails lazily up the back of her neck. "Care to share?"

Now she's in a pickle. She can't tell him what she was really thinking about, because then he'll think she regrets sleeping with him, which she doesn't—at least, not like that. And she's always been so bad at lying. And if she says she's thinking about Percy, will he think she wishes he were here instead? Because wow, no. She has to lie. But say what—

"Kiki, seriously. If you think any louder you're going to wake up the whole castle."

"Was this a mistake?" She feels his body stiffen, and his arm starts to retract. Fully panicking now, she grabs his hand, uses it to tug herself around so she's on her back, where she can see his face. It's shell-shocked, hurt. "That is not what I meant. I don't—I don't regret this. I don't regret you. I promise, Vax."

His face softens a bit, but he's still regarding her skeptically. "I'm really struggling to find another interpretation here, Kiki."

"No, I know, I just meant—" She throws her forearm over her eyes so she doesn't have to look at him. "Percy is dead and Vex is heartbroken and Whitestone is in ruins again and we have to fight Thordak and Raishan is such a bitch and gods I am so behind on my Aramenté and really what right do I have to be happy with you when everything is terrible—"

He shuts her up by kissing her. His hand pulls her face closer to his, and her arm falls away from her eyes as she melts against his lips. For a moment, everything is quiet.

"Keyleth," he murmurs against her mouth. "You are beautiful and powerful and wise and so very, very silly."

"I'm not—"

"You are. There is no 'deserving' happiness. There is just...finding it. With our friends. With our families." His thumb traces little circles where his hand cups her jaw. "Here, in this bed, with you. You know, a very wise woman once pointed out to me how foolish it was to forgo current happiness for fear of future pain." He smirks at her. "I'd hate to see her forgo current happiness because she's guilty about the suffering of others."

Keyleth chews her lip. "But there are things we could be doing. People we could be helping."

"We can't help anyone if we're too exhausted to stand. C'mere." He gently spins her around again so that he's spooning her, her hand cupped in his, and yeah, the feeling of him behind her, warm and solid, does make the brain chatter quiet a bit. "Don't worry about anything now. We have so much time to worry, I promise you. All of the things you're concerned about will be there in the morning, and so will I." He kisses the nape of her neck. "I don't know what the future holds, but I can't imagine thinking about that when I have my favorite person in the world in my arms."

He squeezes her close, and Keyleth breathes in the arm, woodsy scent of him. Alright. Maybe he's right. Maybe the horrors will still be waiting come daylight. Maybe they can share this night, and the happiness it has brought them. She closes her eyes, and soon, she is dreaming of hundreds more nights, just like this.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Ok so I had a thought, what about platonic or romantic (you can decide which one) Yandere Vox Machina x the Dead Weight series reader.

I think it’d be an interesting to see. I enjoy the series you wrote and can’t wait for more 😁

I’m a little rusty, so bear with me here for it’s been a while. And this is more focused on vax, vex and Percy more so then the

Since your close encounter with death, needless to say it was the wake up call vox machina needed to realise that time was limited and that anything could take you away if you were left unguarded.

So after giving them the scare of a lifetime vex, vax, keyleth, scanlan, pike, Percy and grog unanimously decided that nothing would ever harm you ever again, ever. However some took this mission much more personally than others and those few were Vax, Vex and Percy.

These three were adamant about keeping you safe despite that you were now -technically- the more stronger one out of the entire group thanks to your status as champion. They didn’t care, not one bit because in their eyes you were still in danger and on the cusp of death the moment you ventured further ahead of them.

‘We stick together, remember.’ Vax told you as he gripped your arm, to which you pulled away with a scoff.

‘A decision made against my better judgment or something to make me look stupid and the runt of this group again,’ you spat as you closed the distance between you two, ‘I’m not one to yield.’ You add and vax sighed as he then cupped your face.

‘I’m not asking you to yield you thick headed twat,’ vax defends, ‘I’m asking you to not wander so far away from me.’

‘Could’ve fooled me, all of you could’ve.’ You replied coldly as you pulled yourself away and continued on your path, never looking back at vax who had a blank look upon his face, as he then looked over his shoulder to see vex and Percy standing a few feet away from him, watching your back like a pair of hawks.

‘They’re stubborn to reason.’ Vex said tiredly.

‘They’re just scared.’ Percy combated as he looked at her, ‘being so close to death must’ve frightened them to the point of self isolation from the rest of us, that’s all that is. We just have got to try harder to make them see that we care deeply for them.’ He continues as his brilliant mind was already coming up with perfect, fool proof solutions to their predicament.

‘I tried that.’ Vax said, annoyed of having done everything possible but still have the result come in the form of you pushing yourself even further away from them, claiming them to being weird with you for some reason. He just wanted you to be safe for fuck sakes why couldn’t you see it? All he did was for you, anyone he killed? For you!

‘Then perhaps try harder.’ Percy snipped and before he could blink, Vax’s dagger was at his throat but Percy didn’t feel an ounce of fear nor concern for his life. He knew vax was acting out because of his guilt for not making the trade instead of you, he blamed himself deeply for failing you and being a coward to when it came to his hidden feelings for you.

It wasn’t hard for anyone to not notice how Vax acted towards you, well except for you because you thought all of them only gave a shit about you after you became a champion, not giving an ounce of attention towards you before then in any capacity; something which Percy would claim as incorrect but again you were too stubborn to listen to reason.

‘You don’t think I am?!’ Vax hissed.

‘Vax-‘ vex tried to calm her twin but he wasn’t having it.

‘All I’ve done is for them while you two only sit and watch them from afar! Doing fuck all! I’m the one who has their back in fights, I’m the one who keeps them company during the night terrors, I’m the one who almost watched the person they adore kill themselves inside just to be stronger.’ Vax ranted until his lungs craved air, his heart was in his ears as all he could think about was how scared you were, scared about the uncertainty of what was to come after all this, what would happen to you and so on.

Vax believed you shouldn’t have to worry yourself over it, not while he was there to keep you safe and keep your thoughts clear. He didn’t have enough fingers to count how many times he had draped his cloak over you, more so when he saw you showing signs of experiencing a nightmare, and also developing the habit of brushing his hand across your forehead in a gesture of comfort.

Percy then gently pushed vax’s dagger away from his throat. ‘That’s why we must push back harder, for their betterment as it’s the only thing that should matter to us now, anyone outside of us is a threat to them and I’m more then happy to put a bullet in their head, are you?’ Percy asked the twins as they shared a look between themselves.

They both knew that Percy was right in the idea that anyone outside of your rag tag group was a threat to all, and most of all to you in specific. They knew he was right and they were no better then him as Vex and Vax were more then willing to kill with the idea of keeping you safe no matter what.

Pike heals your minor wounds.

Grog acts like your personal bodyguard when Vax, Vex and Percy wasn’t nearby, ready to kill within a moments notice.

And keyleth and scanlan could bring your mind away from the vax, vex and Percy’s less the pleasant slaughters by sing songs and or engaging in gardening with them. However you knew what they were doing but were tried from ambushes to care about how this senseless murder would affect your small group down the line. Their blood wasn’t on your hands but that was a fact that would be ignored in the quest for vengeance, should anyone dare go after all of you.

Keyleth would kill for you

So would scanlan

And pike

And Grog but Percy, Vex and Vax were faster at pulling the trigger than them.

You were far too precious for them to loose, not when they almost did on multiple occasions across their journey for the other vestiges.

You didn’t care what they did until later on in the story but that’s a story for another time. However even you didn’t know how to handle them even if you could as they’d only believe you were siding with the people who wanted you all dead. Or worse, they somehow pulled a sob story out of thin air and manipulated you with it!

‘You are to be kept in the company of one of us from here on out.’ Vex would say.

‘Fuck that I can look after myself, better than any of you would’ve .’ You’d retaliated bitterly.

Silence would befall the group as vex stepped into your personal space and stared you down. ‘Why won’t you listen.’ She whispered.

‘What’s there to listen to but lies and false promises that you’ll never keep once this journey is over, once the big bad of the week is killed and we’re covered in their blood and guts.’ You spat ‘try to treat me like a child one more time and see what happens.’ You add with a threatening tone.

‘You can’t-‘

‘I’m the champion, chosen by the cold hand of my lady that I serve, not you.’ You cut her off as you reminded every one of who you were now, what you were now as you saw the flicker of pain cross Vex’s eyes before she maintained composure.

‘And were your friends, vestige or not I’m not going to watch you die at the end of all this in some bullshit act of heroism.’ Vex told you as she stepped away from you. ‘I won’t allow it.’

Vax rested his hand upon your shoulder, only for you to violently shove it off as you kept staring down his twin. ‘Then I guess I’m just a prisoner in this group now because of your inabilities to see that you’re all the problem in my life, I can’t fly when you’ve clipped my wings and threw me into a fucking cage!’ You screamed as keyleth gasped.

‘That’s not true.’ She says.

‘Yes it fucking is!’ You barked without having to look at her to know she was upset by your outburst. ‘Only death can set me free at this point.’ You admit as you walked away from the group, feeling their eyes pierce your back as you wandered to your tent.

Either way you were going to be coddled to the point of suffocation by all of them but none of them were going to admit that what they did was wrong, if it was for you then they’d gladly do it again.

[kinardeverafter]

bucktommy time! 💖 when you receive this message 💌 you must share at least one (1) headcanon about bucktommy being domestic! 🏳️‍🌈🥰

Bucktommy getting their first cat!

Or more like Buck's at this fire site, there are flames everywhere, and the 118 is battling it out. It's intense, and the fire's getting bigger, but then, out of all the rubble and fire, a little black and white kitten trots straight toward Buck. It just plops down over his boots, and everyone looks at this kitten, but they remember they have a job to do, so Buck takes the kitten and stows him away in their fire truck. He'll figure something out later.

Later, much, much later at home, Buck hears Tommy's loud exclamation of "Evan?" Tommy pauses for a moment before he adds. "Baby, why is there a cat trying to get into our kitchen cabinets!" 

Buck smiles as he heads downstairs only to find Tommy on the floor, with said cat curled in his lap and purring loudly. 

He sits next to Tommy and kisses him hello, a soft touch of lips that holds promises of something more, later, much, much later, after the cat conversation they need to have. 

"Her name's Phoenix," Buck says as he gently pets the kitten. Buck recounts the events of the day and how the kitten came to be, and Tommy's softly looking between the cat and Buck, and there's amusement in that look but also fondness and so much love that Buck wants to melt and curl next to the kitten.

"I was going to take her to a shelter on Monday…" The kitten shifts in Tommy's lap, yawning big and toothy, and Buck and Tommy just sigh in adoration. 

Tommy holds Bucks' hand and kisses his knuckles. "I see. That why you bought half the pet store?"

"Okay, listen, I might've had ulterior motives when I brought her home, but if you don't want her, and maybe… yeah we can't have a pet right now? Maybe we can find her a new home? I know I should've told you before bringing her here bu-" 

Tommy kisses Buck, this time with a little more intention. "We have to start kitty-proofing the house and get her checked, vaxxed, chipped, and insured. Okay. We're doing this." 

Buck lunges at Tommy, arms wrapping tightly around him, peppering his face with kisses and maybe a lick or two. The kitty meows softly at the sudden disturbance and proceeds to climb on top of Buck's shoulder.

"Welcome home, Phoenix," Buck says softly.

[innocent-cat]

May I request an angsty Vax (vox machina) x reader, where the reader likes Vax but he doesn't know it especially paired with his feeling for Keyleth at the time. But when he figures out he rethinks his feelings, but by then the reader feels like the Second pick. (It can have a happy or angsty ending, whatever feels right to you)

GUYS IM BACK!!!! have this and two others im keeping on the burner to write. There were five, so if you don't see your's pop up anytime soon, its because I didn't know how to write it. Loved the ideas, though◡̈

Vax'ildan Vessar x Reader

Warnings - None

"An option, never his priority.", Vax x Reader

.·:*¨���༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺༻

The fire whips in the direction of the wind and crackles in defiance against the small pellets of snow fall onto it, burning the firewood, which was already charred on nearly every side.

You sat next to your best friend, Vex, who had known about your love for Vax for months now. All she could feel was pity for you when she watches you stare off into the dark and starry night, looking anywhere except the two people in front of you.

Vax and Keyleth. Vax shot empty flirts at Keyleth without any reaction from her, as she blankly looks into the fire uninterested in him.

From the corner of your own eyes, you can feel Vex looking at you with a look on her face that you hated. It felt embarrassing for her to give you that look of empathy for so long, and it brought you back to the moment.

Taking a deep breath in through your nose, you held it for just a second. You let it out through your mouth and watch the air fog for just a moment. You look at Vex through the side of your eye, making eye contact, and she quickly looks away.

You sigh. The silence between the entire group was killing you, and you caught second hand embarrassment from Vax flirting with Keyleth like no one could hear them.

To be fair, no one but you and Vex were paying attention. Percy was tinkering with something that you couldn't be bothered enough to ask about, Pike and Grog were fast asleep. How could they fall asleep so quickly in this cold?

You slid off the log you sat on, the rough texture of the bark along it pushed against you and the snow crunched under your feet when you stood. Without looking around, you simply walk away into the snowed in forest.

"If you get lost just give us a shout." Vex's voice ringed through your ears, and you gave her a nod without turning to look at her.

Snow continued to crunch under your feet as you trudged into the forest. It was extremely dark, and the trees made you feel crowded. The trees rock as you push the pines out of the way, feeling the snow piled on them seep into your mittens, creating a soggy feeling on your hands.

Turning to an opening, you see a few logs turned to one another. It seems another group of travelers had passed through here once or twice before too. The world is really small, anyway. Not too hard to think about. You cast a fire spell on their old fire pit, watching the charcoal burn again. You sit down on a log, and stare into the sky, enjoying lonesomeness.

//////////////

(third person POV switch)

Keyleth awkwardly stood up and followed you after a few minutes of awkwardness with Vax. She tightly gripped and wrapped her faux coat around herself. Vex and Vax make eye contact, and glance between themselves and Percy. Vex shrugs and speaks.

"You know she doesn't love you. Quit bothering the poor girl, Vax."

Percy glances up at the siblings, but opts to continue fixing and cleaning his trinket.

Vax sighs, and turns his face away from Vex, not saying a word, waiting for her to say something he would choose to continue off of.

Vex scoffs at his stubbornness to the conversation. "Have you ever paid attention to how they look at you? YOU guys would work out. Not you and Keyleth!" Vex's accent gets thicker as she continues to voice her complaints about Vax's irony to not notice anything around him.

Vax pauses, and looks as if he's thinking to himself and piecing together evidence in his head.

"...You mean to tell me, that this whole time, all those gifts, and all the times they've been flustered without reason, was because they're in love with me?" Vax mumbled to Vex, still putting it together.

Out of the corner of her eye, Vex could see Percy rolling his eyes to their conversation. It was obvious he could tell too, in fact, him and Vex had spoken about it a few times when they had nothing better to do.

Now, it's Vex's turn to roll her eyes. And that she did. "What do you think I just said to you?" She scoffs after her sentence is stated.

Silence falls over the two and only the wind, the crackling fire, and Percy's tinkering can be heard. Soft crunching and talking can be heard from the forest.

(3rd person POV switch)

I softly laugh with Keyleth as we step back to the group's makeshift firepit. Before I can sit, Keyleth sits next to Vex, which forces me to sit next to Vax. Before I do, Vex waves me over and whispers into my ear.

"I told him"

I give her an annoyed look and she smiles smugly at me. I quickly turn before anything can be insinuated between the others and sit next to Vax.

This time, Vax seemed to be nervous to sit next to me. He was drooling over Keyleth just a second ago, You couldn't understand how he could change his mind so fast.

You close your eyes and decide not to think about it, trying to sleep quietly. It was late, and you were too tired to talk after the grueling work done today, which had to be followed with miles of walking to do the next morning.

When Vax notices this, he wraps his arm around you and pulls you in to rest on his shoulder. While his touch his warm, and something you've yearned for, you didn't like it. You didn't welcome it.

It wasn't what you yearned for. It felt forced.

The vibrations of his voice rumbles on his chest, and you could feel it in your head, but your hearing was muffled. It felt like you could hear their conversation in another room. You felt him hesitate when talking to Keyleth, but he spoke to her in that same tone.

He was settling for you.

You could feel an unsettling sense in your stomach, it made you uncomfortable, and it made you squirm.

You didn't want to be his second choice.

[demigoddessqueens]

I was thinking of a scenario like the end of DDHAT - have you seen it? **SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN D&D Honor Among Thieves**

Percy x Reader - at the conclusion of a big baddie battle, everyone is checking in, except for Reader. They finally find them - they’ve been struck by the baddie’s poison weapon, to which there is no cure, sorry Pike, not even you. Death is imminent and painful. Percy IS in possession of a resurrection tablet (in this version Cassandra didn’t survive the Briarwoods) that they just quested for and that Percy was intending for his sister. As they’re drawing their last pained breath the reader says their only regret was not telling Percy about their feelings sooner. Percy is a mess. Vox is devastated and even a few members beg an already conflicted Percy to bring them back. He brings them back. Happy happy confessions love angsty romantic bliss 🤭🥰

Long convoluted idea - sorry!!- love all your stuff!!!

This was such a guilty pleasure movie for me! I loved it and now this idea makes me sad 💔

Cw slight mention of death

FOUND ON MASTERLIST 9 HERE

After the final blow was delivered, Percy’s immediate reaction is to check on you

he sees you hunched over as you hold your wounded side, a hand covering the fatal gash

Vex’ahlia is to your other side, holding you upward, and fighting back the heartbreak she feels encroaching

behind him, he can hear Keyleth, Vax, Grog gasping in shock just as they realize what’s happened

You look at him with a bittersweet expression. Either you accept your fate or regret not making the most of what the gods had offered you in life, but somehow focusing on Percy takes away the burden of what feel’s impending

“…that was a hell of a fight, wasn’t it? At least I made this one count…”

Denial and every other emotion of bargaining overwhelms Percy, and he comes to your

there’s no joy in the song that Scanlan whispers along with you to offer as a small comfort when he holds your hand

Percy can see the hope dwindling out of Pike’s eyes as her magic fades, she can’t heal you and even if there was a chance to revive you…it couldn’t…

every thing feels as if it’s crashing down and they’re helpless to stop it

With his trembling hands, Percy tries to hold onto you as he’s begging through breathy sobs. You grip back as much as you can as your strength wanes.

one. Two. Three agonizing seconds go by until he realizes you are still with a parted smile on your face.

He looks to the tablet. To you. The memories of his family, Cassandra; that all start to blend with you and Vox Machina and the new life he’s started to form. You’ve been there; all of you, from you and Vex to everyone and he can’t imagine a life without any one of you. As he speaks the words, Percy offers one final plea despite the years of pain before

The quiet pleas from the rest of the party are all but background noise to him as he watches you for any sign.

you look around in amazement at seven pairs of tear-stained eyes widening as you realize what’s happened

“Don’t tell me you used that on me….” is all you can manage as you gasp in amazement and shock

Percy holds you close to him before you get a chance to utter more words

“I was a fool to not tell you sooner than later…”

you look at him in disbelief laced with the same love that he holds for you, not realizing the tears that are falling on your face

“Percy…I’ve always loved you too,”

now there are seven pairs of of arms around you, just holding you a little tighter than normal after a close encounter they don’t want to repeat

[sunstone-smiles]

A Serious Case of the Pent-up Giggles

Original request (from @gladdygirl18): "As a fellow Vox Machina fan, how about day 15 "are you ticklish" with Lee Percy and ler(s) the Elven Twins?"

Author’s note: Aaaaah!!! I’m soooo excited to share this because I’m super happy with how it came out! Gosh, I love Percy. Here’s Day 15 of Tickletober: “Are you ticklish?�� from August’s Tickletober List! I hope you enjoy!

Series: The Legend of Vox Machina

Characters: Percy, Vax, Vex, and the rest of the Vox Machina crew

Word count: 1,712

Summary: Vex and Vax think that Percy needs to be “cured” of his case of the pent-up giggles. The twins know just how to help. 

---

There’s nothing like a warm fireplace, a comfortable chair, a sketchbook, and some company to fill the air with ambiance—at least to Percy, that is. And currently, he has all four. His quill delicately lines his pages with a draft of one of his newest project ideas, with intricate details of mechanical functionalities and notes on aesthetics if there’s time or resources. Yes, Percy’s productivity is at its peak. Honed in. Focused. Eyes and mind tethered to his work as he pictures the pieces to sketch. Nothing can distract him now.

Except for a sudden jab to his side. That’s distracting.

Percy restrains a yelp and jumps in reaction. He nearly drops his sketchbook from his hands. Pulled back to his surroundings, Percy glares through his glasses to the left of the couch seats. 

“Vax! What was that for?” Percy snaps at his ally.

“Whoa! Easy there, de Rolo,” Vax puts his hands up in defense. “I tried calling your name, but you weren’t answering. We were just reminiscing about the time Vex was using whole cooked chickens as target practice. I thought you wanted to chime in.”

Percy adjusts his glasses. “I know what you were talking about. I was already satisfied by just listening.”

“That was quite a jump there, Percy,” Vex chimes in from his right. She leans forward on the sofa that her, Percy, and Vax are sitting on so that Percy and her brother are both in her view. “I know Vax surprised you, but you nearly leapt off the couch.”

Percy reopens his sketchbook. His head is dipped down and looking away from Vex. “I was taken off guard, is all.”

“Oh, I totally get that,” Keyleth says from her spot on the floor by the fireplace. She’s been braiding Trinket’s fur with flowers as the bear sleeps beside her. “One time, Scanlan snuck up on me while I was tending to the flowers outside. I nearly fell into a pile of mud.”

“I wasn’t sneaking up on you on purpose!” Scanlan pipes up from an armchair. His legs are propped up on the side while he restrings his lute. “Those bushes are my height. I didn’t know you were there!”

Vex returns the group to the topic at hand, still keeping her eyes on Percy. “See, I would believe you Percy…” She pauses for a moment. A smirk crawls onto her face. “If I didn’t know you were faking it.”

“Excuse me?” Percy scoffs. 

“Well, maybe not faking it, per say. You were taken off guard,” Vex shrugs. “But there’s a second reason why you jumped that high. Actually, I have my suspicions.” 

Vex makes eye contact with her brother. She glances in Percy’s direction before looking back at Vax with a smile to inform him of her thoughts. Vax raises a brow, but after looking at his sister’s smirk and briefly observing where he poked Percy, an understanding grin forms on his own features.

“Oh, I know!” Grog raises his hand in excitement from his chair, “Maybe Vax’s jab was so strong that he nearly pushed Percy off the couch!”

“Or maybe it accidently hurt?” Pike guesses from her seat by the coffee table. She stands and approaches Percy. “Because if so, I can try to heal you–”

“No,” Percy says faster than intended, like he is on edge. He reassures Pike. “I’m fine. Thank you, Pike, but that won’t be necessary.”

“Oh no, Pike. Magic won’t help. What Percy has is a far more serious case,” Vex exaggerates her words.

Vax puts his arm on Percy’s soldier. “It’s a case that explains why he scowls all the time.”

“Why he doesn’t laugh as often,” Vex adds.

“An ailment that eats away at his chest!” Vax says.

“Trapped inside, just bursting to come out!”

“Alright! Out with it already!” Percy growls.

Vex leans back in her seat. Calm. Casual. “What you have is one serious case of the pent-up giggles.”

“What?” Percy scowls at them. He leans forward to place his sketchbook and quill on the table in front of their seats.

“Oh no! Percy, you’re sick?” Grog questions.

“I am not sick,” he answers Grog. “Sick of these two maybe,” he mutters while glaring at the twins. “But not physically ill.”

“But there is still a very important question we need to ask you, Percy,” Vax mentions. “And that question is this…”

The dagger wielding twin stares Percy straight in the eye. A mischievous grin curls up on the corner of his mouth.

“Are you ticklish?”

Percy glares back at Vax. His senses are sharp. His expression remains unfazed. “No,” Percy makes his words crystal clear.

“Ah, denial,” Vex shakes her head.

“One of the main symptoms,” Vax sighs as if hearing bad news, though his smile is still wide.

“Don’t worry, Percy,” Vex says. “Vax and I know just how to cure you. You’re in good hands,” Vex grins. She immediately follows up her words with a poke to Percy’s side. 

The man jumps and wraps his arms across his torso, now glaring at the female twin. “Vex–”

Percy jolts again, now whipping his head to the other side to glare at the male twin who poked his other side again. “Vax!”

Vex smiles at her twin. “Shall we brother?”

“We shall, sister.”

The two half-elves turn their smiles in Percy’s direction. Immediately, they pounce at him, tackling him into the back cushions of the sofa.

“Wait!” Percy exclaims as the twins put their mischief into action. He squeezes his arms to his sides and tries to wiggle from side to side to avoid the onslaught of pokes. “This is ludicrous!” he manages to yell out, right before Vex catches a well aimed scribble to his side.

Percy jumps away from her and releases a giggle-filled yelp. He immediately slaps both of his hands to his mouth before moving one hand to push at Vex’s shoulder, while his other hand continues to contain the bubbling sound of joy that lies beneath. 

Big mistake though. He forgot there were two twins.

Vax sneaks his hands from behind and scribbles into Percy’s unguarded ribs. The human instantly clamps his arms down with a shriek and jolts forward, but he’s easily pulled back by Vax as the rogue gleefully digs his fingers between the stubborn noble’s ribs. Vex also launches her hands at Percy’s sides now that his defenses are lowered.

A snort comes from Percy’s restrained snickers, which is soon followed by an outpour of wheezy giggles that continuously spill from Percy. He nearly knocks over Vax through his squirming, but the male twin holds him up and keeps in prime position for their playful method of "healing."

“Vehehehex! Vahahahax!” Percy shouts at them through his laughter.

“Nice going, brother,” Vex smiles to her twin. “See, Percy? Look at how many giggles you had stored up! You must be so relieved to finally let them all out.”

“Yohohou both are sohoho de-EHehehead!” Percy squeaks in the middle of his sentence from Vex finding another ticklish spot above his hip. He drags the heels of his boots into the seat cushions.

“Can’t throw your famous insults at us when you’re like this, huh?” Vax teases from behind.

“Yes, indeed,” Vex agrees. “I kind of like Percy this way though. He’s a lot less sassy, that’s for sure.”

“Whahahahat? Sahahahassy?!” Percy says, trying to defend the title of his good name even through his giggling state. “I am nohohohot sassy!”

“Ah, a shame. That was a sassy response right there,” Vex fakes a sigh. “It looks like the sassiness is still present through the tickling after all.”

“Maybe we have to tickle him more to remove the sassiness out of him,” Vax says, grinning.

“No-HOho!” Percy's voice goes higher in pitch from the sheer speed he said the word. “Nohoho more! Let me gohoho, yohohou menaces!” Percy nearly rolls off the couch, teetering on the edge of the cushions.

“If you say so,” Vax grins and releases his hold on Percy. Percy immediately crashes to the floor, as the only thing keeping him steady was Vax’s grip. 

Percy peels himself from the floor by pushing himself up on his arms. He glares at Vax from below.

The rogue shrugs. “What? You asked me to let you go,” Vax ends his claim with a smile.

Percy shakes his head with a growl. He retrieves his sketchbook and quill from the table as he gets back to his feet. He looks at his spot on the sofa between the still grinning twins.

He narrows his eyes at them both. “If I sit between you again, will there be any more funny business?”

Vex tosses up her hands. “None from me, darling. I’ve had my fun for today.”

“I’ve still got a little more fun left in me,” Vax says before reassuring him, “But I will save that fun for another time.”

Percy rolls his eyes. He returns to his spot on the cushions and immediately opens his sketchbook to bury his face between the pages. No doubt everyone’s conversation will be skewed towards the sight just now. He’s bracing himself for the following humiliation that his ears are going to hear next. 

“So…” Vex speaks first. 

Gods, here it comes. 

“Where were we in the story, Keyleth?” Vex finishes her thought.

Percy’s features suddenly ease to that of pleasant surprise.

“Oh, right!” Keyleth recalls. “So then I held the chicken really high above my head…” Keyleth resumes her story about the time of Vex’s target practice. The rest of the group begins chiming in again, as if the story was never derailed in the first place. 

Percy lifts his head and glances at Vex. Vex glances back and gives him a wink before turning back to the group. Percy looks to the pages of his sketchbook with a thankful smile.

She has his back. They all do, really. They’re the ones that placed him in an embarrassing set of circumstances in the first place, but perhaps it’s not all that bad when the people around him don’t see his embarrassment as a way to judge his character, but see it as a way to love him even more. He really is lucky to have a family like them.

[ravendruid]

Hi 👋 I would love to see Vaxleth in number 27 kissing in the rain 💛 I love your writing so much btw

Hii!!! Thank you so much for sending a prompt! :D I hope you like it as much as I do ^_^ (And thank you for the compliment :D :D :D)

A Kiss In The Rain

(Read on AO3)

Rain is fun until it isn’t and, at this point, Vax’ildan is getting fed up of the second day of pouring outside. He wants to get out of this stuffy, snobby, much-too-large castle where he feels like he’s being watched at every moment of the day, which he probably is, considering his stomach can’t growl without a servant immediately coming over with a tray of food.

It doesn’t help that everyone he wants to hang out with is locked in the workshop with Percival, going over sketches, doing calculations, and planning things that are far more complicated than what Vax’s brain can comprehend. It sucks that both his sister and his girlfriend instantly bury themselves with work whenever they visit. 

“Mr. Vax’ildan?” A young maid calls his attention. Vax rolls his eyes at the title and looks over his shoulder, decided to give her a word or two about calling him that, but then he sees she is holding a piece of folded parchment and nods instead. “This is for you,” She says, handing the paper.

“From whom?” Vax asks, politely as he takes hold of it. He recognizes the feel of the parchment from the same in Percival’s sketch book. If this is a summons to that stuffy, smoldering workshop… 

“Miss Keyleth, sir,” The maid replies. The title, again, makes Vax’s stomach roil. Why would Keyleth send him a written note through a maid when she can just call him on the earring?

“Thank you,” Vax nods, then leaves the maid behind. 

The note is simple and effective—Meet me at the Widow’s Garden, right now—but it doesn’t answer any more of Vax’s questions. Nonetheless, Vax still obeys because that’s his super-powerful druid girlfriend who can call lightning, and he’s not sure she won’t do just that if he fails to show up when she summons him.

“Keyleth?” Vax calls as he transposes the unlocked iron gate. The garden has had better days, but Vax knows Keyleth has been working with Percy to fix it. “Is there a reason why you called me to meet you out here? It’s fucking pouring, love.” He calls again, to no response.

Vax wanders around for a minute or two, looking in every nook and cranny for the familiar flaming red hair of his girlfriend or for any out-of-place animals, but he doesn’t see anything. He’s almost determined to head back to the castle when he hears a twig snapping behind him.

“Who’s there?” He holds two daggers out in front of him, ready to face the threat.

“Relax, Vax. You know I could snap you in two before you even flung that thing at me,” Keyleth mocks him. She’s not totally wrong. 

“Hey,” Vax greets her. He allows his shoulders to sag with relief and stores the daggers back in their belt. He sees her now, so beautiful and soaked to the bone, just like he is. Her beautiful teal dress sticks to her skin, hugging all her curves, which makes Vax smirk as he lets his gaze wander to her chest.

“My eyes are up here,” Keyleth hooks her finger under Vax’s jaw to bring his face back up. She’s smiling knowingly, a smile she always gives him when she catches him adoring her—which happens way too often.

“Not my fault you wanted to meet in the rain,” Vax shrugs. He wraps his arms around her waist and laces his fingers at her back. Keyleth does the same around his neck. “Why, though? I’m soaked and miserable, and I’m gonna smell like a wet dog.”

“I’ll dry you up, don’t worry,” She smiles. Vax could get lost in her smile. It’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen—correction, Keyleth is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. “I figured you were bored up there and you needed to get some air.”

“In the rain?”

Keyleth nods. Vax holds his breath when she leans her forehead down to his and closes her eyes. He feels her breath in deeply, as if she’s trying to commit the scent of him in the rain to memory, then exhale. “I–I wanted to do something,” She mumbles, allowing Vax to hear the sound of insecurity in her voice. It’s only with him that Keyleth lets down the mask and allows herself to feel and talk about her insecurities, which Vax appreciates. He believes in her more than he has ever believed in anyone, so he knows she can be confident and strong, but Keyleth still needs reassurance once in a while, and he’s glad he’s there to give her that when she needs it the most.

“In the Widow’s Garden, in pouring rain?” Vax teases her by wiggling his eyebrows. 

“W–what? No! Vax!” Keyleth scolds him playfully. “It’s not t–that!”

“Alright, then, what is it, love? Should I be worried you’re attempting to kill me, then?” Vax keeps teasing his girlfriend until she gives him a shaky smile. 

“I wanted to do this,” Keyleth ends up saying, more confident, and then she places her hands on the back of Vax’s head and brings him in for a kiss. 

When the shock at the intensity of the kiss passes, Vax fully embraces his half-elf druid girlfriend, raising a hand to steady her back as he responds by deepening the kiss. His blood feels like fire at the feel of Keyleth’s body pressed against him, but not the kind of fire that usually makes them end up tangled in bed. No, this fire is different. This is a fire that makes Vax think about the future with Keyleth, to imagine the days of following her on her work trips; of her coming home to a hot, homemade meal and a nice, relaxing bath; of the tiny freckled, red-haired babies Vax would love to have with her one day. It’s a fire that makes him want to get on his knees and ask Keyleth to be truly, wholly his forever, to take him to be truly, wholly hers forever.

But the kiss ends and Vax regrets having to come back from his reverie. Yet, there is a different shine to Keyleth’s beautiful green eyes, a shine that lights a flame of hope inside of Vax that maybe, just maybe, Keyleth felt the same way he did just now, that one day she will take him by the hand and ask him to stay, because they both know that it is her step to take, not his. 

“Are you still angry at me for making you come out here in the rain?” Keyleth asks, fondly caressing his face.

“I could never be angry at you, Kiki. Never.”

Vax kisses her again, and again, and again. They stand kissing in the pouring rain until the clouds part and Vex’ahlia and Percival find them soaked but happy, with blushing faces, and once Keyleth dries them off with a touch of her magic and they join the other couple in the dining room, Vax thinks that, maybe after all, this castle isn’t that bad. As long as Vax has Keyleth at his side and his twin is happy in the arms of the man she loves, Vax knows they will be alright.

[ravenquingvax]

Thinking about Vox Machina going to their first ever Pride event together... For some of them, it's also their first ever Pride event in general.

---

Scanlan has been too so many by now you'd think he would be bored of them... But he isn't!

He gets to be annoyingly pansexual in public without being deemed a nuisance!? Sign him the fuck up!!

He's flirting with everyone, he's wearing glittery face paint, he's running around with only a pansexual flag and tight glittery booty shorts on!!

He also makes sure that all of the rest of Vox Machina are safe and having a good time! Are they drinking? Well, Scan is watching over their drinks!

Are they mingling? Well, Scan is keeping a close eye on them to make sure they're not being harassed or anything!!

This isn't his first rodeo, and it sure as hell isn't going to be his last one either!! He identifies as a little nightmare to society and he will be getting his gay on!!

---

Pike has been to a few Pride events as a bisexual woman, and she's been to many as a voluntary healer and helper.

She likes the community and the silliness of these events, but her cleric training has her reluctant to join in with full reckless abandon...

That being said, she has the bi flag painted on her cheeks while she's hugging anyone who needs comforted!!

She's handing out snacks and water, she's healing injuries and listening to people's stories.

Pike is a Pride Mamma and she is fucking proud of it.

---

Taryon has never even dared to dream of attending a Pride event before - his dad wouldn't approve of it, after all.

So he's nervous and shy when Vox Machina take him to his very first event in Whitestone.

But he quickly warms up to it! There's so much colour and glitter and ribbons!!!

People are dancing and singing! Some are kissing!

It's absolutely wonderful.

Next time, He even wears the MLM gay pride flag around his shoulders as he and his new husband join the festivities.

---

Grog doesn't understand it.

But he likes parties and these events seem like parties to him.

Also, it makes his friends happy to come to these big events.

Someone asks him what he identifies as and he tells them he's not an object to identify.

He's flirted with by all types of people and tells them he's not really here for that either.

Grog is just Grog, and he is very happy to make his friends happy by watching after them as they let loose for once!

Also, the alcohol is amazing.

At some point he ends up with an agender pride flag and he doesn't know why, but Pike says that it suits him and Vax tells him to wear it as a cape because it'd look cool.

So he does. And he looks very, very fucking cool with it on.

---

Vex'ahlia has been struggling a lot to come to terms with her sexuality since she was a teen.

Growing up with her rather queerphobic father in Syngorn has left her scared to explore her bisexuality, but seeing her brother and friends open up and explore their own genders and sexualities has helped her.

Vex is quiet about it, but she wears her bisexual flag as a cape with pride and she wears her "i love my trans twin" shirt with even more pride.

She may even kiss a few folk!!

---

Vax'ildan is trans masc, enby, polyamorous and bisexual.

He has beads in the colours of the bisexual flag braided through his hair, he's wearing the nonbinary flag as a cape, his nails are painted with tiny trans flags on them...

And he can't stop smiling.

He's kissing so many people! He's dancing! He's singing! He's accidentally leading a whole ass macarena line through the streets! He's drinking fruity cocktails! He's eating cookies and cupcakes with the most ridiculously dirty decorations you could possibly imagine!

He's thriving and nobody can rain on his parade!!

(Though when he gets home, he will be plagued with the fear of his father seeing him like this and of the man's reaction.)

---

Keyleth is young and not very experienced in anything.

She is aware of the many different possible genders and sexualities out there, but she hasn't quite figured out what she is just yet - but that's fine!

Her friends tell her that they love her for her, that whatever she identifies as will be just as amazing as she is herself!

So she goes to her first Pride event nervous but curious, asking other people about how it was they figured out their genders and sexualities.

And maybe she even walks away with her own collection of new pride flags... She always did love green and purple, so the Asexual, Demiromantic and Agender pride flags are even cooler to the questioning druid.

---

The youngest of the group, Percy has no idea what he is.

Well, he knows he's a man, but he doesn't know why.

Nor does he know what his sexuality is quite yet, either.

He finds certain men hot, but he also finds Vex'ahlia hot.

And, well, some other women too - but mostly just Vex.

Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia are both very hot, actually. It's been a bit of a problem for poor Percy.

Someone tells him he could be bisexual, or even demisexual.

But neither feels exactly right.

Maybe... Maybe both?

Yes. Both is good.

Also, the bisexual flag is pretty and both twins wear it well.

(This doesn't help Percy at all.)

[vodika-vibes]

For commander Monkk can I request a cute little fic where he has a crush on his generals former Padawan, now turned Jedi knight, and teaches her how to swim when both their battalions have a day off and spend it at the beach 👉👈

I'll Love Every Version Of You

Summary: One year ago your master, Kit Fisto, promoted you to Jedi Knight though it would have been his preference to keep you at his side until the war's end. But the Jedi needed more Knights and you were old enough and skilled enough that keeping you as a padawan would have been a waste of time. This is your first real break in over a year, and you get to spend it on a peaceful tropical planet, with your former Master…and his battalion.

Pairing: Commander Monnk x F! Twi'lek Reader

Word Count: 1190

Warnings: Reader is described as a twi'lek with freckles.

A/N: I wasn't sure where to go with this, at first, but I think I'm happy with this one. Maybe. I'm super dizzy, so it might not be the best, lol.

Click HERE to be added to my taglist

You’re glad for the break.

The last year has been you, and your battalion, running from one crisis to the next without much of a chance for a break, save for what time you can take while traveling through hyperspace. 

You’re exhausted. You feel like you could sleep for a year and still not get enough rest.

Which is funny. You don’t remember being half this exhausted when you were Master Kit’s padawan.

Of course, even when you’re supposed to be resting (Vax is going to have your head on a silver platter if you don’t get your stress levels down at least a little bit), you still have work that you need to consider.

The truth is, you’re worried about the next mission.

It’s based on a water planet, and while you know how to swim, your Master is from an aquatic species after all, you’ll be the first person to admit that you’re not the strongest swimmer.

Not through any failing on his part, though.

The failing is all you.

You stretch out on the blanket you’re relaxing on, and bury your toes in the hot sand. In truth, as a twi’lek, you’ve always been a poor match for Master Kit as a padawan. There were plenty of aquatic initiates that he could have chosen from, and yet he chose you.

You remember the other Councilers commenting on how unusual it was that Master Kit didn’t take another Nautolan or a Mon Cala as a padawan. They were careful to not make it seem like they didn’t approve, but you’ve always been a sensitive child.

A huff falls from your lips as you feel your stress levels rising.

Vax is definitely going to kill you. He only signed off on this because he thinks you’re going to stress yourself into an early grave.

“Well now, look who it is,” You turn your head to the side when you hear the familiar voice, and a small smile crosses your lips, “Was wondering where you were hiding, kid.”

“I’m hardly a kid anymore, Commander.”

Commander Monnk, your Master’s right hand, and someone you’re lucky enough to call a friend, laughs and sits on the towel next to you, dripping water onto your bare skin.

His dark eyes scan your bikini-clad form, and a small smirk lifts the corner of his lips, “Oh, I can see that, mesh’la.”

You seriously consider flinging some sand at his face but think again. He’s always been like this, flirty and teasing. He doesn’t mean anything by it.

“I figured I’d sunbathe someplace private so people won’t stare at me.” You shrug, “Plus, Master still gets a funny little twitch when he sees me wearing bikinis.”

“Well, you are his daughter.”

“Former Padawan,”

Monnk rolls his eyes and tweaks the end of one of your lekku, “Semantics.”

You toss a small grin up at him, and he grins right back at you. You missed Monnk. You like Commander Vash. You do, he’s smart and competent. But he’s not Monnk.

“So,” Monnk continues as he leans back on his hands, “What’s bothering you?”

You sit up and fold your legs, “What makes you think something’s bothering me?”

“Vash.”

You scowl out towards the water, “He’s a snitch.”

“Also, according to Vax, you’ve been stressed. And haven’t been sleeping well.”

This time you direct your scowl at him, “Is my entire battalion spying on me for you?”

“Come on, mesh’la. Don’t be like that,” One of his fingers traces a line of freckles on your shoulder making you shiver, “They’re worried about you. I’m worried about you.”

The sigh that falls from you is so heavy it makes you wince. 

“Well, clearly you’re worried about something.” And, of course, Monnk catches it. “Come on, talk to me.”

“We have a mission,” You admit, “To an aquatic planet.” It’s all you say. It’s all you have to say.

“Ah.”

You draw your knees up so you’re able to rest your chin on them, “I don’t know what to do, Monnk. My battalion thinks I’m a great swimmer, and that I’ll do wonderfully on this mission. But I won’t.”

“Your swimming hasn’t improved since leaving General Fisto’s side?”

You shoot him a pained look, “When would I have the chance?”

“No wonder you’re so stressed.” Monnk shifts slightly, draping his arm over his raised knee. “Alright, let’s get some swimming practice in.”

“What?”

“This is a pretty secluded spot you’ve found, no one will see us practicing your swimming.” Monnk continues.

“This is supposed to be your vacation too, Monnk.”

“Yeah, and this is how I want to spend it.” He hops to his feet and offers you his hand, “Come on.”

It’s the easiest thing in the world, to reach out and take his hand. It’s Monnk, after all.

He leads you into the water, and then out until you’re standing on your toes to keep the water off your face, “Here’s a good place to start,” Monnk murmurs, his hands warm against your hips, helping you keep your head above the water.

“If you say so,” You scrunch up your nose as your toes leave the ground due to a wave.

“Ah, don’t look like that mesh’la. This will be fun!”

“For you, maybe.”

Monnk laughs, but when he looks at you there’s something soft and affectionate in his gaze. His hands, warm and calloused from years of weapon handling, slide from your hips to rest on your sides. “How are you still so impossibly soft?”

“I use lotion to keep my skin healthy,” You reply.

“Yeah? Need help with that?”

“Pervert,” You counter, affectionately.

“Just to you, mesh’la,” Monnk says automatically. It’s a familiar conversation, one you’ve had with him time and time again. Monnk has never shied away from how he feels about you.

He wears his heart on his sleeve, at least when it comes to you.

“Alright!” Monnk’s hands tighten around you, “Are you ready to begin?”

“I suppose.”

“Good,” He pauses, “Hm…I should charge you for this.”

A startled laugh slips from you, “I have to pay you to teach me how to swim.”

“All good swimming teachers are paid,” He counters solemnly.

“Alright, but I should warn you, I’m not paid.”

“A kiss,” Monnk says, his gaze serious and slightly wistful, “I teach you in exchange for a kiss. Maybe two.”

“Two? Aren’t you being a little greedy?” You tease.

“Well,” His voice is low as he lightly presses his forehead against yours, “The economy is in shambles—”

You don’t let him finish, as you tilt your head to press your lips against his.

He reacts immediately, his arms locking securely around your waist as he pulls you as close as he can. Monnk immediately deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding across your lips.

The force almost sings with what he feels for you. I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’ll always love you. No matter who you become. No matter where you go. 

And so, you slide your arms around his neck and allow him to pull you closer. After all, you love him too. He’s Monnk, after all.

@imabeautifulbutterfly

@n0vqni

@bad4amficideas

@justiceandwar98

@mira-loves-star-wars

@tiredbi-peach

@dukeoftheblackstar

@trixie2023

@kimiheartblade

@padawancat97

@falconfeather23435

@etod

@bb8-99

@kiss-anon

@continous-mistakes

@yoitsjay

@liz-stat

@cc--2224

@adriennelenoir

@cdblake1565

@sweater-sloot

@heidnspeak

@wax-birds

@silly-starfish

@lonewolflupe

@maniacalbooper

@rebell-ious

[utilitycaster]

🔥 each member of vox machina

Vax: really the sadboy narrative for Liam has always been stupid but it's egregiously bad that it started with Vax, who is like, sad for maybe a fifth of the episodes and largely because Liam O'Brien's actual mother was dying, like, with all due respect what the actual fuck, fandom.

Vex: I am the founding and probably only member of the "Vex is my favorite character and also I am 100% cool with Colville's depiction of her." The generosity she shows even very early on in C1 is still a generosity borne of some degree of security - they have a keep by then - and I also just don't think you have to like a character to write them fairly. Granted it's been a minute since I read early VMO but nothing stood out to me as out of line with my understanding of Vex.

Pike: repeating myself once again but I like Pike a lot and wish we could have seen more, but because we didn't, people who say she's their favorite in C1 do tend to turn me off in that I feel they're looking for a relatively flat and widely praised character to project onto rather than a character who goes through more messy development.

Grog: I think he's often underestimated and I was guilty of doing so myself, to be honest, until I saw Travis play more and until I personally got better at D&D. Also I still maintain that playing INT 6 sensitively and well is infinitely harder than playing INT 16, all things considered, and this is yet another reason why people should play high INT more often.

Scanlan: Also underestimated; I do understand being turned off by the whole extremely horny playboy thing but as I've said before Bard's Lament is a major litmus test for me: if you think Scanlan is completely at fault here, you are wrong, and if you think he's not partially at fault, you are also wrong.

Tary: I genuinely love him and think he's a great character and one of Sam's best, but while his character arc is strong the Taryon Darrington Arc of the VM Campaign, through no fault of his own (and partly bc I personally think D&D Hell, especially pre-Descent Into Avernus publication, is kind of boring), is one of the weakest parts of the campaign because it's kind of a grab bag of loose ends. With that said I would happily watch more Darrington Brigade-one shots.

Percy: Percy is also generally a litmus test in that it's like. Is he a good person? Eventually I believe he becomes one, and even before that I think he's very sympathetic and deeply traumatized and like, 24, so I get it, but also, who the fuck cares. This ties into the Essek and the Ashton opinions and all kinds of other stuff but why are people so invested in fucking absolving their blorbo of all sins? I want someone who's lived enough of a life to have done some heinous shit because that's fun and interesting and it's pretend and also because then they can have a rewarding character arc by either working towards redemption or coming to terms with who they are or spiraling into tragedy.

Keyleth: I like Keyleth a lot but I am, as this post indicates, far more sympathetic to Vex, and so while I do think Keyleth is a fairly good person she is also extremely sheltered and naive and terrified of doing the wrong thing and I would have, like Vex, wanted to scream at her half the time were I just a random NPC wandering about the campaign. On the other hand C3-era Keyleth? fantastic no notes she has grown up in such an interesting way.

Tiberius: I think we, and by we I mean people capable of separating the art from the artist, can recognize that his concept actually fucking slapped and unfortunately he was played by someone who absolutely sucked in a myriad of ways. I would love to see the alternate universe in which the same general concept (prodigy sorcerer from Draconia who is full of themself) had to face not just the destruction of their civilization but the realization that they were taking advantage of the Ravenites and while they did not deserve to be killed by Vorugal, had done nothing to justify aid from those they had subjugated either. Like, the alternate world in which one of the current cast members or like, a close friend of the main cast (Ashly, Erika, Mary Elizabeth) played this is one I'd love to see.

[redheadspark]

Little Star

Summary - Vex hums a familiar tune to her daughter to scare the nightmare away.

Warnings - Fluff and a HINT of angst

A/N - I lOVE Critical Role and I ship Vex x Percy! I had an idea from a titkok that I saw, of Vex comforting their first child Vesper while a Raven (could be Vax?!?) watching her.

Vex blinked a few times to get rid of the sleep that was still evident.  

She was not getting much sleep as of late but when she did she ached for it more than she could say.  There were fewer jobs to go on and more delegating that she had to endure, thanks to her title.  Not that it was a bad thing, she rather enjoyed hanging up her bow for the sake of taking jobs and going on grand adventures.  The only time Vex used her bow was to hunt out in the countryside when she had the time.

Which was never now, not with the new responsibilities she had.

Percy was still fast asleep, he would sleep through the apocalypse if it happened.  It was almost a running joke that he slept like the dead when he was in fact dead.  Sure it was a pinch comical to think about now, but Vex was still a bit tender at the notion of Percy not being with her in this world.  Sitting up in the massive bed they shared, she looked over at her husband and grinned.  His bareback almost glowing in the moonlight that streamed from the wide window that overlooked Whitestone, his white hair ruffled and illuminated against the dark pillow, and his face showing proper sleep.  Along with some wrinkles and a few lines thanks to the stress of running an entire city.  Vex still thought of him as handsome, and she leaned down to kiss his cheek lovingly.  

Whimpers were heard near her side of the bed. Vex knew the noise far too well, getting up from the bed and slipping on the blue robe that was gifted to her by Percy as a present on her birthday a few months back.  Her hair, longer now and in its infamous braid and a pinch lighter in color, hung behind her as she got up with her toes digging into the carpet below her.  The soft snoring of Trinket was now a lullaby, who was curled up in a ball and asleep in the corner of the chambers.  With the winter winds coming through Whitestone, it would be too cold for Trinket to be out in the woods where she loved to sleep. 

Next to Trinket is a bassinet, the source of the whimpers.  Vex across the room with a few steps, peering down and grinning from the sight.  Her 6-month-old daughter, affectionally named Vesper, was awake and in tears with blubbering sadness on her lips and her bright eyes looking frantic.

“There there, my little star,” Vex cooed at her daughter, who saw her and was still looking uneasy, “Come now, let’s let your father and Trinket rest.  No need for those tears, I got you right here, alright?”

Vex picked her up with ease, wrapping her in a blanket that was gifted to her by Keyleth when she was born: a light green blanket with vines and leaves sewn in the material that was apparently enchanted for protection and peace.  Yet Vesper was not feeling any peace as she was still crying in sadness.  Vex walked with Vesper over to the double doors on the other side of the bed chambers, opening one door to see the small sitting room and parlor.  There was a massive window that overlooked the gardens, with the current view of the countryside and rolling mountains that were already sprinkled with snow due to the upcoming winter.  

“Here we go, on our favorite spot,” Vex hummed as she sat down in a massive chair that faced the window, a beautiful chair cushioned and crafted delicately and with particular attention.  Another gift from Percy when he found out Vex was with child, wishing for her to have her own chair to use for rest.  Vex found it comical to think she would be slowed down by being pregnant, but she was severely humbled at the end of her pregnancy.  The chair was beyond comfortable for her to perch in when she needed a quick rest, read a book or two, or sometimes nap.  It was her favorite place to see within the castle, and she had nursed Vesper in that chair over a dozen times.  

Looking down at Vesper, Vex grinned at the small wisps of light hair along her head, as well as her round cheeks and the eyes she clearly got from her father.  Vex could always be taken aback by the sheer beauty that her little girl had, and she was merely a baby.  The citizens of Whitestones cooed and were in awe of her when Vex would take her out and about, Vesper being the main attraction anytime they would be at an outing.  

“You must have had an uneasy dream since you usually sleep well.  Did something happen in your dreams?” Vex asked her as she rocked her gently and touched the bridge of her nose with her finger.  Vespers calmed down a bit, her tears hitting her massive cheeks as Vex pushed them away with her fingers softly, “Were there monsters?  Don’t you worry, darling.  Your mother and father will chase those monsters away every time, I promise you,”

Vex, with a gentle push on the tips of her toes, made the chair start to rock carefully back and forth, starting a gentle rhythm in motion as Vesper was snuggled into her mother’s hold a bit more.

“You wanna know a secret?” Vex asked her in a whisper, “I get nightmares too.  I’ve seen and felt things I can only hope you never have to in your life, and I promise you won’t.  You have your father to thank for that, he’s done a lot more good nowadays,”  

She smiled, thinking about Percy and all that he wished to fix and mend.  After all the fighting ended and things settled, Percy wished to make Whitestone and better place to live. Rebuilding all that was destroyed, bringing peace to the land, and gaining back the love and respect of the citizens who've been through far too much.  Percy worked hard, beyond hard, to make his home more than a home. A safe haven, a refuge, and a place for simple peace for all who needed it.

“But if there is one thing I know about your father, it’s that his heart is massive.  There are dents and bruises, but it’s a good heart. I fell in love with that heart, and I pray you have that heart too,”  Vex explained as Vesper watched her with sleepy eyes.  Her tears were gone and the whimpers left her lips, to which Vex grinned as she kept rocking in the chair and tracing her nose over and over.  Something she remembered her mother would do to her to help her sleep. 

Her mother, it ached Vex’s heart to know that Vesper would never meet her maternal grandmother.  To know how gentle and fierce she was, how filled to the brim with love, and how she always took care of Vex and Vax.  Vax….her twin.

“I dreamt of your Uncle Vax tonight.  You would ….you would have loved him,” Vex started, then took in a breath to stop the tears in her own eyes.  She missed her brother dearly, she always missed him since he slipped away from her and the others.  Her better half since they were children, her shoulder to cry on, and her counselor in times of trouble.  Sure, he was hardheaded and sometimes a fool, but he was good and would do anything to protect her and keep her alive.  Trading his own soul for hers when she was lost to death, was a sacrifice Vex would never forget.

It cost him his own life, in the end stopping him from being there for Vex when she needed him the most.  She wanted him there to see Vesper, to hold her, and to spoil her to the bone with presents and perhaps weapons.  

“He was quite the troublemaker, and I pray to the Gods you are like him too,” Vex explained as Vesper slowly fell asleep, “I hope you have his wild yet gentle spirit.  He fought for what was right and thought it was a stupid choice at times, but he did it.  You may never meet him, but I have a feeling he’s with us always.  With me, with your father, your several Aunts and Uncles, and especially you, my little star,”

Vesper smiled briefly before she was again deeply asleep in her mother’s hold, Vex still stroking her nose back and forth with the tip of her thumb as she started to hum.  She hummed a soft tune, a melody of what her mother would hum to her during her youth when she too was scared.  Remembering her mother’s eyes and the shape of her face, her smile that filled with warmth and wonder, Vex could only hope she would be the same kind of mother to her daughter now.

As she hummed and rocked her child to sleep, she didn’t see a singular raven perched outside the window on the window sill, watching her with a cock of its head and a look of peace within its eyes.

The End

[galaxyostars]

The de Rolo kids are public schooled.

Preface

So I've been thinking. I don't believe Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the Third would (at least immediately) allow someone other than him, Vex, and perhaps the rest of Vox Machina, to privately tutor his kids. I'm using a combination of CR and TLOVM here, as the main campaign playthrough doesn't really linger much on Percy's relationship with Anders as the animation does, but the overall gist is that Anders betrayed the de Rolo family in favour of working for the Briarwoods (and in CR's case, Vecna).

You're the face I saw when murder entered my heart.

^ Percy, to his teacher, Professor Anders.

Home-tutoring

Is it impossible for Percy and Vex to teach their kids? Absolutely not. Is it impossible for them to teach their five kids, whilst also maintaining their own hobbies (and lives)? Eh... it's doable, but doing a Master's degree in Education myself, I cannot imagine the level of Percy's intended teaching and their kids' learning after Gwendolyn was born being left to just Percy and Vex as being remotely comfortable for them.

But then you have to consider what type of learning these kids are maintaining. I think Percy was initially within a factory model of education (based on what we saw in TLOVM) but broke out of it when he was on his own and started tinkering. I'm not well-versed with Vex's formal education -- I imagine she has one outside of her learned practical skills given she was in Syngorn for an amount of time with Syldor, but I imagine her idea of education is probably a little more "free" than Percy's. I like to think they had a conversation about what their kids' education would look like. Vex is not like Caleb and Beau in the Mighty Nein who constantly go to the library for additional information about anything and everything they don't know, but is instead already knowledgable, can deduce using logical reasoning, or goes and asks someone else (not to say Caleb and Beau can't do this either, but regardless). I think that indicates she's probably a little more world-wise than she is interested in classroom etiquette.

(Note: Taliesen Jaffe has joked that Percy probably took hits of pot now and then, delivered by Keyleth/Vax!Crow, to get through the day with his children around ("Do you see how many kids that is? Oh my god."))

I should also point out the interaction with Gwendolyn indicates she's at least accustomed to Percy's office/library where there are rules in place and it sounds like he might've said "Leave the book" because his kids have been taking them and not putting them back (which probably mortified him upon first incident).

Public Education

There is, however, an alternative I do like very much: this generation of de Rolo kids may actually be "public-schooled" (or at least, the Whitestone version of that).

Again, speaking as an Aussie pre-service teacher, it's a lot harder to be a good teacher while also planning to overthrow your government/be a cult leader at the same time when you've got a class of 20+ kids to look after and educate. Doable, but rather unlikely. Vex might've actually thought it safer and more to Percy's liking to put their kids' education into the system they have a direct gubernatorial say over, rather than allowing an educator direct access to his home, his family.

This would not only benefit the de Rolos, but also other lower/middle-class families in Whitestone, as there's no doubt they'd pump that education system with as much coin as would benefit their kids' learning.

Additionally, mentioning the pot joke again, it gets said five kids out of the home giving these parents some peace and quiet.

Obviously there'd be nobility etiquette teaching they'd have to undergo, but it's probably much, much easier to do that in-house than it is the entirety of their education.

I put it to you, fellow Critters: At what point, if any, would Percy relinquish the education of his kids to someone outside of Vox Machina? And, would that be in a regular school classroom with other kids?

[blorbologist]

“I know you” with Vex and Scanlan?

[Getting to these late oop, busy last couple of days; Send me three words + a pairing/character and I'll write up a scene! Not Perc'ahlia please <3 ]

--

Their usual table looks a lot bigger with only a handful of Vox Machina present. Actually, it looks positively huge thanks to Scanlan being here, which… Scanlan, yeah.

Someone - Percival, probably, given how neatly even each glass is lined up - got them too many drinks before most of the party left. Vex’ahlia works on the last one now. It might be Direheart, though she can’t quite identify all of Whitestone’s liquors yet. Not for lack of trying, especially with how today is going. 

The Meat Man, who is Scanlan, who looks about as un-Scanlan-ish as Scanlan could probably tolerate for this long, is rubbing his sternum. Like he’s having chest pains - which means Scanlan is rubbing his forehead through the illusion? 

Yeah, she’s nursing quite the headache herself. Thank you very much.

“So - tell me,” he’s saying, and he sounds nothing like Scanlan. Except for the moments where he almost does in the same way Kaylie sometimes resembles him. “How could you see it was me?”

Scanlan taps a little rhythm into his glass with a nail. Scanlan, but taking up too much space and yet just as much as he should. Tap-taptap-tap. 

A few more tap-taptap-taps as Vex thinks. Or doesn’t - her mind feels willfully blank, an empty shot glass. Everything meaningful in her gut where it churns, happy and sick at once.

He elaborates: “I mean - this thing has held up to a lot of scrutiny! Including from mages, because they really like their antiques apparently. And I had an audience with J’mon and they didn’t say anything either, and they’re a dragon!” (tap-taptap-tap) “Is the hair not realistic enough? Or the clothes? I really practiced. If there are any weak points to my disguise, you really should let me know.”

The pace of his fingers finally falters. Tap. Tap. Almost like he’s worried. “How could you tell?”

There were so many little tells, which is part of what is making this post-reunion drink so unsettling. How he talked about himself, and the fake-grandiose talk, just all the talking. The gait of a gnome in legs far too long for him. That big grin made just Scanlan’s size that fit this face just right, but not right enough. 

She does not say any of that. Maybe because, who fucking knows, he might do this again. And she might need to use these tricks again.

“Well, darling.” Vex’ahlia drowns her drink (her own nails go tink) and throws it back with deliberate nonchalance. Scanlan surely sees through it just as she saw through him. “I know you. So.”

“We all do,” Vax’ildan interjects at her shoulder. 

Fuck! When did he vanish? How long has he been back? She realizes she’s decently tipsy when she actually gives him the satisfaction of jumping. 

“You fuck!”

Vax grins, clapping her on the shoulder. “Barkeep gave me a bottle so we’d leave and stop freaking out her waitstaff with all the day drinking.” His eyes flit towards Scanlan, who was regarding them warmly. Like he missed this. The gnome-but-not deflates as Vax says, “Oy, Scanlan. Mind if Stubby and I just have a drink, us two?”

“Of course not. The hugging was getting a bit much.” Like he could make them stay, in her city.

Which reminds her -

“I’m glad he’s back,” Vax says quietly as the door swings shut behind them. “So glad. But - gods, what’s with all the fucking lies?”

Vex’ahlia smiles weakly. “I know, right?”

Tap-taptap-tap go her nails on her finger, where a ring would rest.