#and give scanlan a break too

[kakushimiko]

Vox Machina final rambling before S3 Finale part 6.

(get ready guys, this is going to be a long one)

So this is it guys, there’s only hours for the Season Finale, I’m so happy that you guys liked my silly ramblings so much to give them likes, reblogs and responses, I didn’t really expect to get that much attention. There will be a couple more ramblings after the finale, after I have processed and recovered from the emotional impact that this season has brought upon my fragile soul lol

So what’s this rambling about? Well, is about my predictions of how things are going to end and how Scanlan will play a major role in it before he leaves the team, like every good performer, he’s going out with a blast.

I believe that Percy is coming back before the season ends, and that the events of his resurrection will combine with the events of Bard’s Lament in some way.

I don’t know what were the exactly circumstances that made Scanlan leave the group (I’m trying to not spoil myself too much and watch the original campaign, so I just know what I gathered from fics and fan art) all I know is that Scanlan felt useless in the team and leaves to be with Kaylie, and Sam's new character gets introduced, Taryon Darrington, who is also awesome (Sam is an extremely funny and charismatic guy, of course his character would be likeable).

So, this is how I believe things are going to happen if I picked the signs right:

VM focus is on Raishan, and then later they will go after Ripley. That part is obvious.

Raishan, since she never found a cure for her illness, is planning on using Thordak’s body as her new body. Now, does she know how to transfer her soul into a new body, or, maybe… she needs the help of some entity that can take and move souls to other places?

Can you see where I’m going with this?

Ripley is in dire need of new resources after Percy blowed up her factory, and she has no problem in forming alliances with dragons, and Orthax is just as happy to help if this gets cursed guns that would feed him souls for years out into the world.

Because of this, I believe the final fight is going to be against Raishan, Ripley and Orthax at the same time, because it can’t be any more epic that to take all the antagonist of this season in one giant awesome fight.

Now with Scanlan.

My bet was on Vax and/or Vex to figure out Percy’s soul whereabouts (the first for his connection to the Matron and the later for the power of love), but I feel like Scanlan is going to get his moment to shine after letting everybody down, from barely being able to connect with Kaylie and barely saving Percy at the last second in ep2, to miss Kaylie’s show to not being there when Whitestone was attacked and in Glintshore, resulting in Percy’s death (I’m not blaming Scanland for all of this, I think this is how he feels about himself, always being late when he was needed the most), but this time, he has to get it right by both Kaylie and VM, and finally take control over his life, the whole season has been building this scenario for him.

Scanlan, with his soul out of his body, but not ready to pass away yet, will probably gain the ability to see ghosts or other spiritual entities, or maybe, and here is the good part, he gets to see the threads of destiny/fate that connects all of them. Maybe he follows the threads that connects him to VM, to Kaylie, and then, there’s this last thread that takes him much farther away, leading him to Percy, who is in Orthax’s grasp atm. Maybe he even sees Ripley and Raishan plans to put her in Thordak’s body.

Scanlan wakes up and tells the team all he saw. They start planning, now with a way to defeat all three enemies and recover Percy in one move. Is not going to be easy, but this is probably their only chance to end this for good.

I find funny the idea of VM stealing Percy’s body, because where are they putting him? In a bag of holding or in Vex’s pokeball thingy with Trinket? Lmao, Percy is not going to be amused by that. Maybe they don’t need to steal his body but they have to put him somewhere that is easy to carry and be unnoticed 🤣

From here you can guess the rest, they make plans on How are they going to do this (hah!), maybe they'll wait for the right time to take Orthax out (Keyleth gets all BAMF and kicks that bitch demon crow ass and releases her BFF) and use Raishan’s soul transfer ritual on Percy instead, that would be cool. And I’m reeeally hoping that at some moment in the chaos, Percy gets to put Cabal’s Ruin and get his moment of awesomeness, because this is the moment so many, me included, have been waiting for, and I’m also hoping that Percy gets the killing blow on Raishan because, according to this interesting analysis (link here), each member of VM, alone and in pairs, got the killing blow on each of the Chroma Conclave dragons, Grog got Brymscise, Scanlan got Umbrasyl, Vex and Keyleth got Vorugal, and Pike and Vax got Thordak, only Percy is missing here (a power up Bad News with the power of Cabal’s Ruin, H.O.L.Y S.H.I.T that would be such an epic and beautiful animation moment).

VM will get the killing blow on Ripley instead (and Orthax if he is still around at this point). Just like with Delilah being killed by Cassandra, Percy is over with revenge, he already forgave her and even tried to give Ripley a chance, now his family gets the justice to punish her. (My bet is that Vex will mess her up so badly, is going to be so catathic for all of us)

And that’s it, they go back to Whitestone and everybody celebrates Percy’s revival, and after the party, Scanlan says he’s leaving with his daughter. Kaylie must have hear about Scanlan’s almost dying fighting Thordak and came to see him, they make peace and are going to give it a shot at being father and daughter. Scanlan ensures that VM will be fine without him but to call if help is needed. I want to believe that they will part ways in better terms than in the original.

After that, I don’t know if the rest of team will separate for a while too, I hear that this happens in the campaign but I'm not sure, I hope this doesn’t happen but it would be understandable if it does, with the two couples wanting to have some time for themselves, and Pike will have some thinking to do too, with her religious crisis and the magical blood thing. Grog will just be Grog, he’s happy like that.

Then, at the very end, we get the teaser of the BBEG who’s been waiting under Whitestone since S1 😂

God, this was a long, and if anybody stuck with me up to this point, thank you so very much, hope you didn’t get bored. As I say before, these ramblings are more of a therapeutic tool because I would go crazy with all these theories in my head. I don’t expect the finale season to go like I explained here , but I’m sure I got some parts right (if I got EVERYTHING right I would be astonished 😲, my prophetic powers are getting stronger!)

I’m so happy and sad at the same time, I loved the thrill of waiting a week to see how the story ends for such lovely characters, but is sad that now is over, I’ll do rewatchs of this series because the urge to write has come back to me after so many years, and I also have the campaigns to watch as well, from C1 to C3 and a possible C4, and I’ll keep an eye for the Mighty Nein series too, there’s still plenty for me to see, but Vox Machina and my boy Percy will always be n°1 in my heart.

… and in another news… SEASON 4 WAS JUST CONFIRMED HOURS AGO!!! WOOOOW!!! THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA WILL CONTINUE!!! LET’S GOOOO!!!

Thursday is almost her!

[ghostpainters]

Vox Machina Plays Mario Kart 

Vex’ahlia is obviously winning. Keyleth is better at this game than she gives herself credit for and isn’t doing half bad. Grog is being a little too aggressive with the turns and keeps crashing into things; and yet somehow, he’s still a place ahead of Scanlan. The game is clearly rigged! 

Vox Machina House Rules: 1). No loud music before 9 AM 2). Butter knives are NOT weapons 3). PLEASE try the doorknob first 4). Whoever breaks the door down, pays for it.

[demigoddessqueens]

How would the VM crew react to having a witch s/o who's gotten possessed by the revenge spirit and will stop at nothing in order to get revenge on the one they seek

I live for the angst

Keyleth

She knows this is exactly what happened to Percy and she’s begging and pleading to help you, if you will let her reach out to you

Percy

He knows exactly what this feels like, and he’s heartbroken for you. He’s begging, pleading, and is desperate enough to take the spirit to spare you pain

Vax’ildan

It scared him when it happened to Percy because he was scared for Vex, but now he’s scared for everyone, you, and he’s heartbroken for you too

Grog

He tries to hold you still with his big arms, but you’re fighting him and trying to squirm away. Still, he’s not giving up and he’ll do what he can to keep you from hurting yourself and the others, begging for Pike to help him.

Scanlan

Any humor he may or may not use here is completely light-hearted but gods above he is really trying to keep it together. Any pranks, jokes or whatever you had between each other, just anything he’ll throw at you if it means you’ll snap out of it

Vex’ahlia

She tries to reason with you, and doesn’t notice her tears until “you” try to wipe them away, and for a split second, she swears she can see the old you fighting and trying to break free

Pike

She hates fighting you when you (or rather it’s not really you in there) lash out but she can still sense the real you there, and she’ll be damned if she won’t stop fighting for you

[thewritetofreespeech]

Vox Machina + Valentine’s Day

Percy De Rolo

Finds the whole holiday rather frivolous.

A whole day just to coo and moon eye at each other? Seems completely wasted.

But, he is a man of tradition. And traditions must be followed.

The obvious choice is jewelry. Something clean and elegant.

Or, if he was getting more in tune with the spirit of the whole thing, a music box. Hand crafted of his own design to play your song.

Vex

Incredibly flirty any other day of the week, so be prepared for it to be ten-fold.

Her mission in life for the day is to tease, taunt, and tempt her lover all day with her wiles.

Of which there are many.

The entire day would be like foreplay. Culminating in an almost violent passion of love making; followed by many other more gentle bouts.

Her gift would be an ornate arrow that she had carved out of one of her bolts, as a symbol of the cupid’s arrow that had struck her heart for you.

Scanlan

Never was a day more made for Scanlan.

Aside from being hopelessly addicted to ‘love’, Valentine’s day is a bard’s bread & butter.

A lot of coin to be made sing sweet songs to love struck couples.

He’d invite you to the inn he was playing at and dedicate a special song to you. One he wrote of course.

The rest of the evening is yours, where he’ll be at your mercy, for all the toe curling fun the two of you can cook up.

Vax

Genuinely forgets about the holiday. But he’s so suave that he plays it off like he hasn’t.

He forgot because he’s terrible with dates & holidays. Not that he doesn’t love you.

Vax thinks about you all the time, so one day out of the year didn’t even register to him.

Rattles off some silver-tongued lie about a surprise he had in store for you. One he is clearly making up as he goes along.

It works out in the end as he led you on some far fetched journey to the top of hill or tower, where he presents you with some night blooming flower he had snatched long the way (like he planned it).

Keyleth

Oh….our poor little turtle duck….

Extremely confident in the planning phase, but looses her nerve as the day comes around and she has to ask you to be her Valentine.

Wastes most of the day running away, or darting around corners, or babbling on as she can’t get her words out.

Eventually, she does. In true Keyleth earnestness.

Gives you a potted plant she grew on her own, and enchanted to always thrive & bloom. Like her feelings for you.

Pike

Happy to just be around you. No matter what day it is.

Pike loves her friends but they can be….a bit much. So a day with just the two of you would be wonderful.

Would like to, for once, do tourist-y things around the town your staying at. She never gets the chance.

Take a break to make a small offering to the Everlight for her loving comfort and her continued protection of you.

Makes a small cake for the two of you to share while you’re out. Grog was the official taste tester.

Grog

Has zero idea what Valentine’s day is.

He doesn’t get it. Doesn’t get what it’s about. Doesn’t get why this is a holiday.

Aren’t you supposed to tell someone you love them all the time? Are you supposed to be around them all the time too if you love ‘em?

Tries to play along, but is really a disaster at stuff like this.

Gives you a big bear hug and takes you out drinking. If your going to celebrate there’s no better way to do it than with ale!

[seb-reads31]

Could you write some scenarios where the Vox Machina ladies are trying to listen to their Artificer S/O explain their invention, and just not understanding a word they're saying?

Tw's - me hinting that the reader is a caffeine addict,

Type - head canons

Genre - fluff

Comments - Awww, this sounds cute 🥹🥹 I'll try and work on the other Vox Machina series I started I swear 😭 (this is a gn!reader) let me know if you like the dialog or if it doesn't sound right, decided to try something 🤷

Uh.. That's very nice dear..

Keyleth

- Keyleth, my sweet baby, understands nothing

- She's sitting in a chair or on your bed in your little makeshift workshop, oggling at the contraptions and gadgets all around the room

- She tries to pay attention as you explain your newest invention.. uh.. she knows what it is just give her a second-

- She mostly nods along, trying to keep up with you while you're going a mile a minute, you had obviously had stayed up far too long and drank too much coffee

- She does ask you to repeat several things, but she loves it when your eyes light up when she finally clues in and understands a bit more

- Some things she won't ever understand completely, but she's happy with knowing you're happy with your rambles to her <33

"Hm? Oh- uh, yes! I'm still listening! Just.. uhm.. could you explain this part to me a little better? I uh, didn't get it fully.. hehe.."

Vex'alhia

- She sort of understands?

- She knows enough from Percy getting on a tangent or needing assistance with his gadgets that she can understand your half awake-half caffeinated rambles

- She might even take notice of something that might cause your invention to fail and will point it out

- Or she might not, just to see it poof and see how goofy you are lmao

- But all in all she is probably the best to ramble to

- She definitely looks for parts you mentioned you needed or thinks you might want/need while they're adventuring

"Yes, love, while this new trinket of your looks very great, this component here will cause it to misfire. Hmm, maybe I should be an artificer? That would certainly be handy."

Pike

- Kinda like Kiki, she has no idea what you're talking about

- She does, however, take great interest in your inventions

- She even asks you how to make something, like a music box to start with

- She loves learning about your craft and she adores the happy glint in your eyes when she first asked you if you could teach her

- She loves learning, she's a little nerdy even though she seems super stronk on the outside

- She obviously doesn't make the music box right the first couple of times, but she doesn't let it deter her!

- When she does finish it and tests it, she secretly enlists Scanlan's help to make a little music sheet to run through the music box

"Hmmm.. Hey, starlight? Can you help me with this part here? It doesn't want to fit and I'm a little afraid to break it, hehe.."

[deramin2]

FCG stays dead: I used to be willing to die because I thought I wasn't alive and inferior. But in this moment of rage and pain I understand that I am a live and your equal and I am willing to give everything to keep you safe. Self-sacrifice is selfless and noble.

FCG is resurrected: We have lost so much that we can't lose you, too. Even if we save the gods, we have not saved the world if you're not in it. We don't want your noble death, we want your smiley life. And we will whatever it takes to get you back. Self-sacrifice is selfish and devastating.

I don't think either of those is a better story than the others. Neither is more meaningful or said more about the human condition. They're just different. I don't think the second diminishes the first, it's just a response to it in a world with resurrection magic. (Would Vax's story be less meaningful if Scanlan had been able to save his wish?)

What they have to do or give up is the narrative weight. FCG's body for Reincarnation, pull a favor with a max level divine caster plus quest for materials plus piss off RQ for True Resurrection, pull a favor with a max level arcane caster for Wish, make a deal with Nana Morri, make a deal with Delilah, pull a favor with a god, etc.

Will they be hypocrites and make their own self-sacrifice? How do they justify that to themselves or the group? Would refusing to let FCG self-sacrifice change FCG's outlook, or make him discount the actual risk in the future? Will either outcome change anyone else's impulses?

I don't actually have a preference because I've lived through nine years of these rodeos and something I didn't consider is going to happen and break me.

[the-french-belphegor]

One thing I fully expected episode 115 to do: make me cry. (which it did, despite the fact that I can never manage to cry properly at sad fictional things, goddammit. The absolute exception to it being of course Grave of the Fireflies, which I had to pause because I was sobbing too hard to focus.)

One thing I fully did not expect episode 115 to do: give me so many Keyleth and Scanlan feels.

"I do a potato sack hold on Scanlan. Make sure he's all right."

"I can draw [Ioun's third eye] on you with the remaining remnants. That way you have it there, always." "I love it." "Okay. (I try to draw the outline of the remaining glyph on his head.)"

"Oh Scanlan –" "Did you have a drink?" "Scanlan." "What can we do?" "We can do little arcane cantrips when no one's looking and break the rules a little bit. Of Vasselheim. Just cantrips, though." "You're such a rebel." "I know!"

And of course when Kaylie pulls her father into a hug and "rests her head on [his] shoulder and doesn't say anything."

...I mean, thank goodness for The Search for Grog/Bob and Dalen's Closet because I am Not Ready to say goodbye ;____;

[marzipanilla]

TLoVM S3 fell a bit short for me, and no, it wasn't the narrative changes. It just failed to deliver on emotional beats for me. I think trying to keep iconic stream moments arguably screwed them more than just carrying on with the flow of what they had.

Love that they managed to weasel in Keyleth's Earth Ashari stuff and gave her a cool world connection moment ! But like. Guys. We have actively seen Allura and Pike both scry without issue. A throw away line about Raishan being protected by powerful magic could have solved the 'why aren't you asking the people who know how to scry to solve this' issue I felt was very present in that.

Also, the team's dismissal of her concerns in the show felt much more 'what else are we supposed to do' not 'we can handle this go sit in the corner while the adult's talk : )' Especially since they basically never worked with Raishan like they did in the stream and Percy actively broke what little pact they had with her! The whole we are going to work with Raishan thing just... felt way too flippy floppy for me to get Keyleth's reaction out of it. Her frustration made much more sense in the stream.

Vex's 'my love is a curse' felt very left field to me. Though they have ample opportunity to play it up in the coming season once she realizes Vax is messed up. Though I do appreciate him very actively making the choices he does (HE demands the RQ take him instead, HE insists she show him the ritual to rescue Percy)

I get having Scanlan not die since resurrection is a much bigger deal, but I can only be woken from a coma by hearing my daughter talk?? Give the man aphasia and have her come to teach him/play music to help him out. Thematic ! Beautiful ! Doesn't feel ridiculous like 'idk coma I guess'. This is a case where having watched C1 felt like it screwed things for me, 'cause it seemed as if the seeds for the messy break up of Bard's Lament were being planted... and then they didn't sprout. I know people like Tary, but he was such a blip in the scheme of things writing him out makes sense (and they can still fit him in if they want). It just seemed like they were building up to something with Scanlan that never paid off. I also personally massively dislike the 'real family' line from him. You can say goodbye I wanna hang out with my kid without shitting on your other relationships.

Percy's death did not hit at all for me. The song did not help. The lyrics being what was going on on screen was not my jam, though I know plenty of people liked it. I was also pretty sad by the choice to have him and Vex hook up before his death. I think the narrative of them just having waited too long could have worked fine, but I get tweaking things for the drama.

It's cool that Pike is getting a story, since Ashley really wasn't present enough to have one in the original stream. I guess the whole 'believe in yourself not your god' thing just ??? I guess it works. I mean the only time she was ever shown to doubt herself was in relation to her faith. I just. Her big 'it's me!!!' moment with Thordak had me going ???? It's you what? I just was not tracking what they were trying to do with her. She has too much self-confidence in all other things for me to track a self-doubt story I guess?

I'm curious about people who aren't familar with the original campaign's reactions, as the pacing just felt a little all over the place for me.

[critter-genfic-events]

This time, we have seven fics that talk about mentorship! Sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse - and a lot of thoughts about legacy. Check them out behind the cut, and as always - comment and kudos if you like them!

The Slow March of Time by Swan_Song (13737,General) Warnings: Major Character Death/Lifespan angst Pairings: Yussa Errenis & Essek Thelyss & Caleb Widogast, background Shadowgast, QPR Essek and Yussa

Yussa and Essek talk about Caleb, about grief, and about memory.

Reccer says: gorgeous and sad

we all need someone to stay by whyyesitscar (2776,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Dairon & Beauregard Lionett, Dairon & Yudala Fon

a short character study on dairon's thoughts and feelings about our favorite punk monk

Reccer says: I liked it

Tiny Monks and Little Mages by devil_seabird_king (ShaaKi) (2011,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Beauregard Lionett & Caleb Widogast

When Caleb needs assistance with a lesson, Beau takes the opportunity presented and runs with it. The outcome may just have a lasting impact.

Reccer says: Great Beau voice, and cute!

Unnamed Baby Boy by tfm (1270,Teen) Warnings: Pairings: Dairon & Beauregard Lionett, background Beauyasha

Beau takes her newly adopted son to Zadash. Dairon is unimpressed (or are they??)

Reccer says: Fun and hilarious and adorable

prospective pupils by quinn_of_aebradore (1128,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

After a two year break, Caleb begins tutoring another class of Soltryce rejects.

Reccer says: I love the characterization and thought put into the students, and the emotions described for Caleb

Let Others Light their Candles by ChronicBookworm (2801,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Patia Por'co & The Raven Queen, Cerrit Agrupnin & Patia Por'co, Imyr Por'co & Patia Por'co, Maya Agrupnin & Patia Por'co

Patia, her mentors, and the one she never got the chance to mentor.

Reccer says: God, thinking about Patia just kills me and this fic does her justice and gives me so many feelings

kill your heroes by CorvidFeathers (16440,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Kynan Leore & Anna Ripley

The ballad of Kynan Leore and Anna Ripley

Reccer says: Amazing fic about a character that doesn't get too much attention - and super clever to boot

This is one of our weekly communally-generated gen rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. Please note that the summary and content notes are provided by the reccer, and may be different than what the author has provided. Please assume good intentions all around. <3

And hey, anyone includes you!

We'll be back on the first with Scanlan Recs - then on the fifteenth with fics featuring dreams.

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit! If you're looking for some more, check out some fics written in the critter genfic bingo tag, or the older rec lists! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

[saphirered]

Heyy!! So lately I've been in a very domestic, fluffy feel. SOOO NOW IM PROJECTING THAT onto this request rq teehee. I was wanting to do one for Percy, with season two out I missed the angsty gunslinger on screen. Set after the campaign, maybe during winter's crest? As of you and Percy coming back to whitestone for the occasion, its decided to round up all of Vox Machina. For a night of fun amongst friends, with a whole lot of ale to go around and stories to tell. Percy seems distant lately, staying more to his workshop and genuinely his own tasks. Not like his workshop isn't already a second room, it's just ODD to say the least. As the day rolls around, everyone starts to arrive at whitestones castle. With happy greetings and laughs, that night's activities begin. To sum it up , Percy proposes to reader. Thinking it would be a nice gesture to pull. Also cause I know this extra bitch would make a ring for you. I know it sounds cheesy but like hear me outtt!! The moment just sounded so sweet to me and I NEEDED to send this in. I'm a sucker for this cute content <3 Byeee Saph!!! :D

A proposal you asked for, a proposal you'll get. Fluff and cheese and all of the things. Sorry for the wait but I hop the 3.6k word count made up for it. Hope you enjoy and thanks for requesting! 😘

“I’ll be right with you, dear!” He’s spoken and shouted those words over the noise of his ongoing projects far too many times. Percy feels somewhat guilty for all but banishing you from his workshop and hiding this one secret project of his. He’s been so caught up in it; it has to be perfect after all. But that did mean he couldn’t spend as much time with you and his mind is elsewhere whenever he does leave his workshop. He’s seen your accepting but sad smiles whenever he wanders off. His heart hurts when he finishes late and you’re already in bed, asleep and alone curled up on your side because he missed yet another dinner. It’s reached the point where he’s been considering just spilling he beans. He doesn’t want to hurt you over some stupid secret but you’re so damn understanding and accepting. Of course you’re disappointed when he does join you for a meal and he informs you he has errands to run and won’t be back until late. You’d simply give him a kiss and wish him good luck. He’s barely seen you outside of your overlapping responsibilities. He just feels bad. But then there’s a breakthrough!

The door to his workshop slams open, or rather off its hinges entirely. Now very few people are able to break a deadbolted several inch thick heavy steel door clean off its hinges and that immediately signals him; it’s not you at that door. Given the shadow that all but blocks the light from entering He knows enough. He’s all but grabbed by the shoulders and lifted from his seat and can barely settle his things before he’s dragged out of his workshop. 

“Come on Percy, you’re not going to let us have all the fun, are you?” Scanlan speaks in a sing-song voice when he’s pushed into the hallway and sees the gnome casually leaning against the wall like the arsehole he is. 

“I was perfectly content finishing my work instead.” He counters but Scanlan wouldn’t have it. 

“We’re having a night out, like old times! Let’s drink dry a tavern! Start some fights!” The gnome tries to persuade him and while anything coming out of Scanlan’s mouth should always be questioned, He can’t help but long for some normalcy. No matter how much he might pretend to hate the ruckus his friends cause which inevitably ended with them getting kicked out of the establishment, district or even city, he likes it and misses it. And before he know it he’s spiralling in memories of you, covering his back while he tries to fight off that minotaur barkeep, and the time where you smashed that stein in pieces thug’s head. He also thinks of the conversations you’ve had, the things you learned about each other, and the sometimes drunken ramblings where your questionable theories actually hold some weight. He misses it all. He misses the glint in your eye right before you’re about to absolutely decimate some card players. He misses your laughter at Keyleth’s horrible jokes, and your caring side when she has a little too much. He misses your little battles of charm with Vex as the two of you attempt to have the group drink for free and negate the expense of the damages done to the establishment or people. 

Percy is so caught in his mind that he automatically walks with when Scanlan and Grog begin to move. He doesn’t even put up a fight. He’ll have this one night. He’ll enjoy it. Then he realises how bloody stupid he is. 

“Excuse me. I’ll meet you there.” He turns on his heels but comes face to face with Grog’s chest.

“Nuh-uh! Pike said she won’t let us have any ale if we don’t bring you back.” Grog pouts at the thought of being refused ale. No surprise there. 

“And what’s your motive?” Percy wonders out loud. He already knows the answer and Scanlan just raises an eyebrow implying the same. 

“You really wanna know?” 

“Point taken.” Percy shakes his head, takes a step back from Grog but that doesn’t mean he’s not craning his neck to stare up at him. “If you have to come along, be my guest. I just need to get something from my workshop. That is all.” Scanlan shrugs at Grog. Grog shrugs back. Scanlan shrugs again. So does Grog. Percy’s already sick of this so he just starts walking and they follow whispering not so inconspicuously. He still choses to block him out.

Once back at the workshop he engages the safety door; not ideal but at least it wards off snoopers. He walks over to his work bench, sits down and pulls open one of the drawers under it. He pulls out two bands of precious metal, notices they’re a bit dirty and quickly cleans them with a rag. He sees Scanlan peeking around the corner. The gnome knows not to enter his workshop but Grog has no such reservations, not even when he tried to ingest some very caustic materials. 

“Ooh! What are those for?” Grog exclaims trying to peak over his shoulder. 

“What? What is it Grog? Get out of the way I can’t see. Ugh.” Scanlan tries to look around the goliath blocking his view right now. 

“Nothing concerning you.” Percy replies but Grog talks over him.

“They’re fancy rings. Super shiny.” He says and Percy just sighs, pockets the set of rings and gets up walking around Grog and back towards the doorway. 

“You’ve been making some jewelled cock rings or something? I might have a commission for ya. Something with diamonds-“ Scanlan keeps going but Percy tunes him out. He’s had plenty of time to practice ignoring the bard after all. They continue their journey to the tavern Vox Machina had chosen.

The Tavern is already lively with people and music by the time they enter. The rest of Vox Machina had already taken up a table and safeguarded it from any thieves with death stares for those who didn’t recognise them. They’d already started dwindling the top shelf by the looks of it. You’re leaning your elbow on the back of Vex’ chair as she plays a game with Keyleth. You point at a card but in doing so, with some sleight of hand exchange it for Vex to gain the better hand. You haven’t noticed him yet, or so it seems. So Percy casually walks up beside you, lets his hand drift to your back to draw your attention and when you look over your shoulder, whatever words he wanted to say, fall completely silent. His lips part but no words leave. You chuckle and rise fully, brush your fingers along his arm and press your lips to his in a greeting. 

“Hello to you too.” You grin when you pull back and Percy’s somewhat come to his senses. You pass some coins to Vex who takes them with a ‘thank you, darling’ and keeps playing her card game with the druid. 

“What was that for?” 

“Well, I may or may not have lost a bet.” You lace your fingers with his and pull him along to the abandoned seats only to see yours has been dragged off to another table. You have half the mind to demand it back but haven’t had nearly enough to drink to start a tavern brawl this early into the night, so you just push Percy to sit in the remaining empty chair and sit yourself down across his lap. 

“Do elaborate.” His arm wraps around your waist as you lean over the table to grab the bottle of wine and an empt glass. You pour a drink and hand it to him while Pike slides over your own glass and you wink a thanks. She raises her cup. 

“Vex said you’d walk through the door willingly because you didn’t want to make a fool of yourself. I said Grog would drag you by the back of your coat while Scanlan loudly announced our esteemed presence to this good folk in song.” He gives you a disapproving look. You hide your smile behind your glass. “Oh please, not as if it would have been unlikely.” The look fades very slowly as it only puts more truth to your statement. Were it any other situation he might have been the victim of just such a scene. 

“I don’t get it! Why do you always keep winning?” Keyleth hiccups and Pike and you share a look as the cleric quickly takes Keyleth’s cup, downs it, and fills it with water before putting it back in its previous place. You exchange a nod. 

“That’s because she’s cheating.” Vex might as well have shot him then and there given the look Percy receives at his comment. 

“Are you calling me a cheater, Percy?” Her eyes narrow leading you to interpose yourself between the two; an easily achieved feat given you’re in his lap. You tap his arm, telling him to let it go.

“I’m merely saying you apply different rules to the game than commonly accepted.” 

“I knew Vex wasn’t cheating.” Grog mumbles but gets his bubble burst pretty quickly. He still doesn’t get it though. An argument ensues though none of it serious. Keyleth tries to steal a card from the deck using her druidcraft but doesn’t pan out well. To be fair, drunk Keyleth and magic use have not and will never go well together, Voice of the Tempest or not. Before you know it some other patrons rather rudely insists you and your friends take this elsewhere or they’ll make you. You should have known the moment Grog smiled, this wouldn’t end well. And in a matter of seconds a fight ensued. It spread like wildfire like any tavern brawl does. You let them fight it out, stay seated with Percy as you two clink your glasses together. 

“So how has your day been?”

“Uneventful until now.” Percy speaks casually. “And yours?” You bite the inside of your cheek in the way he knows you to do when you’re trying to formulate a nice answer as opposed to a more unfiltered one. 

“Eventful. Given our friends arrived a couple of hours ago. You’re welcome by the way. I managed to keep them from exploring the clocktower on their own.” You take a sip of your wine. 

“Oh thank the gods.” He breathes in relief. You spared him a likely disaster. “How will I ever repay you?” He adds a bit more dramatically. Maybe it’s the wine. You laugh. 

“Marry me?” Were he less schooled in proper etiquette he might have spewed across the table. He looks around but no caught on, they’re too occupied in the fight. You’re content being a witness for now it seemed. Percy worries you might have caught on somehow, that you might have figured it out but you don’t let anything show. “I’m joking. Partially. One day. If you ask nicely but for now, think we should help them out?” You gesture to the tavern-wide brawl and save the bottle you two were sharing before someone is thrown onto the table and pummelled right in the face by Pike. 

“Yes. You’re probably right.” He blurts out and downs his whole glass. You down the last bit of your glass, a large swig from the bottle and get up. You offer your hand. Percy takes it as well as  the bottle as you help him to his feet. He feels like he is going to need that booze to deal with the near heart attack you gave him but before he can take a swig of his own he’s forced to turn the bottle into a weapon. Quickly he turns it in his grasp and hits it over the head of some man charging for the both of you. The man didn’t see the blow coming and glass shatters along with the remaining liquid inside. 

“What a waste of a perfectly good chardonnay.” You pout. 

“I’ll get you a new one.” He’ll buy you a whole cellar’s worth if you want. He might actually… 

“My hero.” You joke pulling Percy aside and aiming a high kick at the face of another drunkard coming for the two of you. You peck his cheeks before the fight continues and you’re no longer able to have this brief bubble of solitude. You’re in the fray now but you’re in it together. Together and you kick some ass. It’s magnificent and just as he had thought, it does feel like old times. You’re having a grand old time. He’s not ashamed to admit you saved his ass when he got a little sentimental and couldn’t shake a certain memory or simply stopped to admire your magnificence. 

But all good things get even better when the guard shows up and Vox Machina ends up running like some juvenile troublemakers. The guards didn’t notice who you were and you doubt any of you look like the respected and well known group of heroes in this state and so you took advantage of this. Scram! You ran and enjoyed losing their trail but as a group of stumbling oafs that’s an incredibly difficult thing to do and so you separated. You stuck with Percy pulling him into alleyway and street though he could have pointed out the fastest and quickest way back to the castle. It’s his city after all but he enjoyed living in this moment and when you pushed him against the wall a couple of times pressing close to him while trying to cover your own giggles, you were simply adorable. He was going to make this moment last. By the time you got closer to the castle district you’d been going so long what little booze you had had all but faded. 

“So how about we continue this inside over a bottle of true top shelf from Emon? I brought some from my last visit. I think you’ll appreciate the vintage.” The two of you begin to climb the stairs of Whitestone Castle. 

“That’s a fantastic idea…” You nod satisfied with his answer. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you…” Percy can feel the blood pumping in his ears, his entire body is pulsing. He feels short of breath, and everything is just chaos but so right at the same time. You look over the city. 

“Did you hear that?” You wonder but Percy gently grabs your chin, turns you to face him and standing level with you; the castle to one side, the town to the other. This is it. This is the moment. 

“Tonight was quite enjoyable. I’ve missed times like these. My fondest memories are in the trivial things. I couldn’t help but reminisce-“ You smile and bring your palm up to cup his cheek. 

“Is that why you almost got a barrel to the head and thrown through a window? Because you got distracted?” You jest and peck your lips to his briefly brushing your thumb along his cheekbone. 

“I’m trying to say something nice and you’re making a fool out of me.” He returns in jest. 

“Okay okay. I’m listening. Please continue proclaiming your undying love for me.” He lets his fingers slip into your hair and gives an ever so light tug. “Oi!” You exclaim and roll your eyes at him but smile. You’ve had your fun. He knows you’re joking but little did you know in part that was very much his intention. The irony. He’ll forever hold it over your head. As you would want and expect him to do. He needs to keep you on your toes after all, or you might accuse him of slacking on the job. 

“I’ve not been the partner I should have been for the last few days. I’m aware of my flaws and you have put up with them, you’ve scolded me for them and pulled me out of my own insanities. You keep me walking the path I did not ever think I could. I owe my life, my home, my world to you and I could not ever repay you for what you have given me. I feel my life would be duller without you in it. I’d be lost with out you. Perhaps it is selfish of me to think so but I would love to have you at my side, to be at your side for the rest of our lives.” Rarely does he get you speechless. You always have something to say, some witty remark, some teasing quip or just some input. He’s always welcomed it. He always will but now it is your turn stand there wide-eyed processing his words, lips parted ever so lightly. You had been stroking your thumb along his cheekbone before but your motions had frozen. You try to formulate a response and he awaits patiently. 

“If you’re selfish then so am I. Let us be selfish together.” You smile and pull him into a deep kiss. He still hadn’t asked the question he intended to ask but he’ll take this moment. He gets caught up in it for a while until he breaks the kiss. He leans your head against his, reaches into his breast pocket. Your eyes dart to the side but you decide to ignore whatever caught your attention. He takes one of your hands and within it you feel something cold and metal. 

“Will you marry me?” Percy breathes. This is not what he intended or how he intended it to go but he couldn’t wait. He couldn’t analyse it to death. He couldn’t plan every single detail. This, this was just perfect. No grand displays, no banquet or a fancy ball. Instead it was a night out with a tavern brawl and a run from the authorities. It was perfect and now here, on the steps of his home, at the root of his life in this moment he entangles it with you. 

You look down, at the rings in your hand; two of them, one beautifully detailed but not ostentatious. The set stones are precious and enhance the design. The other is a slightly simpler version, more muted but still beautifully made. You’ve never seen anything like it. They’re unique and that’s when you realise what they’re made from. Your first job with Vox Machina. Percy had given his share to Vex as he always tended to do with his earnings. She resided over the finances. You’d come across a beautifully made silver broach, large and very ostentatious made from platinum and set with the most gaudy aquamarine and diamonds. You’d told him he should keep it; because you thought it matched his eyes and should he ever need a rainy day fund, that piece would make him a king for a day. He’d kept it. He’d kept it all these years. The stones had been cut down to smaller ones and the platinum melted to form the bands. They’re beautiful. They’re perfect and you know Percy well enough he would have trusted no jeweller with this task. He’d have trusted non but his own hands. 

“You made these?” You ask enthralled as you pick up the simpler of the bands. 

“Yes.” He’s practically shaking in anticipation. You take his hand, and place the ring around his finger. 

“If you even for a single second-“ His heart beats so fast he thinks he might pass out. He’d almost be more content facing the Briarwoods as opposed to dealing with this stress. 

“Of course I’ll marry you.” Percy feels like he can breathe again. 

“Oh thank the gods. I thought I might have fainted.” He chuckles as he takes the remaining ring from your palm and places it on your own finger. 

“I’d have caught you.” The image passes through his mind.

“Before or after you had a laugh?” He never said it was a graceful image. 

“Can’t have my husband-to-be mess up his handsome face, now can I?” You grin and press your lips to his entwining your hands. That satisfying feeling; of that cold metal against your skin, and feeling it on his, that’s something out of this world you could not have begun to describe. 

“Excuse me?! You were going to propose all this time and made us miss like half if it?” Scanlan pushes forward, clothes stained by you don’t even want to know what. “I would have made an awesome show! We could have had fireworks, music, hell, I’d even teach Grog an interpretive dance.”

“Intentrepative what now?” The goliath seems more focussed on the leaking barrel of ale on his shoulder. 

“Wait you’re engaged? To who?” Keyleth clearly hasn’t sobered up yet and is leaning on Vex who just pats the girl’s arm. 

“Let’s get you sobered up, Keyleth.” She begins dragging the druid past you and up to the palace but not without a quick “Congratulations.” and the implication of leaving you to enjoy your moment. 

“I’m officiating.” Pike follows suit and begins ushering the others forward as well. You watch them make their way up the stairs. 

“That’s our life in a nutshell, right there.” You claim. 

“I couldn’t agree more.” He takes a step forward and your entwined hands urge you to join. You do without a moment of hesitation, unable to wipe that smile of your face. Neither can Percy by the looks of it. That’s okay. You can be fools tonight. You’ll be fools in the morning still and when people come knocking. You’ll tell them to fuck off and be fools a moment longer. 

“You sure you want to spend the rest of your life with me?” You ask jokingly. 

“Oh yes.” That’ll do. 

[crithaus]

Fun facts about me, tonight is the very first time I've ever watched the Letter being read out loud, I've finally finished EP 69, and boy do I have thoughts and feelings

Like fuck RQ for her handling of Percy asking for her help. Like I get it, Percy's an ass, but this scared young man, too young, comes to you, ye omnipotent near all-powerful goddess, for the help you offered his friends, his family, for a chance at redemption, and you give him a panic attack and tell him he was always this fucked up?? Fuck off with that. I'm glad she gets better but man.

And lastly, the letter. I gotta tell you, to hear that self-deprecating, self-loathing letter, written right after that ill-fated talk with RQ at the Lowest point in the campaign for him, when the whole episode has been nothing but VM being so absolutely and catastrophically ruined by Percy's gruesome death at the hands of a woman who'd been abusing him since he was in his teens, -like and that too how absolutely horrible it was for Percy to die at her hands specifically, and how poetic, at the hands of what he very nearly became, at the hands of his near perfect dark mirror so all the blows sting all the worse and fucking orthax too cuz Percy just has to watch all of his past mistakes and past nightmares come back to haunt him,- but I digress

Like the tearful confessions, Keyleth freeing him from Orthax's grip and the torture therein cuz he just can't catch a break, Vax shelving his own fury at Percy for forgiveness instead because losing him ain't worth the grudge, VEX'S WHOLE SPEECH AND TRUE LOVE'S CRIT AND "and I kiss him," the first time and "I should have told you, it's yours," and the fact that that damn confession was enough for Taliesin to reconsider shelving Percy entirely then and there, and ofc the others too, Keyleth's and Vax's and Pike's too yea, but Vex's at the forefront and the way they all killed Anna first of all for him, Scanlan nixing the carefree persona cuz this situation is just that important for Percy. The way this party who have been trying so hard to be better completely brutalize her because it's what both she and Percy deserve...

And to hear that letter after it's all said and done and be confronted with the fact that they nearly lost Percy for good but won't ever allow that to happen twice.....man. to hear that goodbye when they fought tooth and nail to get him back...

Percy's letter was sweet. But wrong. All that Vax had said to Kynan is ringing in all their ears now. Percy's battered yes, and much of that was the world being cruel and not his fault, he's battered but. not broken.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Deadweight pt 5 (this maybe a long one)

Unfortunately for Vax and fortunately for you, the events of last night were never given time to be brought up again as you were all preoccupied in catching up with Keyleth who was heading towards Pyrah in her eagle form.

By the time you arrived the home of the fire Ashari was the spitting imagine of the vision you received from the Matron of Ravens. However it still rendered you speechless at the unfathomable amount of death and fire that laid in the ruins before you.

“You saw this didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell us? Tell me?” Vax asked when he saw that you had a look of recognition within your eyes.

“As if any of you would’ve believed me.” You scoffed as you bypass him, shoulder checking him in the process.

“I would’ve.” The rouge half elf tried to convince you but was greeted by the unimpressed look upon your face. In that moment you looked dead to Vax just as how he and the rest of vox machina were dead to you.

“That might’ve been the most hilarious thing you have said in a long while but please, spare your falsities for a rainier day.” You retorted, not wanting to get into it with Vax when there was more pressing matters to address. Such as helping Keyleth in helping fend off the weird fiery creatures that were coming out of a portal.

Vax’s frustration towards your innate need to push everyone away seemed to grow daily but he couldn’t blame you. You were right in your anger, in your hurt because he, alongside vox machina did unintentionally ostracised you from everything. Hell they even planned on leaving you stranded in the next town they come across but after everything you’ve been through together, they couldn’t help but get attached to you.

It seemed that it was far too late to make amends on their part, seeing as how you refused even the slightest of help from any of them in favour of sneering at them before walking away from them to sit in the shadows of the nearby trees.

Yes, they were hurt at your actions but your hurt weighed heavier then theirs did and you weren’t willing to compromise in ignoring the long days where you were left in the shadows of their plans because they didn’t trust you enough to not fuck up.

To Vax and to everyone, it seemed that whatever the Matron of Ravens promised you after you defeated the dragons, it was more tempting then anything they could offer in hopes of changing your view on them. The matron took advantage of your need to belong in means of getting herself a new champion, which in turn only made Vax more mad at the deity on your behalf.

“This discussion isn’t over.” He told you just as you were about to split off from the group. Again.

“For you that maybe true but for me it was over before the morning dew settled.” You told him coldly before dashing into Pyrah to aid the scrambling civilians with sound barrier breaking speed.

Vex could tell her brother was distraught and worried sick over you. Why? Because she just as worried for you as he was, Pike, Scanlan, Keyleth and Grog were too. They all were.

You were going down a path they couldn’t follow and that scared them. They couldn’t protect you from the danger if you always kept running head into it. “Give then time brother, death changes a person.” She told Vax but it only made him more frustrated. “We’re loosing them.” He croaked, “they’re slipping away from me like sand grains in a clenched fist and I’m too helpless to stop it.”

Vex wished she could continue to console her brother but the situation in Pyrah was getting worse by the second as they, along with you and the rest of vox machina were summoned to the catalyst of where the fiery demonic looking monsters were oozing out from.

Things only went from bad to worse as the first attempt to closing the portal didn’t work as more monsters came through, Keyleth’s father got hurt as a result of it. But soon enough fate decided to take pity on you and offer a little ray of hope as Keyleth pushed her way through into the fire realm that laid on the other side of the of the portal before managing to save Pyrah.

You stayed yourself away from the group as they talked with Keyleth’s father and began to think of the possible locations of the remaining vestiges were. Tal’dorei was massive and it could take more time then you were given to find them all before the entire land were to be reduced to ash, fire and death.

[blorbologist]

Bad Idea

[Lil ficlet idea I had for @romeoandjulietyouwish‘s Broadway AU! ;3 It’s been a solid 3-4 years since I’ve done theatre, and it was always small shows n only one musical, so apologies for any errors!]

It’s 10pm and the atmosphere of the night is a curious mélange of excitement and lethargy. They’re on to blocking, which is exciting… but impending show or not, it’s still 10pm, on a Thursday night, after hours of grueling runs.

Vex feels more awake than she has in months.

“Think you dears can get through the song?” Gilmore asks from the edge of the set, stomping an unruly line of tape back into place. “See what your instincts are - and then we can break the blocking down further.”

“If you give them that much free reign, they’ll fuck on the table,” Scanlan notes wryly. Keyleth makes a face at this.. 

Percy grins, adjusting his usual coat - just to match the feel of the doctor’s coat down in costumes. “We’ll save that for the reprise.”

Vax downright squawks before Gilmore can cajole the cast into settling down.

Vex inhales, affording Percy one last glance before they start. In Dr. Pomatter, she’s sure, most can’t see much of Percival - the cadence, how he stumbles through interactions. She sees him groggy before dawn, or late after too many drinks with Keyleth, and it’s easy to slip into Jenna’s bruises and aches and want that for herself.

Across the room, Scanlan hits the music. Pike gives her a thumbs up, and off she goes, giving pacing a try. “It’s a bad idea me and you-” 

“I know, I completely agree!” 

Percy joins his voice to her’s, hand brushing her knuckles as they spin on their heels. “It’s a bad idea me and you-”

“I've never known anything so true.”

Vex turns, and Percy’s grinning as she comes up short. She can’t help but beam back, leaning into his chest before pushing herself off, back to the edge of the scene. 

Together, “It’s a terrible idea me and you.”

They’ve had their fair share of bad ideas, too.

“You have a wife-” and Vex pads closer to the marks for the door. Percy stands in her way, and she makes no move to detour. 

His eyebrows raise meaningfully: “- You have a husband.”

For one: there are two rings, in the powder room where they left their things. Hers in her purse, his in - oh, no, his here, in his coat. He does have a wife. She does have a husband.

And none of the others know.

“You’re my doctor-” “- You’ve got a baby comin’!”

Well. That first part isn’t true. 

No one but she notices how gently he lifts her onto the box in center stage - stand-in for the exam table, of course. Or maybe they do, for how he needs to speed up the next line to catch up:

“It's a bad idea, me and you -” 

He drops the note completely when she wraps her legs around his waist and climbs him. Arms around his neck, it’s a familiar second home, his awed adoration a favorite dinner. Vex distantly hears Scanlan and Pike whoop. Percy holds her steady, breathless, and not from singing.

 “Let's just keep kissing 'til we come to!”

(They can’t, unfortunately, but, well. It was worth the shot.)

(This is going to get complicated once she starts showing.)

[littlebosslady7]

Just You and Me

(A/N No one asked for this. It's just been stuck in my head for awhile. Apologies for any mistakes. Feeling a bit under the weather these past couple days.)

A raven perched on a window tree during a strangely warm autumn morning. Constant chatter was heard through these bustling bed chambers. Clerics and trainees were prepared for the royal birth.

A pained scream breaks through this constant rhythm of directions

"Gah, Gods, h-how much longer?" Keyleth asked, panting and sweaty.

Her hand dug into the familiar scarred wrist of her best friend Percy. He'd been in this helpful position before a few months earlier with his wife Vex and their newborn daughter Vesper. He thought about saying something about that particular tight grip, akin to a vine growing through stone.

But then he looked to an equally exhausted Vex'ahlia, who had just shot him a glare that warned, "I wouldn't if you want to live to see our firstborn have siblings, my darling."

"Right." Percy championed, switching hands for her to squeeze, "You've got this, Keyleth."

She doubted, yet agreed, "O-okay."

"You've got this Kiki." She declared, patting Trinket on his fluffy hind quarters, "You've got this for them."

Both her boys. Vax and their firstborn

Nell advised, "We're at the ring of fire, Tempest. Give of three solid pushes, and you'll meet your boy."

Keyleth bared and grunted. Everyone heard strong cries even before their airways were fully cleared.

"Oh!" Keyleth cried too in both pain and joy, "He sounds so beautiful."

"They're perfect, dear," concurred Vex, peeking down to ensure fellow clergy people were cleaning his airways correctly.

Percy reminded, "Not done yet, dear."

Her legs trembled on the second push, but Percy and Vex kept her steady. His torso was out.

"Nell, can I take a break?" Keyleth requested, voice an octave lower, "I'm fucking exhausted,"

"Just one more Tempest." Nell assured, "You've got to give me more."

With every breath, every fiber in her being, she pushes her baby, her and Vax's child out in this world. A scream as if she summoned a fireball disturbed that visiting raven.

Keyleth whimpered in recognition, "Ashton?"

He was crying as some of the birthing staff carefully place the newborn on her bare chest. She cried too when she blearily spotted that same sleek dark hair.

Both Vex and Kiki sniffled in harmony, "Like his dad."

Nell's unsure of who to hand the medical shearers.

"Oh, I'll-". Percy volunteered with hesitation, "If that's okay with you Keyleth."

She nodded amid a scrunched face.

Percy snipped the umbilical cord. Nell's team cleaned up the Tempest's firstborn. Keyleth and Vex were sobbing and giving a one shoulder hug. The druid had an annoying bout pushing out the afterbirth. But it was all worth when she sees him again. Ashton looked at shapeless tapestries, but their eyes settled on his mama's face.

"Congratulations Key." Vex bid as she and Percy give them some privacy and take Vesper from Pike, Scanlan, "My brother would be so proud."

She whispered with a tired smile, "Yeah, he would."

"We'll be right next door with your cousin if you need us, Keyleth," Percy said, looping an arm around Vex's waist.

Keyleth ran a tentative finger down her newborn's face. He tried to latch onto the digit for some milk. She nursed him with a bit of fussing, but before they slept, she looked for that majestic visiting raven and saw none.

Keyleth mentioned, "Hm, just you and me, kid. But we'll be okay. I swear it."

He cooed with a gassy grin. Right before they slipped into slumber, that visiting raven cawed and perched on her interior mantle.

[demigoddessqueens]

Couple more Gordon Lightfoot songs that I missed... what can I say...same requests as usual. CR Bois and y/n reader

I’ve never listened to Gordon Lightfoot before, but I like his style!

Carefree Highway, For lovin me - Scanlan

His trail of lovers is all he’s known, never feeling that he was called to something higher. Sometimes he feels that you deserve better, thinking he’ll only break your heart. It’s better to have loved you from afar rather than taking the risk.

Wherefore and why - Vax

He feels fulfilled in his love for you. Despite being the Champion of Death herself, he looks to you for encouragement and to build him up. His fate is tied to you and to her.

Minstrel of the dawn - Mollymauk

He’s the fun guy! The entertainer. The one who gives everyone else a good time, which can leave him feeling a bit lacking sometimes. So that’s why having you around makes him feel good, just a reminder that he deserves to let himself be taken care of too.

Early morning rain - Caleb

The self-loathing is always sneaking around and rears its ugly head whenever he least suspects it. Sometimes it just clouds his mind to where he thinks he is uselessly in love with you. That is until you hold him close and the sun peeks through

Baby step back - Percy

Percy knows that he had been too reckless when he first met you and Vox Machina. Revenge and a demon tend to do that, and the remorse gnaws at his mind, especially when he thinks of you. He wants you, wants to be with/near you, but would you want the same from him?

[waltwhitmansbeard]

go on, claim my heart: chapter twenty-nine

see my masterpost for what came before this.

Vax stands there, frozen, as Percy falls apart in his sister's arms. His blood still pumps deafeningly in his ears, yet he feels cold, ice and marble instead of flesh and bone. This, his mind tells him dimly, is a preservation strategy; by becoming inanimate, he cannot feel, and if he cannot feel, he cannot explode, cannot shatter into shrapnel and tear this man, his friend, and an innocent teenage girl to shreds.

Because mere moments ago, his daughter was here. He heard her cries, saw her balled fists wave through the air. He was so godsdamned close to having his hands on her, to pulling her into his chest like a dragon jealously guarding its hoard, and once again he failed to save her. So he stands here, not breathing, not blinking, not feeling, because though his mind knows well that this moment is earth-shattering for Percy, his heart wants little more than to rip the two on the floor from their embrace and force them forward, to scream into Percy's face about why they are here, about what they still have left to do.

His sister, his wonderful other half, who knows him better than he knows himself, steps forward and places a hand on his shoulder, and it is only then that he realizes he's trembling. "Percival," she says quietly, "we have to go."

Percy looks up from Cassandra's shoulder, face red and eyes narrowed into slits. Vax sees the outrage and is more than ready to counter it with his own, but Cassandra speaks first, wiping at her wet face. "She's right, brother. You're needed with them. The baby—Vilya. she needs you."

"I cannot let you from my sight," Percy whispers, his voice cracking, and all at once, the fight is sapped from Vax's muscles. Of course he knows Percy's terror; it has been the only thing animating his body from the moment he awoke nearly a week ago. Percy has dealt with this horror for so many years, and Vax cannot begrudge him his reluctance to leave.

"Grog, Scanlan." Vax turns to face the men in question, who blink in surprise. "Take Cassandra into the woods. Guard her with your lives. Find a tree on the western edge of the grounds large enough for us to use to get home. We will find you when we..." He can't finish the thought.

He doesn't have to. Scanlan nods. "We'll take care of her," he says to Percy, and Vax cannot believe how sure he is that they will. Percy stands, pulling his sister up with him, and after one more bone-crushing hug, he nudges her toward the guard and the jester.

Just then, the massive white tiger with them in the hall snarls viciously and breaks into a run, tearing off toward the front entrance to the castle. Vax sighs—she has waited long enough—and sprints after her, not even bothering to see if the others are following suit. Keyleth's feline limbs are long and powerful, and it takes all of his strength to push on after her, to not let her get too far ahead. She bursts through the massive front doors as if they weren't imposing slabs of thick oak and presses forward down the steps and onto the front lawns.

"KEYLETH!" he calls after her, and her head twists to growl at him, her gait not slowing at all. "I KNOW THE WAY!"

That, at least, slows her a bit, giving him the space to catch up. He looks over his shoulder to see Percy and Vex giving chase, poor Pike struggling to catch up. He stops and shouts for Keyleth to do the same. Miraculously, she listens, and when the others arrive, Vax scoops Pike up to sit on Keyleth's back. "Hang on," he warns her, and then he sets off at a run again, charging toward the entrance to the Briarwoods' underground operation.

Keyleth keeps abreast of him as they dart across the lawn, shrouded in the darkness of night as they close in on their target. Vax's stomach sinks when he spies a line of guards around the storm cellar entrance. He starts to slow his pace, preparing to confer with the others about a plan of attack, but then he notices Keyleth gaining speed, charging the guards without an ounce of hesitation. It is hard not to notice the rapid approach of a thundering tiger, gleaming white in the moonlight, but they offer little resistance as she cuts through them like butter, all teeth and claws against their paltry swords and armor.

Vax skids to a startled halt to watch; the night air soon smells of blood, which coats her muzzle and paws, dripping and vulgar. Still, he cannot be horrified by the sight; he thinks of all the times he's failed her, of all the ways her nation's enemies have sought to strike her down, and there is nothing but relief at the notion that this ferocity, this savagery exists within her, that when he is unable to do so, she will be able to put her teeth to her foes' throats and tear their heads from their shoulders.

His wife, a princess, a beast, clears the way, and Vax leads them down into the tunnels. As they run, Vax can hear them, the distant cries of his daughter. He pumps his legs harder, and the group tumbles into the first cavern, which is now empty, any workers gone for the night. Vax thanks the Raven Queen for the good fortune and motions for the others to follow him forward into the tunnel that leads to the chamber with the altar. There is no time for caution, for stealth; the group spills out into the cavern, heaving chests and darting eyes, and Vax's attention is first drawn to the shrouded cage in the corner, where the victims he'd failed to free shout and scream.

Vax's eyes follow their flailing arms up to the altar, where they land on a sight that makes his heart stop. Up on the dais, behind the altar of green glass, an older man, slightly hunched over, holds his daughter in both hands, barely cradling her head as he lays her down on the hard surface. His breath catches in his throat as this man picks up an object from the altar, just above Vilya's head, and as he twists his wrist to examine it, the light from the torches reflects off of the blade of a long, black-handled athame.

One ear is rocked by deafening booms while the other can just barely make out the whisper of two arrows as both Percy and Vex fire at the man from behind Vax's shoulders. The party gasps in horror as their projectiles suddenly curve away just a second or two later, as if ricocheted off of an invisible wall. Vax looks to the others, confused, but it is Pike, still astride Keyleth's back, who points behind them and shouts, "Look!"

Vax whips around, daggers in hand. There, stepping from the shadows toward them, a manic grin on her face, is a woman in a dress the color of a bruise and long gloves the color of moonlight. Her spidery fingers are curled open in the air, and as she steps closer, the villain Vax instinctively knows to be Lady Delilah Briarwood coos, "There you are, Percival. We've been waiting for you to come home."