#they were always going to go to Keyleth for something

[blackmosscupcakes]

One of the aspects of the fallout from this last episode I'm most interested in seeing is Imogen's reaction, and that's for a very out of character reason.

One of Laura's self-admitted player quirks is avoidance of inter-party conflict. She's good at smoothing things over and tends to play characters on a spectrum from forgiving to avoidant. You can see this going back to campaign one, most notably after Scanlan returned and, while most characters were furious and slow to forgive him, Vex was instantly on his side, delighted to see him, and ready to forget everything. Jester, of course, was very committed to the power of friendship in general. Imogen tends more towards burying or distracting from feelings and events that might lead to conflict.

In 4 Sided Dive episode 20, they have the following conversation from about 1 hour 3 minutes in:

Marisha: Of course diving into the relationship is always fun, but then relationship tension is also fun.

Laura: Yeah I feel like you guys really like relationship conflict too like you guys talk about that a lot. I'm terrified of conflict--that translates to the game as well. I don't like conflict.

Sam: You don't like conflict? Even in the game?

Laura: No! I don't like fighting. Like if we're having a fight I will be like "it's okay FCG, I'm not mad at you." If you do something wrong I'll be like "that's okay."

However, her character is now in a relationship with Marisha's character, and as seen in the quote above, Marisha LOVES conflict. She eats it up! From Keyleth and Percy in C1 to Beau and Caleb in C2, she's been great at diving into tensions that further character development and make for great storytelling.

So we've reached a point now where Marisha keeps making choices with Laudna that are basically dropping an invitation to a WHOLE bunch of tension and conflict on Laura's doorstep, and up until this point, aside from a little dust up over the gnarlrock incident (a big one for Laura, but small compared to, say, Beau and Caleb's arguments!), Laura as Imogen has been broadly side-stepping these in order to do exactly what she said in the 4sd quote--tell Laudna that it's all okay.

But we've reached a point now where that's not going to cut it in avoiding tension any more! If Laudna continues down this path, lines are going to be drawn within the party, and Imogen is likely to have to pick between conflict with Laudna OR conflict with other members of the party. It's very likely there will come a point where anger and arguments can't be entirely avoided for Imogen no matter what choice she makes. And that's going to be REALLY fascinating to watch.

Sometimes these players nudge one another out of their comfort zones. Laura did it to Travis with romance. Several of them did it to Ashley with the titan shard. I think we can trust them not to push their friends to a point where they REALLY don't want to go (and I'm sure that sort of thing is negotiated between them off camera), so bearing that in mind a little tiptoe out of the comfort zone can be really interesting--for example, Travis did really well with romance in the end. It might well be a bit uncomfortable for Laura at first! But as long as she's okay trying it, I think it could lead to REALLY excellent storytelling and fantastic performance. I'm excited to see where it goes .

[sunsetlovelydreams]

I have a lot of thoughts on LoVM Season 3 but I just want to talk about one thing: the gender-role reversals in Vaxleth.

First, to the LoVM team: one day, I'm going to die from emotional overload, and I want you to know it was your fault. You will be invited to my funeral.

On to the main topic. I've always pegged Vax (yes, I know what I wrote) as more emotional than your average man. Compare him to Grog and you'll get what I mean. He's an empath. He loves his sister. You might almost say he's a family man.

But boy did this season put this on display in his relationship with Keyleth.

First big piece of evidence. The eye-opening moment. They are fighting Raishan. Keyleth is vaporized, Vax falls to his knees and cries. The poor princess mourning her hero slain by a dragon. And evidence #1.5: while Raishan looms over Vax, about to vaporize him, Keyleth emerges with a killing blow, saving our damsel in distress and taking the day. Knight and princess. A classic à la Vaxleth.

Family vs ambition: "I would gladly give my soul for one day of your happiness." As if we needed more proof that Vax loves his sister to death (again, I know what I wrote). Traditionally, though, story-telling gives woman one main interest: their family, while male characters are given personal development. Not Vaxleth. Keyleth is the one travelling the world to perfect her skills and earn high achievements, to sit on the council, and become a household name throughout Emon. But nothing Vax has ever done is for his own advancement. He goes where Vex goes, tells her several times that he'd leave the team if she did, sacrifices his soul for her and then for Percy because she loves him. He's never had personal ambition, or we're never told of them. Trophy wife material. Give me more.

The Swoon factor. Honestly, look at these two and tell me which one is more likely to swoon if this were a Victorian period drama? It's "So chunky with an adoring smile on his face" Vax. It's "I have no words because you stole them with this kiss" Vax. That man is BESOTTED. That man is the romantic. Keyleth is poised, words at the ready, newly self-confident in her feelings. If we're talking clichés: she feels with her brains, he feels with his heart (imo). The switch up is delicious.

I feel like there's more; I remember I had more in mind, so I might add to this later. Let me know if I've missed something.

Vaxleth, you are my modern-day greek tragedy, and it is a pleasure to weep for you.

[utilitycaster]

re: an earlier ask, what are your gripes with lifespan angst? at worst I'm, like, mildly uninterested, but I don't have many strong opinions on it - curious to see if you might convince me otherwise.

My core issue with lifespan angst is that it tends to go hand in hand with fandoms' disregard for second (or third, or fourth) loves - people really lean hard into the idea that you get ONE soulmate and if they die young you are tragically alone forever to grieve, instead of embracing two truths: first, lots of people lose partners very young in real life. One of my grandmothers outlived her husband (my grandfather, who died when I was about a year old) by over twenty years, and he didn't die terribly young. I know multiple people, including a relative, who lost a fiance in their late 20s or early 30s. The idea of outliving a partner by decades is totally normal in our real world and to act like this is a world-shattering epic tragedy instead of one of the many smaller, realer, and more complicated tragedies that exist in real life is in my opinion quite childish, melodramatic, and ultimately not as interesting as the truth.

To that point I think a lot of people who are super into lifespan angst are just...people who are more interested in romantic angst than character or story, and see characters as like, an epi-pen injector of The Feels instead of as interesting concepts moving throughout a realized world, and their writing suffers as a result.

I also feel it's often grafted onto relationships that don't really have them. The reason Keyleth is exempted is because she has SUCH a long lifespan AND she thinks about this in canon, which makes sense, because she becomes a L20 Druid at age like, 23, and then her partner IMMEDIATELY dies very young! But like...Caleb and Essek? I would imagine they are very realistic about Caleb's lifespan vs. Essek's, particularly since Essek comes from a culture where this is extremely common (and half elves in the Empire aren't rare either; I don't know if Caleb thought about it personally but culturally, elf and human relationships are normal). I also found a lot of the people who were like "omg lifespan angst" seem to think that like, age 50 is decrepit; and for Caleb and Essek they tended to sort of not consider the possibility of nonmonogamy even though Caleb canonically has been in a poly relationship. Like it feels it's almost always comorbid with other bad takes, in addition to being a bad take itself.

Mildly uninterested is not a bad way to be; I tend towards strong opinions for better or for worse, and if your attitude is more go with the flow that is probably a good trait to have, but yeah, it just. takes relationships I really enjoy and distills them down into something reductive and weird and often ageist and overly afraid of talking about death and finding new love again, and I love talking about death and loss and grief in a way that isn't cheap angst but is actually real.

[waltwhitmansbeard]

ok the gentle care list… perc’ahlia and “oh…oh we’re hugging about this okay”

"Oh - okay - we're hugging about this, okay."

Percy's hungry. It's his own damn fault; one day, he'll remember to bring food with him before locking himself in his workshop all night, but, alas, today is not that day. He'd never dream of waking Laina at this hour, so he emerges from his den, bleary-eyed and ready to fend for himself.

The halls of Greyskull Keep are barely lit, just some candles in sconces every ten yards or so, so it's slow going. He's ravenous by the time he reaches the kitchen, which is pitch black. Cursing himself for leaving his lantern in his room, he fumbles around, sure that Laina keeps a book of matches somewhere nearby to light the stove, if only he could—

"Percy?"

He lets out a rather undignified yelp, sending something clattering to the floor. A few moments later, a candle flickers to life, and there is Vex, in her nightdress, looking at him and the knocked-over dinner at his feet with an one eyebrow raised.

He grins, embarrassed. "Ah. Yes. Hello."

"Hello, darling." Her words are light, but there's something off about her tone. "Did you need something?"

He can tell he's interrupted something; he just doesn't know what. "Feeling a bit peckish."

"Mm, yes, you missed dinner. Again." But there's no animosity in it, just general acknowledgement. "Well, I've made myself a little spread, if you'd like to join me." She gestures to the kitchen island between them, which is cluttered with a few cheeses, some strawberries Percy knows to come from Keyleth's garden, and a half-drunk glass of red wine.

"Oh, a midnight snacker after my own heart." He comes around the island to start picking at the makeshift charcuterie board. "So what as you up at this hour? I'm a workaholic, but usually you're rather insistent upon your beauty sleep."

She sticks her tongue out at him, then pops a cube of cheese into her mouth. "Just...couldn't sleep." She shrugs. "It happens sometimes."

He's well familiar with that, isn't he? "Lots of ghosts in the night, aren't there?"

She hums in agreement. There is a minute of silence between them, marred only by small sounds of chewing, and then she asks, "Did you like your father?"

He almost swallows a strawberry whole. "I—sorry—" He finishes hacking before he continues. "Did I what?"

"Your father. Did you like him?" She sips from her glass nonchalantly.

Percy blinks. "I—well—hmm." This was not a question he'd contemplated in a very long time. "He was a complicated man, my father. Not very affectionate, stubborn as a goat, more children than frankly he knew what to do with." Vex laughs at that. "But...I never thought he didn't love us. Me. You always knew where you stood with my father. If he was pleased, he showed it. If he was cross, you knew why." Percy pauses. "To be honest, I'm not sure I knew the man well enough to know if I liked him. He died before I got the chance to understand him as someone other than my father."

"I see." Vex swirls the wine in her glass round and round and round. "My father is an incomparable prick incapable of love."

Percy has no idea what to say to that. He just stares at her, slack-jawed, as she calmly finished her wine and sets her glass down on the island. Then, in the most shocking move yet, she throws her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. He catches her automatically, his hands splaying on her back. "Oh—okay—we're hugging about this, okay."

The de Rolos were never huggers. Too saccharine. Too vulnerable. But the twins were raised differently, he's aware; Vax is always touching somebody, and Vex's first instinct when she's tired or bored or yearning to be anywhere else than where she is is to tip her head onto her brother's shoulder. And that's probably what this is—in lieu of Vax, Percy is Vex's available option when in need of comfort.

So he rests his chin atop her head, feels her shake with sobs, with rage, with careful control, who knows. "You know, your father may not be much use as a father, but that doesn't mean he can't be useful."

"What?" Vex muffles flatly into his shirt.

"Well I, for one, find few things as personally motivating as spite."

Vex tips her head up to frown at him. Her eyes are warm and deep in the candlelight. There's a long silence, and Percy's worried he's stepped in it, but then she snorts out a laugh as her face melts. "You're not wrong, darling." She steps back, and for half a heartbeat, Percy considers not letting her. "A great number of my actions have been motivated by spite, for better or for worse. It can be satisfying, can't it?"

"Undoubtedly so." He doesn't reach up to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, because to do so would be insane. "Are we feeling better?"

Vex smiles. "A little food, a little wine, a little company...yes, I think so." She rocks up onto her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Goodnight, Percy."

And then she is gone, and Percy is alone with the cheese and the strawberries and the feeling of her lips on his face, a lingering warmth in this drafty kitchen. He stands there, unmoving, unblinking, until the candle burns low, until the chill of her absence forces his body toward bed, toward dreams he is not yet ready to understand.

[neopuff]

title: the second time word count: ~1700 ships/characters: vex/percy, keyleth summary: His night with Vex’ahlia had awakened something in him that he wanted to explore. ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/60153133

x

Things had calmed down quite a lot since they entered Scanlan’s…chateau. His stronghold. Whatever he was choosing to call it. It was clear from how Grog and Keyleth were staring at Pike that something significant had happened to her in Dis, though Percy wasn’t sure when would be an appropriate time to ask about it. He supposed she would tell him and Vex���ahlia if they needed to know - Vex had never explained all the details of how she procured Fenthras, after all.

It wasn’t exactly like they were keeping secrets. Some things…they just didn’t want to talk about. Some things were difficult to talk about.

As Percy enjoyed some of the endless supply of red wine that Scanlan provided, he hoped it wasn’t obvious that he kept glancing towards Vex.

Some things were very difficult to talk about.

Especially after trying and failing, and then having a very awkward conversation that did not go the way he’d wanted, and then…well. She’d said they didn’t need to be apart. He understood that, generally. But he wasn’t sure exactly how to…initiate. Being together. Again. And maybe another time after that.

His experience with sex was as limited as a person’s experience could be, but his night with Vex’ahlia had awakened something in him that he wanted to explore. He wanted to explore it with her and only her. But he didn’t want to come across as desperate or needy - she clearly didn’t mind his inexperience, but he had a feeling that it’d get old quickly.

Percy was adjusting his glasses and pretending not to stare at her again - she was laughing at something Scanlan said, and she always looked so beautiful when she laughed - when he was reminded that he was in a very public area.

“Hey!”

He jumped slightly, and in his embarrassment tried to pretend he didn’t by combing his fingers through his hair and smiling at the redhead who appeared next to him. “Hello, Keyleth.”

She smiled at him, glancing towards where Vex was standing and then back to him. “You might want to slow down on the wine, Percy. Your cheeks are all red.”

Whether the redness was from the wine or his embarrassment, Percy wasn’t sure, but he knew they would only get redder if he stayed where he was. “Ah. Well. I suppose I should stop, then.”

Keyleth stared at him, almost knowingly, but Percy had no intention of talking to her about what was going on between him and Vex. Her brother knowing about them was already anxiety-inducing enough, especially considering how little Vax thought of Percy. Keyleth thought the world of both of them, but she’d be so happy for them that she’d tell Pike and Scanlan and it was just too much, too soon.

Especially since they were just…casual. Or whatever they were. Percy wasn’t sure how to define it, since Vex didn’t seem comfortable giving them a label. And he was going to respect that as long as his heart could take it. Because he did want to be with her as completely as possible, but if he pushed too hard and made her pull away, the loss would be agonizing.

Percy adjusted his glasses again and left the main room, heading towards what Scanlan said could be his bedroom for the duration of their stay. It was nice, surprisingly clean. Bigger than their usual accommodations outside of Whitestone.

He sat on the edge of his bed for well over twenty minutes as he tried to decide what to do. He needed to talk to Vex, obviously. He couldn’t just waltz up to her and ask if she’d like to go for another roll in the hay, even if that was exactly what was on his mind.

Percy grumbled and held his hands against his face, squeezing his glasses into the root of his nose. It was going to leave an annoying red line, but he was so annoyed with himself he couldn’t help it. Why couldn’t he just walk up to her and say exactly what he was thinking? If Scanlan could manage to bed strangers with hardly any effort, surely Percival could invite a friend that he’s already had sex with to repeat the activity.

His face heated up as he thought about it again. Maybe he would just go take a bath in one of the hot springs and see how he felt after that. He needed to wash up, anyway, especially if he wanted to impress Vex’ahlia.

He stripped off most of his clothes and considered the possibility that he could invite Vex to the hot springs with him. It would be putting himself out there without being too obvious about his intentions. Though she’d obviously understand what he meant, because she could always tell what he was thinking.

Swimsuit, extra pair of shorts, and towel grabbed, Percy poked his head out of his room to see if anyone was in the hallway. Vex’s assigned room was just across from his, so he quickly stepped forward and knocked.

“...Vex?” he asked softly, knocking again.

Another few seconds passed without an answer, and Percy felt very defeated to realize that she wasn’t in her room. He didn’t want to go back out to the main room and see if she was there, because he would not want to ask her to join him in front of anyone else.

So he’d go to the hot spring by himself. Take a breather. Try to talk to Vex sometime in the evening, maybe they could have a drink together and enjoy one another’s company again. Possibly. Hopefully. 

God, he really hoped she wanted to.

Percy was happy that he didn’t come across anyone from the team as he made his way outside, and one of the springs in a more remote location was completely empty when he found it. He took a deep breath, enjoying the warm steam against his skin. After their long, long day in the freezing cold, it would be nice to warm up properly.

He folded his towel and extra clothes, leaving them in a dry spot not too far from the spring. Then he went back and forth, trying to decide if he needed to keep his swimsuit on. Since they were in a place surrounded by visions of Scanlan, he felt like he didn’t have full privacy. But Scanlan swore that they were just sculptures, and he couldn’t see anything that wasn’t within his personal eye line.

With a deep breath, he decided to believe Scanlan. Hot springs were meant to be enjoyed naked, so he was going to take the plunge.

Percy sighed dreamily as he sunk into the water - hot bubbles climbing up his skin and tingling every nerve. It wasn’t as nice a feeling as being with Vex, but it was definitely in second place. If he had to rank them.

Less than ten minutes of relaxing passed before Percy heard the sound of footsteps nearby, and opened his eyes to see a blurry figure with tan skin and dark hair looking at him from around the corner.

“There you are!”

There was no mistaking that voice. “Vex!” he said, surprised. Percy sat up straighter and stared at her, wishing he hadn’t taken off his glasses. “H-how are you?” He internally scolded himself for stuttering, knowing he had no reason to be nervous. But still, nervous he was.

Vex came a little closer and he could sort of see a smirk on her face. “You haven’t been avoiding me, have you?”

“Of course not,” he answered quickly. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “I…tried to talk to you earlier, but you weren’t in your room, so…I wasn’t sure, um. I didn’t want to bother you if you were busy.”

She let out a soft chuckle and suddenly tore off her towel, revealing her entire naked self to the hot steam and Percy’s wandering eyes. “Mind if I join you?” she asked with a sultry lilt, entering the water before he answered since she knew exactly what his answer would be.

“Would you hand me my glasses?” he asked, watching each and every movement very closely. “They’re just behind you.”

Vex ignored him and waded over, her breasts fully visible above the water while she reached her hands back and undid her hair. Her body moved rhythmically as she shook out her hair and Percy found himself completely mesmerized. She was close enough to see and certainly close enough to feel.

“Gods, you are beautiful,” he said quietly, not completely sure if his lips even moved. His brain was running on overdrive and all he wanted to do was grab her and hold her and feel her and-

She laughed and leaned forward, laying one hand on his chest. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she mumbled, stepping even closer.

Vex dove her other hand into the water, feeling around for an obvious target, then laid her fingers gently at the bottom of his stomach. She kept her hand still at the sound of him hitching his breath and looked up to stare in his eyes. “Are we still…good?”

He felt like his nerves were on fire. Vex’s lips were so close to his own and her hand was- and he-!

Percy nodded and laid his hands on the sides of her face, pulling her to him for a much-needed kiss. He wanted her so badly that it ached. He pulled away from the kiss and went back several times, pausing for a moment to answer her question in pieces. “Yes-! Please-! Anytime-! I-! Yes-!”

She smiled into the kisses and grabbed him, very satisfied by the way he twitched under her ministrations.

Percy felt like he was floating on air. It wasn’t often that he was happy - he hadn’t been truly happy for a long, long time. But being with Vex made him feel more relaxed, more calm, more alive. He was sure that he’d be able to work himself up to initiating their next rendezvous now that he was a bit more confident in their status.

Her tongue slipped into his mouth and Percy sighed happily, wrapping his arms around her. When he was with her, it felt like there was nothing wrong in the world. 

All he wanted or needed was Vex’ahlia.

[suntiger745]

Well well, that was certainly an interesting trip... An excellent trio of episodes to finish the season. The more I see of the animated show, the more appropriate the legend part of the Legend of Vox Machina feels. Things progress generally more smoothly, storywise. We get to see things we didn't see in the campaign. Events sometimes happen in a different order. Some things are outright different. We also loose some of the depth the messiness and more time for the characters to grow that the campaign's longer timeline of events brought. Appropriate I suppose. But even so, the heart of it is always there.

Tying the earth ashari trial that we never saw to the searching and finding of Raishan was a neat combination. Also big props to Marisha Ray for the range of anger, vulnerability, panic, acceptance and confidence Keyleth went through in episodes 10 and 11. It was also great to see Raishan's plan realized, which she never managed in the campaign (also, very cool lair actions). Raishan calling Keyleth a child was a nice bit of dragon arrogance. And to be fair, Raishan is old and very smart. Perhaps with time as she learned about her new dracolich body she would have been able to withstand or repel the cursed disease that Keyleth transferred into her. But not when the body was so new and she was still getting used to it. Nature is good at breaking down flesh and sinew after all, and the death curse was targeted specifically at Raishan. Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan going after Ripley was cool. A look into the past almost, when the twins were on their own and getting involved with the seedy underbelly of civilization. A nice nod to Vax's Clasp connection. And of course Vex'ahlia getting the final blow on Ripley.

A detail people might not think about in all the vengeance quests, demon abilities, gunfire and Ripley meeting her end is that some people survived that. And they know about firearms now. And it's a safe bet there is at least a few other stashes of guns wherever that ship has its home base. The cat is well and truly out of the bag now when it comes to guns proliferating across Exandria. Not with the same push and quality as if Ripley was still alive, but still. That's important for the world setting, even if it won't impact Vox Machina's story much (though it might yet, we'll see).

The search for Percy's soul and the way they did the resurrection ritual was very cool as well. I liked the way they showed several of the people present contribute to the ritual and Laura Bailey of course killed it again with Vex'ahlia baring her heart to Percy's spirit.

I don't think the markings on Vax's arm is the Matron's doing though. I think it's merely an effect of going through with the ritual, especially for a soul imprisoned by a demon. More likely than the Matron of Ravens punishing Vax, I think that corruption/disease in his arm is either Orthax's final spiteful "gift" to Vax'ildan for ruining his day or simply a touch of death that will mark him as he was the catalyst to bring back a soul already dead for several days.

The Matron did warn him of consequences for going through with the ritual. I also suspect Vax will still consider it worth it.

Also very interesting how they split the group, at least for a while. It's not the Bard's Lament when Scanlan leaves, but perhaps something like it will instead come this time when they ask him to return to Vox Machina to fight the new threat.

And yet another example of where the Legend is different from what we saw in the campaign. Less painful and more smooth. So far, there might be a realy gut punch coming from Scanlan yet.

Still very curious to see where the story goes with Pike as well. And maybe we'll get our first Keyteor in the next season. Speaking of, is it season 4 yet? ;)

[demigoddessqueens]

the love letter

based off a movie recommendation from @whoviancumberbunny called The Love Letter

Summary: an enchanted desk where Person A leaves their letters and Person B finds and reads them across time/dimension (this is also the premise from the movie too)

Percy

Surprised at this little family secret hidden away in the house, and while he initially thinks it foolish, he sends one only to have your response back. In you, he finds a kindred spirit who he can speak with and he appreciates feedback from you if he ever sent

You two banter like long lost loves over your letters, made up nicknames for each other and countless “my loves” as well

Vax’ildan

Ok I’m gonna give my boi his much overdue happy ending and this is also kinda leaning into the movie’s plot too 😭💕🥹❤️‍🩹

He loves sending these letters back and forth you. It’s sweet, sensual and for the time he thinks he has, there’s a comfort in it that there’s someone he can look forward to

back in your world, the letters stopped coming from him and you were worried sick that something had happened to him. Your heart shatters when you receive word from those who call themselves his friends and they tell you of his fate. In the few days that follow after, you try to console a broken heart until you come across a stranger who makes you feel like you’ve met before. Tall, beautifully tanned skin, warm eyes and raven dark hair with a braid to his side. You’re both so lost in the surprise and familiarity of it all, you don’t notice the unseen golden thread of fate that binds you together.

Keyleth

At first she was surprised by Percy’s little magic desk and sent one just to see what would happen.

Writing back and forth to you was one of the greatest days of her life.

Scanlan

Though he’s never seen your face, it’s an old familiar feeling stewing within when you write back and forth to each other. If you’re a fan of music, he sends sheet music to you and loves the little love notes you make in the corners of pages

Vex’ahlia

Naturally curious, she sends a few letters just to see and is thrilled to see that you’ve written back. You always compliment her writing, how pretty she sounds in writing, and the back and forth of “(my) darling”

Grog

He’s excited like a kid and at times just shoved bundles of letters in one go, to which they explode all over your desk. Sometimes he’ll even leave a doodle here and there of what he’s done/seen on travels

Pike

She thinks this is an interesting find in Whitestone and sends one just to see what happens

After the first time, she’s always eager to check the desk almost everyday just to see what you’ve written back. It’s one of the highlights of her day

BONUS: I feel tho, that if you attached a Polaroid/photo of yourself, they’re holding onto that like it’s priceless because now there’s a face to a name and your letters

[pocketgalaxies]

FOR REALLL RE: WHEN MATT ASKED IF ANYONE WANTED TO DO ANYTHING. And then, when they went to Keyleth and Orym said "we want to be useful in the downtime"... my jaw fucking dropped. You all JUST got back from aeor, and right before that you got back from the moon - where your friend fucking DIED. No one wants to process any of that??

From how Matt had framed it, the feywild meeting between Ludinus and the Unseelie was an optional mission they could have delegated to NPCs, yet they jumped right into it with no prep or plan.

[And ohhh, the instant amnesia about why they were there. It was like they completely forgot the intent of the mission, and when Dorian raised that point ("is this what we are here for? To fight?") They all just shrugged and acted like there was no other choice!] I love them all dearly, so my frustration is borne of concern (they just walked into a HUGE fucking fight they are ill prepared for), and I am TERRIFIED Fearne will die now because of it. But also, I wonder - do they even want to be in this campaign anymore?

The way they keep rushing forward...maybe it's bc they've been conditioned by the rest of this campaign's pacing. Part of me feels it's Orym. This whole campaign it's felt like he's been using his pushing attack on the team. [Telling them early on (ep 30s) they need to promise him to be better together, forever reminding them of the ticking clock which means they need to get to Yios, to the malleus key, to reunite post-solstice. Then, an hr into the reunion: they need to keep going to address things "fast and fully". They need to get to Keyleth, to the moon, to stay on the moon even if it's risky bc "it isn't a vacation." Oop Letters died, but let's get back to keyleth, now we need to go to aeor, back to keyleth, and after all of that...well they need to "be useful in the downtime"! That might be too uncharitable? I don't know.

Above the table, I think they are all overworked from making two animated series, running a company, and their professional work outside of CR. It seems like too much. Like they need a break, and maybe subconsciously are running headlong to the finish so they can finally have one. I don't begrudge them that, but it does make me sad for these specific characters that they've been so constrained by the plot.]

yeah for sure, the campaign is sharing space with a million other responsibilities when it used to be The Flagship the single most significant project they were working on. i think it's very likely that both animated series are perceived as a higher priority than the campaign now given the budget, wider audience, etc. which just kinda sucks when the campaign also requires the highest level of emotional and time investment out of all of those projects

orym has definitely played a role in the Always Business No Pleasure vibe of the campaign but i guess i hesitate to put that much blame on him, i think the overall story has been go go go and orym is largely a reflection of that. but also i do agree that it certainly isn't helping and many ppl have made more eloquent posts than i ever could about the space his grief has been allowed in comparison to other aspects of other characters and how that has affected the party and the campaign overall

i really do wish they could've taken this week to recuperate, do something for themselves. literally anything. go shopping. any loose ends they would want to tie up before going into a battle to the death. but they either don't have connections to outside npcs or those connections simply aren't prominent enough. relvin, milo, birdie and ollie, family in zephrah, dariax, etc.? anyone?? imogen v. groon battle was sitting right there? and i just don't understand the necessity of adding in this ludinus unseelie situation it seems like something extraneous that the story could've gone entirely without and now it's just another Thing they have to do?

ANYWAY just struggling a lot about all these things! having a great time!!

[gay-dorito-dust]

Can you do head canons for vox machina after you have to get revived

Depending on how you died, it would’ve hurt the group all the same. Having someone out of their rag tag group meeting an unfortunate end and they’re unable to prevent it from occurring? It’s not a nice a feeling in the slightest.

So it was only natural for Vax, Vex, Percy, Keyleth, Scanlan, Pike and Grog to feel as though they were all partially to blame for your death. It’s a feeling that they would carry with them even after you’ve been revived.

Death wasn’t something one can easily walk away from after being revived and you weren’t any different. If anything the experience of dying then being brought back changed you in ways unknown to yourself until someone were to be upfront about it to you.

Keyleth and Pike would constantly be checking on you after even something as small as a minor inconvenience. Healing you almost straight away even if it was something as small as a paper cut. One of them would always be seen by your side during battles with the additions of Percy and vex acting as long range shooters for opponents Pike and Keyleth couldn’t quite reach with their depleting energy.

Vax would be watching over you like a goddamn hawk, making sure no one tried to pull a fast one over you, always having your back during fights. Vex would also go out of her way to have your back during a fight but in a more discreet manor then the reckless manor her twin would take. Going so far as to scold you whenever you did something reckless in battle or went a little too far out for her liking; But her tone of words and the look in her eyes didn’t match up.

Percy would make upgrades to your weapons or completely make you a new one from scratch when he wasn’t satisfied with the lack of efficiency from your weapon. He’d go through all the processes with you on what does what but it doesn’t really matter as much like Vax he would look out for you in battle, gunning down assailants from a distance and then deny it when confronted about it like…your the only one in the group with a fucking gun dude, I heard gunshots. So naturally I’m going to assume.

Scanlan would take a more light hearted approach in comparison to his friends. Whilst they’re all trying to provide you with protection from any and all harm, the bard would go instead provide you with some company. He’d joke and jest but you noted how his smile reached his eyes nor did his laughter sound completely genuine, Alamo as though he were distracted.

He also makes a mean sandwich so I wouldn’t be surprised if he made an extra special one for you and when you’d ask for the occasion for this random act of service, he’d merely shrug it off as him doing something for a friend.

Grog would probably be protective over you in battle, always picking off the hardest ones so that you would’ve ever have to deal with it yourself. He’s your wall of protection and is more then willing to take all the physical punishment then allow you to even pertain a harmless bruise.

Over all, they would be protective over you in their own way and would gladly form a protective shield out of their own bodies strewn out in front of you if needs be. A good majority of them (Percy, Vax, Vex, etc) have lost good people that were once close to them. They’ve lost you once and there’s no way in hell would they allow that to ever happen again. Get mad at them all you like, try to push them away but they don’t care, their hearts can only take so much breakage despite what their hardened visages would like to say.

[burr-ell]

Genuine question bc i always psyche myself out of writing due to this exact fear, how do we differentiate and avoid Shallow Angst when we pursue writing character studies? Situational angst seems straight forward where it's like oh no character got Hurt and now needs to be Comforted (the "plot" seems out to get this dude hurt and everyone centers on said dude with little other exploration), but say we did want to look at canon grief, using Vex as the example; what is the good way and what is the bad way to explore it? When do we go too far into excluding the rest of the story?

So I had conversations with @blorbologist and @essayofthoughts about this very thing, and what it basically boils down to is this: are you looking at these emotions realistically, taking into consideration the massive spectrum of how these characters interact with them and attempting to push past your own limited perspective of how feelings work, or are you just using them as a vessel to convey how you feel about something or what you think should happen?

Because there are plenty of very good fanworks that involve angst! Angst is, in simple terms, the examination of anxiety, dread, and sadness, and that absolutely has a place in the creation of art. Well-written angst attempts to find the character's voice in it all—it considers how they've dealt with emotions like that in canon, it asks what real-life expressions of grief or sorrow make sense for that character to convey based on their personality and past history, and as all good fanworks (and original works) do, it comes from a desire to understand someone who is not like you.

Take the example of Vex:

How would Vex deal with the loss of Vax? Based on what we know about her, I think it's safe to say that yes, she would be leaning a lot on Percy and Trinket, burying herself in her work some days to avoid the worst of it, but there are also days she'd be avoiding Percy, and maybe even Trinket, to go off on her own. I think she'd hold resentment toward the Raven Queen, even as I think she'd also want to keep the shrine standing in Vax's memory and actively push herself to forgive her. It would be complicated even further by her pregnancy, and all of the hormonal imbalances and physical complications that would entail. It would be complicated even further by the fact that she and Syldor canonically attempt to reconcile specifically in the wake of Vax's death; while I doubt they'd see much of each other in the first year or two, I think they would both be making incredibly awkward and loaded overtures that would be emotionally complicated and draining.

There are times she would lash out and times she would be hollow, and there's a lot she probably wouldn't be able to talk about because she just can't, because grief isn't something you can often put into words. There's a lot she'd also laugh and joke and smile about, because coping with loss means letting the wound scab over. There are times she'd be able to connect to Percy and Keyleth over the loss and times she couldn't, because the loss of a loving-but-complicated family and the loss of a lover don't feel quite the same as the loss of a twin who was all you had for over a decade.

There are a lot of ways to convey all that! There's no "right" answer; this is up for interpretation. But I do think "Vex will never braid her hair again cause Vax used to do that!" is definitely a wrong one.

Vex and Vax were codependent, but I think people tend to overstate the degree, and tend to ignore their canonical relationship development and Vex's characterization. I think it's important to note that Vex actually handles being separated from Vax during the Trial of the Take arc much better than Vax handles it; she makes fast friends with Zahra and generally seems to be enjoying herself and having a good time. Vex closes herself off a lot, but I think an underrated part of her speech at Percy's resurrection is how it recontextualizes the titling in Syngorn—he made her a part of something precious to him, and by the end of the campaign her stated goal is "make Whitestone the tits". Vex didn't just like, wind up as a city figurehead by marriage and shrug and decide to make the best of it; she was offered a chance and made it her bitch. The Raven Queen took part of Vex away when she took Vax, not all of her.

Yes, the loss is incredibly tragic and the end of Campaign 1 is bittersweet, but there are ways to portray Vex dealing with it that don't involve the general tenor of "ALRIGHT EVERYONE, DAILY REMINDER TO BE SAD ABOUT VAX". Like, I don't think Vex's first thought when she saw Laudna's body was "she looks just like Vax :( time for my daily Two Minutes Sad". (My issue with that isn't even whether the thought might occur to her—it absolutely could! But after thirty years, I doubt it would have been anywhere near the same level as "this innocent young woman was horribly killed for looking like me and I have to help her however I can; also if Delilah comes back I can should must and will tear her a new asshole". Like, the Vax thing might have come up long in the aftermath of her and Percy's inevitable late-night alcohol-induced therapy railing, but probably not before.)

A lot of the shallow angst you see in fandom generally has the same voice—not necessarily because it's written by the same people (although you do see many of the same people purveying it), but because the trending popular angst has to trend and be popular somehow, and it does so by channeling thoughts and emotional expressions that are broadly approved and accepted by the community, whatever that community happens to be. The characters in these fanworks behave the way that they do regardless of whether or not it makes sense in the narrative because shallow angst isn't about the narrative—it's about making your audience sad in the specific, narrow way that you are sad. It's about projecting yourself and your own emotions and how you would deal with them onto a character instead of trying to really understand someone who's different from you.

In our discussion, Blorb described fanworks in a way that really resonated with me—they're conversations with canon. Good, effective conversations are real attempts to communicate with people, trying to understand where they're coming from and connecting with who they are. Shallow conversations are one or multiple parties only thinking of the other person as a reflection of themselves, getting out their own thoughts and feelings with little interest in trying to figure out who other people actually are. And it's not that I think people who make these kinds of works are ontologically bad; it's that I think they're stifling their own creativity and growth. Everyone deserves better than to be limited to themselves.

[zeephyre]

CR3 EPISODE 98 SPOILERS

???????????? im not sure where to start or end.

lets just start with how incredibly beautiful the cast looked at the live show. and how much i enjoyed seeing both brennan and aabria present (we will get to brennan again in a second)

as far as the actual episode, i think this episode is both one of the best episodes and one of my favourite episodes. dominox's visions were brutal but it was really interesting seeing how the hells handled them. chetney and dorian seemed the most affected, and honestly chetney's was the most mindfuck-y, but the way that ashton and imogen just got to the root of the manipulation, trying to reach out to dominox.... *chefs kiss*

i loved the mystery of this episode... smth abt how creepy dominox is and bells hells going back and forth on what they should do with it/him/her. dominox manifesting as a little girl was so??? creepy but also the greatest shit ever, i found it so compelling and far scarier than the big scary demon form. something something the corruption of innocence something something

it is really fucked up to give ashton that fcg vision just after sam got back to the table... like that was just twisting the knife deeper and deeper.

we NEED to lock braius up or something, i thought fearne was the most horny poly pc with chetney but GOD he really locked tf in as soon as he took bells hells in. in all seriousness i cannot wait for more braius (in like....a fucking MONTH I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE). interested in whatever the fuck he's got going on with dorian, ashton and fearne... will need him to flirt with chetney cause we didnt get around to it.

speaking of fearne... teven saying they're bound together and expressing desire to have her join him in the hells... love toxic romance idc. also him saying he's bound to a lot of people and then fearne saying SHE IS TOO??? can y;all stop the ship wars now please how much more explicit can fearne get about being poly and not wanting or needing to CHOOSE. hell... ashton literally keeps flriting with other dudes, i.e: essek, and now braius. HERE'S HOW POLY HELLS CAN FINALLY BECOME REAL.

bells hells morality in question is always my favourite bit at the table becausse like... they're good people, i guess but really they care more about each other than other people. (and then theres orym who is just a little guy with trauma... he'll match our freak eventually)

LUDINUS APPEARANCE WAS SO INCREDIBLY INSANE LIKE HE WAS WAY TOO CASUAL ABOUT IT AND THAT WAS SO FUNNY TO ME. GOD. AM I IN LOVE WITH LUDA??? (a little yeah). tag teaming dominox with ludinus is literally the greatest shit ever i am so SO sorry keyleth i know we were supposed to kill him on sight or whatever (and they did attack him immediately) but i want to ask him my silly little questions.

i have never thought that ludinus was... wrong, idealogically, as the discourse can have us going in circles, i mostly just dont like people who murder hundreds for their own agendas. however comma i do love a motivated hot old man with religious trauma.

whatever the hell ludinus found... if it shifts bells hells' reality to the point they join him (unlikely but not totally impossible) i will lose my fucking mind. regardless i WANT ludinus to do what he said he said he wanted to do -- show exandria what the gods want BURIED.

brennan... brennan please reveal your secrets to me. please. pleas.e nwow. pleae brewnan. im begging,

anyway, is it thursday yet (AFTER TWO WEEKS GOD WTF)

[notori]

On a more genuine note from my previous post though: I do not think Imodna will go the same way as Vaxleth for a few reasons.

Vax's story was very personal to Liam. It always frustrates me when people act like the Raven Queen 'took Vax away' (and thus she is a bad goddess) when in fact she answered his prayer and granted his wish. Vax's story is about "Take me instead!" - not some kind of "Don't let Vex die!", and certainly not someone who was raised from the dead without their consent and bound like a puppet. Unless such an ending is expressly what Marisha wants for her character, I don't see it being narratively satisfying. Even if Laudna dies in sacrifice to save the others, because of the breadth of Delilah's power, it would be more of a general "I'm dying to save everyone" and less personal (and impactful) than Vax's trading his life for Vex's.

I joked about how this is Delilah Briarwood vs Laura Bailey again, so don't sweat it, but it's true! The players play their characters differently. Liam loves tragedy and plays it well; Laura loves romance and plays it well. Percy also had a dark streak with a hunger for power, and Vex would not let him go. I see more parallels with themes like: "I feel cruel, but in control." and "Take the mask off." Meanwhile, Imogen and Keyleth are different characters and their love interests have different relationships with death. In the end, the reason Keyleth could not do anything against the Raven Queen isn't because she's a god and Keyleth is not, but because Vax - as a paladin - chose to honour his faith and uphold his end of the deal. Imogen is not in that position because Laudna is not in that position. Laudna may see herself as just a puppet, or a risk, or a dead end - but we the audience, and Imogen, know that she is not (maybe a bit of a calculated risk). If anything, I see us on the precipice of an arc of Imogen inspiring Laudna to fight for her independence again and figuring out a way to do that (this is a world of magic after all).

And that theme of fighting for independence is something that has been there since the beginning. We have seen it both in analysis and confirmed on 4SD that Laudna's relationship with Delilah is in many ways similar to struggling with addiction. And now, into year three of C3, we are really seeing that take form when things get rough. When things get out of control, when you get desperate, that's when you grasp at anything to make it easier. It would be a real kick in the teeth to have her not overcome that struggle. Of course, there's the possibility that she does overcome that struggle by getting rid of Delilah and dying as a result. But out of game it has been referred to more in line with addiction that is constantly managed rather than addiction that is ended cold turkey - which for some people is the only way. I'll admit this one is more a personal preference but I do see it overall leaving a bad taste if Laudna were to die from Delilah in some way (again). Presuming they resolve issues with the solstice and resurrection spells, True Resurrection does exist and I'm certain the Hells would work off a 25k GP debt to bring Laudna back for good (which I see as more of a final episode/epilogue/post-game situation).

Regardless, it's a beautiful story and I'm sure that whatever happens will be what the players want. However, in this case I genuinely don't see them repeating something they have done before. Although we saw many parallels last night, there is still much which sets Imodna and Vaxleth apart narratively.

[utilitycaster]

I think something important to remember in actual play is that character backstory is neither an itinerary for the GM to follow nor a to-do list for the player to check off, but rather a means to provide context for the character's motivations, how they got to where they are now, and how they will respond to whatever comes up. It's not a scripted work, so you can't just make a character follow a specific arc.

It's an extension of something I've said before, that creating characters outside the context of a specific D&D game has never really made sense to me because the GM's direction should be integral to your character creation. At best you can have a very loose concept that you drastically expand upon to fit a particular game. If you're about to play Curse of Strahd, for example, you aren't going to be exploring a complex personal history in Candlekeep. You can certainly be informed by a complex personal history in Candlekeep, and quite honestly should be informed by some kind of complex personal history somewhere! But in the game, you're going to be going into Barovia and dealing with Strahd. And you made a character based in Candlekeep because your GM said "we're playing in the Forgotten Realms". Your character is in that context as well: someone who'd have reason to go to Barovia, from the world in which Barovia exists.

Unsurprisingly, I'm talking about this because of Critical Role Campaign 3, and look, if I am wrong about what I say in this paragraph please feel free to bring up this post and say "you were wrong" but I just do not think this campaign is ever going to not be about the moon and the gods. I think there's ways it could have been about those things and still have had room for more downtime or personal excursions. I think that "pulpier and deadlier" wasn't wrong, but perhaps the cast could have benefited from more guidance in the same way that "this campaign is going to be spookier and deadlier" would not necessarily be a good way to tell your players that they're going to be playing Curse of Strahd, but it is what it is. That doesn't mean character backstories won't be explored (and honestly, I think they've all had at least a moment in the sun) but it isn't the focus, it's never really been the focus, and speaking only for myself that's been apparent for, at minimum, nearly 18 months.

It also doesn't mean you have to like it, nor that you can't complain. But there's always been hanging threads or unexplored elements. There's the obvious limitations of Pike's story given that Ashley was unable to be at the table much of the time, but we never really went deep into Scanlan's parents - and we didn't have to, because the purpose of Scanlan's mother being killed by goblins wasn't "we're going to avenge her"; it was to explain why he'd become a wandering bard and to inform how Sam played him. The Robert Sharpe plot for Jester never got much play because really, it was mostly as an establishing character moment and the reason why she left Nicodranas, not something that needed an extensive arc (nor something Laura seemed terribly interested in pursuing). We've never met Sabian or Tori; the twins never went back to Byroden during the campaign; Keyleth didn't find Vilya herself; Percy ended the campaign still with a lot of damage.

Which brings me to the final point which is that as anyone who's played a character-centric, GM-ed, longform advancement-style TTRPG should hopefully know, if there is a disconnect with what you as a player want to explore and with what your GM wants to play, and it's not in conflict with what was made clear from the start (ie, you didn't show up to the game the GM said would be Curse of Strahd and get mad that it was Curse of Strahd) it is the responsibility of the player to signal both in and out of game that this is something they want. If they don't, the GM will not know. But also, if you're wishing your favorite C3 character's backstory was explored in more depth, that character exists within the context of the moon plot. That is a part of who they are; they've grown around that plot and extricating them from it would necessarily destroy parts of them. You can tell a butterfly effect story, certainly, in which things were different, but that's ultimately fanfiction and neither a theory nor what should have happened nor is it an injustice to the character that it didn't happen. It's just what you wanted to have happened.

[saphirered]

I saw that your requests were open and because i loved the last one i sent in here's another one.

I hope this is good with the rules, if i need to explain something about it you can hit me up via messages.

This basically plays in the last episode of Critical Roles Vox Machina. Where Vax goes with the Raven Queen to become the next Champion Of the Ravens. Instead of Keyleth being Vax's lover how about it's the Reader they say good bye and years in the future the reader is on their deathbed and sees Ravens around them before Passing and Seeing Vax again.

I just want some Hurt Comfort because I've been crying my eyes out over the last Episode after watching through VM again.

Hurt/comfort it is! Thank you for requesting and hope you enjoy! 😘

He knew this day would come. The Matron of Ravens had given him the gift of a goodbye. He didn’t know whether to curse or bless her for it. Not when Vax saw your face, the tears you held back, the way you bit the inside of your cheek to keep your lips from trembling, and the tightening of your throat. It’s heart wrenching. Worse. Because he knows if he goes- no when he goes he leaves behind his heart. It belongs with you. It’ll always belong with you. The further out of your reach he is, the more he feels he’ll lose himself, lose sight of who he used to be in the mess that is this divine game of chess that goes beyond even the heroes of Tal’dorei. Never did he think he’d be able to love someone so much as you. When he flies you give him a reason to return to the ground, to remind him of the world around him but once he’s gone, once you’re just out of reach, what then? Will he be flying until he can no more? He needs you, and you can’t follow where he goes. 

You’ve been trying to stay strong. On the one side you hoped that battle never ended, that you’d forever spend those moments with him, that the raven bitch would never be able to lay claim to him for the bargain made. You hoped for a loophole, for some kind of justice in this world but you know you would find none. You did what you could with the time granted to you both. You don’t know what’s worse; knowing time would run out or having him suddenly torn away from you. You don’t want to find out. You feel as if you’re being left with the pieces, to reassemble the ones that’ll never again fully fit right and forever be out of place. You’ve had to make your peace with that together and you did, but that doesn’t make this hurt any less. 

Vax stands in front of you. The others have given you a moment, one moment for a final goodbye. You don’t know if you’ll ever see each other again. You simply don’t know. With a shaky breath he holds your hands in his, runs his thumb over the backs, still littered with the remaining signs of battle and conflict. He knows he will see you. He’ll keep an eye out whenever he can, should that goddess let his tether allow him to go that far, but you won’t know he’s there. His fear is perhaps one day he won’t even remember you but how could he forget the one that holds his heart, guards it for the rest of your life and beyond. It will always belong to you. He’ll always belong to you. He loves you. That is a simple truth not even a goddess can change. 

“You have no idea how much I love you.” His voice cracks as he speaks and he watches the silent tears collect in your eyes. You squeeze your eyes shut. The tears spill and you hold on tighter; a grip that grounds him to this earth and reminds him this is real. 

“Why must it hurt so much?” You manage to speak as you open your eyes once more. Vax brushes away your fallen tears. He takes a deep breath. 

“Because this was real. It’s unfair but it’s really. And long after I’m gone, it’ll still be real. I’ll love you to the end of these worlds and beyond. Even when I’m not there to tell you. I want you to remember; I love you.” He carefully repeats those last three words with as much confidence and reassurance he can, despite the tears falling from his own eyes. He has not the care to wipe them away, or stop them for that matter. You take a deep breath and nod more to yourself than to him as if you’re reassuring yourself. You cup his cheeks, following each mark and feature as if committing them to memory, as if you’d forget them. 

“I’ll love you through this world and the next, until they come falling apart. I’ll love you and in my heart I know we will meet again. One day, I promise you, we will meet again  and when that day comes, I will never let you go.” You have never made a vow more true in your life. Vax knows it too. Not even his mind can counter the implications of those words. They are a simple fact. Though he wishes he hopes, he feels as if hope is not involved in this matter at all. Not when you made this vow. You will keep it. He is unsure if it’ll hurt him beyond measure, or if it is another blessing, to see you one last time, to know he’ll see you, and be reminded of his heart. 

“You are my heart.” He guides one of your hands to his chest. “Forever it is yours.” 

“And I will keep it safe. For as long as you keep mine.” You entwine your fingers with his and gently lean in. Your lips meet his in a soft kiss; one of intent and one binding like a true promise, like a bargain struck or a deal made. He’ll make any deal when it comes to you. He’ll offer up all he has to bargain with, for you. Even though he has nothing left but you and the memories of you and those he will not part with. He belongs with you as you belong with him. Whether it be a decade or a century, he will wait an eternity if he must. 

When you finally part, and he steps away, into the embrace of raven feathers you weep your silent tears, as does he, as do your friends. Vax knows you’ll be in good hands. You’ll have them. He’ll watch over you, he’ll watch over you all and be your guardian. You will find him in the feathers of the raven’s black, and the wings upon the wind. You will find him in the knife sharp and the kindness of heart. You will carry him with you always. Your paths will cross again even if it will be in pain and heartache. 

————

Many years have passed. They in and of themselves seem like an eternity, no matter the happiness shared, a part is always missing. You have seen your friends find love and happiness and build their families, achieve greatness and change the world. You’re happy for them and happy to be part of their lives, you’re happy to be part of that change. Change comes with risks. And the world changes fast. Enemies rise and fall but the larger underlying schemes and plots reveal themselves slowly, centuries in the making. Not all are enemies that can just be fought, or at least not without consequence and risk. New heroes rise. Their era has come and they must shape this world into the next, to leave it better than they found it. You intend to keep that circle going. Fight today for a better tomorrow. Your friends do too but they cannot afford to make the same sacrifices they might have made in the past. They have other paths now. You would not let Vex and Percy leave their children orphaned or abandoned like they were. You would not send a people into chaos through the loss of the Voice of the Tempest. 

You would not let the closest of friends lose each other. You are part of that too. Should any of you fall, you would be mourned but as opposed to you they choose to live lives outside of adventure and the looming risk of death at every corner. It was no surprise for you, to do these things, to live this life, and compared to them the only thing you had to lose was them, the only thing they had to lose was you. Should you meet your demise you know it might affect them, hurt them even but they could live on. You would not stand in the way of their happiness and you could meet your end peacefully and fulfilled you’d have done everything in your power to make this world a better place for them. That is your legacy, your life and your promise because no matter what, you know where your promise leads. 

And that day finally comes. With enemies grown too bold, you joined the forces that fought against them. Another end to the world as you know it will not serve anyone well. They are willing to shed the blood of many to achieve this godless world, but that is not a price you’re willing to pay. You fought them, proved to be a liability and when that cut of magic hit you, that final blow, when your vision faded on the colour of pale silvery blonde and a cold stare, you knew the end would be there. You delivered one final blow. You managed to give an opportunity to those who needed it. Your life bought them time and you hope it is enough for their road to success. You have paved it, now they must take over. You have done your part. 

And as you lay there on the ground among the rubble and ashes, among the chaos, you do not feel the pain, you do not hear the noise or see the sky. You see the creeping darkness, hear the muffled words over the beat of wings. You feel a cold touch reach for you, caress your cheek. 

“I’m sorry it had to end like this. I wish you could have said your goodbyes.” You know that voice. You’ve not heard it in decades but you know it well. Despite the fact you take your last breath, you feel more alive than you have in a long time. You see the golden strand that connects you to the feathered half-elf above you. Your fingers wrap around his wrist and for the first time you feel him, you feel his touch and he feels yours. 

“So do I.” You breathe and expect the ache in your chest but find none. There is no pain in your heart and you feel as if you’re floating. You sit up as he kneels beside you and it takes you some time to realise you’re not among rubble and ruin but instead find yourself on the black marble hall of a place you have only ever been able to imagine; every bit as macabre as it is beautiful. 

He sees you, truly sees you. He touches you, to remind himself this is not some sort of dream, that you are real and this is true. His heart aches for the first time in decades and while he does not particularly likes the feeling he remembers you and for you he’ll endure. You brought his heart back to him and despite the circumstances he is glad to be the one to receive you here. He doesn’t know what comes next, he doesn’t know if you’ll be able to stay of if you’ll move on but for now you have this. You share this and this is real. He has changed and so have you. You are still as beautiful as he remembers you, still as bright as he has seen you and despite your previous pain you smile. You cup his cheek and press your lips against his as if not a moment has passed. All these years he’s felt so dead, and all it took to be reminded of what life was like was for you to show him. He won’t let you go this time around and he dares bet you won’t let him slip between the cracks either. 

[waltwhitmansbeard]

Sitting in the other one’s lap when they have no where else to sit(during appropriate times 👀) with Vaxleth, please?

Sitting in the other one’s lap when they have no where else to sit(during appropriate times 👀) going a lil off-script with this one and setting it in vamp machina, pre-kidnapping

Keyleth asks every night for three weeks straight until Vax finally relents. He doesn't know why she's so set on this, easily the dumbest idea she's ever had, but when she makes her eyes all big and shiny like that, what's he supposed to do, let her down?

So he takes her to a vampire bar.

It's the sleazy dive near the docks, the kind of place that the kind of girl like Keyleth would never accidentally stumble into. When he picks her up from her apartment, she's dressed in what he's sure she thinks is something incognito—skinny black jeans, one of his t-shirts, a baggy gray flannel, boots that have seen better days. And it's true, she looks the part—she looks fucking incredible, if he's being honest—but it's not going to change the fact that she smells undeniably human.

They take a taxi, and on the entire drive, Vax goes over the rules three more times, low so the cabbie doesn't hear. "Never more than two feet away from me, don't take any drink offered to you, keep Pike's holy symbol around your neck at all times—"

"—conjure sunlight if things get hairy, yes, I know." She rolls her eyes at him, but Vax can tell she's excited. "I promise, I'll be on my best behavior."

"Yeah, well, it's not you I'm worried about."

The cab pulls up outside the bar, which looks identical to every other brick-faced building around it, cracked sidewalks and all, and Vax gets out first, putting himself between her and the door. As he helps her out, he murmurs, "We can leave now. The night's still young, we can probably catch that movie you were telling me about."

She ignores him, brushing past him to head for the door. He scrambles to catch up to her. When they enter, it's exactly as he remembers: low lights, throbbing music, vampires and their rented donors lounging on all configurations of couches and tables. The whole place smells of copper and cigarette smoke, and instantly Vax is starving.

He keeps a hand firm around Keyleth's waist. Her presence does not go unnoticed; at least half a dozen of the closest vampires swing their eyes up and down her body, one obviously comparing her to the scantily-dressed woman his teeth in whose neck his teeth are currently buried.

Vax hates this place.

"C'mon." He starts to urge her toward a table farther away from the main bar area, but Keyleth resists. "What about a drink?" she asks, gesturing toward the bartender.

"You offering?"

Vax yanks Keyleth away from the burly, seedy vamp suddenly leering over her. "Fuck off," he hisses, letting his fangs finish the rest of the threat. He's not surprised when the other vamp slinks off; this place sucks, but at least it's generally understood that you don't eat off of anyone else's plate without permission.

There's a table free in the corner, which makes Vax antsy, but at least it's empty. As he shepherds a too-curious Keyleth towards it, he's stopped by an annoyingly familiar drawl. "Never thought I'd catch you here, brother."

Vax freezes. Keyleth stumbles, then turns to see what made him stop. "Are you...oh, wow." Her head swivels between Vax and his sister, who is seated at a booth along the wall across from two other vamps whose names Vax can't remember but whose faces he recognizes from the many, many nights he spent bouncing between haunts like this one. "You two look...I mean, you must be Vex!"

Keyleth is beaming, like this is always how she imagined meeting her boyfriend's twin sister. Vex is draped along the back edge of the booth, looking as casually sinister as ever, her eyes surveying Keyleth in a way that Vax knows means scrutiny, not hunger. "And you must be the witch." Her eyes swivel over to Vax. "You brought her here? And here I was thinking you stopped being fun when you started eating at home all the time."

Keyleth's cheeks tinge pink, and the other vamps—Vax is going to remember their names any second, he's sure of it—start to salivate at the smell of her blood pooling so close to the surface. Keeping his voice low, Vax murmurs, "Play nice, Vex'ahlia."

Vex throws her hands up in surrender. "I'm always nice, brother." She smiles sweetly at Keyleth. "Would you care to join us, darling?"

Before Vax can protest, Keyleth chirps, "Of course!" She eyes the seats beside Vex, which will definitely not fit the both of them. Undeterred, Keyleth grabs Vax by the arm and shoves him unceremoniously beside his sister. He's just managed to right himself when she perches on his lap, swinging her legs beneath the table. "There!"

Everyone stares at her, Vax easily the most dumbfounded. She's never been like this. Keyleth tends to be shyer than most, preferring to keep her affections behind closed doors, which is more than fine with Vax—so sitting on his lap and playing with the fine hairs at the nape of his neck in a den of vampires and iniquity is about as far from the Keyleth he knows as she can get.

Vex, on the other hand, seems bemused. "You are a wild thing, aren't you?" She leans in, teeth glittering in the light of the candle in the middle of the table. "I can see why my brother likes you."

"And I can see why he speaks so highly of you. You're so confident. I admire that."

"Aren't you sweet?" Vex whacks Vax's shoulder. "You should be sweet like her."

"Oh, he's plenty sweet." Her fingers have abandoned his hair and are now playing with the sensitive tip of his ear, and even in the tense atmosphere of this bar, it is...doing something to him. "He's a real gentleman, walks me home from work, brushes my hair out before bed, always stops drinking before I get dizzy—"

Vax chokes. "Keyleth—"

The woman across from Vex—Jenna? Jemma? It's driving him crazy—smirks. "Quite the pair you two make. I don't suppose you ever share..."

"Oh, I don't share." Keyleth lifts the hand that isn't torturously teasing his ear, and Vax's eyes blown wide when small sparks of sunlight dance between her fingers.

The vampire couple shies away with a hiss, and then the man grumbles, "We should go." The two slip easily out of the booth and disappear among the crowd.

Just like that, Keyleth slumps against Vax's chest, barely giving him enough time to catch her before she slides off his lap. "That was a lot."

"I'll fucking say. I've never seen you act like that before."

She smiles sheepishly. "Did you see her face when you walked up? She wanted to eat you up." She shrugs. "I had to...educate her."

Oh, if they weren't in the most dangerous place in the city right now. Vax's jaw hangs low, but Vex's head tips back as she cackles. "Oh...oh I like you. Feisty little witch you've found yourself, Vax. I rather think this vine's got thorns."

Keyleth preens. Vax presses his lips to the crook of her neck. "And what lovely thorns they are."

[your-turn-to-role]

is there a canon reason why percy and vex broke up? did tal or laura ever say why exactly?

not to my knowledge? they mentioned a lot about the secret wedding, but the break up was mentioned offhand in the campaign wrap-up talks machina, when they were asked if there was anything anyone did during the year off that never came up in the campaign

i will say though that in quite a few talks machinas tal and laura talk about perc'ahlia like a celebrity relationship (or specifically say "yeah we're one of those couples"), and that's a thing you tend to see fairly often with celebrities that end up in tabloids - they have a complicated life, they break up and get back together quite a bit, so i think part of it is tal and laura having fun playing that drama and letting them be those disaster celebrities

if you want my speculation on an in-canon reason though? i think the commitment freaked them out

like vex has always had issues surrounding stability, she's not had it in her life since she was a little kid, and she's just made excuses to herself her whole life that she's fine because she doesn't want stability - she just wants her brother and to keep moving and to never have to worry about putting down roots or forming emotional attachments because it hurts less that way. it's why she gets so jealous and snippy when vax starts showing interest in keyleth, and why she keeps shutting down his attempts to tell her he's moving to zephrah - she can't keep being flighty and only attached to her brother if he wants to settle down with someone else

as much as she loves percy, and they're good for each other, we know from the grey hunt trial that the idea of settling down with him scares her, because it's new, and because it means for the first time in a long time she has something to lose

percy is almost the opposite, he lost his entire family once already and he doesn't ever want to do that again. it's why he gets so vicious when scanlan leaves, because vox machina is his new family, and no one's allowed to tear that apart again (also why we get the really tentative "i know we don't always agree and i know i can be unkind, but... you know you're family, right?" to grog immediately after)

but a relationship is a whole new step, he trusts vex about as much as he does anyone, but this isn't just trusting her with his anger issues, or trusting her with his city, this is trusting her with the future, with his future, with always being around. i don't think he's confident enough to believe she loves him that much, that anyone could, and if he lets himself take that step fully, he has so much more to lose if something happens like it did last time

so it's all well and good when the relationship is new, when they're still trying things out, when it's flirty and it doesn't have to be serious if they don't want it to

even in moments where it's emotionally heavy, like percy's resurrection, it's still new and in the moment, they're not looking past what's immediately in front of them

(and even after that heavy moment, vex got nervous percy didn't like her back and decided to push it all to the back of her brain and not think about it - vax straight up told her to go chase him bc she deserved to be happy and she instead got drunk and changed the subject)

but then the fighting's over. they're not worried about their lives every day. no one died, they're both still here. and it starts to sink in with them that this isn't going anywhere. that this can be their forever, if they choose it. and that scares both of them, and when they get scared they tend to either wall themselves off or lash out, and both would cause a schism in their relationship. and then one day it turns into an argument and in the heightened emotion one of them says they should break up and the other agrees

and now they're emotionally safe, because if they cause the relationship to end on their terms it can't be pulled away from them unexpectedly

but they're not actually happy

and maybe they come to that realisation on their own, more likely they talk about it with their friends and vax and keyleth tell them they're being idiots

and then the question is what to do about it

it's possible they went slowly back into it

or, since we know their first marriage proposals were a dare, maybe they weren't even together again yet

i could see that being exactly the sort of thing they'd do if they wanted to get back together but they didn't want to be the first one to admit that they wanted to

skip the dating phase we already did that i dare you to marry me

and maybe they talk about it much later, maybe they don't

but i think by the time they got to the marriage, they'd realised they wanted this to be more than a casual thing, and it's still probably scary, but there's no one else they'd trust to get them through that fear and come out the other side