#vex’ahlia imagines

[gay-dorito-dust]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘You don’t think I am?!’ Vax hissed.

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

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

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

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

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

Pike heals your minor wounds.

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

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

Keyleth would kill for you

So would scanlan

And pike

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘You can’t-‘

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

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

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

‘That’s not true.’ She says.

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

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

[andi-o-geyser]

despite how you feel about the changes from the stream to the show, if you like or dislike them, i love how inherently hilarious the narrative path tlovm is taking regarding perc’ahlia is because a situationship would literally kill campaign percy and vex like how the internet would kill a small victorian child. they are NOT built for that

[demigoddessqueens]

Hello there so hear me out, male reader comes back from a mission with Vox Machina and as they're relaxing without even realizing it reader falls asleep on their thigh. After a nice good sleep the reader wake up an looks at them and says "You have some nice thighs"

this is so flirty 😆 but it’s vibes so well for them

Masterlist 11

Vex’ahlia

Oh tell her more please! Will stroke her hand along her thighs, asking what you like the most about them, tracing her fingers along your face too

Scanlan

Praise him anymore and his head is get bigger, makes a show of it especially if he tries to entice you with a new song

Pike

Arms crossed over your head as she dishes out some admirations made about you too, “two can play at this game”

Percy

A but taken aback by your forwardness but is also smug about your compliments, maybe a bit of a tease back

Vax’ildan

Given one his nicknames is “string bean”, he’s gonna ride out your compliment as long as he can, flexing his thighs if you’re nearby

Keyleth

She’s trying so hard not to blush but your compliments make her heart race, also stringing along her form of a compliment towards you too

Grog

He lets it go entirely to his head, purposely flexing them in front of you or over emphasizing

[soft--dragon]

Loosen Up

So recently I finished Vox Machina and if you haven't seen I highly recommend it!! SUCH a good show oh my lord. Can't wait for the third season to drop :D

You can view the relationships however you like, I don't mind ^^ (except Vex and Vax, they're siblings, don't be weird :/)

Word Count: 3,138

Warnings: Kinda spoils a plot line in season one but nothing major ^^

This is a SFW tickle fic, if you don’t like that then don’t read :)

It isn’t a secret that Percy is a bit of a stick in the mud.

Rarely did he let his walls down and simply be. Too caught up in his world of smoking guns and exploding inventions. A lifetime of heartache shutting his heart away in a cast iron keep that very few had a key to access. This also meant emotions such as joy, love, and contentment were rare to be exposed from behind those defensive gates.

That was before Vox Machina. 

A chaotic, rambunctious group of outcast individuals working with the skills they had to make it through another day. A ragtag family doing its best to survive in a world that would spit at their feet and tell them to fuck off. 

However, this family knew how to tell the world right back to fuck off too. 

Percy honestly couldn’t imagine his life with these people a few years ago, but now he simply could not fathom a reality without them. Tight-knit and stupid and loving, never faulting in their care. It was something Percy told himself to never take for granted, no matter how much they tested his patience. 

Much like tonight, where he was being subjected to the most irritating forces known to man: Vex and Vax when they were on the hunt for entertainment.

Percy is sitting near the fire, sketchbook in hand with rough charcoal drawings of new inventions scattering the pages. Vex and Vax have boxed him in by sitting on either side, peering at his notes and asking such incomprehensibly odd questions Percy wanted to know who the hell tutored these two monsters.

Honestly Vax, why would a pistol need a compartment for snacks? 

It took almost fifteen minutes before Percy's patience gave in and the notebook snapped shut with a dull thud. “Are you two quite finished?” Percy demands, staring at the duo with a narrow gaze. 

Vex grins, raising a hand in surrender. “We’re curious about your new inventions, love. Is there something wrong with that?”

Percy huffs, tucking his book into the folds of his jacket that is laid not too far from the flames, warming up for the night ahead. “Only when you keep badgering me to make a glove that turns whatever it touches into gold.”

“It would be quite helpful, dear.”

“And far out of my current capabilities, I’m not a wizard.”

“Oh, give yourself some credit, Freddy,” Vax grins. “Grow a beard and I’d say you’re plenty wizard-like. With your lifespan, you’ll need a cane before you know it, and it could act as your staff.”

Percy glares at him under half-lidded eyes. “Thank you, Vax’ildan,” he says sarcastically. “Remind me that I will die much sooner than the rest of you, just what I needed to hear tonight.”

Vex snickers, gently bumping his shoulder with her own so those green eyes look at her. “Oh come on, we’re just messing with you, Percival. What’s got you so grumpy this time?”

Percy gave her a mildly incredulous look. “I’m not grumpy.”

“He says while glaring, and with a bitter tone of voice,” Vax murmurs with a grin. 

Percy shoots him a dry look which the male elf only laughs at. “See? That’s exactly what I mean, man!”

Vex’ahlia laughs, dropping her arms over her bent legs and cocking her head to the side. “What is it gonna take to make you loosen up, Percy?”

“A good bottle of wine, some peace and quiet, and a book.”

“We have two silver to our name and a bear,” Vax counters. “Can’t quite match your aristocrat taste, but Trinket tells great stories.”

Trinket, nestled comfortably at the edge of the cave where the other party members are conversing, does not indicate that he knows, nor cares that his owners are talking about him. Percy envied that damn bear, able to go to sleep and easily block out the surrounding sounds. What a dream life. 

“Trinket is busy sleeping,” Percy tells them, “his stories will have to wait.”

Vex isn’t dissuaded by Percy’s bristling attitude, instead leaning more into his personal space just because she can. “Darling,” she says, “We just want to help you relax, is this such a big ask?”

“...Yes.”

“Aeugh, the drama of this man,” Vax chuckles through an exasperated breath, elbowing Percy’s side gently. 

The white-haired human flinches away from the contact with a start, his hand shooting down to rub the area. “Yes, yes, you’ve stated I am a dramatic piece of shit more than once, Vax. I believe your point is made.” 

The twins aren’t listening to Percy’s grumbles. The second he flinched, they’d locked eyes, a conversation played out with expression alone.

Vex narrows her gaze. Hurt?

No. Healed by Pike from the last mission.

Just startled, then? 

Seemed more than that. He knew we were right there.

So what are you thinking? 

Perhaps…

Vex perks a brow at her brother when his expression suddenly brightens in some kind of realization. Her eyes flit over to Percy who was unaware of their silent musings, still resolutely crossing his arms with a scowl that the fire did not deserve to be subjected to. She looks back to her sibling who is grinning now. Vax gives a small flex of his fingers, his eyebrows jumping up and down. Understanding hits Vex and her smile turns evil, nodding minutely. They wink at each other, the excitement for a game making them giddy though they contained it. Couldn’t let Percy catch on too early after all. 

“Percy~” Vex coos in her sultry voice, not missing the slight twitch in his face from her tone. The sight makes her all the more eager to extract the plan she and her brother had silently communicated. She lifts her fingernails to her eyes to examine them. “You sure we can’t convince you to loosen up at least a little?”

There was a scoff. “I’d like to see you try,” Percy muttered.

Oh excellent, an invitation. 

“Well, if the man insists, Stubby, who are we to ignore him?” Vax leaps for the opportunity with a grin that’s all charm and Cheshire-like. 

“I agree,” Vex smirks. “Shall we?”

Simultaneously, the two half-elves grab one of Percy’s wrists each and fling him onto his back, his arms being pinned by his head. A startled yelp leaps out of the human, the sudden gravity shift leaving him to stare up at the pair of matching grins. He tugs at his arms. They won’t budge. 

“What the hell are you doing?” Percy asks, bewildered and slightly on edge. 

“You said we could try and loosen you up,” Vex answers.

“By wrestling me to the dirt and pinning me down?” 

“Oh no, we just had to get you in a better position, dear heart,” Vax smirks.

“A better pos- for what?” 

The bemused and exasperated question only delights his captors further, and this is where Percival Fredrickson de Rolo the Third realizes a very fatal error. He had been encouraging the chaotic force that was the Elf Twins. He'd practically been asking for trouble. This realization only sinks in further when Vax’s free hand comes down to rest on Percy’s clothed stomach.

“Percy, you wouldn’t happen to be ticklish would you?” 

Oh.

Oh gods, no.

Memories spring to Percy’s mind of laughing himself hoarse while dogpiled under his siblings from the silly battles. The sensations scuttling everywhere, unstoppable and unbearable. His realization shows up in his face in the form of a pink flush and the beginnings of a wobbly grin that he desperately tries to keep under control.

“Oh, I see a smile trying to come out there!” Vex leers keenly, lowering her own hands to wiggle her fingers close to Percy’s side, delighting in his immediate response to wriggle away despite his efforts to seem indifferent to his dilemma. 

“V-Vex, this is ludicrous-” Percy splutters, his grin becoming wider by the second, his resolution foiled from years of inexperience in this game. 

“So you are ticklish, then?” Vax questions, his fingers gently pressing from where they are resting atop Percy’s lean stomach. 

The flinch and sharp intake of breath was answering enough. Percy’s ears were starting to burn from the attention, torn between wanting to wrench away and escape this playful teasing, or staying and trying to muscle through in a show of defiance. 

“I’m- it’s been a very long time since someone has tried,” Percy answers stiffly. 

The way the twins lit up made him cringe back, instantly knowing that was the worst thing he could’ve said.

“Well now we have to tickle you,” Vex exclaims like her word is law. Though, with her role in the group, it may as well be. 

Percy is most definitely blushing now. It was honestly adorable. “N-No you don’t!” He protests, his boots now shuffling into the dirt in hopes of dislodging his sudden capture. “I’m not even tihicklish!” Damn it.

“Was that a laugh?” Vax coos, delighting in a sound so rare from Percy who barely even grins on a good day. Percy is doing his best to try and become an ostrich with how far he’s turning his flushed face into the ground, stumbling refusals not quite managing to leave his lips coherently. 

“Why my dear brother, I think it was,” Vex chuckles. ‘Shall we see what else we can pull from our resident sour puss?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Electricity crackles through Percy’s sides and stomach in a split second, a strangled sound being pulled from a forgotten section of his vocal cords. His whole body instantly jack-knifes, legs trying to pull to his stomach to protect the sensitive areas suddenly under attack. Stubbornness makes him clamp his lips shut and bite his tongue, not wanting to give the twins the satisfaction of hearing him laugh again. He refused.

“Hmm, seems we’ve got a stubborn one in our hands, Vex,” tuts Vax, his fingers probing up and down Percy’s ribcage, noting every flinch and muffled grunt let out by the human. 

“Oh don’t worry, he’ll crack eventually.” Her eyes meet Percy’s and her smile makes his stomach twist in anticipation. She winks. “They all do.”

Her hand starts to slink down to his hip bones and- Nope. Nope. Nope. Not gonna happen, he’d rather get possessed by a demon again. Percy’s struggling kicks up, trying to find momentum with his legs to dislodge the grip pinning his wrists to the cave floor, still fighting not to crack as Vax’s fingers deftly squeeze his sides. He almost manages to heave himself to sit up, but a well-placed scratch at his lower back sends him crashing back down. His legs fly up to his stomach again, desperate to protect some part of his sensitive body while his chest shakes with restrained laughter. 

“Uh uh, not yet mister, we’re not done with you until you laugh~” says Vex, her hand dropping to lightly scuttle behind Percy’s knee that was right beside her.

Percy yelps, immediately kicking his legs back out, and scrunches into himself in a fast motion. The reaction made the twins pause, and he knew he was royally screwed. 

“Interesting, he might be like you. I think the gentler stuff works better on him,” Vex says to her brother, her hand dropping to Percy’s hips once more and scuttling her nails featherlight across the man’s skin.

“NoHAHaha!” Percy protests, his yelp swimming between stolen laughter that tries vainly to escape his throat, his head being tossed back against the floor as his body tries to do an emergency lockdown on his vocal cords. 

“Brilliant, sister,” Vax chuckles, and before Percy can prepare himself, he spiders his claws up along Percy’s stretched torso with a softened touch.  

Immediately, Percy sputters, and the dam finally cracks. “S-Shihihihit! Vehehex! Vahahax! Ohoho gohohod!” Percy gasps out through fits of boyish laughter, a sound so out of character for the gunslinger that it takes the twins aback in surprise.

His cheeks are flushed a rosy pink, standing out against his pale complexion and white hair. A wide, mirthful smile cracked out against his brooding face, nose scrunching in a way that couldn’t be described as anything but endearing. His body didn’t know whether to fight or fold, the long-forgotten instinct of childhood leaving him withering and laughing from the soft fingertips spidering along sensitive skin.

“Well, how about that,” Vax murmured, something gentle in his voice despite the mean wiggling of his nails on a particularly sensitive rib. “He can laugh.”

“Oh much more than that, dear brother,” Vex smiled fondly. “He isn’t grumpy now.”

Experimentally, her fingers swirl up Percy’s unprotected ribs to dance gently under his arm to see if it would have much effect. Oh, and it does. Percy practically squeals. High-pitched and panicked and childlike, his struggles for his pinned arms make a reappearance as the sensitive hollows are attacked by softly brushing nails. 

“Nononononohohoho VEHEehehex!” He pleads, scuffing the heels of his shoes into the floor in a half-baked bid for relief. “Fuhuhucks sahahake!” 

“That is utterly adorable,” Vax laughs, his own hand coming up to stroke deftly down Percy’s arm from wrist to armpit in a maddening pattern of soft touch. The strokes only elicit more half-bitten squeals and squeaks of protest, most noises swallowed up or blended into Percy’s laughter.

He knew he should feel embarrassed, his pride shattered into pieces from a few measly fingers and well-picked words to crack his defenses, but Percy couldn’t recall a time he’d last been in the middle of a play fight such as this. The sensations are foreign but not forgotten, too much and yet not enough at the same time. It was a conflicting state of escape or endure.

However, when Vax slipped a hand under his buttoned shirt to ghost gentle nails on his bare lower back, he was pretty sure his body got struck by lightning. 

“VAHAHAX! OHOHOhoho mihihy gohohod plehehehease! P-PLEHEhehehease!”” 

Vex and Vax pause in their movements and watch with awed amusement as Percy laughs himself mad from the briefest touch to his back, his full-bodied laughter quickly melting down into rich, honey-sweet giggles that shake his entire body. It didn’t seem real, that a sound so adorably childish could come from Percy’s mouth, and yet here he was, half curled on the ground, giggling up a storm. 

Vex and Vax share a fond, endeared smile and let go of Percy’s wrists, leaning away so he could have space to collect himself. The human wheezes through his tumbling giggles, his arms shifting to wrap around his middle as he slowly calms down. His eyes, which had been tightly closed, flutter open to show mirthful tears at the edges.

“F-Fuhucking hehehell,” he gasps, “I thohought I wahas gohohing to dihie.”

“Oh relax, we like you too much to kill you,” Vex snickers, offering her hand to Percy. She has to hold back a snort when he flinches mildly at her fingers, eyeing them distrustfully. “We’re done,” she promises.

After a suspicious look, Percy grasps her hand and allows her to tug him into a sitting position. One of his arms is still wrapped protectively around his stomach, his hand reaching far enough to rub that damn spot Vax had tickled for three seconds which caused him to fall apart. 

“Remind me to never piss you off,” Percy rasps, taking off his glasses to rub the tears in his eyes away.

Vax leans over to his supplies to snatch up his water skin, offering it to Percy who took it gratefully. “So,” Vax starts, watching Percy drink water like he hadn’t had it in years. “Soft touch and bad back, huh?”

Percy almost chokes. With a rough swallow, he recorks the water skin and clears his throat, stubbornly not looking at either of the twins. “Like I said, it’s been a long time. I didn’t think I still even was… well, you know.”

“What? Ticklish?’

Vex’s gentle tease makes Percy’s face burn for what felt like the millionth time that evening. He shoves his glasses back on his face despite the heat in his cheeks making them fog up mildly. The reaction makes the twins chuckle.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed, Percy dear,” Vex soothes, an arm wrapping around his shoulders and rubbing gently at the nape of his neck - tension knotting the area from hours of leaning over a workbench while inventing. Percy winced at the attention, both from the anticipation of another attack and the ache of his tense muscles. 

“It’s embarrassing,” Percy grumbles without much heat, sounding like a petulant kid. “My siblings always ganged up on me because of it.”

“You have a nice laugh, I can see why they would,” Vax hums, tucking his water skin back into his nearby cloak.

The surprised look on Percy’s face almost made Vex tackle him back to the floor and tickle him again just so he could hear how precious his laugh was. She held herself back though, he’d had enough for tonight anyway. He hadn’t been tickled in years, he’d need to be introduced back to the game slowly. Tonight was an excellent first lesson. 

“So, Percy’s ticklish then?”

The sudden voice made the trio jump and look up to the other side of the cave where the rest of Vox Machina were watching them with grins. Scanlan, who’d asked the question, chuckled at the human’s sudden flush. “Yeah no, we saw the whole thing, de Rolo. Don’t expect this to be the last time, that was cute as fuck.”

Grog chuckled deeply. “Very cute,” he agreed in that rumbling voice of his. Pike, who was sat atop his shoulder nodded enthusiastically in agreement. 

“Had no idea you could laugh like that, Perce,” she chirped, glancing at Keyleth who giggled softly. 

“It was quite sweet,” the Air Ashari tacked on.

Percy stared at the group of people he called family, his eyelid twitching slightly and cheeks flushed a rosy pink. His gloved hands come up to press over his face, knocking his head into his bent knees, wishing the floor would just cave in and murder him quickly. 

“Aww, I think we’re embarrassing him,” Vax cooed, his hand resting atop Percy’s head and gently ruffling his hair in a brotherly fashion. “It’s alright, Giggles, you know we do it out of love.”

“F’ck off and die,” came the muffled grumble buried into Percy’s hands.

The twins cackled, pleased that they not only thoroughly shattered Percy’s indifferent demeanor, but got him flustered beyond repair from simple, playful affection and loving words. They were gonna have fun with this new information. It was their right as a family to carry on the de Rolo tradition of making Percival Fredrickson de Rolo the Third laugh, they wouldn’t let Percy’s late siblings down on that front.

[blorbologist]

How about Cassandra & Kynan for 29? 💛

29. Drumbeat of the Dunmer (Morrowind Soundtrack)

[TW for canon-typical gore and zombie shenanigans. Kept under the cut.]

They should have used the damn teleportation circle. 

But nooooo - the carriage rocks as someone crashes into it, then bucks again as the team of horses jostles in terror. Cries and gunshots sound far more distant outside until a bullet rips through the window like cloth.

‘Cass, you need to travel more!’ - Cassandra is rifling through her affects for her rapier. The hilt is perfect in her hands; the blade tears through the dress she’d worn because Vex’ahlia insisted this would be more comfortable for the long journey -

‘There’s so much outside of Whitestone for you to see!’ - what she sees as she opens the door, guard up, is the torso of an undead giant crawling towards a lone rifleman drawing it away. She mistakes the legs for trees, over there, haloed by fresh blood. 

‘It’s quite enjoyable!’ he said - she swallows the nausea (to imagine she was once used to the smell) and steps over a body (don’t look, don’t look) to peer past the throng of guards.

“Lady de Rolo!” Trisha snaps, harsher than Cassandra has ever heard her. “Please return to your carriage -”

“What are our losses?”

Her guard hesitates. “Only one.” Better numbers than Cassandra expected - her brother’s rifles are really paying for themselves. “But we have a couple of recruits who won’t be fit to ride, my Lady -”

Cassandra has stopped listening. The crawling giant, entrails trailing after it like festive ribbons, looks about the same size. But the figure it’s chasing is getting smaller and smaller. “Kynan? Trisha, is that Kynan?” 

(Captain Leore. Captain Leore, not Kynan, but she’s too scared to maintain professionalism.)

Trisha does not answer; she immediately (and correctly) guesses what Cassandra is about to do and puts that time to better use lunging for her charge. The Guardian of the Woven Stone, however, grew up with six older siblings and easily ducks out of the way. And she runs.

Now that she has a closer look, it’s embarrassing that she did not recognize Kynan sooner: his stupid feathered hat stands out against the Parchwood’s gnarled trees and all the blood. He’s backing up as he reloads, just enough to keep out of the giant’s long reach - but occupied with his task he only occasionally checks the terrain behind him. 

Her heart stumbles at the thought of him tripping. The tear in her dress serves her well, splitting wider and wider with each stride as she picks up the pace. 

Kynan does not trip; he backs up into a tree, glancing behind himself in shock. And then he trips over its roots as he scrambles to get behind the trunk as the giant lunges at him with a gurgling roar. 

Cassandra would like to say she does not think before leaping in to save him.

Except she does think: that the edge of the canopy will potentially impede the arms if it tries to reach up, that the head is so much bigger close to the ground, that even if she’s wrong she can’t not do anything, that it’s Kynan, that Delilah always complained about her creations’ weak point.

One step - her foot sinks into the rotting flesh of its shoulder, stabilizing on the shoulderblade. Another - back of the neck, the vertebrae keep her foot steady. One more - she launches herself onto the head. The cloudy, grey-green pupils begin to look up. They don’t have time to focus on her as Cassandra drives her rapier into the giant’s eye.

Human eyeballs are roughly the size of a golf ball. This is far, far larger. Cassandra is up to her elbow - elbows, two hands on the hilt for more force - in viscous material and fluid, and then up to her shoulder as something gives and the blade hits home. 

She’s jostled as the giant’s arm falls with a crash, catching on an unfortunate tree. Breathing heavily, she tugs her rapier. And tugs again. And again. 

“Oh, wow.” Kynan says from where he fell. Cassandra does not dare look up. If she keeps staring at what’s left of the massive pupil, at her arm in the pupil, perhaps she’ll be able to - “I - wow. Hang on, I’ve got you.”

Kynan takes her by the shoulders and give a firm tug. It does free her, yes, but it also sends Cassandra skidding down from her precarious perch - Kynan catches her here, too, and steadies her.

The flush of exertion quickly turns into one of embarrassment. Her dress is absolutely ruined. There will be no salvaging this. 

Cassandra clears her throat. The effect is ruined by her gasping for breath. “I - well done, Captain Leore. Excellent work. Are you hurt?”

“Yes, my Lady - I mean no!” he stammers. “I’m fine. Thanks to you - so. Thank you, really. And - oh, no. You’ve got something - well.”

Kynan fishes for what turns out to be a pathetically small kerchief. When he steps forward to offer it to Cassandra, he visibly winces. That won’t do. She wedges herself under his arm. His wobbly protests are mostly excuses about bothering her, and not related to how the eyeball goo is now all over him, too.

“Whitestone is only five hours behind us,” Cassandra says, raising her voice (the remainder of the guard detail jumps to attention). “We will turn around and head home to bathe and rest - I’ll organize teleportation to Westrunn tomorrow.”

More quietly, she says, “And you will ride in the carriage with me, understood?”

“Yes, Lady Cassandra,” Kynan says meekly.

(Once they are in the carriage, she uses his kerchief to dab at the mess of blood at his temple, livid and relieved in equal measure. 'Quite enjoyable', he said! Oh, she’ll give Percival one hell of a verbal thrashing when they get back!)

For my Spotify Wrapped Prompt Game!

[ravendruid]

A Trip to Byroden

This fic surged from a conversation with my friend @crispysnake where they asked me if I ever thought about Keyleth visiting Byroden. I was immediately inspired to write this piece, so I hope you all enjoy it.

“Lady Vex’ahlia,” The voice comes from one of the young maids, who popped her head in the gap between the double doors of the library. Vex’ahlia lifts her gaze from the storybook she was reading with Vesper, who also looks up from her lap. “Lady Keyleth is here. She wishes to see you.”

Keyleth? Vex wasn’t expecting the woman anytime soon. She nods her approval and the maid bows before closing the door behind her. Before Vex’ahlia has time to ask Vesper to sit on the couch by her side, the little girl jumps up from her lap and runs, screaming, “Aunt Keyleth!”

Keyleth’s staff, the Vestige of Divergence created by Melora, clatters onto the wooden boards at her side as her arms are suddenly full of a cheery Vesper. Her mane of white hair fills the crook of Keyleth’s neck, and the smell of lemon-verbena warms her from the inside.

“Keyleth, darling,” Vex’ahlia rises from her seat and approaches the woman who gets on her feet with the child at her hip. The sight brings a pang of sorrow to Vex’s heart. She knows her brother always wanted children, but she never dared ask his girlfriend if she felt the same. No matter what Keyleth’s feelings are towards having kids, Vex can only imagine how hard it must be for Keyleth to get that choice taken away from her before she could figure it out. “I wasn’t expecting you,” She adds, giving her sister a side hug. 

“I’m sorry to come unannounced,” Keyleth apologizes. Vex’ahlia realizes the maid used her informal title, and taking a second look at her former companion of adventures, Vex notices the woman is not wearing her traditional diplomatic Voice of the Tempest garbs, but a plain white, cotton shirt under a leather corset and a green skirt. The only things that would reveal to the world that Keyleth is more than a regular mid-twenty-year-old woman (sweet Pelor, Keyleth still looks the same as when they met almost a decade ago) are the high pair of antlers atop her head from her circlet, the crooked staff (still forgotten on the floor), and the mantlet of autumnal leaves across her shoulders (the shortest, most practical form of Keyleth’s large Mantle of the Tempest).

Continue reading on AO3.

[star--joy]

5 Times People Thought Percy and Vex Were Dating...

And the one time they decided to prove them right.

Chapter Four: Jarett

-

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Warnings: None

Words: 1353

Originally posted: 6/15/22

Ao3 link: archiveofourown.org/works/43509219/chapters/120750616

Jarett’s smile is small but smug as he rapidly lifts his cross-bow and lets two bolts fly through the air, landing perfectly in the center two different bulls-eyes. Awed eyes drift in his direction, observing his carefully practiced skill. His smile ticks up a little more.

“You just did that to show off,” Vex accuses, lowering her own bow and leveling him with a knowing look.

“Maybe,” he agrees, unashamed. That’s his favorite part of the archery range: the amazed looks he receives from all the beginners as he hits target after target without breaking a sweat.

Vex chuckles, a gleam making itself at home in her eyes. “If you really want to show off, darling, we could have a competition.”

Jarett chuckles, quick to shake his head. “I’m not that foolish, Vex. A wise man knows when to turn down a losing challenge.” Although Jarett has practiced with professional trainers and the best of equipment his whole life, he is well aware that Vex has a confusing level of skill that even he can’t best. If she had any interest, he’s sure she could make it to the Olympics. Would probably win gold, too.

“Stop being boring,” Vex grumbles, not even breaking her attention from him as she pulls back another arrow and lets it soar, hitting the mark precisely.

“Boring? Me? Oh, Vex’ahlia, now it’s you who’s being the fool. I’m sure I could show you a good time in many other ways,” he hums, throwing her a wink.

Vex’s laugh echoes through the field, loud and unrestrained. Jarett grins, even blowing her a cheesy kiss to get some more giggles. She pretends to catch it, holding the imaginary kiss to her chest dramatically.

The clearing of a throat slices through their fun. Behind Vex, a man has approached. Jarett vaguely recognizes him from around campus, though they’ve never interacted, and the tight expression painted over his face makes him straighten.

Vex glances over her shoulder, but shares none of Jarett’s caution. Instead, her face lights up. “Percy!”

The man, ‘Percy’, attempts to cover his frustration with a strained smile. “Hope you don’t mind me stopping by. Just thought I’d bring you some lunch,” he hums, doggedly not looking at Jarett. Sure enough, he holds a paper bag in his hand that no doubt contains a meal.

The smile that settles onto Vex’s face is one Jarett has never seen before. She’s always seemed to have an edge to her, whether it’s playful or serious, but this little grin is the softest thing he can imagine. “You didn’t have to do that, darling,” she hums, propping her bow on the ground and unstrapping her gloves.

Percy shrugs, some of that discontent melting away. “Yes, well,” he stutters, pale pink dusting the tip of his nose. “You’re always badgering me about coming down here, anyway.”

Vex giggles, standing on her toes to lightly kiss his cheek.

Jarett is only brought back to himself when he registers his cross-bow slipping from the slackened muscles in his hands. He just barely manages to regain his hold before it goes tumbling to the ground.

Vex is seeing someone?

Shit. He’d never actually liked her romantically, but they’re both flirtatious by nature. Even if it’s all jokes, he wouldn’t have gone that far if he’d known she’d been in a relationship.

And Percy certainly hadn’t seemed happy about it.

Fuck. The very last thing Jarett wants is to come between a relationship. That involves far too much drama.

“Come on, there’s a nice spot over here…” Vex says, leading Percy off without even a goodbye. Jarett watches them leave with a deep frown and a budding headache.

Perhaps he’ll have to talk with Percy, later, establish what the boundaries are.

For now, he goes back to his shooting and tries to ignore the clamor of laughter shared by the two of them.

*LINEBREAK*

When Jarett knocks on Percival de Rolo’s dorm, two days later, the door is opened by a redhead who greets him with a polite confusion. “Hi… um, can I help you?”

Jarett stares at her, eyes narrowing. “Hello. Is Percival here?”

She takes a small step back, and it occurs to Jarett that his tone was perhaps a bit more hostile than he intended, but he does not like the implication of a pretty girl being in the dorm room of Vex’s boyfriend. “Uh, no, he’s at class. Is everything okay?”

“What class would that be?”

“Fundamentals of Thermodynamics. Are— what do you need him for?”

“Just some homework help. Thanks,” Jarett grumbles, not bothering to stick around long enough to see if she believes him.

He may not be in love with Vex, but he does care about her. She’s a good fucking person, and if this Percival is cheating on her, well, Jarett can’t just do nothing. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stalks through the hallways, eyes searching the crowd for a distinct head of white hair.

He finds him walking out of class, and his stomach twists when he sees Vex by his side. Shit, he’d hoped to break the news to her in a more secluded place, far, far away from Percy.

Before he can back off, though, wait until they separate, Vex spots him. Her head cocks. “Jarett? What are you doing here?” she sounds suprised, but pleased.

Percy follows her gaze to find him, and smiles thinly.

Jarett lets out a low breath. “Can we talk, Vex?”

She frowns, leaving Percy’s side to approach him. “Is everything alright?”

And then Percy is approaching, as well, awkwardly hovering near Vex with that strained expression of jealousy. Jarett doesn’t hide his glare. “No. Listen, I don’t want to… make a scene, but—”

“Make a scene…? What are you talking about?”

“I— maybe we should do this somewhere else.”

Vex looks him over, eyebrows pushed together. “Alright. Percy, dear, I’ll just be a few minutes.”

Percy nods. “Of course. Shall I wait at your dorm?”

And Jarett knows, as he says it, that it’s a mistake, but he’s just so fucking angry at this prat’s nice-guy act that he can’t help but spit, “Oh, fuck you.”

Both Vex and Percy startle. “I beg your pardon?”

Jarett steps closer, eyes burning. “Don’t play dumb. I saw that girl in your apartment. How long have you been cheating on her?”

Silence. The people around them are openly staring, but he doesn’t care. Vex deserves so much fucking better.

“I… you mean to imply I’m cheating on… Keyleth?”

What.

“No— you’re cheating with her. On Vex.” His aggressive tone is suddenly undercut by confusion. What is he attempting?

And then, Vex giggles. It’s so out of place that both Percy and Jarett whip around to face her. She’s rubbing circles into her temples, but the laughter is unmistakable. “That’s not what’s happening, I promise you.”

“Vex, I— I’m sorry, but—”

She cuts him off. “If Percy were going to cheat on me, it wouldn’t be Keyleth. She’s his roommate, and they’re like siblings, but this is all really a moot point given that we’re not together.”

“I wouldn’t cheat on you at all—” Percy begins, frowning deeply.

“Like I said. A moot point. Percy and I are friends, nothing more.”

Jarett looks at Vex. Then at Percy. Back at Vex, trying to determine if this is some joke or prank or form of denial. Then closes his eyes and lets out a long groan. “Goddamnit.”

When he opens his eyes again, Vex looks faintly amused. “People really should stop jumping to conclusions.”

Percy huffs out a laugh.

“Look, I— Shit, I’m sorry.” His cheeks are burning, and he praises whatever god exists that the blush isn’t visible on his dark skin.

“No, I’m— it’s good to know you’d care. If something like that was happening,” Percy mumbles.

Jarett sighs. “Yeah. Listen, I’m going to go and… go somewhere else. Far away from here. Too awkward. Sorry again.” He’s practically running away before they have a chance to respond.

In the background, he can hear them chuckle, sounding as awkward as he feels.

[essayofthoughts]

Hey! If you're sharing excerpts, would you be willing to show something from the Beauty and the Beast AU?

Of course! This is a massive ways in, to be fair, but the first ideas I had for this AU were the origins/mechanisms of the curse and it was fun to write around that!

--

He’s woken by the insistent claws of his cat against his belly, apparently having decided that it was morning and therefore time for breakfast. His hand is still holding Vex’ahlia’s; when he disentangles their hand to find and don his glasses he sees them stir, eyes blinking open.

“Oh.”

Vex’ahlia doesn’t miss the note of surprise in his voice and tilts their head.

“Your eyes were green,” he says. “Yesterday.”

“Yes.” Vex says.

They’re not now.

“Percy?”

“I can’t tell if it’s a dark brown or dark grey,” he says. “But your eyes are almost-”

“Black.” He doesn’t think he’s imagining the pleased note in Vex’s voice.

“That’s good?” he asks anyway and is gratified when Vex nods. Gently their lips press against his.

“Very.”

The cat may want to move and get up and have breakfast but honestly Percy doesn’t, too mesmerised by the dark of Vex’s eyes, the way happiness and humour dance in their depths.

“Did-” he asks after a long moment of simply watching. “Did your brother also have dark eyes?”

Something in Vex’s expression lights up.

“Yes,” they say. “Yes he did.”

“Did you look alike?” He asks. “Before-” He gestures. “Whatever separated you and caused this?”

Vex nods and Percy doesn’t think he’s imagining the wet shine of their eyes.

So Vex was transformed. And now- now, perhaps, Vex is transforming back. Seemingly… because of him.

“Will you tell me about him?” He asks. He reaches out to touch the vine-plait that looks more like thick hair in the morning light and hopes the intent comes through. Tell me about you too.

Vex nods and when they speak their voice is damp. “All right,” they say. And then, as the cat loudly mews, “Over breakfast.”

--

[kikicalanmai]

Hi There. Some nsfw hcs for the members of vm pls jaja thx xoxo

Ahhhhh yes! I’m gonna go through each member for you!

Vox Machina in bed

Vex’ahlia

She’s in charge. No questions asked. But damn if she can’t figure out every little thing that makes you tick. She’ll master the secrets of your body and ruin you for anyone else. Likes leaving marks.

Vax’ildan

Loves rope. Wether it be tying you up or getting tied up, he’s prepared. He’s a beggar when you’re in charge, and absolutely insatiable. Can also be the gentlest, sweetest lover you could imagine. Very multi faceted.

Keyleth

Arguably the least experienced of the party. An excellent partner to try new things with. Not nearly as reserved in the bedroom as you’d expect. Really just wants to make you feel good. Prefers being submissive but can take control when the mood strikes.

Percy

Bottom. Will let you take control every time. Enjoys letting go and being used for pleasure. He will usually do exactly what he’s told, but can also play the brat extremely well. Loves being marked up by you.

Scanlan

Down for anything. And I mean anything. Role play, toys, bondage, you name it. Can even be gentle if the mood strikes. Loves using his mouth. Every hole is in play with him. Will make sure you cum no less than 3 times.

Pike

Not super into dom/sub dynamics or anything rough. A very gentle person. Prefers “love making” over “fucking” if you catch my drift. Likes neck kisses. Loves aftercare and snuggles.

Grog

Surprisingly gentle. Also hung. Prefers doggy style because of size difference. Likes to do most of the work. He absolutely loves hearing all the sounds you make while in bed with him

[romeoandjulietyouwish]

so hi !! today’s tag I’ve chosen to stalk was the band au and idk if this is just me making a stretch bc I love the song but I was thinking about Vax and Vex writing “Hello My Old Heart” by The Oh Hellos as like a personal song, but then I started to truly think about it and the song actually fits so well in my opinion.

It being about how after living with Syldor (and maybe also from Saundor as a bad ex on Vex’s part if he’s a part of this), they both built up walls to protect themselves from future hurt and disappointment, because Syldor was supposed to be their father and love them, but look how that turned out, right? They get into that mindset of “expect the worst from people because they’re always going to disappoint you.” The the twins meet Vox Machina and form the band, and they’re able to start tearing down those walls in the process., especially after they start growing closer with Percy and Keyleth. But they’re still scared to open their hearts again. Vax thinks that Keyleth deserves better than what he can give her. Vex worries she’s too broken for anyone to love, “Sweet, broken Vex’ahlia” echoing in her head. But with the support from their new found family, the ones who actually care about them and love them wholeheartedly, Vex and Vax overcome those fears and decide to go for it with Percy and Keyleth, going after something that they know will make them happy. And “Hello My Old Heart” is about that realization, that to recover and grow, you have to free your heart and seek out those new relationships that make you happy.

anyhoo this got away from me a little bit😅 but I love this song and the twins live in my brain like nothing else ever has (maybe bc I’m a triplet lol) but yeah! I hope you enjoy it and if you don’t know this song, I highly recommend it!

Oh my god hiiiii from a fellow multiple baby, I'm a twin! (btw you make me so happy when I see you going through a tag)

Hello My Old Heart makes me cry so much and this is just so fucking good holy shittttt

But just imagine the others hearing them practicing it and maybe they don't know the context but through their emotions, they can tell that it's about something deeply personal.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Fuck dude, I relate to the deadweight reader sm. Pls tag me when pt 8 is out

Here we are at last! The first part to the two parter finale! Thank you for supporting this series that came from a silly little idea and thank you all for seeing it get this far!

Again the stupid fucking ‘readmore’ isn’t going to be added as I don’t want half of the fic to be erased for no reason. Be it’s the new updates fault. 🤷‍♀️

“Where are we?” Keyleth asked, feeling a tad disheartened by the dead flowerbeds, dry grass the crunched like bones under foot and the decaying trees and polluted swamp that stretched out before them. “Shademurk Bog.” Their horned travel guide informed before pointing at the tree that sat at the heart of the bog. “And your friend is trapped inside there with Saurdon.” He adds.

“How are we meant to get inside? Blow it up?” Vex asked, hands on her hips and her brow cocked upwards. “That’s the idea.” The horned male says as though it’s obvious enough, “it’s an tree after all, a dead one, but a tree none the less.” The group shared looks between each other before arming themselves as they delved across the black goo swamp whisky also making sure to keep a clear mind as to not submit to Saurdon’s temptations. They were here for one reason and one reason that ever truly mattered to them; vestige or no vestige, you’ve became the treasure that they horde.

Now that someone has taken that treasure and they weren’t happy. They were furious. “Don’t worry y/n.” Vax said the closer they got to the tree that supposedly has you trapped. “We’re coming, just hang on tight.”

‘Lost, ostracised, alienated, overshadowed by your peers.’ Suardon listed off as he crept towards your still standing figure, your blacked out eyes stuck themselves to him and every action he did and yet you couldn’t find the power within to reach for your weapon and tear this twat a new arsehole. You were stun locked. Your free will to do anything was taken away, forcing you into obeisance.

‘You desire companionship that won’t treat you like a second thought or someone who is only there to be used and then quickly discarded until your services were called upon again, like a servant. You want to be treated more then just deadweight.’ He continues, stepping into your personal space now as his decrepit hand cusps your jaw as though he were handling porcelain.

‘You’re lonely y/n.” he utters in a hushed whispered as his face draw nearer and nearer to the point you could feel his breath brush against your skin, which made you feel more then repulsed then you were when you couldn’t do shit to stop this weirdo from touching your jaw. ‘I can fix that…for a price.’ Saurdon drawled, stepping just another step closer to you as you internally groaned. ‘If only you give me your heart.’

“Don’t listen to him sweetheart!” Vex’s voice cried from below, catching yours and Saurdon’s attention. “His words are void, empty promises that of which hide his true intentions!” Percy adds on.“We’re sorry! We’re so fixing sorry y/n. For everything!” Keyleth cries when she saw that the black in your eyes hadn’t disappeared after hearing Percy and Vex. “For the way we’ve ignored you, disregarded you, shunned you, distanced ourselves from you, all of that and so much more!”

Vax stepped in next to her when he saw that she was becoming too emotional to carry on her speech and seeing as he was the one to remain by your side since the tomb, he could only hope that his voice could reach you. He couldn’t loose you, not this time. Not here. “We know better now then to act as though we’ve never wronged you, that’s unfair for you and the shit we’ve put you through!” He exclaims, “we promise to do better by you because in all honesty, we’re jealous of you y/n. Vox machina would be nothing without you, we would be nothing without you! Yes we were dickheads for not talking to you about this but please…come home.”

The black in your eyes disappeared and you were quick to draw your weapon and turn on Saurdon, who was furious that his plan was ruined and used his power to send you over the edge and into solid ground, knocking your weapon from your hand as he began attacking your friends. “Fucker needs to takes rejection in a more healthier manner good god.” You groaned as you got back up to your feet, picking up your weapon as Vax came to your aid, tossing your arm over his shoulder. “Forgive us yet?” He asked.

“Not the time nor the place to ask but since your dying to know,” you told him as you set your sights on Saurdon’s back, “the jury is still out.” You concluded as you brought yourself back into the heat of battle with a fire under your arse when you saw that Percy was being overwhelmed by Suardon’s plants. Slicing and dicing through them with ease as you watched them fall pathetically.

“Thanks.” Percy said.

“No problem. Also, tree fucker has the vestige.” You replied with a smile before leaving him with that information to aid Keyleth and Vex who were more then happy to see you. “Y/n!” Keyleth shouted, setting some of Suardon’s offence aflame. “Keyleth.” You greeted, “where’s Vex?” “Fighting Saurdon.” She informed you, pointing in the way she last saw vex. You patted her on the shoulder and were about to leave to help aid Vex when the Druid stopped you. “Be careful.” She warned. “Aren’t I always?” You replied before slipping off.

By the time you caught up with Vex and Saurdon, things were looking bleak. Vex lost her bow and was hanging over the edge with Saurdon towering over her, aiming the vestige at her, reading himself in taking the killing blow. “Hey tree dick!” You shouted, catching his attention as he hissed in anger. “Step the fuck away from my friend.” Utilising the enhanced speed gifted to you by the armour, you sent yourself and Saurdon over the edge and to the ground below; allowing Vex to pull herself up over the edge. “Y/n!” She cried, “catch!” Vex then threw down the golden arrowhead Percy made her and you only looked up at her incredulously.

“The fuck am I supposed to do with this?!” You asked her and she face palmed before gesturing to Saurdon who was slowing getting back up to his feet, “stab him you dumbass! Stab him in the heart!” You quickly dashed to Saurdon, knocking back flat on his arse again, wrestling him into submission as you lifted the golden arrow head overhead and brought it down into his heart; killing him and earning your party another vestige which you the quickly gave to Vex.

You all emerged from the tree only to find a golden portal awaiting you. “This must be our ticket home.” You said and with no argument to be heard from the rest of the party, you all left the fey realm united.

[lunaeclipsis]

✯ vex’ahlia has been afraid before. she was once a child who feared what hid under her bed, or for what her closet held within. sometimes the fear followed her into her dreams, snatching her by the throat and choking her until she awoke. but that was it; her fear was in her head, heightened by the imagination of being a child; when the world is so big, and she was so small.

✯ fear has never gripped her like it has now, awaking in a place so dark, the only light coming from a string attached to her chest -- golden and glowing brighter than any fire she’s ever seen. her eyes gaze above her, at the beautiful goddess now looming over her. in her years, vex never focused on the gods much. they spoke little to her, and thus, little she spoke to them. now she was face to face with @fractisouls​’s death, in all her beauty, in all her glory, in all her agony.

✯ all the noise is muted. the tomb's surroundings disappear. a light comes to life and then darkness consumes it. her gaze is on her. the goddess speaks not a word. she simply offers her hand to the woman. to help her to her feet. to guide her. it is time to say goodbye, child.

✯ vex’s eyes blink once, then twice ( where had these tears come from? where had strong, mighty vex’ahlia fallen? ) she refuses the hand of the goddess ( blasphemy, isn’t it? the goddess must be used to this. )

✯ “ no, no please -- i can’t leave yet -- ” her voice chokes. her brother. her friends. the loves of her life are still alive. “ there’s so much i haven’t done yet -- at least let me tell them goodbye, please. i can’t leave without saying goodbye. ”

[demigoddessqueens]

If I care about someone super close to me I have a reflex of saying “I love you” with my goodbyes to them. I done it with my friends so many times they think it’s cute.

So what if with Vox Machina their crush was about to leave to go do something. Like go to the market, go nap, etc. and they’re just like “okay love you see ya later” and the crush walks off like as if they didn’t just say they love them.

Awww! Dang it this is so cute!! 😭💞🥹🩵💙

a/n - this kinda got angsty 😅😪

Percy

He’s got the biggest blush on his face ever but no, no! He’s not one to rush into feelings even if he wanted to (with you 👀)

Grog

Has the cutest reaction and picks you up in his big arms; honestly just go along with it he’s a sweetheart 😅

Keyleth

She’s like “wait? What?! Really!!?” and thinks you’re half serious until she’s kind of blushing, half relieved-half crushed

Vax’ildan

I feel like this could go one of two ways 😅

Romance wise (on his end), he just says it back like it’s second nature to him because that’s how loving you is to him

Platonic, he’ll just say it back casually too 😁 but still be kinda yearning underneath

Pike

Her head perks up like “oh wait? really?” until she realizes it was intended differently, then it’s like “pfft yeah, love you too but not like that”

Vex’ahlia

Oh. Oh. Is this happening?? Is this right now?? Oh no, oh you didn’t mean it like that. Oh well… you’re free to love whoever you want darling

Scanlan

He’s so hopeful at first but then “tries” to play it off casually but gods damn it he wants to say it back to you too

[lyctorihardlyknowher000]

Everytime i see this scene i imagine that scene in the legend of vox machina with vex’ahlia and delilah, so it’s always laura baileys voice in my head

HARROW!!!

[blorbologist]

how about 12 with vex? :)

12. Blindness/Deafness

"You can blind or deafen a foe. Choose one creature that you can see within range to make a Constitution saving throw. If it fails, the target is either blinded or deafened (your choice) for the duration."

[Inspired by this post]

Is it a bit ironic that Vex’ahlia is Pelor’s Champion? Hero of the sun? 

Oh, definitely.

Ironic? Oh, she knows those who don’t know better would protest to that.

To most of the citizenry of Whitestone, this would be perfectly apt. The brave and beautiful Lady Vex’ahlia - who drew their young Lord from darkness, took part in leading the whole city back into the light - she knows she’s already being hailed as such.

It’s - it’s actually very charming, and sweet, and when she teases Percy about it he gets such a smitten look to him. And she likes it, she does. Can’t fault Whitestone for wanting a bit of hope - but she’d have thought the townsfolk would know better. 

They know, probably better than most, how badly the sun can blind you.

Picture this: a young Vex’ahlia, only not little because of a growth spurt. Brace yourself and imagine her in Syngorn. No excuse to have a hood up, hiding her ears, should it be a beautiful day. Easier to not get immediately recognized as the Vessar bastard in the shade. The one time she reached for the sun - gold and emeralds, in a tiara made for her ancestors - she got burned. She learned. 

Just because Vax’ildan is

Just because Vax’ildan was the rogue does not mean he is

Does not mean he was the only one to appreciate the cover of shadow. 

Sunlight, Vex learned over the years, was a risk. A luxury, one she could rarely afford. Bright light revealed her to game and predators alike. It gleamed off coins to reveal her brother’s sleight of hand. Open grounds meant money meant trouble.

She’s spent a lot of her life avoiding its gaze. The attention did her no favors - and she could only stomach attention that did. That she could use, spin into a better room, another bounty, better pay.

The sun was warm, and decadent, and a risk. It took a lot of work to teach herself otherwise - with friends to watch her back. With security, and funds. And Percy. She can (or could) lounge in a sunbeam like a cat and enjoy the hard-earned gold on her skin.

Now its (his? Is the sun a he, like its god?) eye is upon her, always, and it’s an excruciating contrast.

Elven eyes are not made for constant, incessant light. Only the drow really suffer for its abundance - but if you look, most elves will squint and tactfully avoid direct light for long periods of time. Just as their eyes gleam gold-green when lit in the dark, they narrow in protest when it’s too bright. 

Every time she steps outside, without fail, it’s sunny. Which was a lovely thing, at first, before the weight of it really began to settle on Vex’s shoulders. She is outside almost daily, due to her duties with the Grey Hunt. Now she’s arranged to delegate more of the time training recruits, and even avoid patrols in her beloved forest. The weather catches up on tantrums and dreary rain when she elects to spend the days inside. 

By cruel coincidence she always wakes facing the dawn, now - at dawn, as the sun first winks over the Alabaster Sierras. She’s almost considered asking Percy if they could change rooms - instead she’s tactfully used her husband as a shield, so even if she turns in her sleep she wakes in his chest and not to a devastating sunrise.

The one day they tried for a picnic, Vex had been so grateful Percy chose to nestle their blanket between the Sun Tree’s roots. But even in the shade of the tree the heat was loud. Pouring through the leaves, bowing them like heavy rain, and beating against her ears, inside her head. It was deafening. 

What she can’t stand is that not the change. It’s trivial, fucking trivial, compared to the fact Vax

Trivial compared to other upheavals, lately. Need to wear shades? She can do that. Put on more tinctures to deal with sunburn. Even deal with everyone seeing her coming, not like she trained to move silently and without notice for several months or anything. 

What has her unsettled is… given all this, how badly this shoe fits…

“Why me?” she asks Percy one night, when the sun’s attention is on the opposite side of the world and she can feel that and it’s disquieting. “Why did Pelor choose me, Percy?”

He hums, pulling her up a bit more to nestle her head under his chin. She feels him grin when she presses a smile to his throat out of reflex. “Well. I get credit for choosing you. He simply approved of my excellent taste.”

Percy’s chuckle dies when she does not respond to his cheer. “Vex, dear?”

“I mean. We both can agree I’m, just, so beautiful, and brilliant, and hot,” she says. Stalls. “But - the Champion of Pelor? The sun god? Me? Sunny?”

“Probably not the best descriptor,” he admits. “Though I think I could convince you of the similarities.”

Vex is perhaps a bit too unsettled by all this to roll her eyes. Which, she suspects, is what gets Percy to hold her a little tighter. 

“You burn, dear.” Percy presses a kiss to her temple. “Even before all this, and ignoring the whole Orthax ordeal. Vox Machina’s guiding beacon, without which we would be bumbling in the dark. How a room would orbit you and you could so easily dictate others to your whims. You inspire growth, and joy, and trust. The sun will always rise, and set, and warm us in the meantime.” He pauses, then, a touch too long if not for how his mind works. “So often, I would look at you and it would hurt if I stared too long. That’s very sunlike.”

“I knew you were looking at my ass,” Vex mumbles. Her husband snorts. He makes worry impossible, holding her like this, sounding so fucking romantic.

“Don’t be crass,” he scolds cheerfully. “I was admiring you. From a distance. Because you were also a little terrifying.”

Vex pulls back with great reluctance to scrutinize him. He’s serious. “Me? Scary? Darling, we were traveling with Grog.”

“As well as -” he changes course: “And I had a solid hunch I’d be gutted like a fish if some people caught me staring. But no - you, Vex’ahlia, had me impressed. Which was scary for me, that anyone could be impressive other than myself.”

“I love the arrogance, darling.”

Percy snuggles her back in to kiss her cheek. The pressure brings to Vex’s attention the faint glow of her freckles. “I do, too. There was… something, even then. You kept people at a distance with the cold front. But it felt like it was that or burn them alive, because  - like if you dropped your guard the intensity would be blinding.”

“Are you sure you’re not talking about Keyleth?”

He makes a face. “I certainly hope I’m not talking about Keyleth. I love her, but that’s my best friend, I - ugh.”

Now Vex feels well enough to roll her eyes, trace patterns into his shoulder to draw his mind away. “Maybe I’m just like the sun because I’m eating myself alive. Burning at the expense of anything else. And bring pretty sunlight that scorches the earth to drought and gives deathly pale nerds a sunburn.”

“Darling.” This time it’s Percy who pulls away, gently tilting her chin up. “Sineath, remember?”

Fuck him, his pronunciation has gotten perfect.

She grumbles vaguely in response. 

Percy takes the time to think, running his fingers through her hair, sometimes kissing her gently. She catches the reflection of the glow here and there - in his teeth, warming his skin, gleaming on his wedding ring.

“I think,” he says eventually, quietly, gently, “that the dawn can be scary, after so long in the dark. And it takes a bit of doing to feel like you can stomach being so seen.” 

Vex nods into his neck. 

“And,” Percy continues, “I’ll endure it too, if I can. Not that I’m a Champion of anyone, but… well. Get a tan with you, I guess?”

She snorts. “Oh, you’d look so silly!”

“I will sacrifice all that and more for you,” said so very gravely. Vex’s stomach does a giddy little flip.

(Maybe she’s being a little touchy about this. Because it’s not Pelor’s fault, that everything is too bright and too loud, but there’s a correlation that’s safer to blame for how she is right now. Oversensitive.)

(Maybe she has an idea - just an idea - as to why.)

(Maybe.)

“You answered your own question. Earlier.”

“Oh?”

“It’s fitting, that the Champion of the solar deity be hot.”

Vex takes a second before smacking his chest with a pillow. “Flatterer.”

“I speak only the truth!”

[ravendruid]

Trinket

This work is part of the @percahliaweek event. Day 3 - Trinket [Read on AO3]

It’s springtime in Whitestone, and the trees and gardens bloom with colors and scents that the wind carries for miles. As luck would have it, it is the first clear, sunny day of the season, and Vex’ahlia does not fancy spending it indoors after weeks trapped within the white walls of the castle. Yes, she has matters to attend to. Letters to read and write, accounting of the treasury to do, and a myriad of other boring paperwork she does not want to think about. But it is sunny and warm, the flowers look so beautiful from the tall windows, and the Sun Tree is all dressed in gold. Even Trinket sighs hopefully at her feet, dreaming of chasing squirrels and other critters in the woods or dipping his paws in the shallow stream and hunting the few fish that swim in the cold waters of the mountain.

“Trinket, we’re going out,” Vex’ahlia has made up her mind. She looks for Cassandra first, hoping to spend quality time with her sister-in-law and maybe get to know the girl a bit better. However, a server quickly informs Vex that Cassandra is away for the day and has left no word of her return, so Vex turns to the other remaining de Rolo. 

It’s not hard to find Percival these days. He’s either locked in his office, pouring over paperwork of his own, or down in his workshop working on some grand design that he is determined to keep a secret, even from his wife. Vex’ahlia has tried countless times to ask him about it, but her husband’s mouth is a tomb that not even her brother could pilfer. She has tried tricks—some influenced by their prankster friend, Grog—and even using her best assets to seduce Percival into revealing information, but all she got from it was a night of luxurious lovemaking—a decoy to make her forget about the subject, no doubt.

“Percival, darling?” Vex’ahlia opens the door to Percy’s office. As soon as Percy’s deep blue eyes find her, he knows his wife wants something. 

“Hello, dear. How can I help you?” He asks, setting aside the quill and straightening the papers he has been working on. He won’t get any more work done the rest of the day if Vex’ahlia has her way—which she always does.

“It’s such a beautiful day outside. Why won’t we go for a walk?”

“Of course, dear. Do you have anywhere in particular in mind?” Vex shakes her head at his question, which makes Percy smile. Good. This might be a good chance, then.

The descent from the hill where Castle Whitestone sits is made in silence but for the sound of the couple’s footsteps echoing against the gravel and the huffs and puffs of the bear that tracks behind them. The town is bustling with life as traders and commerce owners share their products, and construction noises are muffled by screams of children playing in the streets. It is a sight to behold. The town that was once filled with such darkness and death is now full of light and happiness. Alive against all odds, like Percival and Vex’ahlia.

Percy leads Vex by the arm to the northwestern part of town, passing by old houses that still need to be worked on and into a section of the Parchwood Timberlands that has recently been cleared off for further development. In the distance are the first signs of a new wall that will protect the new section of the city, an expansion that Percy can’t look at without feeling some sense of pride.

“Do you see this section, dear?” Percival points at the vast leveled-up grounds ahead of them. Vex’ahlia nods and looks at him, waiting patiently. Only in the bright, sunny light does she notice her husband’s scruffy beard starting to come out, as white as his hair.

“This is where the houses for the refugees will be built, correct?” She remembers reading something in some paperwork that passed through her hands a few months ago.

“It was,” Percy’s smile falls.

“Was, darling?”

“The recent numbers haven’t been as promising as we imagined. It seems that more Emonians are keen to return to their homes, or what’s left of them, than we thought, so we do not have a need for new houses at the moment.”

“Oh,” Vex’s sadness mirrors her husband’s. She is happy for those families that get to return home. Some might have to rebuild their lives from the ash like Vex and her brother did, but at least they will be home. 

“Instead, I have decided to do something else with it. Such a great plot of land cannot go to waste, right?” It’s a rhetorical question. Percy knows Vex does not allow anything to go to waste if she has a say about it. 

“What will it be, then?”

Percy doesn’t answer her. Instead, he grabs her arm again and leads her to a large covered square on the ground. He unveils the cover of a stone that reads Lord Trinket’s Public Park. 

“Percival,” Vex’ahlia takes a step back, stunned at the gesture. 

“There will be a statue as well,” He turns to his wife, preening at her reaction. “Do not worry, Trinket and I will make sure they do a wonderful job on it. Right, buddy?” Percy rubs the thick fur atop the bear’s large head, who groans in agreement. 

“Darling, you didn’t have to.” Vex’s eyes fill with tears. She lunges into her husband, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him longingly. “Do you see this, buddy?” She then turns to the bear as she wipes the tears with the cuff of her sleeve. “This park is for you. So we can come play every day, buddy.”

With a loud, happy growl, Trinket turns his back on the couple and starts running around the large plot, quickly finding a muddy pit to roll around in. What is bare today will soon be full of large trees, bear, bee, and butterfly-friendly flowers, plenty of shaded benches, and maybe even a few tables where families can come and enjoy nature. Whitestone is alive indeed.