#vexx replies

[vexinghearts]

literally nothing is going on on any of my rp blogs lol

💀💀💀

I'm sorry to hear that!! As soon as I finish a certain drawing of a certain oc of mine, I'll be sure to send a starter to your ask-box !!

Take a strawberry for your (assumed) disappointment!! 🍓

[dryadalismagicae]

@luna-mxth || LIKED for a STARTER

"Fine, y' can all catch a fuckin' cold and die for all I care." As days ware onward, it becomes further clear that Vexx does not easily bond with those around him. His ways, disjointed though well intended, are often ill received - be it because of his race, his age, or the somewhat passive-aggressive way he tends to usher conversation. He tries his best, though others may not see it as such - - - he has come a long way since he'd left the awful grips of his clan, but he had yet much further to go.

"I only wanted t' warn 'em that its gonna fuckin' rain, all stormy and thunder n' shite, but they didn't want t' fuckin' listen." And who could blame them; the skies were beautifully sunny, not a cloud within the,; but Vexx could smell the growing change within the air, he could feel it in his ears, in the altering of dampness in the very atmosphere around them. A storm was on its way, and when it would hit, it would hit hard.

"I ain't as stupid as they think I am." He'd never learned to read or write, or count, he couldn't name cities or do mathematics, didn't even know how much of the world worked - - but he knew nature, and he knew its ways. The storm that was coming... it was going to be devastating in force, he just felt it, knew it deep in his yet young bones. But that wasn't proof enough - - and who could blame them.

"I ain't doin' no shit for no-one until its passed." And by the way he sat himself on a rock, outside of camp, to fletch some arrows... it was clear that little was going to move Vexx anywhere.

[sadraccoon061]

Stellarun 4 - Old Wounds

Sometime later...

Newt: Hey Amber, just checking in on you. You okay? Ambergris: I'm...fine Newt: You don't sound sure...you're not still feeling queasy are you? Ambergris: ...no Newt: I've had enough protests from VexX today, don't you start! Ambergris: Fine, come in.

Ambergris: Siiiiiiiigh. See, I'm fine. Newt: I'm here if you want to talk. Or I can just keep you company, whatever you need. Also did you just...say "sigh"?

Ambergris: I don't want to...it's stupid... Newt: Doesn't sound stupid if it's upsetting you. Ambergris: Ugh, I hate when you say smart things. Newt: If you're worried about VexX, he's fine. Ambergris: I always worry about VexX...he's an idiot.

Ambergris sighed heavily and then shuffled to sit up as Newt waited patiently. Ambergris: Fine. You may as well know - it was going to come up sooner or later. Before you moved in...we had another Roommate. Tangea. He is...was my boyfriend. And a medic, like you. Newt: Oh...right...I think VexX might have mentioned at some point...

Ambergris: Yeah...the way you came in and started telling VexX off...reminded me of him. Gee would do that too, all the time. Newt: I mean, it's VexX. He always needs telling off. Ambergris: You're not wrong. Newt: What was Tangea like? Ambergris: Brilliant. Obnoxious. Beautiful...

Tangea & Amber...from before

Newt: I think I get the picture...so what happened? Is he...um...?Ambergris: Dead? No. That would be easier, in some ways. We fought over a decision I made, and he left without saying goodbye...but I knew why. I...I'll admit I've text him a few times but he's never replied. Please don't tell VexX.

Newt: Wow. I had no idea, Amber, I'm sorry. You must really miss him... Ambergris: More than you could ever imagine.

Ambergris started to sob, and Newt felt himself starting to cry too. Damn pheromones! He pulled Ambergris into a hug. Newt: Amber...come here. I know it hurts, and I wish I could make it better. But you've got me now, and VexX. When he's not being a moron...

Ambergris: Heh...yeah. We're quite the messy trio, aren't we?

Thank you for reading<3

Backward | Onward!

[eluvisen]

Get to know your fanfic writer

I was tagged by @commander-krios thank you! <3

When did you post your first ever fanfic?

2008 after having discovered KOTOR Fan Media the year before and falling down the rabbit hole of fanfic and fanart

First Character(s) you wrote?

Revan and the Ebon Hawk crew

Main Character(s) you’re currently writing?

Vexx Serif and Nephien

Character(s) you haven’t written about before but plan to write about soon?

KY-L3

Fandom(s) you’re currently writing?

Andromeda Six

Platonic pairing(s) you’re currently writing?

Nephien & Sorenn

Romantic pairing(s) you’re currently writing?

Nephien/Vexx

Your top AO3 tags?

The top three tags used in my works are Romance, Friendship, and Canon-Typical Violence

Current platform you use for posting?

AO3

Snippet of the WIP you are currently working on?

From one of the bajillion WIPs I’m skipping between:

“Congratulations?” Nephien’s tone is the same you’d use after a friend told you their dog got hit by a gravcar. Sorenn swallows. “Thanks.” Nephien starts to open her mouth, hesitates, then looks away. Silence falls over the courtyard, and not even the gurgle of the small fountain at their backs can alleviate the excruciating awkwardness that settles over them. Vexx has half a mind to throw himself into the water feature, either to provide a distraction or to drown himself. At last, Nephien asks, “Do… do you know who you’re engaged to?” Vexx fights a snort. Only in the palace would that be a remotely reasonable question to ask. And maybe a few dives after 1a.m., but nobody here has the excuse of beer goggles. “Never met her,” Sorenn replies. His hands tangle in his lap, toying with the cuff of his uniform sleeve. “Oh.” “I wish…” He exhales heavily. “I wish Mother could have been here for this. She would have asked me what I wanted—” He cuts himself off, looking away. By some arcane palace protocol, Lucrezia is the one arranging marriages for Nikolle’s children since she’s too out of it to negotiate on their behalf. Nephien reaches out, then hesitates. Her smooth brown fingers curl and uncurl, then she rests her hand on top of Sorenn’s. “I suppose you need to meet her. Then you know how much panicking is warranted.” Sorenn makes a noise that’s a little too depressed to be a laugh.  “Maybe she’s nice?” Nephien suggests in a rather adorable display of faux-optimism.

[lavore]

⠀𝕴𝑵𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑫𝑼𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵, 𝑹𝑼𝑳𝑬𝑺, & 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑪𝑻

𝐌𝐄𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐅 & 𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 : the game's name is goofs & gags as genuine harm is not part of the punch line. cause mischief in the world, but always give back and provide balance.

⸺ㅤ▘▐ 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐍. Hiya! I'm MILK ( formerly known as vexx to some ) . I live in the Eastern standard timezone ( EST ) and i am a full-time food service worker, so if replies are slow or i'm gone for a few days, that's why. Kitchen work thoroughly kicks my ass some days.

⸺ㅤ▘▐ 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃. Discord is open to my mutuals for plotting and off-Tumblr writing. I'd love to make one-on-one servers for us to RP in, if you want to keep things neat and tidy.

⸺ㅤ▘▐ 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐓. Tumblr IMs work perfectly if you do not wish to exchange discords. I do not talk over email, Kik, or other sites besides the two listed above.

☆ ͡ ݂ ۫ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ᙖᒪOᘜ���Oᒪᒪ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ — ⠀ CONTENT WARNINGS!!

this blog will contain subjects that may be triggering to some. The list includes but is not limited to, sexual content, graphic violence, death, child neglect and abuse , addition , & possible more. I'll do my best to update this list and tag things appropriately.

𝟎𝟎𝟏 ⠀ — ⠀This is a minor free zone, and anyone under the age of twenty-one will not be followed. If you are under that age or a minor and try to interact, for my peace of mind, I will block you. I don't feel comfortable giving the subject matter that may appear on my blog and the universes I am writing for to engage with anyone younger than that. so in simple terms ; NO MINORS OR PERSONALS PLEASE.

𝟎𝟎𝟐 ⠀ — ⠀This blog is also private and selective, meaning I may not follow back and do not wish to interact with non-mutuals. It is nothing personal, and I may soft block at some points to clear up my followers ( this normally in the case of blogs that aren't on hiatus and have been inactive for months.) This blog has zero tolerance for ooc drama, hateful behavior, fandom discourse, or negativity of any kind. the usual roleplay etiquette applies.

𝟎𝟎𝟑⠀ — ⠀ I have little to no triggers, but my three are violence against animals and children ( in any form ) , vore, & bathroom play. But just because most subjects do not get to me , i will do my best to tag things as they pop up in threads/writings but if i miss something please feel free to reach out and let me know to place a tag somewhere.

𝟎𝟎𝟒 ⠀ — ⠀Asks are always welcome to be turned into threads, but I'll never assume you will reply further! I see asks as a writing exercise, so there is never any pressure to continue an answered ask.

𝟎𝟎𝟓⠀ — ⠀ I have no preference to my partners formatting. I like some trendy Tumblr things like icons and fancy text. But feel free to let me know if you need me to forgo that for our threads to make them less cluttered for you !!

𝟎𝟎𝟔⠀ — ⠀ When it comes to shipping, I am very open to any and all sorts! And unless a muse is listed as exclusive and not looking for a certain character then they are open to any and all plots as well! ( muses that exclusive are not open to romance plotting but open to any other type of relationships. ) but any ways Romantic, friendship, enemies, relatives, rivals. Give me it all. Mature themes within said relationships can and will be explored, and again, I have placed warnings all over my blog, so mature or NSFW threads may not be placed under a read more. You have been warned once again.

𝟎𝟎𝟕 ⠀ — ⠀I am open to plotting characters within different eras, AUs, and universes! as I think such things are fun! Characters' alternative timelines will be placed on their character page, and if you do not see one you desire , feel free to approach to plot for it!

𝟎𝟎𝟖 ⠀ — ⠀ I'm just going to put this in here just cause I'm terrible about messaging first or messaging back in IMs and DMS sometimes. I get super nervous, and I'll assume you hate my guts. It's never you! I bet you're lovely and great! I'm just off? give me some time, and I'll get back to you, I swear !!

Also, as a note, any subject I write that could be labeled dead dove/taboo does not reflect my morals or imply that I condone such acts in real life. I enjoy diving into the darker subject matter in a controlled, safe space, as I am an adult who can draw the line between fantasy and reality. if you do not like what I choose to write, please feel free to block me.

[dryadalismagicae]

He's tired, each and every breath drawn into lungs exacerbating the discomfort that always nested deep within his chest upon any exertion. His attempt at theft had been abysmal at best and that the youth accepted, but orders were orders and he was certainly not in a position to be denying his Keepers wishes, regardless of what they were.

Too tired had the youth been before he had reached the Inquisition camp - the trek from where his clan were currently nestled away quite the long one, and the terrain unforgiving. Truly, had he been able to adhere to his own senses he would have attempted to rest ere slipping in unseen, but need for immediate results plagued him from those in a higher position and thus left him with little choice.

"I don't give a flying fuck-" Came his sharp response, the pain radiating throughout his chest agitating his already soured temper. "I ain't saying shit to you." Most certainly not when it was his neck on the line; if Keeper Sorvin found out he'd not only been caught, but had babbled about what his intent had been, their punishment would be swift and abysmal.

Now stuck between a rock and a hard place, Vexx knew not what to do. Did he chance further angering those of the Inquisition or did he face the wrath of his family? A choice, he decided, was potentially abysmal on each end of the margin.

Eyes closed, forceful breath exhaled in the hope of convincing himself to calm ere the discomfort radiating throughout his torso became too much to bare; 't was not the time to be showing any variety of weakness, after all.

"Jus' lemme go-"

~ While the Inquisitor and the majority of the party had left the camp to carry out various duties, Solas had stayed behind to tend to a few injured soldiers. By some hierarchy unknown to him, this put the elven mage in charge of the small group of scouts and guards remaining – at least, that was why Solas assumed they had brought this boy before him. ~

~ The elf’s expression is unreadable as he gazes at the struggling youth before him. Dalish, he would assume by the tattoos; had he been separated from his clan, or was he stealing for them? ~

~ “ Perhaps it was unwise to steal from an organization called the Inquisition, ” Solas says with the most humor the stoic elf can offer. “ Calm yourself; we will not hurt you. I only wish to know what you were attempting to steal and why – that is all. ” ~

[kaaras-adaar-a]

"Theres slavers by the river." He utters, arms folded, his person watching the male he had ran into on more than one occasion yet this time he was purposely sought out. "Keeper Sorvin wont do shit about it and my clan are scared."

Was it Kaaras, or did the elf come off as creepy in a strange, lurker-ish way? The Inquisitor’s ears flicked at the sound of the man’s voice. Strange, how they continued to run into each other, although by now, Kaaras was pretty sure that Vexx was stalking the Inquisition. Perhaps he was too proud to admit that he needed assistance, or wanted to even join the ranks. 

He looked down at the elf, a serious expression on his face. “You know, if you wish for Inquisition assistance, all you need is to ask.” He could be terribly blunt at times, but Kaaras wasn’t one to care about beating around the bush. 

[vexinghearts]

DA POOR BBY NEEDS TO GET OUTTT

art credits to @cloudymistedskies :3

AWWW THAT IS ADORABLE 💕

I love their art sm !!!

It's so cutesy!!!

[dryadalismagicae]

@aetherianxarchive / @luna-mxth || LIKED for a STARTER with Vexx

"I ain' slept in nearly three days, I don' have the patience to listen to this bullshit." He yawns, rolling aching shoulders and rubbing at his eyes. The youth scarce knows what to do with himself - so far from his clan as he is - uncertain and yet willing to continue as he is. "If y' want me t' do something- then jus' say so."

[a-vexx-on-you]

"Mmm..." Vexx replied. Watching the fae. "Religion is the human response to being alive and having to die." He mused. "But...we're not human...are we?"

Vexx blinked at him, before his lips tugged into a rather predatory little smile. "My...I suppose it's true what they say about the fair folk." He purred. "So hospitable." Then he merely shrugged. "Oh...I've not quite decided that. There are many, many churches in Chicago after all."

"I have noticed that about mundane churches. I admit I don't attend any." David says.

"Not all are bad though." David shrugs. "Were you heading to another church or do you need help with anything?"

[arctic-urpo]

authenticparanoidghosts replied to your post: oh man let's hear some Bamet facts. what kind of...

dkadfja he’s so awful I love him so much

The worst possible person yet still we love his dumb face

authenticparanoidghosts replied to your post: oh man let's hear some Bamet facts. what kind of...

also hey you can’t just drop “Bamet steals people’s life force and redistributes it however he wants” holy shit

Well, uuummm.... teehee (ﾉ≧ڡ≦)

[homeformyheart]

update + taglist

taking a real break to focus on IRL stuff (mostly good things, and it’s healthy to step away from time to time tbh), but will still be working through prompt requests - those are always open (just search prompt lists on the blog)

I am also going to start over with my permatag taglist, for all non-choices works (keeping specific series/pairings tags as-is) so if you still want to be tagged, please comment here, send me an ask, or a DM (i may not reply for while).

here are the works/pairings (please be specific if you have a preference so i don’t inadvertently tag spam you on all of these): - the wayhaven chronicles: all pairings - mind blind: rosy (18+ only) / kent / gray - andromeda-six: cal / june / damon / vexx

*if your blog doesn’t mention an age range of any kind, I will assume you are a minor and will not tag you in nsft works or any mb/rosy kim works.

**if you're on my permatag for anything, you'll have to let me know if you want to stay on, because i'm starting from scratch starting with whatever i post next.

current taglist for reference:

twc permatag (i will write for all pairings):

@kelseaaa; @kat-tia801; @anotherbeingsworld; @crackerdumortain; @pearlsandsteel; @gloynporslen; @vintage-vamp; @brooks-eden; @sosolenoo; @alyssalauren; @ambrosykim​; @wayhavenots;

twc pairing specific tags:

a du mortain x detective: @wolfish-blithe

n sewell x detective: @missameliep

mind blind permatag (does not include rosy for minors):

@pearlsandsteel; @vintage-vamp; @anotherbeingsworld; @sosolenoo;  @ambrosykim; @wayhavenots;

gray x button: @gloynporslen;

A6 permatag: @pearlsandsteel; @anotherbeingsworld;

cal / june x traveler: @gloynporslen;

[rhaenyratargeryn]

Title: happiness is not a place Pairing: Vexx x f!Traveler Rating: T Summary: just a snippet of the start of one of the princess and her trusty guard's many adventures before everything fell apart.

"Do you trust me?"

What a question. Trust was nothing more than folklore to people like her, raised in the highest position in Goldis. It was a lofty notion, like chivalry or courtly love... things that only held a place in stories told to starry-eyed children, unaccustomed to the dark things that lurked in the corners of life.

She was not a child and yet— and yet.

The impulse to take the hand Vexx extended out to her from where he perched in the now open balcony window was so natural she wondered for a blink, for a beat, for a breath... was this trust?

Saying yes felt like an act of rebellion. Small and insignificant in the scheme of things, but within her own breast it sparked across the kindling of her heart and set to flame something that she knew somehow would only grow.

She took his hand and in one smooth movement, Vexx pulled her up unto the edge with him, a smile breaking over his face. He laughed for no reason. She loved that about him. His smile, the ease in which he touched her in a way so many would have considered irreverent and thus inappropriate for someone of her position. But that too, she loved.

That word came up so often when she thought of Vexx.

"What now?" she asked, feeling the chill of the night air on her legs beneath her dress.

His smile fell, still present, but slyer. Mischievous. He had tied a rope to the balcony and fashioned a rappelling that looked sturdy enough.

"Now, you hold on. And we see if I can get you to scream."

She flushed hot, smacking his arm with a nervous laugh of her own as he all but cackled. He snaked his free arm around her waist, lifting her with ease to settle her on his opposite side as he turned, back to the open air.

"Ready or not..." Vexx said, clearly just noting how close her face was to his own with her arms looped around his shoulders. Something softened his eyes, but it only lasted for a moment as he grinned widely and kicked off the balcony edge. The ground rose up so quickly, wind rushing through her hair and taking her breath before she could even work up the air for a scream. The landing was not perfect. Vexx swore and teetered and let himself fall back to carry out the rest of the momentum, her atop him. If he had felt warm in her arms, the heat that shocked through her with him between her thighs was scorching. Her dress had pushed up high on her legs and she nearly flinched when she felt his hands on her bare skin. His hands were cool.

Vexx lay back into the grass, looking up at her with all the contentment of a cat. Unaffected by the weight of her settled on his waist.

"You okay?" Vexx managed, masking a laugh, "Sorry, your face."

A pout spread across her lips.

“Well, I didn’t scream!”

“Yeah, you’re a real trooper.” Vexx said teasingly, affection laced through the words. She almost felt a pang of disappointment when he sat up and she had to slip off of him. Vexx unfastened the rope

She brushed grass from her knees and dress, Vexx’s touch gentle as he swiped back some of the strands of hair that came loose around her face.

Vexx’s fingertips lingered on her skin, tracing down her cheek and then jaw before he caught her chin and tilted her face upwards.

Her eyelids lowered as he drew near, his breath soft against her lips as he hovered there for a moment and then moved upwards, sealing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Now she was really pouting. The expression pulling a startled, yet amused chuckle from Vexx.

“We better hurry, before a patrol spots us.”

The hand that touched her face fell to take her own in its grasp, pulling her along until she matched his stride and walked together with him.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." Vexx replied, his voice cheerful.

She didn't even know why she bothered asking anymore. Not because he liked his surprises, but because in all honesty it didn't matter.

She'd follow him anywhere. Everywhere. She didn't know it yet, but one day she would know the name for the ache in her chest when she looked at his face.

Home.

[xypher-goes-boom]

“My my my… such a temper.” Xypher rolled his eyes, stretching out over the table. “Do you kiss Magnus with that mouth?”

“He most certainly does.” Came an amused purr, as Magnus glided into the scene. Followed obediently by Atti and Ezra. “Hello, darling.” He cooed to David, offering him a glittery wink. Before turning a satisfied little smirk at Xypher. “I do believe…” He drawled. A rolled up newspaper materializing into his open palm. He brought it down on his friend’s head with a whack. “I banished you to my chambers.”

Xypher swiped an irritated arm at him. “And since when have I ever answered to you, Cosmo?” He replied. “Besides. Vexx was the one who broke your silly little ward.” He stole the newspaper from Magnus’ open palm and started to read it.

“Oh dear…” Magnus said, tutting. He cast an impish little smile at David. “Well… I did try…” He offered. Though not nearly as concerned as he really ought to be.

“You’re going to have to try much harder than that.” Xypher grunted, flinging the paper away. It was then that he noticed the two little fae. “Merlin’s puckering asshole… there are more of them?”

Magnus took great offense to that. Shooting a bolt of blue lightning at Xypher. Xypher slumped further over the table. Catching the bolt in his hand. Twirling his wrist, opening his palm again, and blowing the spell right back.

Bristling at that, Magnus took a step to the side. And the puff of glitter hit Ezra square in the nose.

Startled, Ezra squeaked. Then sneezed. And glittered fluttered.

Atti, who had long since been used to such antics, giggled. Then bounded over to David, attaching himself to his side.

Silence fell over the restaurant.

Magnus, who found most things Ezra did to be delightful, cooed to him. Gathering him to his chest. “There, there, gumdrop.” He soothed, petting the fae’s hair. “Pay no attention to the mean, colorless void.”

Atti giggled again, pressing his cheek against David’s chest. Quite content to stay just where he was.

“You know…” Xypher replied.

But they did not know. Because there was a laugh, and a popping sound. And a pair of frilly pink underwear materialized and fell on Xypher’s head.

Magnus let out a cry of outrage, releasing Ezra who stumbled back a step. “Where!” He demanded seemingly at the air. “Did you get that?”

Xypher pulled the offensive garment out of his hair. “Huh…” He said to no one in particular

Magnus put his hands on his hips. “You are VEXXING my patience!” He announced.

The laughter continued for a moment. Xypher flopped back in his seat. He held the underwear out to Magnus with the tip of his finger just as Vexx finally materialized, leaned up on David, still laughing.

Atti gasped, peeking around David to watch Vexx shimmer in the air and finally come into proper focus.

“Well hello, doll.” Vexx said to David, booping his nose. “Miss me?”

Magnus angrily swiped the frilly lace off Xypher.

"Are you challenging me?" David asks "Honey you have no idea who I am, what I'm capable of and what my lover us capable of."

[wayhavnsfinest]

The Misadventures of Baby Sitting

This is a “crack fic” I thought up of one day on my way home from work. It’s chaotic and I ran with it. There is strong language in this and mentions of torture. Read at your own discretion. 

Word Count: ~1.7K

Summary: Vexx and Damon find an abandoned baby. Part 1 of ??? 

Characters: Vexx Serif, Damon Reznor, traveler. 

___________________________________________________________

The mood on the Andromeda Six is tense. Aya had gone after June after the announcement of the trip to Orion which left Calderon to pilot the ship. Ryona had gone to the med bay to begin her research on Vexx’s condition. Bash had gone to the cargo hold to investigate the goodies Alisa had bestowed upon the crew, leaving you alone with Vexx and Damon.

You shift uneasily from one foot to the other, terrified that one of them might attack the other. 

“So we’re working together again?” Vexx grins as he holds the icy stare that Damon is throwing his way. 

Damon’s icy exterior shifts into a grin. “Just like old times. Except don’t expect me to haul your ass out of trouble.”

“You never did any such thing.” Vexx retorts sliding back into the familiar banter with his old friend. 

“Bull. Shit.” Damon enunciates. “How about that time you found a baby.”

“Oh my god. I forgot about Bryce.” Vexx smiles. 

“I still cannot believe you named it Bryce.” Damon goes to lean against a wall, still cautiously eyeing Vexx.

“Bryce is infinitely better than Wilbur.” Vexx says as he crosses his arms.

“Hold up!” You say as your brain finally comprehends the conversation happening in front of you. “You two found a baby. And you named it?!”

“Well we weren’t just going to leave it.” Vexx says as he looks at you with genuine shock. “ What kind of monsters do you think we are?”

“Yeah, your majesty, shit, we weren’t about to leave a defenseless baby alone in the city’s underbelly.” Damon replies.

“There is definitely a story here,” You say. “I want to hear it.”

“How much time you got?” Damon asks. “We can give you the long version or the short.”

“Spare no detail” you say as you slide down the ship’s wall into a sitting position.

“Well it all started a few years ago. Carrot head and I were working together on a job for Zovack.” Damon explains. “I had just gotten out of the shower when I heard voices outside our shitty rented room.” 

~2 years ago~

Damon walks out of the shower, his shirt clinging to his still damp skin. He looks around at the rundown motel room Vexx and he had to share. The room is dingy and dark. Only one of the bedside lamps worked, leaving most of the light to filter through the broken shades. The air conditioning in the room had long since stopped working. How this hell hole managed to draw in new customers was beyond him. 

Where the hell is Carrot Head? Damon thinks. He walks to the mini fridge and is about to pop open a beer when he hears a voice. Instantly recognizing it as his work partner’s he heads in the direction of the sounds.

“Come on dude. Just tell me what you need.” Vexx says as he holds a very distraught baby by the armpits.  “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”

Damon just stares at the scene. Vexx is still in the clothes he wore to bed the previous night, and the baby he is holding couldn’t be more than 7 months old. “What the fuck is that?!”

“It’s a baby dipshit, what do you think it is?”

“A fucking joke is what I think it is.” Damon says, still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. The smell instantly hits him. Damon’s nose wrinkles at the smell. “How hard did you get hit in the face last night?”

“Why?” Vexx asks turning his attention away from the baby to face Damon. 

“Little dude needs his diaper changed.” Damon states. Vexx continues to stare at him blankly. 

“What the fuck do I change it with?”

“Well I don’t think anyone will miss your pillow case.”

“Fuck, no.”

“Then we need to find a general store and hope they have a diaper or something.” Damon says hunching over and putting his hands in his pockets. This is certainly now how I wanted my only day off to go. He thinks to himself.  

After fashioning himself a baby sling out of extra bedsheets, Vexx leads Damon to the general store in search of baby supplies.

“So how did you find this guy?” Damon asks. 

“He was left alone outside the motel. I heard him crying as you were in the shower. You take long ass showers by the way.” Vexx says as he checks his holo pad with one hand and cover’s the baby’s head from the sun with his other. 

Damon shrugs. “That chick’s body glitter was hard to get off.”

After walking in silence for several minutes, Vexx finally takes his eyes off the holo pad. “The extranet says that there is a family planning store about two miles from here, we should be able to find everything we need there for Bryce”

“Woah, hold on. You named it?! You can’t name it, you’ll get attached. You can’t afford to get attached because we’re not keeping him.” Damon pinches the bridge of his nose with his pointer finger and thumb, taking a deep breath before continuing. “We need to find a hospital or one of Orsanna’s guards to take him.”

“We can’t just keep calling him, it, you idiot.” Vexx says. “You got a better name than Bryce?”

Damon studies the baby. “Wilbur.”

“That’s an old man’s name!” Vexx huffs.

“He kind of reminds me of an old man, he’s bald, he can’t take care of himself, and he shits his pants.”

“Wow,” Vexx says as he blinks, taken back. “You know I’m seeing a new side of  you Damon and I don’t like what I see.” 

Sighing and knowing he’s going to regret it the minute he asks. “Were you thinking we could keep him? What the hell would we do with him? Dress him in a top hat and a Kevlar vest and take him on missions with us like a little mascot?” 

“I wasn’t thinking of a top hat….”

Damon actually stops in his tracks. “You cannot be serious.”

Vexx shrugs, “I always wanted a little brother.”

Damon continues to stare at Vexx in disbelief. “You’re shitting me right? Like actually shitting me.”

Vexx continues to walk to the family planning store all the while ignoring Damon’s nagging. 

~~~~

“HOLD UP!” you shout. “You kept the baby?!”

“Would you let me finish.” Damon says crossing his arms. 

“Yeah he didn’t even get to the good part where I get swarmed and propositioned by many beautiful women. Nothing wins ladies over like a baby.” Vexx smirks.

Damon rolls his eyes, “skipping that part. Anyway back to the story.”

~~~

Finally arriving at the family planning store Vexx consults with a manager who gathers up all the basics for Bryce. Meanwhile Damon tries to distance and distract himself from Vexx and Bryce. His distractions don’t amuse him for long and he finds himself saddling up to Vexx and the baby. “Are we done here-“

“Oh wow! What a cute baby! Are you the fathers of this little angel?! Oh I just love seeing young families out together.” An old woman steps up next to Vexx and coos over the baby. “What’s his name?!” 

“Bryce”

“Wilbur”

Vexx and Damon find themselves saying the baby’s name simultaneously. Damon and Vexx share a look before Vexx recovers the situation. “His name is Bryce Wilbur, named after both of our fathers.” Vexx gives the old woman a charming smile.

Damon can’t help but roll his eyes. “Laying it on a little thick there bud.” He mumbles. 

The old lady continues to coo at the baby until the smell coming from Bryce’s diaper has her recoiling. “Oh someone made a poopsies. Your daddies better change you.” She pats both boys on the arm and leaves. 

Damon frowns at the old lady and helps Vexx with the bags full of baby supplies. The two of them leave the store and head back to their rented room. 

Once in their rented room, Damon takes the baby from Vexx and cleans him up. “There you go, you little poop monster. Feel better now?” Bryce looks up at him and coos. “Fuck, you are pretty cute. You’re going to be a little heartbreaker one day, aren’t you?” Damon can’t help but smile at the baby.  “We need to get him to a hospital or a guard.” Damon says as he looks in the direction of Vexx.

“Yeah, Yeah, you’ve said this before.” Vexx says popping open a beer and taking a long swig of it. “Let me shower, then we’ll find someplace to take him.” Vexx says with a hint of sadness.

Vexx emerges from the shower to the sight and sounds of Damon threatening their mark who is tied to a chair. Realizing Bryce is nowhere to be found, Vexx feels his heart speed up. There is no way Damon got rid of Bryce in the fifteen minutes I was in the shower… Could he?! Vexx wonders to himself. Vexx frantically looks around for Bryce. He starts to fear the worst when all of the sudden Damon turns around. 

“You gonna help me with this bastard or not?” Damon asks. 

Vexx notices Bryce strapped to Damon’s chest. His heart rate returns to normal, seeing that Bryce is safe. How Damon still manages to look menacing with a baby strapped to his chest is quite impressive in Vexx’s opinion. “Yeah I’ll take it from here.” A sinister grin forms on Vexx’s lips. 

~~~~~

“OKAY! Spare some details!” You shout covering your ears. “I don’t want to hear how you two tortured and/or killed a man!”

“Kill?! How the hell are we supposed to get the money and manpower from him if we killed him?”  Vexx asks matter of factly. 

“I don’t want to hear it!” You say with a frown.

Damon waves his hand dismissively, “Alright, we will skip that part.” He’s about to launch back into his story when Calderon’s voice comes over the comms. 

“Damon! I need you on the bridge!”

“Sorry, your majesty. We will have to finish the story another day.”

“I’ll finish the story.” Vexx throws a wink in your direction.

“Oh hell no!” Damon snaps, “You’ll lie and embellish the hell out of it and I’ll look like a complete asshole.”

“It’s not an embellishment if you did act like an ass.” Vexx retorts.

“Damon. Now.” Calderon’s voice echoes. 

“To be continued, your majesty.” Damon says as he makes his way to the bridge to help Calderon. 

[loukja]

The Princess and the Guard - Living on a Prayer

Vexx surveyed the small club as they entered. It was pretty empty, as to be expected so early in the evening. His gaze travelled to the princess beside him, who was taking the scene in, wonder in her eyes.

“Happy?” he asked.

The smile she cast his way was a little bit smug. “Very.”

Taking her arm, he led her over to one of the booths along the back wall and asked himself when the slight shift in their power dynamic had occurred. Because when she had first asked him to take her out for a drink he had declined. While she was getting bolder, wanting to explore more, live more, she was still super sheltered. Pleading with him to take her, she had even admitted that she had never had alcohol before. And while he was already risking his neck sneaking around with her at all, getting her intoxicated felt like a one-way ticket to getting caught. Yet here they were, and he was still trying to figure out why he had let her sway him.

Aurora slid into the booth and started scrolling through the menu. “What do you suggest?” she asked. “I want something fancy.”

“Of course you do,” he reached across the table and flicked his finger against her nose, gaining a glare for the trouble. She did look fancy herself, her curls gathered back in a high ponytail that she had adorned with an actual bowtie. Like a girl from one of the old movies she enjoyed, cute but clearly not on par with the current fashion of the gold district.

“Come on, who knows when I’ll get the chance for something like this again? I need to make it count,” she flicked to the next section of drinks, reading with a slightly furrowed brow. Her words gave him a twinge of regret. Don’t think of it, he told himself, when maybe he should have told himself to think of the reasons that had gotten him into this whole mess in the first place. Justice. Freedom. Hope for a better world.  

He reached across the table, scrolling through the menu until he got to the coladas. “One of those would probably be the right thing for you.”

When their order arrived Aurora delightedly picked the little umbrella out of her strawberry colada, twirling it between her fingers. “Look at this, this is so cute!”

“Yes, super cute garbage.”

“At least my drink doesn’t look bland like yours,” she took a little sip of the colada.

“My drink is for grown-ups, little lady.”

“My drink is good,” she announced, then reached for his. “Let me try yours?”

He pushed over his Jack and Coke, watching her closely as she took the straw in her mouth, and then as her nose crinkled in disgust.

“Ew. Are you sure you can still function after finishing that? Huh,” she fanned her face with her hands, her eyes watering, and he couldn’t help but laugh. Good thing he had told the waiter to make sure there was a bit less rum in her drink than they normally put in.

“You are such a lightweight, princess. I should have been a responsible adult and gotten you a juice. Yes, I am sure that I’ll function just fine,” he accompanied that with a wink, making her blush furiously.

She went back to sipping her cocktail, and then she got a far-off look, and when he started to ask her what was wrong, she raised a finger to silence him. His gaze shifted to the booth behind her and the group that had sat down there. It was a bit hard to make out what they were talking about with the music, so he leaned across the table, keeping an eye on Aurora’s expression as he listened.

“I mean, how many bad calls can a person possibly make? It’s time he fucking dies!”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“Who knows? As lucky as we are, he’ll reign for another couple decades before he finally bites it.”

“Probably. But do you guys really think his daughter will be better? She’s probably just as shitty as he is.”

Vexx reached out, his hand sneaking around the back of Aurora’s neck, pulling her forward until his lips almost grazed her ear and some lose curls tickled his nose. “You don’t have to listen to this, we can go sit somewhere else.”

“No, I… I want to hear it,” she murmured, and for a moment he was awfully tempted to press his lips to hers, distract her, shield her from the world and the ugly truths she hadn’t ever been confronted with. Kiss her until she forgot everything but his name.

Instead he slowly leaned  back again, taking a gulp of his drink. Aurora listened to the group drone on about the economy, rising taxes, the dumpster fires that the other planets had become, until they finally switched topics and started speculating if their friend Sharice had STDs or not.

His princess pushed around the remaining ice cubes in her empty glass, a troubled look on her face. “I sometimes forget how much there is to fix,” she admitted.

He shrugged, torn between the need to comfort her and launching into a tirade about how monarchy would fix jack shit.

“And I mean they,” she vaguely gestured towards them, leaning towards him and lowering her voice, “are rich, right? If even they are this discontent…”

“Whiny rich kids,” he agreed. “They think the world ought to be handed to them, but it’s only handed to one certain family and that pisses them off.”

She sighed, bit her lip and tilted her empty glass. “Can I have another?”

“Sure,” he heard himself say, already sensing that it was a mistake.

He was proven right when she tried to drag him onto the dance floor half an hour later. “Come on, it’ll be fun!”

“You’re drunk,” he remarked, taking in her rosy cheeks, “everything will be fun for you right now.” He wished he had drunken more himself. The whole excurse to politics had reminded him that he was losing focus around her way too often and that in turn had soured his mood. It made him wonder if he really was the right person for this job, because someone like Damon wouldn’t have been side-tracked like this.

Another girl bumped into Aurora, steadied herself holding on to her arm, and then took her in with a slow drag of her eyes. “Your dress is so pretty,” she exclaimed, and Vexx rolled his eyes.

“Aw, thank you,” the princess smoothed the short circle skirt down, “you look super pretty, too.”

The girl laughed and cast a quick glance at him, measuring him up. He narrowed his eyes at her. Back off, he thought.

“My song,” the girl shrieked, grabbed Aurora’s hand, and pulled her into the dancing crowd before he could protest.

Vexx sighed. He lingered at the edge of the dancefloor and kept his eyes on his princess as she laughed and danced with the girl and her friends, looking so happy and free that he did not want to stop her.  

When the first girl got a bit too close to Aurora he tensed up, but then his princess shook her head and said something, nodding her head in his direction. The girl replied something that made her blush and cast a glance his way. A grin spread across his face as the girl backed up a little. That’s right, princess. Tell them you are my girl.

He probably should have intervened when one of the girls shared her drink with Aurora. At the point they started dancing on one of the tables he definitely should have intervened, but instead he just got closer, just in case.

Aurora looked like a disco queen up on the table, dancing and singing to the song along with her newfound friends, radiating so much energy. And she was clearly drunk at this point, after just two cocktails and a few sips of beer. She spun, little of the gracefulness from her dance classes showing through. And then she stumbled, tilted. He jumped forward, reaching out. Her body crashed against his, her forehead hitting his chin hard, and he stumbled a few steps backwards before steadying them. For a moment he was worried that she was hurt, but then she laughed, her hands roaming over his shoulders as she righted herself. He still held her close, brushing her hair back from her face.

“Sorry,” she slurred, trailing her fingers over his chin.

“It’s fine,” he found himself grinning back at her. Her friends were still sing-shouting along to the music.

“We’ve gotta hold on, to what we’ve got,” she sang along, a bit off key, framing his face with her hands. Her gaze flickered from his eyes to his lips, and then she got up on her tiptoes and kissed him, while his chin was still throbbing from her former impact. It was a short kiss, her lips pressed to his and then already gone again, but it was enough to make his breath hitch. There was a holler from one of the girls on the table, and Aurora’s face was flushed as she stepped back from him, her fingers tangled with his.

“Woaaah, halfway there!” she launched back into the song, jumping up and down, and he couldn’t help but go along with their energy. Allowed himself to forget about his mission and what was to come and just live in the moment, dancing and singing with the girl he liked, allowing his heart to beat faster with the thought of stealing another kiss from her, as the song blasted on.

It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not…

(The lines from the song at the end here are from “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Since we don’t know what kind of music they will have in the future I think it’s fair to play pretend with what we have, even though it would be beyond ancient by then^^)