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[Sometime after Percy gets off work:]
I have liquor, pastries, and the file. Let me in?
I have liquor, pastries, and the file. Let me in?
[ liquor, pastries, and a file? oh my Mr. De Rolo. ]
Door is open darling, come on in.
[ true to her word he will find the door to her apartment open, unveiling a rather familiar living space. since the last time he's been here she has added a few things to the decor. a number of miscellaneous (and shiny) objects she's picked up over the years. he will find Vex'ahlia in the living room lounging languidly upon the couch with her hair down and wearing little more than an oversized shirt. ]
Door is open darling, come on in.
[ true to her word he will find the door to her apartment open, unveiling a rather familiar living space. since the last time he's been here she has added a few things to the decor. a number of miscellaneous (and shiny) objects she's picked up over the years. he will find Vex'ahlia in the living room lounging languidly upon the couch with her hair down and wearing little more than an oversized shirt. ]
[Percy got here straight from work, judging from the slightly frazzled look in his eye and the soot stains on his clothes. He holds up a paper bag with the name of a lovely bakery emblazoned across the front.]
Croissants and bear claws.
[Holding out the other bag.]
The finest Chardonnay I could buy, aged in oak barrels.
[And he's going to kind of fold down on the couch next to her and hold out his own file.]
We're going to need it, because I took this file out of the Asgard library, and it's a very infuriating, very enraging read.
Croissants and bear claws.
[Holding out the other bag.]
The finest Chardonnay I could buy, aged in oak barrels.
[And he's going to kind of fold down on the couch next to her and hold out his own file.]
We're going to need it, because I took this file out of the Asgard library, and it's a very infuriating, very enraging read.
[ oh, but the slightly frazzled look is just so good on him as is the soot stains on his clothes. it brings to mind a half remembered memory of Percy leaning over a desk, tinkering with this or that. ]
You brought gifts! [ she shifts, reaching out to take the paper bag before he all but folds down on the couch beside her. automatically Vex takes a bear claw from the bag before handing it back and leans against him. ] And some terrible reading material.
[ still Vex takes the file, casually biting into the bear claw as she reads. after a moment her expression shifts, a frown quickly falling onto her features. ]
You're right, it is an incredibly infuriating read.
You brought gifts! [ she shifts, reaching out to take the paper bag before he all but folds down on the couch beside her. automatically Vex takes a bear claw from the bag before handing it back and leans against him. ] And some terrible reading material.
[ still Vex takes the file, casually biting into the bear claw as she reads. after a moment her expression shifts, a frown quickly falling onto her features. ]
You're right, it is an incredibly infuriating read.
It explains their interest in me, I suppose. But it’s bloody idiotic—why massacre my parents and my older siblings? They weren’t unreasonable people! If you didn’t meet them with violence first thing, they were perfectly fine with just sitting down and having tea. [A beat.] A glass of whiskey in Julius’s case, but anyway.
[He pushes a hand through white hair, breathing out slowly. Smoke wisps out from his mouth—he was not lying when he said it was an enraging read. The reason why he isn’t hauling off to go kill someone about it right now is that he already did, in the Asgard incursion, and it’s done nothing, really.]
The gifts are to make up for the awful reading material. [Softly:] I tried to find their files—my siblings’ and our friends’ from before, but. No luck yet. I’m sorry, I know you’re still looking for Vax.
[He pushes a hand through white hair, breathing out slowly. Smoke wisps out from his mouth—he was not lying when he said it was an enraging read. The reason why he isn’t hauling off to go kill someone about it right now is that he already did, in the Asgard incursion, and it’s done nothing, really.]
The gifts are to make up for the awful reading material. [Softly:] I tried to find their files—my siblings’ and our friends’ from before, but. No luck yet. I’m sorry, I know you’re still looking for Vax.
[ a few seconds later Vex breathes out heavily, tossing the file onto the coffee table. the whole thing leaves a bad taste in her mouth and reminds her too much of something she'd much rather forget. ]
Why play nice when you can eliminate the competition ahead of time? [ she bites down on her bear claw angrily, brown eyes flicking to the wisps of smoke coming from Percy's mouth. ] There's no point trying to understand how they think now, I suppose.
[ putting the bear claw down Vex turns to face Percy proper, a hand resting gently against his cheek. ]
You don't have to apologize, the fact that you tried is more than enough for me. [ although she had at least hoped he found something about his siblings. ] You know how Vax is, he makes it infuriatingly difficult to find him when he doesn't want to be found.
[ fingers move up to brush white hair from his face. ]
I've got some contacts I can reach out to, now that we know that your siblings survived.
Why play nice when you can eliminate the competition ahead of time? [ she bites down on her bear claw angrily, brown eyes flicking to the wisps of smoke coming from Percy's mouth. ] There's no point trying to understand how they think now, I suppose.
[ putting the bear claw down Vex turns to face Percy proper, a hand resting gently against his cheek. ]
You don't have to apologize, the fact that you tried is more than enough for me. [ although she had at least hoped he found something about his siblings. ] You know how Vax is, he makes it infuriatingly difficult to find him when he doesn't want to be found.
[ fingers move up to brush white hair from his face. ]
I've got some contacts I can reach out to, now that we know that your siblings survived.
Of course. Why try to negotiate when you can just steamroll over everyone else. [He remembers a flash of fang, a glint of light off a green gem on a choker. This is not the first time.
He leans into her touch, just sagging down next to her.] Little shit. [There's an exasperated fondness there. He and Vax had their differences, sure. At the end of the day, though—they had been family, and that means something to Percy.] When you find him, do let me yell at him for making it so difficult to find him.
...will they ask you for anything? I'm happy to take on commissions, do whatever job they ask, if it means a concrete lead.
He leans into her touch, just sagging down next to her.] Little shit. [There's an exasperated fondness there. He and Vax had their differences, sure. At the end of the day, though—they had been family, and that means something to Percy.] When you find him, do let me yell at him for making it so difficult to find him.
...will they ask you for anything? I'm happy to take on commissions, do whatever job they ask, if it means a concrete lead.
[ she misses Vax, that much is true. there is an space in her chest that is painfully hollow without her twin, but it is a familiar ache she's lived with for so long now. an ache that feels like a old friend and has dulled finding Percy again. ]
Of course, you'll be the first person to know when I do. [ Vex shifts again pulling him down with her as she all but lays down on the couch, half using Percy as a blanket. ] He deserves to get yelled at after all the shit he's put us through.
[ congratulations Percy you're now using her chest as a pillow, don't freak out about it. just lay there and let her gently card her fingers through your hair, okay? ]
It's likely. I made a few shady friends over the years, but few of them owe me some favors.
Of course, you'll be the first person to know when I do. [ Vex shifts again pulling him down with her as she all but lays down on the couch, half using Percy as a blanket. ] He deserves to get yelled at after all the shit he's put us through.
[ congratulations Percy you're now using her chest as a pillow, don't freak out about it. just lay there and let her gently card her fingers through your hair, okay? ]
It's likely. I made a few shady friends over the years, but few of them owe me some favors.
[Cool he is going to do his best to be chill about his head on her chest. Wow these tits are so soft and squishy.]
I vaguely recall telling him that my final words to him would be irritated and indignant. I imagine my first words in this life to him will be just as irritated and even more indignant for this entire mess. [mrrrgh.] I'll go back and keep looking. The library is quite extensive, after all, and we weren't there very long. And...
[There's a silence, before he sighs.]
I'm going to try my best to convince the Order to let me destroy the inventions I made in past lives for them. If they're too dangerous to let out in the world they're too dangerous to be kept intact, and while I trust the people in charge now, I'm not so foolish as to believe that everyone in the Order is as well-intentioned as they are.
[He sighs. Where's her free hand? He's going to catch that one and just...stroke over her palm with this thumb.]
All right. Let them know, then. I'll do commissions for them in exchange for leads.
I vaguely recall telling him that my final words to him would be irritated and indignant. I imagine my first words in this life to him will be just as irritated and even more indignant for this entire mess. [mrrrgh.] I'll go back and keep looking. The library is quite extensive, after all, and we weren't there very long. And...
[There's a silence, before he sighs.]
I'm going to try my best to convince the Order to let me destroy the inventions I made in past lives for them. If they're too dangerous to let out in the world they're too dangerous to be kept intact, and while I trust the people in charge now, I'm not so foolish as to believe that everyone in the Order is as well-intentioned as they are.
[He sighs. Where's her free hand? He's going to catch that one and just...stroke over her palm with this thumb.]
All right. Let them know, then. I'll do commissions for them in exchange for leads.
[ a something flashes across her vision; a sea of raven feathers, golden strings, a pale white mask. Vex breathes in, body tensing for just long enough before the vision fades. this isn't the first time they've been separated, but this the first time there is hope of getting him back.
she listens to Percy all but ramble while she absently plays with his hair. he is worried about the inventions his past lives made for the Order, just as he was worried about his inventions spreading across Exandria. it is for the best that they are destroyed just in case the wrong hands were to somehow find their way into this new edition of the Order─
Vex exhales. all of this is terribly grim and makes her feel as though she is uselessly trudging through a never ending mire. ]
We'll figure it out, Percy. Vax, your siblings, your inventions, all of it.
[ it's time for a change in subject. ]
You know... you wanted to talk after storming the castle, didn't you? [ she threads her fingers through his hair again, her gaze flicking down to where his head is resting. ] About this, us. You left me with quite the confession, darling. And now I suppose we should talk, perhaps even make things... official?
she listens to Percy all but ramble while she absently plays with his hair. he is worried about the inventions his past lives made for the Order, just as he was worried about his inventions spreading across Exandria. it is for the best that they are destroyed just in case the wrong hands were to somehow find their way into this new edition of the Order─
Vex exhales. all of this is terribly grim and makes her feel as though she is uselessly trudging through a never ending mire. ]
We'll figure it out, Percy. Vax, your siblings, your inventions, all of it.
[ it's time for a change in subject. ]
You know... you wanted to talk after storming the castle, didn't you? [ she threads her fingers through his hair again, her gaze flicking down to where his head is resting. ] About this, us. You left me with quite the confession, darling. And now I suppose we should talk, perhaps even make things... official?
We'll figure it out. [An echo, a reassurance.
Oh shit now is the time to talk, isn't it. He actually had come over with that intention to try and work out the relationship now, because he loves her and she loves him and that's easy, and now the Black Order is gone and. There's really nothing stopping him.
Well, nothing except the yawning pit of anxiety, anyway, but he's used to working past that. He sighs, and moves to look her in the eye.]
I meant what I said. You have had my heart since I was fifteen years old. [Yep, that long.] If you want me, you will have me for as long as you're willing, in whatever form you wish. I just...
[A breath.]
I don't have much to give you. A little more now that the Unyielding are dead, but—I want to give you the best.
Oh shit now is the time to talk, isn't it. He actually had come over with that intention to try and work out the relationship now, because he loves her and she loves him and that's easy, and now the Black Order is gone and. There's really nothing stopping him.
Well, nothing except the yawning pit of anxiety, anyway, but he's used to working past that. He sighs, and moves to look her in the eye.]
I meant what I said. You have had my heart since I was fifteen years old. [Yep, that long.] If you want me, you will have me for as long as you're willing, in whatever form you wish. I just...
[A breath.]
I don't have much to give you. A little more now that the Unyielding are dead, but—I want to give you the best.
[ better now than leave it hanging over their heads, an uncertain nameless blade ready to drop at any moment. she can understand the anxiety, gods she even feels her fair share of it from merely bringing up the 'later talk' they agreed on.
Vex'ahlia takes a nervous breath in, something Percy will undoubtedly notice giving their position, catching his gaze with her own. immediately she feels all of her guards, her walls, everything crumble in the face of those earnest eyes. ]
As you have had mine. [ there's no denying it, no hiding from it. as aloof as she had been back then he had charmed her from the very beginning. ] You had me from hello.
[ her fingers still thread through his hair slowly but surely loosening it from how he styled it for work, her lips twitching in a fond smile. ]
Percy, darling, I don't need a castle or a fort. [ inch by inch her hand drifts from his hair, brushing gently over his ear then down to the line of his jaw. ] All I need is you. The rest we can figure out just as we always do.
Vex'ahlia takes a nervous breath in, something Percy will undoubtedly notice giving their position, catching his gaze with her own. immediately she feels all of her guards, her walls, everything crumble in the face of those earnest eyes. ]
As you have had mine. [ there's no denying it, no hiding from it. as aloof as she had been back then he had charmed her from the very beginning. ] You had me from hello.
[ her fingers still thread through his hair slowly but surely loosening it from how he styled it for work, her lips twitching in a fond smile. ]
Percy, darling, I don't need a castle or a fort. [ inch by inch her hand drifts from his hair, brushing gently over his ear then down to the line of his jaw. ] All I need is you. The rest we can figure out just as we always do.
hell yea new casaaaaaa
we gotta throw u a housewarming party v
betchu i can find stuff to decorate with
omw
[Astonishingly, there's going to be a knock on the door an actually reasonable amount of time later. Almost like Ace managed to go from point A to point B without getting distracted, hungry, or falling asleep.]
we gotta throw u a housewarming party v
betchu i can find stuff to decorate with
omw
[Astonishingly, there's going to be a knock on the door an actually reasonable amount of time later. Almost like Ace managed to go from point A to point B without getting distracted, hungry, or falling asleep.]
[ it is a rather nice manor, all things considered, with a rather sizable yard for Trinket to wander around if he so pleases. but there is no bear to distract Ace in the yard today though he isn't that far away.
Vex, utterly surprised at how swiftly Ace managed to arrive, opens the front door with a smile. ] Hello darling, come on in.
[ as already warned the manor is barely furnished, even so she ushers him in and toward the sitting room.
to the room Trinket, her large brown bear, naps comfortably on an old rug. ]
Vex, utterly surprised at how swiftly Ace managed to arrive, opens the front door with a smile. ] Hello darling, come on in.
[ as already warned the manor is barely furnished, even so she ushers him in and toward the sitting room.
to the room Trinket, her large brown bear, naps comfortably on an old rug. ]
[Ace is tired, that much is evident from the moment Vex opens the door. He has shadows under his eyes, doesn't seem to have as much of an edge, and if possible, those perpetually sleepy eyes seem to be drooping even further.
Somehow, though, he manages to give her a little lopsided grin as she opens the door.]
You got fancy on me.
[It's not until he steps into the room and sees an actual real life bear just passed out on the floor that any bit of his normal energy seems to spark.]
Whoa! That-- Vex is that your-- can I??? [He's just stuck in a bent at the knees, wide-stance, half ready to fight the bear pose, gesturing excitedly with both hands from his chest to that big, napping baby on the rug.
LET HIM CLIMB THE BEAR.]
Somehow, though, he manages to give her a little lopsided grin as she opens the door.]
You got fancy on me.
[It's not until he steps into the room and sees an actual real life bear just passed out on the floor that any bit of his normal energy seems to spark.]
Whoa! That-- Vex is that your-- can I??? [He's just stuck in a bent at the knees, wide-stance, half ready to fight the bear pose, gesturing excitedly with both hands from his chest to that big, napping baby on the rug.
LET HIM CLIMB THE BEAR.]
Darling, I've always been fancy.
[ in all honesty Trinket is the reason she got this place. an apartment isn't suited for a bear, especially not for a bear of his size. not to mention with Percy back in her life... well it just felt like this was the best choice.
seeing some of that spark return to Ace makes her laugh softly, tension draining from her shoulders. it is rare to see him so exhausted, so tense. it's unnerving. Trinket rouses with a low rumble, blinking slowly at both Vex'ahlia and Ace. ]
Go ahead, Trinket won't bite.
[ in all honesty Trinket is the reason she got this place. an apartment isn't suited for a bear, especially not for a bear of his size. not to mention with Percy back in her life... well it just felt like this was the best choice.
seeing some of that spark return to Ace makes her laugh softly, tension draining from her shoulders. it is rare to see him so exhausted, so tense. it's unnerving. Trinket rouses with a low rumble, blinking slowly at both Vex'ahlia and Ace. ]
Go ahead, Trinket won't bite.
[Ace just sticks out his tongue and blows a raspberry at Vex' declaration of being fancy.]
Boooo, Baronness VonFancypants. Booooooo.
[But he is going to turn back to Vex's bear, making his way over with his hands held up in best "I come in peace" gesture, reaching out sloooooowly to touch the fur on Trinket's side and--]
Oh. Oh. [Ace gasps, eyes as wide as they can go, as he looks from Trinket to Vex.] I love him.
[Brb, Ace is looking to climb on top and cuddle this big lump of fur.]
Boooo, Baronness VonFancypants. Booooooo.
[But he is going to turn back to Vex's bear, making his way over with his hands held up in best "I come in peace" gesture, reaching out sloooooowly to touch the fur on Trinket's side and--]
Oh. Oh. [Ace gasps, eyes as wide as they can go, as he looks from Trinket to Vex.] I love him.
[Brb, Ace is looking to climb on top and cuddle this big lump of fur.]
That's Lady Vex'ahlia, Baroness of the First House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Greyhunt to you.
[ Trinket blinks again, looking briefly to Vex standing just a little ways back, before sniffing curiously at Ace as he approaches. oh? he's getting pets? the bear makes a curious noise nudging Ace's hand.
this is just adorable. utterly adorable. and completely expected. after all there are no one who can resist Trinket's charms. ]
He is very lovable. [ she settles down beside Trinket reaching out to scratch her son behind his ear as Ace all but climb on top of him, something he will be able to do with ease considering how used to it Trinket is. ] Now, what has got your head in such a twist that you started using proper gramma?
[ Trinket blinks again, looking briefly to Vex standing just a little ways back, before sniffing curiously at Ace as he approaches. oh? he's getting pets? the bear makes a curious noise nudging Ace's hand.
this is just adorable. utterly adorable. and completely expected. after all there are no one who can resist Trinket's charms. ]
He is very lovable. [ she settles down beside Trinket reaching out to scratch her son behind his ear as Ace all but climb on top of him, something he will be able to do with ease considering how used to it Trinket is. ] Now, what has got your head in such a twist that you started using proper gramma?
[Ace just scoffs, settling in on top of his new Trinket bed.]
If you think I'm gonna call you Lady, you have another thing comin'. You're lucky I add enough letters to even call you Vex, a irmã.
[He is going to finish sprawling out with a very content sigh, though, humming for a moment before... slowly answering.]
It's... I've been thinking, since this showed up. [He just wiggles his left arm, that ASCE out and on display.] How do you know if you have... other memories?
If you think I'm gonna call you Lady, you have another thing comin'. You're lucky I add enough letters to even call you Vex, a irmã.
[He is going to finish sprawling out with a very content sigh, though, humming for a moment before... slowly answering.]
It's... I've been thinking, since this showed up. [He just wiggles his left arm, that A
[ don't you scoff at her from your lofty perch. ]
Oh don't worry, darling, I'm not holding my breath.
[ she gives Trinket another scratch as the bear huffs, adjusting to the weight on his back, before Vex also leans against him. if anything she expects him not really to answer, to flip the subject to something else entirely. she shifts herself to face him, resting her hand on the top of Trinket's head. ]
That's... [ Vex exhales. ] I'm not sure. I got flashes of people I couldn't possibly know and things I couldn't possibly have done. [ like flying on a broom, fighting dragons, marrying the love of her life. ] I still do.
Oh don't worry, darling, I'm not holding my breath.
[ she gives Trinket another scratch as the bear huffs, adjusting to the weight on his back, before Vex also leans against him. if anything she expects him not really to answer, to flip the subject to something else entirely. she shifts herself to face him, resting her hand on the top of Trinket's head. ]
That's... [ Vex exhales. ] I'm not sure. I got flashes of people I couldn't possibly know and things I couldn't possibly have done. [ like flying on a broom, fighting dragons, marrying the love of her life. ] I still do.
[Normally, he would. He'd change the subject, avoid any kind of serious emotional answer. Normally, Ace would fight tooth and nail to avoid having a serious conversation.
But...
There's something about this. Some heavy feeling in his chest, a pain that hurts more than anything he's ever felt before in his life. A pain that he's so desperate to cling to, because it means something important.
He just... can't put his finger on it.]
... people I couldn't possibly know and things I couldn't possibly have done, huh? [Ace pauses, thinking for a good long moment, before saying so, so quietly: ] That's a pretty good description, honestly.
But...
There's something about this. Some heavy feeling in his chest, a pain that hurts more than anything he's ever felt before in his life. A pain that he's so desperate to cling to, because it means something important.
He just... can't put his finger on it.]
... people I couldn't possibly know and things I couldn't possibly have done, huh? [Ace pauses, thinking for a good long moment, before saying so, so quietly: ] That's a pretty good description, honestly.
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