I'm not here at the moment, please leave a note or a missive of some kind and I will return it when I am able to. You can also message my wife Vex'ahlia and she'll let me know if you need to speak to me.
[ Grog was running low on ideas for what to get his friends for Winter's Crest this year... So, he decided to turn The Cask & Anvil tavern into his one-stop-shop for gifts.
Left outside Percy's door with a ribbon haphazardly tied around the neck, and a note in nearly illegible handwriting reading HAPY WINTRS KREST FRUM GROG, is a bottle of gin that he thought suited the gunslinger perfectly. ]
[As soon as she's done at the bonfires for the night, Vex heads straight to Castle Exandria, Trinket at her side. She sends Trinket to go say hello to Pike, Grog and Scanlan before she heads directly to the room she shared with Percival during her first stay in Visium.
With some luck, she finds him there, in their bed, and has to admit that she's surprised that he hasn't tried to bury himself in work. She'd half suspected she'd have to have Vax help her find Percy so that she could make sure he was fed, bathed and rested. And here he is, in bed, looking as if he's been at least listening to the others while she's away.
She quickly strips and climbs into bed with her husband, running a hand through his soft, pale hair.]
[ Just outside of Percy's door, he will see a purple box with it appears to be Essek's trademark ribbon, and upon opening it, he'll see a latticed-leather waistcoat with silver polished buttons, double breasted. A note accompanies it, 'Please accept this holiday gift as a sign of my regard.' - E. Thelyss. ]
[Just because he's asleep doesn't mean Percy has been sleeping well.
He is very pale and there are dark circles under his eyes even as he lies
in the bed at rest. He is also as close to the window side of the bed as he
can be almost like he's curled into himself instead of spreading out. He
turns into Vex's gentle touch and his eyes snap open at her call.]
Vex...you came home.....
{He sits up overjoyed to have her back but his expression is
slightly wary just the same.]
[She knows the signs of him not sleeping/sleeping like shit all too well. Even before they were lovers, she'd watched the way he'd throw his health to the wayside when his emotions were overloaded. Though, to be fair, she's no better.
At his question, she gives him a slight smirk before she takes one of his hands to rest on a bare breast.]
While I'm more than happy to know that you dream about me, I can assure you that I'm here as much as you or anyone else.
[The hand in his hair slips down his face to swipe at the dark circles under his eyes.]
I wish you'd take better care of yourself. I prefer you healthy.
[He smiles and there is a touch of sadness in it.]
I attempted to carry on, but our host did not make it easy for me....just
tonight at the bonfire I was forced to share my escape from the Briarwoods
with Willow. I pray it did not unsettle her too much.
[He sits up and kisses his wife.]
You know I do not sleep well without you...though the others did try their
best to ease my mind.
[That bittersweet smile breaks her heart. She's seen so many of his expressions, but this one is the one that hurts her the most. Because it means he's also hurt.]
Willow is a strong girl. I'll check on her in a bit. Right now, however, there's someone else that needs my attention more.
[She returns his kiss with the sort of languid passion that rests in her heart at all times for him.]
They're good for trying to keep us distracted when we're parted, but I plan on making sure you sleep better. But that's for later. [Her lips tip into a seductive smile as she pushes him back.] You always sleep better when you're completely wiped out. So, I have some work to do.
[He smiles and this time there is clear joy in it. He knows exactly
what is about to happen and he is fully on board as he lets himself be
pushed back into the pillows]
Is it really work if we are both enjoying it dear?
[There's a flush of pride as she watches his face change. If one were to ask Vex'ahlia to explain it, she gains a sense of her own power as Percy watches her and lets his guard down enough to give in to his desire.
She loves this man so much, even if he doesn't take care of himself. That's her job. And she's damn good at it. But it's also nice to know that he gets stupid when he's missing her. Maybe one day, she'll feel differently, but that day is not today.]
Percy, you have to know that I enjoy nearly all of my work. But making you insane for me is perhaps the most rewarding work I'll do all damn night.
[And with that, she leans over to kiss him deeply, letting her hands slide down his arms to remove the cloth between them. Eventually, he'll join her with it. She trusts in him.]
[She has him undressed and thoroughly kissed before she shoves him playfully to the bed. Instead of climbing on top of him and having her way with his body, Vex takes her hair out of the usual braid she wears, shakes it out and curls up with her head on his shoulder. They're both naked and she is soaking up the heat from his still sleep-warmed body.
There's a power in knowing that she could do whatever she wanted and he would let her and be an avid participant, but letting the closeness, the intimacy of this moment sink in. They both need the reassurance that they're back together. This is one of many reunions she's faced since the time she would herself falling into the strange lands of Folkmore as a star. And, well, Percy has never done well with being separated from those he loves.]
I would be lying if I said that it's not the moments like this that I love. I mean, our sex life is active and varied, but you're more than just a warm body in my bed.
[She could fall asleep like this, certainly, but she's a bit curious as to how he will react now that she's here, naked, and was mean enough to get him riled up. It's the thrill that she has to have that keeps their marriage from ever getting stale.]
[Percy is both not surprised and surprised at Vex's actions. This is
what he has been missing since she's been gone. The quiet moments that make
the emotional struggles and physical battles worth it. Just having his wife
beside him in bed soothes his agitated mind and reminds him he is more than
his work and his nightmares. The others tried their best, but this, Vex
beside him, his hand tangled gently in her hair is what he needed. He could
spend the rest of the night like this and be more than happy even if other
parts of him want to complain about it.]
I would hope so dear or I spent far too much time making our wedding rings
if I'm not.
[While the words carry his normal amount of snark, the heat is not
behind it. His voice is soft and quiet and he is smiling as he strokes her
hair. This is Percy De Rolo at peace, a thing few get to see.]
Edited (My tag HTML was a mess, fixed now) 2024-01-27 03:01 (UTC)
[She wants and needs as much skin-to-skin contact with this lovely, infuriating, intelligent idiot of a man. He is a great deal of her world now, and she knows that she'd be a mess without him. She has been a mess without him. And it's a little satisfying to know that he is the same about her.
As he starts to stroke her hair, Vex trails her fingernails down his throat, loving the feel of his fine stubble on her skin. It's a fucking wonderful moment. One they don't really luxuriate in quite as much as they should.]
I mean, you'd still be my husband. Are you saying you don't enjoy the fact that you are my boy toy as well? Do you want more out of our relationship than sex and passion? How dare you demand so much from me.
[She punctuates her little speech with a soft press of her lips to his rough cheek as she runs her fingers down his throat.]
How dare you expect love and sex in our relationship, darling.
[Percy had been more than a mess. The memory of watching in horror
as Silas tossed Vex off the cliff where they had been about to celebrate
with friends was still fresh and he'd been gripped with terror that she had
returned to that moment and died. He chuckles though his voice growing
husky.]
I am a selfish man dear...and when it comes to you I want it all whatever
form that might take.
[He is growing his beard out more here and he enjoys the feeling of
fingers running through the stubble.]
[She still hasn't heard the story of why he's been closer to her since he arrived in Somnius, but she wasn't really in a position to fight it since she'd missed him so fucking much. They need one another too much, but she doesn't care about that either. It's not going to change. Not if she has anything to say about it.]
It's about damned time you were a bit more selfish. You're allowed to be as selfish about me as you want.
[When has she ever had anyone to be jealous over her or her time? Percy is the first, and, well, she is still sometimes that scared, scarred, disappointed, insecure girl who left Syngorn all those years ago.]
[He knows he should tell everyone....but he's been struggling to
admit his past still isn't as dead as he thought. He feels responsible for
Silas' return and knowing Vex will be harmed as a result.}
And I am.....I would do anything to keep you by my side.
[He chuckles]
Good...I've been told by Cassandra it looks foolish, but your opinion truly
matters.
[Well, she's sure that if Percy won't tell her what is on his mind, she can ask Pike. The cleric is the only other person that she can think of that would even half-guess what's on her husband's mind. Pike has a special relationship with each and every member of Vox Machina, with good reason. And, let's be honest, Vex'ahlia would do anything to make sure that her husband stays sane and healthy.]
Anything, hm? And just want are you willing to do right now, Percy?
[She sits up and looks at her husband.]
And you care as much about what Cassandra thinks about your looks as Vax does me about his. You're handsome. And you're mine. That's all that matters.
[ Willow had suspected something was off, but seeing Percy’s Sleepr post confirms it. So she doesn’t even bother replying on the device, and instead heads straight for the castle.
Fortunately she’s visited enough times by now to know where rooms are, and where the people inside would be. She knows to look in Percy’s lab, where he goes to deal with things sometimes. ]
[The lab door is cracked open as it often is. Percy never shut the
door completely unless he was working with something that could hurt anyone
else. There is no sound from inside and it takes a moment before there is
an answer.]
Come in Willow it's safe.
[Percy's voice is flat and calm but there is no emotion beyond
that.]
[ Her frown deepening as her concern grows, she carefully pushes the door open and enters the lab, easily finding him sitting at his workbench.
Not working, just…sitting. ]
…I’m sorry.
[ She knows there’s nothing by she can really say to make the situation better, and even that attempt feels like it falls flat. But she has to try something. ]
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