InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "You're not a killer, Draco"

vax'ildan (daggerdagger) wrote in jurassiccitylog,
@ 2016-10-01 17:27:00

Entry tags:

cassandra de rolo, cisco ramon / vibe, harrison wells, hartley rathaway / pied piper, kashaw vesh, keyleth, percy de rolo, shaun gilmore, vax'ildan, vex'ahlia, zahra hydris

WHO: Vox Machina & Friends + The Star Labs People
WHAT: Percy's demons have caught up with him... in a quite literal sense. VM & Company unite for a resurrection ritual.
WHEN: After this
WHERE: The Lab
RATING: TBD
STATUS: In Progress

It had been a moment of panic in Vax the second that he'd realized they hadn't arrived back in Whitestone. It had taken a beat later before he realized where they were instead of the city they'd been aiming for. He wasn't sure how long they'd been gone, or if their absence had even been noticed, and he'd noted, with a mix of shock and relief, that Keyleth had been with them as well. But there hadn't been time to thinking about the whys and wheres and whats of the situation. Percy was still dead, and they had to do something about it. Kash had flashed into his mind a second later, and he'd put up his plea before leading the small group that he'd arrived with towards the Lab where Percy had spent 90% of his time here.

He hadn't expected Harry to greet them when they arrived, but he realized after a moment that he should have. He hadn't exactly been vague about explaining what had happened in public, and the expression that was twisting the other man's features made it more than little clear that he was already expecting the worst. "We need a place to put him," Vax said, no real pretense in the words as Harry nodded, shifting back into the labs.

"I already prepped one of the examine tables," Harry said, his tone making it a little too obvious he was barely maintaining his composure. After all, for him, dead was dead. There was no hope to be held onto when that became a state of being beyond the handful of minutes that someone could be resuscitated. But, somehow, Harry doubted that Percy's condition just required a little CPR. What they were planning... it was well beyond him.

"How likely is it this is going to work?" Harry asked, sparing a look over his shoulder.

"We won't know until we try," Vax said, not really sure how to answer that. On one hand, they'd never had it not work before. But on the others, well... There was always a chance it would fail. He'd just rather not think about that possibility.

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pepperbox
2016-10-06 02:13 pm UTC (link)

Percy shook his head. "Thank you," he insisted. "What you saved me from...knowing that is no longer waiting for me...thank you, Keyleth." He took a shaky breath. "How long-" he said again. "A day...maybe a little more." The reply came from Vax and Percy's eyes widened. "Only a day?" he asked. "It felt like so much longer. I don't remember anything about what you all did...though it must have been a great sacrifice for Vex to be so upset...and I don't-" he cut himself off from saying that he didn't deserve that sort of sacrifice after everything, "-but I remember Orthax...though I would rather not...and I remember Keyleth stopping him. But it felt like so much more than a day."

He allowed Harry to hug him, giving a shaky breath. "I make no promises," he said quietly. "There are several ancient dragons back home to fight. Who knows what will happen there. But I will do my best." Then Harry was stepping away and Shaun was there and he gave him a very tired smile before resting his head on his lover's chest. "I desperately need to sleep," he admitted, "but I do not know that I can. The idea of it...it scares me. I do not think I will like what I see when I close my eyes."

Hartley's exclamation was surprising but Percy let him be. He had heard enough in his time with these people to know it was less about him than it was about Hartley's own struggles with dying and coming back. Besides, it was a nice sentiment. Of course, Keyleth getting defensive wasn't surprising, given she had to be confused. "Keyleth, dear," he said gently, "please put away the fire before something explodes. We are safe here."

Vax's words provoked a quiet laugh and he shook his head. "You truly are a poet for our time," he said, even as Hartley moved to a nearby desk and pulled something out.

Hartley, meanwhile, shrugged off Cisco's hold. "The magic isn't what I'm worried about, Cisquito," he said. "It's the people bit. They suck at that." Vax made him shake his head with a derisive snort and he pulled out one of the gold "you tried" stars he kept on hand for when people were especially stupid, reckless or ridiculous. Walking over, he stuck it firmly to he half-elf's chest.

Percy wasn't sure what that meant, but he was immediately distracted by Cassandra's entrance. "Oh god," he groaned into Shaun's shirt. "Someone kill me again." He did not want to deal with Cass's anger. Or worse, her disappointment.

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gloriousgoods
2016-10-06 11:51 pm UTC (link)

Gilmore was right there, letting Percy try to smother himself with his shirt, and tried carefully to pry him away from it.

"I think you might have to suck it up and let her have her say," he said softly. He gave a small smile and reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. "Better to get it over with, so you can rest."

The look he gave to Cassandra only asked that she be gentle.

Hopefully.

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hadaparttoplay
2016-10-07 10:48 am UTC (link)

Making her way to her brother's side, Cassandra put her hands on her hips. "You are a proper idiot, Percival," she said softly. "You are supposed to come back to me alive. Alive."

It was hard to decide what she wanted to do. Cassandra was torn between hugging her brother and punching him. "Are you alright?" she asked finally "Do you need something? You should probably eat."

Finally, she gave in and leaned over to hug her brother. "If you do this to me ever again, I will hurt you."

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burymyshame
2016-10-07 11:29 am UTC (link)

Keyleth was rattled and unsure of what was happening. But she still stopped, gave Percy a quick wry smile. "We wouldn't have let that be ... your end, no matter what." Even if they couldn't raise him, they would have found away to follow Orthax back to whatever Abyssal hell he dwelt on and killed him there to free what was left of Percy to find some kind of peace. That much, at least, Keyleth was sure of. Once she'd known what was happening ... she couldn't have left it like that. No one else would have wanted to either. "We couldn't get back sooner. We were meant to be in Whitestone with Pike but we were ... here, instead" Keyleth said, biting back the urge to apologize for not getting Percy back faster, or where she meant to go. He was shaken enough, he didn't need to have her babbling apologies at him too.

Percy dropped his head onto Gilmore's chest and Keyleth blinked again, since that was ... also not what she thought was happening. Her eyes went to Vax, but she said nothing, just made a face, looking at the yelling man again before dousing her hands. She truly hoped they were safe, or she'd be little use. Again.

No one else seemed concerned about the strangers, so Keyleth just watched, when the one that had been yelling walked over and ... slapped a star on Vax's chest? Vax didn't look worried, but it was one more thing Keyleth didn't get at all. She edged further out of the way to give Cassandra room to get to Percy, rolling her eyes at Percy's reaction. "No one gets to die again anytime soon," she told him.

Cisco snorted a little at the gold star. "You know no one is going to get that but you and me and Harry," he muttered. He didn't try to grab the guy again though, just stayed close behind him and watched worriedly and noted that this was way too many people for the lab. Maybe he'd add an occupancy limit to the rules no one followed.

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daggerdagger
2016-10-07 03:44 pm UTC (link)

Harry had stepped back rather suddenly when the flames had sprung up on the redhead's hands, eyes going slightly wide. Magic was never going to be something that he could wrap his head around. At least their metas ran on some sort of scientific backdrop, a biological or physics based problem to which there was a solution, but that... Well, he could think of a dozen different ways it could be achieved, but he doubted any of them would be the reality.

"We really probably should have done introductions at some point," Harry said, his focus entirely on Keyleth as the rest of the people present were entirely aware of their identity and the very reason that they'd come here to begin with. She was the only one that was confused, and since none of the rest of them seemed to be making any efforts to clear up that confusion, someone had to. "Harrison Wells. That's Cisco Ramon and Hartley Rathaway," He said, pointing at each of them in turn. "We're friends of Percy's. Though, I imagine he'd probably say colleagues," He said, a certain sort of fondness in his voice.

"They're friends," Vax piped in, glancing down at the gold star on his chest. He knew what gold stars were for, congratulating a job well done, but looking at this one more closely, it seemed to be for a job attempted but not quite succeeded. Snorting to himself, he glanced up, grinning as he reached out and tapped Hartley on the cheek, "Awww, Harts. You're adorable."

Harry just rolled his eyes, smiling despite himself, "You should all probably head back to your apartments. I imagine you need rest in a place that's a little more comfortable than a sterile lab environment. If you need anything, I can help."

Vax grinned, slinking over and hugging Keyleth around the shoulders, taking comfort in the fact that the heaviness of the moment seemed to be easing away. Probably not as fast as it would have if Scanlan had come with them, but still. "Oh, man. Now he's going to dad all of us. I wasn't prepared to be adopted today," Vax said, sparing a glance over at Percy with a wry smile. ""Sorry, Percy. I guess I'm your brother now."

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pepperbox
2016-10-07 04:17 pm UTC (link)

"Have some sympathy for the recently dead," Percy grumbled, but allowed Shaun to pull away. He knew he couldn't actually avoid talking to Cassandra forever, even if it was an appealing idea.

"That...has been said," he agreed. "I know, Cassandra. I know. And I am sorry. But it was..." He had to force himself to breathe as he tried to say the name. "It was Ripley. And Orthax. And I could not just allow the monsters I created to wreak havoc on the world. You must understand that." Cass understood better than anyone, he imagined. She had seen what Ripley had done to him when she had tortured him. She knew how dangerous she was.

He gave a quiet, brittle laugh. "I am...far from all right," he admitted. "And I imagine it will be some time before I am all right again. But I am alive. And I am here. And that is...enough. It has to be. I should rest. I don't know that I can eat just yet...but I will do my best to rest." The words rang hollow. He was exhausted, but sleep was a terrifying concept. He didn't want to relive what he had suffered at Orthax's metaphorical hands, and he was sure that was what would be waiting when he closed his eyes.

He allowed Cass to hug him, bringing his own shaking hands up to return the embrace. "I know," he whispered, closing his eyes and pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "I know. Just...just a few dragons and then I will take a break from all this adventuring and be boring for a while. How does that sound?"

While the siblings talked, Hartley gave Vax a deeply unimpressed look. "Do that again," he said mildly, catching Vax's wrist in a gloved hand, "and I will put you through a wall." Yes, he was wearing his gloves. He'd wanted to be prepared just in case the resurrection went sideways and they had to fight some kind of demon. Which, it had turned out, hadn't been far from what had happened. Except that the redhead had done the fighting. With magic.

Speaking of, He turned and offered Keyleth his hand. "Hartley," he introduced himself. "It's very nice to meet you, Keyleth. It's nice to see Percy has at least one other friend who isn't an idiot. And yes, I am including my colleagues in that." He rolled his eyes at Harry and Vax, as they proceeded to prove him right.

Percy, meanwhile, gave a weak smile. "I suppose a proper bed would be better," he agreed, "if I must sleep." He wanted to ask Shaun or Vax, or both, to stay with him, but it felt terribly selfish to do so. Vax would likely need to worry about Keyleth or Vex or the both of them. And it wasn't fair to put his worries on Shaun. He would be fine. Or he would manage. Something. He had a great deal of experience being fine in spite of the odds.

"I imagine that would make things quite awkward," he said, before stopping. Keyleth was here. And he very much doubted Vax had time to explain the way things were with him and with Shaun. It was probably better to give them some space for the moment. "Keyleth, I imagine you are very confused. This is rather a lot to take in and we had a bit more time and less chaos to do so. I have no doubt Vax'ildan can explain everything if you need. I would offer, but I really am exhausted."

Getting to his feet, he stumbled, swaying slightly before righting himself. "We should really go. I think we have caused enough fuss here today."

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hadaparttoplay
2016-10-07 05:50 pm UTC (link)

The name filled her with rage. The sort of rage she hadn't felt in a long time. Her shoulders tensed up for a second and she nodded. "I understand," she said softly. "I don't like it but I understand it." She hated that he had to deal with that woman again. She hated that she couldn't do anything to help him with it worse.

She nodded. "That's fair," she said softly reaching up to run her hand over his hair. "Rest and peace and quiet are what you need. So many people here."

Cassandra closed her eyes at the kiss. "Don't you lie to me, Percival," she teased gently. "You will never be able to take a break from adventuring. You would get so bored that would kill you. Just be a bit more careful. That is all I ask. You're all I have left."

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burymyshame
2016-10-07 07:35 pm UTC (link)

Keyleth tilted her head a little as one of the strangers - the handsy one, not the yelling one - introduced himself and offered his hand. Hers weren't on fire anymore, so she cautiously took it, shaking quickly, looking at the other two he introduced. The one who'd been quietest gave a little brief wave as Harrison said his name. Keyleth waved back. "I'm Keyleth," she said slowly. "Also a friend of Percy's ... and everyone else. Except you. Since I don't know you." That came out much more awkward that it had in her head.

Keyleth shot Vax a look, brow knit. She desperately wanted to ask how they were all friends, and how they knew one another, and what, exactly, was going on, and why had no one told her about this if they were all so familiar with this place and these people? But it wasn't the time, so she didn't. She still leaned into Vax a little though, taking the comfort of the contact where it offered. "I really don't think it works like that," she said. Since that was most definitely not her father and Vax would probably have used his actual hands to cast that spell if Percy was his brother.

"She's dead," Keyleth said quickly, after Percy gritted out Ripley's name. "Ripley, she's gone. If it ... helps at all." Cassandra and Percy had a lot tied up in their memory of the woman. At least they could know Percy's death, averted or not, hadn't been for nothing.

She frowned a little at Hartley for the mild threat to Vax, but Vax didn't seem concerned. And Grog threatened him with worse than that on a daily basis, so Keyleth let it go, though she shifted to keep herself between him and the still mostly defenseless Percy, just in case. "Percy has a lot of friends who aren't idiots." Keyleth stopped and then amended. "Who aren't always idiots." Because they were all pretty frequently idiots. "And he has one who isn't." But Pike wasn't here. "It's ... well it's nice to meet you, but honestly it's probably still too weird to be nice to meet anyone." She looked at Percy. "Is there an inn or somewhere safe he can rest?" she asked. She smiled tiredly at Percy. "Confused doesn't even BEGIN to explain it. But Vax can explain. You should rest. And then later when you wake up and Vax has confused me more, you can explain it better." She gave Vax a smile that tried for teasing, but was still a little strained.

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goodvibrations
2016-10-07 07:42 pm UTC (link)

"He should still have his room here, whichever building it was in before. I can call a Flashcab for a ride," Cisco said. He was still standing behind Hartley, the strange out of place uneasiness not really abating once Percy was back, though he felt a keen sense of relief. He was watching Percy though, trying to see if he looked like he needed more than magic mojo and they should call in Caitlin or hit the hospital. So he saw when Percy stood up, and he was close enough to step up and try to catch him by the shoulder to hold him upright. "Whoa, maybe-" he started to say, and then stopped mid-sentence.

Cisco's powers were a work in progress. Most of the time he had a handle on it, but then the universe's timeline changed, or another dimension went out of whack, or his date turned out to be an immortal hawk warrior or one of their friends turned out to be their evil arch nemesis and something just came off the wheels and switched him to on without his say so. This was definitely one of those times.

He touched Percy and abruptly the world went the sort of indistinct, overlaid reality Cisco associated with Vibing. But it was more intense. It had gotten like that once other worlds got crowded in, and since he got here, there were so many other worlds. Not just different timelines or realities, just flat out other worlds. He'd gotten a glimpse here and there and tried to shut that shit down in a hurry because Cisco really didn't feel like getting laid out with a brain bleed.

But sometimes there wasn't any stopping it. So he saw a flash of Percy, and then it was like a rewind, watching flashes of a timeline in reverse. Dying and demons and before that dragons and forests, glades gone suddenly dark, underground. Further back to just a kid, his whole family dying and then him running, his hair getting darker the further back it went.

And branching out everywhere were flashes of other timelines, moments of how things might have gone. Some worse, a lot of them better. From what Cisco could tell though, the timeline that played out had sucked.

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goodvibrations
2016-10-07 07:43 pm UTC (link)

Cisco thought he heard someone say his name, but he wasn't sure, and his hand had turned into a vise around Percy's shoulder, but he didn't realize that, either. His vibe-vision shifted again, flashed forward back to the present. Or not the present. Before it, some dark seething thing held on to a brighter, but flickering presence that Cisco could recognize as Percy and the demon that held him. Orthax, he guessed. It was the scene he'd just watched, the redhead yelling, all of them standing around. But now his view was of what she'd seen, what she broke away. And how the essence of what was Percy was getting ... eaten. Chipped down and away.

Another flash and then Cisco wasn't there, he was back at the place they all seemed to call home, back in D&D land. Whitestone, he'd heard them call it. He watched the same ritual happen in a quickfire flash, but it didn't go the same. There was a woman there - all tiny and bright - instead and the other men who traveled with them.

Time moved forward, possibilities branching out from there again - realities where Percy didn't get back up, where someone else went down for him, too many to map out and Cisco's head's dull throb was turning into more of a sharp, icepick kind of stabbing.

Finally he was in a room with the same people, Percy looking about as tired as he did now, and a man he didn't recognize talking, his face changing as he did, starting to flash green and scaled. Someone yelled out a name-

And Cisco stumbled back letting go of Percy's arm as Keyleth pushed between them, her hand steadying Percy and the other one pushing Cisco back as she scowled. She didn't knock him over, but she pushed him away from Percy.

Cisco blinked, vision a little blurry with the headache. But it was fading as the visions did. "Uh." There were people looking at him, so he assumed it had been long enough for that to be noticeable. "Sorry," he said to Percy. He probably shouldn't say for your entire life, but it was a near thing. He'd really like to sit down and have a pound of Advil now.

Keyleth looked between him and Percy, a little distrustful again, since the man had just HELD ON to him and ignored his name and looked like something had been going on. But she didn't say anything, in case it was something else she just didn't know about yet, peering at Percy again instead and then starting to offer him her arm to lean on before stopping and looking back to Cassandra to let her take the spot if she wanted to instead.

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daggerdagger
2016-10-07 08:13 pm UTC (link)

Harry had arched an eyebrow at Keyleth's statement, a vague smile lingering on his features all the same. He was sure that it probably wasn't meant as harshly as it came out, the tinge of worry and some sort of natural 'not sure what to do when it came to new people' edge surfacing in the word that had just made his nod, "I promise you, strange as we are, we're not a threat. I'm sure most of you could kill us without lifting much more than a finger if you really decided you wanted to. We're researchers, no warriors," He said, sparing a glance at Hartley and rolling his eyes at the threat.

Vax, on the other hand, was just smirking, a sense of good-natured relief circling around him even at the threat, "Don't waste your energy on me," He said, arms still curled around Keyleth. "You know I'm just giving you a hard time."

Keyleth's words about Ripley were enough to pull Vax's mind back on the matter of the moment, though, an intensity seeping into him that hadn't been there a second before, "Torn to pieces and left to rot like the garbage she was. I know it would have been more satisfying if you'd done it yourself, Perc, but she's gone either way."

Vax intended on explaining, as much as he could, when they had the chance to settle, but he knew Keyleth was right. He probably would lay it out all wrong and in a way that she couldn't possibly understand. Mostly because he would either forget things or skip over stuff or talk in circles because he wasn't sure what he'd already covered. But he'd give it his best attempt, anyway, "I'm not that bad at it," He countered, though, even as his own smile with equally as teasing, trying to relax some of the strain from Keyleth.

"We don't have to bother Barry," Vax had started, only to stop the second that Cisco caught Percy's shoulder and seemed locked in place, his entire body tensing and seemingly going stock still. Stepping away from Keyleth, Vax had moved forward, followed by Harry who seemed to form a ring of concern in the moments that ticked by until Keyleth moved to push Cisco, breaking the connection between the two of them.

"Everybody all right?" Vax asked, torn in that moment between exactly who had done what and who needed the most attention right now. He really wasn't used to having this many people in one place who needed someone's attention, and really... It was probably best Vex had left so he wasn't pulled somewhere else as well.

Though, if she was around, he probably wouldn't feel nearly as divided. Vex always won out. No matter what.

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gloriousgoods
2016-10-07 09:36 pm UTC (link)

It was all well and good to keep talking and the like, but after whatever was happening to Cisco, he figured that it was time to actually put an end to all this.

"Alright, that's I think enough for one day. Come on, we're putting you to bed. Or at least into a bed, even if you don't sleep. Keyleth, will you help me?" And with that, he went to help put his arm intertwined with Percy's so he could steady himself and then started walking towards the door. Hopefully with Keyleth on his other side.

As he walked, he tried to fill her in on what this place was, and that they were pretty safe here. He explained about dinosaurs, and how most everyone was living together in one place. He was happy to answer questions that she had. Anything to maybe distract everyone while they got Percy home and into bed.

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pepperbox
2016-10-07 10:33 pm UTC (link)

"Rest...rest will be good," he told Cassandra. "Peace...I am not so certain that will come, Cass." He wasn't certain it was something he deserved. "As to the rest...you are right. I would get dreadfully bored. Besides, this lot needs me to keep them out of trouble. Don't know what they would do without me." Which had come far too close to being the case, and was probably in poor taste to say.

Percy shook his head with amusement at Keyleth's awkwardness. She really was terribly endearing when she got like that. That thought, however, was driven out of his head when Keyleth told him Ripley was dead. "Oh thank god," he said. "That does help. It helps a lot." He gave a small, pained smile at Vax's words and shook his head. "I do not care that I was not the one to kill her. I am just glad she can no longer hurt anyone." He had meant what he said before he died. He had forgiven Ripley. He would not forget what she had done to him, how she had hurt him, but he was done holding on to vengeance. It had never done him any good.

"I would, however," he said after a moment, "like to have her gun...once we are certain it is free of corruption. She killed me. That entitles me to her shit." And the cloak too, but he figured that went without saying. The vestige seemed better suited to him than the others, judging by what they had seen in the fight. And it really suited his aesthetic."

He rolled his eyes at Hartley's mild threat, even as the scientist looked at though he might use his gloves on Vax just to prove a point. "We are," he said, "in fact, all idiots. Complete idiots. Except for Pike. She is all things wonderful and it is truly a pity she is not here. And Shaun, of course. He is...glorious." He gave Keyleth a smile. "But do not worry. Vax will explain everything. And in the morning, I will make it all actually make sense after he mucks it all up."

Then Cisco's hand was on his shoulder and he felt...something, as the man froze up. This carried on for a long moment, too long. He was actually quite concerned. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he was certain it wasn't good. Then Keyleth was between them and he felt unsteady again, his head swimming, but he still managed to give Cisco a concerned look. "It's quite all right," he said after a moment. "Are you okay though? That looked a bit...I do hope you are all right." He'd have to ask Harry later what that was. It appeared he knew something. As did Hartley, but that seemed like a bad idea, given how protective he could be when it came to Cisco.

Speaking of, any politeness Hartley had toward Keyleth fell away as she shoved Cisco aside. "Stop threatening people," he snapped. "This is not your place and we have been helping and Cisco didn't do anything wrong so calm the fuck down. Touch him again and we're going to have a problem." He wanted to like Keyleth, he really did, and he got that she was protective of her friends. But so was he. He wrapped an arm around Cisco, pulling him aside to a chair and speaking to him softly in Spanish. He gave Harry a look, asking him to get some water and aspirin, as they reached the sofa. Sure the druid, he assumed she was a druid what with her giant fuckoff antler headdess, could probably get rid of Cisco's headache with magic, but he didn't want her near him right now. Right now, he trusted her about as much as she trusted them.

"It's all right, Cisquito," he said gently, knowing his boyfriend was always a little shaky after a Vibe, and that looked like a powerful one. It was why he had been very careful to avoid touching him in the immediate aftermath of his own resurrection. He should have stopped him from getting so close to Percy, especially with all the weird magic and shit around. "It's going to be fine. You're okay. Just breathe. I'm right here."

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pepperbox
2016-10-07 10:33 pm UTC (link)

Percy just stood there, confused, then put a calming hand on Keyleth's arm. "It's fine," he said hoarsely. "He didn't do anything to me. It's okay, Keyleth. I'm fine. Just relax, please. You're making me anxious." Maybe if he framed it in terms of himself, he could get her to calm down and stop feeling threatened by everything.

He shook his head with a snort of amusement at Shaun's words. "I'm afraid I won't be much use for anything in a bed but sleep," he told him. "If that." He frowned as Shaun and Keyleth attempted to help him walk. It made him uncomfortable, having to rely on other people. It always had. "This really is not necessary," he insisted, gently disentangling himself from them and moving forward. And...okay, that was a bad idea. It was only Vax's speed that saved him from collapsing to the floor in a decidedly ungraceful heap, or faceplanting alltogether. "Or," he admitted, "I could be wrong. Yes...I was very wrong. Oh god, that was a terrible idea. Do not let me do that again." He leaned heavily against Vax's side, then let Shaun step back into place beside him, reaching around him for Keyleth's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I am a very stupid man sometimes," he said with self-deprecating humor. "I am more than willing to admit that. Now someone please get me to a bed before I make more of an ass of myself." Sleep might not come, but he was reasonably certain he would not be left to face any demons that lurked there alone. And if all else failed, maybe they could break out that drink from Ank'Harel. He had no doubt that would knock him out and give him a dreamless sleep if he had enough.

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daggerdagger
2016-10-07 10:49 pm UTC (link)

Vax had been trying to split his attention between six different people at the same time, trying to gauge Keyleth's level of confusion and comfort, how much Shaun had a grasp on the situation, what had happened with Cisco, just how angry Hartley was and whether he was going to react about it, what Harry might be moving to do in this situation, and just how steady Percy was when it came to getting back to their apartment. It had also been a divided concern, an intense desire to help everyone at the same time but knowing that he wasn't capable of doing that. Or at least, it had been until he'd seen Percy begin to topple over.

One click of his boots of haste later, and Vax had situated himself on the other side of Percy to keep him from colliding with the floor, all other thoughts and distractions pushed from his mind. Percy had been their immediate concern when they had arrived here, and he should still very much be their immediate concern now.

Sometimes it was very easy for Vax to forget just how much Percy pretended to be fine when he really wasn't. It was far too easy to just let that pretending stand.

"Come on, Freddy. On your feet," Vax said, hefting Percy to his full height with a smile. "It's a shame I already burned through my wings, or I could have just flown you back. You think you're up to walking if we all help, Perc?"

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burymyshame
2016-10-08 01:57 pm UTC (link)

Keyleth ... would really rather Percy not have the gun. But she'd felt that its link to Orthax was severed at least. She could look again, maybe Gilmore and Kash too, just to ... cover all the bases. "We're not all idiots all the time," she argued, just because Percy was smiling and that was better. "But we have our moments."

The moment with the other man went on too long, and everyone seemed at ease with these people, but Keyleth had just gotten worried that he was doing something she couldn't discern to Percy, and pushed distance between them. She grimaced when Hartley's previous kindness vanished, though she understood. "I wasn't threatening him, I just couldn't tell what he was doing. There just seemed to be ... something," she said lamely. She watched through narrowed eyes as Hartley drew him back, but didn't try to stop them.

Cisco grimaced. "I'm fine, it's cool," he promised Percy. There were way too many people here and he needed to figure out what he'd seen and what it meant when everyone was less jumpy and his eyes had fewer needles in them. He'd just talk to Percy later. The guy had just died anyway, he wouldn't want to hear about the instant replay of his crappy life Cisco got. He gave Hartley a thin smile as he was nudged to sit. He'd be fine in a minute. He always was. And he should probably do something about the hovering, but at the moment it was kind of nice. So he didn't say anything. Though there would be a talk about threatening hot redheads in his honor at some point, probably.

Keyleth bit her lip. "All right, I'm sorry, I just ..." she trailed off and sighed, but nodded to Percy, and let them take her outside and lead the way. She listened to Shaun as he explained and kept an eye on Percy, offering help and probably hovering more than he'd like, but trying not to. (And she wasn't especially sorry, considering he almost fell on his face to begin with, save for Vax's reflexes.) She looked for sign of Vex, Kash, and Zahra too, and tried to get some better sense of the scope and size of the city.

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