Vox Machina Meet-Up (closed)

[twin_blade]

WHO: Vax'ildan Vessar, Keyleth, Percival de Rolo
WHEN: Present
WHERE: Contingency Plan
WHAT: Vax takes Keyleth to meet with Percival, only to find out Percival has gotten much older.
NOTES\WARNINGS: None but language is always possible.



[ Now that they've another friend from their world here, it was only right to ensure that friend knows where to find everyone. That includes the elusive tinkerer of the group who is usually holed up inside of his workshop these days. Vax sent Keyleth a message, and once they meet outside the apartment building, he escorts her to Percival's shop, Contingency Plan. It's actually Vax's first time visiting this place, as well.

Once they arrive, Vax opens the door to let them in. Given that it's regular business hours during the day, he expects they'll find de Rolo here. Seeing no one immediately, Vax calls out. ]

Oi, Percy! You've got visitors!

[ Vax has no idea how big this place is behind the counter, but hopefully Percival hears him so they don't have to go poking around to locate him. ]

Comments

[badnewsandshitlist]

[The shop answers Vax’s call with silence. Heavy, deliberate silence, pressed into the limestone itself. The consultation floor remains pristine, pale blues and whites with deep purple accents, the chandelier steady overhead, the Sun Tree mural watching with quiet patience.]

[Then, faint from below, a muted clack. A hiss follows, sharper this time.]

Hold-!

[The voice carries up through the floor. A moment later, the concealed door shifts open, and the rhythm follows. Tap…click…tap. Measured steps ascending from the basement workshop.]

[Percival de Rolo emerges, pushing the door open with his shoulder as he strips off a soot-marked glove. Heat clings faintly to him, a scorch at his cuff, the scent of metal lingering just enough to betray the work below.]

If you’ve come in here shouting, I can only assume-

[He looks up. Stops.]

…oh.

[The surprise lands cleanly, shared between them. His gaze moves from Vax to Keyleth, lingering just a fraction longer than expected. Recognition settles, followed by something quieter. Then the composure returns.]

Well.

[He straightens, slower than memory might expect, but controlled. The glove is folded once and set aside with habitual precision.]

That is… new.

[His eyes flick between them again, a faint huff of disbelief escaping him.]

You’ve both held up remarkably well.

[A beat. His gaze drops briefly to himself, then back up, dry amusement settling in.]

Of course. Half-elves.

[A small, resigned tilt of his head.]

Naturally, it would be the human who does all the aging. I do appreciate your commitment to letting me handle that alone.

[The corner of his mouth twitches faintly.]

[His attention settles properly on them together now, something steadier beneath the humor.]

Keyleth. Vax.

It’s good to see you.

[He adjusts his grip on the cane, more habit than necessity, then gestures lightly around the room.]

Welcome to Contingency Plan. This level is for polite conversation and maintaining the illusion I am respectable.

[A subtle tilt of his head toward the floor beneath them.]

Everything interesting is downstairs, which is precisely why I suggest we remain here unless you’re feeling particularly brave.

[A brief pause, then, almost absently-]

Though if either of you has a clever remark about the cane, do feel free. I am collecting them. It gives me something to judge quietly later.

[aershari]

[Sure, Keyleth knew that Percy evidently recalled more than she did, or Vax. From what Vax had told her. About him being married with Vex and all. But she isn't quite she she anticipated the other to be quite this far ahead of them. She blinks with wide green eyes, taking him in, the cane he uses to support himself as he comes upstairs to meet them.]

Percy. I know from what Vax said, you remembered more than us. I guess I hadn't expected...

[Still. It doesn't really matter. He's still Percy. The way he talks about maintaining the illusion of him being respectable has her chuckle, raising a hand to her mouth briefly. Keyleth steps forward, arms outstretched to give him a hug anyway. Because regardless of whatever had happened for Percy, he's still one of them. A dear friend. No matter how much time had passed for him on his end.]

I'm just glad to have you here.

[twin_blade]

[ Although Vax was looking around, his gaze turns toward the man who appears and looks quite different than the friend Vax remembers, but still recognizable enough. ]

Uh...

[ This is not what Vax expected. Had he known Percival would look as he does, he would've told Keyleth about it before bringing her here. Her response is far more polite than Vax's. ]

Percival, what the fuck happened to you?

[ When did he get so old?? ]