my friends and i, we got a lot of problems (rp for ihatepuns)

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

The morning after returning to Emon and Vox Machnia is right back where it started. Sort of. They are, thankfully, not still in the Underdark and there's light, real light, spilling in from the window beyond the table and turning the remains of more than a dozen breakfast dishes from silver to gold, but the arguments have started again. Vax really isn't surprised, given the gravity of the situation, the Horn, whether or not they can trust Kima and her people, whether or not they can trust Allura for the same reasons, but they're all going around in circles, now, and anytime someone tries to step up, to say their idea is what they're going with, the end, the others shoot them down in unison. It's the only thing they can seem to agree on, really, and it's getting fucking tedious.

That in mind and despite the fact that he already unofficially excused himself from this conversation long ago, throwing the towel in on trying to be heard over the others, he shoots a sideways glance at Clarota. A glance turns into a thoughtful look, accompanied by a frown, a moment after that, and a moment after that, Vax focuses himself inwards, practically shouting in his own head, even if his only outwards tell is him vaguely tilting in Clarota's direction.

Hey, Noodles. If I think really loud, can you hear me?

Comments

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"You and the rest of the world," Vax assures him. "Hangover's the worst part." Being drunk, on the other hand, is the fun part, and he really, really wants to see Clarota drunk, now. The mental images he's already getting are hilarious; the real thing is probably better.

[ihatepuns]

Clarota hums something like agreement to that. He can imagine the after effects of drinking might be less fun than the actual drinking itself. You have favorite places here in the city, I assume?

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"'course," Vax answers, shrugging. "Though, are we still talking about drinking or is this a general question?" Because where he likes to drink is very different from where he likes to hang out when he's with the rest of Vox Machina or when he needs to get away or -- well, point is that Clarota needs to be more specific.

[ihatepuns]

Clarota pauses a moment, considering he had meant to ask about places they went to drink, but he also wouldn't mind if Vax answered it more generally. A general question, he returns, finally.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

As far as drinking establishments go, Vax lists a handful easily, including what part of the city they're in and a vague sense of direction from the Keep. Everything else takes Vax longer to come up with, silence falling between them as he tries to decide where to start and which of his hidey holes he really wants to give up and so on. Eventually, he pauses in the street, turning to face Clarota.

"You mind a quick, little detour?" It's not a detour, not really, not when they'll have to walk back away from the Keep, then back again. He figures it'll be easier, somehow, to actually show Clarota rather than just name places blindly, however.

[ihatepuns]

Clarota hesitates a moment before answering that - but then shakes his head. He needs to get used to being around people, around cities, if he's ever going to hope to be of any use to Vox Machina. Where are we going? he asks after a moment, and it really is more out of curiosity than concern about dark alleys and the like.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Somewhere I like to hang out, when I need a few minutes," he answers, hesitating himself, trying to decide if Clarota is really okay with this -- or if he is, even he's not sure. Either way, after a minute, he seems to decide the answer to that is yes, and so he turns, leading them back towards the city but into a quieter part of it, if only for the number of people.

Sooner rather than later, they're standing at the foot of a ladder, propped against the back of a blacksmith's and half-hidden in the dark and dirt. Vax gestures to it before climbing up and when he reaches the top, and after getting out of the way so that Clarota can follow, he takes a long look around. Across the way there are other shops -- a leatherworker, a fletcher and so on -- and all the sounds and smells weave together to remind him why he loves the people he loves when he forgets, when he's frustrated, when he's tired.

"Here we are," he says belatedly, quietly.

[ihatepuns]

Clarota follows silently. He's a little tense, still, an edge remaining from their encounter at Gilmore's, but he also trusts Vax. He hesitates a moment at the bottom of the ladder before following Vax up to the top of it, doing more levitating than actual climbing. He looks around at the top, taking in the scene around them. This is... he begins - but then trails off, not actually sure what words he meant to use. They'll come to him in a moment.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"A little much -- " In the sensory department, never mind the fact that he's pretty sure that's not where Clarota was going with that. Still, he's working up towards actually spitting out what went through his head, bringing him up here in the first place. " -- but at least there aren't a lot of people around, up here? And it all kind of reminds me why I threw in with the group, when it was just me and my sister for a long time."

[ihatepuns]

I understand why you like it here, Clarota returns, finally looking away from the view to look at Vax again. I have only seen cities through the memories of others. This is not unpleasant, he finishes, in case Vax thinks his indecision about what to say has anything to do with not liking it.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Definitely not," he agrees, registering vague relief despite how casual that comment seems otherwise. When it passes, he adds, "And you're welcome to come up here, yourself, if you need to get out of the house for awhile -- on one condition."

[ihatepuns]

Clarota looks away from the view, finally, to look at Vax, tilting his head slightly to consider the other. And that would be?

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Next time I disappear up here, and my sister starts poking everyone to see if they know where I ended up, don't tell her about this place." He feels guilty asking that of him, though it's more because he feels guilty admitting he needs time away from his twin, sometimes, than anything else. He loves his sister to death and will destroy anyone or anything that tries to hurt her, but -- well, see also this chart about twins. He's pretty sure it goes both ways.

[ihatepuns]

Clarota nods. I can agree to that, he returns. And thank you for showing this to me. He's a little touched to realize now that Vax shared this secret with him. Having friends is still so new.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"All yours, then," Vax offers, flashing him a smile, real and warm, despite that stab of guilt. The expression lingers, even as he nudges Clarota with his shoulder, because he does, and continues, "But yeah. Welcome."

[ihatepuns]

Clarota looks slightly puzzled at the nudge, looking down at his own shoulder and then to Vax before returning the gesture more tentatively, not sure he's doing this right.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

Smile brightening, Vax seems to debate nudging Clarota again, just because he can, hoping, ridiculously, for a not-quite-slap fight. He thinks better of it if only because they're on a roof and that might end badly, and instead, after a beat, nods towards the ladder. "C'mmon, Noodles. Let's go home."

[ihatepuns]

Clarota's answering smile is smaller and still tentative. His scowl at the nickname is mostly a token at this point, and he follows Vax back to the ladder and back down off the roof, again falling into step with him as they make their way back to the keep.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

It seems to take no time at all, getting back, this time, though Vax goes no faster, still letting Clarota set their pace despite the fact that he's technically leading. How, exactly, that does work, who knows, but either way, they're back at the keep, then inside, then finally, Vax starts to peel away from Clarota.

"Wait here a second? I'll go drag Stubby out."

[ihatepuns]

Clarota doesn't quite take his time, but he does look around as they walk, still getting used to the city - both in that he's seeing a new place for the first time, and for the fact that this is first time in such a place. He looks relieved to be back at the Keep when they get there, though, visibly relaxing a little as Vax moves away. "I'll be right here," he agrees - and he really will be, when the twins get back.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Okay," he says simply, over his shoulder, and then he very literally disappears, slipping back into the room they all started in. It doesn't take him long to find his sister, and he sneaks up on her, putting his mouth near her ear. "I need to borrow you for a minute."

[hunters_mark]

Vex doesn't startle when Vax comes up behind her, though she does sit up a little straighter and huff out a breath. "Where have you been?" she hisses back at him before she turns to face him properly. Their meeting had broken up for everyone to settle back into the keep - and when it had eventually been noticed that Vax and Clarota were no longer there.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Me and Noodles had to run a little errand," Vax tells her, flashing her a brief apologetic look. Whether that's for disappearing or because of what he says next, however, is anyone's guess. "We may need to borrow some money."

[hunters_mark]

Vex looks mildly mollified by that, though she also keeps squinting at him, sensing something else coming - and then narrows her eyes further when he goes on. "How much money?"

Not that she won't give it to them - Clarota is new to their group and she has no problems lending him money to get what he needs to get settled, but, well. That's an important question anyway.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Probably a lot," Vax admits with a wince. After a second's worth of pause, he barrels into explaining, hoping to derail any argument his sister might be preparing. "We took a trip down to Gilmore's to see if he didn't have something to disguise Clarota with that was a little more permanent than him or Tibs throwing spells around every so often. He had a ring that should do the trick, and I asked him to hold onto it for us, until we came back, but ... "

Well, she knows that Gilmore's work doesn't come cheap.