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

[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.

[hunters_mark]

Vex grimaces, too, though she immediately looks thoughtful afterward. "But it's Gilmore, whose work is worth what he charges for it," she finishes - and then lets out a long-suffering sigh that is a good deal more put upon than it really is. "Alright then. I'll load my purse. Are the two of you coming with me?"

She figures it's best to get Clarota equipped quickly before they run into any problems with the spellwork (considering there's already the one she doesn't know about).

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"I figure Noodles wants his new toy sooner rather than later," Vax answers, relaxing a little, relieved that he and his sister are at least in agreement, "and we've got kind of a thing going, so ... "

Which is to say that Clarota seems at least marginally more comfortable with him than any of the rest of Vox Machina, so far, and he wants to be there for him, for that very reason. So, long story short, yeah. They'll come along. He shrugs, as if that says it all without him having to say it. They're twins; it probably does.

[hunters_mark]

Sadly, this is one thing she can't argue with him about, and she will save any fuss-making for haggling with Gilmore once they get to his shop.

She also doesn't press for a finish to that sentence, because yes, she does get it without him needing to say it. "Where did you leave him anyway?" she asks as she gets to her feet and steps back out of Trinket's way as the bear stands from his place half under the table.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Back out in the hall," he responds, slipping away from his sister to start in that direction, idly. "I figured I'd spare him potentially getting hit with a plate, if you decided you weren't big into us breaking into the piggy bank."

[hunters_mark]

"You're going to convince him I'm horrible," she complains, reaching over to poke him as she follows after him, Trinket padding along after them. "I'm not actually that tight with our money."

Spoilers: yes, yes, she is. Not that she doesn't have reason for it and not that he doesn't know those reasons, but, well. She has to object.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

Vax looks back at her, at the insistence and poke, both, and effects a baffled look. He shakes his head faintly, as if to clear it. "You mean you're not?"

Not horrible. Not that tight with their money. Either way, it works, and either way, he's just teasing her because she's his sister and he can. It's his right and royal duty.

[hunters_mark]

She swats him again on the arm with the back of her hand. "You're terrible," she returns, though there's no actual heat behind it and it's really a token anyway. She's just as obligated to fire back as he is to tease her. "I don't know how you always convince people you're not."

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"It helps that I'm the cute one," Vax informs her seriously, and never mind the fact that they're all but identical. "Otherwise ... " He makes a vague noise and offers her an equally ambiguous shrug. Her guess is as good as his, beyond that.

[hunters_mark]

"Trinket is the cute one," she counters, and the bear huffs at the sound of his name, nosing at her side, and she reaches back to pat him. "But I suppose it's just one of those mysteries."