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]

It is a little awkward, taking his boots off through the illusion and trying the others on, but they make it work well enough. It also takes some trial and effort to find some that are actually comfortable, and Vex goes back and forth with Heiden a few times to find different sizes in some of them or ones that are slightly taller or shorter or whatever. Finally, though, they have a couple of pairs that are serviceable, and Vex arranges to have them sent back to Greyskull.

"Now where should we go?" Clarota asks as they head out of the cobbler's and Trinket sheds the children that have gathered around to pet him to rejoin them.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"Depends," Vax answers, reaching absently for Trinket as he returns to his sister's side. He buries a hand in his fur, fingers spidering in and out of it as he asks, "How're you holding up?"

Clarota seems to be doing well, but he knows how overwhelming Emon can be -- doubly so, when you feel like an outsider. The fact that he and Vex have been dragging him all over creation likely doesn't help, either, so if he wants to tap out and head home, he won't fault him. Anything else they need, like that cloak they discussed, can wait, really. They have the basics.

[ihatepuns]

Trinket steps a little closer to Vax to better receive the scritches.

Clarota looks around them a little, considering the other people, hands coming up as he wrings them a little. "I would not say no to making our way back." He pauses a beat. "And perhaps some lunch."

They're going to have to find something for him to subsist on besides brains sooner than later, though he's speaking in the more mundane sort of food, right now. He should be good on his particular needs for a while longer.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

"I could definitely eat," Vax agrees, adjusting their to head in the direction of the Keep. Glancing back over his shoulder, he asks, "You hungry for anything in particular? Or ... ?" He's really not sure what, beyond brains, might be considered good eats where Clarota is from.

[ihatepuns]

Clarota pauses a moment, narrowing his broadcast to make sure just the twins are hearing him. "What I consumed in the Underdark will sustain me for a while longer, though we should consider how I can meet that need while travelling with you." He's going to do his very best not to eat more brains than he needs to in order to survive - but he can't put it off forever, and he would rather they started considering options before he gets to the point where he needs to eat.

"For now, I will be fine with whatever your servants can put together."

He can eat what they do; it's just more akin to someone living on junk food that he doesn't get much out of it nutritionally.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

Vax's first thought is that there are always bad guys, always people looking to kill them, and that Clarota might be able to use them to scratch that particular itch. He immediately hates himself for it twice over. Out to get them or otherwise, it seems cruel to subject some random bandit to that; it seems cruel to basically ask Clarota to starve, in not letting him at them, too, however.

"We'll figure something out," he offers, shaking his head. They can bring it up with the rest of the group. If everyone else gets to letting Clarota eat any future assailants on their own and no one has a problem with it, maybe they will go that route. Maybe he can survive on the brains of the stray animals that wander around the city. Maybe someone can think of something better, that doesn't involve eating brains at all, somehow. Who knows? They will, however, figure something out. They have to, for Clarota's sake.

[ihatepuns]

"I have faith that we will," he returns evenly - but there's also a lot of meaning behind it, considering his previous hesitancy to even call them friends. As much as he's afraid what his presence might mean for Vox Machina if the wrong person were to discover it, he does trust them.

[dagger_dagger_dagger]

Vax flashes him a smile at that, pleased by that trust, even if he's still not sure how the hell they're going to work this out. It fades after a moment, however, and so they continue on towards the Keep in silence. It's not long before they reach it, and as they duck inside, Vax starts, "Let me go poke the kitchen staff."

Never mind the fact that they may already be in the process of making lunch, considering their bosses are once again in residence.