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

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

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?

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If I knew how to do that mental slap thing, Vax starts after a long moment and once he's decided Clarota is probably joking, I swear I would give you the worst bitchslap of your life, right now.

He's kidding. Mostly. At least Clarota's got being a smart ass down pat. He'll fit in well; they're all assholes here.

Clarota chuckles again, the sound still entirely in Vax's head. He's working on it. That was something of a lucky chance.

So how far is it to your friend's?

Not far, Vax promises, slipping back into seriousness, now. Just down the hill and over the river, past the wall into the Promenade and then a few blocks from there. It's a short walk, really, as convoluted as those directions make it seem. Though, we may want to try and find each other now or head out to the river so you can drop the spell or whatever.

While he knows where he's going, Clarota does not, after all, and he doesn't want to lose him on the way over.

I will follow you out of the keep and drop the spell once we are away, he agrees, still hanging back from where he imagines Vax to be. If Vax leads the way outside, he'll follow and close the gate behind them, and then once they're not likely to startle some of the guards into shooting them when they reappear, he'll make them visible again.

Edited 2017-03-11 06:43 (UTC)

Alright, he answers, pushing away from the wall. His steps are near-silent as he heads out of the keep and onto the path leading towards the Promenade's walls. When he realizes that might be a problem, as far as Clarota knowing when to follow, he adds, C'mmon, Noodles.

There's no reaction to the nickname this time besides a narrowing of the eyes that Vax can't see. Clarota glides along after him, waiting until they're a fair distance from the keep but not into traffic from the city before he drops the invisibility, falling more into step with Vax once he can see him again.

Watching him walk is a little odd, considering it looks like he should be making more noise than he actually is. He's aware of it, too, frowning a little - but he's also not sure what to do about it or how to make it less jarring.

Vax notes it, too, but he doesn't seem as bothered by it as Clarota is. Mostly because, "You're running around with a guy who's in fifty pounds of leather and carrying, like, half a dozen daggers on his person."

Which is to say that he, at least, is obviously a rogue. If anyone else notices that Clarota doesn't seem to be making much in the way of noise, they might think he is, too. Considering the Clasp's presence in the city, it really wouldn't be a stretch. It also means that they'll most likely be ignored because the Clasp pays for their anonymity.

That's enough to make Clarota relax again. When your friends found me was the farthest I had been from the collective. I have seen cities above ground through the memories collected by my former allies, but never for myself. I... He pauses a beat, struggling with his own emotions, struggling to find the words he wants. I fear that even with your ally's magical disguises, that I may draw untoward attention.

"If anything gets too weird, I'll let you know," Vax promises. If he starts drawing the kind of attention neither of them want, he'll find an alley for them to duck down. He knows where most of them start and where they go. If he starts drawing the kind of attention neither of them want, he'll protect him. He really has no problem throwing around Vox Machina's connections to Uriel if it keeps his friends safe. Either way, it'll be alright.

"And if it helps any, you'll get used to it?" he adds after a moment, a beat of hesitation. He's not sure if that's a comfort or not, as far as Clarota's concerned.

I would be grateful for that, thank you, Clarota returns. It's still a new sensation to him to be trusting someone outside of the collective - especially so many not of his kind. He trusts Vax for saving his life during their escape, and he has slightly more for Vex and Keyleth from their encounter behind the waterfall. He'll get there with everyone else. It's just going to take some time.

That is something of a comfort, yes. It is very different, here. And yes, he knows how much of an understatement that is.

"Yeah," Vax answers. It's hard to tell whether that's a response to his gratitude or the idea that this is so much different than what Clarota is probably used to, however -- or, well, it is at first, anyway. When he continues after another pause, this one thoughtful, it might be a little clearer. "Speaking of. If you feel like you're getting overwhelmed and need to stop or be somewhere else or whatever, let me know. We'll figure something out."

Worse comes to worst, he can find a tavern with a back room that's accessible from an alley and they can hole up there for a bit, just the two of them.

Clarota pauses again - and then nods once. Again, you have my gratitude.

The fact that Vax is actively worried about him, about the fact that he might need time away from the city they're walking into, is something he's never really experienced before meeting Vox Machina, and he's still adjusting to that. It's a little overwhelming by itself - but in a good way. He's just not sure what to do with it besides thanking him yet.

"Yeah," Vax repeats, shrugging as if it's nothing. And really, in his mind, it is. He's just looking out for a friend, much as Clarota may or may not be comfortable with that title, who's no good with people. No big deal.

Their entrance into the city proper is no more grand, either, the guards on the walls barely sparing them a second glance as they head into the Promenade. Less fortunately, there seem to be plenty of people walking the streets, fliting between the established businesses and temporary carts that stretch on as far as the eye can see, shopping. Vax takes care to keep an eye on Clarota and anyone who might get close, both, though the latter is more about making sure his purse doesn't get lifted than it is making sure no one starts shit with Clarota. Like he told him, he really doesn't think he's going to have much of a problem, awkward in his disguise or not.

Clarota is getting more comfortable with the idea of calling them 'friends', if just because he's not sure 'allies' is a strong enough word to describe his relationship with the rest of the party, now. It might still be a while before he calls any of them that himself, though. It's one more thing to adjust to.

Clarota looks a little wide-eyed as they moved through the city though it has more to do with everything there is to see here than it does him getting overwhelmed. He's okay so far, anyway, even if there are a couple of moments of wordless unease that filter into Vax's brain. They fade quickly at any rate.

For now, he's just sticking close to Vax and letting him lead the way to this other friend of his.

Vax catches that and tries to offer him comfort in return, as best he can, not being the one in control of the whole mindlink thing. It's okay. He's doing well. They're almost there. Let him know if he needs to stop, despite all that. And so on and so forth.

Thankfully, as promised, it's really not that far to Gilmore's. Sooner rather than later, they're standing outside it and just a second after that, Vax is parting the curtains and beads to let them in. He glances back at Clarota as they enter, to make sure he's still following and, with some amusement, to judge his reaction to the exterior and interior both, and then heads for the counter at the far end. Sherri, Gilmore's half-elf assistant, looks up from a book she has spread out on the counter, obviously bored. Her attentions don't seem to linger on Clarota for long or for more than his height.

"Can I help you?"

"Yeah, hi. I was wondering if Shaun was in?" It didn't occur to him until now to think that Gilmore might not be.

If Sherri has an answer, however, it dies on her lips as Gilmore himself practically bursts out of the back room, his robes and the beads of the curtain dividing the shop from his living space swirling around him. He grins widely, arms spreading wider as he makes his way around the counter, and pulls Vax into an immediate hug. Vax returns it wholeheartedly and as they step back, Gilmore practically chirps, "Vax'ildan. It's been far too long." He pauses, finally seeming to notice Clarota, and looks between the two of them, smile unfaded, before continuing, "You going to introduce me to your friend?"

"Yeah." A beat. "Yeah." And he waves Clarota closer. "Shaun Gilmore, Clarota. Clarota, Shaun Gilmore."

Clarota stops outside the shop, looking it over, some of the amazement clouded with puzzlement as he looks back to Vax. There is cloth on the outside? he asks even while he's moving to follow Vax into the shop a little hesitantly, hands coming up closer to his chest. He tilts his head to consider Sherri for a moment, even after she looks away from him.

Gilmore's arrival and greeting of Vax leads to him practically recoiling, startled by the wizard's enthusiasm. He looks even more unsure at the introduction, looking between Vax and Gilmore again before he takes the smallest step forward. He's not actually sure what to say, though, still wary, and just settles for nodding.

"Strong, silent type, huh?" Gilmore starts, holding out a hand to Clarota. "I can get behind that."

Vax looks between the two of them, and whether or not Clarota actually takes his hand for the shake, he starts, "Look, Shaun. Can we take this somewhere private? We've kind of got something we need to talk to you about."

"Business or pleasure?"

"Little of both?" Vax admits, glancing to Clarota again.

This time, Gilmore follows his gaze, some of his amicability fading into something more thoughtful, and then he turns, heading back towards the counter. "Follow me."

Clarota does reach out to return the handshake, his long, thin fingers almost meeting again on the back of Gilmore's hand. He steps back again when Vax speaks, offering Gilmore a grateful look as he does finally speak, projecting his voice into Vax and Gilmore's minds. I appreciate your time, he offers as he follows the two other men through the beaded curtain and toward Gilmore's personal spaces in the back of the shop.

He gets maybe twenty feet down the hallway that leads to the private areas of the shop before he feels something trigger, sees a familiar spark of arcane magic as the glyph trips, feeling its effect as though someone has dumped a bucket of ice water over his head. He feels the illusion dissipate, almost seeing the remnants of the spell falling away from him. He backpedals a few steps as soon as he realizes what just happened, struggling to pull together enough focus to cast a spell of his own and turn himself invisible again before he's seen.

Gilmore feels the glyph trigger, like a flash of fire at his back as the energy flares then dissipates all at once, its job done. He shoots a glance over his shoulder, confused as to what set it off, as he knows Vax doesn't have any magic of his own to dispel and doesn't suspect Clarota, even considering the fact that he can apparently get in his head. That glyph is meant to stop thieves who might try and sneak in, invisible or disguised, and raid his personal stash and --

And his heart leaps into his throat at the sight of Clarota, the real sight of him. He doesn't stop to think that this sure explains a few things or that maybe Vax knew and that's what this was all about, he just reacts, pulling power to his hands as he wheels around to face them, his stance all at once defensive. The energy coalesces into something swirling and sick-green, fit to his fingers like a glove, but he doesn't reach out to discharge it, just yet. Mostly because, all at once, Vax is between them, his hands held up placatingly.

"Vax'ildan," Gilmore hisses, something trembling in his voice.

"Shaun," Vax counters, shaking his head. "Shaun, listen to me. It's alright, he's a friend. This is what we wanted to talk to you about."

Clarota immediately lets the spell go once it's clear Gilmore's seen him, his hands going up too to show he has let the magic go as the tentacles on his face pull up, twitching slightly, anxiously. I mean you no harm, Clarota assures Gilmore, softly, sincerely, and a little urgently.

This is what he was afraid of, of something going bad, and while he won't retaliate if Gilmore does decide to attack him, he still seems poised to run.

Magic still wound around his fingers, Gilmore glances between Vax, Clarota and back again several times before finally lowering his hands. He shakes them out and the magic falls away in thick globs that wick away to nothing before they ever hit the ground. A moment of hesitation follows, a breath out, and then he turns, robes sweeping around him as he continues on down the hallway.

"You'd better be following," he all but singsongs, without glancing back to them.

Vax hesitates only long enough to shoot Clarota an apologetic look and tilt his head in Gilmore's direction as if to say you heard the man before moving to, yes, follow.

Clarota sighs a little but brushes aside Vax's unspoken apology as he gestures for Vax to go before him. He does follow after that, posture still anxious, the tentacles around his mouth still a giveaway for how nervous he is as they twitch faintly as he follows Vax and Gilmore farther down the hall.

Pushing aside another curtain of beads as they reach it, Gilmore leads the way into what are clearly his living quarters. As the curtain falls back into place behind them, the sound from the shop and the city beyond it seems to quiet all at once, a sense of magic enveloping the room, though Gilmore is not the source of it -- not immediately, anyway. He may have spelled the room to block out sound, to keep people from eavesdropping on his private conversations, to keep them from hearing him getting ready for bed, but that was some time ago.

That in mind, this old hat for him, he doesn't react to the sudden drop in sound -- nor does he look back at Clarota or Vax as he gestures them to sit at a table near the front of the room. Instead, he heads further into the room, back towards a smaller area, divided from the rest by fancifully painted screens, and disappears behind them. He returns several seconds later, and after a handful of colorful swears, an a aha and a laugh, a crystal in hand.

"So," he starts, setting it in front of the table. "This is a little outside of my area of expertise, but -- well, I traded a bard a ring for this, awhile back."

"What is it?" Vax asks, leaning forward over the back of a chair, still standing, to squint at it.

"Long story short?" And without getting technical. "When I turn it on, no one will be able to lie in here." Theoretically. Rather than add that, though, he glances towards Clarota, his eyebrows raised. "I hope you don't mind?" It's not really as much of a question as it seems to be. This is the only way he'll be comfortable with this until he's comfortable with this.

Clarota looks around a little as they move into Gilmore's quarters, interested despite his unease. As he had mentioned to Tiberius when they had first met, he is interested in how others make use of the arcane, especially when they are allowed to do so openly instead of keeping it more of a secret, as he was forced to.

While Vax remains standing, Clarota does sit, hoping not looming so much over the rest of the room might do something to help make Gilmore more comfortable.

He tilts his head to consider the crystal as Gilmore returns with it and presents it, and then inclines his head a little. I do not mind, he assures him, his voice still in Gilmore's head. We have no reason to lie to you.

"What Noodles said," Vax agrees, shrugging.

"Alright, then," Gilmore says, reaching to touch his fingers to the crystal. It sparks bright white, then fades, still glowing but with ambient light, now. Satisfied, he shifts away from the table long enough to sit down. "So ... "

"So, we took a little trip to the Underdark, recently, yeah?" Vax starts. He glances to Clarota, then nods in his direction as he returns his attentions to Gilmore. "Long story, but Keyleth and my sister found him, away from the rest of the people, and we kind of -- well, like I said, he's a friend."

Edited 2017-03-31 03:26 (UTC)

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

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