st_ockandbarrel | Winter's Crest Evening Celebration

Despite telling Mac that he had no intention of organizing any kind of gathering, that is precisely what Percy found himself doing over the next few weeks. In between working on gifts for each of his friends, Percy secured a room and allowed himself to be hassled by Caroline about a menu and other details. Once she'd put him through a grueling series of questions on his preferences, she'd gone away. A few days later, she'd returned with a book of carefully constructed plans. It was both impressive and terrifying. He'd approved it all and let her handle it. The wine he took a personal hand in, choosing every bottle by hand from the inn's rather delightful wine cellar. He wasn't sure where most of the places of origin were, but a guide (written by a man named Parker) gave detailed descriptions of each bottle and provided a score. France was a popular location for wine, apparently.

The evening of Winter's Crest was cool, but not cold, in spite of the snow still lingering on the ground from the battle royale earlier in the day courtesy of Pike. The sky now was clear, and the stars bright. He rapped on Vex's door to escort her to dinner and adjusted his cuffs beneath his new coat, acquired from the shop. It was not his usual blue suit, but Caroline had assured him in her bossy way that it was extremely modern and fashionable. It was certainly well tailored.

Trinket had taken a lot less time to get ready for dinner, Vex assuring him he was the most dapper and handsome bear in his collar and tie. She was putting the finishing touches on her hair when the knock came, so it was the bear who laid his heavy paw on the door lever and opened it to Percy. Vex turned from the mirror, satisfied with her efforts, as Percy entered. The suit was new, and she took the time it took them to meet in the middle of the room to appreciate the way the cut accentuated his form. "Joyous Winter's Crest, my darling," she told him as she ran her hands over his shoulders and leaned in for a kiss. Vex had made an afternoon of it last week, trying on every suitable outfit remotely close to her size in the boutique. Her second choice was hanging in her closet, but for tonight, she'd chosen a column dress in a deep midnight blue that left most of her back bare. She was hopeful Percy would approve.

"Joyous Winter's Crest, Lady Vex'ahlia." He obliged her the kiss, not that it was anything other than purest pleasure. His hands ran down the bare length of her back and was it not for the duty to show up to the dinner he'd arranged, he'd have suggested staying in. Instead, he wrapped an arm about her waist and appraised Trinket. "Very mannerly, good bear." He'd expressed a desire to let the bear stay home for the evening but a simple "Trinket's family" from Vex had been enough to have him relent. "Shall we go?"

Finding dress to Winter's Crest had been trial. White and pale gold were colors most available in shop, but she did not wish wearing anything so pale as she. Nu. At end, she had Sunny helping and saying her short as knees was normal. But when she stood before mirror changing faces it felt again too much short. She sighed. This was only dress and she liked purple and flowers next to her albino human face. If comfortable later also, when Kash said her yes or Percy, it made room of legs and tail.

She drew herself up as tall as she could and faced her so pale altered self. "I am Baronesa Lillith Anioska Daturai. No party shall best me."

Kash did not stand in front of a mirror. He did not fuss at his clothes. The shop had provided black pants and a black jacket that fit well and required little in the way of tailoring. He wore a crisp white shirt, but refused to wear the pointless strip of cloth that had no use beyond choking a man. If he could have, he would have worn his armor.

If he could have, he would have taken Snow and Curnen on a ride and snow picnic.

He was still thinking about it when a knock sounded at his door. "I'm not going, Lilli. Just go without me."

"You will come, Kash. You will come now."

She was nervous. He could tell. Her accent was strong. "We could have dinner in my room. You and me," he called through the door, but he was already getting to his feet.

"Kashaw Vesh. Come to door. You have guests, you will come and you will not make me late."

"Do I have to?" Kash opened the door--and his eyes. "Holy god. Can you wear that in public? I mean, you look..." Amazing didn't cover it. "But..." Lillith planted her hands on her hips and scowled. Even in a human shape, she had never looked more like Zahra. Shit. "Right. Yes. I'm sure it's fine. Better than fine. You look beautiful. Now can I go back to my room?"

Lillith rolled her eyes and took him by the arm. "For my cousin's sake, I will not raise my voice to you. Collect yourself. We are leaving."

Kash had never thought of Lillith as a particularly fearsome woman. Zahra had warned him otherwise, but she was always sweet, kind and awkward. He liked this side of her. And he hadn't felt so much at peace in months. "Yes, ma'am." To Curnen's room it was.

Curnen's room, where she was trying to fuss with her hair and really rather failing to do so. And eventually she just did what she always did and let the whole dark mass of it tumble freely around her shoulders.

She'd had a hell of a time trying to pick out anything to wear, and had finally only settled on the dress she was wearing when Vex had taken pity and picked something for her. It had needed some tailoring (a concept she didn't much understand, but went along with) since a petite frame didn't just mean short, but in the end her dress was comfortable and pretty and if Vex had picked it she supposed it must be appropriate and that was a weight off her mind.

She still fussed when the knock came, though, smoothing her hair, her skirt... leaving her shoes until the very last second, but cringing her way into them.

She was chewing her lip when she opened the door. "Will I do?"

When he knocked, he'd glanced back at Lillith. His "Remember what I said" earned him a Stop dithering, Kashaw glare. So the opening door caught him in the act of pantomiming I'm not, I knocked already. Only acute awareness of the abuse Curnen had suffered turned the gesture into an offer for her hand in time.

"You look beautiful." That was easily said and more than true. She always did. From behind him, Lillith offered, "What a wonderful color. The dress is lovely."

Noting her nerves, Kash glanced past her into her room. "You're missing something. Did you want to bring the guitar?"

"Thank you." Curnen glanced back at the case and hesitated only a moment before she trotted over to it and strapped the instrument to her back. Immediately she felt better with the weight of it there. Now she was ready. "Okay."

"Perfect," he told her and then stepped aside to let her out. And Lillith didn't even get a chance to clear her throat (about which he felt obscurely proud) before he said, "Curnen, Lillith. Lillith's a wizard. Lilli, Curnen. She's a musician." Not a bard, not until Curnen was ready to claim it.

He let the women get acquainted (because the Zahra in his head told him to) and lead the way to Snow's mother's room, where once again, he knocked.

Snow White was not goddamn doing this in a dress.

When she opened the door her jeans were new at least, dark uniform wash and not a tear or hole to be seen, as well as a silk blouse. It wasn't what was expected, she imagined, but it wasn't her usual attire either. And after she'd let Regina put her hair up, for once she actually looked rather like the young woman she was.

She glanced down at herself, and then defiantly back up at Kash. It was this or she wasn't going.

Having had a similar reaction, Curnen could only empathize. "What tribe?" she asked, skipping right past niceties. It cut through any potential dread.

Snow blinked at the question, at the tiny woman, at her strange hands. Then shrugged and said, "Crow. You?"

Curnen shook her head. "Oh, not a drop in me. But my people lived alongside the Cherokee a while, so some of my cousins are."

Snow nodded, as if that exchange hadn't come entirely out of nowhere. And then her gaze turned toward the pale woman she definitely didn't know.

In the face of Snow's defiance, Kash smiled. He pointed to his open neck and started to say Trinket's wearing fur, you're fine, but Curnen was already talking. He knew the words but it didn't help him with the meaning. It was more than the where-are-you-from-what-is-your-totem-do-I-have-to-kill-you he expected from the word 'tribe', much more. That he could tell. He was going to have to ask. When Lillith lifted an eyebrow at him, he shrugged his cluelessness.

"Snow, this is Lillith. She's family." Of Lillith more than any of Vox Machina, that was simple truth. Zahra was his family. Her cousin was his cousin. "Lillith, this is Snow."

"Hello." Had Kash not warned her, she might have suggested they ought to trade names. But she feared it might go over badly.

Which was actually all Snow needed to hear and her body language relaxed. Kash was not exactly an open and trusting person. If he claimed this woman as family, that was enough. It was really all that was getting her through this, knowing that that was how he saw this group of people. And she liked Vex. And Vax was okay. Snow nodded back. "Hi."

Pike was excited about Winter's Crest, she really really was. But as her excitement grew so did the loneliness that seemed to be her constant companion these last few years. Which meant that she waited until she was safely in the shower before letting herself cry. Her family was a perceptive lot and she needed the heat from the water to make sure no one would notice. Scrubbing her face, her words from so long ago floated back, 'I'm just going to pretend I'm happy so everyone can be okay.'

After letting herself feel, she put her smile back on and got dressed. Thanks to the almost magical skills of Corbie, Pike actually had something to wear to the dinner. The deep-blue dress fit perfectly though she still hadn't gotten used to the sensation of her holy symbol against her skin. If he were here, a certain gnome would have been left speechless. Pushing that thought as far down as it would go, she left her room and made her way to the main banquet hall alone.

Blue was a popular choice for Winter's Crest, always had been - maybe the cool color spoke of ice and snow, the daunting beauty of the deeper shadows and muffled stillness. Maybe the harsh conditions reminded everyone that they needed one another to huddle for warmth. Or maybe, like Vax'ildan, everyone had a sibling working the garment shop downstairs, and they intended them to look smart either alone or as a set, thank you very much. ...No, that one was probably just him.

He'd told her he didn't care what he wore, but Percy had made clear he wanted them all looking as posh as possible. Truth be told, Vax cared a bit, or at least he put aside his moody uncertainty about who he was inviting to this dinner party, if anybody, so that he could enjoy playing dress-up with his twinnie. Eventually, she informed him he'd be wearing a dark blue 'windowpane' suit with fabric noose and silk chest-napkin. He felt somewhat odd in it, rich fabrics and fussy buttons unlike their usual Exandrian garb, but Vex was pleased with her work and he was willing to indulge his family this far. They were marking a holiday of their own in this foreign land, and it was comforting to remind themselves that they few were here together, if not all of them.

Vax finished tying back his hair and straightened his jacket in the mirror, reminding himself that Percy would have a litter of kittens if his dithering about if he should or shouldn't do the thing made them all start late. He watched himself a beat, and then two, and then thought on how indecision ended up being a decision in itself, if you left it long enough.

Percy had thought the place cards were a bit much for a family dinner, even for him, but he'd decided not to argue with Caroline. He did rather wish Cassandra was here. The two would either get along or murder each other. Still, it did make for an easy time arranging everyone at the table, even if Trinket did immediately abandon his assigned location and lumber down to wedge himself between Lilith and Snow.

The food was already on the table, covered by lids. "Family style service", Caroline had called it. Large plates of food that could be easily passed around, each person taking what they wanted. Percy stood at the table and lifted his wine glass. "Joyous Winter's Crest all, new friends and old. It is an honor to be here with all of you and I look forward to many more years to come." Toast delivered, he leaned forward and lifted the lid off the largest tray - venison provided by Vex's own hunting bow. "Let's eat."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I hated my dancing lessons. They interfered with my studies." He smiled. "But with you, I have very warm feelings indeed."

"So did I." Not because they'd interfered with her studies. No, dancing lessons in Syngorn had meant either being partnered by her brother, ugh, or with some stick-up-arse elven boy who made it perfectly clear he had no desire to be sullied dancing with a bastard half-breed.

Vex leaned in closer, where she could whisper against his ear. "But it occurs to me that dancing is a perfectly acceptable reason to have your arms around me." They could even have music, if Curnen was willing to provide it. And without the types of commentary Scanlan would've been unable to resist making.

He lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss to her fingers. He was, after all, able to take an unsubtle hint.

Instead of putting a guest out, though he had noticed Curnen bringing in her guitar, Caroline had provided what she called a stereo for just this eventuality. He did not particularly trust that her music choices would be appropriate, but at least it would be music. She'd shown him how to turn it on using a little plastic box. This he pulled out of his coat pocket and pressed the proper button. "Lady Vex'ahlia, may I have this dance?"

Her eyes lit up, delighted, as the music began to play. "Yes, you may, Percival." She turned in her seat so they could rise from the table, detested comportment lessons proving useful for once.

"Have I mentioned lately that I adore how clever you are." He really had thought of everything. "You'll have to explain to me sometime, how we get this music all from the push of a button."

Percy led Vex to a bit of open floor and turned her into his arms. "Electronics. This is a stereo. It's playing recordings of music first played elsewhere. Quite clever."

Vex fit into his arms perfectly and smiled up at him as they began to move to the music.

"Very. Like the," what was the word. Vax called it the theatre box. "Television. But only sound." They did so much with electricity here, all kinds of wonders. "Think of all the people it would save from the light fingers of Dr. Dranzel's merry crew."

"Quite similar, yes. I rather like the ability to have music at any moment but it also seems a shame. There's something about listening to music that's being played right then. This is beautiful, but I find myself wondering how the performers are being paid for their work. One cannot bestow a coin on a stereo." He spun her out and back into his arms.

The best part of being spun like that – other than showing off – was getting to feel his arms coming around her again, which was probably completely sappy, but Vex felt sappy tonight. And it wasn't as though everyone in the room didn't already know she and Percy were mad for each other.

"On the other hand," she picked up the conversation as though there'd been no interruption, mimicking his posh speech fondly because she could, "One needn't bestow a coin every time one wishes to hear the song."

"Quite so." And Vex, of course, was always pleased to avoid parting with coin. Her greedy heart was a delight to him and he enjoyed indulging it whenever he could. "The finest musicians in the land play for you on demand and without payment."

Not parting with coin was how you had coin when you needed it. Luckily for Vex, Percy found her avarice endearing. "You have to think the musicians insisted on some form of compensation." If they didn't, they were fools.

Growing more serious, but still has content and in love, Vex cradled his cheek in her hand as the dance brought them close. "Thank you, my darling. For hearing my brother." She hadn't expected Percy would make a scene, but they all knew how he could wield manners like a weapon, if he'd been determined to make Stephanie unwelcome.

Percy leaned his cheek into her touch, a gentle gesture of surrender that would surprise people who did not know him well. "I don't wish him unhappiness. And I can't protect him from his choices." He did not look away from Vex toward the woman Vax had brought as a guest, but his attention flickered that way and back. "I suppose I haven't given her much of a chance before tonight."

"You were responding from your heart, your love for Keyleth, and that's not a bad thing." Percy needed to hear that more than most, in Vex's experience. "Feelings are simply way more complicated than logic. Answers aren't so obviously right or wrong. Sometimes they're both."

"I absolutely hate feelings," Percy said, willingly admitting the irony of such a statement while he was holding the woman whose love had changed him, made him a better man.

"I know, darling. They're horrible." Vex winked. For so long, Percy had only let himself feel vengeance. But he was so much more than that, and when he finally started to let himself feel again, he loved just as deeply as he had hated.

"Like magic. At some point you just have to accept they are, with no idea how they work. It's the worst."

Winter's Crest Evening Celebration - Invitation only

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives

Re: Vex: OTA - after Steph arrives