![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
The final surprise of Vax and Vex's birthday is a reunion!
The party was going perfectly and Percy’s stomach was a knotted mess of nerves. It had started as those pesky butterflies of anticipation and had since turned into the queasy lump of apprehension. It had been about an hour and a half and there was still no word from Keyleth. The last time he’d checked in with her they were doing well and about an hour away as planned, but he’d not heard from her since and he was starting to get worried. Perhaps, they’d simply gotten lost, or caught in traffic… It didn’t necessarily have to be that Keyleth had gotten arrested or that Grog had instigated a fight with an entire motorcycle gang.
Percy’s mobile buzzed in his back pocket. “I’ll be right back,” he told Vax, then slipped out of the both and into the crowd. Once he was sure all eyes were no longer on him, he took out his mobile and felt a rush of relief. It was a text from Keyleth.
We’re here!
Percy send a quick text back, then pocketed his phone again and headed out of the club.
Keyleth and Grog stood just outside the door. When Keyleth saw Percy's pale haired head poke out, she immediately squealed and started waving her arms around in awkward excitement. “Percy!!"
If that hadn't made them easy to spot, the sight of Grog lurking behind her, towering over most everyone else on the street probably would have done it. He did tend to stand out in a crowd. It took him a moment to follow where Keyleth was gesturing at, but once he spotted Percy's weird pale hair, he offered his own slightly more awkward wave.
Percy broke out into a grin at the sight of Keyleth and Grog and ran out to them, sweeping Keyleth up in a hug that lifted her off her feet.
She gave a little squeal and squeezed right back. Maybe too hard.
Percy was fairly certain he heard something in his back or neck crack and winced. (Note to self: Never again underestimate the strength of an excited Keyleth.) He put her down and stepped back to get a better look at her. She looked good--A little on the thin side, but good. "It's great to see you." He nodded to Grog who looked, well, like Grog. "Both of you.”
"How long have you been in the US?" Keyleth gushed, gripping Percy's hands now.
“Since September,” Percy replied. “And you?”
"We were in the US in November. And then Mexico. But not for long. I have reason to believe that's where my mother went on her pilgrimage, but..." Keyleth shook her head, which she assumed would say enough--for the moment.
Percy squeezed Keyleth’s hands and gave her a small, sympathetic smile. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “And I know Vax and Vex will be too.”
Keyleth glanced back at Grog, grinning hugely. "I can't wait to see them. Let's go."
Grog nodded back, which was probably as close to an agreement as was likely to come from him. Not that he wasn't pleased to see the group -- helped to have friends around -- but the whole situation was weird and he was still trying to catch up. Probably would be for a good while, at least.
“You’ll need these.” Percy dug Keyleth and Grog’s fake IDs out of his pocket and offered them out to them. “Your birthday is the same. All that’s changed is the year. And, of course, your name.”
Keyleth glanced down at hers and burst out laughing. "Gracie Lou Freebush!"
With only the slightest grimace, Grog accepted the card and made a show of peering at it -- looked like him, at least, that was good -- and tucked it away with all due gravity. Nobody ever checked with him, anyway. "We goin' in?”
“We are. This way.” Percy turned and started back toward the club. “No one knows you’re coming. They’re camped at some tables near the back.”
Keyleth nodded and tried to compose herself to look older. She stood straight and made a serious face, chin up. It looked more like she was pretending to be a princess than an adult. She held out the fake ID to the bouncer with great solemnity.
It took an antsy minute, but almost before Keyleth was done being fancy, Grog just blew past with nothing more than a nod at the bouncer. He strode a little ways into the bar, took one look around and straightened before bellowing, “Vox Machina!” as loud as he could. It was pretty impressively loud.
If that didn’t get their attention, nothing would.
Vex was leaning on her brother when a very familiar voice carried through the room. Considering Percy had been distracted by his phone half the night and had disappeared ever so subtly, it was easy to surmise he had something to do with this. Vex looked toward Grog’s voice. She didn’t spot Percy with him, but he didn’t cover space as quickly.
Vex squeezed Vax’s hand. “That fucking brilliant bastard,” she said in surprise. She tugged her brother’s arm and took off for Grog. They were in public, so Vax could deal with being slowed down by silly things like dashing instead of shadow walking.
Vax was a little bit more in shock than his sister. At the sound of Grog's bellow, he'd nearly choked on his beer. Then his sister was up and hauling him out of the booth as well, and he found himself stumbling through the crowd toward a familiar hulking figure. Grog. Grog fucking Strongjaw. However Percy had managed it - and he knew it was Percy because Percy was brilliant - Vax was more than a little dumbfounded to be confronted with their friend at their birthday club/dance/party/shit-faced celebration. "The fuck..."
Percy followed after Grog with Keyleth, the whole club looking their way now thanks to Grog's booming call. He gestured for Keyleth to go ahead of them, content to just watch the reunion, a pleased, smug sort of smile on his lips.
"You know, I always knew you were the kind who liked to watch," came a piping voice from the vicinity of Percy's right elbow. Bright, mischievous eyes looked up at him--at just under four feet, that tended to be his relative position to most everybody. "But if you think this is the cleverest thing you've ever done," Scanlan went on, "then I have disappointing news for you. This barely breaks into the top ten. Still, good effort. The music's passable, anyway.”
Keyleth had just stepped around Grog to make herself known when she heard that familiar, lilting voice. She grinned at the twins and then spun. “Scanlan!"
If Grog had been pleased before -- and he was genuinely happy to see the lot of them, all in one place and looking good -- it was nothing compared to the grin that spread across his face at the newest addition.
"Scanlan! They didn't tell me you were here too." Really, that would have gotten him over a lot quicker. Well that and the room for fighting.
Vex slowed as they reached the edge of the party, then decided, fuck it, and launched herself at the closest person for a hug. Fortunately, Grog was at no risk of being flattened. She dangled from his broad shoulders, hugging tightly. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
"Kiki!" Vax grinned as he stepped out of the crowd and lifted her into a bear hug. He wasn't sure what the hell was going on - Vex was hugging Grog, but Grog and Keyleth were both shouting at Scanlan like they'd never seen him before. It was one big clusterfuck, but then, when was Vox Machina ever anything different?
Percy was surprised as anyone else to see Scanlan. "Good god, Scanlan. Where the hell did you come from?" He wasn't sure if what Scanlan had said was meant to be an insult or a compliment, but he was too pleased to care. He offered out a hand to him to shake.
Obviously pleased to be the center of attention, however briefly--and rightly so, as tonight was the twins' night; he could give up the spotlight for a bit, on that account. But making the right sort of entrance was very important, and Scanlan had to admit that this was probably one of his finest. The look on Percy's face alone made it worthwhile, and he grinned as he took the younger, taller teen's hand. "I'm the surprise within the surprise, Grog," he confided artfully. "The shining cherry on top of the delicious sundae of our friend Percy's party-planning finesse. As for where I came from, the tale begins with your hero riding the rails south from the Yukon gold country, and quickly snowballs into a grand Picaresque adventure of romance, intrigue, and action. Buy me a drink, and I'll tell you all about it. Some of it might even be true." Why ruin a good party with a story that was anything less than epic, after all?
Keyleth had her arms around Vax's neck as he lifted her off the ground. laughing as Percy voiced exactly what she'd been thinking in re Scanlan. When her feet touched the ground again she kept hold of Vax's arm to steady herself and just stood there, laughing. Vox Machina always could make an entrance, she supposed...
And Grog, completely uncaring of the fact that Vex was still dangling off his shoulders, stepped around Percy and ducked to enfold Scanlan in a massive hug. "I will buy you so many drinks," he promised solemnly, already looking enthralled by whatever epic he was going to be told.
Vex collided with Scanlan and was squished into an impromptu group hug. “Hello, darling.” She glanced around, but didn’t spot Pike.
"What the fuck is going on?" Vax asked Keyleth, grinning. "Do you know? Because I'm completely in the dark.”
Percy, who had still taken a quick step back to avoid being bowled over by Grog’s large frame, stepped around to stand by Vax’s and Keyleth’s side. “I do recall you saying that’s where you’re at your best,” he remarked casually.
All but disappearing into Grog's hug, Scanlan gave the much larger teen a pat on the back that was made only somewhat awkward by the fact he couldn't quite reach that far around, and had to settle for a hugely muscled flank. "I missed you, too, Big Guy," came his voice from somewhere within those massive arms. "Hullo, Vex. Fancy meeting you here. Are you and your monochromatic lesser half enjoying your birthday so far?”
"I have no idea!" Keyleth replied with a laugh, arm still around Vax. "Well, Grog and I were in California, but. Scanlan!"
"Doesn't matter," Grog said firmly as he straightened back up to his full height. Though whether he thought it didn't actually matter or he was just tired of thinking about it was up for debate. "We're all here now. Well. 'cept for Pike."
“Where is Pike?” Vex asked, concerned that no one would have that answer. She’d been with Grog last, so while seeing him was a joy, she had to wonder where Pike had wandered off.
"This church school. She seemed pleased." Grog himself was skeptical, but he wasn't going to talk Pike out of anything she wanted.
“That sounds like Pike,” Vax agreed, though he was just as skeptical as Grog. He glanced over at Percy. “This is your doing, then?”
“Keyleth and Grog are my fault. I take no responsibility for Scanlan,” Percy answered.
Keyleth snorted loudly, then covered her mouth and looked embarrassed. But her eyes were still laughing as she said from behind her hand, “We were in Mexico.”
Something like disappointment--or possibly regret--flickered in Scanlan's vibrant eyes, but vanished almost as soon as it came. "It's probably a better fit for Pike there than in some seedy New York dive club," he said, "still, I can't help but think it's her loss." And hope that, perhaps, she would make her way back to the rest of them. Eventually. "And I'll have you know I take full responsibility for myself. You know. Most of the time. In this case, definitely. But I've already mentioned that story," spun from whole cloth though it may have been, "is going to cost somebody a few drinks. Grog, I think you volunteered?"
The party was going perfectly and Percy’s stomach was a knotted mess of nerves. It had started as those pesky butterflies of anticipation and had since turned into the queasy lump of apprehension. It had been about an hour and a half and there was still no word from Keyleth. The last time he’d checked in with her they were doing well and about an hour away as planned, but he’d not heard from her since and he was starting to get worried. Perhaps, they’d simply gotten lost, or caught in traffic… It didn’t necessarily have to be that Keyleth had gotten arrested or that Grog had instigated a fight with an entire motorcycle gang.
Percy’s mobile buzzed in his back pocket. “I’ll be right back,” he told Vax, then slipped out of the both and into the crowd. Once he was sure all eyes were no longer on him, he took out his mobile and felt a rush of relief. It was a text from Keyleth.
We’re here!
Percy send a quick text back, then pocketed his phone again and headed out of the club.
Keyleth and Grog stood just outside the door. When Keyleth saw Percy's pale haired head poke out, she immediately squealed and started waving her arms around in awkward excitement. “Percy!!"
If that hadn't made them easy to spot, the sight of Grog lurking behind her, towering over most everyone else on the street probably would have done it. He did tend to stand out in a crowd. It took him a moment to follow where Keyleth was gesturing at, but once he spotted Percy's weird pale hair, he offered his own slightly more awkward wave.
Percy broke out into a grin at the sight of Keyleth and Grog and ran out to them, sweeping Keyleth up in a hug that lifted her off her feet.
She gave a little squeal and squeezed right back. Maybe too hard.
Percy was fairly certain he heard something in his back or neck crack and winced. (Note to self: Never again underestimate the strength of an excited Keyleth.) He put her down and stepped back to get a better look at her. She looked good--A little on the thin side, but good. "It's great to see you." He nodded to Grog who looked, well, like Grog. "Both of you.”
"How long have you been in the US?" Keyleth gushed, gripping Percy's hands now.
“Since September,” Percy replied. “And you?”
"We were in the US in November. And then Mexico. But not for long. I have reason to believe that's where my mother went on her pilgrimage, but..." Keyleth shook her head, which she assumed would say enough--for the moment.
Percy squeezed Keyleth’s hands and gave her a small, sympathetic smile. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “And I know Vax and Vex will be too.”
Keyleth glanced back at Grog, grinning hugely. "I can't wait to see them. Let's go."
Grog nodded back, which was probably as close to an agreement as was likely to come from him. Not that he wasn't pleased to see the group -- helped to have friends around -- but the whole situation was weird and he was still trying to catch up. Probably would be for a good while, at least.
“You’ll need these.” Percy dug Keyleth and Grog’s fake IDs out of his pocket and offered them out to them. “Your birthday is the same. All that’s changed is the year. And, of course, your name.”
Keyleth glanced down at hers and burst out laughing. "Gracie Lou Freebush!"
With only the slightest grimace, Grog accepted the card and made a show of peering at it -- looked like him, at least, that was good -- and tucked it away with all due gravity. Nobody ever checked with him, anyway. "We goin' in?”
“We are. This way.” Percy turned and started back toward the club. “No one knows you’re coming. They’re camped at some tables near the back.”
Keyleth nodded and tried to compose herself to look older. She stood straight and made a serious face, chin up. It looked more like she was pretending to be a princess than an adult. She held out the fake ID to the bouncer with great solemnity.
It took an antsy minute, but almost before Keyleth was done being fancy, Grog just blew past with nothing more than a nod at the bouncer. He strode a little ways into the bar, took one look around and straightened before bellowing, “Vox Machina!” as loud as he could. It was pretty impressively loud.
If that didn’t get their attention, nothing would.
Vex was leaning on her brother when a very familiar voice carried through the room. Considering Percy had been distracted by his phone half the night and had disappeared ever so subtly, it was easy to surmise he had something to do with this. Vex looked toward Grog’s voice. She didn’t spot Percy with him, but he didn’t cover space as quickly.
Vex squeezed Vax’s hand. “That fucking brilliant bastard,” she said in surprise. She tugged her brother’s arm and took off for Grog. They were in public, so Vax could deal with being slowed down by silly things like dashing instead of shadow walking.
Vax was a little bit more in shock than his sister. At the sound of Grog's bellow, he'd nearly choked on his beer. Then his sister was up and hauling him out of the booth as well, and he found himself stumbling through the crowd toward a familiar hulking figure. Grog. Grog fucking Strongjaw. However Percy had managed it - and he knew it was Percy because Percy was brilliant - Vax was more than a little dumbfounded to be confronted with their friend at their birthday club/dance/party/shit-faced celebration. "The fuck..."
Percy followed after Grog with Keyleth, the whole club looking their way now thanks to Grog's booming call. He gestured for Keyleth to go ahead of them, content to just watch the reunion, a pleased, smug sort of smile on his lips.
"You know, I always knew you were the kind who liked to watch," came a piping voice from the vicinity of Percy's right elbow. Bright, mischievous eyes looked up at him--at just under four feet, that tended to be his relative position to most everybody. "But if you think this is the cleverest thing you've ever done," Scanlan went on, "then I have disappointing news for you. This barely breaks into the top ten. Still, good effort. The music's passable, anyway.”
Keyleth had just stepped around Grog to make herself known when she heard that familiar, lilting voice. She grinned at the twins and then spun. “Scanlan!"
If Grog had been pleased before -- and he was genuinely happy to see the lot of them, all in one place and looking good -- it was nothing compared to the grin that spread across his face at the newest addition.
"Scanlan! They didn't tell me you were here too." Really, that would have gotten him over a lot quicker. Well that and the room for fighting.
Vex slowed as they reached the edge of the party, then decided, fuck it, and launched herself at the closest person for a hug. Fortunately, Grog was at no risk of being flattened. She dangled from his broad shoulders, hugging tightly. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
"Kiki!" Vax grinned as he stepped out of the crowd and lifted her into a bear hug. He wasn't sure what the hell was going on - Vex was hugging Grog, but Grog and Keyleth were both shouting at Scanlan like they'd never seen him before. It was one big clusterfuck, but then, when was Vox Machina ever anything different?
Percy was surprised as anyone else to see Scanlan. "Good god, Scanlan. Where the hell did you come from?" He wasn't sure if what Scanlan had said was meant to be an insult or a compliment, but he was too pleased to care. He offered out a hand to him to shake.
Obviously pleased to be the center of attention, however briefly--and rightly so, as tonight was the twins' night; he could give up the spotlight for a bit, on that account. But making the right sort of entrance was very important, and Scanlan had to admit that this was probably one of his finest. The look on Percy's face alone made it worthwhile, and he grinned as he took the younger, taller teen's hand. "I'm the surprise within the surprise, Grog," he confided artfully. "The shining cherry on top of the delicious sundae of our friend Percy's party-planning finesse. As for where I came from, the tale begins with your hero riding the rails south from the Yukon gold country, and quickly snowballs into a grand Picaresque adventure of romance, intrigue, and action. Buy me a drink, and I'll tell you all about it. Some of it might even be true." Why ruin a good party with a story that was anything less than epic, after all?
Keyleth had her arms around Vax's neck as he lifted her off the ground. laughing as Percy voiced exactly what she'd been thinking in re Scanlan. When her feet touched the ground again she kept hold of Vax's arm to steady herself and just stood there, laughing. Vox Machina always could make an entrance, she supposed...
And Grog, completely uncaring of the fact that Vex was still dangling off his shoulders, stepped around Percy and ducked to enfold Scanlan in a massive hug. "I will buy you so many drinks," he promised solemnly, already looking enthralled by whatever epic he was going to be told.
Vex collided with Scanlan and was squished into an impromptu group hug. “Hello, darling.” She glanced around, but didn’t spot Pike.
"What the fuck is going on?" Vax asked Keyleth, grinning. "Do you know? Because I'm completely in the dark.”
Percy, who had still taken a quick step back to avoid being bowled over by Grog’s large frame, stepped around to stand by Vax’s and Keyleth’s side. “I do recall you saying that’s where you’re at your best,” he remarked casually.
All but disappearing into Grog's hug, Scanlan gave the much larger teen a pat on the back that was made only somewhat awkward by the fact he couldn't quite reach that far around, and had to settle for a hugely muscled flank. "I missed you, too, Big Guy," came his voice from somewhere within those massive arms. "Hullo, Vex. Fancy meeting you here. Are you and your monochromatic lesser half enjoying your birthday so far?”
"I have no idea!" Keyleth replied with a laugh, arm still around Vax. "Well, Grog and I were in California, but. Scanlan!"
"Doesn't matter," Grog said firmly as he straightened back up to his full height. Though whether he thought it didn't actually matter or he was just tired of thinking about it was up for debate. "We're all here now. Well. 'cept for Pike."
“Where is Pike?” Vex asked, concerned that no one would have that answer. She’d been with Grog last, so while seeing him was a joy, she had to wonder where Pike had wandered off.
"This church school. She seemed pleased." Grog himself was skeptical, but he wasn't going to talk Pike out of anything she wanted.
“That sounds like Pike,” Vax agreed, though he was just as skeptical as Grog. He glanced over at Percy. “This is your doing, then?”
“Keyleth and Grog are my fault. I take no responsibility for Scanlan,” Percy answered.
Keyleth snorted loudly, then covered her mouth and looked embarrassed. But her eyes were still laughing as she said from behind her hand, “We were in Mexico.”
Something like disappointment--or possibly regret--flickered in Scanlan's vibrant eyes, but vanished almost as soon as it came. "It's probably a better fit for Pike there than in some seedy New York dive club," he said, "still, I can't help but think it's her loss." And hope that, perhaps, she would make her way back to the rest of them. Eventually. "And I'll have you know I take full responsibility for myself. You know. Most of the time. In this case, definitely. But I've already mentioned that story," spun from whole cloth though it may have been, "is going to cost somebody a few drinks. Grog, I think you volunteered?"
no subject
Date: 2018-02-04 05:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-02-04 11:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-02-05 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-02-05 12:37 am (UTC)