Lady Vex'ahlia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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strangetrip2018-03-01 05:03 pm
st_ubby) wrote in strangetrip2018-03-01 05:03 pm
Entry tags:
[log] Poor Impulse Control (Vex & Percy, backdated to March 1)
Compared to the inn, Asphodel Station was a wonderland for both shopping and technological exploration, so of course Vex and Percy were in the thick of it. But they had no idea what they were getting into when they followed the small, armed automaton into a discreet shopfront.
Percy felt like a bear at the honey festival on the massive technological fortress. Everywhere he looked, he saw things that he did not understand but could with study and logic. He had come along with Vex to do some shopping (her bag of colding full of ice and her haggling ability had netted them what seemed like a reasonable number of the local currency) but he was continually distracted by new wonders. "Vex, look there. That little automaton is guarding the corridor!" At least, he assumed that was the reason for the flat round disc with the knife secured to the top. It had a rank stripe on it after all.
Vex had almost forgotten how good it felt to negotiate with merchants and walk out feeling she'd gotten the better end of the deal, but if there'd been no trade to do, it would have been worth visiting this strange world for the chance to be with Percy as he explored technology beyond his imagination but not his potential understanding. It was rather cute, his excitement at every new discovery. She turned her attention from the market stall with beads and ribbons to the small guardian who'd piqued Percy's curiosity. "Do you think that's entirely wise?" she asked. The blade looked plenty sharp enough, and at a height to lame someone if they were unlucky and unobservant enough to feel its bite.
"I'm sure they've thought of proper precautions. This place is brilliant. Just brilliant!" They were gathering strange looks, but then, they had been since they arrived. Humans and half-elves were apparently quite unknown in this place. It was rather like visiting Dis in that way. Percy darted across the way from the store they'd just exited and over to examine the automaton. It bumped into a wall, spun in place and set off purposefully in the opposite direction. Percy followed. "I wonder where its master is."
It didn't look like there were any precautions taken, just a rolly automaton with a bare blade attached. But there was a lot about this place Vex couldn't hope to understand. "Maybe the broom would be a good idea if we're going to follow it." Keep ankles out of the level of attack. "If it's a guardian, it might decide we're a threat." Although the broom would draw even more attention than they were already. "Can you see how it works? Without taking it apart."
Percy sent a glance toward Vex, acknowledging that he did, in fact, really want to take it apart. "If I were to observe it long enough, I suppose. I've never seen anything like it." Even the Inn with all its gadgets, didn't have anything that traveled about on its own. "If I could pick it up for a moment..." He crept closer as the device bounced off another wall and redirected down a side hall. It was quieter here, more of a side street than the main thoroughfare they'd just been on.
Of course he wanted to take it apart, and Vex smiled fondly at his glance, before keeping an eye on everything around them. The people here really didn't like outsiders, and humans and half-elves both qualified. "It doesn't seem to move that quickly," pick it up if you want to, "but as you said, we don't know where its master might be, or how they would feel about you manhandling their invention. Purely out of scientific curiosity."
"Was tampering with security on that list of capital crimes they made us watch before we entered the station?" It might be worth it, otherwise. Percy acknowledged that he occasionally lacked impulse control when it came to being clever. The automaton turned into an open doorway. A moment later, someone yelped in pain.
"If not, I'm sure they could find some way to make it one." They would simply have to be stealthy about it, if Percy was going to make a project of the device. That was all. At the yelp, Vex turned, giving him a look that didn't need to say I told you so. "Beware the ankle biters. They will make you pay." It wasn't until after she'd said it she realized what that could sound like. Must have been because she was shopping with Kash and Zahra's baby-to-be in mind.
"So my mother always said," Percy murmured in reply, because he'd heard the meaning too. The device trundled out again, its knife streaked green. The races here had rather non-standard bodily fluids. Percy looked up at the shop, thoughtfully. "What do you suppose they sell here?" Unification and Cohabitation, the sign read in steady humming blue sigils.
Many of the signs here were a mystery. They seemed to be written in Common, but the phrasing was as foreign and unfamiliar as the rest of the station. "Some kind of home goods, perhaps? Let's go in and see. The room could use a few things to personalize it more." Especially as Darryl seemed unwilling to give Vex the larger room she'd asked for. Not waiting for Percy's agreement, Vex stepped through the entryway and into a space that... did not seem to display any goods for sale at all.
One of the small, furry inhabitants of the station came forward to meet her. "Greetings. Greetings to you both. Have you come for a joining?"
Vex turned to Percy, one eyebrow rising in confusion, before returning her attention to the Gunnii. "We were curious about your establishment. We've heard so many good things, of course."
Percy lifted a finger and rubbed his lips thoughtfully as he examined the space. It was mostly open, just a few scattered groupings of seating arrangements in curved alcoves to fill the space. It reminded him a bit of the temple he was designing for Vax and Pike. One central purpose expressed in different ways. He kept his mouth shut on his observations and let Vex work. She was far better at this than he.
The Gunnii seemed pleased, its fur fluffing then settling again into a sleek smugness. "We're certified, authorized to join any approved grouping in an appropriate fashion. All binding of course. Our license is on file with station enforcement and Asphodel is rated with two hundred reciprocal governments."
From one of the alcoves, a voice like a purr proceeded its owner. "At least we were the last time Asphodel made contact with them." A slender Mikei with grey and black stripes joined the Gunnii. It was holding a flat piece of metal that reminded Percy of a larger version of what Stephanie referred to as her cell.
As the two aliens talked, the meaning of 'Unification and Cohabititation' became clear, a realization Vex mostly kept off her face other than a widening of her eyes she tried and probably failed to pass off as interest and approval. Had Percy...? "That all sounds very proper and official. You must be proud of your work," she commended them to cover for the thoughts darting through her mind faster than she could organize them. "If you would excuse us for just a moment?"
Her haggling had gotten rather involved with that merchant, over a tool Percy had explained cut with light. The desire in his eyes had been reminiscent of Vex in a treasury, and was all the incentive she'd needed to do her best to come out on top in the negotiation. It was possible Percy had slipped away to explore ahead a short distance without her noticing. "Percy, darling," she called, her hand coming to rest on his arm, before switching to Elvish, "did you plan this?"
Percy had been trying to get a look at the flat thing the Mikei had and not paying so much attention to the conversation. But he did know the answer to Vex's question. He replied in the same language, though his Elvish was rustier than hers. "I've planned nothing. We were following the guardian device." He gestured in the direction the thing had gone. "What are they selling?"
Oh, Percival. She did love him, and his curiosity. It was worth coming to the station simply to watch him discover so many new things. On the other hand, he might could have paid a bit more attention to the people now. "Selling? Nothing. Weddings, Percival. They do weddings here. Official in over two hundred lands, weddings."
He looked a bit like Trinket had smacked him in the head. "They what?" He looked over at the waiting duos and back at Vex. "Well, that's, um. Ah. Two hundred?"
The Gunnii and the Mikei exchanged a knowing look. The young lovers were not the first who had had second thoughts once they found themselves in the chapel. They stepped further away and into a quiet discussion of something on the Mikei's device to give Vex and Percy illusion of more space.
"Yes, darling. Focus on the bureaucratic questions, instead of the fact we wandered into a some kind of wedding business." Vex looked at the proprieter, then toward the door, and back to Percy. "We should go, right? We should thank them for their time, tell them they have a lovely shop, and just go."
"We should." But his eyes drifted back to the officiants. "Whitestone isn't one of those lands." Though as the Lord of Whitestone, his very presence made it law. It was legal if he said it was. "Besides, you haven't asked."
"You're a de Rolo. You are Whitestone." He'd made her a Baroness while they were in Syngorn within the Feywild. He could make marriage vows legal. If that was his only objection. If. They had agreed, no ceremony would change what they were to each other. "If I asked, would you say yes?"
"I...am." Percy swallowed, wished for Courage. He said it arrogantly before. Said it with confidence - that he lived as long as Whitestone lived. He'd thought they were the last then, he and Cassandra. "Is this how you would want to do it? Get married? Your brother would kill us. Me. He'd kill me."
"He won't kill you. We have the earrings." Of course she wanted her brother here if they were going to do this. She wasn't going to call him unless she knew they were going through with it, though. He would never let them hear the end of it if he found out they had wandered into a wedding service and then chickened out.
She loved Percy. Vax was the other half of her being, but Percy had her heart. She wanted to spend her life with him. She wanted to raise little quarter-elf de Rolos and carry on a legacy the Briarwoods did everything in their power to wipe out. And now they were here, she wasn't sure she wanted to wait. "And neither of us want the fuss of a wedding organized by Caroline." Dinner for Winter's Crest had been lovely. A wedding would be far too much.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Vex went down on one knee and looked up at the man she loved, taking his hand in hers. "Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III, Lord of Whitestone, will you do me the honor of taking me as your bride?"
Percy looked down at Vex, stunned but at the same time not. He'd practically dared her to do exactly this and she was always a step ahead of him anyway. Of course she was the one to propose. He would have. In a moment or so. Instead, he drew her up off her knees to stand facing him. "You are Lady Vex'ahlia, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Gray Hunt. You kneel to no one." He covered her hand with his other. "I would be honored to have you as my bride."
When he answered, love in his eyes where they met hers, the knot of insecurity, of not good enough slipped a notch looser, and Vex let out a breath she hadn't noticed she was holding. They were going to do this, then, and without a drop of Courage between them. She gave him a Wink, one that was only for Percy. "If this isn't how you want to do this, darling, we can wait. I know this isn't what it would be in Whitestone."
"It's exactly what it would be in Whitestone. Insane and quickly done before either of us come to our senses and you realize it's a terrible idea to tie yourself to me." He kissed her forehead. "I'll arrange the ceremony. See if the others are nearby."
If Percy ever truly believed he wasn't terrible for Vex, she would consider it a miracle. She knew their love made them better together, so she let the comment pass. He probably wasn't wrong about what their wedding would have looked like, though. Neither of them would want the fuss of an official court function, or the long period of planning that would be involved before they could exchange vows. She smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles before releasing his hand.
Oh sweet Sarenrae, they were going to do this. Vex stepped outside the door. It wasn't necessary in order for the earrings to function, but sometimes the pearls picked up all the nearby sounds, and she didn't want her brother or Pike to get a hint of why she was calling them until they arrived. She reached up to activate the earring's magic. "Brother?... Oh, Vax'ildan," she singsonged, then waited for a reply. None came "If you can hear me, you're going to be very angry at yourself if you don't answer."
Still no answer, but while pondering how long she should keep trying – it felt wrong doing this without her brother by her side – Vex saw another of the small round automatons that had so entranced Percy. Although with no knife attached this time. She stood completely still and watched as it rolled right up to her, bumping into her boots and turning to go another direction. She quickly glanced all around; no one was paying her any attention, and before the little creature... device... thing could trundle out of reach, she scooped it up and tucked it into her Bag of Colding where no one could retrieve it who didn't expect it to be there. She'd needed a groom's gift. This would be perfect.
"Vax? Pike?" she tried once more, fearing the station was too large for anyone to be within range. Assuming they were on the station at all. They could be back at the inn. But Percy and Vex were here now. The thought of waiting, it was like asking for some terrible attack or the portal to close, so they couldn't get back here. Now, while they were here was better.
While Vex sought their family, Percy went over to the two beings that ran the place. They stopped pretending to look at their device and gave him pleasant, expectant looks. "You perform marriages here?" It wasn't precisely a question but he appreciated the nod from the Mikei nonetheless. "How does one arrange that with you? We are...interested in a simple, elegant ceremony."
Had this been Whitestone, he'd have had to justify a private ceremony. As the Lord of the city, it was a matter of morale and duty for him to share this marriage with his people. In some ways, he was grateful for the chance to escape that circus. He did wish that Cassandra could attend.
"We can certainly arrange that for you. Please, come sit." The duo introduced themselves as Juliran and Xzav, and led him to a side desk and in short order with a few deft questions, soon presented him with a tailored ceremony that was, Xzav, who apparently handled the legal aspects, assured him, perfectly binding, no matter what his origin was. Before Vex returned, Percy agreed and paid. He loved her haggling nature but her wedding was not the place for it.
Vex went back inside, shaking her head. "I couldn't reach anyone." Drawn to the man she was about to marry, it was easier for that not to hurt. She joined them at the desk, standing beside Percy and resting a hand on his very fine shoulder. She bit at her lip, uncertain but hopeful when she added, "Except Trinket, of course. He can be here with us, can't he?"
"I don't see that he could be anywhere else. He has as much right to be here as anyone," Percy said firmly, taking Vex's hand. Given the startling range of life around here, there was no reason for the natives to suspect that Trinket wouldn't ordinarily be welcomed in a chapel. He didn't even know if they would understand what a wild bear was. And Trinket was well-behaved enough to attend the ceremony without issue, unless Vex ordered him otherwise. "These good folk have informed me that they are ready to perform the ceremony right now, if you want to bring him out."
Having Trinket here was important, especially with Vax unable to be found. More important was Percy knowing her and accepting Trinket as part of their lives. She clasped her necklace, black spilling from it and coalescing into her beloved bear. "Hello, Trinket dear." She nuzzled her forehead against his. If the officiants had any qualms about his sudden appearance, she neither cared nor noticed. "Percy and I have a very important job for you. You're going to be our Bear of Honor and witness, so best behavior, all right?"
Trinket was an honorable bear, and he was Vex's. He didn't really know what Vex meant, but whatever she wanted, he would do it. He snuffled at her braid, then shook himself to stand proud and ready and waiting for what happened next.
The two non-humans (Percy's brain argued with that categorization immediately, he was the only full human here) exclaimed as Trinket's massive form took shape. It was surprise without fear. Maybe they should have warned them what to expect? Oh well, what's done was done. Percy kept a straight face while Vex greeted Trinket and explained to him what was about to take place. His lack of reaction seemed to help their hosts.
"This way, please." Juliran, the Gunnii who administered the ceremonies, bowed deeply and gestured toward an alcove. From Percy's reading of the offerings, this was the closest to the wedding ceremony that they had back at home, tailored presumably from the questionnaire he'd filled out.
They probably should have warned the others about Trinket before Vex let him out. But they didn't look scared or worse, like they wanted to hurt him, so Vex continued on as if his sudden appearance was the most normal thing, which to Vex and Percy, and Trinket, it had become. Vex carded her fingers through Trinket's scruff as they turned to follow Juliran, starting to be a bit nervous and not wanting to show it. No second thoughts, though. This was the right thing to do, and the right time to do it. If only Vax were here. She met Percy's eyes, love in hers, and offered a hint of a smile.
Percy took her hands, faced her squarely. Even behind his glasses, he knew he looked dazzled, wondering how this was going to go wrong, as all good things in his life inevitably did. He scarcely heard Juliran running through the admonishments and responsibilities of their new relationship. There was more, of course, that Juliran couldn't have known, the weight of Whitestone, the complications of their families.
"On Asphodel Station, the weight of joining falls upon those who come to seek it. Make your statements of joining now, before honest citizens in good standing."
Now? Oh gods, Juliran meant now. They were looking at him, or maybe at her, but they were waiting. Percy took a deep breath, tightened his hands on Vex's and said the first thing that came to mind.
"Life...needs things to live." He smiled, a thin, watery, nervous smile. "It needs tending. It needs light. It needs a purpose and nourishment.
"For years, I've been chasing death and revenge. When my family was killed, I thought...there was no other way forward. I should have been dead then. It seemed only right to devote myself to righting that failure, in any way I could. For years, that was the only thing I could see. The only thing that mattered was doing whatever it took, being whoever I had to be, in order to make the world a place that someone like myself couldn't survive in.
"There was a moment -- do you remember when we met? -- that I...I thought I had died in that prison. Was dying. And this...you, was my mind making up fever dreams about what it might be like...to have friends, adventures, a beautiful woman that I... You've always been my dream. From the first moment, you were a salvation in a life that didn't deserve one. I...I told your brother once... I didn't want to die who I am. I wanted to live long enough to be someone else. You've given me that. You've made me a man that...I think my parents would be proud to call their son.
"Lady Vex'ahlia, you are my heart, and my judgement, and the future that I have chosen. To the people who look to our house to guide and protect, to lead and to serve. I have given into your trust my city and all the troubles and struggle that comes with it. You rise to every challenge with grace. The title I gave you means...nothing and everything, just as what I offer you now. Marriage...in this context, is not just to me, but to all of Whitestone.
"The true secret of nobility is that it is the woman who holds the titles that gives them meaning. We aren't special or wise because of our birth, but are called to make nobility mean something. And there is no one in any plane of existence that I believe is more deserving or worthy, than you.
"I love you. I will spend the rest of my days trying to be a better man, the man you make me want to be. With you by my side, I have...hope in that future.
"I, Percival Frederickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the Third, pledge my heart and my future to you. For as long as Whitestone stands."
Words were said, important words about lives joined, the joys and hardships they would have to face, together, and Vex heard them – mostly, sort of, she got the idea – there with her hands in Percy's, her gaze holding his, and her heart like a too full chalice about to spill over. Then she realized they were expecting her to say something, and that too full heart chased all the words from her head.
Thank the gods, Percy, her clever clever Percy, found his voice. Her hands tightened around his, eyes sparkling when his first words brought back memories of the feywild and all that had happened since. From there he proceeded to break her heart and fortify it all at the same time. These words, she would never forget, nor the look in his eyes as he gave his heart, his future, and his hope to her.
She could feel the prick of tears gathering by the time he finished, and she blinked, refusing to let them fall. Tears of joy, but even now, some things the instinct to hide from strangers was strong, and she had not forgotten Juliran and Xzav were there. And now she had to find words to tell Percy what he meant to her, She prayed to any god she thought would listen. The feywild. Percy had started with the feywild.
"In my father's house, in my least favorite city in the all the worlds, deep in the feywild, you gave me a precious gift," she began, understanding the weak, uncertain smile Percy had worn now it was on her face. "And it's not what you think. Well, it is, but not the way you think. It is not about the title. Although I really love having and being called by a title." He loved her, she reminded herself, loved her the way she was, and not for who she thought she should be. "Because what you really gave me that day, was a home. A legacy. You once said you live as long as Whitestone lives, and you made me a part of that. Part of your city, part of what you hold dearest. And you made Whitestone a part of me.
"If that was all I could ever have of you, I would have made it enough. But my heart was already yours, darling. I cannot point to one moment and say I did not love you then and the next I loved you, but I love you and cannot imagine my life without you and that love any more. That you would make me a part of your legacy, your future... That is a gift so precious I could not have let myself hope for it."
Damn it. There were those tears again, threatening to spill over, and she had to pause, take a breath and steady herself in his gaze before she could finish. "I, Vex'ahlia, dubbed by you the Baroness of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt, pledge my heart and our future to you. For as long as Whitestone stands."
Xzav's little flat screen device beeped loudly. "Recorded," the Mikei noted, with twitching ears and a switching tail that, were the little creature anything like the cat it resembled, Percy would have said was an attempt to look aggressively not interested in a very interesting thing indeed.
Juliran took the device from Xrav and held it out to Percy and Vex. "Your joining is witnessed and recorded. Provide your genetic mark and state your name as proof and seal."
It wasn't, "you may kiss the bride" but Percy was pretty sure it served the same purpose. He extracted one hand from Vex's and placed it palm down on the device. "Lord Percival Frederickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the Third." A bright light, a sudden and momentary sting of heat and then another beep. He drew his hand back. "It bites," he said in warning to Vex.
Forewarned, Vex placed her hand on the device as Percy had done. "Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo," she pronounced, with only the slightest pause, not even a breath, before his name that was now hers as well. She was distracted from the bright and burn of the device by the realization she liked how that sounded – Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo – how it felt in her mouth, and in her heart. She looked to Percy. How did he feel, hearing it for the first time? What she saw there felt better than the name itself, and her smile – probably ridiculously sappy, but if she couldn't be heartstruck on her wedding day, when could she? – took on a wicked tint. "You may now kiss the bride."
Percy was not one for public displays of affection, and yet if one could not kiss one's wife - dear gods, wife - on one's wedding day, what was the point? Besides, he could not possibly deny the dare in her perfectly insouciant smile. He drew her into his arms for the traditional, ceremonial and necessary kiss. It shouldn't have been any different than the hundreds - thousands - of times he'd kissed her before. But before he'd never kissed Lady de Rolo.
They weren't going to have a second chance at this, their first kiss as husband and wife, as Lord and Lady de Rolo. Yes, there had been something of a dare in the invitation, but she wasn't going to let them miss this opportunity. This wasn't the moment, and certainly not the place, for her to kiss Percy the way she wanted. That would come once they were home and behind closed doors. But it was full of love, and amazement, that they had taken this step. Deal made, contract witnessed, and sealed with a kiss.
It was dizzying perfection, as heady as the Courage. Even polite enough for company, the sheer joy of kissing Vex was enough to drive all thought from Percy's head, leaving just one behind. There was another de Rolo.
He drew back, smiling with amazement and wonder. "We actually did it."
"We did." Oh gods, they had actually done it.
Xzav looked from Percy to Vex and back, the twitching tail slowing to something more content. "Felicit–" The sound of a chime as someone entered the establishment sent Juliran hurrying from the alcove to greet them, leaving Xzav to finish with a slight bow of its head, "ations on your union," before following after Juliran.
"Well, I suppose that's us done, then." Vex barely glanced after the two as they left, and why would she? "What now, husband?" Oh, she liked that. Husband. "Back to the inn, or shall we honeymoon here in this strange place?"
"Well, wife." And he grinned, matching the light in her eyes. "I think it's time for me to treat you to a wonderful dinner."
~*~*~
The dinner had been, as promised, wonderful. Largely unfamiliar, compared to dishes from Exandria or the inn, but wonderful. After the meal, and a walk along one of the viewing portals that looked out on an endless night sky filled with foreign stars, Vex and Percy returned to the inn. They had so many firsts to experience now as husband and wife, their wedding night perhaps the most important. Or at least the most important tonight.
Not taking her eyes from Percy's, Vex pulled her key from where she had tucked it into her bra and inserted it into the locking mechanism, listening for the quiet beep that accompanied the door unlocking. No beep. She raised the card up again, and looking this time, tried again. Again no beep, and now she could see the light didn't change. A third time, frown forming a thin line between her eyebrows, and she tested the handle anyway. "Try yours, darling. Something seems to be the matter with my key."
With a similar frown, Percy drew his own version of the keycard to Vex's door from his belt and slipped it into the lock. No response. Again...and still the same. "Perhaps something happened to them while we were on the station?" He slipped his arm through hers. "Let's stop by the front desk and have them reactivated."
That made sense, although if everyone's keycards were damaged on the station, Darryl was going to be very busy. Her arm in Percy's – she was going to enjoy the subtle contact while it lasted – Vex tried not to be annoyed by the temporary obstacle. She flipped her keycard across the fingers of her free hand as they made the walk back to the main building, and when Darryl wasn't at the desk when they arrived, she found herself drumming her fingers on the surface as they waited. She made herself stop by tucking her hand behind her back, the posture making her look even more like a de Rolo.
"There seems to be a problem with the keys to my room."
Darryl accepted the keycard back and swiped it through his machine. A few moments later, he looked up. "No problem, Lady de Rolo. Your key has been updated for your new room." As he did with any new arrival, he placed the keycard into a paper sleeve and handed it back. "Harvard Square, room 122. And may I say, congratulations. Do you need more towels?"
He knew already. How could he know? Nobody knew, and they had only just gotten back to the inn. Vex's eyes widened in surprise and she turned to Percy expecting the same shock from him. Her "thank you," to Darryl was distracted, but she reasserted herself quickly. "No towels, thank you. Percival will need his key updated as well, and I'll need a spare one for my brother." She still had to figure out how to tell Vax they had gotten married. The last thing she wanted was for him to find out from the desk clerk.
"Of course, ma'am." He reached for a blank card and swiped it through the machine with one hand, holding the other out to take Percy's and do the same. Both cards were placed in the narrow paper sleeves and slid across the desk. "Please let us know if we can assist with anything else in future. Lord de Rolo. Lady de Rolo. And have a good night."
"Thank you, good man." Percy accepted his key gravely, then took Vex's arm again, wrapping it securely about his. "You heard the man, Lady de Rolo. He wants us to have a good night. What say you to getting a couple bottles of the finest champagne this hotel has and exploring our new room?"
"You have such brilliant ideas, darling." Her other hand came up to curl over the one wrapped around his arm. "I adore your mind. Champagne would be lovely." She waited until they were out of Darryl's earshot before adding, "We do need to thoroughly explore the new room. Especially the bed."
Percy felt like a bear at the honey festival on the massive technological fortress. Everywhere he looked, he saw things that he did not understand but could with study and logic. He had come along with Vex to do some shopping (her bag of colding full of ice and her haggling ability had netted them what seemed like a reasonable number of the local currency) but he was continually distracted by new wonders. "Vex, look there. That little automaton is guarding the corridor!" At least, he assumed that was the reason for the flat round disc with the knife secured to the top. It had a rank stripe on it after all.
Vex had almost forgotten how good it felt to negotiate with merchants and walk out feeling she'd gotten the better end of the deal, but if there'd been no trade to do, it would have been worth visiting this strange world for the chance to be with Percy as he explored technology beyond his imagination but not his potential understanding. It was rather cute, his excitement at every new discovery. She turned her attention from the market stall with beads and ribbons to the small guardian who'd piqued Percy's curiosity. "Do you think that's entirely wise?" she asked. The blade looked plenty sharp enough, and at a height to lame someone if they were unlucky and unobservant enough to feel its bite.
"I'm sure they've thought of proper precautions. This place is brilliant. Just brilliant!" They were gathering strange looks, but then, they had been since they arrived. Humans and half-elves were apparently quite unknown in this place. It was rather like visiting Dis in that way. Percy darted across the way from the store they'd just exited and over to examine the automaton. It bumped into a wall, spun in place and set off purposefully in the opposite direction. Percy followed. "I wonder where its master is."
It didn't look like there were any precautions taken, just a rolly automaton with a bare blade attached. But there was a lot about this place Vex couldn't hope to understand. "Maybe the broom would be a good idea if we're going to follow it." Keep ankles out of the level of attack. "If it's a guardian, it might decide we're a threat." Although the broom would draw even more attention than they were already. "Can you see how it works? Without taking it apart."
Percy sent a glance toward Vex, acknowledging that he did, in fact, really want to take it apart. "If I were to observe it long enough, I suppose. I've never seen anything like it." Even the Inn with all its gadgets, didn't have anything that traveled about on its own. "If I could pick it up for a moment..." He crept closer as the device bounced off another wall and redirected down a side hall. It was quieter here, more of a side street than the main thoroughfare they'd just been on.
Of course he wanted to take it apart, and Vex smiled fondly at his glance, before keeping an eye on everything around them. The people here really didn't like outsiders, and humans and half-elves both qualified. "It doesn't seem to move that quickly," pick it up if you want to, "but as you said, we don't know where its master might be, or how they would feel about you manhandling their invention. Purely out of scientific curiosity."
"Was tampering with security on that list of capital crimes they made us watch before we entered the station?" It might be worth it, otherwise. Percy acknowledged that he occasionally lacked impulse control when it came to being clever. The automaton turned into an open doorway. A moment later, someone yelped in pain.
"If not, I'm sure they could find some way to make it one." They would simply have to be stealthy about it, if Percy was going to make a project of the device. That was all. At the yelp, Vex turned, giving him a look that didn't need to say I told you so. "Beware the ankle biters. They will make you pay." It wasn't until after she'd said it she realized what that could sound like. Must have been because she was shopping with Kash and Zahra's baby-to-be in mind.
"So my mother always said," Percy murmured in reply, because he'd heard the meaning too. The device trundled out again, its knife streaked green. The races here had rather non-standard bodily fluids. Percy looked up at the shop, thoughtfully. "What do you suppose they sell here?" Unification and Cohabitation, the sign read in steady humming blue sigils.
Many of the signs here were a mystery. They seemed to be written in Common, but the phrasing was as foreign and unfamiliar as the rest of the station. "Some kind of home goods, perhaps? Let's go in and see. The room could use a few things to personalize it more." Especially as Darryl seemed unwilling to give Vex the larger room she'd asked for. Not waiting for Percy's agreement, Vex stepped through the entryway and into a space that... did not seem to display any goods for sale at all.
One of the small, furry inhabitants of the station came forward to meet her. "Greetings. Greetings to you both. Have you come for a joining?"
Vex turned to Percy, one eyebrow rising in confusion, before returning her attention to the Gunnii. "We were curious about your establishment. We've heard so many good things, of course."
Percy lifted a finger and rubbed his lips thoughtfully as he examined the space. It was mostly open, just a few scattered groupings of seating arrangements in curved alcoves to fill the space. It reminded him a bit of the temple he was designing for Vax and Pike. One central purpose expressed in different ways. He kept his mouth shut on his observations and let Vex work. She was far better at this than he.
The Gunnii seemed pleased, its fur fluffing then settling again into a sleek smugness. "We're certified, authorized to join any approved grouping in an appropriate fashion. All binding of course. Our license is on file with station enforcement and Asphodel is rated with two hundred reciprocal governments."
From one of the alcoves, a voice like a purr proceeded its owner. "At least we were the last time Asphodel made contact with them." A slender Mikei with grey and black stripes joined the Gunnii. It was holding a flat piece of metal that reminded Percy of a larger version of what Stephanie referred to as her cell.
As the two aliens talked, the meaning of 'Unification and Cohabititation' became clear, a realization Vex mostly kept off her face other than a widening of her eyes she tried and probably failed to pass off as interest and approval. Had Percy...? "That all sounds very proper and official. You must be proud of your work," she commended them to cover for the thoughts darting through her mind faster than she could organize them. "If you would excuse us for just a moment?"
Her haggling had gotten rather involved with that merchant, over a tool Percy had explained cut with light. The desire in his eyes had been reminiscent of Vex in a treasury, and was all the incentive she'd needed to do her best to come out on top in the negotiation. It was possible Percy had slipped away to explore ahead a short distance without her noticing. "Percy, darling," she called, her hand coming to rest on his arm, before switching to Elvish, "did you plan this?"
Percy had been trying to get a look at the flat thing the Mikei had and not paying so much attention to the conversation. But he did know the answer to Vex's question. He replied in the same language, though his Elvish was rustier than hers. "I've planned nothing. We were following the guardian device." He gestured in the direction the thing had gone. "What are they selling?"
Oh, Percival. She did love him, and his curiosity. It was worth coming to the station simply to watch him discover so many new things. On the other hand, he might could have paid a bit more attention to the people now. "Selling? Nothing. Weddings, Percival. They do weddings here. Official in over two hundred lands, weddings."
He looked a bit like Trinket had smacked him in the head. "They what?" He looked over at the waiting duos and back at Vex. "Well, that's, um. Ah. Two hundred?"
The Gunnii and the Mikei exchanged a knowing look. The young lovers were not the first who had had second thoughts once they found themselves in the chapel. They stepped further away and into a quiet discussion of something on the Mikei's device to give Vex and Percy illusion of more space.
"Yes, darling. Focus on the bureaucratic questions, instead of the fact we wandered into a some kind of wedding business." Vex looked at the proprieter, then toward the door, and back to Percy. "We should go, right? We should thank them for their time, tell them they have a lovely shop, and just go."
"We should." But his eyes drifted back to the officiants. "Whitestone isn't one of those lands." Though as the Lord of Whitestone, his very presence made it law. It was legal if he said it was. "Besides, you haven't asked."
"You're a de Rolo. You are Whitestone." He'd made her a Baroness while they were in Syngorn within the Feywild. He could make marriage vows legal. If that was his only objection. If. They had agreed, no ceremony would change what they were to each other. "If I asked, would you say yes?"
"I...am." Percy swallowed, wished for Courage. He said it arrogantly before. Said it with confidence - that he lived as long as Whitestone lived. He'd thought they were the last then, he and Cassandra. "Is this how you would want to do it? Get married? Your brother would kill us. Me. He'd kill me."
"He won't kill you. We have the earrings." Of course she wanted her brother here if they were going to do this. She wasn't going to call him unless she knew they were going through with it, though. He would never let them hear the end of it if he found out they had wandered into a wedding service and then chickened out.
She loved Percy. Vax was the other half of her being, but Percy had her heart. She wanted to spend her life with him. She wanted to raise little quarter-elf de Rolos and carry on a legacy the Briarwoods did everything in their power to wipe out. And now they were here, she wasn't sure she wanted to wait. "And neither of us want the fuss of a wedding organized by Caroline." Dinner for Winter's Crest had been lovely. A wedding would be far too much.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Vex went down on one knee and looked up at the man she loved, taking his hand in hers. "Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III, Lord of Whitestone, will you do me the honor of taking me as your bride?"
Percy looked down at Vex, stunned but at the same time not. He'd practically dared her to do exactly this and she was always a step ahead of him anyway. Of course she was the one to propose. He would have. In a moment or so. Instead, he drew her up off her knees to stand facing him. "You are Lady Vex'ahlia, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Gray Hunt. You kneel to no one." He covered her hand with his other. "I would be honored to have you as my bride."
When he answered, love in his eyes where they met hers, the knot of insecurity, of not good enough slipped a notch looser, and Vex let out a breath she hadn't noticed she was holding. They were going to do this, then, and without a drop of Courage between them. She gave him a Wink, one that was only for Percy. "If this isn't how you want to do this, darling, we can wait. I know this isn't what it would be in Whitestone."
"It's exactly what it would be in Whitestone. Insane and quickly done before either of us come to our senses and you realize it's a terrible idea to tie yourself to me." He kissed her forehead. "I'll arrange the ceremony. See if the others are nearby."
If Percy ever truly believed he wasn't terrible for Vex, she would consider it a miracle. She knew their love made them better together, so she let the comment pass. He probably wasn't wrong about what their wedding would have looked like, though. Neither of them would want the fuss of an official court function, or the long period of planning that would be involved before they could exchange vows. She smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles before releasing his hand.
Oh sweet Sarenrae, they were going to do this. Vex stepped outside the door. It wasn't necessary in order for the earrings to function, but sometimes the pearls picked up all the nearby sounds, and she didn't want her brother or Pike to get a hint of why she was calling them until they arrived. She reached up to activate the earring's magic. "Brother?... Oh, Vax'ildan," she singsonged, then waited for a reply. None came "If you can hear me, you're going to be very angry at yourself if you don't answer."
Still no answer, but while pondering how long she should keep trying – it felt wrong doing this without her brother by her side – Vex saw another of the small round automatons that had so entranced Percy. Although with no knife attached this time. She stood completely still and watched as it rolled right up to her, bumping into her boots and turning to go another direction. She quickly glanced all around; no one was paying her any attention, and before the little creature... device... thing could trundle out of reach, she scooped it up and tucked it into her Bag of Colding where no one could retrieve it who didn't expect it to be there. She'd needed a groom's gift. This would be perfect.
"Vax? Pike?" she tried once more, fearing the station was too large for anyone to be within range. Assuming they were on the station at all. They could be back at the inn. But Percy and Vex were here now. The thought of waiting, it was like asking for some terrible attack or the portal to close, so they couldn't get back here. Now, while they were here was better.
While Vex sought their family, Percy went over to the two beings that ran the place. They stopped pretending to look at their device and gave him pleasant, expectant looks. "You perform marriages here?" It wasn't precisely a question but he appreciated the nod from the Mikei nonetheless. "How does one arrange that with you? We are...interested in a simple, elegant ceremony."
Had this been Whitestone, he'd have had to justify a private ceremony. As the Lord of the city, it was a matter of morale and duty for him to share this marriage with his people. In some ways, he was grateful for the chance to escape that circus. He did wish that Cassandra could attend.
"We can certainly arrange that for you. Please, come sit." The duo introduced themselves as Juliran and Xzav, and led him to a side desk and in short order with a few deft questions, soon presented him with a tailored ceremony that was, Xzav, who apparently handled the legal aspects, assured him, perfectly binding, no matter what his origin was. Before Vex returned, Percy agreed and paid. He loved her haggling nature but her wedding was not the place for it.
Vex went back inside, shaking her head. "I couldn't reach anyone." Drawn to the man she was about to marry, it was easier for that not to hurt. She joined them at the desk, standing beside Percy and resting a hand on his very fine shoulder. She bit at her lip, uncertain but hopeful when she added, "Except Trinket, of course. He can be here with us, can't he?"
"I don't see that he could be anywhere else. He has as much right to be here as anyone," Percy said firmly, taking Vex's hand. Given the startling range of life around here, there was no reason for the natives to suspect that Trinket wouldn't ordinarily be welcomed in a chapel. He didn't even know if they would understand what a wild bear was. And Trinket was well-behaved enough to attend the ceremony without issue, unless Vex ordered him otherwise. "These good folk have informed me that they are ready to perform the ceremony right now, if you want to bring him out."
Having Trinket here was important, especially with Vax unable to be found. More important was Percy knowing her and accepting Trinket as part of their lives. She clasped her necklace, black spilling from it and coalescing into her beloved bear. "Hello, Trinket dear." She nuzzled her forehead against his. If the officiants had any qualms about his sudden appearance, she neither cared nor noticed. "Percy and I have a very important job for you. You're going to be our Bear of Honor and witness, so best behavior, all right?"
Trinket was an honorable bear, and he was Vex's. He didn't really know what Vex meant, but whatever she wanted, he would do it. He snuffled at her braid, then shook himself to stand proud and ready and waiting for what happened next.
The two non-humans (Percy's brain argued with that categorization immediately, he was the only full human here) exclaimed as Trinket's massive form took shape. It was surprise without fear. Maybe they should have warned them what to expect? Oh well, what's done was done. Percy kept a straight face while Vex greeted Trinket and explained to him what was about to take place. His lack of reaction seemed to help their hosts.
"This way, please." Juliran, the Gunnii who administered the ceremonies, bowed deeply and gestured toward an alcove. From Percy's reading of the offerings, this was the closest to the wedding ceremony that they had back at home, tailored presumably from the questionnaire he'd filled out.
They probably should have warned the others about Trinket before Vex let him out. But they didn't look scared or worse, like they wanted to hurt him, so Vex continued on as if his sudden appearance was the most normal thing, which to Vex and Percy, and Trinket, it had become. Vex carded her fingers through Trinket's scruff as they turned to follow Juliran, starting to be a bit nervous and not wanting to show it. No second thoughts, though. This was the right thing to do, and the right time to do it. If only Vax were here. She met Percy's eyes, love in hers, and offered a hint of a smile.
Percy took her hands, faced her squarely. Even behind his glasses, he knew he looked dazzled, wondering how this was going to go wrong, as all good things in his life inevitably did. He scarcely heard Juliran running through the admonishments and responsibilities of their new relationship. There was more, of course, that Juliran couldn't have known, the weight of Whitestone, the complications of their families.
"On Asphodel Station, the weight of joining falls upon those who come to seek it. Make your statements of joining now, before honest citizens in good standing."
Now? Oh gods, Juliran meant now. They were looking at him, or maybe at her, but they were waiting. Percy took a deep breath, tightened his hands on Vex's and said the first thing that came to mind.
"Life...needs things to live." He smiled, a thin, watery, nervous smile. "It needs tending. It needs light. It needs a purpose and nourishment.
"For years, I've been chasing death and revenge. When my family was killed, I thought...there was no other way forward. I should have been dead then. It seemed only right to devote myself to righting that failure, in any way I could. For years, that was the only thing I could see. The only thing that mattered was doing whatever it took, being whoever I had to be, in order to make the world a place that someone like myself couldn't survive in.
"There was a moment -- do you remember when we met? -- that I...I thought I had died in that prison. Was dying. And this...you, was my mind making up fever dreams about what it might be like...to have friends, adventures, a beautiful woman that I... You've always been my dream. From the first moment, you were a salvation in a life that didn't deserve one. I...I told your brother once... I didn't want to die who I am. I wanted to live long enough to be someone else. You've given me that. You've made me a man that...I think my parents would be proud to call their son.
"Lady Vex'ahlia, you are my heart, and my judgement, and the future that I have chosen. To the people who look to our house to guide and protect, to lead and to serve. I have given into your trust my city and all the troubles and struggle that comes with it. You rise to every challenge with grace. The title I gave you means...nothing and everything, just as what I offer you now. Marriage...in this context, is not just to me, but to all of Whitestone.
"The true secret of nobility is that it is the woman who holds the titles that gives them meaning. We aren't special or wise because of our birth, but are called to make nobility mean something. And there is no one in any plane of existence that I believe is more deserving or worthy, than you.
"I love you. I will spend the rest of my days trying to be a better man, the man you make me want to be. With you by my side, I have...hope in that future.
"I, Percival Frederickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the Third, pledge my heart and my future to you. For as long as Whitestone stands."
Words were said, important words about lives joined, the joys and hardships they would have to face, together, and Vex heard them – mostly, sort of, she got the idea – there with her hands in Percy's, her gaze holding his, and her heart like a too full chalice about to spill over. Then she realized they were expecting her to say something, and that too full heart chased all the words from her head.
Thank the gods, Percy, her clever clever Percy, found his voice. Her hands tightened around his, eyes sparkling when his first words brought back memories of the feywild and all that had happened since. From there he proceeded to break her heart and fortify it all at the same time. These words, she would never forget, nor the look in his eyes as he gave his heart, his future, and his hope to her.
She could feel the prick of tears gathering by the time he finished, and she blinked, refusing to let them fall. Tears of joy, but even now, some things the instinct to hide from strangers was strong, and she had not forgotten Juliran and Xzav were there. And now she had to find words to tell Percy what he meant to her, She prayed to any god she thought would listen. The feywild. Percy had started with the feywild.
"In my father's house, in my least favorite city in the all the worlds, deep in the feywild, you gave me a precious gift," she began, understanding the weak, uncertain smile Percy had worn now it was on her face. "And it's not what you think. Well, it is, but not the way you think. It is not about the title. Although I really love having and being called by a title." He loved her, she reminded herself, loved her the way she was, and not for who she thought she should be. "Because what you really gave me that day, was a home. A legacy. You once said you live as long as Whitestone lives, and you made me a part of that. Part of your city, part of what you hold dearest. And you made Whitestone a part of me.
"If that was all I could ever have of you, I would have made it enough. But my heart was already yours, darling. I cannot point to one moment and say I did not love you then and the next I loved you, but I love you and cannot imagine my life without you and that love any more. That you would make me a part of your legacy, your future... That is a gift so precious I could not have let myself hope for it."
Damn it. There were those tears again, threatening to spill over, and she had to pause, take a breath and steady herself in his gaze before she could finish. "I, Vex'ahlia, dubbed by you the Baroness of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt, pledge my heart and our future to you. For as long as Whitestone stands."
Xzav's little flat screen device beeped loudly. "Recorded," the Mikei noted, with twitching ears and a switching tail that, were the little creature anything like the cat it resembled, Percy would have said was an attempt to look aggressively not interested in a very interesting thing indeed.
Juliran took the device from Xrav and held it out to Percy and Vex. "Your joining is witnessed and recorded. Provide your genetic mark and state your name as proof and seal."
It wasn't, "you may kiss the bride" but Percy was pretty sure it served the same purpose. He extracted one hand from Vex's and placed it palm down on the device. "Lord Percival Frederickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the Third." A bright light, a sudden and momentary sting of heat and then another beep. He drew his hand back. "It bites," he said in warning to Vex.
Forewarned, Vex placed her hand on the device as Percy had done. "Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo," she pronounced, with only the slightest pause, not even a breath, before his name that was now hers as well. She was distracted from the bright and burn of the device by the realization she liked how that sounded – Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo – how it felt in her mouth, and in her heart. She looked to Percy. How did he feel, hearing it for the first time? What she saw there felt better than the name itself, and her smile – probably ridiculously sappy, but if she couldn't be heartstruck on her wedding day, when could she? – took on a wicked tint. "You may now kiss the bride."
Percy was not one for public displays of affection, and yet if one could not kiss one's wife - dear gods, wife - on one's wedding day, what was the point? Besides, he could not possibly deny the dare in her perfectly insouciant smile. He drew her into his arms for the traditional, ceremonial and necessary kiss. It shouldn't have been any different than the hundreds - thousands - of times he'd kissed her before. But before he'd never kissed Lady de Rolo.
They weren't going to have a second chance at this, their first kiss as husband and wife, as Lord and Lady de Rolo. Yes, there had been something of a dare in the invitation, but she wasn't going to let them miss this opportunity. This wasn't the moment, and certainly not the place, for her to kiss Percy the way she wanted. That would come once they were home and behind closed doors. But it was full of love, and amazement, that they had taken this step. Deal made, contract witnessed, and sealed with a kiss.
It was dizzying perfection, as heady as the Courage. Even polite enough for company, the sheer joy of kissing Vex was enough to drive all thought from Percy's head, leaving just one behind. There was another de Rolo.
He drew back, smiling with amazement and wonder. "We actually did it."
"We did." Oh gods, they had actually done it.
Xzav looked from Percy to Vex and back, the twitching tail slowing to something more content. "Felicit–" The sound of a chime as someone entered the establishment sent Juliran hurrying from the alcove to greet them, leaving Xzav to finish with a slight bow of its head, "ations on your union," before following after Juliran.
"Well, I suppose that's us done, then." Vex barely glanced after the two as they left, and why would she? "What now, husband?" Oh, she liked that. Husband. "Back to the inn, or shall we honeymoon here in this strange place?"
"Well, wife." And he grinned, matching the light in her eyes. "I think it's time for me to treat you to a wonderful dinner."
The dinner had been, as promised, wonderful. Largely unfamiliar, compared to dishes from Exandria or the inn, but wonderful. After the meal, and a walk along one of the viewing portals that looked out on an endless night sky filled with foreign stars, Vex and Percy returned to the inn. They had so many firsts to experience now as husband and wife, their wedding night perhaps the most important. Or at least the most important tonight.
Not taking her eyes from Percy's, Vex pulled her key from where she had tucked it into her bra and inserted it into the locking mechanism, listening for the quiet beep that accompanied the door unlocking. No beep. She raised the card up again, and looking this time, tried again. Again no beep, and now she could see the light didn't change. A third time, frown forming a thin line between her eyebrows, and she tested the handle anyway. "Try yours, darling. Something seems to be the matter with my key."
With a similar frown, Percy drew his own version of the keycard to Vex's door from his belt and slipped it into the lock. No response. Again...and still the same. "Perhaps something happened to them while we were on the station?" He slipped his arm through hers. "Let's stop by the front desk and have them reactivated."
That made sense, although if everyone's keycards were damaged on the station, Darryl was going to be very busy. Her arm in Percy's – she was going to enjoy the subtle contact while it lasted – Vex tried not to be annoyed by the temporary obstacle. She flipped her keycard across the fingers of her free hand as they made the walk back to the main building, and when Darryl wasn't at the desk when they arrived, she found herself drumming her fingers on the surface as they waited. She made herself stop by tucking her hand behind her back, the posture making her look even more like a de Rolo.
"There seems to be a problem with the keys to my room."
Darryl accepted the keycard back and swiped it through his machine. A few moments later, he looked up. "No problem, Lady de Rolo. Your key has been updated for your new room." As he did with any new arrival, he placed the keycard into a paper sleeve and handed it back. "Harvard Square, room 122. And may I say, congratulations. Do you need more towels?"
He knew already. How could he know? Nobody knew, and they had only just gotten back to the inn. Vex's eyes widened in surprise and she turned to Percy expecting the same shock from him. Her "thank you," to Darryl was distracted, but she reasserted herself quickly. "No towels, thank you. Percival will need his key updated as well, and I'll need a spare one for my brother." She still had to figure out how to tell Vax they had gotten married. The last thing she wanted was for him to find out from the desk clerk.
"Of course, ma'am." He reached for a blank card and swiped it through the machine with one hand, holding the other out to take Percy's and do the same. Both cards were placed in the narrow paper sleeves and slid across the desk. "Please let us know if we can assist with anything else in future. Lord de Rolo. Lady de Rolo. And have a good night."
"Thank you, good man." Percy accepted his key gravely, then took Vex's arm again, wrapping it securely about his. "You heard the man, Lady de Rolo. He wants us to have a good night. What say you to getting a couple bottles of the finest champagne this hotel has and exploring our new room?"
"You have such brilliant ideas, darling." Her other hand came up to curl over the one wrapped around his arm. "I adore your mind. Champagne would be lovely." She waited until they were out of Darryl's earshot before adding, "We do need to thoroughly explore the new room. Especially the bed."