Hearts of White Stone

by NimTheWitch

Summary:

ON HIATUS PENDING MAJOR RESTRUCTURING

Captain Senora Navad had no reason to believe that this banquet would be any different from the hundreds of others she'd managed to worm her way into. That changed when she caught a flicker of white out of the corner of her eye and saw a ghost standing across the ballroom, looking for all the world like he was alive. Lord Percival Frederickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III, all grown up, and very real.

With the name Vox Machina swirling around the city the next day, she knew what she had to do. She was seeking revenge, and to get it she would need to figure out who she really was. Who better to help her figure that out than her oldest friend, and her first love. Her lips tingled with the memory of her first kiss, given to her just before she slipped over the high wall of the back garden at Whitestone Castle, a promise broken, or maybe just delayed...

Chapter 1: Reintroductions

"Are you sure this is wise Cap'n.?" Byron, her first mate, had been trying to slow her down all morning. First, he was making sure she actually meant to land in Emon. Next, he was second-guessing her decision to defy Uriel's command to leave Vox Machina to their own devices while under house arrest. Now, they were at the door to the keep, and he was still questioning her. Senora was a lenient Captain. She liked her crew to feel comfortable voicing their thoughts and opinions, but even her patience had its limits. It was too late to turn back now anyway. The guards had already been either bribed or incapacitated, Vox Machina's property had already been retrieved, and she was steps away from seeing him again. There was no backing out, not for her.

 

"Byron, I appreciate your concern and I acknowledge that this is a risky venture, but I need you to trust me. This is about more than just our vengeance or my past. I thought...If I'd known that...please, just follow my lead and let me do the talking." She raised her fist and brought it down against the door of the keep in three sharp, heavy thumps. Even on the outside of the thick walls, she could hear the sound echoing into the interior of the building. Now she just had to hope that one of the insane people he'd aligned himself with would come and open the door.

 

She didn’t have to wait long. No more than five minutes had passed before the massive door was creaking open, and a small head was peaking out, looking up at them with a mixture of interest and extreme distrust. She was a gnome, with snow white hair and a scar on her face that gave her a hint of roguish charm. Senora liked her right away.

 

“Greetings, I am Senora Navad, Captain of the Crimson Ghost, and I’ve come to see about hiring your band for a bit of an adventure. I know the good Sovereign has placed your under house arrest, but I thought I would at least stop by and try my luck at asking all the same. May we come in?” She gestured between herself and Byron’s large half orc form just behind her and waited, seeming utterly sure and calm, despite feeling like she was about to vibrate out of her boots. He was in there, somewhere, but it could all still go so wrong if the woman at the door refused them.

 

“Uh..sure, come on in.” It took everything in her not to cheer out loud as the woman stepped aside and allowed them both to step into the gloomy interior of the keep. It looked just as dilapidated on the inside as it did on the outside. Whoever had been responsible for the place’s upkeep before Vox Machina moved it had done a shit job, but it was the people inside the keep that she cared about, one more so than the others.

 

“I’ve run afoul of royalty a time or two myself, it’s annoyingly easy to get on the bad side of a crowned head. You didn’t do anything too terrible to earn Uriel’s ire did you?” She looked down at the gnome that was leading her through the halls, a rakish grin on her face. Her charm was usually just the thing that someone needed to feel at ease, she’d practiced tirelessly to seem approachable and open, but whatever was on the little woman’s mind was apparently a lot bigger than her attempt at conversation.

 

“All but one of us is through there, I’ll try and get Percy out of his shop, but you might have to settle for addressing most of us if I can’t. I’m Pike, by the way, nice to meet you.” The gnome, Pike, smiled up at her, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, and Senora gave her a gentle nod before turning and stepping into what turned out to be the dining room.

 

“Scanlan would you please give it a….good gods, Senora?” She’d just begun to survey the room when a familiar voice pulled her focus to the tall half elven man that, up until a moment ago, had been sitting at the long table. A smile bloomed on her face as she took him in, her heart skipping a beat as memories of long nights on board the Ghost unfolded in her mind.

 

“Vax? I had no idea you were part of this band. How are you?” She didn’t stop to think, simply rushing forward and wrapping the half elf up in a tight hug, which she was happy to note he returned with just as much affection. They’d spent quite a bit of time together in the past, and she was happy to see that he still regarded her as a friend.

 

“We’re fine darling, both of us.” Another set of arms swept in the moment Vax let her go and she couldn’t help the happy giggle that bubbled up out of her as she realized that not one but both twins were there. She should’ve guessed, they were practically attached at the hip after all.

 

“Gods above it is good to see you two!” Her cheeks hurt from smiling as she stepped back and took them both in. The only thing that had changed about them that she could tell was their gear, and maybe a bit more weight around their eyes from whatever it was they’d seen since they parted ways, but the playfulness was still there, and that did her a world of good to see.

 

“Uh, Vax? Who’s uh…who’s this?” A timid voice spoke up from off to their left and it served to remind the trio that they weren’t alone. Byron was still at the door, shoulders shaking with silent laughter, and the rest of Vox Machina was looking on at the odd display with obvious curiosity, and more than a little distrust.

 

“Oh, right, sorry. This is Senora, she’s a deckhand on a sky ship we ran with a few years back. Senora, this is Keyleth of the Air Ashari, Scanlan Shorthalt, and the big guy in the back is Grog, Pike should be along shortly and, with any luck, she’ll bring Percy, though I wouldn’t bet on it.” Vex, ever the smooth operator, stepped in to make introductions, pointing to each person in turn as she named them.

 

“It’s lovely to meet all of you, and uh, it’s actually Captain Senora these days. Ulysses passed a few months back and he left the Ghost to me. That’s part of why I sought you out, though I didn’t know it was you I was seeking at the time. I need your help.” She didn’t let the bad news sit long in the air between them, eager to get things underway now that she knew at least a few of the people she would be traveling with, but the twins were quicker. Vax had just opened his mouth to speak when a gruff voice from the hall drew everyone’s attention.

 

“Yes Pike I’m coming. This had better be good, I am very busy.” The voice was like a shot straight to her heart. It was older now, rougher and deeper than it had been, but it was unmistakable. She was happy that she was facing away from the door, as she was having a very hard time mastering her expression. Tears pricked at her lash line for a moment before she managed to get a hold of herself.

 

Vex looked down at her with a clear question in her eyes, but there was no time to explain before Pike was opening the door to the hall and hurrying in with a very annoyed looking Percy hot on her heels. She drew a breath and the twins could both see something fragile slip away behind her mask of confidence before she turned to address the room at large.

 

“Gods…Se..Senora?” Percy’s whole body was frozen, standing ramrod straight in the doorway with an almost pained expression on his face. The way his voice cracked around her name made her heart ache for a past that seemed like a different life entirely, and it was all she could do to keep her composure as she inclined her head toward him. She could feel two sets of eyes burning questions into the back of her head, but she ignored them in favor of stepping away from the group as a whole, giving herself just a small bit of space to breathe in while she gathered just what she wanted to say.

 

“Hello Percival, I’m glad to see you well. Looks like I know some of you already, for those that I don’t know, I am Captain Senora Navad of the Crimson Ghost, and I have a job for you.”

Chapter 2: Propositions

Summary:

In which things do not go as anticipated

“Captain? Like, of a ship? Oh this I have to hear.” Scanlan situated himself a little more comfortably at the table, turning his body to face her so as not to miss a single syllable of what she’d come to say. Senora was happy for the distraction personally, as it gave her somewhere to look beyond the three sets of almost accusingly desperate eyes that were making her feel like a very small bug under a very big magnifying glass.

 

“Yes, of an airship to be exact. One that I am setting to the business of solving a mystery. Not too long ago, a very bad man took my Captain from me and gave me a challenge. He will fulfill my wish for a duel if I can discover something about myself he thinks I need to know. Since he was the recipient of the challenge, he’s within his rights, and thus I have to uncover whatever it is he wants me to know before I can compel him to fight me. My men are good at sailing and scrapping, but they aren’t explorers. So, what say you? A hefty pay-out and a share in whatever spoils we find along the way sound like fair compensation to help a girl get some revenge?” She rested her hands on her hips as she finished her little speech, pleased with how even keeled she sounded, despite how unmoored she felt inside.

 

There was a moment of silence before Keyleth, Pike, Scanlan, and Grog all turned as one and looked between Vex and Percy. It wasn’t hard to guess who the leaders were, even if the group as a whole probably claimed not to have one, and it made her feel a little better to know that her fate was resting in the hands of people she knew and, at one time, had been very close with.

 

“Before we agree, I would have a word with you, Captain, in the hall, if you please.” Percy stood from the seat he’d taken when his shock had worn off and moved almost mechanically to the door, leaving it open as he walked out into the cavernous corridor. She didn’t know what to make of his tone, or the emphasis he’d put on her title, but she couldn’t very well deny him, not after she came all this way to see him and request his help. She gave the group a good-natured eye roll, which helped dispel a little of the tension as she followed Percy out into the hallway, closing the door behind her.

 

She’d hardly turned all the way around when a weapon was leveled at her head. She recognized it somewhat, having several small canons on her ship, but she’d never seen one so small, and with so many barrels before. It sent a bolt of pure fear through her that had her hand moving before she could think better of it. In a blink, the weapon had been batted away and her sword was in her hand. The ring of steel leaving a scabbard let her know that she’d just made a massive mistake, but she didn’t have time to correct it as Percy went immediately on the attack.

 

Once upon a time, he’d have bested her easily, back when he’d been teaching her as a girl in her spare time between chores, but things had changed a lot since then, and she wasn’t a simple servant girl anymore. For every strike he sent her way, she parried with one of her own. Ultimately, it was the unfamiliar terrain that proved her undoing, a loose stone under her foot sending her down onto her back. Her sword clattered to the floor as she tried to catch herself, barely keeping her head from cracking against the stone floor only to feel the bite of cold steel at her throat.

 

“Percival! What the fuck are you doing!?” Vax’s voice rang out like a crack of thunder in the hallway, stilling the white haired man’s hand just as it had begun to apply a worrying amount of pressure to the skin on her neck. He’d intended to open her up, right there in the keep, without so much as a word. It hurt, she couldn’t have hoped to hide it, but she could understand it. She’d been at the banquet and was aware of what had happened, seeing another face from his past no doubt felt like a trap to him after what those monsters had done.

 

“Cap’n, you good?” Byron’s voice was low and full of threat. It was the new voice that seemed to shake Percival from the last of his rage, bringing sense back to his eyes as he straightened up and sheathed his rapier. He took a measured step away from her, seeming to only now realize that she was really there, and turned back toward his friends, utterly dismissing her.

 

“I’m alright Byron. Just a misunderstanding I’m sure.” She rolled elegantly to her feet and retrieved her cutlass, slipping it back into its sheath with practiced skill that belied just how many times she’d used it. A moment of heavy silence hung in the air as Byron made his way to her and she swallowed, nodding to the twins as a trickle of blood slipped down the column of her throat.

 

“I will take that as an adamant refusal. My crew have taken the liberty of collecting your things from the guards, I’ll have them deposited at the gate. I hope you find a quick end to your troubles friends, and if you ever need to get anywhere in a hurry, do look me up.” She swept her hat from her head and bowed, holding it to her heart as was her habit.

 

“We’ll do it. Where is your ship moored?” The coins and beads in her curly mane jingled softly as she looked up, surprise written all over her face. The was the last thing she’d expected to hear from the man that had just been intent on taking her head, but she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

“Well it isn’t moored, per say, more just waiting. I figured a quick exit would be best, given the fact that you aren’t meant to be leaving. Give the word and we can be skyward in five minutes tops.” There was so much she wanted to say to him, but now wasn’t the time, and in front of all of these people certainly wasn’t the place.

 

“Very good, we’ll be ready shortly, call your ship.” He didn’t turn as he spoke, his back still facing her, but she did all she could to make sure that those who could see her wouldn’t see the hurt that was slowly twisting in her heart. She’d expected a lot of reactions, but this wasn’t one of them. Maybe she’d been wrong to come looking for him after all. Oh well, too late now.

 

“Consider it done. We’ll await you all outside, pack for a long trip.” She didn’t know exactly how she managed to flash her customary grin to the gathered group, but she wasn’t about to question it. The less they saw of her true feelings the better. There was too much history there that wasn’t hers to tell, though she doubted they would be so understanding of Percival’s privacy once she was out of earshot.

 

She turned and led Byron back out of the keep. She needed air, and a chance to drop her mask before she slipped up. Her first mate had questions, she could feel it, and she would be happy to answer what she could, but she didn’t have any better of an explanation than what he could come up with on his own. She didn’t stop moving until they were outside the keep gate, leaning against the worn stone of the outer wall.

 

“What the hell was that back there? You just gave up.” There was an accusation in his words that stung, but he was keeping himself contained, ever the consummate sailor. Unlike most of her crew, Byron had once been part of a legitimate military crew before he was invited into piracy. He’d loosened up a lot since that day, but some things were just too ingrained for him to get rid of. The fact that he could dress her down so thoroughly without actually saying anything, while also signaling the ship to come get them was both impressive and aggravating.

 

“I know, I’m sorry. I just…it’s been ten years since I saw him. I wasn’t ready for it, any of it. Won’t happen again.” She smiled up at him and clapped him on the shoulder, feeling the knot of confusing emotions in her chest loosen just a little. She hated it when Byron was mad at her.

 

“Why did he…I thought you said the two of you were close before you left.” There was worry hidden in the seemingly simple question, worry for her, for the crew, for their mission. He was a master of questioning her without actually questioning her. It was one of his more annoying talents, but one she was grateful for, as it had saved her ass on more than one occasion since she’d taken control of the Ghost.

 

“So did I. Best not to think on it. He said yes, and we get to see Vex and Vax again, which is just as good. Things’ll work out…they have to. Mind helping them on board?” She didn’t wait for him to answer, simply turning and walking to the loading ladder that had unfurled as the ship came to hover a few hundred feet from the wall. The wind the brumestone kicked up blew her coat back and tossed her curls around behind her. She didn’t know it, but it presented quite an impressive image, and it was that image that Vox Machina saw as they arrived at the gate, ready to board and see what this new adventure had in store for them.

Chapter 3: Perspective

Summary:

In which Percy considers the events of the day

Notes:

Am I the only one who hates the holidays? This time of year, and all the craziness and stress it brings with it, can get completely fucked. Anyway, on with the story.

He was such an idiot! How many times had he thought about her in the last decade? How many nights did he wonder if she was alright, if she’d made it somewhere nice? Even when he was deep in thoughts of revenge, avoiding his past like the plague, she was still there. He saw her pretty hazel eyes in the sunflowers that grew in the city and was reminded of her wild curls every time he saw a spiral of ribbon. He’d convinced himself he would never see her again, and the first thing he did was level his pepperbox at her face?!

 

He paced back and forth across the floor of the room he’d been given to share with Vax. The half elf wasn’t speaking to him at the moment, still too furious to trust himself to not start a fight over his behavior back at the Keep, and Percy couldn’t really blame him. He’d had no reason to do what he did. Thinking back on it, he didn’t know why he had. The only thing he could think to explain it was blind panic. After seeing the Briarwoods, facing his past head on and letting his revenge slip through his fingers, another old face had just been too much. His sword hand itched as he remembered the way the edge of his blade had parted her skin so very easily. He’d very nearly…no, he wouldn’t let himself think that, not that, not to her, never to her.

 

“Beg pardon M’Lord de Rolo, Cap’n Navad has arranged for a dinner to be presented tonight in her private dining room. She wanted me to inform you that you don’t have to attend if you’d rather eat in your quarters. She understands that this might be overwhelming for you and doesn’t wish to make you uncomfortable.” The first mate, Byron, had poked his head into the room without making a sound. He was waiting for an answer, that much was obvious, but whether he wanted Percy to stay away or show up was impossible to tell. Did Senora want him to stay away? An image of the poorly concealed happiness that had been in her eyes when she first saw him flashed in his mind and he felt foolish. She wouldn’t have invited him if she didn’t want him there.

 

“Please tell her I will be attending, and convey my apologies for my behavior in the Keep.” The man nodded and his head vanished behind the door as it closed again. The Gunslinger was genuinely surprised that there hadn’t been any threats from the man. He’d nearly decapitated his Captain not an hour ago, but he seemed content to leave it unmentioned. Either he was very confident in his ability to protect Senora, or he was very stupid. Percy knew better than to think Senora would allow an idiot to be her right hand, which meant that he was going to have to be very careful moving forward.

 

“Still pacing? Wearing a hole in the floor won’t make you feel any better darling.” This time he heard the door open and chose to ignore it. He didn’t need yet another earful from either of the twins about his behavior, no matter how deserved it might be. He knew he’d fucked up. What he didn’t know, was how to go about moving forward. There was so much between them and yet it was like looking at a stranger. She was so different than the girl he’d kissed goodbye at the old garden gate outside Whitestone Castle.

 

“No, but nothing short of putting a bullet through the Briarwoods heads will accomplish that, so pace I shall.” He was hoping that being prickly would chase her off as it had done in the past, but this time was different. Instead of leaving, she invited herself into the room and settled on Vax’s bed, letting the silence grow heavier and heavier until he stopped moving and turned to look at her.

 

“She never told us much about her past when we were aboard last time, but she did mention you. Not by name, of course, she seemed to think you were dead at the time so naming you would probably have hurt too much. We heard about quite a few of your exploits back then, I confess I can’t see much of that boy in you now.” There was so much unspoken in those words that made his heart hurt as he felt long buried memories digging themselves out of the graves he’d dug for them.

 

“That boy died with my family. He was too weak to survive this world.” He wanted those words to be completely true, instead of the half truth he was living. It would be easier if the boy he had been was gone, but he wasn’t, not really. He was hidden behind thick layers of scars and distrust, but he was there all the same, and his heart was breaking at the thought of Senora alone, on a ship, surrounded by pirates, mourning him and all they could’ve been together.

 

“Bullshit Percy. I understand the need for revenge, trust me, but you can’t let it eat you up or there’ll be nothing left. Let yourself have a bit of fun alright? We’re on a pirate ship for fuck’s sake, loosen up.” She stood from the bed and rested a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze before vanishing back out the door, leaving him with nothing but the ghost of his memories and a heavy heart.

 

He sat down at the desk in the room and pulled out his sketchbook. He needed to clear his head, and there was no better way to do that than by working. He picked up a pencil and let his hand move across the page. He wasn’t thinking about what he was doing, not really, his mind was too occupied by the woman he never thought he’d see again. She was even more beautiful than he’d imagined she would become. There was a strange grace to her movements that reminded him of a gryphon, feline fluidity with weightless elegance all wrapped up in a long leather coat and a patterned blue corset.

 

There were pins and charms in her hat, hanging down to twinkle and sparkle against the riot of curls that the head maid had always had fits trying to contain. The bandanna she wore beneath it was a beautiful silk, bearing the symbol of his house in rich blues and gold, colors reflected in the beads she wore woven into the braids that streaked through the loose curls around her shoulders and back. She’d become a character from the stories they used to read when he was teaching her how to sound out letters and sentences. She was still herself though, beneath it all. He saw her, the her he remembered, peaking out of her eyes when she saw him, and he watched her retreat, wounded by his actions when he had her pinned to the floor of the Keep. Gods, he was an idiot!

Chapter 4: Social

Summary:

In which our good Captain does a little entertaining and the crew prepares for the promised dinner.

“Percy did that? Really? I can’t even imagine it!” Keyleth giggled as she held her teacup and saucer close to her chest. She’d already almost upset them once with a careless gesture, and had apparently decided to prevent a second instance of clumsiness by just keeping them in her hands at all times.

 

“He was a nightmare of a child, not that I was much better mind you. We got into all kinds of trouble in that castle. I remember once, not long before I left, I fell asleep studying some of the more advanced math that Percy was learning, woke up with ink stains all over my hands, my clothes, and my bedding. I didn’t think the Matron was ever going to stop yelling. She made me wash every single sheet and towel in the whole castle as punishment.” The gathered women fell into a soft roll of laughter at the idea of the swarthy Captain in front of them kneeling over a wash basin, sheets in hand, ink stains on her chubby cheeks.

 

“Now that I can imagine. You’re still terribly clumsy darling.” Vex swirled the wine in her glass as she watched color rise in Senora’s cheeks. She’d missed the girl more than she realized. The months she and her brother had spent aboard the ship had been some of the most fun they’d ever had, and Senora was a large part of that.

 

“Hush you, no pointing out the Captain’s flaws.” Senora stuck her tongue out at Vex, which earned another round of laughter, mostly from Pike, who was reliving some fond memories of her own. She’d never been on an airship before, but she’d apparently spent quite some time aboard a sea faring vessel. To say she was happy to be back in such a familiar setting was an understatement.

 

“I don’t recall that rule. I think you made that up just now.” Vex laughed, shaking her head as the antics of her friend. She wished Vax had come along, but he was attached to the deck with the kind of fascination that only came with memory and the fresh eyes that experience could give a person. He’d been enchanted by the life their first time aboard, and now that he was an honored guest, and not a deck hand, he was living up every second he could get looking down over the world from above.

 

“Ah, but I am the Captain, I can make up whatever rules I want. So there.” Senora giggled as she caught her friend in a bit of circular logic she knew she wouldn’t be able to get out of. She wouldn’t follow the rule, not that it really was one, just like she wouldn’t follow any other rule that didn’t make sense to her. Senora had known that the moment she set eyes on her, but she didn’t mind. Vex was one of the most self controlled people she’d ever met, and she knew at least most of the crew from her last time on the ship. Any rules she broke would be the ones that were mutually agreed upon to be breakable.

 

“So…why did Percy attack you when you came to the keep? Did the two of you not part on friendly terms? I mean, you can’t have been very old at the time. You said you’ve been aboard for almost a decade right? So you would’ve been, what…thirteen, fourteen? I find it hard to believe that a couple of youngsters could have a falling out worthy of the treatment you received today.” Keyleth turned to her tea, using it as an excuse to shut her mouth before it could get her into any more trouble. She hadn’t meant to say so much, but once she got started, it was hard for her to stop, especially if what she wanted to know was of particular interest to her.

 

“Right, that…I wish I knew. When we parted, it was the hardest day of my life. Truth be told, I was falling in love with him, or at least as much as a kid can fall in love. I would’ve been happy to stay, be his little serving girl forever, but the other servants, the male servants, had begun to notice me in ways that were…uncomfortable. He swore he would save me from whatever disgusting things they had in mind and before I knew it, he was at my door with a pouch of coin and a map with a route plotted all the way from Whitestone to Emon. I left that night with nothing but a kiss as a farewell. The next time I saw him was, well, today.” She looked up at the druid, feeling her affable mask crack a little as her eyes began to sting with the threat of tears. She figured this would be a question that came up, but she’d been hoping that it would be after they broke out the rum, not before.

 

“A kiss? Oh, well, that’s um…are you okay?” Pike reached over the small space between their chairs and rested a hand on her arm. It was meant to be comforting, but Senora had never been one for physical touch when she was upset. It made it that much harder to hide what she was feeling, and with the life she led, she couldn’t afford to show that kind of vulnerability, no matter how much she wished she could.

 

“Of course, like I said, it was a long time ago. I doubt he even remembers it. Best to put the whole business out of your mind, no need to dwell on the past eh? Now then, who’s hungry? The table should be just about set by now.” Senora set her cup back on its saucer, leaving the whole set on the tray that Byron had brought in to them as she stood from her chair. She smiled at the gathered women and stepped toward the door, pulling it open and disappearing out into the hall in a billowing flurry of sleeves and bandanna tails.

 

“Poor dear. I hadn’t wanted to say anything last time we were here, seeing as the person she spoke about was dead, but knowing what I know now, her heart must be breaking.” Vex’s voice had taken on that note of concern that was usually reserved for her brother, and it made Keyleth’s heart hurt to think of the pain Senora must be in. She’d never been in love, but she could imagine well enough how much it would break her to have someone like Vex attack her for seemingly no reason. She didn’t know if she would be able to play it off the way the Captain was doing.

 

“I know you and Vax already talked to him about this, but I think I’m gonna go make sure Percy behaves himself before dinner.” Pike hopped down off her chair, vanishing out of the sitting room that was part if the Captain’s suite. It wasn’t far to the guest rooms they’d been given, three rooms at the end of the hall that they’d been able to fill out rather nicely. She bypassed the room she would be sharing with the girls, skipped over the middle room where she could hear Scanlan practicing some kind of sea shanty, and pushed her way into the last room in the row.

 

She looked up, intent on cutting off the white haired Gunslinger before he had a chance to fight back, only to find the room empty. Percy’s sketchbook was out on the desk, open as if he’d just been using it, and she couldn’t help taking a peak at what had been occupying his thoughts. She’d been expecting some weapons designs or schematics, but what she found instead was page after page of sketches, character studies, detailed drawings, all of Senora. Some were of a much younger version of her, probably the last of her that Percy remembered, but most were of how she was now, and they made her look impossibly beautiful.

 

“Hey Pickle, did you need something?” Vax’s voice brought her back to the world, where she was standing and flipping through Percy’s notebook like a little creeper, and she hastily sat it down, closing it and placing something heavy on it to keep herself from taking another peek. It wasn’t her place to see what he’d been drawing, and it wasn’t her place to speculate at what it might mean, no matter how much she may want to.

 

I was just coming to get you guys. Senora said that dinner should be just about ready. Have you seen Percy?” She could see the grin on his face that told her he knew exactly what she’d been doing, but he was kind enough not to mention it. He was no stranger to having a good rummage through their things on occasion, so he was the last person to judge her for doing the same when Percy walked off with the notebook just out and open. He might as well have hung a sign asking them to look through his sketches.

 

“He was with me on deck for a little while, but then he excused himself. Perhaps he went to find the good Captain. Come on, let’s get to the table before Grog helps himself to everything.” The half elf motioned for the little cleric to follow him as he turned and disappeared back into the hallway. She was thankful for the out he offered and took it without question, pulling the door shut behind her.

Chapter 5: Private

Summary:

In which our troublesome twosome share a short, but frank conversation...

Senora could hear her heart beat in her ears as she leaned heavily on her desk. She’d been crying. She hated crying. It never seemed to help anything, and it gave her a headache for hours afterward. Still, she’d needed to let out some of the pain the day had caused her, and it would seem that cleaning the wound Percy had left her with had been just what she needed to finally break through the wall she kept built around her emotions. Several minutes later found her clutching the bloodied rag in one hand while the other held her up away from the polished oak, where a small pool of wetness had gathered as she let her tears fall unheeded.

 

“Get it together Senora. You’re an adult, a Captain for fuck’s sake, you can’t afford to be weeping like a child any longer.” She drew in a calming breath, closing her eyes to try and master herself only to hear the door creak on its hinges and it opened. She hoped it was one of her crew, but she knew it wasn’t, they all knocked first. No, there was only one person that she knew who would just invite themselves into a room, and it was honestly the last person she wanted to see at the moment.

 

“Are you…can I…” His voice was so different, but the halting way he tried to speak was painfully familiar, and she felt a fresh wave of sadness beginning to brim up on her lash line before she could stop it. She cleared her throat, straightening up and trying to blink away the tears before she turned to face him. She knew she’d failed, but she hoped he would at least have the decency to leave it unmentioned.

 

“Hello Percival. Is there something I can do for you?” She hated the way her voice quivered, the way her lip trembled. He’d been her safety when she had none, and she hated that even after ten years and an attempted beheading, he could still pull her emotions out of her without even trying. She wanted so much to go back and redo the day, to not have to live with the image of his rage in her mind, but she couldn’t. The best she could do is try to move forward.

 

“I…no, I was…you’re bleeding. Let me help.” It wasn’t a question. It was never a question. He was her friend, so he would help her. It was the simple logic of a child, but it seemed to have followed him into adulthood. She didn’t even get a chance to respond before he was standing right in front of her, taking the rag from her grip to clean away the fresh blood that had risen to the surface as she vented her emotions to the air.

His motions were quick and precise, practiced and confident in a way they never had been before. It spoke of experience that made her heart hurt all the more for knowing he had been forced to learn how to dress wounds on his own. His life couldn’t have been easy these past five years, but she found herself at a loss as to how to begin talking to him again. She’d tried to be her new self, and that had earned her a fight she didn’t even think to expect. She wasn’t sure she wanted to try anything else.

 

“Thank you…” She cleared her throat, looking anywhere but into the pale green eyes that she’d been longing to see for a decade. Nothing had gone how she’d imagined it would, and she didn’t know how to behave now that the reality of the situation had been shoved rather unceremoniously in her face.

“Senora I…your man Byron…did he…” There was so much in those pauses that he wanted to say, so much that he knew she needed to hear, but he couldn’t bring himself to form the words. He didn’t know how to bridge the gap between what he’d become and the boy she remembered, and with how he’d behaved at the Keep…it was no wonder she didn’t want to look at him.

“Oh, he spoke to you…good…I know this can’t be easy for you and…you don’t have to see me if you don’t want to.” Percy could almost see the way she was withdrawing, curling up inside herself to try and hide the way she was feeling from him. She’d always done it, even after he’d ordered her not to. She’d always put everyone else first, suffering lashings and scoldings all to protect him or his sweet little sister whenever they did something wrong. Watching it now, after so long apart, it made his heart ache.

“Of course I want to…I don’t know what came over me at the Keep…” He could tell, even as he spoke, that his words were being judged and found wanting. He’d left his apology too long. She didn’t believe him. She would accept it, put on a brave face for his sake, but whatever wound he’d dealt her would remain. Gods he’d made such a mess of this.

“It’s alright, I understand. I was at the feast, well, part of it anyway. Pirate Captains are welcomed only so far in high society.” She sniffled softly, pushing a sad little smile to her lips as she slipped out from between him and the edge of her desk. Her heart was breaking with each second that passed, and she needed some semblance of peace if she was going to get herself ready for a dinner with the rest of Percy’s rowdy group.

“I didn’t know…why didn’t you say?” His hand reached out for her as she moved away from him, but it was a poor imitation of an attempt, barely more than a shift of his elbow before he gave up. He just didn’t know how to do this anymore. He couldn’t be vulnerable. That part of him died the day the Briarwoods laid claim to his ancestral home and made him an orphan.

“I was going to, but then they came in and I saw what it did to you and I thought me showing up on top of that would end poorly.” She huffed out a humorless laugh as she gestured vaguely toward her neck. It was a bad attempt at a joke, and it landed with all the grace of a peg legged cat. She was spared any further missteps as Byron poked his head in to tell her everything was ready in the dining room. If he was surprised by Percy’s presence, he didn’t show it, and Senora made a mental note to thank him later.

“I’ll go gather the others. See you at dinner, Captain.” The curt way Percy addressed her felt entirely wrong. She missed the casual ease they’d once had, when he would call her Nora and tell her all the things they would do together once he made her his Lady. A small part of her had hoped they would be able to be that way again, but too much time had passed, and they’d both changed too much.

Chapter 6: Dining

Summary:

In which good food is shared, along with good memories, and the heart of the matter is finally broached.

Senora and her crew rarely made use of the formal dining room on the Ghost. Ulysses, her former Captain, had enjoyed it on the rare occasion he had a high status guest, or when he needed to make an impression on a fellow Captain, but since his passing, all it had done was sit in darkness and gather dust. Walking into it again was a shock, but she couldn’t deny the smile it brought to her face either.

The whole room was handsomely appointed, looking like something out of a bard’s tale. The walls were all dark oak, decorated in all manner of trophies and ill gotten art of every style. One wall was nothing but windows, affording the diners within a breathtaking view of the sky as the sun began to set. The colors painted the room in rainbow hues that caught in the cut crystals that dangled from the sconces around the edges of the room. That same light was caught and refracted into a shower of dancing sparks by the chandelier that sat above the massive oak dining table that dominated the center of the room.

All the fabrics were sumptuous velvet dyed in jewel tones that matched the gems set into the cutlery that surrounded each place setting. The stem of each goblet was similarly adorned, speaking to the authenticity of the gilding around the polished crystal the gems were resting on. The whole room screamed opulence, which had been the point, and the several years long endeavor of the man that had helmed the ship before her. It still made her giggle every time she walked inside.

“Welcome, Vox Machina, to my humble table. Please, sit and be at your ease while we get to know each other just a little bit better.” Senora swept her hat from her head, holding it to her chest as she dropped into a theatrical bow. Her arm swung out wide, welcoming the rather astonished group of adventurers into the frankly overwhelming room. All but Vax and Vex seemed stunned for a moment, standing and looking around the room like they were afraid to move lest they ruin something worth more than they could pay. The twins, ever the opportunists, took shameless advantage of this fact, occupying the seats on either side of the head of the table. It was tradition for the Captain so take that place, and they wanted to make sure they were as close to Senora as possible for when the time came to ask uncomfortable questions.

Senora’s rich laughter served to break at least one other member of the team from their reverie, and Percy was more than a little disappointed to find that he’d missed out on his chance to sit at her side himself. The Captain tossed her hat over onto a banquet, landing it with practiced ease onto a hat form that was adorned with a gaudy curled wig that Byron had brought back as a joke. The twins clapped politely, echoing her laughter, which seemed to break the rest of the team from whatever had captivated them, and within moments, the table was filled out and everyone was getting down to the business of filling their plates.

Senora had taken the customary place at the head of the table, and Grog had taken the place opposite her. It was the only other spot where he would have the room he needed to actually move comfortably, and he would also have no trouble being heard, despite being a good distance away from her. The two gnomes had taken the spots on either side of him, seeming to be the most comfortable in the big man’s company. With the twins at her right and left hand, that put Percy beside Vax and Keyleth beside Vex, which didn’t seem to bother either twin in the slightest.

“So, you two have sailed with Senora before?” Keyleth, despite the clear discomfort it seemed to cause her, took up the responsibility of getting the dinner conversation going. It was a safe enough topic, and one that both of them enjoyed reminiscing about, but Senora could tell that she still felt just a bit embarrassed at having brought it up at all.

“Yes, they did. I wasn’t Captain at the time, I was working my way into my former Captain’s confidence so I could become First Mate, but I did all I could to make sure they had a good time all the same.” Senora looked between the two half elves, grinning at them as all three shared a silent conversation that no one else at the table could quite make sense of.

“You didn’t have to try very hard darling, Ulysses was hardly what I would call a stern Captain. No one who laughed that much could ever be difficult to work under. Honestly, if not for that notice about the job in Stilben, I’m not sure I could’ve gotten Vax off this old tub.” Vex smiled over at her brother as he let out a soft chuckle. It was true, he’d been smitten with the life from the first minute he stepped on board, but his sister had asked for a turn about the wilds and things had gotten rather…complicated after that.

“Most of the crew consider the both of you honorary members anyway. Byron nearly got his head removed for daring to speak against my idea of recruiting you for this little job. He was reluctant to do it, you know how much he adores you Vex, but someone had to be the voice of reason.” Senora let out another smoky laugh, winking at Vax as his sister blushed ever so faintly at the errant bit of praise.

“Sounds like there’s quite a bit of history between the three of you. How long were they here last time?” Now that the conversation was flowing, Keyleth seemed much more comfortable chiming in. It made Senora happy to know that she could feel relaxed around her. It was something she strove for as a person, and it would help this whole mission go a lot more smoothly if everyone felt at ease around each other.

“The better part of a year I think, right? Nine or so months?” Senora looked between the twins, waiting for either of them to take up the tale that they could all three tell the table as a whole wanted to hear. Vex didn’t disappoint, trailing off into the story of how they’d been in a dock side bar in Emon and overheard Ulysses taking interviews for new crew. The decision to actually approach the man had been by coin flip, heads they go, tails they stay. Fate determined that they would go.

“I don’t think he knew what to make of us at first, we didn’t look much like sailors. We’d barely been getting by up to that point. He took a risk signing us on, but I like to think we proved our worth over our time aboard.” Vax, pleasantly full of the good food he’d piled on his plate, and onto his second glass of elven wine, had opted to relax against the arm of his chair so that he could more easily address the table. It gave him a rakish air that Senora wasn’t shy about admiring. Vex smacked her shoulder playfully and the two shared a look that was heavy with memory and meaning before Vax picked up the story.

He went into detail about all the jobs they helped the crew run, how his connections to the Clasp, which he kept intentionally vague, aided them in securing more than one rather sizable contract, and how he’d all but attached himself at the hip to Byron the moment the man offered to teach him how to run the rigging of the ship. The group seemed to get a good laugh out of that, and Vax took it with a smile. As the story came to a close, the tone of the room seemed to drop ever so faintly. Everyone could sense what the next topic of conversation would be, and they all knew that, while it needed to happen, it would hardly be a happy thing to discuss.

“So, Captain, you were a bit vague as to the terms of our contract back at the Keep, understandably so, but still. Now that we have more time, perhaps you would care to fill us in on just what it is we’ve agreed to.” Percy seemed to be the pragmatist of the group, broaching the difficult subjects where no one else seemed willing. It was an admirable trait, one she remembered from their time together as children, but that didn’t make it hurt any less to talk about.

“Of course, allow me a moment to compose my thoughts.” She slid her chair away from the table, taking her goblet with her as she walked over to a shelf that held a row of unlabeled glass bottles. Each one was filled with a dark amber Rum, spiced and aged just the way she liked, and she would need that comfort if she was going to get through the rest of this dinner without becoming a complete mess.

She made a show of choosing a bottle, despite the fact that they were all the same, and brought it back to the table with her. She pulled a small knife from her boot as she sat down and flicked the blade up the side of the bottle with practiced ease. It carved easily through the wax that held the cork in place and popped the cork itself out all in one flash of motion. The twins applauded once again and she couldn’t help the soft huff of laughter or the eye roll that she gave them in return. They’d changed a lot in some ways, but in others, it was like no time at all had passed.

“Would anyone care to join me? This particular batch was spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, aged vanilla bean, and just a dash of ground clove.” She poured a measure of the dark rum into her goblet before placing the bottle on the table, leaving the others to pass it around as they saw fit. She still longed for more time to prepare, but she knew that she couldn’t take it, not without making everyone gathered around her far more tense than they deserved to be. So, with a deep breath and a final attempt to steel her nerves, she allowed her mind to slip back to that day, a little over a month ago, when her whole life changed, all for the sake of a pouch no bigger than a plum.

Chapter 7: Loss

Summary:

In which we see just what brought Senora to Vox Machina's door to begin with.

“Are you sure this is a good idea Captain?” Senora stood off to the side of the helm, looking out at the stormy skies that were rapidly bearing down on them. She didn’t know why, but she just couldn’t make the dread in her belly go away. It didn’t make sense for it to be there, if she was being honest with herself, they’d pulled off much harder jobs than this in the past, but it didn’t seem to care. Whatever was waiting for them at the end of this contract, it wasn’t going to be pleasant, she just knew it.

“Hush girl, you worry too much!” Captain Ulysses Aspentide was a massive man, standing well over six feet tall, his broad frame dwarfed the helm at which he stood. He looked human, but the crew all had their own theories as to the other races that had to be mixed into his family line somewhere for him to be so big. Senora’s money was on a distant Orc relative, but she knew that none of them would ever ask. It didn’t matter. Ulysses was as big as he needed to be to hold the heart and the audacity that made him the wonderful Captain and the honorable man that he was.

“You know I hate it when you call me Girl, Captain.” Senora turned a playful glare at him, rolling her eyes at his answering wink. He’d never treated her as a sailor, or a pirate for that matter. From the moment she stepped foot on his ship, she’d been his Girl. She’d asked him more times than she could count to explain what that actually meant, but he’d never been able to. She wasn’t quite his daughter, he had three of those and the feeling was very different to fatherly responsibility. She certainly wasn’t a romantic interest, even if she’d been of an age to interest him, the very thought of it made him feel entirely wrong. She was more to him than a friend, even as his First Mate. There was just no other way to describe it.

“And you know I hate it when you second guess me. It makes me think I’ve forgotten something when I know I haven’t. We’ll be fine, I promise.” He reached one big paw over and rested it on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze that helped to settle most of the anxiety she was still trying to place. Moments like that were the times she could understand what he meant when he said he couldn’t define what being his “Girl” meant to him, because she felt the same way when she called him “Captain.”

She didn’t mean it in the usual sense, though she did have immense respect for him as a sailor and a commander. He wasn’t like a father to her, she’d never felt the need to obey him the way she imagined she would for someone that raised her. The thought of seeing him in a romantic light made her skin want to crawl off of her body and run away. She knew that he was more than a friend to her because she had plenty of those among the crew. He was just her Captain.

“I know, but I just can’t shake this feeling. There’s something waiting for us out there Ulysses, something bad. Just be careful, okay? Come back to me.” She rested her hand over his, making sure her words reached him before she nodded and set out to complete her part of the operation.

She would be remaining behind for this job, which she hated, but the Captain had explained that he would need a skilled hand at the wheel when they returned to the ship, someone who could get them air born and hidden in the same amount of time that he could, and there was only one other person who could fly like that. To facilitate that goal, she’d decided that she would spend their final run up to the target in the map room, charting out several different courses so that she would know her options when the time came to flee.

The job itself was an easy one. They’d been hired to waylay a merchant vessel bound for Stillben. They didn’t usually accept contracts for ocean cargo, preferring to keep the ship at an altitude that afforded them a bit more cover, but the price had apparently been too good to ignore. Senora had asked about the contract issuer, wanting to gather a bit more information about just who they were agreeing to do business with, but apparently Ulysses had only met with a proxy. The moment she heard that is when the sense of dread had set in, and it hadn’t let up since.

The plan was simple. Captain Aspentide would pilot the ship directly over where their target was projected to be. From there, he and a chosen team would slip quietly down the long mooring ropes that usually served to tether the ship to an airdock. Once aboard, things would unfold as they usually did, the team would move through the ship, subduing who they could, keeping the injury and death to an absolute minimum. With the crew handled, it would be a simple matter of getting the Captain of the ship to give them what they wanted, and then they would leave, slipping back into the night sky like a shadow before the crew of the other ship could so much as load a cannon.

Everything had been going fine, the man left on the top deck had been giving them regular signals, updating them on the status of the mission, and they were making good time. Senora had long been of the opinion that ocean vessels were just too easy to sail on. It led to a weaker crew that was pitifully easy to overtake. They’d been on the ship less than twenty minutes, and Ulysses was already locked in the Captain’s Cabin, doing what he did best.

They’d just signaled a successful acquisition when their ship was caught up in a fierce swipe of wind. Senora did what she could to keep the Ghost in place, but with no warning, they shifted a good sixty feet, and the crew had to scramble to relocate the mooring ropes to the other side of the ship. That part was easy enough, it barely delayed them by a minute, but the source of the wind was what made Senora’s face pale.

Another airship had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, dropping down beside them with a speed and force that spoke to a skill behind the wheel that she’d never seen before. Whoever was piloting that thing had flown in at altitude, positioned themselves perfectly, deactivated their brumestone engines and then reactivated them with pinpoint timing so that the ship would drop dead even with the Ghost, and not a foot lower. No one could fly with that level of accuracy. This had the smell of a mage all over it, and that made Senora very nervous.

“At ease! Senora, to me.” Ulysses has just finished climbing one of the ropes when his voice boomed out over the deck of the ship. It settled the crew somewhat, though they could all hear the anger boiling in his tone. Senora was at his side in a flash, taking her cue from him on how this would play out. She didn’t know who these people were, but he clearly did, and it was obvious that he didn’t like them.

“Orders Captain?” She kept her voice quiet as a gangplank was run from one ship to the other, giving them a bridge that Captain Aspentide directed her to cross.

“Follow my lead and keep your head. This is the proxy I spoke of. He’s not pleasant.” That was all he had time to convey before they were dropping down onto the deck of the other ship. A loud boom filled the air, followed by another three in rapid succession. Senora felt her stomach turn as she heard the crew of the ship below them starting to panic. Whoever these people were, they’d just fired some kind of magically enhanced ammunition into their top deck, and it was rapidly eating away at their vessel. They would all be dead soon.

“A good evening to you both. You have completed your task, I take it?” A rasping whisper of a voice was the only warning either of them got before a wraith of a man seemed to simply appear in front of them. He looked as unpleasant as his voice was to hear, and Senora felt an instant dislike bloom in her chest for him. He had the kind of face that only a mother could love, and the kind of disposition that showed she clearly hadn’t. The thing that struck her the most, beyond the sallow skin and inky black hair, were his eyes. They were a baleful yellow, and they seemed to shimmer in the wan light cast on the deck by Catha’s silvery rays.

“Aye, we were just on our way to the rendezvous. You gave my crew quite the fright with that maneuver.” Ulysses stepped forward, moving his body to all but block Senora from the man’s gaze. Whatever else he might be, the Captain wasn’t about to let this serpent of a man set his sights on his Girl.

“My client finds themselves in urgent need of the item you were sent to procure. It was determined that meeting you at the target would be more efficient. Present the item.” The Man’s eyes gleamed as Ulysses reached into the pocket of his coat and withdrew a small pouch. It was a pretty thing, black velvet embroidered with a green eye that sparkled as the tiny beads caught the light.

“You have our payment I trust.” Senora had been wondering that very same thing, and felt her stomach clench as The Man’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t. Her hand closed silently over the hilt of her cutlass, ready to draw it at the first sign of foul play. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had tried to stiff them after a job, and she doubted it would be the last. Such situations never ended well for the ones that tried, Captain Aspentide wasn’t a fool, nor did he suffer them lightly.

“It will be along. You will give me the pouch now and proceed to the predetermined point for payment.” Something about the way The Man was moving was making her feel sick. She didn’t realize until it was too late that what she was feeling was the beginning of a spell. It was subtle, barely perceptible, but she could feel a tremor in her muscles that wasn’t there before. It was taking effort to hold her position, and she could see that her Captain was having similar difficulties. Her eyes flicked across the deck, trying to find the one responsible.

“No, that’s not how this goes, and you can let your mage friend know they can stop whatever it is they’re trying to do to us. This doesn’t need to get ugly. The deal was item exchange upon presentation of payment. No payment, no pouch. I’m willing to stay aboard your vessel while we go an fetch it together if you like, but that’s as far as my charity goes I’m afraid.” While Ulysses had been speaking, Senora had been zeroing in on the caster, a skinny little woman at the far end of the ship, all but hidden behind a large barrel. All it took to disrupt the casting was a well timed glint of moonlight off the steel of Senora’s blade.

The woman blinked, shaking her head as if coming out of a dream, and the very real confusion on her face only served to redouble the instinct that was already screaming at Senora in her mind. This was a set up. She would be good money that no one on this ship was under their own control except maybe The Man in front of them.

“That is unacceptable. My client was most emphatic and quite specific about the need for timely acquisition. Such a delay is simply not possible.” It was like each passing second was physically effecting the man. His expression was continually shifting, twisting up in a grimace before slipping into a glare, which he leveled at Ulysses like a blade.

“There is no payment, is there?” The Captain’s tone matched his stance, solid, firm, unwavering. He knew the answer already, just like The Man knew that he wasn’t going to be giving up that pouch. They were at an impasse. Senora didn’t even have time to draw her blade before everything went to shit.

It all seemed to happen at once. The Ghost fired its guns, taking out whatever arcanely augmented weapons were on the deck of the other airship, rendering it harmless. At that same moment, whoever was at the helm of the ship decided it was time to leave, and the gangplank fell, splashing amidst the remains of the ship below. The Man snarled something in a language Senora didn’t understand, and Ulysses dropped to his knees, clutching at his chest.

“Captain!” Senora was on her knees in an instant, reaching out for Ulysses as if she could somehow stop what was happening. She met his gaze and understood that he wasn’t going to be walking away from this one. Whatever The Man had done to him, it was fatal, and it was already too far gone to stop. Words jumbled up in her mouth, coming out in a sob of gibberish that was full of all the things she’d never been able to say. She took his weight as he sagged forward.

“She’s…yours…now…Girl…” She tried to hold him up as his body folded under its own weight, but without his own muscles to support him, it was like trying to keep a boulder from rolling down a hill. She followed him as he fell to the side, shock and disbelief warring with unbridled rage in her mind until something in her snapped. Her cutlass rang with lethal finality as she ripped it from its sheath, rising to her feet and turning on The Man with a challenge on her lips.

“Not yet.” Her body froze mid step. She was pushing with everything she had, but it was like she’d been encased in stone. “You should be dead.” The Man slithered closer, getting right up in her face as his eyes trailed over her paralyzed form. “What are you?” She felt the unmoving grip on her body loosen around her face, giving her room to speak.

“I’ll kill you you bastard! Drop this spell and face me!” Her words were reduced to muffled shrieks of rage as the spell took hold once more, forcing her mouth shut. The Man grinned, reaching one spindly fingered hand up to cover her face. The amount of strength in those fingers was inhuman, bruising as they dug into her flesh like vices. Then, pain was all she knew.

Images flashed by too fast for her to understand, just a blur of color and shape behind her eyes that made her dizzy. Fiery pressure pulsed in her chest, just over her heart, robbing her of her breath as spots started to overtake the rapid slide of shapes. Her head was pounding in time with her pulse as blood rushed in her ears. Her muscles seized as her instincts took control and tried to force her to run away from whatever was attacking her. It seemed to go on forever.

“Interesting…delightful…yes, very good.” Just as suddenly as it had all begun, it stopped. She felt her muscles sag in relief as everything began to throb with a dull ache she knew would take days to ease. None of that mattered though, as The Man leaned down, getting even with her eye line. Her whole field of vision was suddenly full of nothing but that baleful yellow shimmer.

“I will give you satisfaction, but not yet. You are a marvelous thing, but you are ignorant of your own merit. Go, find your past, learn who you are, and then come find me. Once you can tell me your true name, I will face you as you wish. Until then, Marvelous One, search.” His eyes flashed and everything went dark for a moment. Wind whistled past her ears, and then she was hitting the deck of a ship, hard.

Voices all around her muddied into a deafening roar as hands gripped her, hauling her to her feet. The blackness that had overtaken her vision began to clear away as the world slowly came into focus. She sagged in heartbroken relief as Byron’s face resolved out of the whirl of motion. He was speaking, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. All she could do was cry and cling to him as he held her up off the deck, her own legs still too weak to support her weight.

Behind him, the rest of the crew had gathered in solemn observation, circled around the body of their Captain, which had landed a few feet from where Senora had simply appeared, a few feet off the deck. They gave him a burial among the clouds that night, watched over by the Moonweaver’s light, and the next day they welcomed Senora as their new Captain. She relayed all she could remember of what had happened, and where the pouch had been, there was instead a chunk of bismuth on a leather cord, and a note which simply read “Rexxentrum”.

Chapter 8: Dancing

Summary:

In which we get to see a different side to a few familiar faces.

“For the next month, I watched the job boards for signs of a party that I felt could handle something like what I knew I was getting myself into. It was while I was waiting that I heard about all of you. We’re heading to Rexxentrum now, should get there in a week or so. If you would rather view this as a vacation, and not join me on what is clearly a risky mission, I will understand. I knew it was a risk doing it this way when I decided on this course of action.” Senora sat back, swallowing down the rest of her rum in one gulp before she reached for the bottle that had already made it around the table.

“Sen, darling, you know us better than that. Whoever this man is, he’s made an enemy of us all. Aspentide was a good man. He took a chance on us when no one else would have. We’re with you.” Vex reached over, taking the bottle from Senora’s hand and setting it aside before she laced her fingers together with the Captain’s. Vax didn’t speak, he simply mirrored his sister’s actions, giving her other hand a reassuring squeeze. It did more than either of them would ever be able to understand.

“Yes, I find that even beyond the desire to help an old friend, this man’s lack of decorum is too offensive to be allowed to stand. Vox Machina is with you.” Percy nodded as the far end of the table began to talk over each other, theorizing on who the man might be and what the bag could’ve contained.

“Cap’n? Varlow and Mick are on deck asking if your guests would like some after dinner entertainment. Apparently word of Master Shorthalt’s presence has left them feeling inspired.” Byron’s voice cut through the room like a blade and brought with it the reminder that a world existed outside the room they were all sitting in. Before Senora could so much as breathe, the whole of Vox Machina had risen from their chairs, and she was being pulled along after them by a grinning Vax who was already laying claim to the first dance with her.

“Oh gods, must I? You know I hate dancing.” Vex let out a throaty chuckle as she all but pushed Senora into Vax’s side. Between the two of them, she was hauled up onto the deck with the rest of the crew, and the moment the air hit her face, she began to feel better.

“You must. You may hate dancing, but you’re bloody good at it, and I haven’t had a good dance in ages. Varlow, something jaunty if you please!” The Halfling that had been waiting with an excited gleam in his eye barked out a laugh and leaned over to his large human partner, whispering something in his ear before taking up his flute. Mick, said large human partner, stomped out a four count before he started sawing away at a fiddle, setting a jaunty pace that Varlow complimented rather nicely with a high lilting melody.

Senora was given exactly one second of warning before Vax grabbed at her hand, swept her close with an arm around her middle, and began to lead her in dizzying turns around the deck. She wanted to be annoyed, she really did prefer to watch others dance, but as she bounced along with the grinning half elf, she couldn’t help but smile. Maybe it had been too long since she let herself dance.

“There’s the smile I’ve been missing. Come on, let’s show them how it’s done.” Vax leaned in close, getting a tight hold on her before he lead her into a complicated series of steps and turns that would’ve left most people on their ass in a tangle of limbs. The whistles and cheers from the gathered crew brought a flush to her cheeks as she laughed along with Vax. Her laughter turned to a shocked squeak as he spun her into a dip just as the song ended.

“Holy shit! I didn’t know you could dance like that!” Scanlan was the first to break the silence, earning a laugh from the rest of the team, and giving Senora a chance to slip away from Vax as he turned to speak with the excitable gnome. She hastened over to sit beside Varlow, only to be stopped by a gloved hand at her elbow.

“May I?” Percy’s voice was so different, and yet so very much the same. She must’ve heard that pensive tone a thousand times in her youth, always tacked onto the back of a question he wasn’t sure of the answer to. It had been there for their first turn about the garden after hours. It had been there when he’d offered to teach her to read, to write, and to do the kind of math he was learning in his private tutoring sessions. It was there when he offered to read to her at night, and it had been there when he’d first asked her to kiss him. She’d never been able to say no to that tone, and she found that time hadn’t changed that one bit.

“Varlow, something fit for a prince.” She turned as she took the offered hand and allowed Percy to guide her back out into the middle of the deck. She knew the song the moment the melody began. Varlow couldn’t possibly have known, but the tune he was playing for them now, was the very same one Percy had hummed for her when he first taught her to dance.

“Do you remember this one?” There was a second question behind his words, and another shimmering in his eyes as he raised his hand toward her, palm out. She couldn’t have spoken even if she knew what she wanted to say, so instead she simply nodded and placed her palm against his. It took only the barest hint of pressure for him to begin the dance that her body still remembered perfectly.

It was a deceptively difficult dance to learn. The palms of the dancers were to remain in contact at all times, but the hands were free to turn and pivot as needed as their bodies glided and spun across the floor. Each step seemed weightless, like the dancer was floating on the air, instead of stepping on the ground. Senora remembered the first time she’d managed to get the whole thing right. The way each motion had flowed into the next as she wheeled around the parlor had felt like flying, and it was no different now.

Percy was, for once, wholly and completely focused on one single thought. His body moved through the motions of the dance as his eyes took in every detail of the woman in front of him that he could. She’d changed so much, but he could still see little marks and habits of the girl he’d known. She was a vision. His heart ached as he led her through a complex series of turns that had taken her over a month to master. She’d been so frustrated by them at one point that she’d begun to cry. Now it seemed as easy to her as breathing. She would’ve made a wonderful Lady, no matter what his father said.

“Beautiful.” He hadn’t meant for the word to slip out, but as the music came to an end and she drew in close, his body had simply decided for him. He had a split second to take in the surprise on her face before the deck erupted into applause and cheers. Senora was whisked from his arms by a very excited Mick, who lifted her up onto the same set of boxes that Varlow was perched on, and the crew began to demand different songs for her to sing. At the mention of singing, Scanlan rushed to the group as well, and before long, a full blown party had sprung up on the deck of the Crimson Ghost. After a few more playful songs, Varlow started the first refrain of an old sea shanty he’d learned while sailing the Lucidian Ocean. Senora picked up the lyrics, which gave Scanlan a chance to call them to mind before he joined in with her.

I am not a pirate, but I long to be,
Sailing by the stars across the open sea,
Living with no earthly cares, my mates and me—
The envy of all worldly men, who are not free.

A song to sing for beggars, a song to sing for saints,
A song to sing for wealthy men all wrapped and bound in chains!
Our treasure's not in gold, or in our piety.
Our wealth is in an answered call, the longing of the sea!

Stormy oceans carry us to lands we've never known,
To mysteries and buried secrets from the tales of old.
So hoist the sail and raise the flag, we do not stop for night.
We'll ride the wild winds and waves until the morning's light!

In smuggler's caves and tavern halls, we live by no man's rules.
We fly the colors of the living, free and proud and true!
We set out on the ocean blue to escape tyranny.
We'll keep our merry hearts alive so long we roam the sea.

A man once walked along the shore, and called he out to me,
"I see you are a fisherman, a lover of the sea.
I know this world's a wretched place, but if you'll follow me
I'll take all of your burdens... and pirates we shall be!"

Yo ho, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho!

Hope is now before us, and misery at aft.
We could not care the lesser for the men who say, "You're daft!"
So let the howling winds blow in and take hold of the mast.
Release the wheel and all your sins, for you are free at last!

"Swab the deck, my clever lad, and listen close to me.
Learn my ways, and soon one day a captain you shall be.
Climb the rigging, mount the nest, and say, what can you see?"
"A fleet upon the starboard side... in battle we shall meet!"

"Load the cannons, raise the flag, and take hold of your heart!
A proper man of courage does not flee before the start.
Do not fear when death is near, when doom is nigh at hand.
Your end marks the beginning of a life in fairer lands!"

All day the battle rages, and on into the night.
With clashing swords and pistol shots, upon the decks we fight!
We match our wits and cannonballs with the finest of their fleet.
Their admiral walks the plank in the shame of his defeat.

So raise a drink to plunder, and lift a toast for spoils.
Cheer good men - in bravery, the enemy we've foiled!
Pour another round and we will sing a song of joy.
When next we make our port the folk will say, “Victors—ahoy!"

We moor upon an isle of wealthy fools and knaves
Who drink all night and sleep all day on the labor of their slaves.
When the sun has set, we break off all their chains
And share with them our plunder, and now free men they are made!

We hole up in the tavern with our new crewmen and mates.
Soon those rich folks come a calling for their run aways!
The barman sends them off with ale, saying, "Go, drink your sway!"
But when the rest have gone, one aging wealthy man does stay.

"I was once a young lad, sailing by the charts.
I did not savor wind, nor water, nor admire the stars.
Now I have grown old and frail, and do not journey far.
I only long to sail the seas once more to find my heart."

Well, come aboard and voyage long, we make for unmapped shores.
Ride the stormy seas with us, you'll find that soul of yourn.
Leave your wealth behind you, and your bitter scorn.
Make your home with slaves and sinners—then you'll be reborn.

Yo ho, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho! Yo ho, yo hooooo!
(The Pirate Shanty by Worldwide Adventurers)

The crew broke out into cheers as the last note faded into the wind and Senora found that her heart was feeling lighter than it had in a long time. That song had been one of Ulysses’ favorites, and that was the first time she’d heard it since his death. She smiled over at Varlow as he sniffled softly, gently wiping the tears from his cheeks before she stood and took a bow.

“A grand welcome for our guests if ever there was one, but I for one am ready for a good glass of rum and my bed. Feel free to carry on in my stead my good men, no one knows how to revel like you.” The crew, always eager for any reason to dance and drink, let out a cheer and swept immediately into another song while Senora hopped off the boxes and made her way below deck toward her cabin.

“I didn’t know you could sing.” She hadn’t heard him following her and she couldn’t help the way she froze before she turned, fighting to regain her composure after the moment of surprise. It had been a long time since anyone had managed to sneak up on her, but it was something he’d always been good at.

“Matron didn’t like it much, she said it was too noisy and would disrupt the household. Ulysses insisted I train it up the moment he heard me. I didn’t even know he was there, I was just keeping myself busy while I repaired some of the mooring rope.” She didn’t know what to do in this situation. If it had been anyone else, she would’ve been able to pivot into a gentle dismissal, or a playful invitation, depending on the person, but this was Percy.

“A shame, I would’ve like to have heard more.” He stepped closer, reaching out to take her hand as the air between them began to grow heavy. It was familiar and foreign all at the same time, and it had her heart racing as her eyes sought out the familiar grain of the floor boards. “Senora, please, look at me.” A gloved knuckle pressed gently under her chin, urging her to look up until all she could see was the most beautiful pale green she’d ever seen.

“Percy I…” Whatever she’d been about to say was cut off by the gentle press of his fingers against her lips. The tiny point of contact shouldn’t have lit her up the way it did, but it took everything in her not to press a kiss to those fingers, just to see what would happen. Perhaps, if things had progressed differently over the day, she might have, but the feeling of his blade at her throat was still too present in her mind. She needed to think.

“I apologize for the way I greeted you at the Keep. It was a foolish mistake fueled by fear and years worth of rage that should never had been aimed at you. Can you forgive me?” The feeling of his glove against her skin would be something that she kept in her memory for the rest of her life. The supple leather, the faint scent of black powder, the power she could feel in the lithe muscle, it was a heady mixture that tested her sense of control, but she forced herself to remain calm.

“Oh Percy, of course I can. I already have. Now, I really am quite exhausted so you will have to excuse me, My Lord de Rolo. I’ll see you in the morning.” She took gentle hold of the hand that had settled over the bandages on her neck and pressed a kiss to the gloved knuckles. His cheeks flushed just a little as his lips crooked up into a playful grin. She knew that expression all too well.

“I don’t think you get to tell me what I will do Senora. All these years away from proper society has left you rather rough around the edges it seems. Besides, a gentleman always escorts a lady to her door at the end of an evening.” He drew himself up to his full height, which was nearly a foot taller than her she noted, and took hold of her arm. He wrapped it around his own like he would have for any high society lady, and began leading her slowly down the hall to where she’d indicated her rooms to be.

“Ah, but what of the rules of the sky and sea? I am a Captain, Percival, that means I have ultimate authority aboard my ship. So, does that supersede my fealty to you?” They stopped in front of the door to her suite, neither making a move to open it, or step away from each other. There were so many unanswered questions burning in Senora’s eyes, and she could see just as many reflected back at her from that beautiful green she’d thought forever lost.

“There’s precious little left for you to swear fealty to anyway.” His words might as well have been a dagger for the way they pierced her heart and made it ache. They’d both been dancing around this particular subject since they saw one another, but neither of them had been able to get up the courage to broach it.

“A little is still something though. Come in, I want to show you something.” Senora slipped her arm free from Percy’s grip and turned, twisting open the door to her private rooms. She took his hand, winding her fingers with his like she used to do when she was barely more than a child, and pulled him in after her.

The room was well appointed. There were several hats sitting on hat forms along a high shelf. A row of coats, all just as impressive as the one she’d worn to come and hire them, were lined up along one wall, hanging from gilded hooks. There was a changing screen that looked as if it had been sewn with gilded thread, but that wasn’t what caught Percy’s attention. There was one thing he couldn’t stop seeing, no matter where he looked. It was subtle, just a little symbol, hardly noticeable unless one knew the meaning behind it, and it was everywhere in this room.

The de Rolo crest leapt out at him from a small coin hanging from the brim of a hat. It was stamped into the leather of a belt. It was sewn into the changing screen, along with a motif of the Sun Tree itself and Whitestone castle beyond. It was carved into her desk, even embossed in repeating patterns in the wallpaper that covered the room. His house colors and his house crest had been captured in so many different ways that he was having trouble catching most of them, and his cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling.

“I know what they did to you Percival, and we’ll see them paid back for it in full. You have my word on that. As soon as this mission is over, this ship is going to Whitestone. I didn’t want to say so in front of the others because I didn’t think they would understand, but I knew you would. I thought I’d lost my home when you died, but now that I know you’re alive, I want it back, all of it. So no more sorrow, understand?” She rested her hand gently against his cheek, smiling up at him just like she used to do when they were younger, and Percy felt his heart swell with affection for the woman he’d thought lost to time. She’d changed so much, and yet so little all at once.

“Senora..this isn’t…I couldn’t…” He let out a frustrated sigh as every argument he tried to pose was met with the same look. It was the look she’d always give him when he was over thinking something or being stubborn for no reason, and she’d never been wrong. The truth was that he didn’t know what to do with the loyalty she was showing him. It had been ten years, ten long years of distance and pining for a person that had slowly become a shadow of a memory at the back of his mind. He didn’t deserve her fealty, and he didn’t deserve her help.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything. Today has been a lot for you, I know, it’s been a lot for me too. Go sleep, you’ll feel better after your mind has had some time to work. You never did adapt to things as quickly as I did.” She stood up on her toes and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek, stepping back into the space of her room as he nodded and turned to face the door.

“I am happy to see you, you know…goodnight Nora.” And with those as his parting words, he was gone and she was free to disappear into her bedroom, strip down to her skin, and soak away the confusing emotions of the day in a nice long bath. She would need to be relaxed if she was going to survive the night…

Chapter 9: Dreaming

Summary:

In which we see a bit more of our dear Captain's troubles.

Senora had never been one to overindulge in anything. She’d seen what too much drink could do to a person and she never wanted to be anything like that. That changed when the dreams started. She called them dreams, though they were more like nightmares, but neither word did them justice. It was the same, night after night, the same feelings, the same scenes, the same jumbled mess of emotions and thoughts that didn’t make sense. It always left her feeling exhausted, and in the last two weeks or so, with a new injuries.

She’d had Byron sit up in her rooms with her one night, to watch and see if she was the cause of the bruises and cuts she was receiving, and as she’d anticipated, she was. He said that she would be fine right up until she launched an all out attack on herself. He’d described it like a fit, as if there was something on top of her that she needed to fight off, and it had all been focused on her chest. He’d asked if there was anything he could do to help, but what was she meant to say? It wasn’t as if she could order him to sit up every night to make sure she didn’t harm herself.

No, this was something she needed to handle on her own. In order to do that, she’d tried to tie herself down, but that had ended with her nearly losing a hand when the ties became too tight from her thrashing. She thought to use manacles but the bruising had been atrocious. It was still a little visible even a week and a half later. When restraints hadn’t worked, she’d decided to consult the healer they kept on board, Mildred. That was when the conversation had turned to suppressing the dreams with whatever she could stomach.

They’d tried a few different medicines, none of which she was able to keep down over the whole night. Mildred had tried mixing small amounts of poisons known to quiet the mind in with Senora’s evening tea, but that had only made the dreams more real. Finally, at their wits end, Mildred had just handed the Captain a bottle of rum and wished her luck.

So now Senora sat in her bed, bottle of rum in hand, far too drunk for her own liking, waiting for the dreams to come as they always did. She didn’t have to wait long. The empty bottle rolled out of her slackened grip as her body fell back into the nest of pillows she’d spent years collecting. To the outward observer, she looked peaceful, relaxed, like she didn’t have a care in the world, but inside, a battle was already raging.

**********

"No! NO! I'm here! Please! Can't you see me!? Mother!" Her cries bounced off the inside of her mind in a broken stream of consciousness that seemed to have no end. They couldn't see her. They couldn't hear her. It was like she was dead, but she knew she wasn't. She was alive, and she was trapped.

"Please...isn't there anything you can do for her?" Her father's voice was soft and sad, resigned to whatever horrible fate he seemed to think she was destined for.

"I'm sorry my Lord, once the fever takes hold, there's nothing left to do but keep her as comfortable as possible." She knew that voice too, an older man, she could see his kind face and his eyes, soft and sad. What did he mean by a fever? She felt fine!

"No! Don't say that! There must be something, please! She's our baby girl, and your future Lady! Save her damn you!" She didn't like hearing her mother so upset, it made her heart hurt to know that she was the cause of her mother's tears. If she could just move, they would all be happy again. If she could just move!

**********

"Gods I hate seeing her like this. Hang on darling, you aren't allowed to leave us yet. Do you hear me? I won't allow it." Vex sniffled softly as she tried to blink back the tears gathering along her lash line. Vax was asleep on the chaise in the corner of the room while she and Percy switched out keeping Senora relatively still. She'd tried to lash out several times already, and Vex had a sluggishly bleeding scratch on her arm to show for it.

**********

"My Lady please, shouting will not solve anything. There is...I am reluctant to say but...I will return shortly." The kind man was going away, that couldn't mean anything good. She could hear her father weeping quietly, could feel his tears on her face, but she still didn't know why.

"Take heart my love. She is strong. Our girl will not be beaten by this sickness." She could tell her mother was lying. The tone in her voice was the same one she always used when she was trying to convince herself of something. What was this sickness they were talking about?

"Of course dear heart, I simply hate to see her like this. She looks so small..." Whatever else her father had been about to say was swallowed up by a choked sob, and she wished she could reach out and hug him around his neck like she always did. It made him laugh and smile. She wanted to make him smile.
.
.
.

Everything was so fuzzy now. It was like the world was coming to her from the other side of dense cotton or wool. She could still hear their voices, all three of them, but the words were a muffled mess of syllables that she couldn't understand.

"Her body...too hot..." Was that the doctor? Her father? She couldn't remember.

"Potential...solution...ritual…" Perhaps that was her father? What did her father sound like?

**********

Hours passed as her body tossed, sweat pouring from her in buckets as she whimpered and moaned. Her face was a mask of fear and pain as whatever horrors she was seeing flashed through her mind.

**********

"I won't accept this! Do you hear me!? I WON'T!" The angry shouting was the first thing to reach her ears in what felt like a lifetime. The darkness had been pressing in on her from all sides, crushing her down smaller and smaller until she thought she would die from the pressure. That one sound was like an explosion, pushing the darkness away and bringing blinding light to sting her eyes.
.
.
.

"Oh! Look! It...it worked...oh baby girl...come here." Two warm hands gripped her around her middle and held her to an equally warm chest. There was something slick and wet on them, but she didn't mind, the embrace felt wonderful.

"I can't believe...how....what have you done?" There was another voice now, deeper than the first, and it brought with it another wave of warmth and happiness. These voices were good voices. They would protect her from the darkness that wanted to hurt her so badly.

"I saved our child where no other person possibly could have." The first voice sounded tired...like it wanted to rest.

"But at what cost...you've...you cut it out..." The second voice sounded sad now...sad and distant. Was it going away? She tried to reach out for it, but her body was so heavy.

"It doesn't matter anymore. We have our baby back, and she's never going anywhere again."
.
.
.

"My Lord...serious..." She could've wept with joy as a voice finally parted the fog that seemed to cloud everything around her. She couldn't see, could barely hear, and she hadn't managed a single word since the voice brought her back out of the darkness. It was awful.

"I am...not...daughter...torture...gone..." Everything was so choppy. The words were coming at random, and try as she might to make sense of them, she couldn't. She strained her mind, trying to force her body to work, and miraculously, the world began to gain definition. She saw a figure, large and broad.

"Girl...not survive...soul..." Who were they talking about? She knew she should care, it might be her, but she was seeing for the first time in so long. She just had to push a little harder. The figure was gaining detail by the second, and so was the world around it. She could see the sky, the stars, she could see a kind old man with sad eyes and beside him...

"Papa?" She saw his warm eyes go wide with shock and heart wrenching regret just as the warmth that had been holding her vanished and she plummeted down into something dark and cold. Why had he looked so stricken?
.
.
.

Everything was cold.

She couldn't breathe.

She was being swept along so quickly.

Bubbles...follow the bubbles...

Air, crisp and clean and frigid

Voices on the wind, frantic and panicked

Warm hands holding her tight

A fire, crackling in a stone hearth

An old man, with sad eyes

A ship, strangers all around her

So many places flying by too quickly to see

Tall thin trees the color of parchment

The sharp scent of pine and cedar

Tall gates

Kind green eyes

Home

**********

“Senora please, you must wake up!” Vex’s voice was the first thing that began to trickle through the rum filled haze that always clouded her mind when she woke up. The sting of a slap across her face directly afterward served to cut through said haze a lot more quickly than she was used to. She gasped in a breath and rolled away from the direction of the attack, her body moving on instinct as her mind struggled to catch up to what was happening. It wasn’t until a soft pair of hands took hold of her middle that she realized she was about to roll right onto the floor.

“Wha…I…ow…” Her whole body felt like it had been flattened, stretched, lit on fire, and dunked in the sea. Her muscles ached, her skin stung, her bones felt brittle and cracked, and every joint felt like it was one twist away from dislocating. What the hells had she been doing to herself to feel this bad?

“Here Cap’n. Drink this.” The soft hands pulled away, replaced by the familiar callouses and rough patches of her First Mate, who was tipping some foul tasting concoction into her mouth from a glass vial. If it had been anyone else doing that, they would’ve found whatever the liquid was spat right back in their face, along with a punch for their trouble, but she knew that Byron would never do anything to harm her. Besides, after a moment, the taste became familiar. It was one of Mildred’s mixtures to help stave off a hangover.

“I heard…twins?” Her eyes were still too heavy to open, leaving her to sway her head around drunkenly in search of any sign that she hadn’t been hallucinating. A soft chuckle and a pair of strong hands helped guide her back to what she could only assume was the top of the bed while another pair began to arrange blankets around her sagging body.

“They heard you screamin’ Cap’n.” The tone of Byron’s voice told Senora all she needed to know about the screams they heard, and why they’d woken her up. Now that her body was coming back to itself, the all over pain was getting specific, much to her dismay. The muscle aches had faded from everywhere except her legs, which wasn’t unusual for her these days. The stinging of her skin had narrowed down to her chest, which was also becoming worryingly normal. The brittle feeling in her bones had faded entirely, but the ache in her joints had remained, and grown, until it was a very new and very real concern.

“Is Milly still on board?” Vax’s voice brought her out of her self assessment and she was on the verge of telling him not to bother the woman when Byron relayed all the information Vax would need to find the cantankerous old gnome. Senora made a mental note to glare at him about that later. He knew how much she hated bothering the old woman with this.

“Senora, darling, what was that?” Vex waited exactly one half second after Vax left to all but latch onto the still groggy Captain. It was clear from the tone of her voice that whatever they’d seen and heard had unsettled her greatly. Senora wished she knew what it was so that she could put the Ranger’s mind at ease, but her reactions to the dreams had run the gamut of innocuous to terrifying.

“Cap’n been havin’ some troublin’ dreams of late, ever since Cap’n Aspentide passed on. These…reactions, started around the same time. Can you…her chest is…” If she hadn’t been so tired, Senora might just have laughed at the bashful tone in her first mate’s voice. He was the strongest there was when it came to blood, viscera, guts of all types and descriptions, and no slouch with the ladies either, but for some reason, her body specifically made him incredibly uncomfortable. He blamed the fact that he saw her like a sister, and no one liked thinking about their sister’s body.

“Of course dear.” The sound of water hitting a basin made her flinch even before Vex pressed the cloth to her chest. The water was warm, which was a blessing, but she’d mixed that horrid sterilizing agent in with it, which made it sting like hell fire. If Senora had been any stronger, she might well have just pulled the thing from her chest herself, but as it was, all she could do was grumble out swear words and whimper.

“I know darling, but you’d be very upset with yourself if you allowed these to become infected. They’re all over some of your finest assets.” That comment pulled a chuckle from her despite the pain, and she felt herself relaxing just a bit. If Vex was calm enough to crack jokes, then the situation can’t be all that dire.

“Already seeing to her eh? I knew I liked you for a reason.” Mildred’s reedy voice invaded the sense of calm that Senora had slowly been gathering and shattered it like a dinner plate dropped from a watch tower. She redoubled her efforts to pry her eyes open. Whatever torture Milly was about to put her through was best met with some forewarning.

“I’m fine…just tired…nightmares again…” The sound of Milly’s bag thumping to the floor made her flinch, and she managed to get her eyelids to cooperate just in time to watch the wrinkly old healer pull something large and pointy from inside. She knew exactly what that was, and despite her exhaustion and pain, she still tried to crawl away from it. She barely made it an inch before the needle of the large syringe was stuck into her belly.

“These were different, weren’t they? You’ve managed to inflame almost every major joint you have. Deep breath, this is gonna hurt.” The sickly feeling of liquid filtering into the dense tissue of her muscles was something she was fairly certain she would never get used to. The liquid itself was cold, but the feeling of it moving through her was burning hot, and it made everything around the injection site ache for hours afterward. Still, she couldn’t deny the efficacy. No more than a minute later, she was already feeling much more awake, and a little less horrible.

“The images were all the same…but they felt more..real somehow. Does that make sense?” Senora groaned as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. Her tunic slipped down over her belly, hiding the scars and lines of muscle that told the story of the hard life she’d lived since leaving Whitestone. The brush of the fabric reminded her of the soft hands she’d felt when she first woke up. She looked around, trying to figure out who they could’ve belonged to.

“Well that’s no surprise I suppose. I know you say it’s impossible, but I still think these nightmares of yours are less figments of imagination and more fragments of memory. I’ve never seen someone damn near claw their heart out over anything imaginary before, but from the look of those cuts, you very nearly did this time. We need to figure something out Captain, or you may not make it to Wildemount.” Mildred snapped her bag shut with the kind of finality that only a healer could manage, and together, she and Byron made their way back out of her suite and onto the deck above.

“Senora, love, please. What’s happening?” Vex helped her get comfortable in the nest of pillows that filled the massive bed that her Captain had built himself. It was honestly a little ridiculous if she was being honest with herself, but Ulysses had been a very large man, and he liked his space. Once the Captain’s quarters had become hers, well, she had to fill all that space with something, and she’d spent the better part of her time aboard the Ghost collecting all manner of pillows and blankets. Now they lived in all the space her body didn’t fill, and they helped her feel less alone in the small hours of the night, when her thoughts turned to what might have been.

“Before I answer, am I right in assuming that it wasn’t just you and Vax in here with me, before Byron and Milly came in I mean.” She hissed as she pulled the now bloodied rag from her chest and tossed it away. She felt a small sense of relief when it landed on the floor, instead of anywhere that would leave it usable for another round of wound washing. She was in enough discomfort without having to add stinging breasts to the mix.

“Percy was here before either of us. We were woken by your screaming, but he was already standing outside your rooms when it started.” She’d known, even before she asked, that it was him she’d felt holding her, but she’d needed to be sure before she spoke.

“Alright, before I explain things, I need you to get your brother, Percy, and anyone you think might be able to help with whatever it was you all saw me doing to myself when you first came in. I don’t want to have to go over this more than once.” She could already feel the rough sleep and the alarming amount of rum catching up with her as she sagged back against the soft mixture of patterns and fabrics that she’d spent the better part of the last decade collecting. She hadn’t even explained the whole scene to Byron yet, but if Vox Machina were going to be the help she hoped they would, at least some of them needed to know everything she knew, even if it didn’t make sense.

Chapter 10: Explanations

Summary:

In which our intrepid Captain gives her friends some much needed context.

“Alright, I know you probably have questions about what you saw. Hopefully what I have to say will serve to answer them. If not, well all I can say is that this mission will hopefully provide what I cannot.” Vax and Vex had returned very quickly, followed by a very worried looking Percy, and a groggy Pike. The little cleric had perked up the moment Vax explained what it was they’d witnessed.

Senora didn’t give them time to respond. She was scared of what was happening to her, and she didn’t know if her nerve would survive any one of them trying to reassure her. She didn’t want to relive the horrors that were plaguing her. She didn’t want to have to show the wounds and bruises that were slowly decorating more and more of her body. She didn’t want to have to recount the feeling of being completely isolated inside her own mind while memories she didn’t have any context for played out before her like a sick stage show. She did it anyway.

The small group, to their credit, remained silent and attentive the entire time. The only change from the beginning of her tale to the end was the warm hand of each twin gripping her own gently in a show of silent comfort. She could tell that what she’d said had unsettled them, she would be very concerned about their mental health if it didn’t, but they’d kept their concerns to themselves until they knew for a fact that she was finished.

“So, from what you’ve been seeing, you had some kind of fever as a child, had some unknown ritual performed on you by the woman you are assuming is your mother, and were tossed into a river by the man you’re assuming is your father, only to end up in Whitestone. Do I have that right?” Percy was the first to speak, his tone incredulous despite the look of confused concern on his face. It was obvious that he was having a hard time coming to terms with all that she’d said.

“That is the short version, yes. Though I have no way of knowing if these are even real memories. For all I know, I did have a fever as a child, and the confusion that illness caused in my mind led to me creating the rest in some kind of fit or dream. You know as well as I do that I had no memories when I came to Whitestone.” She still had a vivid memory of Cassandra, Percival’s youngest sibling, going through the castle and teaching her the names of things. It had taken her a long time to get back to where she assumed she’d once been.

“Yes, and while I wish I could say differently, what you said does make a strange kind of sense. I’ve always wondered how you came to be so…blank. Perhaps this ritual, whatever it was, had some kind of effect on your mind.” The weary sigh that fell from Percy’s lips made her heart ache. The last thing she wanted was to become another problem for him to solve.

“Healing spells don’t always work the way you expect, especially when it comes to little kids. What’s worrying me is the whole “you cut it out” part. What did that mean? What got cut out?” Pike looked straight at Senora as she spoke, and while the Captain wished she had an answer, perhaps a scar she’d never been able to explain until now, all she could do was shrug. She’d looked herself over in the mirror until she was cross eyed, searching for any unexplained mark, a mole, a dot that she didn’t have a memory for, but there was nothing.

“I have a guess on that score, though I’m loathe to say it as it makes even less sense than anything else you’ve said so far. The only reason I am saying it is because of what you were doing while you were asleep. You were clawing at your chest like it pained you.” Vex gestured to the wounds on her chest, still visible, still raw and stinging.

“Her heart? But that’s impossible. She would be dead Stubby.” Vax’s voice said all the right things, but there was a tone that didn’t fit with them. No matter what he wanted to believe, there was a part of him that was seeing his sister’s logic, and having a hard time refuting it.

“I know, and yet…You were frantic, Senora, like someone had buried a hot coal behind your ribs. Maybe, this woman, did manage to do something to you.” Vex reached out, taking Senora’s hand and holding it tight as she spoke. It was clear that no one liked what they were saying or thinking, but they also couldn’t think of anything to say against it.

“So what, she cut out my heart and just left me like that? That’s ridiculous. I have a pulse, I can feel it right now, here.” She took Vex’s hand and pressed it to her neck, letting her feel the strong, constant thrum of blood in her veins. No, she was sure she had a heart. Whatever the man had meant, it must’ve been something else.

“Well…there are spells that could mimic a heart…I mean, they’re dark as fuck, and I’ve never heard of one working before…but they do exist…” Pikes’ voice was quiet as she spoke. She didn’t want to be saying what she was saying. She clearly wanted to join Vax in telling Vex that what she suspected was foolish. She said it anyway, because Senora deserved to know.

“W..what? No…that’s not…but she couldn’t…I mean…I would…I have…a pulse, and…” It wasn’t until Vex’s hand fell from her grip that she realized she’d been backing away from the little gnome, pressing herself up into the corner of the massive bed in a vain attempt to make herself feel safe. She had to be wrong. The idea of having no heart was just too…unnatural. She had to be wrong…

“Look, none of that matters right now, and it won’t matter if Senora kills herself in her sleep before we even get to the place that has answers. Whatever she does, or doesn’t have, it’s keeping her alive just the same, which means we have to protect it, and her, from these fits. Any ideas?” Percy, ever the pragmatist, was quick to cut through the heavy silence the moment she started to truly panic. It was something he’d always been good at, even when they were small, and she was infinitely thankful for it now.

“Bindings are no good. I nearly lost my hand when I tried tying myself up.” Senora sighed, slowly uncurling from the ball she’d unknowingly gathered herself into. This night needed to end before it became the end of her instead. She didn’t care about the reason behind the visions that haunted her every night. She didn’t care if they were real or not. She just wanted to be able to sleep without having to drink herself into blind oblivion.

“Have you tried sharing your bed? Perhaps someone else beside you to serve as a guard against any future fits would allow you to rest more easily.” Of course Percy would think of the one damn thing she’d been unwilling to try. She opened her mouth to say as much, but the open concern and sadness in his eyes killed the words before they could leave her throat. She’d forgotten how earnest he could be when he wasn’t hiding behind years worth of “proper upbringing”.

“The thought had occured to me, but the complications it introduced seemed…prohibitive.” She felt naked under his gaze, like he could see every thought that passed through her mind, just like when they were younger and so much more care free. Back then, all she worried about hiding was her growing crush on him, but now, things had become so damned complicated for them. The colorful hodge podge of blankets was a much safer bet all things considered.

“Darling, your safety is worth a few complications. Tonight is a wash, I don’t imagine any of us will be able to get back to sleep after this conversation, but starting tomorrow, one of us will be with you whenever you sleep.” Vex’s voice had taken on that strange quality it took on when she was daring someone to argue with her. When they’d first met, it had egged Senora into many a disagreement, but she knew better now.

So too, it seemed, did everyone else, as the rest of their little band simply nodded and settled into an awkward silence. No one knew what to do now that the immediate danger and problem had been handled. None of them wanted to leave her alone after all she’d told them, but they didn’t have a reason to stay either. Senora had a solution that brought a soft smile to her lips. It felt odd, but good, and she threw herself into the small pocket of comfort she’d managed to unearth.

“Well, the lot of you have me at one hell of a disadvantage now. I demand comeuppance. Pike, tell us something about you that no one else knows.” The little gnome’s mouth dropped open as Vax barked out a laugh and for a moment, Senora feared that she would refuse, but after a pause, she launched into a story of her time on the sea, and the man she’d fallen in love with while she was there.

The night progressed quickly from that point on. Everyone had a moment of reticence when it came time for them to tell a story, but all it took was a look from Senora to loosen their tongues. Vex and Vax had different stories, which was a genuine surprised to everyone in the room, including them, but it was Percy’s story that Senora was most looking forward to hearing. She was dying to know what he’d been up to since his supposed death, and she was hoping his story, whatever it turned out to be, would give her some insight into that time. She wasn’t prepared for what she got instead.

“Alright de Rolo, out with it, tell us something no one else here knows.” Vax reclined back against the wall of the alcove that held the massive bed. As the stories had unfolded, and the hours had passed, the small group had arranged themselves more comfortably amongst the nest that Senora slept in every night. Vax, true to form, had chosen a corner to post up in, while Vex had firmly ensconced herself up against Senora’s side, keeping the good Captain from copying her brother’s example. It put both of them in something of a spot light, but she didn’t seem to mind. Percy shifted from where he was sitting, opposite Vex and Senora, and cleared his throat as a faint dusting of pink colored his pale cheeks.

“I share this with the understanding that it will never leave this room. It is hardly one of my proudest moments.” He looked up, catching Senora’s gaze and holding it as he took a breath. She knew she should probably just wait and listen, but she couldn’t help trying to figure out what it was he was going to say. Did it have something to do with her? What could he possibly have to tell her that she didn’t already know?

“Shortly before I helped you to escape the castle, I went to my father to beg his permission to court you as a proper lady.” Whatever she’d been expecting, it wasn’t that. It was something they’d talked about, of course, as they began to realize how they felt for one another, but she’d never dared to dream that he was being serious when he talked about making her his lady. She’d always waved him away, telling him that he deserved someone better than her, someone fine and noble like him, who didn’t have to be taught basic math second hand because she wasn’t important enough to warrant a first hand education.

“That conversation must’ve gone well.” Vax’s cynical tone forced her attention back to the moment, where Percy was sharing a knowing look with the handsome half elf. Senora knew all about Vax’s disdain for his own father, and how much of their own poor childhood had been caused by a difference in blood and status. It was little wonder that such a statement would rankle a bit.

“He laughed me out of his office and then demanded I never mention it again when I returned the next day. That was the day I began to see the flaws of the station I had been born to. Nolan broke into your room a few days later.” There was a novel’s worth of questions and conversations in his pale green eyes as he looked at her. She knew she must be just as exposed, with her mouth open in shock and her gaze fixed on him like he might disappear if she blinked.

“Nolan? I don’t think I know this story. I take it that this was the impetus for your departure?” Vex’s question pulled her gaze away from Percy, who seemed to be torn between wanting to smile and scream. She understood the feeling. Why did all of this have to be coming out now, when it didn’t make a difference!?

“The gardener’s son. He was five years older than me and had been trying to get my attention for months. He actually tried to explain my place to me, as if I didn’t understand where I sat in the house hierarchy. I punched him for his trouble and ran to lock myself in my room. He didn’t take that too kindly.” She could still remember the taste of the fear as it welled up in her throat like bile. It choked off all but the softest of sounds, even as Nolan was slamming his whole body against the door, trying to get to her to show her what she was really worth. He would’ve managed it too, if Percy hadn’t already been on his way to see her. By the time he got to her room, Nolan had her on her back on the floor with nothing but a shift to hide her decency, and nothing at all hiding his. She’d never cried so hard in her life.

“Bastard. I hope his punishment was…fitting.” Vax’s voice was dark as he spoke. He had developed a soft spot for Senora the moment they met, and it would seem that some years apart hadn’t erased it even a little bit. Vex held her close as Percy flashed the Rogue a vicious smile.

“My father left his punishment to me. I had him beaten and chased from town. I don’t know what happened to him after that, but the Parchwood is not a kind place for the unprepared.” The sudden quiver of warmth low in Senora’s belly was a shock that she barely managed to cover as Percy’s voice slid low and dark into her mind. Since when did that kind of thing have that kind of effect on her? Her eyes shifted from one face to the next, trying to see if anyone had noticed. They all seemed none the wiser.

“So, you were very nearly a Lady eh? Shall we courtsey from now on?” Vex jostled her a little, mistaking her silence for discomfort, which she was grateful for. The last thing she wanted to have to try and explain was why now, or all times, after the night she’d had, she was starting to feel aroused over something like a voice. She wouldn’t be able to, for starters, and they would never let her live it down even if she could.

“Clearly you weren’t listening to the same story I was. Nearly implies the possibility of success. The only person in that situation that entertained such a silly notion was Percy.” She hated how much effort it took to push out the little nonchalant chuckle. Knowing that he’d gone so far, that he’d wanted to court her, maybe even marry her one day, hurt more than she had the words to express. It made the wound on her neck ache that much more. How had things become to muddled?

“Good, I don’t think I could stand you being a Captain AND a noble. You’d be insufferable.” Vax kicked his foot against hers, hiding the gentle care and concern he wanted her to see in his soulful brown eyes. She returned the kick and stuck her tongue out at him, her own way of silently thanking him and letting him know she’d noticed. Vex’s arm tightened around her a bit, pulling her in closer to the Ranger’s side.

“Love sucks sometimes.” Pike’s voice cut through the unspoken tension in the room and pulled genuine laughter from everyone. It felt good, like taking a breath after being under water for almost too long, and Senora felt herself relax just a little.

“Yes it does Trickfoot, it really really does. I say we all swear off it for good and all right now. Nothing but sex and platonic friendships from now on.” Senora sat forward, putting her hand in the center of the bed. Everyone was quick to cover her hand with theirs, laughing softly and the rest of the tension that had been haunting them all since Senora woke up, finally bled away.

“Hey look, the sun’s coming up. Who wants to go watch the sunrise?” Pike was already moving as she spoke, obviously eager to get up on the deck. Senora understood her excitement. Sunrise was one of her favorite times of day when they were in the air. It was a view like no other. She slid from the bed, fetching her coat from its hook as she followed the gnome up into the open air.

The deck was empty, which only ever happened in the very early morning and the evening around dinner time, and the silence around them felt almost reverent as they all moved as a unit. Senora helped Pike up onto a box so that she could lean comfortably against the taffrail before taking her favorite spot up near the wheel. Many a morning had found her there, eyes fixed on the pastel colors that wafted slowly across the sky in advance of the sun.

“May I stand with you my lady?” Percy’s voice slipped into her ear and caused her heart to flutter despite herself. She wanted to say something witty, something that Captain Navad would say, but Senora wasn’t a Captain right now. She was a young woman in her room, waiting for her young lord to come find her. So instead of speaking, she simply moved over to give him room and held out her hand, smiling softly as she felt his long, elegant fingers tangle with hers. Things were muddled, to be sure, complicated and full of complex and painful emotions, but right now, in this moment, as the sun slowly climbed up above the distant mountains before them, they were also good.

Chapter 11: Eventful

Summary:

In which our Captain and her crew get to show off just how good they really are.

The day passed slowly after their little sunrise vigil. Vax and Vex were happy to retire to their various rooms for a midday nap when the lack of sleep finally caught up to them. Pike kept herself awake mainly by staying busy amongst the crew. Percy would’ve no doubt found something to keep himself entertained with, but Senora made a note of pointing out that he had insisted on being the first to sit up with her, and thus he would need to be rested. He gave a token argument before allowing himself to pulled along after the twins with a promise from Vax that he would make sure the human actually slept. That left Senora with precious little to do, and a long day to fill.

If anyone ever asked her if there was anything she disliked about flying, she would have a short and simple answer. It was the waiting. Days were rarely dull in the sky, be it due to persnickety weather, a passing creature, or an ill fated run in with another of her own profession with eyes on her cargo, there was almost always something happening. On the days when there was nothing, it was like the whole sky was holding its breath, waiting to see what would come along and ruin the fragile and incredibly rare peace. She wished she could enjoy it the way her crew did, but much like her own Captain before her, it was her job to look out for the next obstacle, which meant she couldn’t enjoy the smooth path when they found it.

“You’re looking pensive and, if I may so say, tired as fuck.” Scanlan seemed to simply appear at her side, startling her from her latest reverie and grounding her back in the moment, where she’d been leaning against the taffrail. It was a valid assessment, and she couldn’t help the soft chuckle that came along with the interesting way he’d chosen to word it.

“Well that would be because I’m thinking very deep thoughts, and I didn’t sleep much last night. You seem to be suffering no such difficulty. The accommodation are to your liking I take it?” She turned her best grin on the gnome. She’d encountered his type more times than she could count, and they never failed to entertain.

“Very much. The bed was so comfortable I was able to sleep right through Grog’s snoring. So, what deep thoughts could distract such a pretty lady from such a wonderful view?” Scanlan hopped up on one of the many boxes that dotted the deck, putting him on even footing with her. She chanced a look over at him and couldn’t help the soft chuckle that popped out of her at the blatant interest on his face.

“I would hate to trouble you with the concerns of Captaincy Scanlan, you artistic types should have your mind free to create. Suffice it to say that I am thinking the stormy thoughts so that my crew, and guests, can enjoy the calm we currently find ourselves in. Now if you’ll…shit. Best get yourself below decks, we’re about to be attacked.” Her eyes, which had been focused on his unexpectedly soulful eyes, were pulled to the rapidly advancing ship coming up on them.

“Aww man, just when we were making a real connection too. I’ll get the others.” Before she could tell him otherwise, he had already hopped down and disappeared below deck. She took a moment to swear colorfully before she raced over to the wheel and began to maneuver them so that their wings were protected.

“Prepare for contact! Vessel incoming off the port side bow!” The ship jerked as she veered them sharply to port and fully engaged the brumestone that sat just below the helm. The other ship, perhaps sensing they had chosen a poor target, adjusted for her change in position, setting up for a broadside approach that would give them the chance to board. She swore even more colorfully than before, earning a startled “Cap’n!” from Byron as she realized a moment too late to change course.

“Blades out boys, we’re boarded!” She barked the words just as Vox Machina, some still trying to shake the sleep from their brains, appeared on the deck. Grog took stock of the soon to be battlefield and chose a spot right in the middle, posting up with his ax and a feral grin on his face. Whatever the others were thinking, he was obviously looking forward to the coming conflict.

“Cap’n, they’ve got archers!” Byron’s shout seemed to herald the rain of arrows that started to dot the deck. One of them managed to pin Senora’s sleeve to the wheel, nicking her hand in the process and she couldn’t help the snarl that erupted out of her. She’d known something was coming, it had been too damn quiet!

“Vex, see if you can pick some of them off!” She grabbed the arrow with her off hand and wrenched it free from the polished wood of the wheel. She would have to get Amir to fix that hole when he had a minute, but that was a distant thought at the moment as she raced down the top deck, cutlass drawn. Some of the crew had been around long enough to remember the first time she ever pulled the move she was about to do, and if asked, they would happily say that it never got old.

She didn’t look behind her as she passed through the crowd of pirates, mounting the taffrail with all the surety of someone who had done it a hundred times before. As she reached out and took hold of the rigging that controlled the wings of the ship, she pulled a hidden trigger on the hilt of her cutlass, releasing a spark that ignited the oil that ran the length of the blade. The flame burned a bright blue and drew a vicious cheer from the crew. That one move was all the signal the other ship needed to know that they’d royally fucked up, and it was too late to stop what was coming.

“Quarter Cap’n?” Byron’s voice boomed out far enough to reach even the other ship as it drew closer. She caught eyes with the other Captain, noting the almost haughty sense of pride that the man held himself with and grinned.

“Quarter to crew who surrender! The Captain is mine!” The crew let out another shout just as boarding hooks were flung out into the air. They hooked the rail, one landing less than an inch from Senora’s foot, and the ships all but slammed together.

What followed could only be described as pure chaos. Both crews knew that they were fighting for more than just their lives, and with Vox Machina tying into the mix, things quickly devolved into a total blood bath. Senora vaulted onto the other ship, slipping and slicing through the crew as they tried to get between her and the man they’d sworn loyalty to. They didn’t manage it.

“So you’re the upstart are you? I was expecting more. Surrender and I’ll treat you well.” The man drew his cutlass, his bravado wavering in the face of the still flaming blade. While Senora was new to her Captaincy, she was far from unknown when it came to battles. She’d long since made a name for herself in these skies, and mercy was not part of it.

“Oh will you? Tell me, just what you mean by well.” She began to circle him, prowling around the stage that was the man’s helm with all the grace and coiled strength of a lioness. The man had a precious moment to rethink his analysis of his opponent, to give her the respect she deserved as a threat and a combatant. He didn’t take it.

“Oh you pretty fool. I mean that I’ll keep you as my personal cabin whore after I sell your ship. The alternative is that you get passed around between all of us, you and those other three beauties on your ship. You really have no other choice.” He sneered down at her as he spoke, clearly thinking he was getting the better of her feminine sensibilities. Senora didn’t dignify his insult with a response.

She let his words hang in the air for a moment, let him see that she’d heard him and that she didn’t care, and then she pounced. Her blade flashed through the air, the blue flames drawing a bright line behind the glint of the wickedly sharp edge and their duel began. She hated to give the man an ounce of credit, but he was a decent duelist. For every advance she managed, he got one back, and she retreated just as often.

The fight faded into the background as they traded blows. He lost his coat as the flame of her blade caught the fabric on a particularly lucky slash, and her hat was knocked flying when he got her across the face with a pommel strike. She could feel the blood trickling down the side of her face from where the detailed etching caught in her skin and tore it open. She had a slash along her side that was worryingly warm and her shoulder was beginning to ache where it had been stabbed.

The man, Captain Torselle, was no better off. While he’d been sparing with his body shots, aiming mostly to disarm her, she hadn’t been so kind. Her Captain had taught her well, and she was bringing every bit of that knowledge to this fight. He had several long slashes across his torso, shallow due to his quick reflexes, and he’d had to switch to his off hand as she’d managed to land a devastating hit to the bicep of his dominant arm. That was the thing that doomed him, even if he didn’t know it yet.

“That cut looks painful.” He huffed out a breath as he lurched forward, aiming to widen the wound he’d already caused. She just snarled and pressed forward against his weakened grip. She was tired of this man’s blustering, and she was more than ready to have him bleeding out on the deck of his own ship. It was more than he deserved after some of the vile things he’d hissed at her the few times he managed to get her in his grip.

He growled, stepping back, but his form was crooked, unused to compensating for holding his sword in his off hand. His foot hit a raised knot of wood that they’d been dancing around the entire fight and he stumbled. It was the only opening Senora needed. He never even got the chance to hit the deck before his throat was sliced from ear to ear. His body bounced as it dropped, slipping down the stairs to ragdoll at the feet of his men. That was the end of the fight and a moment later found the survivors being herded down into the brig as their ship was thoroughly ransacked by Senora’s crew.

“Cap’n, let me take a look at that.” Byron met her at the rail as she climbed back onto the Ghost, wincing as the wound in her side pulled and her shoulder began to ache. She opened her mouth to argue when a familiar pair of half elves began to make their way over to her, with a thundery looking Gunslinger in tow. She looked up at her first mate, but the plea she’d been about to mutter died on her lips as he just huffed out a laugh, shook his head, and turned away, moving to help with the wounded among their crew.

“What the bloody hells were you thinking!?” To his credit, Percy managed to keep his voice quiet, even if the obvious disapproval was still plain to hear. Senora felt her hackles start to rise before she clocked the fear that was shining in his green eyes. Of course he would be upset, he probably still saw her as the scared teenager he’d helped over the garden gate.

“We don’t mean to question you darling, we know you can look after yourself, but that was exceptionally foolish.” Vex, ever the mediator, put a calming hand on Percy’s arm, taking over the conversation before he could say anything that might start a fight.

“I can see how you would think so given that this was the first time any of you have seen me do something like that, however, I knew exactly what I was doing and have done it many times in the past. Now, if you’re going to lecture me, I won’t stop you, but can it happen where the rest of my crew doesn’t have to listen to it? They tease me enough as it is for Byron’s mother henning.” She got a tight grip over the wound in her side and straightened her spine, sheathing her cutlass to douse the flame that was becoming her calling card.

Percy opened his mouth to object, already looking around for Mildred, but a subtle push from Vax served to silence him. He didn’t know it, but Mildred would have her hands full for the better part of the rest of the day after a fight that chaotic, and that was with Pike helping out with her healing when she could. Senora was more than capable of taking care of her wounds on her own. The crew that were still on their feet cheered as she passed, calling out her name in a kind of victory chant that was slowly becoming something of a post battle ritual. It followed her all the way down into her rooms, and it wasn’t until the door had closed that she allowed her back to loosen and her shoulders to slump.

Chapter 12: Conversation

Summary:

In which Vex and Vax have two very different conversations with Senora and Percy respectively.

“May I lecture you now?” Percy seemed to simply appear at her side as she slipped out of her coat. She nodded, unable to speak around the groan of pain that nearly stole her breath. Vax acted seemingly from muscle memory alone, moving to support her as Percy began to vent all the worry and fear that had built up through the fight. None of it had any real anger in it and more than half of what he actually said could be a compliment just as easily as it could be a castigation, but it clearly made him feel better to do it, and it gave her something to focus on while Vax began patching her up, so she didn’t stop him. When he was finally finished, he seemed to become aware of her situation, and his tone softened as he began asking after what all he might do to help ease her pain.

“Well, unless you want to help me bathe, I’m afraid that isn’t much else you can do right now. Why don’t you go get some more rest, Vex can look after me for a while.” She smiled as best she could around the discomfort of fresh bandages and made the same little shooing motion she used to make when she still lived in the castle. The tiny connection seemed to shift something behind Percy’s eyes and he went quiet for a long moment before he turned to Vax and nodded. The half elf just sighed and shot his sister a good natured eye roll as he followed the human out the door, leaving the girls alone in the heavy silence.

“He has no clue what to do with you. You are aware of that, aren’t you?” Vex didn’t miss a beat as she turned Senora around and steered her back into her bedroom suite. The room had been expertly designed to maximize both space and comfort when Ulysses had first had it built, and Senora was more than happy to have inherited it. The tub was cleverly hidden most of the time, concealed by a handsome bit of paneling at the back of the bedroom.

“He never did.” Senora hissed as she started stripping out of her clothes. While none of her wounds were truly worrying, they were painful, and in some of the more annoying spots on her body. She could already feel the weeks worth of aching and itching she was in for, and she wasn’t looking forward to it.

“He hides a lot behind that facade of civility and poise, like the fact that he’s been pursuing my brother for the better part of a month. He doesn’t seem to be able to do that with you.” Vex remained at her side as she slowly stripped down to her skin. Steam clouded the room as water filled the tub, and it was with no small amount of pleasure that Senora slipped into the massive brass basin once it was suitably full.

“Wait, he’s with Vax? Huh, I didn’t see that coming. At least I know he still has taste.” She sank down into the water until it covered everything but her head and let out a bone deep groan. There was a large part of her that wanted to be upset, that wanted to go and have a very frank discussion with Vax and Percy both, but she ignored it. It was no business of hers what either of them did with their time and she didn’t have a claim on either of them, even if she had more than a little history with both.

“Yes, I thought he would try and rope me in as well at one point, but Keyleth beat him to it, and she isn’t one to share.” She looked over at Vex, who was grinning like the cat that caught the canary, and she couldn’t help the giggle that popped out of her. Of all the couples she might’ve predicted amongst Vox Machina’s ranks, Vex and Keyleth was not what she would’ve put money on.

“Well, I suppose that answers one question. It begs several new ones of course, but I know you aren’t one to kiss and tell. So, Vax and my Lord de Rolo are an item? How did you come to find out about that juicy bit of news?” She didn’t want to think anymore. She’d been thinking since far too early that morning, and she was tired. She would ponder just where all of this new information left her when she had more brain power and less muscle pain.

“Well let’s just say that while my brother may be a sneaky little shit, Percy isn’t, and the walls in our keep aren’t quite so thick as they seem to believe.” Senora snorted at the look of faint disgust on Vex’s face. She’d often wondered what it would be like to have a sibling and watching Vex’s expression as she spoke about her brother’s late night romantic visitors never ceased to make her happy she would never have to find out.

“Oh gods, well I knew Vax could be loud. Is Percy?” She squeaked as Vex splashed water over her head, wetting her curls and making the cut on her face sting. She didn’t mind it though. The good natured glare on her friend’s face, plus the soft chuckle were helping to lift her spirits and soothe her after the events of the night and day thus far.

“You’ll just have to find out on your own now won’t you?” Vex stuck her tongue out, a very uncharacteristically juvenile gesture that ended with her getting splashed as well. She sputtered for a moment before both women dissolved into a fit of laughter that they both sorely needed. It had been too long since either one of them had been able to just relax around someone they knew they could trust who also understood them the way they did each other.

“I fear that ship has sailed my dear Vex’halia. I can excuse a lot, but not even I am stupid enough to misunderstand what it means when a man presses a weapon to my throat. Shock can account for a great deal, but one doesn’t draw a sword on a woman that one intends to sleep with.” She let her head fall back against the rim of the tub as she pointed to the still fresh cut on her neck. Had it really only been a day since she got it? So much had happened in that time. It felt as if weeks had passed.

“Senora, darling, I know you won’t believe me, but what happened had nothing to do with you. There is something dark inside of him. We caught a glimpse of it at the feast. It isn’t a part of him, at least, I don’t think it is. I think that is what attacked you, not him.” Vex’s fingers closed around one of the auburn curls that were floating around Senora’s shoulders, winding it around her finger as she got lost in the memory of the night they were first imprisoned.

“Really Vex? A dark presence made him attack me? You don’t have to defend him. I knew that we would essentially be starting over as strangers when I found out he was alive. I’m just happy to have him back, in whatever way that ends up being. I value him too much to push him away seeking something he doesn’t want.” It hurt to say, she couldn’t deny it, especially after they’d been so close to something the night before, but she meant it all the same. She’d seen friendships ripped apart over similar situations and misunderstandings, and she wasn’t about to lose Percy to some unrequited crush that didn’t have the decency to fade when given ample proof it didn’t belong and wasn’t wanted.

“I suspect you might be wrong on that score, but I won’t press the subject. Now, regale me with another story of your childhood in Whitestone, preferably one that has embarrassing details about Percy.” Vex relaxed against the lip of the tub, allowing the subject to drop, even if she didn’t want it to. She knew Senora well enough to know how stubborn the woman could be. Digging her heels in would only drive whatever wedge Percy had made between them further in. Senora relaxed a bit at Vex’s words and smiled, pausing for a moment to find the proper story before launching into the tale of the day that Percy got stuck in the Sun Tree and she had to get him down.

Line Break

“Vax, please, I’m trying to focus.” Percy huffed out a soft laugh as he swatted playfully at the Rogue who was trying his best to pepper kisses all down the Gunslinger’s neck. It was becoming routine for him to have to fend off his new lover after every fight. Apparently, something about the way he moved when he fought did things to Vax that made him insatiable.

“I know, that’s why this is so fun.” Vax’s dexterous fingers finally managed to worm their way under the fabric of Percy’s ever present high collar, and he used the man’s lapse in focus to latch onto the delicate skin beneath. The shuddering sigh that it pulled from his lover’s lips sent a bolt of desire straight to his cock, and he redoubled his efforts to pull the human away from the desk he’d been sitting at.

“You fucking menace.” Percy’s eyes rolled closed as he began to give in to the incessant playful urging. He knew that if he really wanted Vax to stop, all he had to do was say so, the Rogue was always hyper aware of his mood, but this was just the kind of game he needed after the day he’d had. So much had happened so quickly, and he was struggling to make heads or tails of any of it.

“Mmm, you should do something about me then.” Those same fingers had begun to slip down over the man’s chest, expertly popping open all of the little buttons that held his finely tailored appearance in place. With each new inch of skin that was freed, Percy felt himself relax just a little more. Eventually, he was sagging back in his chair, bare chested and breathing deep as Vax lavished affection on him.

“How do you always do this to me?” He turned his head, sighing with a deep satisfaction as Vax’s lips stole over his own. It had been hard for him to admit, at first, that he had feelings for the handsome half elf. He’d spent so much of his adolescence pining after Senora that he hadn’t stopped to consider what other proclivities he might possess. Now, though, there was no hesitation in him. He offered himself up as a treasure for the Rogue to steal and keep for as long as he liked.

“Simple,” Vax’s hands wound into the loose fabric of Percy’s shirt, pulling him from his chair and toward the bed. “I’m very good at getting what I want.” He pushed the nobleman back ever so gently, sending him sprawling onto the pillowy mattress in a heap of silk shirt and silvery white hair. He couldn’t help the growl that rumbled through his chest as he looked down at his lover. There was just something about the man that made him absolutely feral.

“Are you now? And just what is it that you want Vax’ildan?” Percy propped himself up onto his elbows, holding the half elf’s warm gaze as he felt his shirt slip down off his shoulders to pool around his elbows. He knew what seeing him so disheveled did to Vax, and he was more than happy to play into the role of the prized possession this time around, if that is what his lover desired.

“You,” Vax slid a knee onto the bed, discarding his own shirt so that he could press his bare chest against Percy’s burning skin. “Begging me to let you cum,” his hands descended on the man’s belt and trouser buttons, all but ripping them open. “While I’m balls deep inside you.” He cut off whatever snarky comment Percy was about to say with another breath stealing kiss, but Percy wasn’t about to be out done that easily. The Gunslinger, in a surprising show of dexterity and strength, hooked a leg up over Vax’s hip and managed to flip them over completely. The move made his already hard cock ache, and for a moment, he forgot how to speak, or breathe.

“Now now, none of that. I am nobility after all, and royalty doesn’t beg, sweet Vax’ildan.” Now that he was on top, Percy was more than happy to take control. He saw something dark flash behind Vax’s eyes, but it passed just as soon as it came so he put it from his mind. If it mattered, he would say something, he always did. Instead, he focused his attention on paying back every kiss and nip that Vax had seen fit to torture him with since they returned to their room, and he didn’t spare a single inch of the warm bronze skin on display for him to play with. By the time he was finished, the half elf had been reduced to a panting mess, and he wasn’t much better.

“Percy..fuck…please..” Vax had long since given up any pretense of keeping a level head. The damn human had been teasing kisses and sucking love bites along the hem of his trousers for the better part of the last twenty minutes, and his cock couldn’t get any harder. He needed friction, any kind of stimulation, and he wasn’t above begging for it.

“Mmm, now that’s more like it. Finally teaching you some manners.” Percy, almost at the end of his own rope, pressed a firm caress to the considerable bulge in Vax’s trousers. The sound that came from the half elf very nearly undid him entirely, but he was nothing if not a master of self control. To spare them both, however, he decided not to draw out the next few minutes, and instead made short work of the rest of their clothing, not stopping until they were both as bare as the day they were born.

“Freddie…touch me…I beg you…” Vax was a panting mess of flesh and need as he looked up at his lover. He needed to feel those skilled hands on him, gripping him tight, gliding over his hard flesh, wringing pleasure from him until his eyes crossed. He sobbed out a shocked moan as Percy took firm hold of his cock and started to slowly stroke it.

“You know what that nickname does to me Precious.” While one hand was busy easing some of the tension he’d built up in his lover, the other was digging in the small bag by the side of their bed, searching for the little vial he always kept on hand. He groaned as he finally found it and began the deliciously slow process of preparing them both for what they so desperately needed.

“Makes you f-fucking feral…I love it…” Vax groaned as he felt some of the magically warming oil that Percy had surprised him with trickle down over his overly sensitive cock head. Percy had been working him up for over half an hour and his control was beginning to fray. If he didn’t get inside the Gunslinger soon, he wasn’t sure he would be able to hold out.

“You like pushing my buttons do you? Making me lose control? Maybe I should fuck you this time.” The whine his words received had him stifling a snarl as he began to work the oil down over Vax’s thick flesh. If not for how badly he wanted to feel it inside him, he might just follow through on that threat, but it was Vax’s turn, and he was nothing if not fair. So instead, he chose a different torture. He looked down at the half elf and felt a grin slip across his kiss bruised lips. Vax had a habit of closing his eyes when he began to feel too good to control, and that left him wide open for all manner of fun surprises.

“It’s my tuuaaaah fuck Freddie!” Vax’s eyes flew open, looking up into Percy’s soft green gaze as he sank slowly down onto his slicked up cock. Normally they would spend some time preparing each other, working up to this moment, but the Gunslinger clearly had something else in mind for tonight. The smug smirk on his face set a fire burning low in Vax’s belly and did away with the last of his reasoning as his hands closed like a vice around Percy’s narrow hips.

“Yes…fuck Freddie indeed.” Percy braced his hands on Vax’s chest, letting his own eyes roll closed for just a moment as pleasure spiked through him and overwhelmed his senses entirely. He didn’t think he would ever get used to how good it felt to be so full, at least, he hoped he didn’t. His cock throbbed against Vax’s belly and he finally let out the low moan he’d been holding back. He could feel the way it made Vax twitch inside him.

“Always…so fucking tight…” Vax, ever the consummate sneak, had been playing up his pleasure to this point, luring Percy into a false sense of security, and as the human let his guard down, he seized his moment. Much like Percy had done, he leveraged his hips up against the Gunslinger’s ass and flipped them back over so that he was now kneeling between Percy’s spread legs, balls deep inside him, just as he’d said he would be.

“Vax!” All of shifting had shoved Percy from fully controlled, to near cumming, all in the span of a single moment, and now he was hard pressed to do anything but pant and hold tight to the well toned forearms that where propping his lover up off of his body. He’d let himself get distracted and underestimated his partner, and now he was going to pay for it. He couldn’t wait.

“That’s is Freddie…say my name…use that pretty voice…” Vax sucked in a breath as he drew slowly out of Percy’s tight hole. It was the most exquisite torture for both of them, teasing out each delicious grip and glide until they were lost in the rhythm of each other’s bodies. One of his hands slid up the human’s body to cradle his cheek. He wanted to make sure that Percy understood this was more than just physical, that it would always be more. The other slid down his belly to wrap around his straining cock.

“V..fuck..Va..ungh gods yes please…” Percy’s hand slid over Vax’s as it cradled his cheek, pressing it close to his skin, keeping it there as he turned his head and began to pepper the palm with kisses. He whispered half broken praise and filthy urging into the calloused palm, eyes screwing shut as he felt his grip on his control beginning to slip. He didn’t know how much longer her would be able to last if Vax kept stroking him the way he was.

“Ungh…that’s it Freddie…give in…give it to me…” Vax wasn’t far behind his human lover, but he wanted to Percy to cum first. He needed to see the man break for him before he filled him up. He tightened his grip around the Gunslinger’s twitching cock and started working it at a frantic pace. It had taken him the better part of the last two weeks to learn what the other man liked, but he was nothing in not a good student. He could feel how close his lover was.

“Yes…yes..Vax..fuck!” Percy’s hips jerked up into Vax’s hand as his back bowed up off the bed. Lightning shot down his spine, burning hot through his blood as he felt the first throbbing pulse of pleasure seize him. Thick ropes shot up over his chest and belly, shining wet against his pale skin as his wanton moans filled the room. They harmonized with the wet slap of skin on skin as Vax redoubled his grip on the Gunslinger’s hips and started chasing down his own end.

“Always so pretty for me Percy…so fucking good…” Unlike Percy, Vax’s climax was quiet. His eyes slipped closed as his body hunched forward. His lips parted in a desperate gasp of air. His hips lurched forward, burying himself to the hilt as he held tight to his lover’s body, and he didn’t let go until the last of his spend had been emptied inside. He sucked in a breath as he pulled slowly out of the blazing heat of Percy’s body, collapsing to the side of the panting human with all the satisfaction of a job well done.

“That was…you were…mmm…” Percy was still trying to find his words after Vax had shut down basically his whole brain. The Rogue’s rich laughter pulled a sleepy smile to his face, and for a moment, everything was peaceful, everything was right, but then the shadow began to creep in again. It had been getting worse since the feast and he was losing the ability to control it.

“Likewise…now come here…you need your rest…” Vax’s hands on him drew him back out of the haze that had been slowly filling his mind. The simple touch of a cloth sweeping his own mess from his chest helped to ground him in the moment. It was the reprieve he needed to find his way back to himself, and he happily curled up beside the half elf. He wanted to fall asleep, but there was one thing that was still pressing on his mind.

“Vax, when you were dancing with Senora yesterday I thought I saw…did you two..when you were here before I mean..” He didn’t know why he suddenly felt so awkward. It’s not like he’d made a promise to Senora when she left Whitestone. Hells, he was shacking up with someone else while aboard her ship, but the thought of her being with Vax the way he had been, of Vax touching her the way he wished to touch her…it made him feel oddly vulnerable.

“Oh, well…yes, we did. She’s a captivating woman. I was smitten the moment I met her…still am, if I’m honest.” Vax felt a small pang of worry nestle in his chest. Was he saying the wrong thing? Should he be downplaying what they’d had before? He didn’t want to hurt Percy, but he also didn’t want to lie about what he and Senora had been. “Is that alright?” He shifted back on the bed just a little, catching Percy’s gaze and holding it while he waited for the human to answer.

“I…we…” Percy sighed, sitting up and rubbing at the tension that was slowly beginning to coil back up along his neck. “Part of me feels like it shouldn’t be. Senora was always mine, a little secret that I kept tucked away in my past. To know that you shared in that, that you knew her as well, in ways that I…but it’s like that feeling is just for show. Ugh, I’m not making any sense.” He let his body fall back onto the bed, arm laid over his eyes, blocking out whatever long suffering expression he knew would be on Vax’s face.

“Percy, it’s alright to be confused.” Vax had to admit, that wasn’t what he’d been expecting. He thought that Percy would do what so many others in the past had done, get defensive, put on a front, pretend it didn’t matter. He should really know better after so long with the human, but he was still managing to surprise him.

“That’s just it, I’m not. I’m happy with you. I want her. I don’t mind that you had her and want her still. Hells, I don’t even mind the idea of…is sharing the right word in this instance? The only part of any of this that is even remotely confusing is why I reacted the way I did when I first saw her.” It was the one dark spot on an otherwise perfect set up, and it was one that he wasn’t sure how to get around. He knew that Senora would let it go, she already had, but he also knew that she would never forget it. She would let that one moment inform her entire relationship with him, and he didn’t know how to undo that damage.

“Oh Freddie, come here.” Each word that came out of the Gunslinger’s mouth only served to set Vax more at ease. This he could work with. This he knew how to handle. Percy had been a shell of a person when they first met, consumed with a bone deep hatred that was barely contained behind his facade of gentile civility. They’d done a lot of work with him since then, he and his sister both, and he forgot sometimes that Percy didn’t have the kind of experience that they had. He didn’t understand people the way they did. If a relationship with Senora was something that he genuinely wanted, Vax would be more than happy to help foster it.

“Don’t Freddie me, this is serious. I held her at blade point. I very nearly…” He still couldn’t bring himself to say the words, just like he couldn’t bring himself to fight the slow, yet inexorable pull of Vax’s arms around him. Before he could say anything in protest, his head was resting over the half elf’s heart, and he was being lulled back down from his confused over thinking by the steady thumping rhythm.

“We both know that she will likely never forget what happened. There is no way to undo what has been done. So we move forward instead. Show her how you feel with more than just words. Silence her doubts and her fears with actions she can’t ignore or misinterpret. Leave the rest to me…assuming you meant what you said about sharing.” It was the one part of the whole thing that could still be called a risk. Vax wasn’t sure that Percy was serious about a shared relationship, and if he wasn’t…well he didn’t want to think about the complications that could arise.

“You mean…both of us…do you think she would?” Percy was loathe to abandon the warmth of Vax’s arms around him, but he needed to look the other man in the eye when he answered. He valued what he had with Vax far too much to risk it over a misunderstanding. He didn’t know how he would navigate a shared relationship, hells, he was barely competent with just one partner, but he wanted it, and if Vax did as well then he knew he would do anything he could to make it work.

“It’s settled then. Now rest, you’ve got a long night ahead of you.” Vax smiled up at him, stroking a finger down his pale cheek before pulling him gently down to rest on his chest once more. His fingers took up their new habit of carding through his hair as he felt his lover slowly sagging against him until his breathing became deep and even. Once he knew he was fully asleep, Vax slipped from the bed and began to redress, he needed to find his sister.

Chapter 13

Summary:

In which Vax tries to plant an idea in Senora's head...to mixed effect.

“Ah, if it isn’t my two favorite ladies. Are you sure you should be on your feet so soon Captain?” Vax decided that the best way to enact his plan was to get his sister on his side. While she had never been quite as close to Senora as Vax had been, they’d shared a different kind of relationship, and her opinion was one that the Captain prized highly. If they could both work at whittling away at the doubt that Percy’s actions had caused, the relationship he was already starting to dream of would be one step closer to reality.

Said human woman nearly jumped out of her skin as he snuck up behind her, pairing his question with a quick swipe of her hat from her head. When she turned to glare at him, pointedly ignoring the poorly muffled giggles coming from Vex’s direction, he had already set the hat on his own head at a jaunty angle. It didn’t suit him in the slightest, but watching her try to grab for it, only to miss because of their height difference was too funny a thing to pass up. He didn’t keep it for long though, giving it back with an exaggerated bow and a wink that had once been all he needed to make her blush. Now it just earned him a grin and a good natured eye roll as she fixed the accessory back on her own head.

“Yes, Vax, I’m sure. You know better than most that it takes more than a few bruises to retire me to my bed for the day. Now, if you two will excuse me, I need to go and see to those that weren’t quite so lucky.” She turned to Vex and rolled her eyes again before slipping out from between the twins and heading off to the crew quarters. She needed to know the state of things and how many they might have lost after their impromptu bit of combat.

“You seem in a better mood brother.” There were several unasked questions in her statement, several of which neither of them wanted him to really answer. In lieu of words that would make the both of them uncomfortable, he simply grinned and nodded, giving her a moment to theatrically flinch before he tried to get her full attention. After he was sure that she would be able to focus, he pulled her off to the side of the top deck, ensuring they wouldn’t be overheard by any lingering crew.

“Do you remember when we were little, back in Byroden, how we would meddle in the affairs of the older kids?” It was a risky move, bringing up their home and the memories they had made there before their father had whisked them off to Syngorn. They were truly happy times for the twins, but every day they could bring to mind was stained with soot and loss and the threat of dragons.

“I do. Why?” The mischievous glint in her eye belied how much she was already understanding, just from his question, but she was always one to gather all the details before she pieced anything together. He blamed her cautious nature. She said it was prudence. Either way, he could see that he would have to spell things out for her before she would be willing to give her input on the situation.

“Well, I have been informed that those skills might be needed once again. Namely between our good Lord de Rolo and our dear Captain Navad.” His eyebrow crept slowly up his forehead as he spoke, letting her know without speaking that this was not something he was upset about, and that there was more to it than he was saying.

“Vax, before you say anything else I have to ask…where will this leave you, exactly?” She had a good idea of what the answer would be, and normally she would be happy to let it lie and trust that he knew what he was doing. But her brother had a tendency to be blind to certain details when his heart was involved, and she needed to know he was thinking clearly.

“If all goes to plan? Wrapped in Percy’s arms with my face buried in Senora’s lovely breasts.” It was a low blow, but he couldn’t resist taking advantage of the opportunity to make her flinch again. She’d set herself up for it that time around and he wasn’t even a little sorry as her face scrunched up and she fought a full body shudder.

“You’re an ass.” She shoved a hand into his shoulder, earning her a deep rumbling chuckle for her trouble. She was no prude, but between the two of them, she was the one that preferred to keep their love lives behind closed doors, especially the sexual aspects. Vax had no such compunctions.

“You asked. Now, are you going to help me or not?” Vax relaxed back against the taffrail, his arms crossed over his chest as he pinned her in place with his questioning gaze. There were rarely moments when this kind of thing was needed, usually they could just tell what the other was thinking or feeling, but he wanted to make sure there were no misunderstandings between them before he allowed himself to hope.

“Of course I will. Do I need to sing your praises as well? Or will you be handling that yourself?” Vex mirrored her brother’s posture, and while they couldn’t see it, to anyone looking in, they seemed almost to be the same person. This was how Keyleth found them a moment later, and for a moment she was struck by just how similar they could be, when they wanted to be, but she was on a bit of a mission, so she shook herself from her thoughts and approached the pair.

“Hello love, are you alright?” Vex’s whole demeanor changed the moment she laid eyes on her love, every sharp line softened and a wistful smile affixed itself to her face. Her hand moved on its own, reaching out for the druid as she drew close enough to touch. Keyleth blushed, still unused to the overt affection, but she happily took the offered hand and tucked herself up against Vex’s side, smiling up at her with all the sincerity of a virginal bride. It made Vax’s heart happy to see, and he couldn’t help the sigh that popped out of him.

“I’m okay, just wanted to talk to you about something. Am I interrupting?” She looked between the twins, more than ready to scuttle away if she caught even a hint of a thought that she might be coming between them, but Vex held her tight. It was a problem they’d been working through since their relationship began, and they were making progress, but the Ranger was still frustrated by Keyleth’s knee jerk response to make herself small when she thought she was taking up too much space. They would get there, one day the young Ashari would be proud to take up the room she so richly deserved, but until then, Vex would take up enough for the both of them.

“Of course not darling, we were just chatting.” She turned to her brother and gave him a little wink, her silent agreement to help however she could, and then she was gone, spiriting a stuttering Keyleth off to the other side of the top deck for whatever conversation she needed to have. Vax shook his head, laughing softly as he went off after Senora. Now that he knew his sister was with him, it was time for step two of his plan.

This part was going to be a little more difficult, but he felt confident that he would be able to pull it off. It wouldn’t be the first time he had to gage her affection for him after all, only now he would have to make it seem like he wasn’t actively pursuing her lest she get the wrong idea. He knew she didn’t mind the idea of multiple partners, they’d formed a small polycule his first time aboard, but that was a conversation that should happen when she was well rested, and not fresh from a fight and a terrible night of horrible nightmares. He didn’t have to look for very long to find her, in fact, if not for his quick reflexes, he would’ve walked right into her as she came barreling up the stairs.

“Oh! Sorry Vax, watch yourself.” Her hold on his wrist was gentle but secure, a needless gesture given his impeccable balance, but he kept that fact to himself. He would never admit it, but he even went so far as to play up stumbling a bit, just so he could pull her a little closer before she let him go. It was an underhanded tactic, but he was a bit of a scoundrel, so he didn’t feel too bad about it.

“Speak for yourself. Where are you off to in such a hurry?” He fell into step at her side as she began to make her way across the top deck. Something was bothering her, that much was obvious, but he couldn’t figure out what it might be. Unless things had gotten drastically worse below deck, he knew that they hadn’t lost anyone and the skies were clear for miles in every direction, so she shouldn’t be so anxious.

“To speak with Percival about being a hypocrite and taking care of oneself after combat. Mildred saw his get hit no less than three times and I know for a fact that he never got any kind of help from anyone.” Vax’s hand settled on her shoulder, pulling her attention away from where she’d been marching to settle don his grinning face instead. Her face colored up as she came to an abrupt halt, and he had to fight not to laugh.

“I can assure you, he has been seen to…very thoroughly, and is resting in the cabin you so kindly gave us. It would be a shame to wake him.” He shot her a wink, letting her know, in no uncertain terms, just what he meant, and her answering laughter made his heart flutter in a way it hadn’t done in quite a while. He’d forgotten just how much he enjoyed making her laugh.

“Right, your sister told me you two were an item. You’ll have to tell me how that happened sometime.” She stepped off to the side, leaning against the taffrail as all the fight drained out of her. She hadn’t been all that upset to begin with, at least, not about what she’d been planning to talk about. She’d been steadfastly ignoring the fact that the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, just like she’d been ignoring how tired she was feeling, but it was rapidly coming up on the time when she would have to face down another night.

“There isn’t much to tell. I saw a very handsome human in a jail cell and decided I was going to have him. It took far longer than I will ever admit, but I finally got him, and I’m very happy to never give him up again so long as he is happy with me.” Vax joined her at the rail, looking down at the world below them with detached fascination. Everything looked so beautiful from this high up. There were no problems, no crooks trying to cheat them, no long lost family drama waiting to pounce. It was just a sea of rolling green, covered in patches of puffy white and the shadows they cast. Senora sighed, letting out an almost bitter sounding laugh.

“Can I confess something? I thought you and I might pick up where we left off when I first saw you. I wasn’t expecting to see you when I arrived at the Keep, and things with Percy had never been what one could call clear, so part of me began plotting how to get you back in my bed. It’s rotten luck, that the only two men I’ve ever had feelings for have shacked up together. What’s a girl to do?” She looked over at him, smiling in that heart breaking way that he’d only ever seen on her. It was an expression that told him she understood, that she was happy for him, and that she wouldn’t get in his way. But it was also a look that said she should’ve known better than to hope for better, that she knew she wasn’t worth him, or Percy, and that she had accepted that she would be without them both. It was a look that said she thought she deserved to be cast aside, and he hated it.

“Senora, am I to understand you will not be fighting for my hand? You wound me.” He pressed a hand to his chest dramatically. He wanted to sweep her up right then and kiss her, erase that damned look regardless of the consequences, but she deserved better than that. She needed to know that what he would be offering her was more than just passing whim.

“You’re right, of course, I’ll challenge Percy to another duel right after I wake up. He’ll have been up all night so I like my chances.” She breathed out a soft laugh, but it didn’t sound quite right. It was too heavy, too full of hurt.

“Much better. I’ll let him know to expect you. Now give me a hug and go off to bed. You look ready to drop.” He held an arm out, inviting her to cuddle up against his side as he gave her a reassuring squeeze. She happily obliged, squeezing back like they’d always done, and then she was gone, disappearing down into the hall that would lead her her rooms and what she no doubt feared would be another fitful night. He hoped, for her sake, that Percy was able to help her. She seemed so fragile, and he feared what would happen if she didn’t get some actual rest.

Notes:

Here's every song in the playlist I've been listening to while writing this. Feel free to listen to them, or ignore this note. I'll be posting a link to a pinterest board for Senora as soon as I set one up.

Pinterest Board for Senora can be found here: https://www.pinterest.com/N1mTheW17ch/captain-senora-navad/

Dead Men Tell No Tales by The Pubcrawlers
This Night We Spend Ashore by Varend Volk
A Drop of Nelson's Blood by Storm Weather Shanty Choir
Ship Is Sinking by Ye Banished Privateers
Dividing The Plunder by Stormfrun
We Sail Together from the Sea of Thieves Sountrack (the slow version)
The Fish of the Sea by The Jolly Rogers
Sail Away by Santiano
The Greyhound by Heather Dale
Beneath the Black Flag by Miracle of Sound
My Jolly Sailor Bold by Ashley Serena
Gangplank by Ye Banished Privateers
The Last Shanty by Derina Harvey Band
Once A Sailor by Stormfrun
The Curse by The Longest Johns
Drunken Sailor by The Longest Johns
Spanish Ladies by The Longest Johns
Randy Dandy-O by The Longest Johns
The Coast of High Barbary by The Skullduggers
On The Sea of Thieves by Stormfrun
My Son John by Smokey Bastard
Here's A Health to the Company from the Assassin's Creed Black Flag soundtrack
Haul Away Joe by Pierce Campbell
The Flying Dutchman by The Jolly Rogers
The Pirate Shanty by Worldwide Adventurers