[ Whatever happens, it's out of our control. Vex's words still ring in his mind from time to time.
A slight shrug, and he nearly says something but then Dion throws in that remark and Vax bursts out laughing. He's quite red, too. Oh gods. Good thing he wasn't drinking or there'd be wine all over Dion's couch.
How unexpected to hear Dion, of all people, say that. Guess he's read a few of those, too. Not to mention, some of those books take place in fantasy worlds. It's not uncommon to see a beautiful elf on one of those covers. ]
I'm not sure I would go that far, but Shaun might.
[ Presented with a curious new genre right there amidst the expected fare, Dion couldn't help but be curious. He had purchased a few, even, simply for that reason. Their time on Earth was short, and anything he didn't strictly need could be donated to the library, after all.
He smiles at the sound of Vax's laugh. It seems he hadn't expected that at all, which may not be a surprise, given how prim he is. He's written a letter or two that might also surprise others, but he's content to keep that tidbit to himself. ]
I believe this is the first I've heard of Shaun. Is that the other you were referring to?
[ Vax didn't say very much about Keyleth, and Dion said so much about Terence. Guess he owes Dion a proper story, but this one is clearly a happy memory.
A deep sigh and he rests his head against the back of the couch, his body slouching in a comfortable, lazy position as he settles in while turning his head just enough to look over at Dion. ]
Yeah. I met him some years ago. He was.. older. Worldly. Experienced. And a very powerful sorcerer. I was.. in over my head.
[ Vax chuckles fondly as the reminiscing. ]
He's quite a character. And in recent years, he's been the greatest benefactor of my group of friends. We would have been lost without his knowledge and resources.
[ It makes sense enough to Dion not to pry about what seems still to bruise Vax, where naught can be done for it. He does wonder whether Vax might yet be pleasantly surprised when he returns to his home. People were unpredictable in many ways.
No matter what might occur, he would have no way of knowing. But he hopes good things come Vax's way, feeling that he deserves that much at least. ]
He sounds like a good ally to have.
[ He debates commenting upon the rest, though it seems the experience was a positive one in Vax's view, and he's glad for that much. Tales he'd heard regarding certain figures in power and those a good deal younger were often not so favorable.
Not that he knows details, and it wouldn't be his business to ask. It's enough to know how Vax feels about it. ]
I've read of sorcerers in books, but we've no such people in my world. What manner of abilities does he have?
[ A safe question, but one that allows Vax to talk more about the man if he wishes to. ]
He is a good ally, and a good friend. We still.. keep company, on occasion. Or we did.
[ It was nice not to be lonely, sometimes. Were one to say Vax was charmed, maybe even seduced, might not be inaccurate, but he has a genuine fondness for the man. Vax cares about him deeply, and Shaun cares deeply for Vax, as well. ]
Shaun's sorcery is innate, which makes it incredibly powerful. It's in his blood. He can do.. just about anything, I imagine. Create and destroy, but he's always used his magic to help others. And make a profit. He is a merchant, after all.
[ Uh.. wait. Wouldn't Dion know what it's like not having that form of companionship, too? Not in the same sort of relationship, but he was in a relationship.
All of this is going through Vax's mind, so he's nearly too distracted to notice the display of power at first, but then he blinks as the light catches his soft brown eyes, staring at the orb like a bird fascinated by an unexpected shiny thing. His gaze lifts, tracking the moving light around in its circular path. ]
Uh, not rare, exactly, but one of the more unusual ways to master magic.
[ His eyes flick from the light to Dion's face. Were he not both drunk and a little tired, he might not ask. ]
[ His attention is far from pointed, but Dion does observe the way Vax tracks the orbit of that light and the way it catches his eyes. Vax wears black, but the light suits him too.
He hasn't much time to linger on the thought before he's asked the question. His cheeks warm and he clears his throat quietly, glancing away, because he hasn't ever discussed that either.
Still, he recognizes Vax has been sparing in his language, assuredly for his benefit. ]
Well, yes, of course.
[ Of course...? He'll not dwell on it. ]
But circumstances were limiting, so it was far from the sort of...action one might find in a novel.
[ They couldn't be observed, or heard, or suspected. It couldn't be helped, and Dion appreciated what he had, but he didn't think it so dramatic a loss, spare as those instances were. ]
I may have wanted more than he did.
[ The admission is strange to hear himself voice, for all that he'd thought it. He tries to soften the oddity by shrugging it off, though he's uncertain whether it achieves that effect. ]
[ They're discussing a hell of a lot tonight. Vax never would've thought they'd cover this subject when he came up here for dinner.
For a second, he admires the blush on Dion's face. It's awfully cute.
As Dion explains how things were between him and Terence, Vax's expression softens, a slight blush appearing on his own face, too, and he glances down to hide an awkward smile.
Given the books Dion likes to read and his words, Vax can't help but think there's a passionate side of his friend stuffed underneath all of that propriety. And perhaps a longing. It must be hard trying to behave all the time. Vax wouldn't know, of course.
With all Dion had to live with back home, Vax knows the mental and emotional support Terence offered must have been invaluable. Still... the other stuff might have been nice, too. ]
[ Dion shakes his head, the drifting light above them glinting off his earrings. ]
You needn't apologize. I could always have declined to answer.
[ And he trusts that Vax wouldn't have pressed were that the case. He hadn't expected to speak on his own personal matters in general, yet here they are. It doesn't seem either of them are any worse off for it. If anything, he better understands what Vax has been contending with since his arrival.
There are many ways to feel isolated, many ways in which what one was accustomed to back home left a void in this world. ]
I wonder though... It was a great deal to put up with.
[ Not that Dion expects that Terence would have complained of it, and he surely had a sense of what he would be signing up for, but knowing and experiencing are different. He wonders whether there had ever been regrets, but he'll surely never know. ]
Edited (changed a word to fit better) Date: 2025-10-24 07:02 am (UTC)
[ If Dion sidestepped the question, Vax would not have pressed, of course. That's far too personal, but the answer does provide some clarity, and he thinks he understands his friend a bit better because of it.
The glint of light against Dion's earrings catches Vax's eye, just as the light above had. With a small smile, he lifts his hand and reaches to gently touch one of the jewelries from beneath so that it tilts slightly with the manipulation of his finger until it flashes with light again.
One can get used to affection, and though Vax and Gilmore's trysts were occasional, only between moments where they happened to cross paths, Vax appreciated the company of his friend, who obviously cared a great deal about him, and who knew how to alleviate Vax's loneliness in that aspect of his life. When they left Syngorn as children, Vex iced her heart away from others, fearing love. Vax, on the other hand, quietly yearned for it and how wonderful it might be to feel connected to someone both emotionally and physically. But Vex and Percy are the lucky ones.
No doubt, Terence knew what he was getting in to, having known Dion his whole life. With a sigh, Vax removes his hand from its place beneath Dion's ear, though there's the faintest whisper of the back of Vax's fingers against Dion's jaw as it withdraws. Vax's eyes are then cast up to the orbiting light again, shimmering like a star. ]
[ Dion doesn't expect the touch to his ear, but he so seldom expects others to reach for him. It isn't the norm, nor has it ever been. But for once he doesn't shrink from it, merely glancing curiously at Vax.
Yet there is no explanation, nor any question that would amount to the same. Vax simply lets go. And he accepts that, at least until the comment comes.
He sits with it, for the span of a few drawn moments. ]
Alas, I cannot ask.
[ Whether Terence survived or not, he would not see him again. It's something he'd accepted back in Kanver, resolved to it, for he would rather the man live on without him than die with him.
His gaze drifts up to follow that light as well, as it continues its slow circuits in the air. ]
But I hope he finds happiness.
[ If he is to have faith in him, then he wants it to be for that. ]
[ Vax tilts his head a little as he observes the orb. It's difficult to say how long he's resisted the urge, but he finally lifts his hand, his fingers moving in the path of the light as it comes around its bend. Will he feel it? Is it warm? Or maybe it'll give him a little spark. Perhaps it will be bumped off course in some chaotic fashion. It wouldn't be the first time Vax disrupted an orderly flow. ]
He would want the same for you. Your wishes for him would also be his wishes for your life. Whether that life is here or.. whatever happens.
[ If Dion cannot go home because it only serves to cement his death, maybe he would choose to remain here as some others seem to want. Living under Echo's rule isn't ideal, but it might be better than death. ]
Echo commands so much power, yet somehow not enough. Dion can only wonder what becomes of those of them whose time has passed. Perhaps their only reward is death, but none could say.
He hums in quiet acknowledgement... And that luminous sphere pops like a bubble, showering Vax with shimmering light that fades shortly after.
Dion snorts. It's a quiet sound, but it's audible, and it might just imply his light does what he wants it to.
[ As the bubble pops and scatters light, Vax flinches out of surprise, only to be doused with luminescence.
Briefly, it coats his dark hair, his black shirt and his arms. He blinks, seeing it on the tips of his eyelashes. Then he looks down at himself, wondering if it's going to be hard to remove it all, but thankfully, it fades after a few moments.
[ Dion did think it was funny, primarily because it caught Vax off-guard. How often would it be the case that a dragoon might surprise a rogue?
Aside dropping in from some absurd height, that is. ]
It suited you.
[ Sincere statement? Teasing? Yes to both, though the former outweighs the latter. With Vax's dark hair and clothing, a little sparkle had a dramatic look to it. ]
Edited (that stray bracket...aaand a typo...) Date: 2025-10-25 03:22 am (UTC)
[ Perhaps it's that light that Vax first noticed. Something about Dion seems to radiate goodness. However, that goodness and strength and character is the reason he kept coming back.
The question is curious. Vax is no poet. ]
No, not usually.
[ Maybe the brightest ones will shine through as the morning sun begins to stir, but not for very long.
His soft eyes turn toward the balcony door in thought. It's quite dark out by now, but he can't see the stars from the couch. They'd probably need a darker spot, away from the lights of the apartments to get a really good view. ]
[ Dion may be laughing at his expense again, but Vax doesn't even care, so long as he can see that smile. ]
Okay, so.. I'm dramatic.
[ That IS what Dion just said. His drunk brain may not be fit for poetry, but he's having fun trying to figure out what Dion means by all of this. It would be a lot easier to just speak plainly. ]
[ It'd also be the pot calling the kettle black, wouldn't it? Not that Dion knows whether he would feel justified calling Vax dramatic, but he knows it of himself...
The pitfalls of feeling all he does as intensely as he does.
He puffs out a small sigh. Need he speak plainly?
It feels as though he might manage to insult Vax without meaning to otherwise. ]
You looked pretty like that. [ It sounds so coarse phrasing it that way. Itchy sweater coarse. Yet being blunt seems the only option. ] Having dark hair and clothing was not some manner of detraction. Quite the opposite.
[ It was a simple observation of what anyone with eyes would see, he thought. ]
[ Ask his friends or his sister, and Vax can be plenty dramatic. Usually while he's brooding over something.
In this case, speaking plainly may be the only way to get the message through to him. Vax hasn't had a lot of experience with Dion's poetic side, yet. At least he finally gets it. ]
Oh.
[ Yes, it makes sense, but he's trying to figure out what to think of it. He knows Dion is being sincere, since he can't be otherwise, but Vax knows he shouldn't read into it too much, either. It's no different than if Dion had walked over to that balcony and looked outside.
Still, he can't stop the blush from appearing on his face. Vax rakes his fingers back over his dark hair until they meet the back of his neck. ]
Well, your light magic does the trick, doesn't it?
[ That's why it looked pretty. He simply served as a backdrop. ]
I would not say that there was any trick to it, no.
[ Dion's light didn't change what was already there, simply highlighted it in a different way. To that end, he doesn't think it's quite right to give it more weight than that.
He pats Vax's shoulder companionably. ]
Though it is merely my opinion. [ It's just that he has eyes and they work rather well, as it so happens. ] But I suspect I'm being a poor host— could you use some water?
[ His constitution being what it is, it can be difficult to gauge such things. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 04:13 am (UTC)[ Terence was. It was plain on his face.
But when Vax mentions the other kind— ]
Ah, you speak of bodice rippers.
[ Said so casually.
From this guy. ]
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Date: 2025-10-24 04:27 am (UTC)A slight shrug, and he nearly says something but then Dion throws in that remark and Vax bursts out laughing. He's quite red, too. Oh gods. Good thing he wasn't drinking or there'd be wine all over Dion's couch.
How unexpected to hear Dion, of all people, say that. Guess he's read a few of those, too. Not to mention, some of those books take place in fantasy worlds. It's not uncommon to see a beautiful elf on one of those covers. ]
I'm not sure I would go that far, but Shaun might.
[ Shaun would relish the idea. ]
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Date: 2025-10-24 04:34 am (UTC)He smiles at the sound of Vax's laugh. It seems he hadn't expected that at all, which may not be a surprise, given how prim he is. He's written a letter or two that might also surprise others, but he's content to keep that tidbit to himself. ]
I believe this is the first I've heard of Shaun. Is that the other you were referring to?
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Date: 2025-10-24 04:48 am (UTC)A deep sigh and he rests his head against the back of the couch, his body slouching in a comfortable, lazy position as he settles in while turning his head just enough to look over at Dion. ]
Yeah. I met him some years ago. He was.. older. Worldly. Experienced. And a very powerful sorcerer. I was.. in over my head.
[ Vax chuckles fondly as the reminiscing. ]
He's quite a character. And in recent years, he's been the greatest benefactor of my group of friends. We would have been lost without his knowledge and resources.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 05:05 am (UTC)No matter what might occur, he would have no way of knowing. But he hopes good things come Vax's way, feeling that he deserves that much at least. ]
He sounds like a good ally to have.
[ He debates commenting upon the rest, though it seems the experience was a positive one in Vax's view, and he's glad for that much. Tales he'd heard regarding certain figures in power and those a good deal younger were often not so favorable.
Not that he knows details, and it wouldn't be his business to ask. It's enough to know how Vax feels about it. ]
I've read of sorcerers in books, but we've no such people in my world. What manner of abilities does he have?
[ A safe question, but one that allows Vax to talk more about the man if he wishes to. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 05:32 am (UTC)[ It was nice not to be lonely, sometimes. Were one to say Vax was charmed, maybe even seduced, might not be inaccurate, but he has a genuine fondness for the man. Vax cares about him deeply, and Shaun cares deeply for Vax, as well. ]
Shaun's sorcery is innate, which makes it incredibly powerful. It's in his blood. He can do.. just about anything, I imagine. Create and destroy, but he's always used his magic to help others. And make a profit. He is a merchant, after all.
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Date: 2025-10-24 05:57 am (UTC)[ Dion may not directly relate, but a loss is a loss when one is accustomed to it. That much is easy to grasp. ]
His power being innate seems like those who can wield magic in my world, unfortunate consequences aside.
[ It's a curious notion, wielding magic for a profit. How much better might some lives be, were it that way?
He lifts a hand and focuses, a sphere of light springing to life above his palm. ]
One is born such as they are, capable of channeling aether or not.
[ He bobs his hand and the light bounces higher into the air, assuming a lazy orbit overhead. ]
I assume his gift is rare?
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Date: 2025-10-24 06:18 am (UTC)All of this is going through Vax's mind, so he's nearly too distracted to notice the display of power at first, but then he blinks as the light catches his soft brown eyes, staring at the orb like a bird fascinated by an unexpected shiny thing. His gaze lifts, tracking the moving light around in its circular path. ]
Uh, not rare, exactly, but one of the more unusual ways to master magic.
[ His eyes flick from the light to Dion's face. Were he not both drunk and a little tired, he might not ask. ]
Did, um, you and Terence not... keep company?
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Date: 2025-10-24 06:31 am (UTC)He hasn't much time to linger on the thought before he's asked the question. His cheeks warm and he clears his throat quietly, glancing away, because he hasn't ever discussed that either.
Still, he recognizes Vax has been sparing in his language, assuredly for his benefit. ]
Well, yes, of course.
[ Of course...? He'll not dwell on it. ]
But circumstances were limiting, so it was far from the sort of...action one might find in a novel.
[ They couldn't be observed, or heard, or suspected. It couldn't be helped, and Dion appreciated what he had, but he didn't think it so dramatic a loss, spare as those instances were. ]
I may have wanted more than he did.
[ The admission is strange to hear himself voice, for all that he'd thought it. He tries to soften the oddity by shrugging it off, though he's uncertain whether it achieves that effect. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 06:48 am (UTC)For a second, he admires the blush on Dion's face. It's awfully cute.
As Dion explains how things were between him and Terence, Vax's expression softens, a slight blush appearing on his own face, too, and he glances down to hide an awkward smile.
Given the books Dion likes to read and his words, Vax can't help but think there's a passionate side of his friend stuffed underneath all of that propriety. And perhaps a longing. It must be hard trying to behave all the time. Vax wouldn't know, of course.
With all Dion had to live with back home, Vax knows the mental and emotional support Terence offered must have been invaluable. Still... the other stuff might have been nice, too. ]
Terence was... very lucky, in any case.
[ Vax clears his throat softly. Ahem. ]
Sorry, if I overstepped with that question.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 07:01 am (UTC)You needn't apologize. I could always have declined to answer.
[ And he trusts that Vax wouldn't have pressed were that the case. He hadn't expected to speak on his own personal matters in general, yet here they are. It doesn't seem either of them are any worse off for it. If anything, he better understands what Vax has been contending with since his arrival.
There are many ways to feel isolated, many ways in which what one was accustomed to back home left a void in this world. ]
I wonder though... It was a great deal to put up with.
[ Not that Dion expects that Terence would have complained of it, and he surely had a sense of what he would be signing up for, but knowing and experiencing are different. He wonders whether there had ever been regrets, but he'll surely never know. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 03:02 pm (UTC)The glint of light against Dion's earrings catches Vax's eye, just as the light above had. With a small smile, he lifts his hand and reaches to gently touch one of the jewelries from beneath so that it tilts slightly with the manipulation of his finger until it flashes with light again.
One can get used to affection, and though Vax and Gilmore's trysts were occasional, only between moments where they happened to cross paths, Vax appreciated the company of his friend, who obviously cared a great deal about him, and who knew how to alleviate Vax's loneliness in that aspect of his life. When they left Syngorn as children, Vex iced her heart away from others, fearing love. Vax, on the other hand, quietly yearned for it and how wonderful it might be to feel connected to someone both emotionally and physically. But Vex and Percy are the lucky ones.
No doubt, Terence knew what he was getting in to, having known Dion his whole life. With a sigh, Vax removes his hand from its place beneath Dion's ear, though there's the faintest whisper of the back of Vax's fingers against Dion's jaw as it withdraws. Vax's eyes are then cast up to the orbiting light again, shimmering like a star. ]
I'm sure he believed you were worth it.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 03:19 pm (UTC)Yet there is no explanation, nor any question that would amount to the same. Vax simply lets go. And he accepts that, at least until the comment comes.
He sits with it, for the span of a few drawn moments. ]
Alas, I cannot ask.
[ Whether Terence survived or not, he would not see him again. It's something he'd accepted back in Kanver, resolved to it, for he would rather the man live on without him than die with him.
His gaze drifts up to follow that light as well, as it continues its slow circuits in the air. ]
But I hope he finds happiness.
[ If he is to have faith in him, then he wants it to be for that. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-24 08:31 pm (UTC)He would want the same for you. Your wishes for him would also be his wishes for your life. Whether that life is here or.. whatever happens.
[ If Dion cannot go home because it only serves to cement his death, maybe he would choose to remain here as some others seem to want. Living under Echo's rule isn't ideal, but it might be better than death. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 02:36 am (UTC)Echo commands so much power, yet somehow not enough. Dion can only wonder what becomes of those of them whose time has passed. Perhaps their only reward is death, but none could say.
He hums in quiet acknowledgement... And that luminous sphere pops like a bubble, showering Vax with shimmering light that fades shortly after.
Dion snorts. It's a quiet sound, but it's audible, and it might just imply his light does what he wants it to.
Like glitter-bombing a friend. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 02:52 am (UTC)Briefly, it coats his dark hair, his black shirt and his arms. He blinks, seeing it on the tips of his eyelashes. Then he looks down at himself, wondering if it's going to be hard to remove it all, but thankfully, it fades after a few moments.
After which, he eyes Dion next to him. ]
Very funny.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 03:08 am (UTC)Aside dropping in from some absurd height, that is. ]
It suited you.
[ Sincere statement? Teasing? Yes to both, though the former outweighs the latter. With Vax's dark hair and clothing, a little sparkle had a dramatic look to it. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 03:23 am (UTC)Hearing that it somehow suited him gets an embarrassed smile and Vax glances away. ]
Not so much as it suits you, I'm sure.
[ Dion is the eikon of light, which is all the more apparent when he's sitting next to a man who always gravitates towards black. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 03:51 am (UTC)[ Dion can hardly separate himself from his light, so whether it suits him or not is something he has never considered. He was born to it.
And yet... ]
Do you see the stars when the heavens aren't darkened by night?
[ Contrasts are striking, Vax. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 04:08 am (UTC)The question is curious. Vax is no poet. ]
No, not usually.
[ Maybe the brightest ones will shine through as the morning sun begins to stir, but not for very long.
His soft eyes turn toward the balcony door in thought. It's quite dark out by now, but he can't see the stars from the couch. They'd probably need a darker spot, away from the lights of the apartments to get a really good view. ]
Did you want to go and look?
[ Poetry might just fly right over his head. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 04:21 am (UTC)The thought is cause for a bemused huff, something verging on a laugh. ]
My light may complement me, but it contrasts you. And contrasts are more dramatic.
[ Night and stars, Vax. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 04:45 am (UTC)Okay, so.. I'm dramatic.
[ That IS what Dion just said. His drunk brain may not be fit for poetry, but he's having fun trying to figure out what Dion means by all of this. It would be a lot easier to just speak plainly. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 05:13 am (UTC)[ It'd also be the pot calling the kettle black, wouldn't it? Not that Dion knows whether he would feel justified calling Vax dramatic, but he knows it of himself...
The pitfalls of feeling all he does as intensely as he does.
He puffs out a small sigh. Need he speak plainly?
It feels as though he might manage to insult Vax without meaning to otherwise. ]
You looked pretty like that. [ It sounds so coarse phrasing it that way. Itchy sweater coarse. Yet being blunt seems the only option. ] Having dark hair and clothing was not some manner of detraction. Quite the opposite.
[ It was a simple observation of what anyone with eyes would see, he thought. ]
Does that make better sense?
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 05:32 am (UTC)In this case, speaking plainly may be the only way to get the message through to him. Vax hasn't had a lot of experience with Dion's poetic side, yet. At least he finally gets it. ]
Oh.
[ Yes, it makes sense, but he's trying to figure out what to think of it. He knows Dion is being sincere, since he can't be otherwise, but Vax knows he shouldn't read into it too much, either. It's no different than if Dion had walked over to that balcony and looked outside.
Still, he can't stop the blush from appearing on his face. Vax rakes his fingers back over his dark hair until they meet the back of his neck. ]
Well, your light magic does the trick, doesn't it?
[ That's why it looked pretty. He simply served as a backdrop. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-25 05:44 am (UTC)[ Dion's light didn't change what was already there, simply highlighted it in a different way. To that end, he doesn't think it's quite right to give it more weight than that.
He pats Vax's shoulder companionably. ]
Though it is merely my opinion. [ It's just that he has eyes and they work rather well, as it so happens. ] But I suspect I'm being a poor host— could you use some water?
[ His constitution being what it is, it can be difficult to gauge such things. ]
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