OPEN RP + OVERFLOW

[likemybooks]

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Top-Levels - Reply on the comm or on this post
The Magic Library
Morning Routine
NSFW Random RP Scenario
High School AU
Manhandling
Princess and Knight

Comments

@sanguivorous

[likemybooks]

continuing from here

[It should be stupid. Taryon isn't a little kid anymore who has to rely on imaginary friends when he plays outside. Just because Doty has been the one constant in his life and the figure that he could always rely on doesn't mean he should be sensitive about his greatest invention. It's just metal, he told himself in the past multiple times. Metal that kept him from having an emotional breakdown while growing up, and who was the one thing keeping him stable at times.

He wants to trust Astarion, and he does. Everyone has been reminding him to be suspicious of the intentions of strangers, that Vox Machina's greatest enemies were often in disguise, or they would infiltrate their group after researching how to gain their favor, but Taryon thinks more people are good at heart. As angry as he is, now that Doty has been repaired, he can find it in himself the capacity for forgiveness.

Astarion sounds truly repentant. It would be better to move onto more interesting topics, such as what actually happened.] Really? [He turns around one last time and sets the screwdriver aside. Doty's head turns upward to look at the object of his creator's attention.] Did he get him in one hit?

[sanguivorous]

[Astarion relaxes just a little more, his cautious smile growing somewhat more. His gaze turns from Taryon to Doty, and he tilts his head at him.]

I don't know, did you get it in one hit, Doty?

[He doesn't have any idea if he had the capacity to answer, he wasn't vocal like the other automaton's Astarion has come across, but maybe he could nod, or write it down? Either way, he thought Taryon might like him addressing Doty for once.]

[likemybooks]

Doty? Answer him.

[With the request to see this new figure as another person to respond to as an ally, Doty now can answer. The automaton has one (1) single vocalization programmed, that multi-purpose:]

Tary.

[Thankfully, he also nods. Everyone around Taryon comments on how creepy it was that Doty can only say his name in different monotones, but Taryon only finds it charming.]

Well. Good job, Doty. I always knew you were good at this stuff. [Taryon pats him on his metal shoulder.]

[sanguivorous]

[Astarion bursts into laughter, in disbelief but giddy.]

He only knows how to say your name? How delightfully self-indulgent!

[He's heard the others call him Tary, as well. A cute nickname for someone like Taryon.]

[likemybooks]

He can express a lot of emotions with that. [He folds his arms over his chest, proud that he was able to get Doty to talk rather than defensive about his decisions.] I had to pick something neutral for our conversations.

[Many which are one-sided and involve Taryon reading too much into Doty's responses, but it makes for humorous exchanges.]

For example, Doty, how was the fight with the goblin.

Tary. [His voice is one degree quieter.]

It was rather scary? Oh, I believe you, judging on your wound. How's your new arm?

Tary. [He stands.]

Yeah, you look good as new. [Taryon faces Astarion.] See? It helps with figuring out what's going on.

@sanguivorous

[likemybooks]

((continuing from here))

Wizard? I didn't know you wanted to be a wizard. [He tosses the tool onto the desk, and it rolls until it hits the wall and settles into the thin crack between it and the furniture.] But why did you have to try it in my lab? This wasn't meant for bodies, it was meant for arcane magic!

[sanguivorous]

I haven't mentioned it to you?

[He grows a bit hesitant, hoping this detail may have been glossed over. He undrapes from Taryon, and goes to pick up the screwdriver, wandering off to find a rag to clean it off with.]

I'm interested in necromancy. It was piqued during my journey with the tadpoles, but I suppose spending time with you made that itch came back.

[He finds what he's looking for and washes the tool off, dunks the rag back in and drags the bucket over to clean up the rat.]

And I thought here would be the safest spot!

[likemybooks]

Oh. [Necromancy isn't looked upon favorably within Vox Machina, and that's not solely because of the lich they struck down. He hopes that the others will never hear about Astarion's new hobby before Taryon has a long and sensitive conversation with them.] But...why? It seems it's difficult to control.

[He grabs a rag to wipe the rat-grime off of his desk.] You could have picked someplace, I don't know, less filled with delicate instruments. There's too much here to chew, and I don't want our magic to get all mixed up.

[sanguivorous]

It's fun, don't you think! [Though, clearly Taryon doesn't, and Astarion can tell. He knows it's generally looked down on, and he supposes for good reason, but he was generally looked down upon in general himself, so what else is new.] But, I think it would be the key to figuring out some . . . [He gestures vaguely in the air, searching for a word.] . . . some issues that are undead related.

[He helps him wiping up, including the acid, and answers maybe not poutily, but maybe like a duly admonished child.]

I'm sorry. I really did think it would be the best spot. Better than out in the other rooms or our bedroom, or to be unleashed in the wild.

Continuation of Synflux Thread

[likemybooks]

Continued from here

[Taryon's eyes are drawn to that grin, no doubt to show off his pearly whites. And...are those fang? He doesn't hide his curiousity as he squints at the incisors, but no, his eyesight is not weakening. Those are fangs. Taryon has run into one before, in the Ank'harel ziggurat. These are creatures that drink blood, and in the case of Sylas, torture children and follow their wives obidiently in her plot to accumulate incredible power.

This one, on the other hand, entertains orphans.] Wait. [He blinks.] There's people that were turned into vampires in the previous mission. Were you...?

[It's not like Taryon immediately saw him when he first woke up. Astarion might not be that new to the base.]

[sanguivorous]

[His smirk grows just enough to show more of the fang off, and he runs the tip of his tongue under it as if to show it off further. And maybe because it's hard to ignore 200 years of learned flirtatious interaction when you're not even intending to flirt.

He leans back when Taryon realizes his nature, leaning his chin in his hand casually.]

No, I missed all of that excitement unfortunately. I have only been here a couple of weeks, and I brought this affliction from home with me.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon may not be the best at determining others' intentions, but he knows that most people don't lick their teeth unless they just ate and got something stuck between them (which is rude. This is just basic etiquette. And that doesn't happen to blood-drinking vampires.) or if they're attempting to be lascivious in an alluring way. It draws out concern on Taryon's face.]

Oh. So... [His eyes move to the tablet in his hands. Its innate ability to distract will save him from this odd conversation.] You must be doing well with everything LILITH is providing.

[sanguivorous]

Yes, I suppose.

[He sighs, turning to sit more properly, but leaning back a bit dramatically.]

I would prefer the blood in its more pure form, not in these . . . sausages. Perhaps I can ask later.

[He fails to mention he means if he could get blood poured in a cup or some such, not the ability to drink straight from the neck.]

@brokeassgoing

[likemybooks]

[from here]

That's like comparing stale break to moldy bread.

And his films just are not interesting in general.

[brokeassgoing]

interesting, no
good
also no
but something to rot your brain for an hour? yeah

[likemybooks]

My brain is too precious for any more of this. Can't we look for something more
artsy?

[brokeassgoing]

something like a documentary about an artist or art
Or plot art-y?

[pathography]

When Percy comes to the workshop that afternoon, he's buzzing with the sort of energy that usually accompanies a new idea he wants to tinker with. And perhaps that's exactly what's pushing him forward today, too - but in this case, it's rather less concrete than most of his ideas. More fragile, but with the potential to be all the more satisfying if he can bring it to fruition.

He often beats Tary to the workshop - there are no bakery responsibilities in Percy's day, after all - but he's had responsibilities to Whitestone all morning and a long lunchtime conversation with Vex keeping him away. Tary's already sitting at the work bench, focused on something small and fiddly, and today of all days, it's impossible to miss the golden shine of his hair or the particular set of his mouth when he's thinking.

"Afternoon," Percy says, and his voice sounds too bright to his ears, too deliberately casual. The door closes behind him, and his mind is whirring too fast as he comes over to the work bench. "What are you working on?"

[likemybooks]

Taryon looks up from the desk. Doty's leg is almost complete, and tonight, they can attach all od his limbs and restore him to...well, not his former glory, but a new glory. One better suited for the battlefield and designed to fit in with the while of Vox Machina. A joint project between himself, master of arcane crafting, and Percival, engineer extraordinaire.

Speaking of his partner in science, he's arrived long after expected. Taryon was stuck in dishwashing duty at the bakery, and even so, he arrived first.

"Good afternoon, Percy. I was wondering what happened to keep you." He sets a tiny screwdriver on the bench and sits back to stretch his arms over his head. "Ah, just optimizing the arrangement of Doty's mechanism and pulleys, is all. I think we'll have him ready by the end of the week."

[pathography]

"Oh, this and that. A conversation with Vex - we can talk about that - and a very dull meeting about taxation." He takes a seat in his usual place, though the sense of it is different now, the proximity to Tary thrown into new relief.

It's all a bit absurd, feeling like a schoolboy with a crush when he's worked shoulder-to-shoulder with this man for a solid year. But there's working with Tary, and then there's the awareness that he's been given leave to explore other acts of creation with him. Under the circumstances, surely it's not so surprising to be painfully aware of the heat radiating from his body or the long line his arms make when he stretches.

Reaching for Doty's leg, he pulls it closer and peers down at the interior mechanism. He's half interested, half in need of an escape from his own thoughts. "I think you're right. He's really come along in the last few weeks - we might be able to start attaching limbs today, if you like."

[likemybooks]

The manner in which Percival peers over his work erases the veneer of the gentlemanly noble, showcasing the brilliant and curious man that Taryon adores. Platonically, of course. Vex is a woman who guards her treasures and friends closely, and the last thing he wants to do is to cross her in the manners of love. It wouldn't be fair to admit any attraction: of course he'd fall for the first intelligent man who was kind to him. It's Taryon's type, he unfortunately realizes. The important thing he has learned was not to treat every crush like a viable romance.

He will have to settle for other nice men in Whitestone and in other towns as they visit friends across Tal'Dorei. The past several months had been freeing - no longer bound by the role he was assigned as the firstborn son of a wealthy family, Taryon can investigate a normal life. He goes to whatever shop he desires. He gets a salaried job and a wage-based job. He goes on dates. He has a regular group of friends he socializes with. He lives in a house where every room is welcoming and meant for his presence.

Funny how all the money and gifts he was given in his childhood blinded him to everything else that was truly missing. Despite requiring to budget his weekly expenses, having a housemate who is also a friend more than makes up for the agony of being unable to buy whatever his heart desires.

Although he really, really wants those new strategy game books advertised in Emon...

"Perfect!" He snaps himself out of his reverie. Life is good, and there's no need to spoil it with some wistful fantasies. "Can you make sure everything is connected right? I'll check on the runes for the arm."

[pathography]

[ After they've eaten supper, after he says his adieux and goes back to the castle for the evening. No favor shown to either of them, fond little kisses goodbye to both.

And there's texting, because fuck it, why not. ]

That wasn't so bad, was it?

[ He may or may not also be reaching out to Vex at the same time, with a sort of he seems all right, doesn't he, he hasn't suggested any unhappiness to you - ]

[likemybooks]

[Taryon had been sitting more rigidly than he expected during the dinner, waiting for Vex's appraisal. Despite his worries throughout most of the evening, everything went over smoothly, and standing at the door receiving a kiss alongside his best friend confirmed that they were in equal standing. Maybe. There was the longer history between her and Percy, but what did that matter when he retreated to his bed, feeling as light as a feather.

The message is received, and his heart flutters once more.]

No! I'm glad we did that. We're going to be fine, I think

[pathography]

I think so, too.

[ He certainly wants them to be, anyway. If everyone isn't yet on equal standing, Percy'd like to think they're working toward it - slowly convincing Tary that it might be worth it, drawing him further into a life they can construct together. ]

If the weather's all right tomorrow, would you like to go on a picnic?
With Vex or without her, whatever seems best to you.

[likemybooks]

I'd always love Vex's company on an outing, but I feel this one will be more enjoyable with just the two of us.

[It's a tragedy that he cannot waggle his eyebrows over text. He should be flirting with his new boyfriend (boyfriend!) while they're setting up a date.]

I can supply some desserts from the bakery if you can bring the rest.