video | un: whitestone

[gunsmithed]

Name: Percy de Rolo III
Date: Septeril 14
Format: Video

[ Percy is visibly in the forge, no surprise there, but it doesn't seem like much work is getting done. He looks more than a little manic, not quite able to sit still at the moment. And also like he may not have slept much recently, which might explain it. ]

Alright. I wasn't going to...[ he takes a breath and makes himself settle. A little. ] I've been hearing a lot about bonds recently. And obviously, I can only speak to the Witch side, but for that, I'm going to tell you a secret.

[ He leans forward a bit, mostly to make the point. ] You don't need one. If you want to bond, by all means enjoy yourself, but my gods don't let anyone convince you that you must have one. Going without may not be pleasant or comfortable or even particularly safe, but it is possible. I've managed without for well over a year, and I--

[ Whatever he is gets cut off by a deeply unimpressed woman's voice somewhere in the background easily overriding him: ] Percival, what the fuck?

[ And Percy's eyes shoot wide with maybe just a hint of panic before the video abruptly ends. ]

Comments

[moneytwin]

Don't you "I'm fine" me.

[ Anger isn't the word - because she is, but she's not. It's a sudden frustration, and confusion, and perhaps a little hurt. But mostly, a whole lot of worry that shapes her tone, and both hands come to rest on her hips as she fills the doorway. ]

A year?

I've been here two months, Percy. How could you not tell me?

[gunsmithed]

I didn't think it mattered.

[ There's a touch of frustration to his tone that says he means it. ] Honestly, I've been managing just fine as things were.

[ Yes he can't do magic and yes there's been a constant pressure on every inch of his body that he's learned to ignore, but he's...had worse? It's not the best explanation, but it's the only one he has. ]

Nothing needs to change.

[moneytwin]

[Didn't think it mattered. He means it honestly, but hearing just makes Vex frown harder, and the newly gold colour of her eyes brightens sharply. She knows better than anyone how little Percy thinks of himself when left to his own devices.

She should have known. She's mentally kicking herself right now.]

Are you, though? [she gestures, indicating him, taking in everything. Hiccup lost his bond, and exploded within a month.] Because I would beg to differ, Percy.

[she moves forward immediately, then, hoping to close the gap before he thinks to retreat. There's no wall to push him against here, but that doesn't stop her coming right up close as she'd once done (not) so long ago in Whitestone. ]

Look me in the eye, Percy. Look me in the eye, and tell me honestly that you are well. That you feel well.

[ Because she was watching you. Listening to you. And that wasn't a man in control. ]

[gunsmithed]

[ He straightens a little on reflex as Vex rushes him, but doesn't actually tense. She's one of the few people in any world he trusts implicitly, and he is at least in a better mental state than he was then. Not that it's a particularly high bar to clear.

The thought does make one side of his mouth curve upwards slightly, though there's no real amusement in it. ]

I can manage.

[ He's stubborned his way through demonic possession, what's a bit of magic overload.

But she isn't going to let this go, and he knows it. And of everyone he might actually admit the issue to, well. He lets out a long breath. ]

Vex, what's the alternative? Who would be unfortunate enough to be connected to what goes on in my head?

[moneytwin]

That's not what I asked you.

[ No more wiggle room, no more semantics. Vex waits expectantly for the answer she did ask for.

It's bad enough he's almost as white as his hair. That he can't concentrate on any one project for any given time. That his hands shake, that he can't settle and sit. This stubbornness is surely killing him slowly, turning the magical overload inwards on himself rather than explosively out.

And while it's a question she gets in return, the words tell her all she needs to know. And some of the matching stubbornness ebbs away, concern moving to the forefront. ]

Percy..

[ There's no pity in the way she says his name. Sorrow, that he thought he should suffer like this, worry for him, and a very gentle reproach for asking such a question. She slowly lifts her right hand, cupping the side of his face gently as she maintains her gaze.

Who, indeed? What alternative does she have?

Left hand reaches over, snagging his, before she drops the right and turns towards the door, intent on towing him after her. There is only the briefest of stops to collect his coat, and a glance over her shoulder to where a concerned bear has been watching all along. ]

Come along, Trinket!

[gunsmithed]

[ He gives her a faintly exasperated look in return. Of anyone shouldn't she know exactly what the danger is? Vex has seen him at his lowest, knows exactly what he's capable of. Knows what's still there, even if Orthax is supposedly gone.

But Percy just blinks one as she grabs his hand, letting himself be towed along without complaint for at least a few steps. It's only until they're outside, Trinket following placidly along, that it occurs to him to ask ]

...where are we going, exactly?

[moneytwin]

[ With bear bringing up the rear, and the faithful blue coat slung over her arm, Vex manages to tow Percy away from forge and house. That they make it part way down the path before he finds his voice must be a record. ]

To get bonded.

[Obviously.]

[gunsmithed]

Bon-- what did I just say?

[ He's not any happier about Vex being exposed to the inside of his head, her familiarity with it's dark spots notwithstanding. But notably he doesn't try to pull away, and not just because of the bear snuffling close behind them. ]

Are you sure this is a good idea?

[moneytwin]

I heard what you said. And there is nothing in your head that could frighten me, Percy.

[ Her voice is entirely certain, undaunted by his reaction as she looks back at him. She trusts him, after all.

Then she stops, a moment of uncertainty putting a foot in her mouth. (Trinket bumps into the back of Percy’s legs, having not anticipated the stopping point.) ]

Unless..you don’t want to. Bond, with me. Do you have someone else in mind? I’m sure I could talk them into it for you, if you do.

[gunsmithed]

[ That may be true, but he still has to bring it up. At least until her second question causes him to roll his eyes so hard that it's nearly audible. ]

Of course there's no one else. Who could I possibly trust more than you? [ Which might be skating a bit too close to things they don't talk about. Percy clears his throat and shrugs slightly ]

I only mean you don't have to do this sort of thing for my sake.

[moneytwin]

You might have met someone here.

[ Lame an answer as that might be, he had resided here a long time. He might have met someone else..

But he hadn’t. And spoken words (along with those unsaid, lurking beneath the surface) bring about a curl of warmth within to replace the cold worry that had stalled her steps.

The corner of her mouth curls up, before she gently tugs him along with her once more.]

I choose to.

Besides, you aren't the only one in need of a bond. [her voice sobers some] I have no desire to experience a fully feral state as a dragon now I have some familiarity with that form.

[ Hadn't trust brought her straight to his forge That very first morning the change had come upon her? ]

[gunsmithed]

[ Percy's quiet for a long moment before he lets out a long breath. ]

No, I suppose not.

[ For all of his insistence on being able to weather the lack of a bond, he's known full well that it's worse for monsters. If she'd approached it as her need, rather than his, Percy might have gone along much easier.

Not that he's exactly fighting it now. Still. ]

If you're certain.

[moneytwin]

[ Easier. There are certain things she too will deny till her last breath. But Vex has ever been reluctant to ask for help, rather than deny it's needed at all.

But the fight seems to be leaving him, and she stops again, facing him fully, and the certainty is present in her expression. As is the trust in her eyes, echoed in the gentle squeeze of her fingers around his hand. ]

I am.

I'll have your back, and you'll have mine. [as they've always done.]

[gunsmithed]

[ He takes another deep breath and lets it out slowly, forcing himself to meet Vex's eyes. She's not wrong. And this is...probably the best of all possible outcomes he could have hoped for in this particular situation. She knows him. She'll watch him.

And Percy can watch out for her in turn.

The smile he gives is small, but genuine. ]

Yes. I promise.

[moneytwin]

[ I promise.

That's all she needs to hear.

With a smile, she releases his hand - so that she can step and settle beside so that she can loop her arm with his at the elbow.

All the better to walk side by side into this new form of partnership. ]

So do I.

Shall we?