Writing a modern AU Perc'ahlia fic only makes me realize how much I think Percy would be a great dad. I think he may project himself as not very affectionate or awkward, but with his kids, he would melt. I think all five of them have him wrapped around their fingers, and he doesn't even try to deny it. I just... AGHHH. I think about Vex's "You don't see him with the children..." every damn day.
Photo, hair, & makeup: @chaosqueer
Costumer & model: @renthony
Two bonus photos on Patreon!
[Image description: a cosplay photoshoot of Ren Basel, a fat white nonbinary person, dressed as Percy de Rolo from The Legend of Vox Machina. The first photo is of a worktable laid out with various tools and a 3D printed prop of Percy's pepperbox. Sawdust is sprinkled over the table. The second and third photos show Ren as Percy sitting at the table, using the tools to tinker with the pepperbox. The final photo shows Ren as Percy with their head resting on their crossed arms as if taking a nap at the table. End description.]
For the ask meme: UH, Vaela and Percy. Zaresh and the Briarwoods, for that matter.
Ugh. UGH!!! I hate you, Beth'ika. Stop encouraging me.
This got too long lmao
Vaela and Percy is a brand new concept that is haunting my every waking thought. It's only upon watching The Legend of Vox Machina that I'm seeing... potential.
Both of them have suffered terrible torture at the hands of people they were supposed to be able to trust. Vaela more so in that regard, but Percy and his family had welcomed the Briarwoods into Whitestone with open arms, as allies. It was very much a betrayal.
So while Vaela's was a more personal betrayal, Percy's was more vast, the Briarwoods killing his whole family. The scope of their loss and pain evens out in the end, which I find fascinating.
And in line with that, they are both on the run and in hiding. What better bond is there than "you watch my back, I'll watch yours"? Percy would not be forthcoming with what he's running from, but neither would Vaela for that matter. But they can see their own paranoia and fear mirrored in each other. The way they each see each other scanning a tavern before they settle in for the night, searching for any familiar faces; the way they look over their shoulders when walking a crowded street; the way they both flinch away from touch.
Vaela would likely be the first to come clean, when Percy catches sight of the horrible scars that ring her wrists—not the least of them, but the among the more visible. Percy is filled with righteous rage over this, but promises Vaela that Zaresh will never touch her again so long as he draws breath.
(There is something I want to add here but it's a potential TLoVM spoiler lmao)
Vaela does not find out about Percy's whole deal until he comes upon someone who associates/had at one point associated with the Briarwoods and he gets all smokey and whips out that plague doctor mask and tortures/brutally murders this person. Vaela is horrified and bolts, having flashbacks to Zaresh. Percy is charming and gentlemanly and kind—just as Zaresh had been.
And here Percy is now, violent and terrifying and sadistic, just as Zaresh turned out to be.
Which would of course be the point where the Briarwoods would somehow scoop Vaela up for their new friend Zaresh. Zaresh who had been hired by the Briarwoods to find a runaway noble, only to come upon his long lost prized possession. Two birds with one stone here. He gets Vaela back, and this noble boy will come running for her.
And come running Percy does, enraged and oozing black smoke.
AND NOW FOR ZARESH AND THE BRIARWOODS.
As I just said, it would be a delightfully similar arrangement to the one he had with Cobalt. Zaresh comes upon Whitestone for some easy prey, and he's heard some rather nefarious things about the Lord and Lady of this land. It intrigues him, and he can't possibly resist anything intriguing.
Word reaches the Briarwoods that townspeople are dying, and not due to the dealings of their underlings. They are equally intrigued and somehow arrange to have him brought to the manor.
And Zaresh swoops in with all of his dazzling charm, and immediately recognizes the predatory gleam in Sylas' eyes, the cunning smirk upon Delilah's lips—and he is immediately drawn to them
And the Briarwoods see his act for what it is, and they are delighted.
Picture the scene with Vax, except no charm is needed here. Zaresh has to fight a bit more for the dominance he craves than he does with Cobalt, but both Sylas and Delilah are amused by it.
"Play at the powerful drow hunter you think yourself to be, little one," Delilah thinks as she runs her fingers through his snow white hair, as Sylas drags his too sharp teeth along the flesh of his shoulder. "That power you hold is an illusion I allow you to indulge in."
At the talk of what Zaresh has lost, the Briarwoods strike a bargain: find the wayward de Rolo and bring him back. In return, we will help find your lovely wood elf.
After all, this would just mean more playthings around the house for everyone, right?