So I a) have never written any Crit Role fic before now and b) am still making my way through the Chroma Conclave arc so I don't know all the canon that follows, but I have found myself with a mighty need to write some...Vaxlethmore? Vaxmoreleth? Whatever we're calling it, this part is mostly setup but there's smut coming, I promise.
***
It takes some time for them to figure things out, given Vax's tendency to jump to conclusions, Keyleth's awkwardness discussing certain topics, Gilmore's desire to respect their boundaries, and the little fact that they're working on saving the world from a conclave of ancient chromatic dragons. With patience and care, their predicament becomes clearer. Vax loves them both but assumed pursuing a relationship with Keyleth meant closing the door on one with Gilmore. Keyleth, still struggling to navigate her feelings for Vax, didn't realize he needed to be told that wasn't the case. Gilmore understands that with things being what they are, he'd have to let Vax slip in and out of his life even if another person wasn't involved, and the balance of holding on but not holding him down is a tricky one.
It takes a devil wearing Gilmore's face to help them all understand each other; Gilmore would give his shop if he still had one for Hotis to have never laid a hand on Vax, but the incident does provide a shock to the system that helps things start to come clear. There are long, honest (though not always easy) conversations and a few nights when Vax knocks on Gilmore's door, but things still don't feel right. Keyleth and Gilmore notice a furtiveness to Vax, as if he feels that he's pulled something over on them. They both have moments with him where everything else falls away and it's just good and right and Vax, fierce and loving and incredibly attentive to detail, but in the moments before and after they can both tell he's waiting for the other shoe to drop, for it to turn out that he can't possibly have this.
The next time Vox Machina returns to Whitestone, it's Keyleth who turns up at Gilmore's door, a bundle of nerves with a bottle of what Grog would call expensive-ass wine in her hand.
Once they've hashed some things out and Keyleth's drunk enough wine to loosen up but not dull her wits, she touches her earring and asks Vax if he's busy right now.
There's an audible hesitation from Vax when she tells him where she is, but then he says "I'm on my way," in a low, husky voice that goes straight to the base of Gilmore's spine.
Keyleth looks at Gilmore, bites her lower lip, and smiles. "Sure you don't want to reconsider?"
Gilmore grins at her, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind one pointed ear. Women have never been his indulgence of choice, but this is Keyleth, beautiful and kind and so much wiser than she gives herself credit for, who loves Vax as much as he does.
FILL: Gilmore/Vax/Keyleth, 1/probably 2
***
It takes some time for them to figure things out, given Vax's tendency to jump to conclusions, Keyleth's awkwardness discussing certain topics, Gilmore's desire to respect their boundaries, and the little fact that they're working on saving the world from a conclave of ancient chromatic dragons. With patience and care, their predicament becomes clearer. Vax loves them both but assumed pursuing a relationship with Keyleth meant closing the door on one with Gilmore. Keyleth, still struggling to navigate her feelings for Vax, didn't realize he needed to be told that wasn't the case. Gilmore understands that with things being what they are, he'd have to let Vax slip in and out of his life even if another person wasn't involved, and the balance of holding on but not holding him down is a tricky one.
It takes a devil wearing Gilmore's face to help them all understand each other; Gilmore would give his shop if he still had one for Hotis to have never laid a hand on Vax, but the incident does provide a shock to the system that helps things start to come clear. There are long, honest (though not always easy) conversations and a few nights when Vax knocks on Gilmore's door, but things still don't feel right. Keyleth and Gilmore notice a furtiveness to Vax, as if he feels that he's pulled something over on them. They both have moments with him where everything else falls away and it's just good and right and Vax, fierce and loving and incredibly attentive to detail, but in the moments before and after they can both tell he's waiting for the other shoe to drop, for it to turn out that he can't possibly have this.
The next time Vox Machina returns to Whitestone, it's Keyleth who turns up at Gilmore's door, a bundle of nerves with a bottle of what Grog would call expensive-ass wine in her hand.
Once they've hashed some things out and Keyleth's drunk enough wine to loosen up but not dull her wits, she touches her earring and asks Vax if he's busy right now.
There's an audible hesitation from Vax when she tells him where she is, but then he says "I'm on my way," in a low, husky voice that goes straight to the base of Gilmore's spine.
Keyleth looks at Gilmore, bites her lower lip, and smiles. "Sure you don't want to reconsider?"
Gilmore grins at her, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind one pointed ear. Women have never been his indulgence of choice, but this is Keyleth, beautiful and kind and so much wiser than she gives herself credit for, who loves Vax as much as he does.
"I wouldn't dream of it, my dear," he tells her.