[When Barcus finally arrives at Percy's workshop- there is a sharp contrast to what Barcus would expect for Percy's workshop to look like and the way it currently looks.
The almost always roaring furnace has dulled down to a few smothering embers and dark shadows clung to everything warping basic alchemy tools into some sort of nightmare devices, worse yet there was no sign of the excited Percival.]
[Okay, so, darkness in itself does absolutely nothing to intimidate a deep gnome. Barcus' darkvision is superlative, so when he wanders into the workshop, he's not especially frightened, but it does look weird. Wrong. Like it's not a normal sort of darkness.
He looks around for a moment, frowning in concern, and sets the bags he's brought on an empty spot on the workbench.] Percy...? Are you playing some sort of prank on me?
[If no answer is forthcoming, he'll head for the window to try pulling the curtains to let some light in.]
[There's a brief disturbance within the shadows as something within it shifted, sliding amoungst it like a black cat on the prowl before a flash of purple highlighted the figure of a crouched figure stepping out from the shadows behind Barcus.]
"Hello, little snack. Welcome to my lair." Percy purred, laying a bit thickly on the dramatics as he lightly tapped on the back of Barcus's neck, aiming to scare the other but not quite send him to an early grave.
[He's about halfway to the window when the movement catches his eye, and he pauses like a deer caught in headlights, for just long enough to make himself easy to tap. And maybe he's learned some moves from Satchel, because he does that pop-up jump cats do when you tweak their tail and they weren't expecting it, just a hop straight in the air, coupled with a yelp of alarm.
He stumbles when he lands, whirls around, and--well, obviously it's Percy, who the fuck else would it be? For a second the gnome clutches his chest, panting, and then he gives him a baleful look] Gods damn it, de Rolo!
[There's a brief second where the shadows that Percy had stepped out of clung to his face, a blink and it's gone image of what looked to be the maw of a giant raven, but then it's gone and replaced with a far friendlier grin of a self satisfied Percy De Rolo- the grand shitlord himself.]
Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to show off a bit of my new power as well as some lessons I been taking from Loki. I never really used minor illusion much at home and being able to travel in shadows is a bit fun.
[Vax, were he here, would probably recognize that raven, but Barcus is in no position to. Besides, he's just happy to see Percy, even if he looks altogether too smug. The gnome reaches out to deliver a light punch in...well, more like the hip than the stomach, but at least it's not directed at Percy's groin.]
You asshole! [He can't keep a straight face for long, though, and a second later he's laughing.] I should have known you'd come after me after the joke I pulled on you.
"Vengeance is swift and brutal, my friend. The positive side is- I am now repaid and you do not need to fear for the other shoe to drop. But, that is not the reason for me to invite you over- I really wanted to show you some real authentic Whitestone and see what your abilities can do to improve it." Percy thrilled as he practically shoved Barcus towards his workshop where a slab of plain white and green stone rested.
Here now, settle down, I'm going, I'm going! [Barcus is still laughing as Percy hustles him over to the workbench.]
I brought apple cider and ham sandwiches, we'll have to remember to eat at some point. [He rubs his sleeve across his eyes to scrub away the brief tears of startled laughter, then turns his attention to the stone, reaching out to brush his fingers over the surface.]
"Yes, yes, We will remember to eat tonight, Father Dearest. I know I have a habit of forgetting when excited." Percy laughed as he pulled out his seat from his desk and looked at Barcus with unadulterated joy.
"Thank you- I am so glad that you get to see something from my home. I know that you saw the map that I drew of my home but this is different. This is almost as much of a symbol of my home as the sun tree. I could also show you the sapling of sun tree that Keyleth have been growing in the backyard as well." Percy rapidly answered, his voice filled with joy and being quite revealing of his true age and not the front that he tried to uphold.
[Percy gets a raised eyebrow and a look of amusement at 'Father Dearest', but Barcus opts to refrain from teasing for the moment. Besides, the Whitestone is fascinating, and the powers Terra has given him allow him to get a better sense of it than he would have elsewise. Not all the way down to the mineral content or molecular structure, but he can feel the energy.]
I'd like to see that. [He says softly, warmly. Although it's clear the stone has his attention for the moment.] You said this is something you refine? What can you tell me about that process?
That was the exact question that Percy only needed to hear before he launched into a very detailed process that would put an ordinary person to sleep, but with the way that Barcus was just as nerdy as him? It just gave him more freedom to go into the finer details. Percy was honestly in his finest element: a true know-it-all snob who was glad to lecture about his special interest.
It was almost an full hour later when Percy finally petered out of his lecture, but there definitely is a sense that Percy would gladly launch back into lecture mode if it wasn't for the fact that his throat was parched. ]
[And Barcus is absolutely the right one to talk to about this, because he's gratifyingly attentive, nodding his understanding and asking questions for more detail at the right moments. He does not seem to notice the time passing until Percy trails off, at which point he glances at the way the light outside has shifted and smiles, amused with the both of them.
He crosses over to the bag he's brought and pulls out two small bottles of cider, handing one over to Percy.] I think I can do that here, on a small scale. Actually, I have just the material for the acid bath in mind.
[Gadriel's venom will be perfect. Assuming he's allowed to actually experiment with some of this Whitestone.]
"Hm! It would probably be a good idea to break this down into smaller amounts... I would like to have some as decor for the home... Maybe use it as a battery of some sort. I was thinking of creating a security system for the home, and then some for my work table at your place... I'm not sure what you are going to use it for but... But I think you deserve a little for all your work and effort. Just... just don't spread it around, please? It's very valuable and this is the only bit of Whitestone here." Percy pleaded, finally cracking open the bottle of cinder and quenching his thirst.
"I honestly am surprised by what we can request here... For a world that is breaking down they certainly have ways to fix their own problems if they want to."
"Well...they're bringing us here," Barcus points out. "It sounds more like they lack ideas, rather than resources, and that's why they're bringing people rather than miraculous stones."
He takes a long drink of cider and sighs. "I understand how valuable this is, Percy. And how important it is to you. Anything you entrust me with I will hold sacred."
There's a pause, and then he adds: "When I made a sacrifice to help raise Vesper, I got a vision of myself making rings, several of them. There were four stones in each: opal, emerald, sapphire, and then the fourth was a kind I didn't recognize."
"You know it's always on my mind, the worry about losing touch with my friends here. Ashton especially, but all of you are important to me. I think the rings I saw might be a key to communication between worlds, if not a gateway. I'm going to be looking to find or make that fourth stone. This might help."
Percy lowered his bottle slowly, the strange heat of the booze still tingling on his tongue— it was a unfamiliar brand to him, but potent enough to do it's job. For a moment, he didn’t speak. The firelight flickered across his face, catching on the edge of his jaw and the quiet weight in his expression.
“You saw that in a vision?” he asked at last, setting the bottle down with careful precision. “Rings that span worlds... It’s a compelling idea. Elegant, even. But concepts like that—they always come at a cost.”
He leaned forward slightly, fingers steepled. “If Residuum is part of it—if it acts as a conduit or catalyst—then we need to be cautious. Interplanar anything doesn’t happen without attention. And not all of it will be the kind we want.”
His gaze met Barcus’s, steady and serious. “I trust you more than most. That’s why I’m saying this plainly: if those rings become real, I want to see them first. Test them. Stress them. We can’t afford to open a door we’re not ready to guard.”
He paused, then added more softly, “I’ve seen what happens when people reach across the veil without knowing what’s reaching back.”
Percy lifted the bottle again, fingers tightening around the glass. “If that stone exists, I want us to find it with clear eyes. And when we do—we use it on our terms. No compromises.”
"From Cordelia's orb, yes." He looks up and he's surprised to find Percy's expression so somber. He knows the man carries burdens, but more often than not he hides behind a mask of snide commentary, or gets lost in innovation. This is unusual, and it makes Barcus go still to listen to him.
Interplanar anything doesn't happen without attention. For a moment, he wonders if Gadriel and Percy have been talking.
"...you're right," he says softly. "This is so important to me, I could easily become reckless with it."
And because of what Vax has told him, he gets why Percy is so wary. "I need you to back me up, then. Make sure I don't do anything too foolish. But I'm going to keep looking for it."
Percy set the bottle aside, fingers lacing together as he leaned forward. The firelight caught in his eyes, sharp and thoughtful.
He glanced toward Barcus, expression unreadable for a beat. “I don’t like unknowns, especially not on that scale. One wrong assumption, one hopeful leap, and the consequences could echo in ways we can’t predict. Cause and effect isn’t stable between worlds. A gesture here could knock over something vital somewhere else.”
He paused, voice tightening slightly. “When I came back from the Feywild… I lost my memories. Only a few days, but it was like something had stripped them away. Gone. No trace. I got them back, eventually—but I didn’t even know what I was missing until I did. And that was just for being there. For existing across the boundary.”
He sat back, breath slow. “So yes. I’m wary. But I’ll back you. Of course I will. I’ll be there for every step—especially when it starts feeling too clean, too easy. I’ll be the brake when it gets dangerous. Even if it means you curse me for slowing things down.”
Percy’s gaze steadied on him, calm but firm. “This means something to you. And if it helps keep the people you care about close, then I won’t let you carry that weight alone.”
He managed a faint, dry smile. “Just let me add a few safeguards before you start turning the key.”
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 10:52 pm (UTC)The almost always roaring furnace has dulled down to a few smothering embers and dark shadows clung to everything warping basic alchemy tools into some sort of nightmare devices, worse yet there was no sign of the excited Percival.]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 10:57 pm (UTC)He looks around for a moment, frowning in concern, and sets the bags he's brought on an empty spot on the workbench.] Percy...? Are you playing some sort of prank on me?
[If no answer is forthcoming, he'll head for the window to try pulling the curtains to let some light in.]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 11:15 pm (UTC)"Hello, little snack. Welcome to my lair." Percy purred, laying a bit thickly on the dramatics as he lightly tapped on the back of Barcus's neck, aiming to scare the other but not quite send him to an early grave.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 11:29 pm (UTC)He stumbles when he lands, whirls around, and--well, obviously it's Percy, who the fuck else would it be? For a second the gnome clutches his chest, panting, and then he gives him a baleful look] Gods damn it, de Rolo!
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 11:41 pm (UTC)Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to show off a bit of my new power as well as some lessons I been taking from Loki. I never really used minor illusion much at home and being able to travel in shadows is a bit fun.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-07 11:56 pm (UTC)You asshole! [He can't keep a straight face for long, though, and a second later he's laughing.] I should have known you'd come after me after the joke I pulled on you.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-12 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-12 12:33 pm (UTC)I brought apple cider and ham sandwiches, we'll have to remember to eat at some point. [He rubs his sleeve across his eyes to scrub away the brief tears of startled laughter, then turns his attention to the stone, reaching out to brush his fingers over the surface.]
It's beautiful...
no subject
Date: 2025-05-12 12:50 pm (UTC)"Thank you- I am so glad that you get to see something from my home. I know that you saw the map that I drew of my home but this is different. This is almost as much of a symbol of my home as the sun tree. I could also show you the sapling of sun tree that Keyleth have been growing in the backyard as well." Percy rapidly answered, his voice filled with joy and being quite revealing of his true age and not the front that he tried to uphold.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-12 12:56 pm (UTC)I'd like to see that. [He says softly, warmly. Although it's clear the stone has his attention for the moment.] You said this is something you refine? What can you tell me about that process?
no subject
Date: 2025-05-12 01:29 pm (UTC)It was almost an full hour later when Percy finally petered out of his lecture, but there definitely is a sense that Percy would gladly launch back into lecture mode if it wasn't for the fact that his throat was parched. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-12 01:35 pm (UTC)He crosses over to the bag he's brought and pulls out two small bottles of cider, handing one over to Percy.] I think I can do that here, on a small scale. Actually, I have just the material for the acid bath in mind.
[Gadriel's venom will be perfect. Assuming he's allowed to actually experiment with some of this Whitestone.]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-12 01:58 pm (UTC)"I honestly am surprised by what we can request here... For a world that is breaking down they certainly have ways to fix their own problems if they want to."
switching to prose format because I weary of markups
Date: 2025-05-12 02:17 pm (UTC)He takes a long drink of cider and sighs. "I understand how valuable this is, Percy. And how important it is to you. Anything you entrust me with I will hold sacred."
There's a pause, and then he adds: "When I made a sacrifice to help raise Vesper, I got a vision of myself making rings, several of them. There were four stones in each: opal, emerald, sapphire, and then the fourth was a kind I didn't recognize."
"You know it's always on my mind, the worry about losing touch with my friends here. Ashton especially, but all of you are important to me. I think the rings I saw might be a key to communication between worlds, if not a gateway. I'm going to be looking to find or make that fourth stone. This might help."
no subject
Date: 2025-05-17 02:46 pm (UTC)“You saw that in a vision?” he asked at last, setting the bottle down with careful precision. “Rings that span worlds... It’s a compelling idea. Elegant, even. But concepts like that—they always come at a cost.”
He leaned forward slightly, fingers steepled. “If Residuum is part of it—if it acts as a conduit or catalyst—then we need to be cautious. Interplanar anything doesn’t happen without attention. And not all of it will be the kind we want.”
His gaze met Barcus’s, steady and serious. “I trust you more than most. That’s why I’m saying this plainly: if those rings become real, I want to see them first. Test them. Stress them. We can’t afford to open a door we’re not ready to guard.”
He paused, then added more softly, “I’ve seen what happens when people reach across the veil without knowing what’s reaching back.”
Percy lifted the bottle again, fingers tightening around the glass. “If that stone exists, I want us to find it with clear eyes. And when we do—we use it on our terms. No compromises.”
no subject
Date: 2025-05-18 12:33 pm (UTC)Interplanar anything doesn't happen without attention. For a moment, he wonders if Gadriel and Percy have been talking.
"...you're right," he says softly. "This is so important to me, I could easily become reckless with it."
And because of what Vax has told him, he gets why Percy is so wary. "I need you to back me up, then. Make sure I don't do anything too foolish. But I'm going to keep looking for it."
no subject
Date: 2025-05-18 03:27 pm (UTC)He glanced toward Barcus, expression unreadable for a beat. “I don’t like unknowns, especially not on that scale. One wrong assumption, one hopeful leap, and the consequences could echo in ways we can’t predict. Cause and effect isn’t stable between worlds. A gesture here could knock over something vital somewhere else.”
He paused, voice tightening slightly. “When I came back from the Feywild… I lost my memories. Only a few days, but it was like something had stripped them away. Gone. No trace. I got them back, eventually—but I didn’t even know what I was missing until I did. And that was just for being there. For existing across the boundary.”
He sat back, breath slow. “So yes. I’m wary. But I’ll back you. Of course I will. I’ll be there for every step—especially when it starts feeling too clean, too easy. I’ll be the brake when it gets dangerous. Even if it means you curse me for slowing things down.”
Percy’s gaze steadied on him, calm but firm. “This means something to you. And if it helps keep the people you care about close, then I won’t let you carry that weight alone.”
He managed a faint, dry smile. “Just let me add a few safeguards before you start turning the key.”