Chapter Text
Gilmore appeared to be almost exactly what Taliesin had imagined the man to be due to Matt's highly detailed description of the character and having seen the animated adaptation of the character also helped immensely.
"Uh, yeah. Actually..." Taliesin began, looking to the other man nervously. He shifted his weight nervously as Gilmore glanced back to his shop. Gilmore nodded, motioning for Taliesin to follow him. Taliesin hesitantly obliged, walking behind Gilmore. Upon entering Gilmore led him to the counter of his shop.
"How can I help you today?" Gilmore spoke softly, turning fully around to look at Taliesin.
"Oh, uh well....I'm just...not quite used to the whole situation yet. I was just attacked, I guess, or something now I'm here. All I know is this wasn't supposed to happen. I'm not supposed to be here, that Might make me sound crazy but it's true." Taliesin said as Gilmore listened intently to him.
"Well what do you mean, you weren't suppose to be here?," Gilmore said frowning and leaning forward onto the main counter.
Before Taliesin could reply, there came the sound of several loud knocks at his front door. There were several shadows looming the entrance, seven to be exact.
Gilmore held up a hand to Taliesin,
"Pardon me, it appears that I have more guests." Gilmore said as he stood and headed towards the sectioned off halway. "Please wait here while I handle this."
As soon as Gilmore disappeared, Taliesin turned his atteore he turned back to the interior of the shop. It was quiet, very quiet. He could hear some sort of muffled conversation, and he couldn't hear anything coming from the street beyond the door. They appeared to be arguing with Gilmore, suddenly a voice rang out with annoyance, while he couldn't make out what was exactly said Taliesin could recognize that tone of voice anywhere. THe people that just arrived at the shop was Vox Machina, the voice Taliesin had heard was none other than Percy De Rolo himself.
Taliesin felt his stomach clench at the mention of Vox Machina, he knew that if he pissed any one of then off enough, even on accident, he was done for.
'What arch are they even going through at this time?' he thought with a small twist of nausea. ' I hope it isn't the Briarwood arch.'
After the commotion from the hallway died down Gilmore entered again followed by seven people that Taliesin already knew who was who.
"What in the world are you wearing? I've never seen clothes like that in my life. Trust me I've seen ALOT." Scanlan blurted out the moment they walked into the main part of the shop.
Taliesin watched as the other members of Vox Machina took in his appearance in their own unique ways.
Slowly standing up as to not surprise the heavily armed group, Taliesin stretched out his back, earning a few back pops in the process,
"This?" he asked full knowing what the answer was going to be
"No, I meant the other clothing you're wearing." Scanlan replied looking back to Taliesin.
"Enough Scanlan." Percy told the gnome, Taliesin realized that he had made his way to the front of the group and was giving him an analytical look. "You can see he doesn't want to talk. And if we want to find anything out we need answers from him."
Taliesin's face twisted into what he hoped was an apologetic smile and said,
"I'm sorry, uh..I was just teasing." he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, unsure as to what else to do in the moment.
"I'd be careful with your tone if i were you." Percy warned. Taliesin flinched at Percy's tone and nodded quickly,
avoiding Percy's eyes
"Okay, okay, no need for hostility. Look, why don't we get our story straight first?" Keyleth suggested breaking the awkward tension in the air, trying to ease the tension. Percy nodded his head in agreement. Everyone stood in silence for what must have been a minute.
"We can always just take him back to the keep. Besides I'm with Keyleth, what the fuck is with all the hostility towards someone we just met not even ten minutes ago Percy?" Vex said in exasperation. Taliesin noticed the slight shift in her stance as she put herself in front of him as though protecting him, even though she hadn't really done anything wrong.
Vax nodded his head in agreement.
"I agree, it seems kinda rude. He hasn't done anything wrong."
"Yeah Perc, yoursounding really paranoid right now." Scanlan said quickly glancing in Percy's direction.
Percy scowled, glaring at the others surrounding him,
"I think that it's obvious what we should do. We go back to the Keep and ask for an explanation."
There was a chorus of agreements among Vox Machina. Taliesin didn't say a word. His eyes fixed on Keyleth waiting silently. She sighed before finally nodding in agreement to Percy's plan.
"It seems like the best option," She agreed, turning towards the group.
"Alright then let's head off to the keep!" Vax announced, gesturing to the rest of Vox Machina to move forward.
Taliesin felt a hand gently touch his hand.
The hand belonged to Pike. The cleric was smiling gently at him,
"Don't mind Percy he has issues to people he doesn't trust having more answers than him. Just don't piss him off and you should come out with all your fingers and toes."
Taliesin nodded as he was Shepparded into the middle of the group as they made their way out of the shop.