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Chapter Text

It had been several years since Vox Machina had defeated Vecna and saved Exandria. Gilmore’s children were still young, but now they were less vulnerable than they’d once been. Which meant he no longer felt debilitating anxiety at the thought of leaving them for longer than a few hours at a time. 

As much as he loved his family, Gilmore knew he had to return to doing what he’d loved before the razing of Emon, or risk becoming resentful of them. And first on that list was his shop. He had yet to spend a full day at Gilmore’s Glorious Goods as he’d done in the old days, working from dawn until late into the night. But he had taken to teleporting to Emon and working several hours at least once per week. He’d also begun managing the sourcing and some of the ledgers from his study in Ank’Harel. 

Gilmore had full confidence in Sherri’s ability to do these things, but he didn’t want her to feel that she had to. It was a delicate balance of her martyr complex and his need to rely on her to do the bulk of the work. 

Tonight, after tucking the children into their beds and waiting for them to drift off while his father told them a bedtime story, Gilmore changed into something better suited to his glorious salesman persona. Then he took the teleportation circle in his quarters to the one behind the counter in Emon. 

Coming out from behind the beaded curtain, Gilmore had a moment wherein he could observe Sherri unnoticed. She had been working herself harder than usual of late, and he thought he might know why. 

“Have you taken a break yet today, Sherri dear?” Gilmore asked, walking up behind her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

“What?” She glanced up in surprise, clearly not having heard Gilmore’s approach. Her round spectacles were perched on the end of her nose, which had been deep in the shop’s master ledger. And as charming as that was, she looked an utter fright. Her tight curls had frizzed in a way that pointed to self-care neglect rather than their usual unruly disarray. She had deep bags under her eyes, and her tawny skin was looking more on the taupe side. As if to prove his suspicions, she said, “Oh, no. I’m not hungry. But if you need to do business in the city, I can cover things here.” 

Gilmore did everything he could to discourage wrinkles, but now his brow furrowed. “When was the last time you took a day off?” 

Sherri sighed and set the heavy ledger down on the counter. “Please don’t start.” 

“Excuse me?” Very few people were allowed to talk back when Gilmore was mother-henning them, and it was unlike Sherri to do so. 

She sighed. “Oh, Master Gilmore, I’m sorry, I just. I don’t want to talk about it.” 

One expertly-threaded eyebrow rose. “I see. That bad, hmm?” 

Quietly shaking her head, Sherri turned and headed for the stockroom. “I’m going to do the receiving.” 

Gilmore had already noted the receiving was finished, but he was fine letting her sulk in the back, especially if it involved taking a break from the counter. 

“Just wlw problems,” a familiar voice said. The counter was high, and Gilmore had to lean forward to see Kima. 

“Well, aren’t we more stealthy than usual?” Gilmore greeted her with a smile.

“Fuck you.”

“You couldn’t afford me,” he said without missing a beat. “And what brings Vord’s champion to our humble establishment today?” 

“Honestly?” Kima’s eyes glanced in the direction Sherri had gone. “That one. A gal pal of ours has had her eye on Miss Fussbudget. Says she’s been sighing up a storm all around town by herself lately.” 

“Oh?” Gilmore knew he wasn’t responsible for Sherri, but he felt as though he should have known this. 

“I told her Sherri was taken, but what’s the deal? She and Cassie have a falling out?” 

Gilmore tried to recall the last time he’d seen Lady Cassandra in Emon. “I don’t think so.” He stroked his goatee, thoughtful. “I was under the impression she’d been busy helping our Percival of late.” 

“So busy she can’t even make a booty call?” Kima asked, suspicious. 

Gilmore fluttered his hands, feeling a bit squeamish at the thought. “Well I don’t keep track of such things where Sherri is concerned!” 

Kima huffed in frustration. “You’re hopeless.” 

“I am worried about her, though.”

“She looks like shit.” 

“Well, I wasn’t going to say–”

Kima gave Gilmore a closer look. “You’re about due for a retwist, aren’t you?” 

Gilmore’s hand immediately went to his hair, self conscious. “Why, is it obvious?” 

Kima snorted. “No. I’m just thinking. She could use some pampering, you’re about due for new hair, and Allie’s been bugging me to go to the spa with her.” 

“Ohhh, the spa!” Gilmore exclaimed, delighted. 

Kima sighed. “I knew you’d say that.”

“Darling, let’s go! I’ll make the appointments now!”

“Ugh. I hate people touching me and stuff.” 

“You know your hair could do with a hot oil treatment,” Gilmore said, looking at her more closely. 

“Don’t fucking remind me.” 

“Self-care doesn’t have to be femme.” 

“I know, I know.” Kima rolled her eyes. “But you know Allie loves that girly shit, and she’ll want us to do partner treatments.” 

Gilmore tried not to chuckle at her gumpiness. “Well, it may not seem like it now, but I promise it won’t kill you.” 

“I know, smartass. It’s just the public spectacle of it all.” 

“I can book us a private room at the spa,” Gilmore offered. “My treat.” 

“Sold.” But Kima was still glancing toward the stock room. “How are you gonna convince her to go?” she asked. 

“You know…” Gilmore tapped his lips, thinking. “I may have a plan…” 

*

In the end, Gilmore had ambushed her over breakfast and put Cyril in charge of the shop for the day. 

“But I don’t want anyone fussing over me,” Sherri was saying, as Gilmore towed her down the street. 

“Nonsense,” Gilmore told her. “Everyone deserves to be fussed over now and then. Besides, Kima and Allura wanted to see you.” 

“They do?” Sherri looked surprised, and her cheeks darkened a little at the mention of them. 

“Of course. Haven’t they been trying to invite you out for drinks with their circle of women friends for weeks now?” 

“I thought they were just being polite,” Sherri stammered. 

“Now when have you known Kima to be polite?” 

“I don’t know,” Sherri said. “She’s always teasing me.” 

Gilmore smiled. “It’s called flirting, dear.” 

“But that’s!--How am I supposed to respond to that?” 

Gilmore chuckled. “I feel like your reaction proves exactly why she keeps doing it. In any case–ah, there they are.” 

The duo was waiting for them at the entrance to the Halcyon Door Spa, Allura looking serene and mild as ever, and Kima like she’d just rolled out of bed. He was half surprised she wasn’t still in her sleep shorts and bunny slippers. 

“Good morning, dearhearts!” Gilmore greeted them, pulling both women into a warm hug. 

“Come on,” Kima grumbled. “Let’s get this over with.” 

Allura smiled fondly, assuring Gilmore and Sherri: “She’s not as reticent as she seems.” 

“Says you!” Kima said, holding the door open for them. 

“Oh, how kind,” Gilmore said, pushing Sherri ahead of him into the spa. 

“Looking good, Sherri,” Kima said, as they passed her. 

“That’s not even true!” Sherri protested, unable to meet Kima’s eyes when she smiled like that. 

“You must learn how to take a compliment, dear,” Gilmore told her. 

“That’s fine, when I deserve it,” Sherri said. Behind them, Kima took Allura’s arm and they walked in together, exchanging a knowing look.

They started in the hot spring, where Gilmore stretched out and groaned with relief when the heat hit his lower back. “You really should see someone about that,” Kima said from the other side of the partition. 

“Master Gilmore, what are you doing over there?” Sherri asked, concerned. 

“Nothing like what you’re imagining, I’m sure,” Gilmore said with a smile. 

“Dirty girl,” Kima teased her. “You know you’re not supposed to wear the towels into the water, right?”

“Now, sweetheart,” Allura said. “She’s allowed her modesty. Some of us have it, you know.” 

“Babe. You shouldn’t call yourself out like that.” 

“Oh, you!” There was the sound of a playful splash. 

“Now you’ve done it!” Gilmore could feel the ripples of their splash fight on his side of the pool. 

“Master Gilmore,” Sherri said softly from the other side of the partition. “Can I come over there with you?” 

Gilmore sat up and glanced around. He was the only one on the men’s side currently. “You’re welcome to, but I must warn you: I’m not wearing a towel.” 

“It’s alright,” Sherri sighed, resigned. “We’ve worked together long enough, it’s nothing new to me.” 

Gilmore suppressed a chuckle. “Come on, then.” 

The sound of splashing was giving way to other noises as Sherri edged her way around the partition, clutching a towel to herself for dear life. “They mean well,” Gilmore told her. 

Sherri sighed. “I know. But they’re just making me a little miserable with how much they love each other right now.” 

The poor thing. Happy couples could do that when you were feeling alone. Gilmore nodded to the far corner of the pool. “Why don’t you just go try to relax? I’ll have the attendant make sure no one else comes in.” 

She did her best. But even from a distance, Gilmore could tell Sherri was still wound tighter than an E string, just from the way she held her shoulders. Perhaps a massage would help…

*

It certainly did help his back. Gilmore lay on his stomach and tried not to fall asleep while hot river stones were applied up and down his spine. Sherri still looked miserable, but she seemed to feel a bit more secure with her chair massage, and her tight muscles began to relax a little. 

Next to him, Kima and Allura were still doing their sickening couple thing, Allura insisting on massaging Kima herself. “You’re not going hard enough!” Kima complained. “Don’t pretend like you have a gentle touch just because we’re in public, Allie. Do me like last night.”

Gilmore suppressed a chuckle as his own masseur paused for a moment to be scandalized. 

“You be good.” Allura was smiling, which took some of the threat out of her scolding. “Or I’ll use shocking grasp in your massage.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Sherri sighed, audibly. “My teeth are going to rot out of my head if I have to listen to you two for much longer.” 

“I’m sorry, Sherri,” Allura said, her smile fading. 

Kima looked up from the massage table. “Okay, bet. We’ll stop being lovey-dovey if you tell us what’s wrong.” 

“It’s fine,” Sherri said, turning her face away from them. “I’m fine.” 

Gilmore gave Kima a look. She had to know by now the direct approach did not work with Sherri in these matters. “She’s been working herself too hard at the shop,” Gilmore said. “I for one am just glad you let me talk you into coming today.”

“You ambushed me!”  

“But you could have said no,” Gilmore pointed out. 

“That’s true,” Sherri said, gloomily. 

“Once we’re all nice and relaxed,” Kima said. “What about drinks after?” 

Gilmore laughed. “After? I insist on drinks during, darling.” 

“Yes, please!” Allura agreed.

“Yeah, okay. You two enjoy your bubbly orange juice. But I’m talking about real drinks.” 

“I wouldn’t mind,” Sherri said. 

“There, you see?” Kima gave her wife a triumphant look. 

“Let’s just see how we all feel afterward,” Allura said. 

*

Next, it was time for hair. Gilmore’s retwist took forever, but he was content to relax in the chair and chat with the girls. Not to mention the hair weavers always had the latest gossip. Sherri listened quietly while her curls were treated and twisted. Allura unbound her tresses for the occasion, but her indulgence was limited to a simple wash and trim to be rid of any split ends. She mainly busied herself trying to convince Kima to do something fun. 

“Just cut it all off,” Kima told the barber. 

“Don’t you dare!” Allura said. But Gilmore could see from Kima’s grin that she’d had no intention of getting shorn. 

“What about box braids?” Gilmore suggested. “They’ll be easier for you to manage.” 

“I dunno,” Kima said, glancing up at the ceiling. “I might lose my mind if I have to sit here that long.” 

“Shaun’s right,” Allura said. “I’ll do your nails when you start to get fidgety.” 

“I know you, woman,” Kima said. “You just want to get your hands on my toes.”

When Allura opened her eyes wide and made grabby hands at Kima’s feet, Gilmore laughed out loud. 

“Psychic damage,” Sherri said. “I was not prepared for today.” 

Kima winked at her. “No one expects the inquisition.” 

A mud mask hid Sherri’s face, but Gilmore could see the blush clear down her neck. Honestly, he felt it was good for her to be around Kima and Allura. She needed to spend more time outside the shop. 

When Kima began to protest before her braids were halfway done, Gilmore sent a runner down the street for hard liquor. Sherri was choosing a nail polish tint by then, and Gilmore encouraged her to indulge in a design or artificial nails as well. 

“Leave her alone,” Kima said. “Some of us need our fingernails short.” Allura hid a smile.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Gilmore said, innocently. 

“Sure you don’t, you big perv.” 

“I think I’d like to try some,” Sherri said, hesitantly. “But not too long.” The manicurist nodded, and Allura and Kima exchanged another look. 

In the end, she chose a flickering flame design on a coral tint. Gilmore loved it. While Sherri had her nails lengthened, Allura sat at Kima’s feet and gave her a meticulous pedicure. “Told you,” Kima said, when she caught Gilmore watching the arcanist work. She was so devoted to her wife; it was really very sweet. “This woman loves feet.” 

Allura laughed, but said nothing more. 

“Well, in her defense,” Gilmore said. “Those are adorable little feet you hide inside your steel-toed boots.”  

“Go choke,” Kima told him, good naturedly. 

“I would, darling,” Gilmore said. “But Jarett’s at home.” 

Allura burst out laughing, partly at his comment but mostly at the look of dumbfounded disgust on Kima’s face. 

“That looks like a point to me,” Gilmore said, smug.  Sherri was shaking her head sadly in the corner. 

“You got me, goldie,” Kima conceded, reluctantly. “This time.”

Chapter Text

Finally, with beauty treatments and hair and nails complete, the four of them stepped back out onto the streets of Emon. It was afternoon by now, and incredibly late for Gilmore, who was running on Ank’Harel time. 

“I don’t think you’re gonna make it for drinks, boss,” Kima said, taking one look at him. 

“Nonsense,” Gilmore said. “Maybe I won’t go glass for glass with you, but I can certainly tag along.” Besides, he wanted to see Sherri’s reaction to her surprise. “Lead the way.” 

“The Pink Tressym it is,” Kima said. 

“Aren’t men not allowed in?” Gilmore asked. 

The halfling blew a raspberry. “You’re with us. Besides, Allie set it up in advance.” 

“Well then. The three of you don’t mind if we stop by Howarth’s to pick up one of my favourite wines, do you?” 

“Is that what they’re calling it nowadays?” Kima said, raising a judgmental eyebrow at him. 

“It is,” Gilmore replied with aplomb. The erudite district was quiet at this hour, most of its citizens indulging in their afternoon nap. And this time of day, Howarth’s was just a textile shop. Still, absolutely no one was surprised when one Howarth in particular walked out to greet them as they approached. Gilmore was a little surprised how it made his heart race to see Jarett again. They’d only been apart for a matter of hours, but he did so delight in his sweet captain and the attentions he lavished on Gilmore.

“Knew it,” Kima said. 

Jarett went to Gilmore first, embracing him and offering a chaste kiss. Then he turned to greet the women. “Lady Allura.” He nodded to her, unwilling to let go of Gilmore to shake hands. “Kima.” He gave her a cold look, and she returned it. Followed by a smile on both sides and fist bump. “Miss Sherri.” Jarett inclined his head, respectfully. 

“It’s just Sherri, Jarett. I’ve seen you naked, remember?” 

His eyes widened in embarrassment, and Jarett’s cheeks darkened. “Yes, Sherri!” Kima cackled, offering her a congratulatory hi-five. “Gottem.”

Gilmore chuckled indulgently, kissing Jarett’s burning cheek. He tightened his arms around his lover. It was impossible to be intimate with Gilmore and not get caught red-handed eventually. He was far too shameless to maintain discreet rendezvous, and gods knew Sherri had seen far more manflesh than she’d ever wanted over the years as a result. 

Did you bring her? Gilmore Sent to him as he held Jarett close.   

“A moment,” Jarett said, as Sherri and Kima continued to laugh at his expense. “I almost forgot my lord’s wine.” He reluctantly let go of Gilmore to walk back into the shop. 

“You’re such a wine snob,” Kima teased him. 

“You know me, darling,” Gilmore smiled. “Only the best. Though I always share with friends.” He glanced at the door just as Jarett re-emerged, followed by Lady Cassandra, who was covered head to toe against the afternoon sun. 

“Cassie!” Sherri cried out in surprise, not displeased to see her. But something had clearly transpired between them, for neither woman ran to embrace the other. 

For her part, Lady Cassandra’s expression when she saw Sherri was unmistakably smitten. “Sherri.” She made her way over to Sherri to take her hands. “You’re a vision. Doesn’t she look gorgeous?” Cassandra turned to ask the others. 

“Positively radiant,” Allura smiled, quietly observing the exchange of looks between the two women.

“I wouldn’t kick her out of bed,” Kima added. 

“Now, Kima,” Cassandra chided. “Don’t make me fight you.” 

Sherri blushed and Gilmore laughed. “Come along, darlings,” he said, taking Jarett’s arm. “I believe we have a drinking appointment to keep.” 

“I don’t know if they’ll let Jarett in, though,” Kima said.

“What?” When Jarett looked anxious, she laughed. 

“Stop being so mean,” Allura scolded her, tickling the back of Kima’s neck with her fingertips. “You save that energy for when we get home.” 

“See? I let her touch my feet, and there’s no turning back,” Kima said. 

*

At the bar, they were shown to their own private room, where Allura asked Gilmore about the children and he gladly bored them all to death with stories of her nieces and niblings. Cass and Sherri took a corner to themselves to speak privately, and everyone let them. They seemed to have some patching up to do, but Gilmore was confident everything would be resolved for the better. 

By the time Gilmore’s fatigue started to get the better of him, Sherri and Cassie were kissing and exchanging sweet nothings. “I think perhaps it’s time we should be getting home,” he said.

“I believe it is past my lord’s bedtime,” Jarett said, watching Gilmore begin to nod off. 

“A parent’s work is never done,” Allura said. “Though the offer still stands to let us have the children for a day.” 

“Babe, they have royal nursemaids and stuff,” Kima said. 

There was a fire in Allura’s eyes when she turned back to her wife. “Yes, but I don’t have little ones to dress up and fuss over.” 

“Gulp.” 

“We’ll plan something,” Gilmore said, cutting through the sound of Allura’s biological clock ticking. “Sherri, darling, I’ve asked Inanna to help Cyril cover the shop tomorrow. Why don’t you take the day off?”

But she wasn’t listening. Cassandra had leaned close and was whispering in her ear, and Gilmore could see a lost shoe or two peeking from under the table. He smiled. “Goodnight, ladies.” 

“Go on,” Kima said. “Just go ahead and leave, like you always do.” 

Gilmore frowned. “Now, Kima.”

“Give me a hug, bitch.” He bent down to embrace her, only to be squeezed back much harder than he’d anticipated. 

“Well. I know who to go to the next time I need my back adjusted.” 

“Any time,” Kima said, letting go of him with a playful swat on the rump. 

“It was good to see you, Jarett,” Allura said politely. 

“You are most kind, Lady Allura.” 

Kima mimicked his tone, mockingly. “Don’t act so genteel, Howarth. I remember what you were like back in the Greyskull Keep days.” 

Jarett just winked at her. 

“You see that?” she turned around to Allura. “Man’s a damn scoundrel. Always has been.” 

“Be careful,” Gilmore said, sliding an arm around Jarett. “You’ll resurrect his old reputation, and I’ll have to cast a Magic Circle to keep all the women at bay.”

“No competition,” Kima said, waving off his concerns. “Besides, loverboy has been gaga for you ever since we lived in Whitestone. I think you turned him gay, boss.” 

“Nonsense,” Gilmore said, pleased at her suggestion all the same. He turned to look at Jarett. “Is that true, my love?” 

“It may as well be,” Jarett said, kissing his hand as he looked into Gilmore’s eyes. “For I will have no one but you from now on.” 

“Flatterer,” Gilmore said, pleased in spite of himself. 

“I speak only truths,” Jarett said. 

“Ugh, enough,” Kima said, shoving them toward the door. “Get a room, boys.” 

That gave Gilmore pause. “Should we?” 

Jarett shrugged. “Perhaps. Your parents have taken charge of the little ones for the day.” 

The more Gilmore considered it, the less tired he felt. 

“Alright, I’ll tell you what,” Kima said. “There’s our guest room back at the tower. I can tell you guys are about to get loud, so why don’t we spare the city the psychic damage?” 

“You know you’re always welcome in our home,” Allura said. 

“I like this idea,” Jarett said, his eyes growing hungry as they rested on Gilmore. 

“It would be rude to turn down such a kind offer,” Gilmore said, batting his eyes at Jarett. 

“Sheesh,” Kima said. “And Sherri thinks we’re bad.”

“Well, we are,” Allura said. 

“Yeah, but these two!” Kima flapped her arms in mock disgust, and Allura laughed. 

“Come on, cinnamon bun. Did you save your mean like I asked?” 

Kima offered a diabolical smile. “Maybe.” 

“Then I suppose it’s a good thing the walls are sound proof.” 

“Hot damn, woman!” Kima said. “Cast Teleport already!”

Allura’s laugh was like a bell. She did as Kima asked, and the four of them disappeared from the bar, leaving Sherri and Cassandra alone together. 

“I really am dreadfully sorry,” Cassie said, squeezing Sherri’s hand. “I think…perhaps we should just arrange it so that you come to Whitestone the next time Percival keeps me this long.”

“I guess de Rolos can’t just leave whenever they want to,” Sherri said, sullen. 

“I’ll try to be better,” Cassandra promised. “I will. It’s just so ingrained–”

“I know,” Sherri said. “Stop apologizing.” 

“But I missed you terribly,” Cassie insisted. 

“Maybe I’ll take a note from Master Gilmore and we can trade arcane letters.” 

Cassandra smiled sadly. “I’d like that.”

“When was the last time you ate?” Sherri asked, suddenly. Cassandra looked down at the table, trying to hide her eyes. But there was no blood to support her blush. “That long?!” Sherri asked, worried now. 

“It’s difficult at home…with everyone there now.” 

“Come here,” Sherri said, unbuttoning her blouse. 

“Sherri!” Cassie looked scandalized. 

Sherri looked around. “We’re alone here. It’s fine.” 

“Not here. Not like this!” Cassie said, tearing her eyes away from Sherri’s freckled throat with some effort. 

Watching Cassandra struggle, trying hard to maintain her patrician pride and ingrained sense of decorum, Sherri smiled softly. “Okay. We’ll do it your way. Ready?” 

Cassandra nodded, suddenly shy, too afraid to look her in the eye. Squeezing her hand, Sherri cast her own Teleport spell, and the two of them disappeared in a shower of stars to somewhere more private, leaving behind just an empty room.