Vax/Keyleth

Pairing
Pairing:	Vax'ildan/Keyleth
Alternative name(s):	Vaxleth
Gender category:	het
Fandom:	Critical Role
Canonical?:	yes
Prevalence:	first PC ship, major ship in campaign 1
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Vaxleth is a major het pairing in the Critical Role Campaign 1 consisting of two PCs: Vax'ildan (played by Liam O'Brien) and Keyleth (played by Marisha Ray). While there were romantic moments in the campaign prior to these two characters getting together (most prominently Vax'ildan flirting with Gilmore and Kashaw kissing Keyleth at the end of the Slayer's Take arc), Vaxleth was the first ship to actually become canon on stream.

Initially, the players weren't able to keep a straight face during scenes between Vax and Keyleth as they explored the romantic side of their relationships and to try and not interrupt their friends, they often covered their faces to hide the smiles and giggling.

Fandom

The relationship between Vax and Keyleth started early in campaign 1, with a first inkling that something might be between the two during the Slayer's Take. Not all fans liked that development, as a lot of people at the time of the initial broadcast were shipping Vax/Gilmore. accusations of "no chemistry" and the relationship being forced were thrown around. Though Vaxleth shippers defended their pairing by pointing to all the moments they shared. Some calling the pairing "quieter", especially when compared to Vex/Percy.

There was some controversy stemming from the fact that Vax, a canonically bisexual character ended up in a relationship with a parter of opposite sex, instead of Shaun Gilmore. For more details see LGBT Issues in Critical Role.

Because of Gilmore's popularity, Vaxleth sometimes takes a polyamorous turn into Vax/Keyleth/Gilmore.

Fanworks

Fanfic

• to see the break of dawn by impossibletruths - In another world She is kinder, or crueler, and he is given his time to live. Or, after everything, Vax comes home.
• with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair by mischief7manager - Vax and Keyleth, and life after adventuring.
• Be the lightning in me that strikes relentless by thevaliantdust - Her eyes flicker open at the knock on her door. She doesn’t know who she’s hoping for, or even that she’s hoping for someone at all until she opens the door and sees his face. Her words are a soft breath. “Hi.” He echoes her. “Hi.”
• You'd Make A Terrible Rogue by Writings_of_a_Hufflepuff - Keyleth sneaks (badly) into Vax’s room at night when she’s cold.
• the undone and the divine by mischief7manager - "Most of the time, Keyleth is pretty indifferent to sex. She's not opposed in principle or anything, it's just on a given day, usually, she can take it or leave it. Tonight, though. Tonight, Keyleth feels like taking." The past few days have been rough ones. Keyleth deals with that, as best she can.
• Things that happened in between by thevaliantdust - This started as a little Vaxleth drabble, turned into an angsty mess, and finally grew into a somewhat finished story. Let me know what you think. Takes place in the middle of episode 27
• First Time by RovingRomy - Keyleth and Vax's first two nights together: after returning from Draconia and before entering Ank'Harel
• Mending Bridges by TiamatZX - Before departing for Whitestone to face the Briarwoods, Vax tries to make amends for angering Keyleth to the point where she refused to speak to him. Keyleth, in the meantime, starts thinking about what may lay ahead. This takes place during Episode 27, “The Path to Whitestone”.
• i'm yours and that's it, whatever by mischief7manager - "Vax’ildan of Vox Machina asks Keyleth of the Air Ashari to marry him on a warm day in early spring. 'Wait, what?' she says."

Fanart

• After weeks of not having the time to watch, I finally got to that Vaxleth kiss by NaomiMakesArt
• From Dusk till Dawn by alexielapril
• Vaxleth by waterstyle77888
• If Only in my Dreams by persnicketese
• Vaxleth Colour by jixico
• Last Kiss by alexielapril
• As Long As You're Mine by mababwion1
• Keyleth + Vax'ildan by ninapedia

Cosplay

• Vaxleth by Vapyna
• The Druid and the Rogue by mailea-analia and elenion.cosplay

Meta

• Multishipper Trash - The question of whether Keyleth kissed back, is a big one and really important, ^{Archived version}
• What are your favorite vaxleth moments?, ^{Archived version}

Links

• Keyleth/Vax'ildan tag on AO3
• Vaxleth tag on Tumblr
• Relationship between Keyleth and Vax'ildan on Critical Role Wiki
• Vaxleth: Half-Elven Moments at CritRoleStats
• All Vaxleth moments in Campaign1 @ CritRoleStats