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Even after years of being able to morph into any animal or beast of her choosing, Keyleth still is not used to the pain that accompanies her afterward.
She loves her shapes, loves the experience of being in another body entirely different from her own. But, as is the case with a great many things, there is a few downsides to it. The main one being that her body hurts afterward.
Her back, her knees, her hands. Some places she can’t even name.
There are aches in every crevice some days, especially after transforming into animals with multiple legs (like scorpions) or being in one shape for too long.
And the phantom feelings get to her some days, too. The feeling of wings, a tail, multiple legs. It trips her up and makes her question if she’s really back in her own body.
She loves transforming, but Gods above does she wish the aches and weird sensations would go away some days.
-
After Vax’ildan got his wings—courtesy of the Matron—he couldn’t help but wonder how Keyleth felt, if the way he felt was similar to the way she did.
And, always a little desperate for more time with her, he goes to her door among de Rolo’s castle around midday. He knocks, praying to his Matron that he isn’t interrupting anything.
His prayer must be answered regardless of the stupidity, because she opens the door a second later looking a little rumpled.
“Hey, Vax. What’s up?” she mumbles. Instead of the normal nervous tinge in her voice he is used to, her voice is laced with a tiredness he suspects every member of Vox Machina has been feeling lately.
“I wanted to talk to you about.. something.”
Her faces crinkles in confusion, but she opens the door anyway.
Noticing the books strewn across her desk and chair, he goes to sit on her windowsill while she goes to her bed and faces him cross-legged.
“So, what was it you wanted to talk about?” Keyleth tilts her head curiously.
“You’ve seen my wings,” he begins. She nods, looking more puzzled than before. “Of course,” she smiles. “They’re.. pretty. Almost like you’re a raven.”
He chuckles drily. “You really think so? Anyway, I wanted to ask.. do you ever feel like yours are still there?”
She pauses, tapping her knee three times before answering. “Can you, uh, elaborate?”
“Your wings. Or I guess any extra limbs you get, really. When you’ve transformed,” he clarifies. He feels a like a fish out of water with how badly his words are coming out.
Understanding blooms across her freckled, beautiful face. “Oh! Yes, all the time, actually. It’s rather annoying,” she seems to admit.
-
“It’s rather annoying,” Keyleth blurts out. Vax simply nods in agreement, making a twinge of gratefulness that he doesn’t make fun of her awkwardness go off in her chest.
“Does it ever itch for you?” His face remains neutral, but she sees a flicker of curiosity spark in his eyes again when she says yes.
“Well,” she starts. “It’s more so.. a little..” She pauses. Her eyes flick to his, and he makes a movement with his hands to encourage her to continue. Seeing this, she takes a deep breath.
“It’s a little painful most days. Have you.. do you ever feel that too?” She asks quietly, wringing her pale fingers together.
“Well, don’t forget, I’m new to this whole wing thing,” he winks and carries on. “But yeah, Kiki. I do. I sense them there, sometimes. Like-”
“Like they’re still there, but you can’t see or feel them physically?”
He blinks, and she finds the slight bit of shock on his face amusing. “Don’t forget, I’m not new to this whole wing thing,” and this time she’s the one winking.
The laugh Vax gives makes her stomach flutter.
“I suppose that’s fair.”
The conversation lulls, and an idea forms in Keyleth’s mind. She stands suddenly, grabbing his scarred hands and leading him over to the mirror that hangs above her vanity.
-
“What are you doing?” Vax mumbles curiously, but he follows. He suspects he’d follow her anywhere, no matter where she led him.
She pushes him gently in front of the mirror, turning him sideways and standing there for a few seconds, seemingly debating on what to say, before opening her mouth to explain. “Seeing my reflection always helps.”
She points to the mirror and then to his shoulder blades, running her fingers gently across them over his tunic. The touch makes him shiver inwardly.
“It helps remind me I’m back in my body—well, my usual body, that is. And.. it helps the tingly feel go away, just not the pain,” she finishes.
He looks at himself in the mirror, and he doesn’t see any raven feathers sprouting from his body. He turns to face her, smiling when her eyes widen a little as he grabs both of her hands in his.
“This helps more than you know, Kiki. Thank you,” he whispers. She simply nods—her circlet of antlers shifting slightly with the movement—and pulls back, but not before giving his hands a quick, small squeeze.
“Of course, Vax. That’s what I’m here for, y’know. Giving advice to the champion of a literal goddess,” she jokes. He sighs at the loss of her touch rather than her pun.
“I’m here for you too. To help you practice throwing a dagger.. or to offer a massage if you’re in pain,” he adds, laughing once more when her cheeks flush red.
Keyleth all but shoves him toward the door, looking everywhere but at him. But before she closes it and he has the chance to talk himself out of the decision, he throws his second wink of the day over his shoulder. And, although his sister is definitely better at it than he is, he has a feeling it landed exactly the way he wanted it to.