𝐕𝐄𝐗'𝐀𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐀.

most of keyleth’s evening had been spent in her chambers,  turning page after page inside of her alchemy book. she had read several up to this point, but when they had stopped inside a shop earlier that day, it had caught her eye quickly and she found no problem shelling out what little silver she had left in order to take it with her. inside were mostly common things she had seen before, but the thought of it all still enraptured her. her freckled nose was quickly pressed firmly into the book, with several others she carried with her laid sprawled open on the bed around her.  

the sharp rasp at her door quickly drew her attentions away, her antlers laid to rest on the table beside her bed and staff tucked safely under the mattress. the druid half expected it to be a member of the staff coming to check and see if she needed anything, but the sight of vex’ahlia on the other side nearly made keyleth jump with surprise.  ❝  vex! uhm, hey!  ❞  the laugh that escapes the druid is a bit forced, nervousness tearing at her stomach quickly as she chews on her bottom lip. had she done something to upset her? said the wrong thing over their dinner?  

                    𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝑻𝑯𝑼𝑵𝑲 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 hitting ancient wood is enough to tear her gaze from the toe of her boot . had she any less of a carefully kept handle on her reactions to the druid , she might have even winced at the suddenness of it —- but she doesn't . instead , she offers only a small , tight - lipped smile as she steps over the threshold and into her space .

                    𝐊𝐄𝐘𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 . how had she managed to so thoroughly mark a rented room as her own ? from the scattered books to her more personal belongings , there is nowhere for vex to look where she isn't . even the way her scent wreathes around the ranger feels like an assault , but —- much like that coiling , wriggling feeling —- it isn't altogether unappealing .

                    ❝ 𝐍𝐎 , 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋 , ❞ she counters , refusing to unfold her arms even to wave off the other woman's concern . " i only wanted ... "

                   𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒 , grappling for a moment with the notion that keyleth's uncertainty may very well be catching . what does she want ? to express her gratitude , surely , but that might have waited until morning . if so , then why is she here now ? the words stick in her throat , and she feels the tips of her ears grow warm beneath those too - green eyes .

                    ❝ 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 , 𝐈 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐈 —- i wanted to say ' thank you ' . "

                    𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐔𝐓 in the open , sitting in the space between them , a good bit of the tension she feels drains from her . muscles relax enough to allow her to lean , bracing her hip against the doorframe .

                    ❝ 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 ... and trinket , too , of course . "

 ❝ 𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴. ❞

                 Independent / Private / Multi-muse | Written by Kingsley | CARRD