Claire... hesistated, before hitting the orb, to transform. "I... Thanks for this, Reggie. A lot."

Reggie nodded, bumping her shoulder. "S'fine, go for it. I'm rooting for ya."

Claire nodded, and hit the button.

And then there was pain. She collapsed, as she felt her body *rewire* itself- Nerves, veins, organs all twisting and shifting to a new, different standard- Her back ached and her shoulderblades shifted and groaned as wings slowly sprouted, her mouth on fire as tooth turned to beak, her jaw not quite keeping up with the change. It was- It was just three seconds, three seconds of all-consuming alien sensations and pain, but it was enough to leave her heaving and clinging to Reggie like a liferaft.

He helped her sit up, and held her close, supporting her (new, limp, alien) wings. "You- Are you okay? My first change hurt too, it's fine- It's fine, you'll be fine." He was more reassuring himself, than her.

But she had none of it- "Reggie- What- What the FUCK?!" She yelled, looking him in the eyes.

"You- You swore!" He said, even as Claire shook him.

"IS THAT WHAT ALL YOUR TRANSFORMATIONS FEEL LIKE?!" Claire asked, shaking him like a can of soda, breath getting faster and faster. Was this- Was this what was happening to him? His brain rewiring over and over and over again and FRYING HIS BRAIN?!

"MAYBE YES BUT IT'S NOT THAT BAD!"

"I LITERALLY JUST EXPERIENCED IT YES IT IS THAT BAD! That was- Awful! It was like I was shoved in a blender and pureed! IT HURT! Why aren't you- More worried about that?! That sounds dangerous!"

Reggie just- Held onto her. "Calm down. Please. It's- It really is barely anything after the first change or two. *I literally forgot about it.* I wouldn't have put you through, that, if I thought it was some horrible awful thing, I thought it was just- An ache from the change, and it faded. I'm- I'm sorry, okay?"

Claire stared, eyes teared up a bit, but... In the end, she nodded. "Stop being dumb over it, and maybe try and fix it? You made it after all."

Reggie nodded, and looked to her wings. "... Up to try flying? Your body should be good for it."

Claire didn't hesitate. "Sure. That's... That sounds fun, to try. At least before I change back."

Reggie clung onto her, and nodded, as Claire took a running start, and... Tried to fly. And then faceplanted into the ground, hard. "Owowowowow- OWWWW MY NOSE-" She sat up, feeling her face (that was blood on it, oh gods), and just- Slammed the originators button thing down, and turned back into a Nekomata. Three seconds of pain, but less than before. Not a slow motion timelapse of the change, but just a jolt of ache.

"I BROKE BY BOSE! BWHY BID I AGREE TO BIS?!" She asked, randomly flailing in rage.

"I- Uh- Pleasegivebacktheoriginator-" Claire threw it at him, and he quickly put it on. "Okay, okay, let's just go home. Today sucked, gift sucked, trying to fly sucked, let's just go to your parents."

Claire growled, pained by it, but nodded.


THE NEXT DAY


Okay so Reggie may have messed up. Claires nose was not, in fact, broken, but also it was badly bruised and Reggie and Claire were both grounded for the weekend. But, saturday and sunday went by as expected, and then monday rolled around.

And Reggie finally realized just how, like, *seen*, his science fair exhibit was. He and Claire walked into the middle school, and were IMMEDIATELY barraged with questions.

"Is the originator real?"

"Can you turn into a guardian?"

"Can you turn into a CACTUS?!"

"Did you murder Rattlescale?!"

"DID YOU FLY FOR REALSIES?!"

Reggie was. Wow. Reggie was a bit overwhelmed. He'd always been the background kid, mostly just known for having a diet that screamed 'human' with how much human-only food was in it, and like, that's it? And now there were! People! Talking to him! Staring at him! Right in the eyes even! So many people staring at him, so many questions, so hard to think beyond the ringing in his ears, he couldn't even run his feet were stuck in the mud-

"EVERYONE, CLEAR OUT! I AM OFFICIALLY HIS PR MANAGER, AND ALL OF YOU NEED TO BACK OFF!"

That parted the crowd like a wedge was hammered into it. Claire just followed Reggie, darting about, seen and unseen. She did a very good job projecting the body guard aura, Reggie thought, practically tangible. Slowly they walked to their first period, one Argus Rattlescale teaching.

"To pre-empt any questions for the class: Any questions about Reggies science project are not to be had on school grounds. ANY questions, from ANY students. It doesn't matter if you *just have one* question, because then everyone else will start asking questions, and your ONE question turns into a crowd in the halls."

The Draconis looked around the classroom. "Am I clear?" He asked.

"Yes, Professor Rattlescale." Everyone said, though some with different wordings, and sentiments. Reggie just stuck his hand under the desk, pushing the originator up his sleeve, like, to the elbow. Claire looked at him, and just, signed.

'YOU BROUGHT IT TO SCHOOL?!' She roughly signed out, her face an expression of purest rage.

'WORE TO BED FORGOT HAD IT!' He signed back, with the single most 'I screwed up' red face she'd ever seen.

'HOW?!' HOW?! Who even does that!

'VERY TIRED SLEPT IN CLOTHES?', like that explained everything!

'DO NOT DO THAT!", because apparently she had to explain that!

'SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY!" And at that, Rattlescale cleared his throat. "Okay, okay, the usual daily bit of time to settle in is OVER. Today, theoretical INSTANT transorigin..." He waited for the anticipation... "Is NOT, in fact todays subject. Today's topic is in fact, on the history of the Lapis burner. We shall also go over the mechanics of it, I'm not forgetting the gearheads in the class!" He cleared his throat, and began.

And Reggie didn't hear a WORD of it, not at all, because he could just feel the Originator on his arm, throbbing just a bit. Just a bit. He was concerned that he could feel it, because the Originator wasn't supposed to be sentient, but also they were up all night making it, and he definitely remembered SOMETHING about it having emotions, and what, but- Gods, what has he CREATED?!- And then the thought left his mind without a trace. But his mental meltdown just continued all through class, silently building up and up.

By the end of class, he was ready to explode. And then he was called on by Rattlescale as he was leaving. "Mr. Rolander?"

Reggie jumped and turned, hands raised to defend himself. "IDONTKNOWWHATI- WHat- What? Mr. Rattlescale?" He dropped his hands. He didn't know what was bothering him.

"... Clearly there was something bothering you. Forget being called on, head to your councellor." Reggie nodded. Right, that. That's what he was dreading.