Shady

“The painted room?”

“No real preference, ma’am,” Ky answered immediately. She knew better than to admit to having desires. She hesitated. She’d been explicitly asked to have an opinion, though. Which made not ...

“Anything.” She shrugged. “Open to all recommendations.” Except the corpse. “Where’s your favorite room?” She glanced at Tomhas, then back at Gaius. She had the feeling that their father

Ky grinned, suddenly looking much younger as her eyes twinkled and her cheeks warmed with genuine flattery. “Thank you, ma’am. I like it very much.”

Ky squinted at him slightly, catching it. “Where would you recommend?” He was going to recommend the corpse, wasn’t he? She’d put money on it.

“Oh, I mean, it wasn’t that bad!” She realized she was complaining. “I just called myself Kyber instead of Kylia. Went by Ky both times though… somewhat unfortunately now, I ...

Ky frowned at him even though he wasn’t looking at her anymore. How was he really going to throw her into a situation like this and then not help? She ...

“Yes ma’am,” Ky agreed, subconsciously reaching up to pat at her hair. “I’d thought of that as well… and perhaps I could start wearing dresses again.” She wrinkled her nose ...

“Yes ma’am,” she answered weakly. “I just… wish I wasn’t… so recognizable.”

Her gaze snapped back to Gaius and then to Tomhas and her brow furrowed, confused. And also annoyed. He’d pretended that that was their secret. But no. Theirs plus Gaius. ...

Ky shivered a little. What was Aleth’s due? She didn’t know that she wanted to think about that. Didn’t want to think about him at all. Didn’t want to think ...

(Crows and songbirds: both of them: *suave and put together* Here: >:[ no u) “Yeah?” Ky agreed hesitantly, instantly guarded. Who had he heard that from? She glanced at Tomhas, ...

She felt herself prickle. He was pushing it. Trying to bait her so that she really would look like the asshole here that was lashing out for no reason, even ...

“Yes ma’am.” Ky nodded, keeping to herself that they didn’t have the choice to give up now. Oh no. They’d taken up this battle and it was going to last ...

“Oh it… it’s going to be more trouble than it’s worth, ma'am,” Ky said quietly, shaking her head. “There’s a reason no one has.”