Shady

"Do you do a lot of trade with the East?"

"Yes ma'am." Ky nodded, still holding a hand over her nose. "Well I-I mean, I'm just an adopted daughter. Not actually related at all. That's why my nose is... what's ...

"Yes ma'am." She nodded. An odd qualifier.

"Y-yes ma'am." Ky nodded. "I'm, um, looking for Tomhas - um, my, um, father. He played down here a lot when he was a kid and was showing me around ...

"Of course." She nodded. "I'm sure whatever he decides will be a good choice."

"Oh I-I'm sorry," Ky said hastily, feeling very bewildered. And yet feeling very much like this was the epitome of situations where she should be polite. "I didn't mean to ...

Ky nodded understandingly. Then realized that she was getting too cheeky and buried her hands in her pockets instead. "Ah. That makes sense."

"I-" Ky blinked at him. She wasn't the one being ridiculous here. "I didn't--I don't... I don't understand. You're..." She whispered the next word, "Ghosts?"

"Oh?" She looked at her curiously. "...may I ask why?"

Her brain came to a screeching halt and she stared at him, aghast. Was she talking to ghosts ? This-- no. No . Ghosts weren't real. She was... hallucinating. Or... ...

"Oh, wow!" Ky nodded, filing away the information for literally no reason whatsoever. "Well, it's impressive gift no doubt. They must be very thankful."

"Of course!" Ky said quickly, accepting the apology with a quick nod and dip of her head. But she still kept her hand in front of her nose despite herself. ...

"...oh." She nodded, grateful that she'd offered it, because Ky definitely wouldn't have asked what the favor was. "How long ago was that?"

"What's wrong with my chest?" She kept her left hand over her nose and put her right hand over her chest. She was running out of hands to cover her ...

"Ah." She nodded. "... big gift."