Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 8)

(Thanks! I’m actually kind of proud of it haha)

“Ah.” Tadaaki cringed. “So that’s why…” Ky wasn’t at breakfast or lunch. She was probably a disaster. “How is she? Have you seen her?”

"She's very quiet. She's in her room, seems like she's just been lying there all day." Sara hesitated. "I'm not sure what to do. She's not hungry and she doesn't seem to want to leave. You know her best...what would you advise?"

Tadaaki sat down on the edge of his chair, considering it for a moment thoughtfully. Ky was delicate. “Has she spoken at all?”

Sara nodded. "Some. Nothing about how she's feeling."

“She won’t.” Tadaaki shook his head. He wasn’t surprised about that. But it was good that she was at least speaking. It meant she was numb, not dead. She didn’t say anything more than ‘yes, sir’ and ‘no, sir’ for nearly a full month after she’d learned about Petrir’s death and made her attempt. And even those were only when Aleth forced an answer. “Has she made any offers?”

"She offered to eat dinner, but I think it was only to please me. I'd like her to get something in her stomach; that'd make her feel better, I think. Her energy will be very low from not eating."

Tadaaki nodded in agreement. “Did you take her up on that?”

"I just said we could have dinner brought up to her privately if she preferred that. I understand needing time alone. Was that the right thing to do?"

“She… needs guidance,” Tadaaki said carefully. “When she gets in this state, it helps her to be told what to do. She won’t eat unless you tell her to… or someone tells her to. She went a full two weeks eating almost nothing before we were going to come he—“ that was the wrong anecdote to tell. “A few months ago. It doesn’t bother her to not eat. For a very long time… but she’s also very obedient and will eat or exercise or whatever other self care would be good for her, if she’s told to. But she won’t choose it herself.”

"But that's not healthy," Sara pointed out. "We're trying to ease her out of that mindset. She isn't a servant in this house, she's family. A guest."

“I understand that,” Tadaaki said thoughtfully. It felt cheeky to argue. But he was right. “But if it’s a matter of not ordering her around, or her not eating…”

"I know." She nodded. "We need to work on it, but maybe just this once, if you think it will help. What else?"

Tadaaki thought for a moment. Ordering Ky to not self-destruct was basically the only thing he knew how to do. That, and holding her. But he was the only one who would be able to do that. Probably… unless. “…I’m not sure if she’d accept it from anyone else, but she’s very touchy feely. It helps her to be physically touching me and she was curled up on Zander, too. But I don’t know if she’d accept it from anyone else, honestly… but maybe?”

"I hate to ask, but would you mind trying that for a little with her today? I don't want to take up too much of your time but I'm concerned..."

“Of course.” Tadaaki brushed off hesitance. “She’s my family, too.” He hesitated. “I mean, not legally. I mean… I didn’t mean it like… I just care for her, is all I meant. Sorry.”

She must think him impudent — claiming a noble as his family.