Of Crows and Songbirds (Part 3)

Ky let the silence drag on for a while, trying to think of something to fill the silence, but she couldn’t. She felt awkward but didn’t know what to do about it. She wished Tadaaki was here.

Not that he’d be talking. He’d be feeling awkward if he was here, too, and trying to stay out of the way. She hoped he’d gotten a reprieve back at the Keep. Maybe he was taking a nap or something.

(Poor Tadaaki)

Arianna glanced at her eventually. "Any idea where you'll go after this?"

“No ma’am.” Ky shook her head. “I… don’t really have anywhere to go… and I also don’t want to seem too eager to leave. I… know how that would look.”

"It'd make perfect sense," she said. "You've been displaced for how long? Years? You're well within your rights to want to leave." She lowered her voice. "And Serpent Keep is a bit dreary."

Ky looked at her in alarm, then glanced away. That felt like bait. She couldn’t argue with a noble; but she also didn’t want to go along with insulting one. Especially when that one was her host. And was letting her stay in his guest room rather than dungeon. “I… appreciate the hospitality all the same, ma’am. He’s been very, very kind to us… Tadaaki and I.” Not Aleth. Not that he deserved it.

"Lord Ash is a good sort," she agreed. "He's paranoid but he does bring in people who need help and treats them well."

(Decided Rickard makes it into this rp at some point because I love him)

(Ayyy nice! I’d love to get Talia and Yeona up here soonish too. Find their voices)

Ky nodded in agreement. “Very understanding for sure.”

(Hell yeah for sure! Maybe while Gaius's guys are saving them they raid a slaving caravan as well or something along those lines?)

"Any idea how you'll get home from here?'

(That’d be cool!)
(I actually had the idea as far as how to get Talia up there that maybe when Gaius starts putting pressure on Makata/the Taral perhaps Makata sends up some girls “as a gift” if you get my gist to try to placate Gaius and make him shut up and Talia be one of them? That would get her up there quickest and also be uncomfy lol Gaius: “you are a literal child stop flirting with me this is disgusting” and just gets even more aggressive about telling Makata to knock it off? Lol)

“I can’t go home, ma’am.” She shook her head. “Its… complicated. But dangerous. I… just have to figure out another path.”

(Ohhhhhh that's smart
We should totally do that
Maybe we skip ahead a bit after a scene or two)

"If you need help I'm sure Constance and I can manage something," she offered.

(Sounds good! Things are feeling a weeeee bit stale here anyway so I’d be down for a skip soon)

“Thank you, ma’am, that’s very, very kind,” Ky said, dipping her head. “And… well… if you need a translator or scribe I’m happy to offer my services.”

(Awesome. Maybe we check in with the Icky Inmates and then skip there?)

"Oh, we've got one already, but thank you." She glanced at her. "We're not going to employ a child, no offense. It's not ethical."

(Sounds good! You mean skip to having Talia show up at Serpent Keep?)

“…yes ma’am.” She said reluctantly, dipping her head. She didn’t know how she was supposed to get money without a job. And she’d been doing it for years.

(Yeah that sounds good.
That'd be a big ole skip and Arianna and Constance might have left by then
But they'll be back cuz there's a war)

"Constance!"
"Darling dearest." Constance turned, grinning back at Arianna. "What can I do for you?"
"Is there any way we can speed up Ky's return home for her?"
"I'd have to have details before I could say, love."

(Makes sense ^^ )

Ky blushed, embarrassed to be the topic of conversation. “O-oh that’s okay, ma’am. Ma’am’s. Thank you very much. I… I think I just need a job for starters.” She gave a sheepish smile.