Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 14)

"From here. A--" He broke off, tensing considerably and lowering his voice. "You know."

“Oh. Sorry.” She shook her head. Goddamn her and her ‘shush’ — she regretted it deeply. “No. I wasn’t born here.”

"Ah." He nodded, took a breath as if he were about to say more, then was silent.

Ky glanced ahead. “…I’m sorry… He’s far enough he can’t hear us. I… just got anxious. I shouldn’t have shushed you. You can talk. I promise I won’t do it again; you didn’t do anything wrong.”

(Just remembered Gaius was supposed to show Tasia his heartbox. Did he ever do that?)

"I should have been quieter," he admitted, face flushing again. "I'm the one who should apologize. It's fine; you were in the right."

(We both know I’ve got the memory of a gnat, but I do not recall us actually getting around to it, no)

“I wasn’t.” She shook her head slightly. But then she thought about how mortified she’d be if Gaius was trying to force an apology upon her like she was Rickard. Best not make this work by forcing him to accept her apology. “But… thank you.” She was quiet for a moment. “Sven said sometimes he makes boxes for adoptions… I don’t know why I didn’t get one.” She finally pieced that together. She wasn’t sure how it made her feel. “… but that’s okay. I don’t have anything to put in it, anyway… I think the box my Papa made me has all the same sort of sentimentality.”

(That would be a fun thing to do at some point
I think he and Mattathias and Marcella were gonna show her their heartboxes
But he's gonna hope she forgets)

He dipped his head in understanding. "Perhaps Lord Loquitur is having one made for you now?"

(I’m totally in! That would be adorable)

Ky furrowed her brow. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that at all. That… seemed complicated. Like it’d have a lot of emotions she didn’t want to deal with. “…maybe.”

(Nice!)

"Maybe," he agreed.

“…did he… tell you he is?” She didn’t know which way to hope. Both options felt bad; getting one or not getting one.

He shook his head. "I...don't talk to anyone but Sera. And the others that came with me."

(You’re up early rip)

“Oh.” She hesitated. “…I’m sorry… do you… want more friends?”

(Schül)

Rickard's brow furrowed. "...No, miss. It's better to stay out of the way."

(Gros)

“I don’t think you’re in the way.”

(My art history class is canceled thank god but only so we can take the exam in that time
And I already took it)

"Exactly. Because I stay out of it."