Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 15)

“Why?” She huffed. “I’m not asking for a job; just a stupid book. Am I really supposed to just sit here allll night with nothing to do?”

(I just took a shower and as I was getting out found a fish scale stuck to my hand and am mildly horrified how many times I’ve washed my hands for it to still be there)

(Ohhh gods)

"I couldn't even if wanted to," she snapped. "I'm supposed to watch you!"

“And I’m supposed to stay put. And that just puts us both shit out of luck if you want me to get bored. Bored Jerica is not someone you want to meet.”

(Off to bed. Goodnight!)

"I've met worse," she replied firmly.

(Night! Sleep well!)

“Not yet you haven’t,” Jerica scoffed, glaring at her. “I’ve been trying to be nice to you up ‘til now. I can get a whole hell of a lot worse, I promise you that.” Jerica crossed her arms, trying to think of a more compelling argument. “Why not go ask Ash and let him tell you no then come back and tell me so I know it came from daddy himself not you just being difficult? They’re not your books; why do you give a shit whether I read them or not if he’s okay with it?”


(I’d rather Derik not be involved in the upcoming scene lol but tryna think of what to do with Jer. I kinda think she isn’t gonna leave the dorm tbh she already knows she’s on thinnnnn ice with Derik and she’s not gonna go want to talk to Gaius directly because she thinks he will tell Derik they talked, which means Derik will know she disobeyed and left. So we gotta find another path forward lol if your girl isn’t gonna cave (which is totes fine) maybe Gaius could be walking past after having already dropped Derik off and happen to hear her call him daddy mockingly? Lmao idk)

(I was thinking of just that)

Gaius had dropped Derik off at the dorm and was on his way back to the Keep when he heard Jerica mock him. It sounded like she was giving her escort a hard time. He paused at the women's dormitory, then opened the door.
The escort turned, sighing with relief.

(Ideal)

Jerica turned an annoyed glance on the door, then her face fell and her stomach dropped as she saw Ash. Oh, gods, what had she even just said? She couldn’t remember. She was running her mouth not her brain; her recurrent flaw. Had he heard her?

Why else would he be there?

What the fuck was he doing here?

Did he just lurk in the hallway eavesdropping? That—

Honestly, what did it even matter at this point? She just needed to fix this… somehow. She dipped her head. Maybe he hadn’t heard. “…hello?”

"You had something you wished to ask me?" he asked evenly, coming fully into the room.

Fuck. He’d definitely heard. She straightened a little, feeling stupid. “Um…” she cleared her throat. Not really. “Could… I… read some of your books? Please?”

"Which ones did you have in mind?" he asked.

“Um… ones about your gods? I hear they’re waking up.”

Gaius nodded. "It certainly seems that way. Why are you interested in that?"

“I mean…” she shrugged. She clearly couldn’t explain Them. “That… seems like a relevant point of knowledge to know about, right? The trolls and shit—stuff, sorry — and who knows what else is gonna happen or whatever. I just wanna know what’s going on.”

"That's a fair enough reason to be curious," he said with a nod. "I'll take it from here, Olivia." The soldier dipped her head, giving Jerica a weary look.

Jerica glanced at her, then back at Ash and dipped her head. What did that even mean? Was she in trouble? She was probably in trouble. Again. Still.