Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 15)

(Hehehehe that's excellent!)

Gaius dipped his head. "It's good you were reunited with him."

“Yes.” Jerica nodded in agreement. “…It’s good you rescued him. I had no idea or I’da done it myself.”

"I didn't," he replied. "One of my spies took it upon himself to do so; I merely provided lodgings and asylum."

“Oh… who?” She wondered if she knew the spy. And if the spy knew Rickard’s most recent master and would tell her so she could go kill that bastard.

Gaius shook his head. "Can't tell you that."

“…yeah, fair,” Jerica admitted with a nod once she thought about it. “That one’s on me.” She wasn’t going to be naming names of their spies, either.

He nodded in agreement. "I will say that he took the initiative to free himself, according to this spy. It takes a lot of courage to do something like that, especially in circumstances like his."

“For sure.” Jerica nodded. “I’m glad it all worked out for him in the end… and I’m glad to see him again.”

"It's good you found each other," he mused. "Sera said he's been a bit lost since coming here. Isn't sure what to do with himself."

He should just do her then.

They clearly liked each other. And she was reasonably certain that could occupy a fair bit of each other’s times. Surely that would make him feel better.

Thankfully she knew better than to say any or that out loud.

“I’m sorry to hear that… it’s too bad I gotta go before long. I’d love to hang out with him now that I’m an adult too. I still like him a lot and he seems to like me too for some reason.”

(Ky: ewwwww stop making me think about sex
Jerica: bet a good fuck would get your endorphins going)

(Jerica is probably right but alas Rickard has a low sex drive and so does Sera
I think Rickard is also just afraid of it)

"I'm sure he'd welcome the company," Gaius replied. "Perhaps you can visit while you're here."

(This is totally fair. I’m ace and view sex a lot more like Ky does lol I just feel like pent up sexual tension would be on brand for the angry girl with mommy AND daddy issues with a need for happy brain chemicals lol)(but also agree it’s very in character for both Rickard and Sera to be wary of it, especially given their backgrounds)

Jerica nodded. “I’d definitely like to see him more.”

(They'll work up to it some day I'm sure, they're moving at their own pace.
Jer definitely seems the type XD)

"Then I'm sure it can be arranged. He definitely needs reason to get out of that infirmary; teaching can only give him so much."

(Haha yeah it’s so interesting trying to explore her dynamic with Akeno more lately in this draft. When I wrote my first draft he was a plot device that provided support and Derik was super toxic in a “stay the fuck away from my daughter” sort of toxic masculinity way. I want Derik to be chill now and I think he’d welcome Akeno because he sees how thoroughly happy he makes Jerica and how utterly infatuated with her he is… while at the same time being incredibly grossed out by the knowledge/suspicion/fear that Jerica is absolutely getting nailed by one of his subordinates lol)(like “yes good relationship sanctioned AS LONG AS YOU BOTH KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM” lol)

Jerica nodded. “Sounds good to me.”