[ she suppresses a scoff, holding her crystal away from her mouth while she breathes through the flush of anger that nearly overtakes her. stephen's agreed to help her, and that should be good enough, but it's so frustrating. obtuse. dismissive.

ness is just stressed out enough, just tired enough, just hurt enough to push back, for the first time in their acquaintance. ]

That it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It only means that we have, to this point, miraculously dodged both chance and the fates, and that bill will come due. I will have to pay it, whether with my freedom, or my life, or the one and then the other.

I will be fine until I'm not. The sword over my head never disappears, Doctor, it only falls.