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“I think that’s a very sane worry to have. And I think I’m glad to have you thinking about that sort of thing.” It tilts its head slightly to one side. “I trust you to be the one to raise a flag if people stop thinking about consequences. You’re…”

Ugh, words are hard.

“…determined and aware. It’s a different mission than I’ve given myself, but I respect it.”

She wants to lean into its arm. Doesn't, yet.

"What would you say is your mission, then?"

"To provide security for my crew." A pause, and then it smiles. "Physical and emotional. I don't think I can be the one to resolve the larger-picture problems here. But I will be here for those I care about."

And if that's what it was made for? Well. This time it's not being shocked into submitting to that purpose. This time it's defining its crew and choosing to be there for them.

A long sigh. "Security," she repeats, like it's a longed-for blessing. "Yes."

And after another moment: "In the interests of that mission, then ... may I ask a favor of you?"

Its hand squeezes hers when she repeats that word. Gently, but noticeably, as it looks firmly out at the ocean, but not like at the ocean. Its gaze is focused on nothing at all, and it is very still (partly because some part of it wants to almost wiggle happily, at hearing that word used with such warmth. But wiggling is inappropriate).

"Anything you need. Yes."

Her hand turns under its hand, so she can squeeze gently back.

"If you ever have reason to think I've lost sight of ... of my own mission. Please tell me. Remind me that I asked you to tell me."

It holds onto her hand, nodding.

"I will. Of course I will."

Now she does lean into it, her shoulder against its bicep, and gives a quiet sigh.

A long moment of gentle silence, broken only by the soft unceasing lap of the water against the ship.

"... Have I ever told you anything about my guards back home?"

"Not yet. I'd like to hear about them. How they protected you." It remains supportive, but relaxes just slightly.

"Trisha was the first one. When I was just starting out as the Lady de Rolo, just ... a little over a year ago, everyone agreed I needed a personal guard. And there was this woman from town, tough as boot leather --" She chuckles slightly. "Won the arm-wrestling competition at the Winter's Crest games. I think that might have been how Captain Linden picked her. I knew more or less who she was, but ... we'd never really spoken, and then she was my bodyguard. There to put herself between me and any danger."

"And she made you feel safe?"

It admires this woman it will never meet for that alone.

"... She did her best. I wasn't very good at feeling safe, that year." Cassandra smiles; it's painful at first, then smooths out a little. "She made me feel that someone cared if I was safe, and that meant a great deal."

"What happened to her?" The question is quiet, gentle. But necessary. It is necessary.

For the first time since the conversation really began, Cassandra looks up at it, a swift movement, her brow furrowing in concern.

"Nothing," she says after a moment. "I didn't mean -- She's still first of my guard. First of three, now. Guarding ... the me who's still there."

"Oh. Good. I'm sorry, I didn't mean...you know what I meant."

It makes the briefest moment of eye contact, then slowly blinks and looks away.

"I know."

She looks away when it does, back out at the water, and tries to swallow the ache out of her throat. Saying the me who's still there hurt so much more than she expected it to.

"Then there was Bell," she continues ~~(in fluent headcanon)~~, after a moment. "They started as Trisha's night-shift counterpart. Watched over me while I slept. Or while I didn't. They were a hunter, before, used to working nights. And then ... there was a young man from Emon named Kynan Leore, who came to Whitestone after going through some bad times, and joined the regular guard. And ..."

A pause. "There's a whole story there. I'll try to tell it briefly."

"You don't have to be brief about it. We have all kinds of time." It offers her a bit of a smile. "I'll say, though, there's definitely something...rewarding...about watching someone while they sleep. Knowing they trust you sufficiently to be completely vulnerable. It's good."

Cassandra nods. Takes another slow breath.

"I told you about the Briarwoods, yes? And how my brother and his friends came and dealt with them -- did I tell you how that ended? I can't remember."

"You did." And it moves a little closer as it says that, wanting to offer her support, but not knowing how to.

She leans a little closer in turn.

"They came back." Said flatly, conscious of the absurdity of it. "I don't know how. Delilah was a necromancer, maybe she knew a spell to ... restore herself after death. Or maybe it was Vecna; they served him, maybe he needed them. But. About a year and a half later. There were reports from Marquet of a cult centered on a ziggurat like the one under Whitestone, and my brother's group went to look, and ... they saw her there. Alive again."

"Fuck." That's not a proper response, is it?

"That's a fucking shitshow." Nor is that.

"What the everliving fuck."

"Yes." Just a touch dry, and in full agreement.

"I was ... utterly convinced they would be coming to take back Whitestone. I spent days rallying the Chamber, the Pale Guard, the Riflemen ... That was when Kynan asked to join my personal guard. Said that he'd made a promise to help protect me. I told him he was welcome, and went right on trying to organize the place for a siege."

She sighs wearily. "Not that it did any good. They didn't want Whitestone. They wanted me."

"Were your bodyguards able to protect you from them?"

I mean, she's here, so she didn't die permanently, but it knows little temporary deaths can be worse.

She shakes her head. "Bell was on duty, and something made them fall asleep." Her face twists up for a moment in frustration. "I don't know why I say something. It was magic. Just like the door that opened in my bedroom, and ... whatever effect it was that made me want to go through it."

One hand lifts and drops. "And then I was -- somewhere else. Paralyzed. Along with two other people, a friend of my brother's group and the daughter of one of them, except they weren't ... aware. Of what was going on. Delilah didn't have anything to say to them, you see."

"What did she say to you?"

It reaches out quietly, to take that hand. To hold that hand. Its hand now, no take-backsies.

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