Alodia's your mother's name, I take it? Not that I'm keeping a list or anything. [she might be keeping a list. and she's still coming round to the idea that relaxing is a thing she can do - that this doesn't have to be a battle, but it's hard.]

I said it before and I'll say it again and I know there's probably a line I have to get in, but either of them shows up here and we'll have a little go at what "too much" actually is.

I'm ...glad you got out. [not all prisons are the kind that say 'stillwater hold' above their doors. some don't even have bars at all. bodies are prisons, too. but the worst kind of wardens can make that even worse.] Unwanted. Tch. You were plenty wanted when you found your real family, to hear you tell it. But it pisses me off.

[just think of where saeri might be if her family had supported her in her endeavors? well, maybe she wouldn't have found her people but maybe she would have ...and sooner. maybe her family could have been part of that. yeah, yeah, woulda, coulda, shoulda ...useless, but it's a loop that her mind runs with some familiarity, what if. always the what if.]

And it's still fucked up. If you crawl through a minefield, get caught in razorwire and end up with shrapnel in your shoulder on your way to the best party ever, you're still gonna be fucked up when you get there. Even if the cake is great, all your friends are there, and they're playing your favorite song. Those scars you got on the way still stick.

Ask me how I know.