( Well, at least that last sentence earns a laugh out of Esikko, even if it's more like a breath, or a scoff. )

I guess that may be true here, but it certainly wasn't at home. Everything a crown prince says is taken apart piece by piece.

( What can he even say, anyway? There's so much he hasn't, so much that he's not used to, that he doesn't even know where to begin without specific prompting. Instead, his mind wanders to future plans. To the chain he's going to break from Kirma. To the realization that by not trying to force Dabi into one in exchange, he'll truly be alone. To the way he's been slowly picking at the seams of the House, and now he finally thinks he's found a crack to pry open...

Hm. )

I plan on trying something. Against the House. ( It seems out of nowhere, because of course it is. But it's been at the back of his mind for months now, ramping up even more with every emotional change in him, with every single decision or action against him that makes him want to be more reckless in exchange. )

Can I tell you when I'm about to do it, so you can notice if I go missing?