In her time as Lady's handmaiden, Étoile has explored the hearts of almost every member of the household. It was her job, you know? The Resistance needed information, Marianne needed targets, and... and just... [i]she[/i] needed to know. Who she could trust, who to be afraid of. If it was even right in the first place.

Her Lady's heart was so beautiful it almost broke her resolve on the spot when she saw it. Inside her was the most wondrous garden, filled with fountains spraying water so clear it felt like she could dip her hand in it and not even feel it, and the most amazing flowers in soothing blues and dazzling yellows and brilliant whites, each one with such delicate crystalline petals she hardly dared to breath for fear of breaking them. The breeze there was gentle and fragrant, and somehow even the storm clouds that hung overhead everywhere she'd wandered had exuded a gentle softness that could turn the clap of thunder into the purring of a cat. 

None of the rest of them had been like that. Jezcha's heart was a thing of rot and darkness and broken dolls, and the Seneschal's was a frankly terrifying and claustrophobic maze of walls that echoed constantly with stomping boots and furious shouting. But there wasn't anybody that worried Étoile more than Tirzah. Her heart was... an enigma. The only one she couldn't slip inside of, not even with Marianne's full focus and cooperation. How was that even possible? This is exactly why you couldn't trust spies! 

And that was exactly why [i]Lamassie[/i] wasn't going to do anything silly like let Lady get her perfect evening ruined by that mysterious, brooding, black-boxed, jerky... stupid face! Hmph!

But what to do? [i]Lamassie[/i] isn't a brave phantom thief or a superhero! She can't swoop Lady out of here without ruining everything, and if she goes running around and makes the guards think she's trying to escape it'll be trouble, oh goshies yes. Not to mention if she tugs too hard, she might hurt Lady! Oh no oh no! What's she supposed to do? She's not fast or strong or brave or even very clever, no she's not, no she's not! All she's got is heart, and if she tries real hard, maybe it can even be as pretty as Lady's!

"It's soooooooo pretty here, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it, Lady?"

Pap pap pap go her silly mitten-paws on Lady's shoulders! Jingle jingle goes her good girl collar! Her silly triangles go flippy-flopsie as she drapes herself over and squishes her body so, soooooo gently against Lady's! Uhuh, there we go, eyes on your good girl, Lady. See her silly hip wiggles to make her tail go all waggy? See the happy sparkle in her eyes? 

"...Is [i]Lamassie[/i] a good girl? Can she have a treat? Pretty pretty pleaaase?"

She smiles through her pretty sparkle veil. All she needs to do is be all silly-shameless-distracting for a just a little bit longer, and everything will be perfect and safe again, probably forever. But, you know what? She could do this all day.