"Not all monsters are created equal," Ilde drawls, half-bitter and not bothering to make it especially clear in which of the many possible directions she means that. "And-- Baedal is a closed system, so the usual rules don't work for anyone." Everyone makes compromises; Gutters, in its way, is a compromise. "That's useful if you're trying to create chaos. It makes it easier, and immediately more destructive."

In Baedal, ultimately, there is no where to run. Not really. It's one of her least favourite things about this city, and it must be acknowledged that there are more than a few things she's coming to be attached to. If it weren't for Sonja - if it weren't for the enclave and for commitments she's made elsewhere - then maybe she wouldn't be so committed to finding a way out. After all, she's never going home. That's not what returning is about.

"In the way we don't like," she adds, helpfully, riffing off Hasi's last note.