very young, yet unmistakably aged

At least Dread seemed amenable to the suggestion and Modesty sipped some more of her tea, pleased things seemed to be working out. Sure, Deluge had missed out on her band, but there was a brighter future for her here, even if she didn't see it yet. As for his thanks, she smiled, though it was clear from the confused quirk of her brows that she thought it would go without saying. “My daughter may be a thorn in my side, but anyone she likes enough to get stabbed for is welcome in my home, though to be honest, I'm yet to decide if you're just as mad as she is. Keeping one like that is like trying to catch smoke. I do worry she'll only break your heart.” Perhaps she'd gotten it from her father, because it certainly hadn't come from Modesty herself.

“Speech.”