"Thank-you," is the honest response Lakshmi has to Ioverth for that. Her head bows deeply in gesture to it. "It is not as our Commander thinks something I care for because of rank."

No, she isn't letting that go, but Kitty speaks and - she shouldn't laugh, and she doesn't, though it fights a moment. A crinkle of lines around her eyes half reminiscent of the moments before when she was well on her way to being a crone of a woman.

"They are options, Kitty, no more than that as much as to live and fighting, and if the blackwater is anything is to me, it is proof that I would rather do the latter when a duty is to be fulfilled."

There she stops, there she looks up. Hovering on something, twisting it over itself. Then she looks, to each in turn, fixing in place a moment. A tenseness in her shoulders, the way her to her tongue presses against her teeth. "I know how I seem, and I know the things I have done. I know they are unforgivable and warrant no trust. But they were done in the name of duty. In the oath I long swore. One I swear the same, now and not one I give lightly. I have placed my life into your keeping. If that is no proof enough of my sincerity, I know no other. I have done as I know best, to those who I could speak for, though age does not grant you wisdom. I offer only what I can do for you."