There was a particular kinda calm Keeper got, when she wasn't fucking calm at all, but wanted to let on she was. All the kids learned the difference soon enough, 'cause the longer you made her wait in that kinda mood, the worse it was gonna be for you in the end. And Mildmay'd be damned but if it didn't work, his own body fighting itself to get his coughing to stop without him even thinking to. He took a breath, slow and careful, testing it wasn't gonna start up again.

"What. The fuck. Do. You. Want?" he asked, voice rough but the words careful and clear. Don't give her no reason to make him say it again.

"I shouldn't have to tell you a second time. I'm here to remind you of who you are, Milly-Fox. Perhaps I haven't made the lesson clear enough yet. You weren't any kept-thief. It was not even as a cat burglar you made your mark.

"No, Mildmay the Fox was more than that, once upon a time. We wouldn't want you to forget, or for your little friend to miss out on the show."