#the idea that conflict and division doesn't just end lives but ruins their quality

[eliotquillon]

think it's important to note for posterity's sake that hester's sudden attitude shift in witherward compared to wayward isn't just because of the whole gedeon fiasco or because she just woke up one day and decided to start being a cunt to everyone (although she'd be well within her rights to do that), but because she is in constant, life-altering pain. assuming ollivan's explanation of how to stifle sorcerer magic also applies to changelings, then the reason why hester can't shift after the attack isn't just to add extra 'flavour' to her sudden lack of motion - it's because she's in so much pain that she can't concentrate long enough to shapeshift successfully. it's alluded to in her first scene when cassia says that hester won't be asleep even though it's so late at night, and explicitly confirmed in the safe room scene when she offers ilsa the vemanta. of course she's angry and bitter about it. of course she isn't the same woman she was eighteen months before.