It has character names in the title. Of course they're going to be dead by act five.
[Most of Kaede's growling grumpiness remains intact! There's just a little wobbly bit in her armor. And that tone was just strange enough that it made the words all the more obvious. Wanting what she couldn't have—normal things, a normal life with smiles in it—because others put obstacles in her way. Because she wasn't supposed to have those things, and...she didn't want to think of it.
Kaede broke eye contact, glancing away just a little. Her voice was unchanged, despite that.]
this escalated quickly
[Most of Kaede's growling grumpiness remains intact! There's just a little wobbly bit in her armor. And that tone was just strange enough that it made the words all the more obvious. Wanting what she couldn't have—normal things, a normal life with smiles in it—because others put obstacles in her way. Because she wasn't supposed to have those things, and...she didn't want to think of it.
Kaede broke eye contact, glancing away just a little. Her voice was unchanged, despite that.]