[ the dots, ness is connecting them: so that's what gwenaëlle meant about the commander's beloved blondes. she knows petrana well enough, they're in diplomacy, they've done a mission together—and she already knows what ness can do, because julius knows what she can do. the commander knows, because julius and petrana know. that... sits ill, and the nauseous realization is clear on her face.

no more ill, to be fair, than the idea of gwenaëlle knowing because stephen did, if gwenaëlle hadn't got to her first, but still. her safety hangs on such a fine tether here. if she thinks too hard about the possibility that everyone who knows has already told a bedfellow, or a friend, and they've told someone, and they've told someone, and...

she gets a little light-headed. ness pulls herself deliberately back to the conversation at hand, focusing on cosima through the ocean-sound of panic rushing through the back of her mind. ]

Ah—minimal, though not zero? There were incidents here in the Gallows when I first arrived, but there haven't been any since I began training with the Doctor. I think it'd be irresponsible to claim no risk at all, though, just because of how reactive magic can be to one's emotions and stress.