"The rules as written are the only rules; you should be able to.  I used the same thing for my lightsaber hilt and it's over there, unless I want it to be -" in her hand.  She sets it back down.

"Yes ma'am."

"...What else was it that I was thinking of...  And - don't let me keep you from whatever?  By the way?"

"I'll need to go back soon but I can stay for another few minutes if you'd like, ma'am."

"No, no, it's fine.  I think it was theory work, anyway.  You go do your things.  But do tell Deskyl I'd like her to oversee the final enchanting qua testing of my lightsaber when it's convenient, if you wouldn't mind?"

"...And you can just text me if she's up for that."

"Yes ma'am. I expect her to be ready to see you within two or three hours if she's interested in doing it today."

"Right."

...Somehow, she feels like time has gotten a bit unmoored, but that's hyperfocus for you.

"We could also wait until tomorrow if you'd prefer, ma'am, but I'm not sure when master Deskyl will be awake tomorrow." It's late afternoon; three hours from now isn't too late to consider starting a short project, but she's not sure how long it'll take.

"Yeah, no, it's fine," she says, staring at the clock like it has somehow betrayed her.  "I just thought it had gotten a bit later than it was.  ...I normally have the opposite problem - take my eyes off the clock for a minute and suddenly it's next Tuesday."

"Ah, yes ma'am. I'll let you know when master Deskyl is ready for you, then."

"Thank you.  ...She really isn't obliged, I'm sure I can figure out something.  But there's some atavistic part of me that would really appreciate it."

"She wouldn't've offered to help if she wasn't willing to, ma'am, though I'm not sure this is what she meant by the offer."

"...Yeah.  I - I know that in my brain, but you try telling that to my feelings, I guess.  ...Mm.  That was.  Not a serious request.  But...yeah.  ...Just - so you know, I guess.  ...I don't know why I think you should know that.  But apparently I do."

"...you should of course keep in mind that master Deskyl could lie to you, ma'am, but I see no reason why she would in this case."

"I...highly doubt that she would hold so tightly to that sort of socially-derived obligedness that so consistently haunts me, yes.  She's a Sith.  And I may only have the most basic knowledge about Sith, but I'm pretty sure that there is no version of being a Sith, of following any philosophy that could be constructed from the basic tenets of the Sith Code, that includes making yourself do something you truly do not want to do."

She takes a breath, and exhales, explosively, as if to release some unseen tension.  "...Thank you.  I think that helped a bit."

"Outside of cases where she believes that you're willing and able to kill her, that's accurate, yes ma'am. Is there anything else before I go?"

...That's...horrifyingly reassuring, to be honest.

"No, it's...you're good."  She needs a minute anyway.

"Thank you, ma'am." She takes her emergency supplies kit and goes.

Phew.  Okay.  She'll just be over there for a minute.  By which she means "hiding from the universe until she no longer feels like she's having a very quiet panic attack for some unfathomable reason".

By what is surely a coincidence, the Duchess of Thorn happens to be passing through the same hallway as DZ is, on her way out.

"Good afternoon, DZ.  I wouldn't wish to interrupt, but I do believe I felt my great-niece's magic bend itself to replicating her preferred creation myth twice over in short succession.  Might I trouble you for knowledge of what she has wrought, in lieu of word from the source?  I'm sure I'll have the opportunity later, but with that particular study...  With my grand-niece clearly resting afterwards, I'd like to know what she thought was that important.  ...Normally, she does not make such artifacts in quick succession."

"Yes ma'am: she made a lightsaber for herself - it's not complete yet, she wants master Desskyl to help with the final step - and an emergency kit similar to the Breadbox for me." She holds the emergency kit up illustratively.

"...She made the lightsaber first, and only then was clearheaded enough to see to the emergency kit, wasn't she.  She was quite distracted by the idea."  There is only a hint of exasperated fondness present in her voice, but present it is.

"I don't expect to need the emergency kit anytime soon, ma'am."

"...But, in time, you would.  ...If you find yourself concerned over whether there is some consequence for my attention - worry not, I am not the sort of person to rue her chasing what brings her joy.  She did remember to make you your supply kit, in the end, and that matters much more than strict ordering."

"It's just...Still amusing that her thought process has latched on to lightsabers like a magpie with something shiny.  I've never seen her so taken by a martial art."