( Being forced to wear the wings even though she was blind always felt like some cruel, twisted joke, but the uniform kept the Handmaids from seeing and being seen. For her, they are a hindrance, keeping her from hearing as well as she can, but she supposes it works similarly by impeding a different sense.

Noticing the change in tone, her chest's subtle rise and fall momentarily pauses as her eyebrows push together in confusion. This catches her off guard, just like his casual greeting had. It leaves her wondering, questioning herself and her situation, but before she has a chance to dwell on it too much, the tone from before returns.

When he comes to stand beside her, Prairie stiffens slightly as her head cocks to the side, trying to perceive sounds better now that he isn't directly in front of her. )

I do, ( she replies before reaching into her cloak to pull the folded cane from around her opposite arm and extends it, letting it tap against the ground as she adjusts her grip. )

It shouldn't take me too long to familiarize myself with my room and the other places I can be, so I won't need it much.