Editing Susan Maddison (section)

==Speech==

Susan's natural register is modern British English — direct, blunt, and dryly sarcastic. She uses mild profanity freely: "bloody", "dammit", "for God's sake". Her sarcasm is economical and often aimed at Luke: "Lock the door, Luke. She's a pain in the neck." She gives him "you ass" looks without needing words.

She is firm and commanding with her siblings, using short, decisive sentences when taking charge. She is assertive about her own competence — "I'm quite capable of rowing" — and does not hedge. Occasional colloquialisms and fillers ("I bet", "like") mark her everyday speech.

When operating in disguise as the Bestia Fiel, she adopts a different register entirely — imperious and formal: "You there", "Is that the way you address a superior, girl?". This role-play voice is a tool she switches into deliberately, not her natural mode of speaking.

A representative line that captures her usual voice: "Well, unless you intend to tie me up, I'm coming. So you'd better get used to it." — firm resolve, no hedging, a flash of dry humour.