Adrian nodded, tugging off his gloves. "I don't think he will."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“Then I hope you can find your peace on your own,” Aleth said with a nod. “Sometimes our fathers know nothing at all. And it’s up to us to become our own men — or women, however the case may be.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Adrian looked up at Aleth again, this time giving him a long and curious stare. Then he nodded in agreement. "It'll happen one day. I know it will."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“Aye.” Aleth inclined his head. “How does your mother feel about it all?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"I tried to talk about it with her but she never pays attention to me," Adrian sighed. "She's sleepy all the time, and she forgets even if she does talk to me."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“I’m sorry,” Aleth murmured. “I do hope you’ll be able to stay with your uncle for quite some time, then. Parents can do irreparable damage to us when we’re young.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Adrian didn't respond to that for a moment. They reached the stairs and he headed down. "I want to be a steward here one day. Maybe my uncle will take me when I get old enough to do that."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“I bet he will,” Aleth said encouragingly. “How old do you need to be for that?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"A grown-up. But I can train when I'm a teenager, I think. I'm going to ask him when I see him."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“Good deal,” Aleth said. “Do you find your uncle generally receptive to your requests and ideas?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"He's a good listener. So is Aunt Sara. Mattathias and Regulus are annoying, though. They make fun of me."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Aleth nodded slowly. He supposed he could see that. He always felt like he was being interrogated when he was interacting with Ash, but he supposed it would be different if he was someone Ash knew and loved… provided a man as reptilian as Ash was capable of love.
“They’re quite young,” Aleth commented. “Still not nice, though.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"They're four years younger and they're just brats!" Adrian complained. "Aunt Sara scolds them but they keep bullying me."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Aleth bit back his gut suggestion for Adrian to use force. That was not a helpful suggestion. It also wouldn’t end well for him, for Adrian to beat up his cousins then blame Aleth for the idea.
“Is there a way you could reason with them?” Aleth asked. “Speak in a manner they’re able to comprehend?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"I don't know. Aunt Sara also said they'd grow out of it. Mattathias is really nice sometimes, I guess. He just gets really angry."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
