Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (cont'd)

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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:38 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:38 pm
Tomhas dipped his head. "I'll let you know when I get word, if you wish. I have a contact stationed in the village near the Keep who might know a thing or two."
"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

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Shady
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:41 pm
Shady says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:41 pm
“I would, if you don’t mind, sir,” Ky answered. “I’m still slightly…” Nervous is how she planned to end that sentence, but the truth was terrified. It still seemed too good to be true. But, then, she didn’t know what Isya might or might not know about the plan and whether she should be honest.

"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
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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:44 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:44 pm
"If he comes back at all it'll be to a cell under my Keep, then to a gallows," Tomhas promised her. "I don't tolerate that sort of person for long, Ky." Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly in interest.
"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

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Shady
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:50 pm
Shady says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:50 pm
Right. That. Loquitur could protect her. He could. And he would. It wasn’t a trick.

“Yes, sir.” She bobbed her head, appreciative for the reassurance. Her gaze wandered towards Isya then stayed there, a fresh wave of anxiety pricking her. What if he warned Aleth? Aleth paid Isya well. Was he more loyal to Loquitur or his own purse? She had a guess. Still. “Do you know… the situation?”

"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
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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:54 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:54 pm
"Which situation would that be?" Arthur asked. His awkwardness from his arrival and realization that she was here as well had worn off, and whenever they saw each other he had remained polite but aloof. The same was true now. "The one that involves your master being sent to Lord Ash as a spy? Yes, I know."
"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

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Shady
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:58 pm
Shady says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:58 pm
“Right, yes.” Ky nodded. But did he know that Loquitur had rescued her in the process? That she was really Kylia instead of Kyber? She didn’t know. And she couldn’t very well ask without tipping him off. He was smart. Too smart. “Good. Sir.”

"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
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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:03 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:03 pm
(I just had an idea for an excellent plot point just a bit later down the line that will get Gaius and Tomhas to meet up)

"Right, then." Tomhas glanced between the two. He could sense the discomfort in tension in both of them; had it been a good idea to have them both here? What exactly was their history?
"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

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Shady
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:07 pm
Shady says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:07 pm
(Oh? :eyes:)

Ky felt her anxiety turning into agitation. There was so much she wanted to ask Isya. But she didn’t have the courage. So, instead, “So… do you prefer to be called Arthur, then?”

"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
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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:10 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:10 pm
"Arthur is my family name," Arthur replied. "I prefer not to use it when I'm working."

( :eyes: You'll have to wait and see)
"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

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Shady
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:13 pm
Shady says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:13 pm
“Yes, sir, I understand.” Ky certainly didn’t want most of Aleth’s clients to know her real name. It felt like a name carried with it a lot of meaning. It was nice to get to shrug Kyber off along with all the other curses Aleth brought. “I can continue calling you Isya, then.”

(Excited!)

"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
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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:15 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:15 pm
"That will suffice." Arthur looked to Tomhas. "Shall we?" Tomhas was standing off to the side now, but he looked up when Arthur spoke.
"Oh, certainly. I was just interested in this dynamic you two have, but yes, we were about to head off, weren't we?"
"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

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Shady
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:18 pm
Shady says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:18 pm
Ky looked between them, realizing Loquitur must be feeling the tension like she was. She ventured an explanation. “Aleth employed us both… some more willingly than others.”

"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
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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:19 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:19 pm
"I'd guessed that much. You two didn't get along, then?" Damn, he should have expected Arthur would work with Aleth. He was an assassin, after all, and a cold man to those outside his family. Every inch a member of the Ash family tree, no matter how distantly related to Gaius he was.
"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

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Shady
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:28 pm
Shady says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:28 pm
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that,” Ky answered quickly. “I just… well, I try to ensure I don’t irritate mercenaries… particularly ones of Isya’s caliber. Sir.”

"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
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Ljungtroll
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Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:34 pm
Ljungtroll says... · Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:34 pm
"I see." Tomhas glanced at Arthur. "I suppose that's wise. I heard you were renowned, Arthur, but I didn't know you were feared by any but your targets." What did that say about Arthur's methods?
"I prefer not to expect trouble," Arthur said simply.
"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

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Every time I’ve gotten feedback that was hard to take it was usually hard to take because there was truth in it and I didn’t like that (or didn’t want to receive it). That’s not to say all harsh feedback is good or that we should be harsh for harshness’ sake, but learning to absorb truth without letting it break your inner core/break you is a lifelong skill that keeps your mind elastic and open to learning.
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