Aleth smiled awkwardly and dipped his head, letting silence linger between them. Things had gotten uncomfortable. And he didn't know how to fix it. Or even what had caused it -- was it because he'd mentioned his father? He hadn't even told her what the bastard did to him. He felt like he was grasping at straws, but, "Do you have any other plans for the day?"
"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'll oversee some of my husband's duties and do a bit of gardening, I think," Sara replied. "I have very little to do today, really."
"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
There it was. Some lighter topics they could fall back onto. Aleth felt a little bit of the tension release from his shoulders. "What crops do you grow?"
"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]
"Hardy flowers and herbs, and some vegetables." Sara rapped on the table; she had reached zero. "Mostly to keep a bit of my old life with 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
"Oh?" Aleth asked. He looked down and smiled wanly. "Well done!"
"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]
"Thank you." She gave a modest nod. "You have one more turn and then you count up your points."
(Gotta go to bed now--we have a long drive back from the beach tomorrow. Goodnight!)
"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
"Oh." Aleth looked down at the table and then drew one last card. His total score at the end of the turn was 2. "Like so?"
"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]
"Exactly." Sara nodded. "A very good game for a beginner, I must say."
"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
"Thank you." He smiled politely. At least it wasn't a brutal loss like it'd been with Tarr. And she wasn't a sore winner. "I had a good teacher."
"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'm a horrid instructor," Sara said modestly. She desperately wished to leave the library at this point or see to it Al made a swift departure, but she was wary of letting him out of her sight. This room was full of secrets, and if he was lying about his literacy that made it very dangerous to leave him at all. She was stuck.
"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 hesitated a moment. Something was wrong with the energy between them. He couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. Maybe it was nothing. But he tended to trust his instincts, and his gut said something was off. But what? He didn't know. He also didn't know how to answer her self-insult. So instead he leaned forward and began tidying the cards into a stack.
"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]
Sara watched him, eyes fixed intently on the cards. "Since we know Cecily isn't in the building, perhaps I ought to see you back to the infirmary so you can get some rest," she suggested. "It can't be comfortable walking at the moment."
"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 was careful to keep his body language and expression impassive, but he sighed internally. So much for his free reign. He finished tidying the cards and then looked up with a small smile. "Yes, ma'am."
"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]
"Splendid." Sara rose. "And if there's anything g else you need, don't hesitate to ask."
"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
"Thank you, ma'am." Aleth stood up and grabbed his cane. "I appreciate 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]
