“Alright,” Pratik agreed. “Fair. Sounds like a sensitive matter… difficult to have the full burden on your shoulders alone.”
"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 not alone." Utrid raised the sword and took an awkward leap over the chair, stumbling slightly as his left leg took his weight; it appeared he had an old injury.
"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
Pratik gave him a swift, hard shove, the leapt back out of the way in case it didn’t work — or in case he recovered quickly. He didn’t want to underestimate a military man. “You know…” Pratik backed away. “You could be extra-not-alone”.
"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]
Utrid fell against tthe wall and pushed himself upright quickly, grasping the sword. "Oh?" He swung twice in short succession at Pratik.
"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 can be an excellent ally,” Pratik jumped backward, avoiding the blade. “Even better without a hole through my middle.”
"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]
"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
“Exactly. Easily underestimated.” Pratik took a deep breath. “But I’m smart. You know I’m smart. I can be useful if you’d only let me.”
"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]
"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
“Convince Tarr to turn me into his little bitch,” Pratik said, pleased that he was actually listening. “He doesn’t view me as human. Get me into his meetings. His interactions with his family. He lets his guard down around slaves. You’re the one who encouraged him to keep his mouth shut when I was around. Let him talk. Let me listen.”
"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]
"And what do you get out of all this?" Utrid asked, circling around the chair slowly. "What's in it for you? Freedom? Money?"
"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
“My freedom is all I want,” Pratik said, also circling to keep it between them. “I’m not going to get that from Tarr. You’ll have the ear of whoever you raise to power. Convince them to let me go. That’s all I want.”
"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]
Utrid considered it. He rubbed at the edges of his mustache, glaring thoughtfully at Pratik. "We will try it," he said finally. "If you make one slip, you'll wish you'd died right here by my sword."
"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
Pratik nodded vigorously, biting back a sigh of relief. “Yes 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 [they/he]
Utrid sheathed his sword and stepped forward, offering Pratik a gloved hand. "What's your name, boy?"
"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
“Aren,” Pratik said, hesitantly taking his hand to shake it. “Aren Presha, 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 [they/he]
