Ky listened closely. For a few weeks after she’d left Aleth, she’d vowed to never ever ever care about politics ever again. She’d already dealt with far too many officials to last her a lifetime. But now she’d come around to the realization that a Lord’s daughter should be familiar with political hierarchy in the region, and had recently re-applied herself to learning who was ruling what and where.
"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 hope he gets well," Anneke sighed. "He seems like a nice fellow, and for the most part he runs his sect very fairly."
"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
Ky kept listening, deciding she didn’t need to have an opinion on this.
"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]
"But he can be bribed," Gaius pointed out. "As I have recently discovered." Anneke and Sara both wrinkled their noses at 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
Ky looked between them, intrigued. Had Ash bribed him? Or what did that mean—?
She was having a thought again. She needed to be careful about that.
She forced herself to keep a neutral expression. This matter didn’t concern her. She needed to stay out of it.
"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]
"But there's no more of that," he said pointedly. "That's over, for better or for worse." "For better, I expect," Ana replied. "I still don't understand how you petty Lords can live with yourselves, sending innocent men and women off to fight your battles for you. If you had a disagreement you should have gone toe to toe."
"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
Ky’s eyes went wide before she could stop it. Ana had no reservations about roasting Ash. How…? Just. How? Ky forced her expression to be neutral as fast as she could, but it took a moment to compose herself after that shock.
"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]
(Ana, surrogate mother of four: Stop fighting your brother and act like an adult Ash: If you were any other person I'd have your house torched)
Gaius gave her a level stare, cold as ice. "That would be a very short battle." "At least you know Tomhas wouldn't kill you like Michael might have," Ana retorted, sitting up straight. Gaius stilled, and the entire room grew heavy with that stillness. Ana paused. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "But cherish the people that love you, Gaius. Tomhas was never your enemy."
"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
Ky didn’t dare breathe. She stared straight ahead at the arm of the couch, wishing this would end soon.
"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]
Gaius gazed at Ana for a long, long moment, then rose and limped out of the room. Sara moved to follow, but he held up a hand and she sat back down, casting a worried look at Ana. "He'll be alright," she assured her with a sigh when the door closed. "His temper cools quickly." "I know." Ana rested her head on the back of her chair, wincing. "Gods, I'd forgotten how delicate he is." She said this with pity, not resentment. "He's not delicate, just..." Sara shook her head slightly, then looked apologetically at Ky. "I'm sorry."
"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
Ky had watched him go, unable to stop herself from gawking. What the hell had she just witnessed? She didn’t know. But she certainly didn’t want to see it again.
That seemed exactly the way to end up beheaded.
Ky shook her head, eyes wide, when she realized Sara was talking to her. What could she even say to that? “Not at 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]
"You've found yourself a complicated family," Sara said carefully. "We're not without our twists and turns, that's for certain. I expect you'll become very familiar with them, and for that I pity you. That's all I'm going to say." Lyra stood as well and excused herself.
"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
Ky looked between them and nodded, still stunned. “Yes ma’am.”
Her new status be damned. She was damn well going to be respectful. And hope she didn’t get caught in the middle. Never in the 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]
They all sat in silence for a long moment. Then Sara stood. "I do think I'll go speak with him," she said quietly. "I'll be back." She opened the door and left. Ana put her face in her hands.
(Gaius Ash is a ticking time bomb for ruining situations I swear to god)
"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
Ky glanced around, but very very carefully avoided making eye contact with anyone. Should she also leave? Or just sit very very still and hope they forgot about her?
Was the garden still an option? She should have tagged along.
"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]
