"Yes, sir." Pratik nodded. What would he even do, if Ash aligned with Loquitur against Tarr? Would he get pulled out -- or would he get caught in the middle? It gave him an unsettled feeling. "I'll keep hanging around Utrid -- any keep trying to learn more from Ada. I'll keep you updated... and I'd appreciate it if you kept me updated, as well."
"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]
"Certainly." Roland dipped his head. "We're in this together. I'll tell you what I can, when I can."
"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
"Perfect." He realized his chest felt tight and shoulders were tense, so he made an effort to relax as he exhaled. There was always something about making contact with Roland that felt dangerous. He knew that Roland was on the same side; that Ash trusted him, as much as the paranoid old man trusted anyone. And yet it still seemed fraught. Like Roland had Tarr hiding around the corner, waiting to execute him.
Maybe he was the paranoid one.
"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 leave first," Roland said. "Wait ten minutes, then go as well. Avoid Tarr for the moment; I just saw him with Utrid and it looked rather nasty."
"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. What had happened, now? He certainly wanted to find out. But he also didn't want to be around the hotheaded idiot, while he had to take whatever abuse the brute wanted to mete out to him. He'd let things cool off, then go get a summary from Utrid. "I understand."
"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]
"Good." Roland opened the door, gave him a final tilt of the head, and departed.
"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 wandered around the room, trying to sort through things in his own mind. He hated that he was getting close to Ada because of something so terrible happening to her. Hated that he hadn't stopped it. Hated that he was going to prey on her weakness to get information.
But most of all, he hated that he was letting all this get to him.
Hated, yet again, that he still had a soul. That his cool, detached public persona was nothing but an act. He cared too much for his own damn good, and he didn't know how to make himself not.
(Do you wanna skip back to Ky/Loquitur/Ash now or do you have other plans for this? c: )
"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]
(Yeah we can skip! I can start again if you wish, or you can. How far ahead to you want to go?)
"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
(Up to you! I don't know what happened with Loquitur/Ash or Ash and his advisors so dunno what you had in mind for that -- I think Ky would have just been in her tent trying to calm herself. Maybe skip to dinner? Or... another time? idk, I feel like Ash is not finished grilling Ky, unless he got all the info out of Loquitur haha he's too thorough for that xD But, honestly, I really don't care. I'll follow your lead -- so you can go ahead and set it up, if you'd like ^^)
"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]
(Tomhas told Gaius privately a rundown of what happened as far as he knows. I'd like to skip somewhere with some action or perhaps with Ky meeting new people or discussing the rites with Tomhas? King Harold is definitely gonna show up in person for the rites. We also have the option of a conflict where an assassin tries to go for Ky, or something happens on the way back from the ruins, or something else.)
"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
(aha Ky will simply ~ p e r i s h ~ when the king shows up xD I don't think it'd be realistic to have assassins attack on their way back to the Keep, since word wouldn't have traveled that fast, but it could be fun to have one come after her eventually. I don't have a strong preference... maybe discussing rites first? Then, eventually, get to the assassination attempt? And then the whole rite ceremony?)
(Oh gosh, imagine an assassin showing up *at* the ceremony xD "and I, ky ruiarc, do solemnly swear -- THAT IS AN ASSASSIN AND I AM OUT" xD )
"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]
(That's perfect!! Should we discuss rites on the way back or once they've returned home?)
"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
(Up to you! I feel like it wouldn't super affect things either way? Just on horses -- or in a sitting room or something, kind of the same difference, yeah? If we did it when they were back, there'd be the potential for interactions with other characters if that's something you might be interested in -- but I don't have a strong preference either way ^^)
"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 like the idea of having more characters available! Let's do the sitting room.)
Tomhas's party returned from Brant Keep five days after the initial meeting, and after a small feast with the family, Tomhas asked Ky to join him in one of the sitting rooms. He was giddy as he sat himself down in one of the armchairs, and he could only remain still for a moment before he leaped to his feet and began pacing back and forth. Skald Taro had been summoned and would be arriving shortly, but for now he was alone.
Tomhas was still unsure if Ky truly wanted this and was anxious that he'd forced the issue. What if she thought he was trying to replace her father? What if she was afraid he'd harm her if she didn't accept? What if she didn't think she was good enough?
"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 spotted her kitten Petrir -- already getting so big -- hiding under an end table and scooped him up before she sat down. She felt vaguely anxious about the energy Loquitur was radiating, but curious to know what it all meant. Was he going to tell her he'd changed his mind about adopting her?
The thought was disappointing, but, honestly, she wouldn't blame him for it. It was a big responsibility to add an extra child to your family. And an even bigger responsibility when said child was already mostly grown and irreparably damaged. No one would choose the mangey street cat, if they were offered a pampered kitten straight from a planned litter instead.
"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]
