"Well, we clearly all have, so far," Pratik countered. "We all survived for however many years we've been alive -- and now we're free, too... or we will be."
"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]
"Mm." Ada shrugged. "Let's see how much longer we survive."
"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
"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]
"Fault me for being a pessimist," Ada said curtly. "Can you really blame 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
"A bit, yeah," Pratik scoffed. "The universe brings whatever we manifest -- and you're predicting us to fail, before it even happens. We have to have hope if we want a prayer of success."
"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]
"Maybe because the odds of three of us surviving the trip to Serpent Keep--even with supplies--are astronomical. There are spiders, or don't you remember the trip to Wolf Keep in a cage? We saw guards die to those things." "We did," Rickard agreed tentatively. "But maybe we're not worth the effort. We're only three people, and three thin ones at that."
"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
"We'll move faster than we did on the way here," Pratik said gruffly. "And if nothing else, we're better off than we were before."
"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 both have enough optimism for all three of us," Ada scoffed. "Try having dreams about the future and then get back to me." She flicked her reins and trotted ahead. "She's a Seer?" Rickard asked incredulously.
"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
"And a pissy one at that," Pratik muttered under his breath, but also urged his horse into a trot. Maybe freezing to death at a gallop wasn't as bad as dealing with her scathing personality.
"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]
"Again, you don't know what she may have been through. And being a Seer must make it that much worse." Rickard wrinkled his brow sympathetically. "Poor child."
"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
"Mm." Perhaps Rickard was the only reasonable one of the lot. At least, the only patient one. "Hopefully we won't be too much longer now."
"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]
"Hopefully." Rickard thought for a moment. "Will there be a hearth in the room? And a bed?"
"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 don't know," Pratik answered. "About the hearth, anyway. The innkeeper was told to prepare two beds... or cots... or whatever. And I can take the floor, I don't mind."
"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 take the floor," he insisted. "You organized all this; it's only fair you get one of the beds."
"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 hesitated. Rickard did have a point. But, then, he wasn't very well going to let an old man sleep on the floor while he took the bed. "Perhaps if the bed is big enough, we can both fit?"
"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]
