Pratik did as he was told, staring straight ahead. “Definitely would not object to a warm meal.”
"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
Pratik exhaled. “How have things been? I take it a lot has happened, what with the truce and the adoption and all 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]
"It's been a bit chaotic, to be sure." Sera sighed. "You're alright. I expect you'd tell me if anything was going on down below, so I'll leave it at that. Get your shirt back on and get warm."
"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
That was good. He wouldn’t have to try and hide the dagger on his thigh this way. Not to mention he didn’t want to be pantless in front of even Sera, nevermind the rest of his audience. So he gratefully pulled his shirt back on and tucked his fingers under his legs, still trying to thaw them out.
This was going to make Ada’s exam hard, though. She obviously wouldn’t want to strip down in front of two men. He absolutely couldn’t blame her for that. But getting prodded without knowing what was happening seemed almost as bad.
"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]
"Who's next?" Sera glanced between Rickard and Ada. Rickard took a deep breath and raised his hand, ducking his head. Sera moved toward him. "Same routine. Anything worrying you?" "No," Rickard mumbled, and tugged off his shirt. "For all the scars Pratik had, Rickard had perhaps even more. There were telltale lash marks on his back and sides, most of them old and faded but several that were more recent. There were scars from where ropes had once held him and scars from knives, and even a brand or two long since whitened into oddly shaped burn scars. His torso was emaciated; every rib could be counted. Sera took all this in for a moment, lips tightening into a thin line. She looked as if she wanted to say something, but instead she very gently performed the same exam she had on Pratik. Rickard flinched as her cool hands touched his skin, but he held still and kept his head low, eyes closed.
"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 also took it all in, then dropped his gaze. There was no point in gawking at him. But it made him even angrier to know that depths of abuse that Rickard had obviously been through. Most of Pratik’s scars were his own fault. He held some from childhood, but most were from either him running his mouth, trying to take on slavers, or earned in the midst of his line of work. Not being beaten through no fault of your own.
"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]
"Breathe in for me." Rickard did so, and there was a slight rattling in his chest. "And out." Again there was rattling. "You're congested," Sera said, sitting back. "I'll prescribe some tea that should help clear it up, but mostly what you need is a good meal, bedrest, and lots of warmth. You're sure there's nothing else bothering you?" "No, ma'am." Rickard seemed determined to stay as quiet as possible. Sera sighed and nodded to him. "Right, then." She turned to Ada, who crossed her arms. "Tell her I'm not doing it out here," she told 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
“She wants privacy,” Pratik translated, looking at Sera. “Are there any words you’d like me to translate for her to know for the exam?”
"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]
"Just tell her to point to anywhere that's hurting and I'll take care of the rest." Sera stood, going to the door of her office.
"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
“She says to point at whatever hurts,” Pratik said, nodding to Ada. “I think she wants you to go in there for the exam.” He looked back at Sera. “If you need me to translate anything, either direction, just yell. I can do it from out here.”
"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]
Sera dipped her head. "Thank you." Ada stood and entered the office, glancing back at the other two before the door shut behind her.
"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 turned to be more fully on the cot and looked over at Rickard. What could he even say? He decided not to acknowledge it. If Rickard wanted to talk about either one of them, he could be the one to bring it up. “I’m looking forward to getting this collar off.”
"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]
Rickard raised his head at last and nodded. "So am I." He looped a finger under the collar self-consciously. "I imagine Ada is, too."
"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’m sure,” Pratik agreed, barely resisting the urge to fiddle with his own. “It feels nice to finally be inside again.”
"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]
When I use caps I do not want you to read it like a little screech, I want you to read it like a 5,000 year old ogre with the strength of 10,000 men. — avianwings47
