"It's very warm." Rickard gestured to the hearth. "I've never taken a fireplace for granted, and I never will."
"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 smiled slightly. “This Keep has many fireplaces. I expect you’ll have as many as you ever possibly wish for.”
"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 knows how long Lord Ash will let me stay, though?"
"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
“Not I,” Pratik admitted, shrugging. “But Sera said that some of the slaves Ash rescued from Nasa are still here. How long has that been? A month? Six weeks? I expect he’ll help you along with whatever you need.”
"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]
"One can hope." Rickard laid down on the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. "I wonder who's here. I only know a few well, but I knew most by name."
"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 looked at Rickard, a fresh stab of sorrow running through him. And anger. How dare Nasa put this sweet man through so much. All of the actual slaves through so much. “Sera may let you see, if you ask.”
"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]
"Oh, no, I couldn't." He shook his head. "I can hardly say yes and no to these people, let alone ask them for favors!"
"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
“It’s not like asking to speak to a… friend?” It sounded like the wrong word. “Is some great favor. It will cost them nothing. I’m sure they won’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 can't." Rickard rolled over, wincing at the thought. "I just can't, Aren." He paused. "That's not your real name, is it?"
"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 for a moment, then shook his head. Rickard deserved the truth. At least, a watered down version. “No… my name is Pratik… well, that’s my favorite name, anyway.”
"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]
"Why did you lie?" It wasn't an accusing tone, just curious. "Because you're more than just a slave?"
"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
“Yes,” Pratik admitted. “I’m known by many names, but Pratik is the one most likely to be recognized… I couldn’t afford to be recognized.”
Besides, he’d grown to like Aren. He’d be keeping it as one of his aliases moving forward.
"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]
"What is it you actually do?" Rickard asked. "Are you an infiltrator of some sort?"
"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
“Something like that,” Pratik agreed elusively. This was where the waters got muddy.
"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]
"So when Lord Ash put you in that cage with us, you were acting." There was still no anger or repulsion; Rickard just sounded as if he was thinking it through.
"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
