"He's really cute. I bet Ky would show you him later if you asked!" Oscar had begun to perk up again.
"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’d like that!” Aashi said brightly. She looked at the twins. “Have you two seen the legendary Petrir?”
"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 got to hold him," Marcella replied. "He's the cutest thing in the world! Father says we can't pet the barn cat at our Keep so we don't have any cats."
"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
“Well, then, I suppose it’s nice of Ky to be willing to share hers!”
"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." Marcella beamed over at Ky. "She's the best."
"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 returned the smile. That was enough to actually make Ky feel better about things. Who knew all it would take to win her new cousins over was a kitten. “I aim to please.”
"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 we'll talk about a cat," Sara mused, glancing over at Gaius. "Maybe," he said doubtfully. "I have little patience for house pets."
"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
“But have you ever had a cat?” Aashi asked, deciding this was her moment to fully get the attention off Ky. It was the least she could do. “They’re very cute. And very snuggly. And good mousers no less.”
"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]
"Never a cat." Gaius looked up. "My brother owned a fox, once. But that was a long time ago." That it drowned, he didn't say. Michael had loved that fox, more than Gaius had ever seen him love anything. He hadn't minded the fox; it was sweet and tame, and it trusted him when he picked it up and carried it out to the creek when Michael was off hunting. He'd cried while he held it under.
(Hhhhhhhh)
(Ghhhh this stupid family)
"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
"Ooh! That sounds like a fun pet," Aashi said, nodding. "For a while, there was a duck that hung around our farm that I fed. My father and I continue to argue whether that qualified as a pet or not," she laughed.
"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 tried to write a story about it a few times but I couldn't. I hate that I made him do it so much)
If it's food, it's not a pet, Gaius thought, but he nodded slightly and returned to his meal. "Was it friendly?" Mattathias asked.
"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 was a little afraid of everyone," Aashi answered. "But it trusted me more than anyone else because I was nice to it. I got it to the point it would eat out of my hand. It was very cute."
"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]
"Awww! I want something to eat out of my hand!" Mattathias said eagerly, and tugged at his mother. "Mama, can we get a duck?" Sara chuckled. "Maybe, dear. I thought you wanted a cat." "Can we get both?" "Maybe," Gaius reiterated patiently. "We'll think about 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
Aashi smiled slightly. That was a no, if she'd ever heard one. The infamous "maybe" -- she'd said it plenty of times herself.
"C'mere sweetie," Tadaaki said, reaching over to take Tasia off Aashi's lap. "Let Mama eat in peace."
Aashi nodded her thanks, passing her daughter off to her husband, then picked up her own fork and cut a bigger piece of venison for herself. She looked at Mattathias. "What's your favorite animal?"
She threw the meat in her mouth and started chewing.
"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]
"Snakes," Mattathias said immediately. "Cuz we're snakes." "Our House sigil," Sara explained. "White serpent on a green background."
"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
