“Are you sure?” she asked, but was already on her feet moving towards him — brain urging her to decline even as her heart moved her 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]
"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 grinned and followed him out excitedly, letting the door close behind her. “What’s her name?”
"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]
"Her name's Raina," he replied, still smiling broadly as he led her down the hall. "She's a hefty one, with the biggest blue eyes you've ever seen. So quiet, too!" He paused at the door. "She wasn't breathing when she came out," he added, sobering. "But she's fine now!"
"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 hesitated. She didn’t know what that might mean for the baby in the long run. But for now she was okay? “She seems healthy, then?”
"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]
"Perfectly fit! Apparently there was some mucus blocking her airway. She's bold and happy now, don't worry." He opened the door. Anneke was lying on the bed, still sweaty and red-faced. Her hair was loose and spread on the pillow, and in her arms was a throughly swaddled, purple faced little baby with wide blue eyes and a turned-up nose. She sneezed as they entered and struggled to get her arm out of the blankets. "Welcome," Anneke said with a weary smile, looking up. "Come here, Ky. Come meet Raina."
"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 melted in an instant, eyes fixed on the baby as she cautiously approached the bed. “She’s so perfect,” she said reverently.
"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]
"Would you like to hold her?" Anneke shifted, and Tomhas offered to help her lift Raina. Raina gurgled.
"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 tried to put her hands out, then felt awkward and shifted them… and then again… she didn’t have the first idea how this was supposed to work. “I’ve never…”
"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 help." Tomhas took Raina carefully from Anneke. "See how I'm holding her so her head is supported by my arm? Then cradle her bottom so she doesn't fall, like this."
"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
“Okay…” Ky nodded nervously but held her arms like he instructed, eyes fixed on the baby.
"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]
"Do you want to sit down first, if it makes you feel better? I'll be right here."
"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!” Ky said quickly. That was an excellent idea. Sitting down. That seemed safer. She pulled up a chair nearby and sat down on it next to the head of the bed, then looked back at Tomhas.
"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 eased Raina into her arms, positioning her gently and adjusting Ky's stance. "Just like 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
“Hi Raina,” Ky whispered, reaching down a single finger to rub the hand Raina had managed to get free. “Aren’t you just the most perfect little human there’s ever been?”
"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]
