Tomhas smiled, watching in silence. Raina burbled and grabbed Ky's finger, staring curiously at each other.
"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 precious,” Ky whispered, smiling down at her with nothing but complete infatuation emanating off her. “Little Raina Loquitur. Welcome to the family princess.” She was vaguely aware that maybe she shouldn’t have said it that way — they were actually nobles so would that seem like she was being presumptuous? She hoped not. But when she was little every baby girl in her township was ‘princess’ and every baby boy was ‘handsome’ and it just felt right, even though she knew the title wasn’t real. “We’ve been waiting for you for a long time. I’m glad you’re here with us.”
"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]
"Say hello, Raina," Tomhas said softly. Instead, Raina burped and he chuckled.
"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 laughed a little, finally looking up at Anneke. “She’s perfect. You did so well.”
"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]
"Thank you." She smiled, still looking a bit breathless. "I'm just glad it was quick and that we're all okay."
"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
“No doubt,” Ky agreed with a smile, looking back at the baby. She wasn’t sure what the emotion she was feeling was — but she liked it. She felt so proud, even though she had nothing to do with any of this. So much love. Admiration. “Does Raina have a special meaning?”
She was directing the question towards Tomhas and Anneke, but kept her 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]
"It means 'happy,' Tomhas replied. "And she does seem quite content in your arms, doesn't she? You're a natural, Ky." He still couldn't quite believe she was here at last. Nine months of waiting and here she was, lopsided head and all. He and Anneke had made that little thing together. Anneke had carried it for almost a year, then pushed it out of her in record time, and now little Raina was here in the room with them. She had brothers and sisters she had never met, cousins, aunts, and uncles. She had a whole family waiting for her. Having a child never ceased to be a wonder to Tomhas; he would never grow weary of hearing those first cries, seeing that stare, bright and alert despite having gone through the first trauma of a life full of happiness and sadness, joys and sorrows.
(You sent me down a Behind the Name rabbit hole just 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
(Hahaha happy to be of world building service xD) (Also he’s adorable omg so wholesome)
“Thank you,” Ky murmured, still looking down at Raina. “She’s so precious.”
She knew she was just kind of getting stuck in a loop of compliments at this point, but it’s the only thing that came to mind. This little girl’s hand was barely big enough to curl around her thumb; and yet it felt like she commanded Ky’s entire universe. She’d give anything to keep Raina happy and safe.
(Also cannon is pretty convoluted because I mentioned Zander saved Ky from getting executed when she was a baby and she had sisters he also saved, too, but she knows nothing about them at all because he placed each one of them with a different host family. Like, Petrir wasn’t her bio dad but she has no idea until she’s in her 20s, well after he’s dead. But one of her sisters in cannon that she — eventually — learns about it named Rana so this is perfect lolol)
"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 snap seriously? That's nuts. And poor Ky! That info would crush her)
Tomhas sat down at the foot of the bed, watching as Ky held Raina. He was delighted that they'd already taken to each other, and even more pleased by how comfortable Ky seemed. Even a month ago she would have been so tense, so unsure. But she'd only needed a little prompting to take her baby sister in her arms and she'd just sat in a room with Gaius for something like ten minutes without panicking. He'd have to tell her later how proud he was of how far she'd come.
"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
(yeahhh cannon is not kind to her haha I have a parallel novel for her and each of her sisters and Zander kind of floats between all of them to make sure they're safe and happy and that's why he's so absent all the time because he travels a lot and has to be sure no one figures out who Ky really is. But when she gets abducted he can't figure out where she is until they randomly cross paths with Aleth and he's like YOU SON OF A BITCH and then Aleth dies and Ky gets rescued and is just all in all bewildered by the revelation of having living parents and siblings, so ig somewhat similar to here but in reverse lol) (also omggg he's so wholesome she would melt xD)
Ky wasn't sure how long she'd sat staring down at Raina, murmuring sweet nothings to her and rocking her gently, but she eventually became aware that other things existed in the world aside from her new baby sister. She probably shouldn't be being so selfish with her. No doubt everyone else wanted to meet Raina as well.
It struck her how much of an honor she'd just been given. Even Lord Ash -- Tomhas's own brother -- or any of the Loquiturs' real children didn't know what the baby's name was. What she looked like. She had an immense privilege to be the first to be trusted with this.
"Sorry," Ky murmured, finally looking up at Tomhas and Anneke. "I'm sure the others probably want a turn, too."
"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]
"My brother and sister in-law are patient," Tomhas promised. "Anneke's brother, maybe not so much but he can wait his turn. And the other children will be eager...do you want more time, though? I can give it another couple of minutes."
"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 pretty sure I'll want to hold her until she's my age," Ky laughed, smiling down at Raina once 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]
Tomhas chuckled. "Your hands will get very tired if you do that, I think."
"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, looking up again to glance at Anneke. "How are you feeling after all this?"
"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 glad that it's over," Anneke said honestly. "And overjoyed that Raina's finally joined us! And I'm very much ready for a nap." "Would you like me to postpone further visits, my love?" Tomhas asked, brow furrowing in concern. "No, no. Best to get it done all at once."
"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
