“This is the only way,” she said miserably, stumbling a step back towards the Keep. She was so close and yet so far away. At this point, she half wanted to do it anyway. She could probably struggle with him until she lost enough blood that he wouldn’t be able to get her inside.“Why can’t any of you see 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]
"Because it's not the only way. Come on." He took a few more steps toward the Keep, guiding her. "How's your wound looking?"
"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 stared down at her sleeve, brushing her fingertips across the wound through the fabric. “So easy.”
"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]
"No." He took a deep breath. "Not what I meant. Is it infected?"
"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 don’t think so,” she murmured. “It bled enough to be fine.”
"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]
"That's good, at least. Did you sleep at all last night?"
"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
“Meh.” She tucked her arm close to her chest, not looking up at him. “I had a night scare and hurt my arm. It made things worse not better.”
"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]
"That's perfectly understandable." He gave a small nod. "Did you try to talk through it with anyone?" Where should he take her? He had a feeling Tomhas would just be deeply distressed by this. Sara or Anneke came to mind; they were level headed motherly figures. And Tadaaki might be best equipped to handle this out of all of them. He had helped her through stuff like this before, surely?
"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 don’t need to talk.” She shuddered at that, unable to control the violent shivering anymore. It hurt her ribs she was shivering so hard now. Gods. She was too far gone, now. She’d never have the dexterity to rip the stitches out now.
"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]
Wick wrapped his arm around her, trying to keep her warm. They were almost to the gate of the ice garden now. "Do you want me to carry you?" he asked, concerned that she might not be able to walk much further. She was almost as tall as him, but he thought he might be able to lift her and carry her at least far enough that a guard or servant could take over.
"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 burst into tears. “I just want you to let me do it.”
"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]
"Nobody else wants you to do it." He made an executive decision and carefully scooped her up. She was lanky but not that heavy, especially since he'd made a living as a farmer before becoming a tailor. He began to walk through the gates toward the doors of the Keep. "I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, Ky. I wish I could help you..."
"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 couldn’t get away from him. They both knew she couldn’t get away from him. And she didn’t want to fall flat on her face by trying to fight him. So instead she sniffled hard and tried to rub the tears away to pull herself together before anyone else saw them.
She’d missed this opportunity. And if she wanted another then she couldn’t let them know how much she wanted it. Hopefully Wick would keep his mouth shut. She doubted it. But she hoped.
"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]
Wick got a guard to open the doors of the Keep. "I'm going to take you up to the infirmary," he told her. "Laura will take a look at you, talk through this with you. Is there anyone you want me to find for you?"
"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 shook her head miserably. “Please don’t tell him.”
"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]
