"So, we'd, uh..." Ky started hesitantly when she saw that the brothers weren't going to start the conversation. "All head up that way together? Soon-ish?"
"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 correct. Within the week, I expect." Gaius leaned back. "I still need to talk to Sara but I don't see why she'd say no." "Anneke is the obstacle, I think," Tomhas added. "And obviously Aashi and Tasia would need to hear about it too."
"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
"Anneke doesn't want us to go?" Ky asked softly. Well, that was a different matter, then. She wasn't going to upset her new mama within a week of having her.
Tadaaki thought for a moment -- he didn't expect Aashi would be opposed. She was rattled, understandably. She'd want to be where was safest. If Tadaaki told her that Serpent Keep would keep the three of them safest, then she'd be onboard. It was mostly a choice he needed to make.
"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 think she'll want you all close. I'm going to try and send the other children with you. But I'm sure we can come to an agreement; she'll understand what I'm trying to do."
"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 nodded. That made sense. She supposed she'd try to stay out of the middle of it and let them figure it out. They were -- she kept trying to remind herself -- were the authority figures. If they were making the choice for the rest of their children, they should be making it for her, too.
And then a thought struck her, and she looked at Gaius uneasily. "... Pratik will be there, though?"
"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]
"If his return was successful." Gaius nodded. "If he's trouble for you, though, I can promise he won't be there when you arrive. Arrangements can be made." He'd rather not kill the man, but Pratik would probably leave once he was paid. A simple fix. "You and Tadaaki are the only two who really have a say in your own decision," Tomhas told them. "If you two want to go, you can go. If you want to stay, you can stay. I just have to talk to Anneke about Lyra, Anneliese, Oscar, and Peter."
"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
Great, more decisions. They made both of them uneasy.
Tadaaki would probably stay with Ky, whatever she decided. Scratch that. He'd definitely stay with her. They had to figure out their escape plan.
Ky eyed Tadaaki, guessing his thoughts. They'd need to talk about that. But until then, they could hypothesize about what they'd do if they ended up not running away. Which she was currently leaning towards.
"I feel like if you're deciding for the rest of your kids, it'd only be right for you to also decide for me," Ky murmured.
"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 blinked; he hadn't thought of it that way. As much as he cared for Ky, she seemed somehow apart from his brood. "I suppose you're right," he mused. "But I want to know if you want to go or not. If you think you should all be here or in Serpent Keep."
"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 nodded slowly. She supposed she appreciate that. That he was willing to take her desires into consideration. If it was something less stressful than this, it’d be nice. She looked back at Gaius. “Do you think he’d be honest, if you sent a letter ahead asking if he’s after me? 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]
"The reply wouldn't reach me in time," Gaius said, shaking his head. "But I expect he'd be honest, yes. I don't know him well but he doesn't seem the sort to kill innocent young girls for money. I can tell him to leave, if you like, or rid myself of him completely, but that's the most I can do: give orders and hope they reach my steward."
"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 nodded, considering it. She supposed that made sense. Aleth bitched to no end that Pratik refused to kidnap, under any circumstances whatsoever. If he wasn't willing to do that for money, maybe he also wouldn't be willing to kill someone out of spite? All of the people Aleth had sent him after in the past had undoubtedly deserved their demise.
And, well, Pratik was good. He wouldn't have to hurt anyone else to get straight to her. And she was reasonably certain that his kills were swift and relatively painless.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," she said after a moment, even though she wasn't sure at all.
It was probably better for them to know where Pratik was without a shadow of a doubt, one way or the other. If Gaius sent him away, then no one would know where he was -- he could be waiting a few hours from the gate to attack their convoy and no one would have any warning whatsoever. And she certainly didn't want his blood on her hands, just for the vague possibility that he might be after her. She liked him. And had to hope he liked her in return.
"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]
"Are you quite sure?" Gaius tapped his fingers in his leg. "It's important; things would need to be set into motion immediately."
"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 am." Ky nodded, convincing herself more the longer she thought of it. "He's probably not after us... and if he is, it's probably good to have him where you can keep an eye on 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]
Gaius eyed her a moment longer, then nodded. "Very well, then."
"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
Tadaaki watched the interaction in silence. Pratik. He knew who that was. He usually knew names or faces -- with no idea of which face was attached to which name. But Ky had pointed him out to him. He seemed friendly enough. As odd of a sentiment that was to have about an assassin.
And, he trusted Ky's call on this. She was good at reading people. If she was fine with the idea, then he'd force himself to be, too.
He and Ky happened to make eye contact. "I'd like to stay with you -- I don't care where, though."
She huffed a quiet sigh. Great. Even he wasn't going to help her with this decision.
"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]
