Gaius thought back to that night. He'd lost track of Harold in the scuffle. He supposed the man had tried to help and then retreated to his rooms when it was over. "I expect he was shaken, as we all were," he mused. "Indignant, perhaps, that something like this was allowed to happen in his lands. Indignant despite the fact that things like that happen every day in his lands anyway. He'll lose a couple nights of sleep over it but I wouldn't worry about his mental health."
"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
“That’s good.” Ky nodded. “I’m sure he’s used to more stress than this anyway.”
Maybe not stress that put him directly in harm’s way. But the stress of big decisions that affected peoples lives and livelihoods.
"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 expect so." Harold was very resilient, of course. The stress stuck into him like needles but he carried on, absorbing it into his decisions and learning quickly. That being said, there was a lot of room for improvement.
"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 again. “Do you know how the others are?”
"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 shook his head. "Much the same, I would guess. I was brought up here very shortly after the attack, and that is where I have stayed."
"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. She was mostly worried about her little sisters. The younger kids had probably been too scared to understand what was going on. They’d be rattled, no doubt, but would hopefully bounce back quickly. Lyra and Anneliese would understand how close they’d come to disaster. Would have seen the blood, probably. They couldn’t have been holding up 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]
"I'm sure Laura can ask on your behalf," Gaius offered. "She'll be making rounds today, certainly."
"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, appreciative. “I expect she’ll be expecting the same question from all of us today.”
It seemed like they should probably all come together. To get proof that everyone else was as okay as possible, given the circumstances. And yet she had a feeling that today was going to be a lot of hiding in their own respective rooms. How was Zander doing with all this? Aashi? Sara and Anneke? They probably each had their own burden to bear of who they were most worried about. Then, and even now. Was anyone else as unstable and volatile as she was?
"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 know Sara's handling things well. My children were terrified, understandably, so she's doing damage control on that," Gaius said to himself. "Tomhas said Anneke was mostly concerned for himself and you children. I'm not sure about Wick and Ana, though Wick was with me helping Tomhas until your Uncle Zander took 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
Ky nodded. Wick seemed to be holding up alright. At least, well enough he had the presence of mind to spot and stop her earlier. She supposed it wasn’t particularly fair to place that emotional burden on him. She’d need to apologize later.
“I think Zander was more worried about me than he was anything else,” she 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]
"I expect that's how many of us felt at the time. I'm certainly glad you weren't killed." Apart from being an innocent child with a gentle disposition, Gaius was sure Tomhas would never have forgiven himself for 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
“Thanks,” she offered a little smile. The bar was low. But she still appreciated the gesture.
"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 dipped his head, returning the smile slightly.
"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 felt like she was making progress with him. She’d gone from physically hiding behind Tomhas while Gaius all but interrogated her at the meeting, to now earning almost-smiles from him. She’d even made him laugh yesterday! She was winning him over, slow but steady.
They were in an odd situation, though. Both of them gimpy and unable to really move on their own. She hoped she’d be able to maintain the generally positive mood and not say something that would upset him.
“… do you think Tomhas wants me to go home with you?” Ky asked after a pause. “Please don’t just say it’s my choice and I can pick. He’s got to be hoping one way or the other and I can’t tell if he wants me to go even if Anneke wants the rest of the kids to stay.”
"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's brow furrowed. "I expect he wants to get everyone close to him under my roof, now. Especially with Tarr breathing down our backs. He'll try to get as many of you to Serpent Keep as he can, I think, but he'll take your decision to be important as well."
"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
