"Then you should be alright." Tomhas clapped his hands. "Anything else?"
"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 shook her head. Nothing on her end, anyway. She just needed to inform Tadaaki that that was what they were doing for sure. And he needed to convince Aashi. And then Ky needed to convince Zander. And then they all needed to pack and figure out their lives.
And, she supposed, she needed to get used to the fact that she was losing her new parents less than a week after she'd gotten them. It was different this time, sure. They weren't dying. Hopefully. But she still wasn't going to have parents for however long they ended staying with Gaius and Sara.
"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]
"Alright." Tomhas rose, standing there for a moment as he looked at his three daughters. He didn't want any of them to go. He wanted them to stay, for them to be safe and happy here. But they wouldn't be safe here. Not with the war starting and the assassins looking for Ky. They needed to be behind tall, thick walls. Gaius and Sara would look after them. "I'll see you soon," he said quietly, and left. Anneke watched him go, face unreadable.
"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
It almost felt like Tomhas had had the same thought just as she had. At least, a comparable thought. The realization that he was about to lose at least two and possibly all three of his daughters for months -- while he had to deal with hunting down assassins and fighting with Tarr. She didn't envy him.
She didn't envy a single person in this Keep impacted by this godforsaken situation.
But, at least she was already a quarter of the way through Gaius's challenge, so she had that going for her. She found her desire to die waxed and waned over time -- sometimes as intensely strong as when she'd snapped at Gaius, and other times a much more passive, tolerable level. But it was still there. And it was still distressing.
"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 almost felt like Tomhas had had the same thought just as she had. At least, a comparable thought. The realization that he was about to lose at least two and possibly all three of his daughters for months -- while he had to deal with hunting down assassins and fighting with Tarr. She didn't envy him.
She didn't envy a single person in this Keep impacted by this godforsaken situation.
But, at least she was already a quarter of the way through Gaius's challenge, so she had that going for her. She found her desire to die waxed and waned over time -- sometimes as intensely strong as when she'd snapped at Gaius, and other times a much more passive, tolerable level. But it was still there. And it was still distressing.
"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]
Anneliese glanced nervously at her mother. "May I go?" Lyra asked, and Anneke nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Lyra. Go ahead." Lyra dipped her head to her mother, then to her sisters, and left. Anneliese wrung her hands, staying silent.
"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 returned the nod, watching her go. It seemed this whole thing was causing big, confusing emotions for all of them. At least for all the Loquiturs -- she imagined it was less of a big deal to agree to take on two or three nieces who were all old enough to not need much supervision.
She felt like she should say something. It wasn't like Anneliese to be this quiet. It was clear her anxiety was eating her alive. She needed to get her thoughts out, so Ky asked, "What are you thinking?"
"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]
Anneliese looked up, cheeks flushing. "Oh. Um, just that...I'm glad you're okay. And I want you to be safe but I don't want you to go. But you should if you think it's safe," she said quickly.
"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, understanding. "You think you'll stay here, 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]
"I don't know yet..." Anneliese looked back down. "It would be nice to go to Serpent Keep I guess, but I want to be around Mother and Father."
"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 understand," Ky said gently, nodding. "It's a tough choice. And you've got time."
"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
"Sometimes having longer to decide just draws out the agony," Ky offered. "It feels nice to have certainty in your 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]
Anneliese nodded in agreement. "I wish someone could decide for me, but I also want to decide for myself. Do you ever feel 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
"Heh, all the time," Ky said with a mirthless grin. "Especially with this choice in particular. It's not easy. I would very much rather be told what to do."
"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]
