“Ah, well, she’s satisfied with this brood as it is,” he chuckled. “She’s already completely convinced that Wick has her back, no matter what, and she’s only just met him this week.”
"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]
"She'd be absolutely right." Tomhas grinned. "I'm delighted that she likes him! Wick is one of the most steadfast, loyal fellows I've ever had the honor of meeting. He'll be with us through thick and thin, no doubt about 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
(Imagine if she slipped up lol Ky: “wick saved my life” Zander: “what?” Ky: “… what?” xD)
“Glad to hear it,” Zander agreed, also smiling, glad that he’d not made a mistake with that one. It seemed this family was poked full of sores that were hard to dance around, even by giving out compliments. But, hey, Ky seemed closer to figuring out what they were than he was, and she’s the one who mattered. “That’s the impression I was getting as 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 very happy about that; I want you to feel like you're leaving Ky with good people." Tomhas glanced at Zander. "We're a bit of a mess--at least, I am--but we're going to do our very best to do right by Ky. Gods know she needs a steadier family than she's had recently."
"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 know you will,” Zander said encouragingly, nodding. Did Tomhas feel like he was judging him? That wasn’t what Zander meant to do at all. If Zander wasn’t happy with Ky staying here, he would have raised a fuss and stopped the adoption. But he didn’t. Because he wanted this for her as much as she wanted it. As much as Tomhas seemed to want it, too. “We’ve all got our demons we wrestle with, and we all lose to them sometimes, but they can’t win — not truly — as long as we keep fighting them. Which you are. I know you’ll be a wonderful father to her, warts and all.”
He thought for a moment, then added gently, “it may even be a backhanded blessing, in a way, for her to have people she can relate to. God knows I’ve been through my share of it, but never the way Ky was, and certainly never as young. And I brought all of mine upon me myself.” Not that he’d been left with many options. “I think it’s good for her to be with people who understand and can help her work through her messy complicated emotions”
"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]
"Perhaps so." He dipped his head. "Maybe you're right. I hope you're right."
"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
"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 headed toward the infirmary. "I think you'll find that Serpent Keep is a very efficient fortress," Tomhas said to him. "It's the oldest one in the North, after all."
"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 hope so," Zander agreed with a nod. "I'm sure he won't want to share too, too much with me -- but it will certainly set my mind to ease to get to see at least part of it with my own eyes."
"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]
"Certainly. Hope you like walls!" They reached the infirmary floor.
"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
Zander smiled at that, then pushed the door open and strode inside.
"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 maybe Anneliese left? Anneke is still there.)
Tomhas followed close behind. Anneke looked up, smiling quickly. "Ah, welcome back!"
"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 sat up straighter, a spike of anxiety running through her gut. Zander was here. Right. Yes. Tomhas said he was going to go find Zander. And he'd succeeded. Yes. She took a deep breath, thinking about what she was going to say.
Had Tomhas already told him?
She tried to anticipate what he might say if so. And how she was going to make her case if he was mad.
"Anneke." Zander nodded to her, then looked at Ky with a grin. "Ky!"
She flashed a tight smile 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]
Anneke dipped her head to Ky. Tomhas glanced around eagerly, wondering if Zander would tell Ky himself or if he ought to.
"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
Zander saw that Ky was oozing anxiety, and wasn't sure if that's because she didn't want to go and was trying to please Anneke and Tomhas -- or because she was afraid he'd disapprove. Ah well. He'd figure it out.
"I hear you're headed to Serpent Keep," he said casually, striding in and taking a chair.
"Yeah..." Ky watched him carefully, stomach still fluttering, as she looked for even the slightest hint that he might be upset by it. "... Is that okay?"
"I don't get a vote in this," Zander laughed. He supposed that wasn't properly true. He could make himself a proper pain in the ass if he wanted to. But he wasn't going to do that. "But why wouldn't I be okay with it? Sounds exciting!"
Ky visibly relaxed, flashing a more genuine grin.
"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]
