"Mm. I can make myself understand, I suppose, but I have no wish to see other human beings as property."
"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. “I don’t know how they could sleep at night knowing they were hurting a tiny child.”
"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]
"They're sleeping now," Gaius said grimly. "Let's go upstairs, shall we?"
"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]
They headed up the stairs. "I want you to know that it was my idea to have your uncle leave so early," he said after a pause.
"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 hesitated, looking at him, no idea how to respond to that one. She hadn’t expected that at all. She also hadn’t expected Gaius to therefore think the anger was directed at him… although she supposed it kind of was, in that case. “Oh?”
"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 not a trusting man," he continued. "Hence your uncle's tail and the constant locking of doors. Your uncle has connections, and I can't risk us ending up on opposite sides and him having the means to threaten me. I'm not saying he would. But sometimes fear is irrational, and I acknowledge that in myself."
"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 hesitated, then nodded, trying not to get defensive.
"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 just thought you ought to know, so you don't blame Zander." He kept walking, cane tapping along as he climbed the stairs.
"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 appreciate that,” she murmured. “He didn’t tell me.”
"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 guessed that." He paused on the fourth floor. "May we rest here for a moment?" he asked, leg throbbing.
"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
“Of course,” she said with a nod. She felt like she should follow up but didn’t have the first idea what to say.
"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 leaned against the wall with his cane clutched in his good hand, sighing as he took weight off his leg. "Keeps should be one story high," he said ruefully.
"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 grinned. “It is many stories… lots of rooms… pretty sure my whole house was smaller than my room here is.” She didn’t sound bitter though, just in awe.
"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 we ought to switch homes." Gaius gave her a wry smile. "This place is a nightmare in so many ways, size being one." He glanced around. "I suppose I understand the psychology of demonstrating power and wealth through enormous structures, and it functions well as defense, but I'd much rather have a little cottage. Anneke's aunt's house was wonderful for that reason. I never had to walk far."
"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
