Ada glanced over at Ky, deciding she didn't need to reply to that. She simply dipped her head again.
"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 nodded back to her, then followed her gaze towards Ky. But Ky wasn’t looking at anyone. She missed the days of thinking she deserved the world. How naive. Of her. And of Papa and Zander for filling her head up with it.
“Especially you.”
Ky shook herself, looking up as Zander clearly addressed her.
He waited until she was looking at him so he wouldn’t startle her, but now gently put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. He didn’t know what Aleth had done to do thoroughly shatter Ky’s self esteem. But he had a lifetime to piece it back together, and he wouldn’t stop trying until he succeeded or died.
She offered a weak smile, but leaned into him, so he wrapped his arm around her as they walked. “Love you.”
He smiled a bit. “Love you.”
"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]
Ada turned her gaze away to give them privacy, falling back a little bit so she was nearer to Emery. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, smiling awkwardly. She gave him a little nod.
"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 glanced back, guilty. But she didn’t know what to say. And there was some weird compulsion deep in her gut to stay in Zander’s arms. She couldn’t quite find the motivation to figure out what she’d done wrong. Was Ada upset?
"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]
Ada kept her head up and eyes ahead, showing no signs of any bitterness.
"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
“So, uh… plans for the rest of the day?” Zander said after a moment when he realized neither of the girls was going to keep the conversation going.
Ky shook her head, so he looked back at Ada.
"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]
Ada sighed. "Nothing much planned. There's not a lot to do. Maybe I'll go meet Kazhra, one of the soldiers."
"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
“Oh?” Zander asked curiously. “That sounds like a Southern name?”
"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 was one of the trainers Ky interviewed," she replied. "She sounds like a kindred spirit; I'd like to meet her."
"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
“Oh?” Zander asked curiously, he looked at Ky. “For swordsmanship?”
Ky nodded, shrinking slightly. How did they keep coming back here? She didn’t want Zander to judge her, too.
“How’d you like her?” Zander asked.
“She was great,” Ky murmured, dipping her head. “I’ve got a lot of good options.”
Zander looked at her skeptically, not sure if she was shy or lying or both.
"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]
Ada also wasn't sure. That was some weird in between that slid all over Ky but didn't quite blur her out. "She sounds like she has a lot of skill," she offered.
"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 nodded. “That’s great! I’d like to meet her, too, then. Would love to meet your new teacher if you decide before I leave.”
“I won’t.”
"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 you don't pick her then I might see if she'll teach me," Ada mused. "Do you think she would?"
"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
“Probably,” Ky said warily, glancing back at her. “… I guess I could introduce you, to see if you like each other.”
Ky had a sneaking suspicion that they would. They had a similar sort of harsh, arrogant energy. Birds of a feather.
"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
