“I’m going to be taking sparring lessons.” Gods. She had to stop. He put her feet back on the ground, trying to force the fear out of her posture. But instead her body decided to wrap her arms around herself. “I…” she hesitated, flushing. What did she even want to gain from this? “… just wanted to say hi… since I’ll probably be here… and stuff.”
"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]
He nodded, glancing at the other soldiers. They said nothing. "Cool. Do you have a teacher yet or...?"
"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. “That’s why I’m here. I met Kazhra and General Xander… I’m going to meet Captain Bay next… but he’s in the prison…”
"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]
"Oh. Is that where Lord Ash went off to?" His brow furrowed. "Hm. Well, those are all great fighters, especially Kazhra. She's very tough, though."
"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 watched her fight Gis…” she hesitated, doubting herself. “She’s very impressive.”
"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]
"Gisli?" His eyebrows shot up. "He's really good, too. Do you think you'll pick her, or are the officers more to your taste?"
"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 don’t know,” Ky said. She was almost certainly not going to pick Kazrha, but that didn’t seem polite. “Who would you pick?” She hesitated, glancing at the door. “I won’t tell any of them. I’m just curious.”
"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]
He thought for a moment. "I don't know. I like a challenge, so maybe Kazhra. But General Xander has the most experience."
"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]
"I'm sure whoever you pick will be great," the soldier assured her. The door opened and Gaius entered with Bay. Gaius was pale and his forehead was shining with sweat, and it was obvious he was trying not to lean on Bay. Bay looked down at Ky. He was a tall, square-jawed man with a small bristle of a mustache and sensibly combed brown hair. His eyes were a bleak, emotionless black. "Come on, Ky," Gaius said quietly. "Let's talk."
"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 sprang up quickly, nodding and striding towards them.
"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]
"Have a good day," the young man said with a wave. Bay held the door open. "We can talk in one of the parlors," he said to Ky. "Good to meet you." He had no particular tone to his voice; he simply stated whatever it was he was saying.
"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
“You as well,” Ky answered, nodding to the soldier. She tried for a smile, but not even the trace of one made it to her face. She looked up at Bay, stopping herself just before she repeated herself. “A pleasure.”
She nodded to him and strode through, forcing herself to take a deep breath and square her shoulders. It was clear something had happened, and she didn’t want her anxiety to be an irritant to the already precarious atmosphere.
"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 into the Keep. Bay took the lead, walking ahead toward one of the parlors, while Gaius fell behind, completely silent except for his shallow breathing.
"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 looked ahead at Bay, then back at Gaius, feeling entirely helpless. Should she walk ahead and try to engage with this random man that she didn’t know anything at all about other than the fact he’d been torturing someone five minutes before? Or hang back and almost certainly piss Gaius off with her chattering? Or— or—?
She buried her hands in her pockets and ducked her head as she walked between them, wishing, yet again, that this wasn’t happening.
"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]
May you never steal, lie, or cheat. But if you must steal, then steal away my sorrows. And if you must lie, then lie with me all the nights of your life. And if you must cheat, then please, cheat death. — An Unknown Bride, Leap Year
