"Some people have no money to begin with," Gaius pointed out. They were getting dangerously close to a debate, which could easily turn into an argument. "They may have no assets--no farm, no skill. Or they may have some form of disability that prevents them from working. They can't do anything but beg and hope fortune comes their way."
"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 guess so,” Ky agreed hesitantly, not at all enjoying the fact that there was truth to what he was saying. Perhaps she was irreparably jaded now. She’d grown so unsympathetic; Papa would probably be ashamed at how cold she was towards the people who needed help most of all.
"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]
"My father had little patience for beggars and the poor in general," Gaius mused after a pause. "I suppose I'm biased now, having lived as a poor man for a few years."
"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 cringed at that. Was she more like Gaius’s father than her own? Gods. But she nodded. It was probably best that Gaius and Tomhas weren't like Septimus and… she… was.
"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 saw her movement out of the corner of his eye, and his brow furrowed. "I wasn't comparing you to him by any means," he said immediately and firmly. "That was strictly self-reflection." Gods, Ky wasn't anything like his father, thank the gods. Ky might not approve of beggars, but she wouldn't have them whipped for coming to the gates.
"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
“No, I know.” Ky said quickly and shook her head, mentally kicking herself for letting it show on her face. She knew he wasn’t making that comparison; she’d made the connection all on her own. “I… am, too.” Reflecting on how harsh she was, now that she thought of it. “I don’t know how my father felt about beggars; we didn’t have them in my township… I guess since there was no one to beg from. We all just sort of helped whoever needed help… it just feels…” Gross. “I don’t know. I suppose I’m too proud for my own good.”
"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]
"Mm." Gaius believed that. One could have rock-bottom self-esteem and still be proud as anything. "You'll make an excellent noble, then. But I expect being around your parents will help curb that. They're the humblest nobles I know."
"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
She wasn’t sure they could undo her fierce independence. But perhaps.
"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 dipped his head and was silent again. It wasn't a terrible thing to have a little pride, so long as it didn't get away from you. It was wont to do so, 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
Ky was silent for a moment also. Whether she should or shouldn’t be, she was proud. “…you’re sure I’m not being inappropriate?”
"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 paused. "You can't be expected to put on a brave face every hour of every day," he said carefully. "But if I were you I would shed my tears in private to avoid distressing myself later. It's easier not to cry in public if you've already cried alone, yes?" He hoped that didn't come off too harsh, but he knew she didn't want to be sobbing in the middle of breakfast any more than he wanted to see her sobbing in the middle of breakfast.
"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. That. She’d meant in terms of begging for charity.
But gods, she had caused a ruckus at breakfast, hadn’t she? And it’d annoyed him. She figured it would. She nodded, resisting the urge to apologize again. He’d be upset that she couldn’t handle critique without begging forgiveness. “That’s true.”
"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 nodded slightly and kept walking. They were nearing the Grove now; he might stop in a moment to catch his breath. Had he offended her again? He glanced back at her, trying to gauge her expression.
"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
She saw what he was doing and flashed a smile, determined not to let him see her guilt. She needed to get better at accepting criticism. Especially when it was deserved, as this was.
"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 had, then. "I apologize if that came out as unfeeling," he said after a pause. "It wasn't meant to be."
"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
