“Yes?” She really didn’t know what the right answer here was. But if he wanted honesty… “I… wasn’t grading 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]
"Fair enough." Gaius nodded. "I was curious; I have to admit teenagers are not my area of expertise."
"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 blinked at him, perplexed by the topic they’d somehow ended up on. “I… mean…” She shrugged. What an odd thing to say. “I’m just a person.”
"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]
"Of course." He paused. "But do you find it easy to talk to me? I don't find you easy to talk 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
She furrowed her brow at him. Was he calling her difficult? Was he trying to upset her, to see if she’d be honest about it? “What’s wrong with talking to me? Am I really that annoying?” She caught herself. What was she saying? “I mean. Nevermind. Sorry. I… sorry.”
"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]
"No." He shook his head. "Not at all. You're just not a category I'm accustomed to interacting with. Does that make sense?"
"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 nodded skeptically. Was this his attempt at denying he’d just called her annoying?
"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'd pissed her off, of course. He'd basically insulted her. "What I'm trying to say is," he said slowly, tensely, "is that I'm uncertain of myself. I don't have much of a foothold and I'm trying to gauge my success. Does that make sense?"
"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, yes,” Ky agreed with a nod. She supposed she treated adults different than she did children. Although teenagers were just young adults. It’s not like they were in a different category altogether. “I… mean…” She shrugged. Was he asking for tips? She was still so perplexed.
"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 sighed, unsure of what else to say. "So I've done alright, then?"
"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
“Yes.” She nodded, resisting the urge to add until he’d started asking. He didn’t need criticism. As awkward as this was, she could appreciate he was making an effort. “… thank you. I appreciate it.”
"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 dipped his head. "Do let me know if I misstep in any 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 will.” She wouldn’t. And they both knew it. But she supposed it was polite for him to offer and it was polite for her to accept. And. Well. Maybe this was her chance to get clarification. “I…am also open to suggestions on how to interact with 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]
Gaius dipped his head. "I will keep that in mind." Good; that had gone well. He expected she was still too afraid of him to give him any advice at all, and he was too wary of her ire to suggest anything in return. Even so, it was good to say it.
"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 nodded. Something told her he wasn’t going to be any more helpful to her than she planned on being for him. He seemed intent on insisting that she figure out how to act, and then getting angry no matter which option she chose.
"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]
