"I'd be delighted to introduce her to Valor," Emery said with a smile. "No worries!"
"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
“Yay!” Tasia jumped in the air pumping her fists, then pranced in place excitedly.
“What do you say?” Tadaaki prompted.
“Thank you Mr. Emehey!” Tasia threw herself forward for a hug.
"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]
Emery returned the hug in surprise, grinning. "My pleasure! Valor needs more friends anyway."
"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’m gonna be everyone’s friend,” Tasia announced.
"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 bet you will be!" Emery agreed, secretly doubting she'd ever manage to crack everyone in the Keep. There were some real sticks in the mud here.
"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
“Tasia!” Tadaaki scolded, frowning. “You’re not entitled to every lap in this Keep all the time. Be polite.”
“Ky said I’m entitled to her lap any time I want,” Tasia pouted, lifting her chin.
“Mr. Emery isn’t Ky, now is he?”
Tasia sighed dramatically and started towards Ky, then stopped and patted Emery’s knee. “You’re almost as good as Ky, don’t worry.”
"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]
"That's very sweet." Emery gave Ky a grin. Servants entered the room with lunch. It was, indeed, salmon marinated in honey and lemon. Ivar sighed appreciatively.
"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
Tasia finished her trek to Ky and — after many elbows to the side — finally settled into the crook of her arm. Tadaaki apologetically offered to take her, but Ky assured him it was fine, and they pushed her plate over as well as the servants began serving the fish to everyone.
"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]
"How are you?" Ivar asked Ky in stuttering Upper Tongue, picking up the slice of fish and taking all of it into his mouth.
"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
“Good, how are you?” Tasia piped up, looking at him as Ky worked to cut her a smaller piece of fish without bones.
"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]
"Good," Ivar replied. He'd figured out how to stop the cycle of "good, how are you's" very quickly. "Who is the child?" he asked Ky in Nortung, though he knew she wouldn't understand.
"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 watched Ky’s brow crinkle in confusion, and offered, “he wants to know who Tasia—“
“I’m Tasia!” Tasia said eagerly, scrambling upright on Ky’s lap and ignoring the way her feet dug into Ky’s legs. She leaned forward across the table, hovering precariously over a platter of food, to offer Ivar her hand.
"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]
Ivar glanced at Zander, then kissed her hand awkwardly. "Hello," he said in Upper Tongue, then to Zander, "She is very...energetic."
"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 collected Tasia more or less without casualties.
Zander laughed. “She’s very young.”
"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 is how my son was when he was her age," Ivar mused. "She would have liked him, I think."
"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
