Ky kept her expression neutral and flipped the page. The man seemed a psychopath — to say such horrible things so matter of fact. And yet she knew that was going to be nothing compared to what was to come.
"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]
4th Day of Spring, 368 Went hunting, gored a stag. Dogs didn't listen when I called them off the first time, ate part of it. Their keepers haven't been feeding them. Less dogs now, so no worries about a shortage of food. I had a word with the keepers and warned them there would be less keepers if they didn't keep my dogs in shape. Sent out a couple men to find a few girls from the village--I decided no brothel; the sun is still waking up and Lorry won't want his balls frozen off before we get there. He will be arriving from town in two days and then we can drink up and be merry Wish it was fuller in here, servants all hide like mice and even my own family won't play. Gaius and the rotten one were always good at moving about for me to find them. Couldn't help themselves They were fun; I keep meaning to have someone find them but keep getting distracted. Dinnertime; what's left of the stag is ready. Love, Michael
"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 flipped to the next page. That was… good? Maybe? It felt like she was a chapter away from the crisis. Only she didn’t know what it was or when it’d come. It was terrifying and invigorating all at once. She read on.
"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 next six pages were badly damaged and scribbled on; most of the words were unintelligible or tore through to the next page. The words that could be seen were "NO", over and over again, "ME," "US," and "THIS."
"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 grimaced. Did she even want to know what this was about? Her mind flicked to Tristan, then she shook it away. She didn’t even know when he was born much less conceived. Not to mention… well… answers were better than speculation. She kept reading.
(Sooo I just set my alarm for four hours from now @_@ I will likely fail on my quest for sleep but I’m going to be actively trying so I may or may not be back for more responses tonight lol)
"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 news; Lorry is staying! The girls are staying too; I'm not bored of them yet. Missed breakfast today but that's fine; I'm going hunting with Lorry and maybe we can eat on the road just like old times. Sent out a party to find Gaius to see if they can get him home soon. No idea where he is but definitely not in Venholm. That would be breaking the rules. Should have kept him here and let him be my jester. On second thought he would be a lousy jester; he can't smile at all and I would just get bored with his jokes. Maybe I could play the pig game with him again; he loved that. Father didn't but that was fine; I like it when he sees his favorite get knocked down a peg. Worth the beating. Maybe I'll talk to Lorry about doing it again. But it has to be interesting this time. Love, Michael
Last edited by Ljungtroll on Fri May 13, 2022 1:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"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
(Update: four hours of sleep was not enough tgif ig I’ve only slept like cumulatively 13.5 ish hours over the past three days)
Ky’s mind came to a screeching halt. ‘Favorite’? There was no chance in hell Gaius was the favorite son. Septimus would have protected him from Michael if he was. But maybe that’s why Michael was particularly mean for him over Tomhas — he had a false sense of envy in his father's perceived favor of Gaius over him. What an absolute idiot.
Is this what it’d be like to read Tarr’s journal? Just an idiot man child with a monkey brain incapable of anything but rape and other violence?
Ky had a sense of dread in what this ‘pig game’ he kept referencing meant. She wanted to understand. But she also wasn’t sure that she really wanted to know. It seemed like it was going to be outrageously cruel.
She glanced around to be sure no one was watching her, then flipped the page. She needed to read faster. She was on borrowed time.
"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]
(Also. Bruh. I’m using this RP/YWS in general as motivation to wake up, right? So I’m v groggy rn and not wearing my glasses but I checked my notifs and I swear to god the bottom friend online I thought read ‘Aleth’ and was alarmed until I realized what it actually said haha Aleth is not my friend nor does he know about the internet lol)
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"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]
Well the pig game went very well. Lorry was absolutely down for it as I knew he would be. Not much left of the girl unfortunately. Made sure the pig was even hungrier this time and in heat besides. Steward says I should send compensation to her family. Maybe I'll send them this fine fat hog. Not much use to me anyway; I hate pork and I'm no cannibal. Wish things had gone right last time I played this. Should have smeared some more slop on Gaius before I sent him in maybe. Anyway I didn't want him dead. Just his nose chewed off or something. Oh well. No use dwelling on the past. If the party finds him then maybe we can play again. He'll be slower this time with that crippled leg. Love, Michael
"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 stared in horror. He fed a girl to a hog? He tried to feed Gaius to one? Holy hell. She closed the book. Maybe she didn’t want to read this after all. She took a deep breath, bracing herself.
No. She wanted to know. That was the point of reading this — to get a glimpse into the mind of a psychopath. The one that broke her family.
She opened it again, skimming through entries quickly this time until she found one that looked interesting.
(Not sure if you have something later in the chronology haha)
"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]
(This is the year before he dies but Septimus made all the kids write journals from like age six and up)
3rd Day of Winter, 369
Heard there were some bandits terrorizing my slave routes and selling merchandise as their own. Taking my horse and going to deal with them properly. Nobody steals from the Ashes. I'll write later about how I punish them; I have a few ideas in mind. Simple is sometimes best, I was thinking of bringing out the rat cage again. It's been awhile. Then again Lorry took care of my problems last time with efficiency...maybe I'll talk to him and we'll tag team it. He's been a great presence here, and I look forward to the long night when we can sit up drinking and talking like we used to when we were younger. There's a strange melancholy to the winter this year. I don't like it; I keep my windows shut. I feel like I can't breathe with all this snow. I hope Gaius is somewhere starving and cold and thinking about how full my belly is tonight. Michael
"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 shuddered slightly at the mention of the rat cage and had to take a moment before she read on. She knew what that one was. Aleth had explained them in gruesome detail. Even showed her the cage. The rats. Showed her how she’d be locked inside with her neck held down by that chain and her hands with those, if she didn’t clean up her goddamn handwriting before the next time she had to answer the Governor.
It took her longer than it really should have to get it out of her head. To get him out of her head. Before she could read on again. Was this just going to be Aleth memory after Aleth memory? Gods.
When she did read on she couldn’t help but internally scoff at how pathetic Michael was. How desperate he was for attention from his baby brother, even now. She hoped this was an entry shortly before he died.
She turned the page.
"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 next handwriting was different from Michael's sharp, sprawling print. It was neat, looping cursive.
End of Journal
"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
Then immediately sobered, horrified with herself for being happy about that.
She stood up and moved back towards the shelf to return her contraband. Trying to shake what an absolute monster she was to delight in something as dark as this.
"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 Ash journals took up virtually the entire wall where Ky had found Michael's journal.
"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
