“Dunno,” Pratik said with a shrug. They were nearing the fourth floor landing now, just out of sight. “Guess there’s no harm in checking the library. It’d be good to get his take on 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]
"It feels important. And he wanted to know about my dreams."
"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 glanced up at Gaius, uncomfortable at eavesdropping about him… with him.
"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 was indifferent, focusing on walking and listening. He was curious about her dream now, and the fact that she was talking about it now of all times.
"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
If he wasn't, then Ada was either going to have to wait to tell him or wake him up herself. There was a limit to his chivalry. And, apparently, he drew the line at Gaius's bedroom.
"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]
(Sure. Ky and Gaius are moving really slow though)
"Let's hope so." She glanced at him. "Sorry if I woke you up."
"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
(Yeah, that's why I'm trying to figure out when they'll run into each other haha -- I'mma make it happen now but can edit if you had something else in mind!)
"This is more interesting than sleep." Pratik shrugged. He stopped mid-step as they rounded the corner and saw Gaius... and Ky... with her arm wrapped around him? That's not at all what he'd expected to see... ever. Gaius didn't seem the type for physical contact -- and even less the type to accept help from anyone, much less half-grown girls. And Ky seemed even more scared of Gaius than she was Pratik, somehow. So nothing about any of this made any sense at all. But he was just glad that he hadn't said anything stupid. He had no doubt the two of them had heard him and Ada talking. It was good he hadn't brushed Ada off or encouraged her not to tell Ash. Not that he would have done that. But, well, it always felt like you'd only just saved yourself when you found out that the person you were talking about could hear you all along. Speaking of. "Ah! We were just looking for 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 turned as he heard Pratik's voice. "I admit we could hear some of what you said from the stairs," he replied in Akarataran. "Ada, you had a dream?" She nodded. "It was different this time."
"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 have started a Facebook war and am getting my blood pressure elevated lol)
Ky watched curiously, arm still wrapped around Gaius for support. It felt more awkward now. But she really wasn't sure what to do about that. Who cared about dreams, when there was a troll a few short miles away?
Pratik tried to bury his hands in his pockets, only to remember that he was also in his night clothes which did not, in fact, have pockets. So instead he clasped his hands behind his back. Ada didn't need him to speak for her.
"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]
"Tell me." Ada recounted the dream. Gaius's brow furrowed; that was...concerning. "Describe the animals to me," he said. "There was an owl on one," Ada replied. "A doe on another. A wolf, a fish. A dog with no ears or legs--" "A seal," Gaius supplied, heart sinking. "Was there a goat as well? A raven and crow, among others?" She nodded. "That means something to you?" "I'm afraid it does." He glanced at Ky. "We'd best get to the library; I'm not explaining all this in the middle of the stairs."
"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
(haha idk where you fall politically/religiously and you absolutely don't have to tell me, but I just had someone tell me that it's okay for a 12-year-old girl to have to carry an unwanted pregnancy because 'adult choices have adult consequences' -- and I am hot)
The bottom dropped out of Ky's stomach. What could this possibly mean? Why was he being so grim? How did he guess? Did this mean that there was something worse than the troll coming for them? Tears pricked her eyes but didn't fall, and she quickly turned her head away with a nod, shifting him in her arm and taking a step down the stairs.
Pratik felt uneasy by the development of the conversation, too. He didn't like Gaius's reaction. But gods, he felt bad for Ky. How did she always get dragged directly into the middle of things that she clearly didn't want to be a part of? Should he offer to take Gaius from her so she could go?
He figured both he and Gaius would hate that. But, well... He decided to keep his mouth shut and follow them. She was a part of this now, whether she wanted to be or not. A co-conspirator of sorts. She already knew enough to distress her, whether she stayed or not. May as well let her see it through.
"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 is utterly utterly bullshit Sometimes 12 year old girls do not make that choice Jesus)
"Ky, why don't you tell them what we just saw?" Gaius said with a small grunt as he limped down, still leaning against her.
"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
(Right? And even if they do -- like, what the fuck kind of logic is that? We now gonna let children work full time? drive cars? get married? Like holy fuck, no. children do not comprehend the severity of their actions -- assuming it was even 'consensual' in the first place -- and they absolutely do not deserve adult consequences)
Ky looked up at him, then glanced back at Ada. Was she allowed to tell her that? The number of people joining this bizarre little club of theirs was growing. Which seemed dangerous. She looked back at Gaius. "... all of 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]
"Go ahead. Everybody outside will have found out by now, and somebody will be looking to tell me as soon as possible. Rönn seems to be the least of anybody troubles now."
(This is why I stay the hell away from social media)
"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
(Yeah... probably should. But I unfortunately can't keep my mouth shut xD I absolutely call out shitty opinions when I see them)
"There was a troll," Ky said, looking back at Pratik and Ada and trying to gauge their reactions.
A... troll. Pratik raised his eyebrow. Was this all some feverish dream? Or was Ky, as his previous theory considered, truly causing crazy shit to happen? What even was all of this?
"There was," she insisted, seeing his skepticism.
"I believe you," he said honestly, deciding to suspend his skepticism for the time being. Ky clearly believed what she was saying. And Gaius did, too. "Tell me."
"It was huge," she said. Gods, this was an awkward angle, trying to talk to the people behind her while carrying Gaius."I was outside talking to Rönn and he told me to go inside because there was a big troll coming. And he was right! The trees only came up to its chest and he was pushing them out of the way and he came up and stared at us and then stomped away."
"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]
