He nodded. "One of the librarians saw me looking at some books several weeks ago and said I could take a few out with me if I returned them."
"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 sounds like you already got your permission.” He smiled.
"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 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
"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 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
Pratik shrugged. “Ask if you like, but I don’t think you have to. Just don’t go losing or ripping up books and you’re golden.”
"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 really shouldn't. He glanced at the shelves forlornly. "These don't belong to me."
"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
"You're not taking them," Pratik pointed out. "You're just using them with the intent to return. These don't belong to me." He pinched his tunic with his left hand and trousers in his right and popped them. "Doesn't mean I have to stay in my dresser to wear them. They're a loan. I'll return them when I'm done with them... same for the books. I've got a novel up in my room as we speak. It's not a burden to them."
"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 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
Pratik nodded slowly. "Okay... then ask... use it as a practice to ask for favors, since it's not really much of a favor at all... this will be good 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]
"But there are no librarians about!" He hesitated. "I suppose I can run down to ask."
"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
He was tempted to tell Rickard this was a prime opportunity to learn how to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Then decided Rickard may perish just from the very mention of a concept like that, and kept the comment to himself. "Or you could just say you asked me. I give you permission."
"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]
"Do you have the authority to do that?" he asked skeptically.
"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
"Of course." Pratik nodded solemnly. He absolutely did not have authority over the library -- but, well, he was certain that he was right on this. And he was willing to bet on that enough to be willing to explain himself to Gaius if worse came to worse.
"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 gave him a wary look. "If you say so. I'll only take one, though." He put one book back exactly where he found it. He took a few steps away from the shelf, looked down at the other book in his hands, and returned that sheepishly as well.
"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
