"Books record what has happened, not what will happen," Pratik said. "At least not with any degree of reliability."
"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..." He took a deep breath. "There have to be predictions."
"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 mean... yeah, I suppose, if you believe in that sort of thing." Pratik shrugged. "I think Ash and the librarians are trying to get that all sorted. I'm not sure. I don't read anywhere near fast enough to keep up."
"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
"He is," Pratik said with a nod. "And it is... if it's possible to figure out, they're making a noble effort at doing so."
"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 suppose the other territories will react differently to all 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
"Probably." Pratik nodded, glancing around to be sure they didn't have an audience still before lowering his voice. "I don't think his delight will be shared by other nobles."
"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's happy about it?" he asked incredulously. "Why?"
"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
"It seems like a game to him," Pratik said. "An intellectual pursuit. You should have seen him in here right after they saw it -- absolutely mad with passion, tearing through the books."
"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]
Rickard gave him a horrified look. "You're joking. Lord Ash? This is the same man we're talking about?"
"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 barely recognized him," Pratik said, shaking his head. "Went rabid for the night."
"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]
"Is he going to be like that all the time now? He seemed...solemn during the speech."
"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 no idea." Pratik shook his head. "I wasn't here long before I climbed in that cage. Don't know him much better than you do at this point."
"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 don't think anyone should be that delighted about an apocalypse," he said grimly.
"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
"Agreed," Pratik decided to risk. It's not like Rickard would have the courage to go tattling to Gaius. "I think... he's viewing it more as an academic pursuit, than a world-ending event."
"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]
