Ky shook her head. “I keep hearing about them but I haven’t met them yet.” She glanced around. “Are they here?”
"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]
"Probably." She got up and looked around. "Arril might not be but I'm sure Osa came in."
"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 reluctantly stood as well, glancing around the room that was still far, far too packed to suit her.
Tadaaki watched her from across the room to be sure she wasn’t about to bolt.
"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 watched as the last of the people tricked into the room. He glanced at the table, then stood. "Everyone, if I may have your attention, please?"
"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 pressed herself against the back wall and looked at him, ensuring she wouldn’t have to focus on people behind her so that she could listen to what he had to say. Was he going to be honest? Completely?
"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]
"Some of you may have heard talk about the cause of this earthquake, and talk about other things before that. You know a troll was sighted over the wall from the first time in hundreds of years." His voice, thin as it was, didn't carry very well through the hall and so he cleared his throat and spoke louder. "The Tale Masters and I have been conducting extensive research after the troll sighting coincided with a dream from the visiting Seer, whom some of you know. Ada received a dream from the gods." He glanced over at her; her head was down. "It seemed to imply their impending wake from their sleep." A murmur went up from the crowd.
"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]
Gaius held up his hand for silence. "Ada had another dream today, during the earthquake. It would seem there is no cause for concern yet, but I want you all to know what's going on. If you feel the need to migrate yourself and your family elsewhere, feel free to do so. I only ask that you come to me with two weeks' notice. You'll receive compensation for the rest of the year and then you may go on your way." Gaius glanced at Sara, then back at the crowd. "That being said, I believe that we can coexist with the gods as our ancestors did. Terms will have to be made somehow, but I believe it can be done."
"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
She definitely needed to get to Tomhas before Gaius convinced him to be stupid. She sourly buried her hands in her pockets and watched in silence.
"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 looked around. "That is all. Thank you, and please come to me or the Tale Masters if you have any questions." The moment he stopped talking he was immediately flooded with people crowding up on him, clamoring to talk.
"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
…so… she could leave now? She glanced around at the chaos. This was somehow even 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]
Ishai looked over at her, eyes wide. "I....so it's real? It's really happening?"
"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]
She looked away, staying seated as he eyes filled with tears. "Are we gonna die?'
"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
“Prob-“ Ky glanced at her and had a prick of conscience. It wasn’t fair to dump her cynicism on Ishai. It was clear the girl had nowhere near the same childhood that Ky did. Apparently her life wasn’t threatened on a regular basis. That seemed nice. “-ably not?”
"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]
