"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
Ky smiled and dipped her head. She thought about perhaps thinking through specific strengths she could mention -- then remembered that it highly offended Gaius to be complimented. And they all, her entire family, collectively, got mad at her for complimenting them since they thought she was just lying and flattering them. So she decided not to push her luck and just leave it generic before she made Sara mad.
"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]
"You're quite good with kids yourself," Sara said after a moment. "You're very patient! And I appreciate you playing with Mattathias and Marcella a few days ago; they were dying for a playmate."
"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
"Oh!" Ky blinked, startled that Sara had somehow turned the compliment back on her. She smiled a bit. She couldn't even remember having done that -- when? "Thank you. You have great kids, they're fun to play with. It was--" That. It was that. Oh. She cleared her throat, smile faltering. "... cute."
"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]
"They can be a handful. I hope they weren't too disruptive."
"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
"That..." Ky shook her head, trying to think of how to give a genuine answer. She was already sick of this game she'd agreed to. She didn't want to talk about it. And yet there were very few outs without lying. "...was a bad day on all fronts, but it wasn't their fault. They're just kids being kids."
"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 was unrelated, as far as I'm concerned," Sara replied. "And you were only curious. I was, too, when I first came here."
"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 was..." Ky shook her head, looking away. "Awful. I shouldn't have done it... and I'm sorry I did... that was..." She kept shaking her head and sighed.
"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 understand why you did, though. I asked if I could read them when we were married a few months, and he said no, naturally. Eventually he said yes, but that was years into the marriage."
"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 she had. Because Sara was a decent person -- and that's what decent people did: cared about others' feelings. Unlike the sneaky rat that Ky was, slinking around behind peoples' backs, sticking her nose in things that they all knew she had no business in.
"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 understand why you didn't ask him, though. I think. He's hard to ask things, and you already seem afraid to put yourself out there by requesting favors."
"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 at her, then back at the cup. What was she supposed to say to that? She swallowed hard. Her gut reaction was to argue. To throw herself to the wolves and outline each and every reason why she was a miserable rat undeserving of forgiveness.
And yet this was so enticing. This empathy. This understanding.
She was tempted to let herself accept it.
But would that be shifting the blame off herself? She didn't want to do that. Didn't want to make excuses she didn't deserve.
But.
But.
She let out a little breath.
"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
Ky looked at her with a pained expression. How was she supposed to answer that? How? They both knew the answer was no. At baseline, it was no. It had been for years now.
They both knew she wasn't allowed to censor herself now.
And she, for one, didn't know what option that left her with. What answer she could give that would both be truthful and least vulnerable? Was that even possible?
"I don't like this game." Ky huffed and looked 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]
