(I can't watch it right now but I'll watch it soon!)
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. You're an Easterner, aren't you?"
"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
(No worries! It’s just midwesterners being midwesterners xD commenting on a tornado and nonchalantly standing on their porch filming it coming directly at them while I gradually realize I’m holding my phone literally as far away from myself as possible with second-hand anxiety since they seem to be lacking it lol)
“Depends on my mood,” he said dryly. “But I suppose 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]
(Aw damn thems big! Not gonna lie it looked hella cool but no way would I be standing out there)
"Can't you think of anything good about it?"
"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
“Mm.” Pratik thought for a moment. “… honestly, I remember very little of my childhood. Which I count a great fortune, assuming the rest of it was like the bits that I do remember. It doesn’t hold a fond place in my heart.”
"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]
"Ah." Rickard looked down. "I'm very sorry to hear that."
"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 is what it is.” Pratik shrugged, glancing over at him, then back down the hall. “I shouldn’t complain; I’m sure you had it worse than me.”
"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 was silent for a moment. "I suppose. You were free, at least, but I can't help but feel I was....safer?"
"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 glanced at him, then back down the hall, considering.
“I mean… it’s not safe being a slave, either… though I suppose a bit more predictable?” Pratik scratched his chin. “When I was with Sir—“ he scoffed and shook his head. “Don’t even know that fucker’s name… probably good for him I don’t… but I knew what was going to set him off. Knew what he was going to come after me with once I did… but…” He shrugged. “I prefer running to just taking it. Makes me feel like I have a say in the matter. Even if it’s artificial.”
"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]
"Running makes life unpredictable," Rickard pointed out. "And if you're caught then it's...." He shivered and rubbed his wrist. "It's worse than if you'd stayed put."
"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
“Depends on what you did before you started running,” Pratik countered, gaze flicking to his wrist for half a moment. He’d tried, then. Interesting. But none of Pratik’s business, if Rickard didn’t offer it himself. “I’d earned myself a quick drop and a short stop if I’d stayed… you can’t just stay put after you kill a soldier.” Pratik shrugged. “Especially if you’re not sorry.”
"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]
"Why would you do that?" Rickard asked. "If you were already in a risky position?'
"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 raping a little girl,” Pratik said stiffly. “I was… what was I? I think I was twelve? And she looked younger than me. Screaming. Crying. Begging. And he just…” he set his jaw as his mind’s eye replayed the incident, as it had so, so, so many times in the past. “He was probably forty. Easily twice my size. I knew if I confronted him he’d just thrash me and continue…” he huffed and shook his head. “The guilt ate me up for years after. But he got what he deserved. I’m not sorry… the only thing I regret is not being able to help her. I just… I panicked. Took off… hope she’s okay. Wish I would have made sure of it before I bolted.”
"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 listened to this in silence, growing more tense the longer Pratik spoke until he had his arms tightly wrapped around himself. "Oh."
"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 glanced at him. “…sorry. I… spoke before I thought. I didn’t mean to burden you with that. My apologies.”
"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 shook himself, letting out a breath. "I asked," he pointed out quietly. "I wish there were more people like you in the world."
"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
