“Heh.” Pratik smirked mirthlessly and shook his head. “There are too many of us already. The world needs peace… I’m just angry and take it out on the monsters who hurt people. It’d be better if none of us existed.”
"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 again, though he gave a little shrug.
"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. “…if you give me names…”
Going after slave owners might just be the thing he needed to get his mind off how anxious he was about everything going on in the world just then. He doubted Rickard would accept. But. Well. The offer was genuine.
"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]
His eyes widened and he took a step to the side, shaking his head rapidly. "No. No, I couldn't do that. I shouldn't."
"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
“Okay,” Pratik said soothingly, putting his hands up placatingly. “You don’t have to. I didn’t expect you would. But. Well. The offer stands if you ever change your mind. You wouldn’t be doing anything… just… letting me know who I should go make friends with. I wouldn’t even need to tell you when I introduced myself to them… but it’s fully your decision. No pressure either way.”
"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'm never doing that," Rickard said firmly, fear and anger in his eyes. "It would only make things worse, and if it was traced back 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
“It wouldn’t be,” Pratik assured him. “Aren Presha was born because Pratik Chrenko is a name known by men who know they’re doing wrong. Most of the slave owners I take out are… heh… pro bono. You’d never cross anyone’s mind… but I respect that everyone’s healing looks different. And if it would distress you if I took your revenge, then I won’t. Promise.”
At least. Not unless one of his previous owners happened to one of the bastards he killed in the future by chance. He wouldn’t go hunting anyway. He could promise that much.
"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]
"Thank you." He kept walking, but his relaxation was lost.
"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 winced. He was not doing well with this conversation.
"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
"So, uh..." Pratik cleared his throat, following him 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]
Rickard glanced at him. "Have you been off continent before?" he asked reluctantly.
"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." Pratik inclined his head, grateful that Rickard offered a topic of conversation. Because he hadn't had shit. "How about 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]
He nodded. "A couple times. I didn't get to see much."
"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
"Understandable." Pratik nodded. "Have you moved around a lot, then?"
"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]
