"I've been everywhere." He glanced away. "I told you I've only been sold a few times, but in between I was in a lot of caravans. Someone like me isn't in very high demand, so sometimes it took months to find another master."
"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 cringed at that but kept his gaze up the stairs rather than gawking at Rickard. "Is that how you gained your remarkable language skills?"
"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. "Talking with other slaves, mostly, but I listened to the people the slavers spoke to as well and picked up a few things."
"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
"You picked up a lot of things, as far as I'm concerned," Pratik said with a little smile. "I admire you for it. It's not easy to be fluent in so many different ones. Especially when you don't have a tutor to help you along."
"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've been traveling since I was a toddler," he said with a shrug. "I'm sure anyone could do it, maybe better than I do."
"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 disagree," Pratik said thoughtfully. "I think we've all got something we're gifted with, and it seems languages is yours... although I suppose you would know better than I if you've got another hidden talent that's even stronger."
"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]
"None whatsoever." He smiled awkwardly. "I just speak a lot of languages. Although I suppose I'm quite good at sitting quietly and not being seen."
"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
"Hey, that's a skill in and of itself!" Pratik said with a grin. "It's one that's taken me a while to hone and I'm still not even good at it. I like to run my mouth too much -- gets me in more trouble than I'd like to admit."
"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 definitely won't serve you well," he chuckled. "Especially among nobles."
"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
"These nobles," Pratik countered, but laughed as well. "Most find me charming, if I do say so myself. That's my skill -- making people like me. Can get you into a lotta places and let you hear a lotta things."
"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]
"Oh, I'm sure. But there are other ways to do that, are there not?"
"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, no doubt," Pratik agreed with a nod. "Tarr's a fucking idiot and said all sorts of things in front of me, when I gave him zero percent charm. It's definitely a matter of playing your cards right and figuring out a disguise that mixes being endearing with being smart... and my dashing good looks don't hurt anything either, if I do say so myself." He said playfully, holding a hand up to his jaw to accentuate it.
"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 snorted. "You certainly don't sell yourself short, do 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
Pratik laughed, running a hand through his hair and giving a shit-eating grin. "Hey, someone's gotta say it."
"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 wish I had your confidence." He kept walking as they reached the stairs to the third floor. "You're in surprisingly good spirits considering what Lord Ash just announced."
"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
