"Thank you." Pratik dipped his head. There wasn't anything Rickard could do, of course. But Pratik did genuinely appreciate that he wanted to help. "You as well. I'm at your service."
"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. They reached the fifth floor, and Rickard headed toward the artifact room. "You know Lord Ash's soldiers won't let anything happen to Ada, right?"
"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 amount of soldiers can protect her from the gods," he said firmly. "She has to go."
"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 know that. She's going no matter what. But I'm saying--you don't have to follow her. Are you sure she wants you to?"
"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 furrowed his brow and looked at him sourly. "Why wouldn't she?"
"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]
"Well." He gave him a look. "She's an independent young woman of the Isi and very wary of men to begin with. She trusted you, at least a little, but your display today was not at all endearing in her eyes."
"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 set his jaw and looked away. He wasn't unreasonable for being concerned that someone he cared -- well he didn't care about her, obviously, but someone that he didn't necessarily mind -- almost died. What did they want him to do? Leave her to bleed out in her bedroom? Chuck her in a bed and then pretend like she didn't exist?
"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...I don't mean to step on your toes." He rubbed his wrist. "I have no doubt you saved her today. But she's not the sort to appreciate help from a man, no matter how well-meaning and respectful it might be. You've got to keep that in mind about her."
"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
Rickard was well-meaning. Hell, he was right, even.
That didn't make it easier to stomach.
Don't be an asshole.
"... you're right," he allowed, but didn't look back at him. Rickard didn't deserve to have to look at Pratik's glare, and he couldn't quite seem to find the motivation to put it away yet. He felt defensive, even though there was no good reason for him to be. Rickard was right. Full stop. So why was he being so pissy about it? This wasn't like him.
Nothing about tonight was like him.
"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 paused at the door to the artifact room, glancing at Pratik nervously. "Well. We're 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
Great. He was scaring Rickard. This was exactly what he'd been trying to avoid. He should have refused this stupid little aside. Gone to pace off his anxiety on his own. At least then he'd be able to feel his emotions. He didn't have that luxury when there was an audience. Especially not an audience that he actively didn't want to frighten. Especially not when his emotions were anger.
He needed to... get his head out of his ass. What was wrong with him? Stop. "... is it unlocked?"
"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 think so?" He tried the door, and it did not open. "...Or not. Sera usually opens it for me--I should have known it would be locked!"
"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're okay," Pratik said gently, forcing the tension out of his jaw and brow as he finally looked at Rickard. "It's not a big deal."
"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]
"Should we ask someone to open it for us?" He didn't look very enthusiastic about that prospect. "I just--I should have thought of 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
"It's not your fault." Pratik took a deep breath and let it out, forcing his shoulders to relax. He needed to be gentle with Rickard. This was not being gentle. "And it's not a big deal. It's not like we went out of our way to get up here -- just a few steps. No harm no foul."
"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]
