"I hope it doesn't go the latter way. What are the Loquiturs like, do you know?"
"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've never met them," Pratik said, shaking his head. "Tadaaki's told me a bit, though -- I was wondering the same. Apparently, they're Ash's polar opposite. Energetic and talkative and enthusiastic."
"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]
"Really?" His eyebrows shot up. "But Lord Loquitur came from the same household, did he not? He's Lord Ash's brother?"
"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
"Half, but raised the same." Pratik inclined his head. "Which is fascinating to me, given how different they seem to be from each other, and how different they definitely are from the way their brother was. Guess it's a case of nature over nurture."
"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]
"Perhaps so. I guess ways of coping vary as well, don't they? I'd certainly like to meet Lord Loquitur someday."
"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
"As would I," Pratik agreed. "He seems like a good man... and smarter than I, apparently, given how he actually noticed Ky's situation and helped her. And Tadaaki. I respect him for that."
"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]
"How did that come about?" Rickard asked curiously. "And how did it go from savior to father?"
"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... heh..." Pratik glanced around, not sure if he was supposed to be talking about this. But. Well. It was common knowledge now, he was pretty sure. Zander had given him a pretty thorough rundown anyhow, and Emery hadn't stopped him. "Apparently, he hired Aleth to come up this way and do a bit of spying. All three of them were supposed to come here, as I understand it. I'm not sure how the rest of it happened. He must have figured out they were slaves and gotten them away from Aleth somehow... guess Loquitur got attached to Ky after that? Dunno."
"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's very sweet," he said with a small smile. "Ky and Tadaaki are very lucky to have met him, then."
"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
"Incredibly," Pratik agreed, inclining his head. "... I do wonder what would have happened if the original plan had gone through, though. Those would have been some bizarre dynamics -- having all three of them pretending to be escaped slaves, even though the two of them were with their master. I can't fathom that would have worked well... nor ended well."
"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 war would almost certainly still be going." Rickard shuddered. "I imagine Lord Ash would have understood Tadaaki and Ky's plight, but..."
"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
"Yeah." Pratik cringed. "Honestly, I have no idea what would have happened to them. Ash can see straight through bullshit -- Ky would have cracked in under a week, guarantee it, given how anxious around him she is now, as a niece -- nevermind if she'd met him as a spy. But... dunno what he would have done about that. You think he'd have held her personally responsible?"
"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]
"Probably not. He seems to have a lot of sympathy for slaves; he'd likely see to it Ky and Tadaaki were taken care of and punish Aleth for all three of them."
"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
"Probably," Pratik agreed with a nod. "... those would make for some weird dynamics, though. Like. Would he have given them quarter here, despite it all? Or turn them out for fear of them still attempting to spy?"
"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]
"Maybe quarter? I mean, there's no real way to get out of the Keep without someone noticing. He wouldn't need to worry about them escaping or relaying information, 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
