“We don’t know, sir,” Ky decided to offer, since she knew the mechanics. “He is very, very, very thorough. In everything. Ever. But he intentionally made sure I don’t know his system for this so I wouldn’t be able to defuse it if it did explode.”
"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]
"Then I'll gladly talk to him. Nobody knows he's here yet, right? The system can't take effect until word gets around."
"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’s true,” Ky agreed hesitantly. “Aside from…” she cringed and looked at him sheepishly. “Lord Tarr. We… didn’t hide our identities from him. Sir.”
"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]
"Lord Tarr knows, but he doesn't know anything has gone wrong yet. I trust you'll keep it that way."
"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
“Yes sir!” Ky nodded vigorously. Did he think-? “I-we-no chance.” She shook her head. “We want nothing to do with him, sir. Nothing at all.”
“Unnecessary,” Tadaaki grumbled under his breath by way of agreement as he rubbed his collarbone, still sore even after all this time, since the man child had decided to fracture it for no reason whatsoever.
“…respectfully, of course,” Ky added, glancing back at Ash sheepishly. Best not to insult another noble in front of him. Even if said noble deserved it. And, well, Ash wouldn’t be in a war with Tarr if he liked him. 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]
"I'm glad to hear it." He dipped his head. "I ask that you keep this as quiet as possible; your true identities are on a need to know basis until Aleth tells me everything, understand?"
"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
“Yessir.” They both bobbed their heads obediently.
Aleth wouldn’t be talking, though. He was entirely too proud for that. And paranoid. He’d be taking his secrets to the grave.
They just hoped Aleth wouldn’t be taking them to his grave with 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]
"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’s not a merchant,” Ky said. “He’s a diplomat for hire, as he calls himself. Travels all over drafting up contracts or putting people in contact with each other when it’s necessary. Like… gets an assassin when a rich person has a grudge. Or… well, anything, really. He’ll do anything for money.”
"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 many people is he connected to, approximately?"
"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
“Hundreds.” Ky shook her head, trying to think of a better estimate. “He’s got connections all across the East and South. The bit about us traveling a lot was true… though he does have a house in Totallisa. So… lied about that. Sorry. Sir.”
"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]
Gaius shook his head. "That does help. Where in Totallisa is his house?"
"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
“Lutalya,” she said. “It’s massive—well… compared to here it’s tiny,” she said sheepishly. “But. Well. A… a decent sized house compared to most others. Um… ohhhh.” She looked at Tadaaki. “She’s still—“
Tadaaki grimaced and nodded.
“… he left Yeona back to watch his estate when we came up here, sir,” Ky said, looking back at Ash. Would he help her? Or did they have to figure out a way to get her up here first so that he’d help her? They couldn’t just abandon her.
(Not me, lowkey contemplating dragging her into this even tho I have exactly 0 idea about anything about her haha)
"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]
(Omg that would be awesome! I've been wondering if she would come into the other one)
"Who is Yeona?" Gaius asked. It sounded like his contacts would be quite busy down South.
"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 highkey forget she exists most of the time lol rip Yeona)
“His other servant… slave,” she corrected. “He called Tadaaki and Yeona his servants and me his assistant, but… we… weren’t free to go. 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]
