She nodded in agreement. “He… almost seems worse than Aleth… and… I don’t understand how that’s possible… perhaps since he grew up privileged…?” Ky shrugged uncomfortably, looking away. “…I just wish I could have helped them… I guess my… discipline…” She rubbed the fresh scars on her abdomen, still blushing. “Sort of… changed them from horny to stabby… but… that’s just temporary help. I couldn’t actually do anything for them.”
"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 Gaius will do something if he wins," he suggested. "He's always championed people like us, tried to rescue us when he could."
"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
Ky nodded. “It’s… very kind of him. Very confusing. But very kind.”
"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]
"What's confusing about it?" he asked, glancing at 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
“… I’ve never met a rich man who… cares.” She glanced at him and then away again. “Even the ones who don’t want slaves for themselves… won’t spend money to help them. It… it doesn’t seem like something a lord would do.”
"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
“No sir-sorry-“ she shook her head. The sir habit was always hardest to break. “Well… I know some of it. But. The picture doesn’t seem complete… and it seems like that would make him harsher than anything. Lash out.”
"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]
"It was really, really bad," he said grimly. "Like the worst things you can possibly imagine. I think it mostly made him just....angry at people that treated others poorly."
"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
Ky considered it for a moment then nodded. “That makes sense.”
If she had money, she’d use it to help other slaves. No doubt about 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]
"Mhm." He nodded. "Tomhas--his half brother--is the same way, except he's more....easy to talk to, I guess. More friendly."
"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
Ky glanced at him then dipped her head. Not a damn chance in hell she was going to say anything about Ash’s family. Not. A. Chance.
"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 you'd like him. I think he and the Barrasters are on their way to meet with Gaius; they should be here in the next week or so."
"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
Ky looked at him with wide eyes for a moment, blushing, then ducked her head. Gods. That’d be stressful.
She couldn’t decide if being exposed made it easier or harder.
On the one hand, she’d be an anxious mess around so many nobles if she still had to spy. On the other… now they all knew what she was… hopefully they appreciated the information; she hadn’t expected to ever meet them at all. But. Well.
On second thought, hopefully they didn’t know it came from her at all. Hopefully Ash just neglected to mention she existed. Left her stuffed in a corner somewhere until they left.
(Ky, wildly unhappy: *directly in the center of attention*)
"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]
"Is your friend okay?" Emery asked as they reached the fourth floor landing.
"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-“ she decided to just let that one lay and not apologize for it. “… he’s spooked. Apparently Lord Ash threatened me with bodily harm, although I was entirely unaware it was happening… and stressed him enough that he broke. So… very upset. But safe, as far as I can tell.”
"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]
