Emery dipped his head. "I've been where you were. It's okay; it's understandable that you're wary."
Bay glanced at him. "Are we going?"
"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.” Aleth set his jaw and shook his head. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Ky ducked her head and reluctantly forced herself to sit back down. “… thank you.”
"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 never said you did. Do you want to head down with your dignity or am I going to carry you?"
Emery nodded. "It's going to be fine. On my honor." He smiled reassuringly.
"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
Aleth gritted his teeth, considering it a moment. Fuck. He huffed and started down the first step. Better than adding insult to inevitable injury.
She forced a smile, but it was pained. Still. She forced herself to take a deep breath and push some of the tension out of her shoulders.
"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]
Emery sat back, still watching her as he opened his book. "If you need to talk, I'm 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
Aleth leaned against the wall as they got the landing, panting and trembling from the effort.
“… thank you,” she repeated, ducking her head. She was willing to talk. About anything. She’d talk if it kept Tadaaki out of the dungeon. She’d sing.
"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]
Emery nodded and glanced back at his book, then at Ky.
"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
Aleth was disgusted with himself. But he also was in no rush to recover. Gods only knew how bad this was going to be; the stench was already overpowering from here.
“… you’re sure he can’t get 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]
"There are people down there that have been there for decades," Emery assured her. "He's not going anywhere."
"Time to move," Bay said after two minutes, guiding him further down the stairs.
"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
“And… and you’re sure you-he-“ she glanced towards where Ash had disappeared, then back at Emery. “Isn’t going to change his mind? Or… or… that I’ll at least get the opportunity to give my side first? Before anyone hurts Tadaaki? We… we get a chance to explain ourselves?”
Aleth grudgingly followed, heart racing, though he kept his fear off his expression.
"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 knows what happened to you; he's not going to change his mind," he assured her. "He doesn't tolerate people like that."
They reached the bottom of the stairs. A few flickering torches lit the way as Bay led him down the narrow hall.
"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 let out the quietest of breaths and dipped her head. She was still terrified. But… maybe less so?
Aleth was trembling now despite himself, though he kept his expression as stoic as possible. Even though he was terrified.
"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]
They eventually came to a cell two across and away from an emaciated man with only one eye and dried blood down the front of his ragged trousers. The man was silent, but he watched them with his good eye. Bay opened the cell. "In you go."
"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
Wonderful. Looked like a lot of fun. Couldn’t wait.
He looked at Bay coldly. “I still haven’t heard my alleged crime.”
"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]
"You don't need to yet. Strip down, please; I need to check you for weapons."
"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
