"That's a very long way from here," she mused. "When were you enslaved?"
"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
“Four years ago, ma’am,” Ky answered, voice quiet. She didn’t like thinking of herself as a slave even though they all knew she was. Well. Not everyone. She told everyone else she was an assistant. That’s what she liked to think of herself as. An assistant — not a slave.
"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]
She nodded slowly, finishing the bindings on Ky's chest. "Can you make a 90⁰ angle with your arm for me so I can splint 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
Ky wasn't sure if she was supposed to know what that was or not, so she decided to feint ignorance and very hesitantly crooked her arm and held it out to the woman questioningly.
"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
Aleth glanced at the screen. He'd been listening intently. Thankfully the little idiot hadn't fucked up. Yet. It was annoying she'd admitted to the whole gambit of her gender identity but, he supposed, it was just as well if everyone was going to know her sex anyhow. Not to mention she was representing him, but no one else knew that. For now. So what would it hurt if they knew she was a girl? Hell, that might be even better for him. Maybe then they'd underestimate her. Look at her infuriatingly innocent babyface and be taken in like a sucker.
Tadaaki's bed was between Aleth's and Ky's and he was sitting very, very still to be sure Aleth's attention stayed on the screen rather than on him. But he was also listening closely to make sure that they weren't hurting Ky. Not that he could do anything about it if they were.
"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]
She set a splint against Ky's arm along with a poultice, then began to wrap it gently. "How did this bit happen?" she asked.
"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 inhaled sharply, grinding her teeth until the initial stab of pain abated enough for her to be able to speak. She swallowed hard. "It... all happened very... fast. H-he was trying t-to get me back i-in the cage. I--" She started to gesture, then realized she was pulling her arm away from the woman and stopped. "Sorry... I..." She settled for miming with her right arm instead and held it up defensively in front of her face. "This... so he couldn't..." She gestured vaguely at her ribs. "This."
"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 understand." She wrapped the splint and poultice up. "Anywhere else I missed?"
"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
"Just..." Ky looked down at her fingers which were just as red and frozen and painful as her toes, yet undamaged. "But... they're still here... so...it's okay."
"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 going to wrap them anyway, alright? Then I'm going to have you lie down and stay in those blankets until the soup arrives."
"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'm." Ky nodded obediently. At least the blankets -- still heavy and restrictive -- didn't feel as terrible as they had. Warming up seemed to be going through waves -- from sheer, unbridled pain, to whatever this was supposed to be. Now she mostly just felt very, very cold -- but not quite as numb as she had been. She must be thawing out.
This woman was clearly very knowledgeable, whoever she was. Ky decided she liked her. She couldn't trust her, obviously. Never that. Guard at high alert at all times. But. Her energy was calming. Ky admired her for 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]
Sera set about wrapping Ky's hands. "I'm Sera Miller, by the way. I'm the apothecary 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
"It's nice to meet you," Ky murmured, watching both of their hands. "...thank you for helping me."
"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]
She dipped her head. "Any unfortunate that comes to Lord Ash's door will have sanctuary here. It's a shame you were in this situation to begin with."
"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
