"Yessir." She nodded quickly. "Thank you. This has been incredible to see already."
"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 you like it!" He grinned. "Let's leave it for now; you can always come back."
"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 smiled and ducked her head then obediently started for the door.
"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 followed after her. "What sorts of stories do you like?"
"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
"All types," she said, holding the door for him. She thought for a moment. "I suppose I particularly like stories about heroes going up against fantastic beasts... especially when the hero is a girl-- not that it matters!" she added quickly, suddenly remembering she had no idea the level of misogyny that his man may or may not have. Just because her binder was off didn't mean she got to be a feminist. Never that. "It--I didn't mean -- just, you know, it's nice to, uh, see, uh, diversity. That's all. I like all sorts of heroes."
"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 completely agree." Emery nodded fervently. "I always enjoy stories that aren't all about big, muscly straight white men. Though I do enjoy looking at the pictures, if you know what I mean." He chuckled. "No, but seriously. We've got lots of diverse stories here from all over the world; we'll find something that you'll like without a doubt!"
"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 smiled a little, glancing at him. Was he queer? That was nice. Aleth aside, gay men tended to behave better than straight white men in her experience. Or. Well. At the very least knew what discrimination felt like and were more aware of themselves and their behavior. Usually.
She dipped her head, glancing back inside the door before she let it close. "It seems you've got every book in the world in there."
"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 would wager we do, though I bet Gaius would say otherwise. He knows just about everything about everything, I think. A smart fellow if there ever was one!"
"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 and hesitated for a moment then dipped her head. That's what she'd heard before -- how smart he was. Which made her uneasy. She was not at all looking forward to the one-on-one grilling that was coming her way sooner or later -- and probably sooner.
She supposed she'd done most of the talking in the infirmary anyhow -- Aleth decided to abandon her entirely until he was directly addressed. But. Well. At least then they could all hear and agree to the same story. Now she had to remember every single detail perfectly so that when he checked it against the others' stories they'd line up.
And she had to do so in a way that seemed authentic and not scripted.
She had her work cut out for her. And it was doubly so since he was so smart. "He seems 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]
He chuckled. "A bit scary at first too, right? I remember when I met him the first time--and that was before he had all that early gray in his hair--he looked like he had a stick up his ass and another for a spine. Never smiled, stiff as a rod."
"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 stared at him with wide eyes. You couldn't just say that about a Lord -- especially in his own Keep. She looked around nervously to make sure no one else had heard.
"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 saw her alarm and chuckled. "I know, I know. But I've known Gaius for a decade, Ky. We're good friends and I can guarantee you he's heard worse."
"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." Ky glanced around once more for good measure, then dipped her head and looked back at him. She forced a small smile. "... I guess I can't quite imagine that. But I'm glad for 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]
"If you're here as long as me you might be able to cuss him out," he chuckled. "I wouldn't. But Sera might, if he's idiot enough. Which he isn't."
"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 shook her head vigorously before he even finished. She knew he was just joking. And she didn't want to be a stick in the mud. But jokes like that got slaves like her flogged. She didn't want to give even the hint of the appearance of going along with it.
Was this a test?
Was she going to get tossed into the snow if she cracked even a little bit of a smile?
This felt like a test.
"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 have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children. — Madeleine L'Engle, Author
