Gaius settled into his long silence once more, watching Tadaaki.
"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
Tadaaki’s soul left his body. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like it at all. And yet it also wasn’t his place to change the topic. Mouthy slaves were even worse odd than curious ones. He trembled slightly, hoping it wasn’t visible, as he clasped his hands in front of himself and stared at the floor.
"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 continued his silence. Tadaaki might be easier to break than Ky. He seemed unprepared for this. If there was anything fishy about the other two, he'd be the key.
"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
Tadaaki trembled even worse. What had he said wrong? He didn’t tell Ky what to do. Quite the opposite, really. He begged her to tell him what to do. He wished she was here now; she’d know what to say. He certainly didn’t.
"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 needed to wait just a little longer, then apply pressure if he didn't talk before then.
"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 couldn’t handle this anymore. He glanced towards the door, then dismissed the idea. Where would he run — the whipping post? May as well. That’s where he’d end up if he ran.
“I-I could, sir?” he offered hesitantly. Did Ash just not like that Tadaaki had expressed an opinion? He was willing to recant. He knew he wasn’t supposed to have them anyhow. “I’m sure he-she’d take orders from me, if that’s what you want? 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]
"I don't want you to give orders," he said dryly. "You three are free now. How long were you without food out there?"
"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
“Three days, I think, sir. It may have been four, it all blurred together. 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]
"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 cringed. “…probably me, sir.” At least between him and Ky that was true. And he hated himself 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]
"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
“… me, sir,” he corrected. “We divided by thirds, but Ky gave me some of his-hers.”
"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… yessir?” It was one of those questions you weren’t sure whether to say yes or no to. Too many negatives to keep straight. But he was right.
"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
