“I…” gods. He couldn’t deny it without risking Ky. “…think so?”
"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]
"That's quite interesting. I'm curious as to why you didn't mention his full name before now." He approached Tadaaki. "You say you'll talk easier, so talk. Make this worth my while."
"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
“… you won’t hurt Ky if I do?” His shoulders were rounded now, terrified, and he looked every bit as cowed as he was.
"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
Even though deep down he knew this would make them worse in the long run, not better. Once Aleth found out…
Gods.
He knew better than this.
And yet his conscience couldn’t bear to have Ky’s torture upon it.
“I don’t know why we had to come here, he just said we did. He didn’t tell me on purpose because I can’t lie. To save my life. He thought if I didn’t know then I couldn’t— couldn’t do this. But. Please. Don’t hurt Ky. Anything she’s doing is, is, it’s not her fault. Please. She doesn’t have a choice. Please. He’ll— he’ll kill us both. Slow. And-and- please don’t hurt her it’s not her fault and she hasn’t done anything yet and, and I’ll take the punishment for both of us. Please.”
"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 really, really, really shouldn’t answer that. But. Well. He’d started. May as well finish so that he kept his promise to not hurt Ky if Tadaaki kept his promise to talk. His voice was very, very weak as he answered, “…Aleth.”
"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]
"Did Aleth make the marks on you and Ky?" Gaius asked. Bay glanced at him.
"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 grimaced, rubbing his dragon, and nodded. “…only when we were bad, though! And we’ve both been doing a lot better. I promise. The last ones were, were extenuating. It’d been close to a year before that. We’re much better now, sir. We’ll do as we’re told. I promise. I’m sorry.”
"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 studied him, then sat down in one of the chairs. "You can go, Terran," he said quietly. Bay dipped his head and left the room. "I'm going to have Ky brought here in a few minutes," he told Tadaaki. "Since you claim she knows what the plan here is. But I want to know where you came here from."
"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
“Please don’t hurt her,” Tadaaki pleaded desperately, not at all reassured by the fact that they were going to drag her into this next. “It-it will make you angry and-and you have every right to be. And-and no one would blame you but, but please understand that we didn’t have a choice. Please. Neither of us wanted to come here. I promise. Please. Please make it fast. At least for her. She doesn’t deserve to suffer. Please.”
"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 believe you," he told him. "This time I believe you. Answer the question: where did you come from?"
"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
“Lord Tarr,” he said very, very quietly, shrinking. “I don’t know why. I know there’s a war and that I’m supposed to shut up and that’s it, sir. But. But we’ve been watched so far, right? So. So you know that who one has, has done whatever they were supposed to. Ky hasn’t betrayed you. She doesn’t have to suffer. Please.”
"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 sighed and leaned back. "Neither of you are going to be harmed, Tadaaki. You were never in any danger in the first place. You're certainly not going to be trusted for some time--either of you--but Aleth, as you call him, will be dealt 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
“But… you said… Captain Bay?” he asked bewilderedly. He’d definitely been threatened with danger or he wouldn’t have said anything. Rather, Ky had been threatened. It wouldn’t have worked if it was just his own hide on the line.
"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]
