He set about shaving, glaring at his face in the mirror as he worked. He really did look too much like his father. The beard was patchier and less sculpted, but it was close enough that he shivered, causing the razor to slip and nick his chin. Gaius cursed and wiped at the spot of blood.
"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 gave it another minute then sighed again and walked back to his room, leaving his door open so that he’d be able to hear better.
"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 finished without further incident and inspected himself in the mirror. Sera had been forcing him to eat while he was in bed and as a result his cheeks were ever so slightly fuller. It was difficult--embarrassingly difficult--to keep anything down, but he was managing it and he felt more awake than he had since the day the troll first appeared.
"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
Which made her angry that he’d done this rather than let her come home like she wanted.
Which made her feel bad that she was angry.
Which made her—
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She wasn’t moving until someone hauled her out of this bed forcibly. She was… tired. Even more tired than before. And… and… gods. He’d made this complicated. And she was far too stupid for things this complicated.
"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 limped back to bed and settled in, picking up his tea.
"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
(Do you have a direction you’re headed? I’m happy to keep going lol but my guys aren’t gonna be interesting unless they have a force enacted upon them haha)
She wished he hadn’t come.
He almost died
She’d already hurt his feelings.
Gaius was actively trying to hurt Tomhas’s feelings even worse.
And…
Gods.
She didn’t want him here.
She didn’t want anything.
She just wanted to stay in this bed until her body said she was allowed to die. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.
"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]
(Nope no direction! I can bring someone in to knock on Ky's door or interact with Tadaaki or Tasia or Aashi if you want!)
"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
(Up to you! I’m down for whatever ^^ Ky’s door is unlocked but whoever it is will have to be persistent to convince her to open it unless they just let themselves in lol)(I kind of doubt anyone would, just saying, it’s an option if one of your guys would lol)(and Tadaaki is going to be sitting in his room with the door open so he’d be an easy point of conversation if anyone walks by lol)
"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]
(Okie dokie. I might give Tadaaki some attention then.)
(Random number generator says Emery)
Emery was wandering by Tadaaki's room, utterly bored. He'd been reading for a few hours, then chatted with the soldiers and the cooks, but now he had nothing to do. He passed Tadaaki's door, then paused there. "Hi," he said hesitantly. "Everything okay?"
"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
“Oh, uh, hey.” Tadaaki nodded at him and cleared his throat.
Whoops.
Should have thought of this.
Ky wasn’t the only person who could wander by, as it turned out.
He straightened slightly thought didn’t get up from where he sat on the hearth, forearms pressed against his thighs as he slouched. He offered a lame smile. “What’s up?”
"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]
"Nothing," Emery said with a sigh. "That's the problem. Nothing is going on. Although I guess that's good, since the gods could be waking up at any minute, right?"
"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 nodded in agreement. “Lack of excitement never got anyone killed.”
"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 might die of boredom by the end of the day, though." He chuckled. "What have you been up to?"
"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
“Not much.” Tadaaki glanced past him into the empty hall, then gestured invitingly at the chair. It’d be good to get Emery out of sight. If Ky caught a glimpse of anyone if she cracked the door, then she’d be driven into it even deeper. Best to have her where he’d be able to hear her before she noticed Emery.
"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]
"Ah, thank you!" Emery dipped his head and sat down. "How's the family?"
"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
