"Definitely not." He shook his head. "Rickard was trying very hard not to say anything bad about him but he seemed very distrubed."
"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’s who did that to Aleth,” Ky said quietly. “I don’t know if you saw him right after…”
"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 nodded. "I saw a little later. It was...." He shivered. "I admit I felt bad for 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
Ky was quiet a moment. “… I didn’t know how I felt… still don’t.” She glanced down the hall again, slowing slightly. She was getting winded. This was more than her body had moved in the last week combined, and they were talking on top of it all. “… which I know makes me terrible. No better than they are, to not have compassion.”
"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]
"It doesn't make you terrible. He hurt you, Ky; you're allowed to have no pity. I didn't know him the way you did."
"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 hesitated, then nodded. “I… don’t know. I don’t want to wish ill-will on anyone. But… it was… strange to see him being the one bleeding for once… I’d only ever seen him bruised once. And I didn’t enjoy it.” She squirmed and rubbed her abdomen. “It wasn’t even remotely close to being worth 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 glanced at her. "I'm sorry you were stuck with him, Ky."
"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
“I was stupid.” She shrugged. It was her own fault. She fell into every single trap he laid for her. “… but thank you.” Ky glanced down the hall again so she didn’t have to look at him. “That was Makata’s horse’s fault too, you know.” She glanced back at him. “His valet was out sick that day. Made me bring the horse out to the courtyard rather than the valet fetching him from the stables after I finished saddling him like usually happened.” She glanced away, blushing. “Aleth never would have seen me, if not for that. I shouldn’t have been out there that day.”
"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 worst luck," he agreed. "I'm glad he's gone though. I wish I'd picked up on it..." He glanced down. "I thought he looked sort of familiar when I first saw him but I could never place his face."
"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
"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]
His face reddened. "I...I'm pretty sure I saw him in passing when I was a slave in the East. In one of the tents."
"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
“Gods.” A lead weight settled in the pit of her stomach as she thought about what that meant. “I’m… I’m so sorry to hear that. He’s… savage.” She squirmed again. “That’s… why he wanted me.” She blushed and looked away. “It… still makes me feel ill that he… was attracted to me.” She shook her head. “I can’t imagine. I’m sorry you had to go through that. He’s awful… but… I’m sure everyone who went into those tents are.”
"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 nodded, looking down. "I never had to go near him--I'd remember him better if I did. But I'm almost positive now that I saw 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
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Ky murmured, also looking away. “It’s all about power for him. Not even the sex. Just… hurting people, because he could. I imagine that’d be… exactly the sort of thing he’d enjoy. Going to those tents.”
"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 wrapped his arms tightly around himself. "Like I said before, I'm glad he's gone."
"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
