"Ah, but you do need to be able to defend yourself, right? Do you know any martial arts?"
"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
Wrong. Defending herself was the exact opposite of what she was supposed to do. She shook her head. "No, ma'am... I've only been in... three? no wait four -- fights in my life, and three of them went wildly badly for me. I'm not... great... at fighting."
"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
"...yes ma'am." Ky nodded. "I'm..." She blushed. "Not supposed to fight."
"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
"Everyone." She shrugged, tracing the rim of her mug with her finger. "Everyone is much happier when I'm compliant."
"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]
She shook her head. "You don't need to be compliant, 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
"...Yes, ma'am." She dipped her head, feeling the irony of the situation. Her complying with Lady Constance's instructions to not be compliant. But. Well. She did need to be compliant. It's what had kept her alive this long, and what would continue to keep her alive moving forward. Just make people happy and they were less likely to harm you, physically, mentally, emotionally, or otherwise.
"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]
She studied her, sipping her tea and sighing quietly. "Just...if you feel like learning, I'd be happy to spar a little while I'm here."
"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 blinked at her, stunned by the offer. "...Y-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]
"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're..." Important. She hesitated, taking a deep breath, brow furrowed in perplexion. "Don't you... I wouldn't want to... waste your time. That..." Was absurd, for a noble to take such a personal interest in her, when she had no skill whatsoever. "I know time is a priceless resource. Particularly yours."
"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 not doing anything but going to war meetings currently, and those don't take all day!"
"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
"That's... very kind of you, ma'am..." Ky managed, blushing and sipping on her tea to avoid having to give a solid answer. Hopefully Lady Constance would just forget about this silly offer entirely.
"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]
"Give it some thought; there's not too much of a rush."
"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
