Emery had nothing in that suit so he played a 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
Ky and Tadaaki didn't have much to say as they played the next several rounds, but Tadaaki won several tricks, and was getting progressively prouder of himself, though he didn't notice. Ky did, though. And she thought it was sweet. She was glad he was doing better than she was. He needed it more.
"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]
Eventually Emery played the Queen of Cups, which gave thirteen points to whoever took the trick.
(Points are bad)
"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 squinted at the pile of cards in front of them. He felt like this one was supposed to do something special, but he couldn't remember what, and he was too embarrassed to ask. So, he'd win the trick. That was always a solid strategy, right? And he'd won the past two anyhow.
Ky sighed softly first at the Queen and then doubly so as Tadaaki set himself up to win the trick. She didn't want the rug ripped out from under him the instant he was starting to find his confidence. So she searched her cards and played an intentionally high one to win the trick and take the points. "Bah!" she fake-pouted as she gathered up the cards. "Well played."
"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 winced and chuckled. "Sorry, it was my last card." He looked around for somewhere to tally the score.
"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 glanced at all the piles of the cards and did some mental math. "Ky got thirty-three and I got seventeen... right?"
Ky looked between their stacks and nodded. He was right. And here he claimed to be slow. When this proved that that clearly wasn't the case.
"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 found a pencil and paper in the same drawer and wrote it down. He'd gotten a few points as well. "Well played, both of you! Want to have another go?"
"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 glanced at Tadaaki, who shrugged. So, she did as well as she glanced back at Emery with a little smile. "Sure!"
"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
"Do you play this game often?" Ky asked as she organized her hand.
"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]
"Pretty often, yeah. I played more when Tomhas wasn't doing as much Lord stuff. He lives far away enough that it was kind of a special occasion."
"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 makes sense." Ky nodded thoughtfully. "Do you think you'll play when he comes to visit?"
"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 smile faded. "Probably not. We don't talk much anymore."
"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." Goddamn it, why did she always find the worse possible subject to talk about? "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]
He shrugged. "You've got nothing to be sorry for; it's our own fault."
"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
