Ky winced and nodded. “…I’m sure you’re both very kind to them, though! And that’s what counts. Drinks can be remade easily.”
"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]
"True enough. I do try to be kind. Both of us do."
"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 are,” Ky confirmed with a gentle nod. She wished there was a way to say that she was only kind of scared her instead of very scared of her like she was most nobles that would actually come across as flattering. And know whether Lady Constance would want a compliment like that in the first place. Maybe she didn’t want to be seen as too casual; Ky didn’t want to be disrespectful.
"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 very good of you to say." She dipped her head.
"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 smiled a little and kept walking, letting a brief silence pass between them. “How long do you plan to be here, ma’am?”
"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]
"Another week, I think. Then we'll head home. We're really only here to talk about war." She sighed and shook her head. "Pity there is one at all."
"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 sympathetically. “I’m sorry you’re not here under more favorable circumstances.”
(I know we talked about this but my brain has apparently completely yeeted this knowledge — why is Tarr warring with Gaius in this one?)
"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]
(No reason was established but I think he's making a move on territory)
"So am I. I wish that boy had better parents, too."
"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 wasn't going to touch that comment with a ten-foot pole. Absolutely not. She had no business having any sort of opinion on nobles whatsoever. At least not sharing any opinions with anyone.
"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]
"Though I suppose nature versus nurture matters. Gaius and Tomhas had parents who were worse and they turned out fairly 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
Abso-fucking-lutely not. There was no way to come out on top of that comment. Either she had to insult her savior or his parents. And then there was his half-brother and his noble parents in the mix as well. Not to mention the risk of gossiping with a noble about other nobles--
Nope, nope, nope.
She stayed as neutral as she possibly could -- expression, body language, everything. Carefully unreactive.
"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]
Constance walked on in silence for a little, then asked, "Have you been North often?"
"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
“No ma’am.” She shook her head. “This was the first time we’d been up this way.”
"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]
"Really?" she asked in surprise. "Interesting. Where were you mostly?"
"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
“The East, ma’am,” Ky said. “Well, and the South some, for maintenance contracts and such. But a lot of time in the East. War sells.”
"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]
