Gaius didn't object; she had her letter and she'd made everything awkward. He had, too. But the point was that he wanted to be by himself now.
"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 walked out and shut the door behind her. Why did he always make things to this awkward? No one else acted like this.
"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 grimaced and set down the letter, looking through the others. Most of them were of no consequence, but there was a letter from the king as well. He opened that one.
"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 hesitantly walked down the hall. She desperately didn't want to go back to the meal. If Gaius wasn’t… then she didn’t have to… right? Maybe she should go answer the letter… or just go to her room…
"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 scanned it. On top of everything King Harold wanted to call a meeting of the Magistrates. Four months from now to discuss the gods and the changes going on.
"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]
A few people dressed in finery passed her in the halls, young and old. One of them wore an expensive nightgown.
"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, looking at them in surprise. “…hello?” Whoever could they be? Why were they still in pajamas?
"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 one in the gown stopped abruptly, frowned at her, then glanced at the others in her group. There was a man and another woman, and the one in the gown appeared to be a young girl. The man stared at Ky, resting a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"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
“…am I not supposed to be able to see you?” She whispered timidly. Great.
"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]
"Er..." They all looked at each other. "No," the woman volunteered. "Definitely not."
"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…” she was blushing. This felt like a faux pas and yet she didn’t know what to do about it. “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]
The ghosts didn't quite seem sure what to say. "Don't fret about it," the woman offered awkwardly.
"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 nodded, also feeling awkward. “I’m… uh… Ky?”
"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]
"Lord Damian Ash." The man stepped forward. His hair was a pale blonde shot through with gray, and he kept it and his beard quite long in the style of the Northern Tribes. "My wife, Lady Elise, and my daughter, Brea." Both dipped their heads. Elise had brown hair that was a bit more gray than Damian's and her face was a bit more lined than his. Brea looked to be about thirteen and had her father's pale hair. All three had blue eyes.
"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
