He studied her a moment longer, then gave a small nod. "Best to start reading in the library if you want it to stop," he said finally. "I've got no answers. But I'd help if you like."
"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 please,” she said quietly, feeling ill. “I… am… a little… uncomfortable with this… I would… like it to stop.” Maybe if she was careful and metered when she was talking, she would be taken seriously. Helped rather than judged.
"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]
"Understandably." He made to rise, but his leg crumpled under him and he sank back into his chair. He tried again, leaning against the desk for support, but he was sure he wouldn't make it all the way to the library. "I'll wait here," he sighed, sitting back down in defeat. "Peruse the shelves we searched the night we saw the troll and bring down anything you deem relevant.,"
"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
“…like what?” She stood up, looking at him anxiously. She’d not set foot in the library since…
Gods.
She didn't want to go back. She clearly couldn’t be trusted in there. She’d lost that privilege, permanently. And if they didn’t want to enforce that then she’d enforce it herself.
"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]
"Books on the gods, on magic, seers. Ghosts if you can find them." He took a deep breath. He didn't want her back in there, especially not now. But there wasn't much choice. He would go himself but his body seemed to be panicking as much as his mind.
"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
“Okay…” she said reluctantly, stepping towards the door. “I’ll be fast.”
"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
She nodded and left, quickly heading for the library. Hopefully she didn’t run into… 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]
(Bitch you know you gonna run into someone I've been working up to this)
Gaius took a deep breath and let it out, wrapping his arms tightly around himself as he began to shake in an attempt to be more steady. He needed to get control of himself; Michael couldn't touch him and neither could his father. He was as safe as he had been before; nothing had changed. Even so, he looked around the study, breathing quickening.
"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
She walked progressively faster despite herself, casting furtive glances all around. What if she ran into Damian again? What if she ran into… gods. What if they could touch her? What if… Michael was here? Septimus?
"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 was a sitting duck. He wished his leg would cooperate with him. He wished he was faster. He needed to find Tomhas, go back to dinner where there were lots of people. Michael wouldn't even try if there were a lot of people. Maybe. Gods, what if he'd gone mad after all these years? And was Oscar here too? He hoped not; he'd have to deal with Michael then and that didn't bear thinking about.
"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 outside the door of the library to take a deep breath and brace herself, then quickly strode inside.
"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]
One of the librarians nodded to her as she came in.
Ky said they couldn't touch her, but what if they did eventually? This was only the beginning. If Michael got to her he'd never forgive himself. And Tomhas would never forgive him either. They needed to get her home as soon as possible. But there had to be ghosts at Caracal Keep as well. So nowhere was safe for her. Except maybe the South...
"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 nodded back to them and made a beeline for the right row.
"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]
There was a tall, thin man in his late fifties sitting in an armchair right near this row, dressed in a very expensive silver-green dressing gown. His hair was silver as well and trimmed neatly, along with a short but thick beard covering his cheeks and mouth area. He bore an uncanny resemblance to Gaius in his features and expression, but he had both his legs and wasn't as thin. A pair of rectangular spectacles perched on his long nose, and his pale eyes were fixed on an open book sitting in his lap. They flickered up to Ky for a moment, then he dismissed her and went back to reading.
"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
