"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 nodded. "Tomhas didn't mention it? It's quite lovely. Painted from floor to ceiling with a forest landscape."
"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
“Interesting.” She glanced back at Tomhas and then at Gaius again. “Where is it?”
"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]
"First floor, I believe." Gaius glanced down the table. "I'll offer more detail later."
"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 around the table, then dipped her head. “Okay.” It was still odd to her how freely these were being talked about. But. Well. Probably best to put a pin in it for now. Especially since she wasn’t sure why Gaius knew about the expedition at all. They were actively not going to tell him… but apparently Tomhas had anyway? Why?
"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 returned to picking at his food, glancing at her again. He was still curious about what had upset Tomhas so much. The conversation still didn't make sense, but Tomhas brushed him off every time he tried to bring it up. Ky might know more, but he wasn't sure he wanted to push her.
"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
(Gaius: Ky what happened? Ky: Tomhas said we’re not telling you. …shit)
Ky looked at him a moment longer then looked at Tomhas, trying to figure out what his game was. She thought that they weren’t going to tell Gaius. So why had he? Not telling Gaius had literally been his idea.
"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]
Tomhas was still staring down at his empty plate; he'd eaten everything and had taken another slice of bread to dab at his sauce.
"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 quietly looked back at her own plate, feeling helpless now that she realized how full it still was. She’d thought she was making such good progress on it. But you could barely even see a dent.
She definitely wasn’t going to finish 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]
"Water helps," Gaius said very quietly, not looking up from his plate. He could see out of the corner of his eye how she was staring at her food; he knew how she felt. "If you take the food like a pill."
"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 glanced at him, then back at her plate. “…thanks.” She wasn’t sure what to do with that, though. She couldn’t very well swallow an entire potato like a pill. Unless he just meant the bite-and-swallow approach she’d adopted early on in her battle against appetite; did water make that one easier? Maybe she should try again… though the very thought made her stomach churn.
"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 gave a tiny nod and cut a sliver of food for himself, sipping at his wine and swallowing. So long as she ate he supposed giving her techniques couldn't hurt.
"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 forced herself to take a deep breath, then test the potato like she’d theorized, cutting a large chunk and swallowing it still mostly whole. She drank a bit of water after, feeling ill.
"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 watched out of the corner of his eye but gave no reaction, continuing with his own strategy.
"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 sat staring at her plate for many long, long moments, feeling progressively weaker and shakier. There was no chance she was finishing this. No. Chance. So instead she did a quick munch and swallow of green beans followed by a drink of water. Then she sat feeling sick, before her conscience speared her into at least keeping up appearances. Then she slowly started scraping up the food and stacking it into little piles on her plate. Smashing it across the plate made it look like she’d taken more of it; so stacking it up would make it look like less… right? She hoped so.
Aashi watched her in concerned silence, then glanced at Sara.
"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]
