"Survival isn't all people need in life," she said grimly. "You should be doing something you like, not serving some monster."
"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
“He gave me a lot of pretty things,” Talia said quietly, walking back over to keep bunching up the herbs. “And let me listen to music with him… though… I suppose I can’t say that I miss him…”
"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
“…sorry.” Talia glanced up at her. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
"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." She shook her head. "I'm always here if you need to talk about it. It's just...familiar. Hearing Emery talk about the same things."
"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
“Ah.” Talia cringed and dipped her head. “Yes… he seemed to have a worse time of it. I’m very sorry to hear 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]
"He was very young when he was taken," Sera said with a nod. "He'd been there for five years when Gaius got him out--he was thirteen then."
"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
Talia looked at her in horror. "He was only eight? That's just a baby!"
"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]
"I know," she said sadly. "But you were only eleven. That's not much older."
"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
Talia shrugged. "But they messed up on me. They weren't supposed to grab anyone under twelve." As if that made it better. "And Governor Makata didn't touch me at first. He just had me give him massages and read to him for a year or two. It was scary but... not..." She shook her head. "Not eight. That's terrible."
"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]
"It's all terrible." Sera frowned. "Makata, the Reputations, all of them should die for what they've done. That's beyond redemption or excuse."
"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
Talia blushed and dropped her gaze again. Sera was getting back to having opinions that got you a date with the gallows. Talia wanted no part of them.
"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 agrees," she assured her. "Wholeheartedly."
"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
Talia nodded timidly, not looking up. "Yes, ma'am... that's just... an opinion I'm not bold enough to have."
"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]
"Well, you're free to exercise your boldness here." She dipped her head. "But work at your own pace. You're free here; nobody's going to push you."
"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
