Or not. Gods. This was just his luck. He tensed, shoulders hunching slightly, but didn’t look up from the ground. He’d made the wrong move. He could feel it in his gut.
"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 came to a stop in front of him, staying silent for a moment while he thought of what to say. "I have a fine bottle of mead in my desk upstairs," he said finally. "Do you drink?"
"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
It was the longest moment of Tadaaki’s life. He looked up, alarmed at the question. Not with nobles; he’d never, ever done that before. But… well… was this Ash saying he wanted him to. “… yes sir?”
"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: What do normal men do what is a manly thing that men do oh god oh fuck)
"Would you like to go up and have a glass?" Gods, what was he doing? Was this even remotely appropriate? He'd done this countless times with nobles, but never a man below his station. And it was morning, besides. Who drank mead in the morning?
"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
Tadaaki clasped his hands tightly to resist the urge to wring them. The only answer to if he’d like something was yes, he was pretty sure. Unless it was clearly a threat. Which this didn’t feel like. Even though it felt dangerous. He nodded hesitantly. “Yes sir?”
(Oh. My. God. There was just a thump in my apartment so I put on glasses and grab my pepper spray and do a full clear of my apartment, adrenaline through the rough, and my big ass bath towel just fell off the shower rod and thumped in the tub)
"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]
"Good." Gaius relaxed slightly. "Let's go." He limped toward the door.
"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
(Nothing like trying to wind down for bed to get my heart racing)
“Yes sir.” Tadaaki dipped his head and followed a polite distance behind him. It wasn’t his place to walk alongside.
"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 was going exceptionally slow due to his leg, so he ended up alongside Tadaaki anyway.
"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
Tadaaki originally tried to slow even further to stay behind, but it reached a point it felt like Ash was doing this on purpose. So he very, very hesitantly walked next to him but being sure to stay a polite distance away. Could never be too careful when it came to nobles. They were fickle creatures.
"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
"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]
"Do you prefer sweeter or harder alcohol in general?"
"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
“Um…” Tadaaki hesitated. What was the right answer? “I’m… I’m not quite sure, sir. I’m sure I’ll like mead whatever it’s like.”
"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 can be an acquired taste for some,' he mused. "It's quite sweet compared to other drinks."
"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
(I had mead for the first time a few weeks ago and it tasted exactly as I imagined which was delightful because I expected to like it lol)
“Yes sir.” Tadaaki nodded. He didn’t actually have much experience with alcohol. But that felt childish to admit.
"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]
