“…Hopefully.” She nodded. The guilt would crush her if she didn’t live up to her father’s friends’ expectations. Hopefully they were easily pleased. She’d try her very best to make good impressions anyhow.
"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]
"So what else do you want to shop for while we're there?" Tomhas asked her. "The market's full of interesting 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
“Oh, um…” She shook her head. She was going to squander his entire treasury in a single afternoon at this rate. “That’s all I need… well I don’t need it for that matter. Just. Want. And, um…” she blushed and glanced away. She needed to stop before she offended him. His desire to give gifts and her reluctance to accept gifts seemed equally strong.
Gifts.
She should ask how that worked.
“…but… um… how… like. If I want to buy someone a gift— how does that work now?” She glanced back at him hesitantly. “Like… is it allowed for me to just do chores for the shopkeeper still? Or is that frowned upon now that…” she wasn’t just a peasant like the rest.
"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]
"You just buy it," he said, brow furrowed. "Simple as that. I'll give you an allowance to spend, but I'll cover the armor."
"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 quiet for a long moment, processing that. She supposed that made more sense than simply working for the merchants — put more money into their economy rather than take it out. But. Well. She hoped whatever ‘allowance’ Tomhas planned to give her wasn’t excessive. Even though if history was any indicator, it probably would be. She really didn’t need money, though. Her each and every need was met ten times over already. She had food, clothing, shelter. What more could she possibly need money for? As long as she had a little in the months of her family’s birthdays, then she’d be happy. Hopefully, that’s all it was. “…thank you.”
"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 smiled slightly and nodded. "Don't mention it! You'll get a monthly allowance from now on 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
“Thank you.” She dipped her head, then gave a tentative smile. It was so uncomfortable to accept gifts like these. Especially when she knew it was going to be lavish and undeserved. But. Well. She’d simply save it, if that was the case. Use it to buy extra nice gifts for her family on special occasions. Or maybe she’d donate it to charity, if there was a system set up in the village back home. Or she could just ‘accidentally’ drop money behind the booths of people who seemed especially poor. That could be a satisfying pursuit maybe. “I’m still so fascinated by markets. I’m excited to see this one.”
"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]
"This one is absolutely amazing. Venholm is sort of a sweet spot for trade already because it has more land bordering the ocean than any of us. This village is always well-stocked with all sorts of goodies!"
"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
“What’s your favorite?” Ky asked with a small smile. “Goodie, that is.” Were you allowed to put treats in the heart box? Or was that a no-no?
"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 thought for a moment. "This is gonna sound weird, but they sell these dyed river pebbles for jewelry and decoration. They come in these little pounches and the weight is just--" He made a delighted gesture. "It's perfect. I buy those sometimes just to hold them."
"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 smiled at that, endeared. That definitely seemed heartbox worthy. “That sounds nice. Do you have a specific color or shape you like the most?”
"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 love the natural ones with marbling! The really rounded ones, especially, so I can roll them around in my hands."
"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
“They sound nice,” Ky agreed with a nod. “I’ll have to keep an eye out for 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]
Tomhas chuckled. "I guess it's kind of a silly thing to enjoy. But there's something about holding them that just feels right!"
"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 wrong with being silly.” Ky smiled a little. Gods knew she could use more of that. “The joy is the same regardless, no?”
"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]
