"You may have to set up an appointment rather than go in directly after," she mused. "Captain Bay will know better than I."
"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
“That’s completely fine,” Derik said. “We’re in no rush whatsoever. Haven’t even thawed out yet 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]
"Then we'll get you warm first, unless you feel a need to be with the Kirut right now?"
"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
“No, that’s fine.” Derik shook his head. “I’m sure they would probably appreciate a moment to themselves anyhow. We’ve got nothing in their… interactions.”
"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]
"Right, then." She nodded. "Are you hungry, 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
Derik glanced back at the soldier. “… I wouldn’t be opposed either, if it’s convenient.”
"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'll see you to a parlor and we can get you a meal, then."
(Wanna skip to after that or have someone walk in on 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
“Thank you.” Derik nodded to her. “We certainly appreciate it… I’m not sure I caught your name?”
"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]
"Askla Ingrsdottir," she replied with a dip of her head.
"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
(Yeah I realized what I did as soon as I did it oops lol)
“A pleasure.” Derik nodded to her again. He’d never admit it, but he was grateful for this turn of events. It’d be easier to be diplomatic with his fleshly needs out of the way. That, and he could use a moment to reiterate to Jerica to keep her mouth shut. Never could do that too many times.
"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]
(Fleshly needs is a terrifying phrase out of context)
"Yessir."
She led them to a parlor on the ground floor, and within half an hour a modest but warm and good-tasting meal was provided to 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
They all shucked off most of their layers as they slowly warmed past comfort in the parlor. Derik made Jerica leave her throwing blades in her heap of coats after she took it off to remove a sweater. It was “excessive” or whatever.
When the food came, Jerica easily ate as much as Derik and Kieran combined but soon they were all well-satisfied and resting as they waited to be collected.
"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]
About twenty minutes after they finished their meal a maid arrived. "I've been sent to take you to Lord Ash," she said with a small curtsy.
"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!” Derik stood up with a groan, rolling some of the stiffness from his shoulders. “Thank you, miss.”
He strode towards the door, Rek half a step behind him to the right, and Jerica and Kieran behind Rek to the left.
Jerica was focusing on standing tall and breathing deeply. She needed to be respectable. Calm. Dignified. Needed to do it right for once.
“…is it alright if we leave our coats here?” Derik asked the maid, gesturing back at the neat stack they’d formed on the end of one of the couches.
"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]
She nodded. "They'll be taken to your dormitories and rooms, respectively."
"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
