That was a relief. She could probably see how he was feeling. He gave a weak nod. "Take your tea," he said quietly, gesturing toward the cup and resting his head atop his folded arms.
"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 nodded and stood and took the tea, even though she didn't want it at all. She stepped towards the door. "...do you want anyone or anything?"
"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 hesitated. "My wife. In a few minutes. Thank 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
"I'll get her." Ky nodded, hesitating by the door. She'd expected that would be the case. "... are you going to tell her?"
"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
Ky nodded slowly, hesitating a long moment to give him time to think. “…she’s going to ask me what happened…”
"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]
"Just ask her to come up in a few minutes," he replied, closing his eyes. "No need for details; she'll understand."
"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
“Okay.” Ky nodded and unlocked the door, then pulled it open.
"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 tensed immediately, opening his eyes to watch her leave. What if someone came in?
"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 at him, guessing his worry from his expression. “…I can stand here until you lock it again…” wouldn’t help him when Sara came in, though. Unless she personally verified they were alone in the office before she took her leave. But she’d be willing to do this. If he needed guarantee of privacy with 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]
He wasn't sure of he could get up at this point. "No," he murmured. "Thank 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
“Okay.” She nodded and stepped out then pulled the door shut behind her and started for the stairs.
"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 little sigh, then buried his face in his arms, trying to slow his breaths but doing rather poorly at it. His father would probably come in and see him like this now--he wouldn't have tolerated a loss of composure like this back when he was alive, and Gaius was sure he wouldn't tolerate it now. But the difference was now he couldn't harm Gaius at all. For some reason that knowledge wasn't as comforting as he wished it would be. There was something about knowing he could be watching that made Gaius utterly nauseous.
"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 walked quickly and silently, feeling like she needed to throw up.
"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]
A few more obviously non-living people passed her in the halls but paid her no mind.
He reached for his tea but gave up before he even got his fingers around the handle. His hands were shaking so badly that he was sure he would drop it. Instead he closed his eyes tightly and focused on his breathing even as his right hand spasmed and twitched.
"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
