“…do you think people would actually come?” Ky asked curiously, glancing at 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]
"Probably. They trust Gaius. He's been good to them. The issue would be notifying people in other territories. We have no jurisdiction across borders."
"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
“Mm… true.” Ky nodded. “But, I mean… if my parents and the Barrasters agree then that’d be a big chunk of the region… or if the king makes a proclamation. But… well… if people would tell the truth… but even then, like… is there… a… point? In bringing them here? If we can’t fix me, we couldn’t fix them, yeah?”
"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]
"We might not be able to fix them. But they might be able to help us piece some things together, or they might be looking for answers or comfort."
"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
“… can we offer that even? We also don’t know what’s going on… not really…”
"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]
Sara walked in silence for a moment. "I don't know," she admitted finally. "I really don't. I hope we can. But Gaius is the one who could answer that better. He's the one who would have a vague idea."
"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…” She buried her hands in her pockets with a heavy sigh. “I mean… no harm in trying, I guess… and if nothing else then at least you’ll know they’re out there.”
"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]
"Exactly. And hopefully we'll have resources to accommodate any issues that may have arisen from their power."
"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
“…like what?” Ky looked at her uneasily. “…like… I mean… we can’t just lock people up here… and there are only so many people to babysit strangers who come here… plus if they actually have tangible problems that need corrected…”
"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'm brainstorming," she said with a shrug. "If someone suddenly has fire powers we can rebuild their home if it burns. If someone sees the dead like you do perhaps you two can talk it through. If there are new Seers we can pair them with older ones."
"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 true,” Ky conceded. “…I guess I would like to talk to people if they’re also having—“ her brain jumped ahead of her words, then came to a screeching halt. If Gaius said everyone in this territory who had powers had to come to the Keep, what if the King one-upped him and made everyone go to Rein instead? Was he going to take her away from her family? Would they be allowed to come with her? Would they even want to go with her? What if the spirits in the king’s palace were even worse than the ghosts of the Ash ancestors? What if there were angry criminals haunting the place looking for people to hurt? What if—?
Her legs locked up involuntarily, eyes wide as she stared off into the distance thinking about all these new possibilities that crossed her mind.
Would she become a specimen for his scientists to poke and prod? A freak of nature to be gawked at? Would she be forced into conducting seances? Would she be enslaved again and rented out to rich people who wanted her to whisper to the ghosts in their mansions? The king did say that slaves were economically valuable; he’d make a killing off her. A mystic that spoke nine languages. How profitable.
Gods, gods, gods—
"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]
"Ky?" Sara glanced at her, then stopped fully as she saw Ky's expression. "What's the matter, dear?"
"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
“Do I have to go? I don’t want to have to go.” She didn’t have the presence of mind enough to realize she was leaving out important context. “Did he tell him? Does he have to tell him? I don’t want… I don’t want him to tell him.” Her breathing was shaky. Was that treason? That felt like treason. “I-I don’t want— is he going to make me?”
"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]
(Oofta trying out my new protagonist in oc for a day, not sure how well I'll do with him)
"Tell who? Make you do what?" Her brow furrowed. "What are you frightened of, Ky?"
"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
“The king,” she said urgently, turning her panicked gaze on Sara. “If Gaius can make his subjects come here, then the king could make people go to the castle instead, right? So will he? Do I have to go? I don’t want— what if-if what if he makes me talk to the ghosts in his palace? Or what if he tells people what I can do and then they take me? I don’t want to be taken again.” She was tearing up at the thought. She was actually valuable now, instead of just having a vagina. She’d be watched doubly close this time. No slipping away into the stables a second time. “You never go home again if they take you. I don’t want them to take me again. Can-can you make them stop? Or do I have to go? I don’t want to have to go!”’
"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]
