Her heart was racing. She forced herself to take a few deep breaths, metering them. Needed to keep as much composure as she could. She swallowed hard. “What did you mean, I’m ‘right to be concerned’?”
"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]
"Well." He hesitated, glancing toward the Keep. "Septimus keeps in some contact with his second son, it seems. He says Michael might be poking about in places he shouldn't, and that he knows about you already."
"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
"Gods." Ky rubbed her face, anguished. He may as well have punched her in the gut with a steel anvil. It felt the same. She felt like throwing up, but her throat had tied itself in a knot. She had to stay calm. Had to control this sheer terror racing through her. "... knows that I am here, or knows that I can interact with him?"
"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]
"Both, it seems." He tutted. "Septimus can't be trusted."
"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
"Godsdamnit." Her eyes got damp with fear despite herself, but she quickly blinked away all traces of it. No crying. Aleth didn't like crying. She couldn't stop the trembling, though, as she looked around fearfully. She was dead. Who knew what corner Michael was lurking around, waiting for her. Would he jump her the instant she stepped inside? Was Narfi pretending to be nice to distract her long enough for Michael to come slaughter her?
(I’m gonna vanish for like three hours soon heads up. My flight got delayed two fucking hours but I’m finally onboard now. Knock on wood we actually get to go soon)
"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]
"Hey. It'll turn out alright. He can't be everywhere at once, right? And we'll both see him coming."
"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 swallowed, trying to keep herself put together. She looked at him, bewildered. “…what?”
(Bloody hell this plane needs maintenance too)
"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]
"Well." He paused. "I'm a decent fighter. I'd be willing to act as a sort of buffer if he should ever come for 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’ve been in airports over 12 hours nowwwww)
“…you would?” she looked him up and down. Everything in her wanted to believe him, but she didn’t. She was just the adopted daughter of a bastard son — why should he care about her? Especially when the rest of the family hated her father and, by extension, her. “…why?”
"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're a braver person than I, and far more patient)
"Why?" He blinked at her and thought for a moment. "Well....because, well, you're in need of help. Simple as that."
"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
(Heh. Charm of being given no choice whatsoever hahah alas I think we are going soon this is prolly my last)
“… you’d side with me over your nephew?”
"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]
(Safe trip then! I'll be asleep when you return I expect)
"Yep." He nodded. "You don't know Michael like I do."
"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
(Completely reasonable lol I am in such a grouchy ass mood rn. I slept most of it but the girl next to me kept elbowing me, my water bottle pressurized and exploded on me when I tried to take a drink, and I got like three charlie horses. Unless to be a charlie horse it must be in your calf — in which case I got one, but the exact same sensation in the back of each thigh as well, at different points. I don’t think I realized that was an option. But they’re significantly harder to stretch out ;-; )
“…I don’t want to,” she murmured, voice quiet. She glanced around again. This was terrifying. Sure, it was nice to get the bodyguard Septimus recommended. But it was positively awful to know that Septimus had definitely fed her to the wolves — already! What had it been, sixteen hours? Asshole. That couldn’t have been by chance. He must have gone to seek Michael out after they talked. Gods. She shivered as she thought about it. What nastiness did they already have planned for her? What would she need protected from? “…thank you.”
She was grateful that he at least claimed to be on her side. But she had to trust a random Ash man — Septimus’s brother no less! — that she’d just met for her safety. And she didn’t know how to ask Gaius if his uncle was trustworthy without having to admit Michael. Was she really going to have to take a chance this horrifically massive? 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]
(Aw man I'm sorry to hear that. Plane rides can be a nightmare. Charlie horses wound absolutely nightmarish, as does that seat partner. I do maybe have a video you'd appreciate though https://youtu.be/9TeHK_FpOQs)
He dipped his head. "You're most welcome. And..." He hesitated. "I'd appreciate of we kept this between us. Septimus filled Gaius's head with prejudices about me; he might not be too keen on me because of it."
"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 looked at him warily. She didn’t like the sounds of that at all. If Gaius didn’t trust this man, she didn’t feel like she should, either. Not that she had much of a choice. “…oh?”
"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]
