"Things that will mean something to the child, once they're a bit older." He thought for a moment. "Once things they love wear out, you put those inside. Maybe you add jewelry or memorabilia from their parents or grandparents, family history. A religious totem, perhaps. Things like 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
"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]
"Very," he agreed. "But the buyer or maker of the heartbox isn't the only one who contributes. You can work with the parents and other relatives on this."
"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
“…so what if… well, let’s say there’s an older sibling, too. One who didn’t get a heart box when they were a baby. How would that work?”
"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]
His brow furrowed. "Depends on the reason; why didn't they get a heartbox, if you don't mind me asking?"
"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’re Southern,” Ky said, glancing at him. The lie was getting harder to weave together. “But the younger one will be born up here. And I live up here now.”
"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]
"Alright--you could ask their parents for things that child was attached to but got worn out, perhaps. It would work much the same. That's not a very complicated situation--there are others that might be worse."
"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
Was he calling her out? She looked at him warily. “…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]
He nodded. "I've had people come in asking for heartboxes asking for all sorts of things in all sorts of situations--adoptions, stepchildren, housewarming, things like that. Heartboxes are very spiritual things here, very important to the culture. It's an extremely personal gift and it's got to be done 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
“…what if, like…” Careful. “What if there’s an adult who grew up here and never got one? How would you ‘do that’ right?”
"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 gave her a wary look. "Again, it depends on the circumstances."
"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.” She was pushing her luck. She nodded, glancing away. “Okay.”
"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]
"If, for example," he said slowly, "the adult were born under...let's call them suspicious circumstances, and his or her or their parents elected not to give them a heartbox for that reason, it would very much depend on that person's feelings on that matter."
"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.” Was she being a jerk about this? She felt like a jerk. “…well… oh…” this was a bad idea. How disappointing.
"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]
Sven's brow furrowed. "Any way I can help or reassure? It could end up being a good idea, it just depends on the person."
"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
