He looked up, nodding quickly. "Oh, yes, miss! Truly. It's just a bit...daunting."
"In what way?"
"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
(Bruh I was in the lunch room eating and my boss decided on an impromptu meeting so alllll of my coworkers converged on the room and it was good info but I’m too insecure to be the only one eating and now I’ve got 20-minute-cold ramen)
Jerica nodded. “I… well… you’ll figure it out. I’m sure of it.” She couldn’t understand not wanting to do what you wanted.
“So… do you know Myna?”
"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]
"Maybe." He glanced down. "Sera is trying to help."
"I know the name in passing," Sara said. "The trader woman."
"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
(Turns out my food standards can always get lower)
“Definitely.” Jerica helped. “She seems chill.”
“Yeah. She gave me a bone.” She patted her chest pocket. “The ghosts can touch 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]
"She's wonderful." He smiled shyly. "And very kind."
"I--what?" Sara frowned. "What bone?"
"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 around to confirm they were alone, then hesitantly pulled it out and held it out to her.
(Oops I typoed that was supposed to be can’t not can)
"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. "She told me I ought to talk to you....I was...afraid to."
Sara took it hesitantly, turning it over in her hands. "This...this looks very old."
"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
Jerica furrowed her brow, both confused and slightly hurt. He really thought she’d lost all her humanity, then? “Why?”
“I imagine so,” Ky agreed with a nod, watching her closely. The bone could never ever leave her sight now. Either on her person or within her eyes. Forever.
"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..." He cringed. "I was afraid you wouldn't want anything to do with me..."
"You'll be needing something to keep this on," she murmured. "A necklace."
"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
“Why wouldn’t I?” Jerica looked bewildered. She was bewildered.
“Yeah.” Ky nodded. “But… a long one. I just… I don’t wanna risk having to explain it, you know?”
"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 don't know. I was...I was foolish. I expected too little of you. I'm sorry."
"I understand." She nodded.
"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, no.” Jerica shook her head, waving away his apology. “It… no, it’s fine. I guess… well, you knew me as a kid. And I’m not a kid anymore. It’s… different.”
She absolutely didn’t understand. And she couldn’t, without Ky telling her about Narfi. And Ky couldn’t do that without mentioning he was protecting her from Michael. And Ky absolutely didn’t trust Sara not to tell Gaius about Michael. They were a unit, those two. Ky had to assume if she told one it’d get to the other and probably Sera, too. She’d figured this out.
"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, fixing his eyes down at the ground. "You've still got a big heart," he said quietly. "Even if you're no longer a child."
"Does it work?" she asked.
"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.” Jerica wandered over to the cot nearest her, still well away from him, and sat down. She pressed her back against the headboard and pulled her feet up to her chest. “I’m glad you think so.” Even though it was a lie.
“I… I mean… I assume so.” Ky nodded. Hopefully it’d keep up. “Myna seems to know her stuff.”
"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 sat down on his own cot. "...Is the Governor well?" he asked reluctantly..."
"She sounds wise," Sara mused. "Gaius has told me about her."
"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 Answer to the Great Question... Of Life, the Universe and Everything... Is... Forty-two,' said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm. — Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
