He glanced at her wide-eyed. "I'm sorry!" He saw the expression on her face and blinked in surprise.
"Hmf."
"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?” She was still grinning. “That’s my name. It should be used.”
“Yeah,” Ky agreed, glancing over her shoulder. She desperately wanted to avoid both Septimus and the library. But she also was curious, morbidly. And wanted to bitch at him for telling Michael, now that she had the charm.
"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]
"But--you--" He paused, closing his eyes for a moment. "I was always told to call you miss," he said quietly. "That's how it's supposed to be."
Sara reached the bedroom door and opened 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
“Meh, miss this, ma’am that.” She waved her hand dismissively. “That’s just for people who don’t like me.”
Ky lingered awkwardly in the doorway.
"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]
Rickard glanced at her, then nodded tightly. "If you want me to call you Jerica, that's what I'll call you."
It was a very neat room with a large bed of fur blankets and a fluffy rug by the fireplace. There were two chairs in front of the fire and a large wardrobe off to the side. Several different canes leaned against the nightstand on one side of the bed, but all but one looked dusty and unused. Sara went to the vanity on the other side of the bed and opened one of the drawers, then pulled out a thin strip of leather from a small box. "Here we go."
"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 want you to call me whatever you want to call me, Rickard. Up to you.” Though she hoped he’d pic Jerica.
Ky’s gaze lingered on the canes for a long moment, but then she looked at Sara. “Thanks!”
"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, glancing at her. "Jerica." He said it tentatively, like he was trying it out.
She nodded. "My pleasure!" She handed Ky the string and exited the room. "Any ghosts in there?"
"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]
"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 settled back against the headboard and let her head rest against the wall. “So have you been up here a while?
Ky glanced back at Sara and shook her head. “Nope.”
"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 thought for a moment. "Several months. The first few were in a caravan on the way to Lord Tarr. Then one of Lord Ash's mercenaries brought me and a few others back here. I've been here a couple months."
"Good." She closed the door and locked 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
Jerica nodded thoughtfully. “And you like it here?”
Ky looked down at the string, realizing she didn’t have the first idea how she was going to tie a bone onto it.
"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 like it better than most places. Sera's here. And the market's nice."
Sara watched her. "Need some help?"
"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 good.” Jerica nodded. “…How do you not freeze to death, though?”
“I… don’t know if… I should… pull it out out here? Where everyone could see.”
"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]
"Lots of tea." He grinned. "Sitting in front of the fire eating soup, bundling up in blankets and warm clothes."
"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
