"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
"Briefly," Jerica said with a nod. "A moment ago."
"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]
"Oh." He nodded too. "Okay, cool." He glanced at Sera. "Are you taking her back to the barracks?" "I was, yes." "Please do that. Good to meet you, Lieutenant." Tomhas smiled quickly.
"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
Something was very off about his conversation. His energy. Anxiety. But it wasn't her place to push, especially since it was so painfully apparent that he was desperate to get away from her. She nodded, forcing herself to be polite even though she didn't want to be. "You 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]
Tomhas grinned harder and then hurried back downstairs.
"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
"Aren't you--?" Jerica blinked, watching him go, then glancing at Sera. "Looking for Ky?" Ky was upstairs, not down. They'd just told him that.
"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]
Sera frowned. "I thought he was," she mused. "Let's get back to the barracks."
"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 and started down the stairs. Something was very, very wrong here. And she couldn’t figure out what.
Ky had made it down the back set of stairs and now was hurrying towards Gaius’s office. She didn’t know what she planned on doing once she got there. But she was panicking which didn’t lead to good critical thinking on her part. She knocked on his door harder than she meant to.
"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]
Tomhas was halfway down the stairs when Ky reached the door.
Gaius opened it readily, expecting Tomhas or Sera, and was shocked to see Ky standing there. "...Yes?"
"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
“Please don’t let them take me back.” She glanced past his shoulder to be sure there were no Ainsleys inside, then back at Gaius, frantic. “Please don’t let them take me back! I’ll do better! I promise! I’ll eat — every meal, I swear it — and-and I’ll take up the lessons — and — and — I’ll do better I promise but please don’t let them take me back. Please.” Tears were pricking her eyes but not falling yet as she looked at him in utter desperation.
"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]
"What?" Gaius waved her inside, frowning. "What on earth are you talking about, child?"
"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 Septimus was telling the truth. Gaius was trying to hide this from her.
“I know they’re here for me.” Her voice was wobbly as she shuffled inside. “Please don’t let them take me I promise I’ll be better. I’ll try harder. I promise. Please.”
"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]
"Who? D'Ara? She has no idea you're here." He shut the door and gestured to a chair. "Sit."
"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
She desperately didn’t want to sit. But she needed to prove her sincerity. Her willingness towards compliance. So she sat heavily, bouncing her leg anxiously. “You’re really not even going to tell me?” The first few tears fell and she wiped them away roughly. The betrayal stung.
"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]
Gaius limped to the other side of the desk and sat down, reaching into a drawer. He pulled out two glasses and a bottle of translucent golden liquid, which he poured into the glasses. Then he pushed one towards her. "Have a drink, take a few deep breaths, and then tell me what's happening."
"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
