Ky nodded, still blushing but forcing herself to take a deep breath. “…Thank you…I’ll… figure it out.” Maybe. She really wasn’t sure what had just happened.
"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]
"Okay." He nodded and entered his room. "Goodnight." He shut the door.
"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 turned and headed for her room, very conflicted. She felt like a traitor. And very, very confused. Best to just go lay down.
"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]
(Okay whenever Ky drifts to sleep we gonna have something happen. She's a light sleeper I assume?)
"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 hung up her coats and spent a while pacing anxiously in front of her fireplace. What would Papa think if he heard her almost call another man by his name? Would he be hurt, or happy she’d found a surrogate? Of course nothing could replace the bond they’d had. Ever. And she didn’t want it to.
And yet it felt like something deep within her did want more of a bond with her adoptive parents. Something to make her feel like a real member of the family not just the stray barn cat they’d picked up along the way.
Speaking of cats…
She went and found Petrir, then settled down with him curled up next to her neck and drifted off to a light, fitful sleep. It was the only type of sleep she had these days, usually.
"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]
A few hours into the night, there was the sound of the lock on Ky's door turning.
"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 rolled over, slightly roused but not conscious enough to know what had done 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]
It clicked, then the doorknob very slowly rattled and rotated.
"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’s eyes snapped open, brain instantly processing what that noise was. She wasn’t allowed to have a lock on the inside of her door at Aleth’s but she’d woken plenty of times to him opening the door and striding in. Her entire body went tense, anxiety stabbing through her in an instant.
Aleth?
She shook the thought away. He wasn’t here. He wasn’t.
Michael?
Had Narfi warned him Gaius was going to get her a new lock?
Gods.
Gods, gods, 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]
The door very slowly creaked open, and after a long pause, someone's head slid into the narrow crack. Their face was hidden in the darkness, but there was the outline of long, loose hair and a thick beard.
"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 quickly closed her eyes, deciding to pretend to be asleep even though her heart was beating so hard it was painful. Who was that? Why was he here? Why was he coming into her room? She’d been here far too long at this point to believe that anyone would still think this room was vacant. Which meant this was intentional. Who was this? What did he want with her? She forced herself to keep breathing.
"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 person came into the room very carefully, shutting the door behind him so he was shielded completely in darkness. Then he approached her bed.
"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 couldn’t breathe anymore, her body was too tense. She focused all her energy on not trembling; not crying. Who was this? Why was he here? She was so scared. What should she do?
"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 bent beside her, studying her carefully. There was no breath on her neck but he was that close. Then he turned to the nightstand and started opening drawers.
"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
Her chest ached with the effort it took to stay still. She was terrified. What was he after? What had she left in there? She tentatively cracked opened an eye in hopes of catching a glimpse of whatever he was planning to take.
"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 am not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. "I am with you.” — Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
