He didn't respond, wiping at his eyes and walking away in the direction he'd been going before.
"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 felt even worse about herself and continued to her room.
"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
(Good with me, I’ve got nothing further to add. Where 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]
(Hmmm not sure. Do we wanna have some Ky and Jerica solidarity and maybe Gaius talking to one of your other characters?)
"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
(Sure! That sounds good to me. I think Akeno and Rek have sort of been left in limbo through all of this if we want to bring them in with Gaius somehow? I think both girls need a few hours to cool off and nap before we bring them together tho so that may be irrelevant? Not sure. Maybe we skip to this evening?)
"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 another thought is maybe starting to slowly establish Rana as a character, maybe hopping over to the East or something? We can set that up a little further down the line if you like and discuss the East in more detail on Discord.)
(We can skip to evening and then maybe Akeno and/or Rek run into Gaius while they're in the Keep?)
"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
(Sure! That sounds good to me. I’ll theoretically be free after around 5:30 or so. Have someone coming over to learn how to pet sit at 5 and not sure how prompt she’ll be but I’ll be around the rest of the evening to brainstorm more about that)
(And sure that sounds good! Would they be escorted but assigned rooms in the Keep and allowed to wander? Or what’s the sitch?)
"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]
(Yeah they'd be escorted and given rooms but they can wander for sure)
"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
Akeno was worried. Zander had shown up out of nowhere and whisked Jerica away with the promise of violence, but not really explained anything to them about what was going on, leaving him piece together Jer’s profanity and angry muttering about being kidnapped and not an Ainsley. He’d been in his room ever since someone showed it to him but he was getting restless at having been forgotten and now decided to wander in hopes of running into her to see how she was doing. Hopefully she was okay.
Zander had spent his evening hopping back and forth between Ky and Jerica and eventually coaxed them both into sleeping, at least a little. And he’d fed Jerica, which had improved things as well. Now he’d managed to convince the girls it was time to meet up and got them in a parlor then decided to leave to give them space.
Ky curled up on the sofa with her knees pulled to her chest; Jerica paced anxiously in front of the fireplace. Neither broke the silence yet.
"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 had returned to the library and resumed his book. He'd gotten Tomhas up to bed at least, but he hadn't seen his brother this broken in years. He looked ten years older; it was concerning that he'd been less talkative after Viol's visit but this was downright disturbing. He would have to talk to Sera.
"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
Akeno highly doubted Jerica would be in the library but he wasn’t finding her anywhere else so figured may as well check. If nothing else maybe Rek was in here for him to ask. He wandered in, managing not to gawk but only barely as he wandered through the aisles rubber necking.
“…I’ve never had a sister before,” Jerica said finally, not looking at Ky as she pretended to inspect the mantle instead. “… nor have I ever been one… so I don’t know how to be a decent sibling… but… I will do my best to learn.”
She was seeming more militaristic than she meant to or even realized she was. Tense and uncomfortable trying to navigate emotions.
Ky was curled in a ball watching her in silence.
“And I swear to you that you will always be safe in my presence,” Jerica continued. “Both from myself and anyone else. They’ll have to get through me to get to you… and so far no one has gotten through 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]
Gaius glanced up, watching the boys wander the library. He didn't say anything yet; he was sure they'd be uncomfortable in a noble's presence, especially if he singled them out.
"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
Akeno didn’t notice him at first, too fixated on all the grandiosity around him to pay attention to the seating area even though he was still walking vaguely in that direction.
“I… appreciate that,” Ky’s voice was weak and sounded strained from all her crying earlier. “I… would like to get to know you… if that’s something you want?”
Jerica nodded quickly, pleased to hear that. She’d gotten herself in a tizzy earlier fretting that Ky hated her already. “Yes! Yes, for sure. I… would like that also.”
"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
