Gods. This was going to shit. Poor Ky, out here trying to protect the grown-ups in her life when she had the ghosts of discontent assholes coming after her to haunt her. Zander needed to do something; but what?
"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 what if he says something to her? What if he tells her things?" "We'll discuss this later," Gaius sighed. "We have other things to think about."
"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 actually think that's rather relevant to what we're thinking about," Zander said thoughtfully. "I expect he'd delight at the chance to mess with her head?"
"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]
"Father?' Gaius thought for a moment. "I don't think he'd give a damn. But he was notoriously honest in life."
"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
Zander nodded slowly, then sighed. “Well this does complicate things. Significantly.”
"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 does," he agreed. "So if he is in the room right now--" Tomhas shuddered. "--which I certainly hope he isn't--and decides to tell her, then it's out of our hands."
"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’d rather not potentially leave this in his hands,” Zander said after a moment, voice quiet. “She needs to know how much you love her and that all of this changes none of that. She seemed… to have attachment issues, these days. I fear she’ll think we’re scheming to send her away if we don’t give her at least part of the truth.”
"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, so we call her in now?" Tomhas winced. "What if...what if she takes it poorly?" "Which she will," Gaius said grimly.
"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
“…you know I’ve almost been wondering if it’d be good to tell the girls together,” Zander said after a moment. “Jerica is going to throw an unholy fit over it.” Derik grimaced in agreement. “Which… I think may validate Ky’s emotions about it? Help her see that she’s not overreacting and give her someone who will also be going through this to hold on to. I think they’ll latch on to each other… and I think that will be a net positive, all things considered.”
"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 hesitated. "I suppose I have to defer to you gentlemen. You know the situation better than either of us."
"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
Zander sighed and was quiet for a moment, then said, “I think — unfortunately — the cat is already too far out of the bag for us to keep this from her entirely. And I think it’s safer for us to drive this than risk her finding out from someone else who may only give her a half truth that makes it seem even worse than it is.”
"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 dipped his head. "We all agree, then?" "I still think we should wait," Tomhas said quietly. His hands were twisting into the fabric of his jacket. "This will be so bad for 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
“…what do you think we should tell her, then?” Zander asked after a moment, deciding to hear him out even though he didn’t agree. “You know she’s going to have questions as soon as she sees me. I’m surprised she hasn’t been pestering you about it so far?”
"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 did come to see us," Tomhas admitted, sighing heavily. "...I think we should tell her that she has a birthright from her father's richer side of the family...she said they were merchants but estranged. We should tell her a story about that instead."
"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 just read through that scene for a refresher and whew boy was it a mess lol)
Zander grimaced. “I… think that may have unintended consequences. She’s never met them but she actively hates them… and it doesn’t explain Derik being in Rhaebaki. How are we going to explain the similarity to her? She’s sharp. She’s not going to believe there’s not a close relation here when we look like this.” He gestured at Derik, pointing out how similar the two of them looked.
"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]
