Gaius had let Zander and Derik take over for the most part.
"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 was getting progressively more and more worked up, which reflected itself in her tone, volume, and the speed at which she paced angrily. Derik and Zander had turned their chairs to be able to watch her but let her go, knowing better than to try to rein in her anxious energy. Best to pace it out than have a right proper outburst about it.
"So Ky's my sister?" Jerica demanded after a while.
Zander nodded.
"What, are we twins or something then?"
He hesitated then nodded. "...multiples, yes... you're quadruplets."
"Fuck," she said weakly, pausing her pacing for the briefest moment before she returned to it with even more intensity than before. "Where are the others?"
"With other foster families." More or less. Gods knew where Rana was these days.
"Do they know the truth?" Jerica demanded.
Zander shook his head.
"I want to meet them."
"No."
"It's not fair for you to keep my family from me, Zander!" she shouted.
"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]
"...Zander and Derik can explain better," he admitted.
Gaius glanced back to where he presumed his father still was. Hopefully Ky was doing better now.
"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 nodded, deciding it wasn't something to waste any of her valuable energy on at this moment. She was too upset. Too exhausted. Not sleeping the past two weeks was already taking its toll on her and now she felt even more exhausted than before.
"Sometimes life isn't fair," Zander said quietly.
"That--"
"No," Zander interrupted. "I've listened to you cutting me off, now you're going to listen to me."
She glared at him but shut up.
"I am very sorry for how much this has hurt you or pissed you off or however you want to put it," Zander said, locking eyes with her. "But I'm not sorry for doing what I had to do to keep you safe. And I will continue doing what I have to do to keep you safe. You've got Ky, now. Get to know her first. We can talk about the others later."
"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
"Fine," she said glumly, looking very small and not looking up at him.
"As if I can trust you to be honest about them," she scoffed. "You're a liar."
Zander didn't argue with her. There was no point, when she was in a mood like this. It'd only be dumping fuel on the fire.
"You both are." Jerica was running out of things to say, for once. The anger was starting to fade just enough to let the hurt creep in. And she'd be damned if she was going to let either of these bastards comfort her or let Ash watch her break down.
"Jer--" Derik started.
"Does Rek know?" she interupted.
"Rek..." Derik sighed.
"Have you been lying to him, or has he been lying to me?" she snarled. "Easy answer."
Derik sighed again. "Rek doesn't know anything about this."
"Good. Would hate to think that every man in my family is a fucking bastard." She turned and ripped the door open, deciding to go have a meltdown at Rek instead. She needed out of this office. It was too oppressive.
"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]
"That went well," Gaius said dryly, facing them now.
"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
A fresh wave of tears dribbled from Ky's eyes and she snuggled into him, closing them tightly. "I don't feel good."
Zander and Derik both sighed, accidentally mirroring each other as they rubbed their faces and glanced back at Gaius.
"Yeah," Zander said flatly. "... honestly could have gone worse, though. 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]
He wrapped an arm around her. "Let's sit awhile, then."
"I agree." Gaius nodded.
"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 nodded and snuggled even deeper into his arms, breathing wobbly. "I'm sorry."
Jerica got to the parlor quickly. The guard that'd escorted them from the parlor to the office had been waiting in the hall and bristled as he came after her, but she didn't deviate from her path whatsoever, on a mission. She ripped the door open.
Akeno, Rek, and Kieran all blinked at her.
Fuck. Kieran. She'd forgotten he'd be here. She couldn't have a meltdown in front of him. But what could she do with him? "...Kieran go to Derik. He's in Ash's office."
"Yes ma'am!" His expression was uncertain but he jumped up instantly and quickly obeyed, striding out into the hall for the soldier to escort him back to the office.
She shut the door behind them with a slam.
"...What happened?" Rek asked after a moment.
"I'm fucking adopted, that's what."
Rek and Akie both gaped.
"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'm sorry, too." He rubbed her shoulder, keeping her in a hug. "More than I can say."
(Whoooa)
"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
Kieran knocked on the office door hesitantly, not at all enjoying the thought of having to be back in public view and on his best behavior in front of Lord Ash without having Jerica to hide behind. But he also knew better than to bother her when she was agitated. Best to just obey.
"What?" Rek asked after a moment, too stunned to come up with anything deeper to say.
"My parents are still alive." She started sobbing, finally letting her defenses crash down around her and bring on the waterworks. "They're-they're not-I'm not--"
Rek and Akeno were both on their feet by now and stepped nearer to her.
Jerica hesitated and then walked into Rek's arms, sobbing. "They lied to me."
(t u r b u l e n t t e e n a g e r)
"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 don't like when I can't help fix things," he sighed.
"Enter," Gaius called.
"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
"Just please don't send me away," she murmured, voice doing that annoying squeak that happens when you've been crying for too long. "Please. That will help."
Kieran timidly pushed the door open, back very straight and eyes very big as he looked at Lord Ash. "Hello."
"Kieran?" Derik furrowed his brow. "What are you doing here?"
"Um... I'm not sure, sir," Kieran admitted. "Jer-Lieutenant Jerica said you wanted me?"
Ah. Trying to get rid of him then, that made sense. "Ah..." Derik nodded. "Come on in, then."
"Yes sir." He shut the door behind him gently.
"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'll never do that." He hugged her tighter. "I promise. I'm gonna try and get you home soon."
Gaius eyed Kieran warily; he still wouldn't sit in his chair.
"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
