Lia didn’t particularly want to go, either. But she wasn’t allowed to have feelings. She knew that. Father knew that. Surely the General knew that, too? Still. “I’m quite looking forward to it, ma’am. It should be very interesting.”
"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]
"Interesting's one word for it," she agreed, sitting down. "Word has it Loquitur's got two new daughters," Cairbry mused. "That's correct," Feyer said with a nod. "My sources agree--a newborn and an adopted slave, apparently."
"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
"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 nodded. "He thought she was being mistreated so he took her in as his daughter."
(I just remembered Pratik is from here)
"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
Rana glanced at her, then away, considering this. Perhaps Loquitur was a decent human after all. A scarcity amongst men, and especially amongst nobles.
Her father was certain to side with Tarr.
"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]
"Well, that's silly of him," Cairbry mused. "Another whiny brat for him to care for. I hope she's not as loud as his other children; I thought I'd go deaf when I last visited."
"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
Rana swallowed down the quip that came to mind and poured herself some tea to busy her hands and hopefully keep herself out of trouble.
(You know in the sequel if we do the huge jump then the age gap wouldn’t be gross and we could ship Pratik and Rana like in canon lol)
"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 that's true If you wanna do that then I say go for it)
"Yes, well, Loquiturs are a rowdy bunch. It doesn't help that he married a peasant woman. Not very good breeding--she's a baker's niece or something." "Ugh." Cairbry wrinkled his nose. "I remember hearing about that. Ash did the same."
"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
Rana furrowed her brow but quickly corrected it, not looking up, and hid most of her face with her mug. She hated how entitled everyone was. If Loquitur loved her, what was the issue? There was none.
"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 expect that's softened them both a little." "Tarr dodged a bullet with the Loquitur girl," Cairbry mused. "She was far too young for him, anyway, but to have a peasant's blood...that wouldn't do his children any good." "I expect he'd be upset about Loquitur's kin, too," Feyer added. "They don't look kindly on children born out of wedlock up there."
"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
Gods, this was painful. It was taking every fiber of Rana’s self-control not to react in word or expression.
“How old is Lord Tarr?” Lia asked.
"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]
"Eighteen. Four years older than the Loquitur girl," Feyer replied. "Too old for her at that age. The girl shouldn't be marrying at all."
"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
“That’s only three years older than you!” Lia looked at Rana. “Maybe less, even, depending on when his birthday is.”
“…so?” Rana glanced over at her with a furrowed brow, sipping her tea as she tried to figure out what her point was.
“So if Papa decides to back him then you could marry him.”
Rana physically choked on her tea, sending a spray across the room though she thankfully didn’t hit anyone with 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]
Cairbry wrinkled his nose at that, and General Feyer coughed awkwardly. "I don't think so," Cairbry said, taking a long sip of his tea. "You wouldn't suit him, Rana. And he wouldn't suit you. Besides, I've already got a couple suitors in mind for you."
"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
That did nothing at all to make her feel better. Rana got her coughing under control and looked at her father, bewildered. “What?”
Lia still thought it was a good idea; she didn’t see why they were acting like this.
"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]
Lots of times you have to pretend to join a parade in which you're not really interested in order to get where you're going. — Christopher Darlington Morley
