Nicholas, startled, jerked away from the door and turned on her in surprise.
"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
“Oh!” She blinked at him, but slipped outside and shut the door behind herself so she wouldn’t embarrass him with the conversation that was to come. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you’d stopped.”
"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]
Nicholas blinked, letting his vision settle before he tried to respond. It was one of the teachers...he couldn't place her name but he knew she didn't go to church--he'd remember her otherwise. Though the other day he'd mistaken Jenny White for Nora Clade--perhaps she did go to church? "I did," he said with a shrug.
"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
“Sorry,” she repeated, then glanced around and was grateful to find the street empty. “… how are you tonight?”
"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]
"Fine." He looked at his watch. "...What time is it?"
"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
“Uhh…” Sadie glanced at her watch as well. “Seven thirteen.”
"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." He blanched. "Oh. Oh, no. I'm late!" He stumbled toward his car. Shit, he didn't have dinner ready, he had probably let the vegetables spoil, he hadn't even fed the dog yet.
"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
“Hey!” Sadie hurried after him, which wasn’t that hard given how badly he was staggering. “How about I give you a ride? I was thinking of taking a drive to clear my head anyhow.”
"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--" He patted his pockets. "I have my keys right here, I can--and my groceries--" They were probably there already. Or worse, they'd left. The meal had been scheduled for six.
"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
“Right… um…” She nodded hesitantly, trying to think of how to broach this in the least offensive manner possible. “I see that… but you live a bit of a drive away, yeah? May be better to uh… you know… I mean better safe than sorry, you know?”
"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]
Yes, that was true. She was right. Of course she was right. Nicholas looked desperately toward his car. "The roads're slippery when it rains," he said absently. "And they bend..." He looked toward her. "I don't wanna put you out...it's late...and the roads're dangerous up there, you know."
"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
“No bother.” She shook her head, offering a disarming smile. “I like driving.” She jingled her keys. “I’d be happy to give you a ride. Shall we grab your groceries real quick?”
"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]
"They're all ruined," he mumbled, taking a step toward the car and nearly falling off the curb. He flushed in embarrassment and popped the trunk.
"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
Sadie steadied him. “Mm… happens to the best of us.”
"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]
Nicholas pulled out two of the bags. The lettuce was ruined, as he expected, but everything else seemed alright. He sighed heavily.
"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
Thomas Edison's last words were "It's very beautiful over there.” I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful. — John Green, Looking for Alaska
