"It's a small town, but if your family hasn't lived here at least two generations then you're not part of the family." He put his glasses back on. "They tolerate me because I came recommended by the last pastor. We went to seminary together."
"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]
"Reverend Pinkerton. Good man, may he rest in peace. Gave me a place to stay after everything, helped me get settled in the community before he passed."
"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... that's nice of him." Sadie dipped her head. "Do you like it here?"
"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 shrugged. "It's not New York, so it's fine for my needs. The people here are nice enough. But very judgy."
"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]
"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
"Meyer." She shrugged. "I don't much mind where I live as long as it's with him. And he wanted to move here. So. Here we are." Though they'd had a few conversations about leaving at the end of this school year. It was starting to get to them both that they couldn't really live to be their authentic selves in this self-righteous, judgy hellscape. It felt smothering. They missed the suburbs and nightlife.
"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]
"Were you both picturing the romantic Appalachia rather than the real Appalachia?"
"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
"Heh." Sadie scratched her chin with a mirthless grin. "You could put it that way. It's... a little different than what we're used to, yeah."
"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]
"Mhm. There was a couple who moved here a couple years before you, thinking they'd get a cabin in the woods up in the mountains and enjoy the nice little town. They were out by Christmas the following year."
"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 grimaced. "... Yeah... as you said, it's definitely... othering... when you move here unsolicited."
"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]
"Best to have an in before moving. Otherwise people won't give you the time of day."
"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 shrugged. "They didn't put that warning on the lease," she said dryly.
"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]
"No, well, the real estate agents are vultures. They don't live here but they try to get others to fall into the trap."
"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
