"Aww!" Sadie parked the car, being sure not to hit the dog, and also opened her door to get out, hoping the dog came to her side of the car.
"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 dog came to Nicholas first, nearly knocking him over as he frantically licked at his face. Nicholas leaned against the car, dizzy, and Uther made for Sadie next, barking excitedly. The door of the cabin opened and a man stepped out. He was about average height but sturdily built, with arms like a lumberjack's and a beard to match. He had a round, childlike face with friendly eyes and dark hair. He was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, and as he saw Nicholas he hurried forward. "Dad! Holy cow, I was just about to go look for you." Nicholas looked up with bleary eyes and adjusted his glasses. "Martin?" "We got here early." He hugged Nicholas tightly, then pulled away momentarily. Nicholas assumed he could smell the beer. "...We thought you might be in town but we figured we'd give it awhile before we started worrying..."
"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 had bent down to greet Uther and had promptly gotten slammed into her car and then the ground, and now was getting licked all over and laughing, unable to fend the dog off. "Good puppy! Who's a good boy! Uther's a good boy!"
"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]
Martin looked over and snapped his fingers. "Hey, Uther, down!" The dog gave Sadie another lick and then bounded over to Martin, sniffing at him and then Nicholas. Martin approached Sadie, holding out a hand to help her up. "Hi, I'm sorry about that. He's a bit of a handful. I don't think we've met, miss....?"
"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
"Haha, not at all." Sadie grinned, taking his hand and pulling herself up. "That was the best thirty seconds of my day so far. Thanks! Sadie. Sadie Lovett. I'm assuming you're the son?"
"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]
"Martin Aspen." He nodded. "Nice to meet you--and thank you for seeing him home safely. I'm so, so sorry about it; I was just heading out to get him. Thank you." He gave an embarrassed smile, and Nicholas rested himself against the porch post. The door opened again and a young woman came out as well, dressed in a long skirt with her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. "Dad!" She gave him a tight hug, and Nicholas coughed. "We were so worried."
"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
"Don't mention it." Sadie waved her hand dismissively, then lowered her voice so it wouldn't embarrass him. "His car's parked downtown. So, y'know, tomorrow..."
"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]
"Sure, sure." He nodded. "Absolutely." He glanced over his shoulder at his father and sister. "Are you one of the parishioners here, then?"
"I was fine," Nicholas mumbled, returning the hug. "I always am." "Except when you're not." She held him at arm's length, looking him over. "You're definitely not. Come on in and let me pour you a glass of water, okay? I had scrounge up some pasta from the back of the pantry, but you don't look like you can eat that right now, am I right?" He nodded miserably. "Right." She glanced toward Sadie. "Who's that?"
"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, um… no,” Sadie said with an awkward shake of her head. “I’m not. I was just at the pub and saw him leaving and… was a little concerned… so…” she shrugged awkwardly. “Good Samaritan but not a good Christian, I guess,” she joked.
"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]
"Hey, no judgement here." He gave a half smile. "Thank you, anyhow. He's...sometimes he needs a bit more help than he'll admit. I'm sorry again. How can we make it up to you? Have you had dinner?"
"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, no, no, I’m fine,” Sadie insisted, waving her hand. “It’s no big deal, really. I’m happy to help.” She smiled a bit. “Oh, uh, he had some groceries.” She turned and started pulling them out of her backseat.
"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]
Martin went to help her. "We're seriously in your debt, though. A lot of people around here just let him drive home when he's like this, 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
“That’s disgusting.” She shook her head. “I’m so sorry. The people here are… mm… I have a different life philosophy, I guess.” She handed him the bags. “I’m glad he’s… safe, despite people. I got my keys taken so many times when I was younger. As I should have.”
"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 chuckled. "Yeah, Mary there had a similar thing going on. A real rebel." "Ha ha." Mary rolled her eyes at him.
"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]
