Gaius let out a laugh then, sharp and wistful and bitter all at once. "Oh, to be ignorant..." He limped past her, patting her shoulder with a bony hand. "Read all the books you like, child. Take a few home while you're at it. Gods know they'll all be wasting away here 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
Rana blinked at him. What an odd response from an odd man. She wouldn't be following his advice, of course. He wasn't even a librarian, what authority did he have to be giving away Ash's collection? Absurd. "Uh..." She nodded hesitantly. It seemed like he was done with the conversation. "Okay. Have a nice day." She turned to go back down the aisle she'd been in before.
"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]
"You should accompany me downstairs," he said suddenly, stopping as she tried to leave. "Why did the Reputations send you away? You're a part of this."
"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 tensed, whirling around at his abrupt interjection. "I... who are you, exactly?"
"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]
Gaius wavered, tapping his cane on the floor a couple times. "I live here," he said after a pause. "I'm...I am Gaius."
"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 looked at him suspiciously. "You're the Lord of the Keep?" Her brain was coming to a screeching halt. Her better sense wanted to prostrate herself before him and beg him not to tell her father she hadn't recognized him. The rest of her was having a hard time believing that. This man didn't even seem like he knew his own name, and she was to believe he was the Lord? Hmm...
"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 suppose I am, for the moment. And you're Rana of Ess. A Reputation's child." Or so she believed. He had to take care to remember that she didn't know she was adopted.
"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 faltered. That seemed more convincing. Why would a random man in a library know all that, if he weren't expecting her? "I... am, yes... I apologize for not recognizing you." She bowed slightly. "I meant no disrespect."
"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]
"You've never seen me before," he pointed out. "And I hardly recognize myself. Knowing who and when I am...it's not worth keeping track of." He moved on down the aisle. "Too much to worry about without hanging on to such trivial matters."
"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 nodded and took a hesitant step after him. This was a nightmare. So much for avoiding Ash by hiding in the library. She shouldn't have gone to investigate the noise. Stupid, stupid girl.
"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, you're here," Emery said, seeming unsurprised and a bit relieved to see Gaius. "How...how long have you been here?"
Gaius thought for a moment. "..."
"I won't tell Sara."
"Thank you." He dipped his head.
"But Gaius?" Emery rose and took his shoulder, glancing around for Rana before lowering his voice. "You look...you look really ill. You should talk to Sera, really. Your hair's gone all pale and you don't look like you've had a bit to eat, well...ever."
"I know. You needn't worry, Emery." Gaius patted him on the back half-heartedly. "Really."
"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 hesitated at the end of the shelves, feeling very uncertain of herself. She needed some way to get back to her room. She was starting to spiral. Father would have a cow if she turned up alongside Ash after he had explicitly told her to go to her room and not be a pest. Not to mention she hadn't bothered doing up her makeup or hair to look presentable before running into him. What a disaster.
"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 worry anyway. We all will." He glanced away and saw Rana standing by the shelves.
"I'll see to her," Gaius murmured. "Go." Emery gave him a grateful look, then bowed briefly to Rana and strode away.
"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, gods. She was going to get babysat by Ash himself. How could she get out of this? She shuffled forward.
"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]
Gaius pushed the door open with some effort and held it for her.
"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 how we should measure our lives. Not in distance traveled, or time passed, or worlds conquered, but in moments... and the rush of joy—of grace—that exists within them. — Megatron (Lost Light, by Roberts, Lawrence, Lafuente)
