She flinched. “Sorry.” She clasped her hand over the small scab she’d created, hiding it from view.
"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]
"Just put your hands down for now," Anneke suggested, concerned. "You're not in trouble."
"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.” Her eyes stung with unshed tears and she buried her hands in her pockets, chest tight. She felt in trouble. How was she supposed to put her hands down? They didn’t detach.
"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're not a seer," Anneke went on hesitantly. "Right?"
"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.” She nodded, forcing herself to take a deep breath. “I’m…” she glanced up hesitantly, trying to gauge her reaction. “A… herald… for Haelar… he came to talk to me.”
"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]
Anneke was quiet for a moment. "What does heralding entail?"
"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
“I’m not sure.” Her voice was very quiet, and she had to grab the lining of her pockets to resist the urge to pull her hands back out to dig at them again. “I… know I’ve got to… tell people he’s waking up. And… and tell people his messages. I guess he’ll start giving them to me in dreams. I don’t 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]
"But he's asleep. He shouldn't be able to contact you, right?"
"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
“He did.” She shrugged, embarrassed. “I… I’m not crazy. I know what I saw. It was him.”
"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]
"Did you..." Tomhas hesitated, then stopped himself. "Are you gonna he okay? Will he let you go?"
"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
“He… didn’t ask if I wanted to be. He just said I was,” she said hesitantly. “But… I don’t mind. I… think he’ll protect us all if I do.”
"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]
"How can you know that, though?" Anneke asked. "What if he's lying?" "The stories don't see Haelar as much of a liar," Tomhas said quietly. "Dreams are lies, true, but they're lies that expose truths about ourselves. He values a roundabout sort of honesty."
"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
“And he let me see my father,” she said very quietly.
"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]
Anneke blinked and glanced at Tomhas. Tomhas shifted uncomfortably. "...How was she?" she asked hesitantly.
"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
“Good.” She hesitated. “…he… is… happy about this.” She gestured at them vaguely. “He… said he wants me to have a living family to…”
"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]
