// May the road rise up to meet you //
Intent and perception was not the same. Here was another misunderstanding between them, where Maea had read the lack of care as a lack of interest – and ever the fawning people pleaser too afraid of loneliness to be a bother, she had censured herself rather than cause offense. Ironic how that had led to this.
"It doesn't look good because it isn't," she replied steadily, mouth drooping into a frown. "I'm not proud of what happened, I am sick to my core with myself for even being capable of doing what I did to Asta. Especially since I approached him to try and understand, and compromise, and help – " Breaking off to take a deep breath, her eyes narrowed coldly on the younger Ancient. " – but I'll talk about it anyway. If you keep your temper in check. I will not be threatened in my own house, nor will I tolerate screaming or violence. If you can't manage that then you can return another day, when you are ready to to talk."
Or at least listen without flying off the handle. The Maea of before might have offered to spar first, to work off some steam or allow the pirate to take out the ire on her. Today, she saw how that way of thinking had opened up for abusive behaviour she did not tolerate within herself anymore, and would not be allowing from anyone else. If this was a problem that couldn't be solved without violence, then it would have to remain a problem. It was a new boundary she drew, odd and uncomfortable – but if Thal couldn't accept it, they really didn't have a hope of finding a middle ground between them.
"It doesn't look good because it isn't," she replied steadily, mouth drooping into a frown. "I'm not proud of what happened, I am sick to my core with myself for even being capable of doing what I did to Asta. Especially since I approached him to try and understand, and compromise, and help – " Breaking off to take a deep breath, her eyes narrowed coldly on the younger Ancient. " – but I'll talk about it anyway. If you keep your temper in check. I will not be threatened in my own house, nor will I tolerate screaming or violence. If you can't manage that then you can return another day, when you are ready to to talk."
Or at least listen without flying off the handle. The Maea of before might have offered to spar first, to work off some steam or allow the pirate to take out the ire on her. Today, she saw how that way of thinking had opened up for abusive behaviour she did not tolerate within herself anymore, and would not be allowing from anyone else. If this was a problem that couldn't be solved without violence, then it would have to remain a problem. It was a new boundary she drew, odd and uncomfortable – but if Thal couldn't accept it, they really didn't have a hope of finding a middle ground between them.
Maea
// May the wind be at your back //
