\\ Get my pretty name out of your mouth \\
It was the same story Asta had told her, but tinged with such shame and mortification that Thal was inclined to believe she might actually regret her actions, even if she could still sense the stubborn morality that had instigated the problem to begin with. Having been strung along by her own instincts during numerous fights, she could attest for the difficulty in finding the line; there were some things that the Maea couldn't have known when speaking with Asta, and they both knew she had a knack for finding the vulnerable parts of a person without needing a map to guide her words. Everything in her wanted to believe that Maea had learned enough not to repeat her actions, to realize where she'd gone wrong, how her fixation with 'right' and 'wrong' ostracized her from people - from her people. Yet an anger still simmered, protective and hurt and unable to drop the issue without speaking her mind.
Although quiet at first, Thal's tone was no less firm, a scowl on her face. "I can understand getting caught in the moment and being unaware of his past, but do you realize that you asked him to kill you if you ever started acting like him? You pretty much told him that he's such a despicable, abhorrent monster that he deserves to die - that you would rather die than ever be like him!" Her volume increased with the words, still disbelieving at the audacity like the very insult had been said to her.
Stepping closer, she pointed an accusing finger at Maea. "You may not agree with how he deals punishments or how he handles his bloodlust, but Asta is a good person who doesn't deserve to be judged for how he survives. None of us do." She swiped her hand dismissively like she might just be talking on behalf of all Ancients - all of Caido. Because they'd all been through things, and no matter what that was, they shouldn't be shamed for how they chose to deal with it, including Asta. And perhaps that was just her own bias, but she had been the recipient of his kinder side, the one that was gentle and understanding, the one that made her feel less like half a person and more like her. He had never lied to her. He had never pushed her away despite her biting words. And he had never ever judged her. And, honestly, that made him one of the best people she knew.
Although quiet at first, Thal's tone was no less firm, a scowl on her face. "I can understand getting caught in the moment and being unaware of his past, but do you realize that you asked him to kill you if you ever started acting like him? You pretty much told him that he's such a despicable, abhorrent monster that he deserves to die - that you would rather die than ever be like him!" Her volume increased with the words, still disbelieving at the audacity like the very insult had been said to her.
Stepping closer, she pointed an accusing finger at Maea. "You may not agree with how he deals punishments or how he handles his bloodlust, but Asta is a good person who doesn't deserve to be judged for how he survives. None of us do." She swiped her hand dismissively like she might just be talking on behalf of all Ancients - all of Caido. Because they'd all been through things, and no matter what that was, they shouldn't be shamed for how they chose to deal with it, including Asta. And perhaps that was just her own bias, but she had been the recipient of his kinder side, the one that was gentle and understanding, the one that made her feel less like half a person and more like her. He had never lied to her. He had never pushed her away despite her biting words. And he had never ever judged her. And, honestly, that made him one of the best people she knew.
Thalassa
