Thalassa
She expects anger or disgust, but only finds understanding in Asta's eyes. It deflates the guilt, pulling it from her grasp and leaving her with his compassion that sits awkwardly in her chest. From anyone else, she would question the sincerity or motives, wondering what angle he's playing. But Asta has never lied to her, and his outside perspective isn't something she can argue with when she's always been overly critical.
Watching his petal begin to smolder, Thal laughs a little sharply. "Doesn't everyone have ulterior motives?" Her head shakes, scattering shadows across her face. "No. I think the point is that I should leave things at one night. Anything more just invites problems and overfamiliarity." Keep it simple like she used to. Even names might be too much. And forget vulnerability. That's a word she'd like to torch then sink into the deepest depths of the oceans.
As for his own experiences, she pushes off from the counter, a quiet intensity about her. "You didn't deserve to nearly die because of it." Thal snags another glass, pouring a generous portion and offering him the glass. A real smile appears on her face this time, crooked and trademarked with her sharp confidence. "But I'm selfish, and glad it brought you here." To this time. To her. She would never wish for him to go through such a trauma again, but she wouldn't change his past. It makes him who he is, and she rather likes Asta in all of his jagged edges. Maybe she'd feel the same one day.
Stepping forward to take another petal, her movement stutters with the reminder of what it means to be cured. She clenches her jaw, eyes narrowing at the thought of what horrors she'd now be privy to, plucking a dull piece of red from the Rose. "I suppose I will..." Sighing loudly, she doesn't hesitate this time as she lets it go up in smoke. "Another gift to thank Pierce for." And hopefully the last.
Watching his petal begin to smolder, Thal laughs a little sharply. "Doesn't everyone have ulterior motives?" Her head shakes, scattering shadows across her face. "No. I think the point is that I should leave things at one night. Anything more just invites problems and overfamiliarity." Keep it simple like she used to. Even names might be too much. And forget vulnerability. That's a word she'd like to torch then sink into the deepest depths of the oceans.
As for his own experiences, she pushes off from the counter, a quiet intensity about her. "You didn't deserve to nearly die because of it." Thal snags another glass, pouring a generous portion and offering him the glass. A real smile appears on her face this time, crooked and trademarked with her sharp confidence. "But I'm selfish, and glad it brought you here." To this time. To her. She would never wish for him to go through such a trauma again, but she wouldn't change his past. It makes him who he is, and she rather likes Asta in all of his jagged edges. Maybe she'd feel the same one day.
Stepping forward to take another petal, her movement stutters with the reminder of what it means to be cured. She clenches her jaw, eyes narrowing at the thought of what horrors she'd now be privy to, plucking a dull piece of red from the Rose. "I suppose I will..." Sighing loudly, she doesn't hesitate this time as she lets it go up in smoke. "Another gift to thank Pierce for." And hopefully the last.
Don't ask questions you don't wanna know
Learned my lesson way too long ago
Learned my lesson way too long ago
