Board Thread:Roleplay/@comment-31049256-20180109050017/@comment-28358106-20180117184507

(Scorn /S9) Thomas listens to Imperia with an initially neutral expression, but his brow furrows in skepticism as she continues. When she pauses, he interjects.

"So, let me see if I have this right," he says, his voice barely containing his incredulity, "You're saying that Armata is making up for murdering people by restraining himself from not murdering people?"

Regina pauses attending to Maria's dress and turns to them. "Thomas..." she begins.

"No, I'd like to see what's down this rabbit hole." Thomas takes another swig and swallows.

"I did see the inside of Armata's old castle, yes. Besides the enslaved spirits that tried to slaughter me and the Harpy that I rescued---who was, against all odds, still alive despite missing half her organs---the one thing that stuck out the most was the undead proto-god that he tried to resuscitate with the warm blood of tens of thousands of innocent people."

Regina's mouth drops open, her pupils dilating as she gasps slowly at what she's just heard. Her hand slackens and she drops her handkerchief, which she fumbles and hastily picks up again. It's obvious that she hasn't heard the details of what went on when Thomas, Marcus and Jorge left to confront Armata.

Thomas continues, his voice even. "So, it's understandable if people don't trust him. Why should they?  Because he's no longer using corpses to fill the mortar of his castle walls?  What's the qualifier for turning over a new leaf if the entire tree has been watered with blood?"

His eyes don't leave Imperia as he drains his glass, the ice falling back with a tinkling chime when he lowers it. Regina remains wide-eyed, breathing shakily and looking back and forth between them.