[ Zara blinks, frowning. The monsters he's known have all had human faces. She seems to understand that much, as well. Whatever she is, it clearly weighs heavily on her mind. ]
... Perhaps I should rephrase. Your heart doesn't look like a monster's heart to me. [ with a serious expression, he gazes straight at her. ] Your blood doesn't matter. I've met people of many, many species, and all of them are characterized by their actions, not the shape of their ears. To judge them otherwise is dangerous and foolish.
... Everyone here is different.... like how my friends were. [ It's a soft admittance. ] And it's hard to get used to. I keep thinking if I'm not careful, someone might be afraid of me and what I am.
[ gently, he shakes his head. ] Of course we do. The world I hail from is far from perfect.
[ but Nesso - and Huma in general - aren't the ones that do most of the discrimination. That comes from the race in power: the Katzi. Even then, there are the Wolves, and even his own race, both of which have been marginalized by society. But the details are complicated, and now isn't the time. ]
But our country was founded on equality between races, and most of us - Nesso included - still believe in that.
That power only happens when I activate it, and I can just make people stop moving. My mother could do it, though. [ And it cost her her life, so-- yeah. ]
Just ... after so long of reading about it, and hearing Mother talk about it, and... seeing it for myself, it's kind of hard not to think of myself like that. Like a monster. Even if I tell myself I'm different.
[ so she's not full-blooded, then - her father must have been a human. That's what he takes from it. It's an unusual concept for him, as there are no half-breeds in his world - at least not among people. ]
... That's all right. It takes time to heal wounds like that. [ he understands that much personally. ] That's why it's important that I remind you.
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... Perhaps I should rephrase. Your heart doesn't look like a monster's heart to me. [ with a serious expression, he gazes straight at her. ] Your blood doesn't matter. I've met people of many, many species, and all of them are characterized by their actions, not the shape of their ears. To judge them otherwise is dangerous and foolish.
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[ he thinks you're cute, mary! ]
I'm sorry that you had to deal with prejudice like that.
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[ but Nesso - and Huma in general - aren't the ones that do most of the discrimination. That comes from the race in power: the Katzi. Even then, there are the Wolves, and even his own race, both of which have been marginalized by society. But the details are complicated, and now isn't the time. ]
But our country was founded on equality between races, and most of us - Nesso included - still believe in that.
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[ Then again, Mary's race seemed to only consist of three people, and two of them were gone. ]
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[ sadly, it ends up being mostly an ideal. ]
... May I ask what you are, Mary? I promise that I won't be afraid.
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Do you know what a medusa is?
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[ he racks his brain for the term, but comes up with nothing. ]
I'm afraid not.
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Well, it doesn't seem to be working on me. [ a pause. ] You're not a monster because of how you were born, Mary.
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Just ... after so long of reading about it, and hearing Mother talk about it, and... seeing it for myself, it's kind of hard not to think of myself like that. Like a monster. Even if I tell myself I'm different.
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... That's all right. It takes time to heal wounds like that. [ he understands that much personally. ] That's why it's important that I remind you.
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