Uriel couldn't believe what she was seeing. She and Anak had both just conveyed a willingness to try this strange custom of his and... What? Was he so sure they would reject him that he didn't even listen? Anak was simply stunned, but he looked warily at his superior as her rage became more and more evident. Her entire body pulsed with increasing speed and intensity, and here eyes glowed with the fires of her ire.<br/><br/>She started stomping toward the room where Ryan had isolated himself and started raving.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Ryan... You stupid, masochistic, sorry son of a--"</span></span>She ripped the door open, and, just before she could scream at him, Anak grabbed her arm and ripped her back with astounding force.<br/><br/><span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Stop, Uriel! You think he would survive if you screamed at him? He's only half Vortian!"</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"It's the custom,"</span></span>she snapped.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"So he will understand that he has FAILED in his effort to court me!"</span></span>She looked at Ryan with hatred.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"You have to LISTEN to those you claim to love! That's an integral, SACRED part of our culture! Yet you seem to go out of your way to convince me that you are DEAF--or so lost in yourself that you may as well be!"</span></span><br/><br/>Finally, she stopped struggling against Anak's grip and lowered her voice.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"I have done everything to try and love you, so that your life and your happiness is not destroyed by my mistakes. But from the beginning, my mistakes were in my attempts to show you kindness. I regret the day I thought I might correct my brother's misdeeds. He was right to try and destroy the humans, rather than let them suffer is a world caught within a war."</span></span><br/><br/>Anak took Uriel's chin and turned her head to face him. Only then did she realize she was crying.<span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Stop,"</span></span>he said.<span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Ilsam intended as little good with his ill as you intended ill with your good. You know this. You also know that it isn't fair to blame him for his lack of knowledge when it comes to our culture. He can't know just how great an offense he's committed. You must be more patient."</span></span><br/><br/>She thought of making a harsh comment back at him, but knew that he wasn't truly as at peace as he seemed. She sighed and noticed that Ryan had been trying to remove the glass cover from the picture frame and took the thing away from him in one swift motion.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Give me that--and listen close!... Both Anak and I are willing to attempt to participate in this romantic custom of yours. But you mustn't tell Velnier or Rhofel."</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"It isn't that I don't trust them or don't think they could come to understand, but if word spread to my family... That just... can't happen. Understand?</span></span>He tried for a human colloquial phrase,<span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Are we good?"</span></span>