[ He’s not entirely surprised - speaking to Colonel Une, in that specific personality, would’ve yielded more violent results if he’d attempted to talk reason in her height of fervor. ]

[ Still. While he’s been more of his father’s son during these last few minutes than he’s been in … years, he can’t let that slide. His eyes narrowed slightly. ]

I have neither mocked nor goaded you. I have certainly not baited you. I’ve been more honest about my past with you, a stranger, than I am with most because I believed you would understand it. It’s in that way I’ve used her name with respect.

And do not speak to me as if being a villain makes you a martyr. That, too, was a part I played and it was folly. I do not fault you for your loyalty, I’ve made that clear. But pretending I’ve insulted you to hide behind a mask of pride? That is what I find especially foolish now.

I cannot speak for what others have done, or said. But rejecting my civility and plea for peace in a place we have to literally fuck to survive - an inherently ridiculous situation no one wants to cope with - think on that for a while.

I’m not even suggesting you must be civil with your enemies. I’m recommending everyone not attack each other when there is nothing to be gained for it.

[ Likewise, he also got to his feet. He thought he was being baited before? Zechs specifically avoided mentioning that whom he loves - he wanted to speak to him as the outside party he is. But Zechs was also serious about not allowing any harm to come to him; ]

You refuse me the civility of a name - but I shall remain so civil with you.

My name is Zechs Merquise. Soon to be Zechs Merquise-Gloucester.