Old habits die hard

They were actually talking while torturing the cow. Az expressed that he was glad she had improved and the young woman merely shrugged. She wasn't fully sure of herself still, but she'd made drastic improvement. It didn't matter that her advice didn't pertain to him, it mattered that she had shown him a little bit of vulnerability and he was reciprocating. Ears perked as he spoke of his end goal, but then that brow rose again as he spoke of Hanako. Of course it was Hanako.

"Personally, I'm not a fan of Hanako. She's too..." the girl gestured with one paw and shook her head. Azure obviously felt positively towards her, so speaking negatively would only shut him down. "I'm glad that she makes you feel good though." At least knowing that would keep the cream and grey girl from making the spotted leech's life hell. No matter how Azure felt around her, she would never like Hanako. The woman just wasn't good enough for her brother. She was a nameless nothing and as such would bring their family name nothing.

Az went on to speak of the second woman. Venom. That was a little interesting. She'd spoken to Venom a few times and she didn't dislike the future empress of the Ashen Empire. Aslatiel refused to see her as being superior, but she also refused to see the Armada as the vassals of that empire. It seemed as though Venom liked Azure in kind and had offered him a seat as Emperor. Well... that was definitely very interesting. Aslatiel would have jumped at the chance for the highest position if she were in his place.

Aslatiel gave a stretch and rolled her head from side to side, mulling over her thoughts before putting them into words. "Venom would be the more strategic choice. She's strong and intelligent. From your seat there, just imagine what you could do for the Armada." The girl's expression grew serious as she looked to her brother. "I believe with her, you two would be equals. Whereas with Hanako, I don't know that she would be able to really be your true counterpart." To her, the woman seemed like the kind to sit on a fur pillow and be fawned over. Eye candy and nothing more.

As her brother moved to kill the elk, Asla watched. She could see the warring thoughts in his mind. His next words brought a soft chuckle from her and she shook her head. "No, I don't think that's the answer either. Just like me, I don't think you're meant to be alone." She couldn't tell Azure of her love for their brother. If he was too much like their father, he would be disgusted with them both.

Az suggested that she sterilize him and Aslatiel playfully raised one paw, claws flashing into view. Moving close to her brother, she leaned against his side before reaching up and giving him a kiss on the cheek. It was the most true affection she'd ever shown him. Usually it was all bloody fun. "The most worthwhile decisions seem to be the hardest ones. Maybe that's what makes them so important." She wished that she could help him more, but perhaps the best thing that she could do was to simply be there for him. She could listen and be his support.