"How about treating her like a human being?" Finn snapped in return, pushing Florence back. "If you aren't your father, how about you act like it? I know what she's going to face and she doesn't need you adding onto it."

Alma stepped beside Lily, one hand on her shoulder. It was only a matter of time before something like this had happened and she was... not willing to step in this time. This was the consequence of their actions. She pulled Lily back, shaking her head minutely.

"You look at me plenty and you don't say anything. Don't give me some loaded bull excuse, Florence, just do better," the winged man replied sharply, his voice wavering as he struggled to keep calm. "She definitely doesn't need it from you. The only reason we kept you around was because you supposedly know where the gods are. You want me to think you're not like your father? Act like it. Show me that you aren't and we might have a different conversation, yeah? Yeah. Turn around and do something useful," he leaned back, his shoulders squaring firmly. At his sides, his fists clenched and unclenched.

Alma sighed lightly. That blazing fury... the riled up anger... that wasn't Tazette, for sure. The man hardly ever got riled up--if he did, it was a calm anger. Something so subtle... it felt dangerous.

---

Xevon shook his head lightly, glancing toward Callisto in some panic as he coughed out. "No no, if he was, he wouldn't say anything. Besides, Alma is right there. She can chew him out..."

He waved one hand. "When you went out--I got riled up, I'm going to admit it. I was frustrated and angry but I know that if I do anything... Alma will tan my hide. I kinda... just grabbed him in a headlock and mussed up his hair..."

Xevon rubbed the back of his neck. "It was the closest I could get to ... beating him, I guess. But he... hardly fought at all, just--he was afraid to touch me, like holding something glass and fragile, y'know?"

He stepped through the gardens with a small sigh.

"He thinks I'm a relic."