"I truly and sincerely hope I am." The words are soft, something almost small and frail about them. Thace turns and reaches up, gladly accepting the tassel wrapping around his hand. "Having a partner, friend, family to be by my side... I'm selfish, I admit, but I want to grab onto it and not let go."
He meets Entrapta's gaze. "The Galra Empire conquered and enslaved. Entire species were wiped out, planets and systems reduced to lifeless dust. A favored pastime of the soldiers was forcing those slaves into an arena to fight other slaves, or non-sentient creatures driven by starvation and abuse into attacking anything in front of them. I was not much older than the relative age of the children here the first time I was taken, and expected to eagerly scream for blood and death. I was sickened and horrified instead, and I still bear the scars."
He looks away. "I want to be wrong, but all I see when I look around me is the hand of cruelty covered with soft gloves and bright adornments. I haven't been able to convince myself that I'm seeing dark connections where there are none."
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He meets Entrapta's gaze. "The Galra Empire conquered and enslaved. Entire species were wiped out, planets and systems reduced to lifeless dust. A favored pastime of the soldiers was forcing those slaves into an arena to fight other slaves, or non-sentient creatures driven by starvation and abuse into attacking anything in front of them. I was not much older than the relative age of the children here the first time I was taken, and expected to eagerly scream for blood and death. I was sickened and horrified instead, and I still bear the scars."
He looks away. "I want to be wrong, but all I see when I look around me is the hand of cruelty covered with soft gloves and bright adornments. I haven't been able to convince myself that I'm seeing dark connections where there are none."