[Ambition pays very close attention to Zoe's fingernails as she speaks.]

"Maybe Ambition took a hit out on Shiki and had someone else's follower kill her". Um, hello? How stupid would I have to be to want to off one of my own followers? I was watching the trial, and a lot of the people talking about what I would or wouldn't do have never even spoken to me.

Oh, please. She'd only spoken to me once. [She finishes with Zoe's hand, then gestures for her to give her the other one.] Everyone loves me once they actually get to know me. I could have convinced her to stay.

[Ambition doesn't look convinced.

(Masks make it hard to tell what she looks like.)]

She was feeling ambitious enough to pick me in the first place.

It did.

[Zoe is luck that manicures are Serious Business. Enough of Ambition's attention is on getting her nails done just right that she can't muster up the energy to get mad.]

That's stupid, though. How is ambition a bad thing?

Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

[Ambition mutters under her breath, but then a moment later, she finishes with the nails.]

There! That looks great on you, don't you think?

You're welcome.

[Ambition sounds appeased by that... but after a moment she sighs, sounding aggravated.]

No, it was... my fault. [She does not sound like she likes admitting that.] I'm not very good at first impressions. One of my followers promised to help me with that, but...

I just don't see the point in acting like someone I'm not.

[She shrugs, bringing up a hand as if to toss her hair over her shoulder before remembering that her hair is all under her hood so she can't.]

I have every reason to be confident in myself, and I'm not going to act all humble just because people think humble people are nicer. But I guess that rubs some people the wrong way.

[on the one hand, if she just said it without asking first, the chances of that happening were high.

ON THE OTHER... since Zoe warned her first, she can do something about it.]

I promise I won't, even if I want to.

[and divine oaths are binding. there, you're safe to talk, zoe.]

For some people, sure. But some people just find confidence off-putting, period.

[Ambition waves a hand.]

Have you seen how insecure some boys get if a girl doesn't back down from something? It's like, think about why a girl being confident bothers you.

[Ambition doesn't seem too happy to hear that... but there's a minuscule nod a moment later.]

I've heard that before. From some of you.

[ghhh]

It's just - easier said than done. With everything else going on here.

I'll be glad when it's over.

[i mean, everyone will be, because when it's over people won't be dying anymore]