Maddie let out a sharp breath through her nose, her patience wearing thinner with every careless word that came out of his mouth. Her grip tightened slightly on the Kneazle kitten, who let out a contented purr despite the lingering tension in her shoulders.

"Oh, so that's your view of things, is it?" she said, her tone cool but edged with something sharper. "That innocence is the same as a death wish? That something small and trusting deserves whatever happens to it just because it doesn't know any better?" Her blue eyes narrowed, her lip curling slightly. "Tell me, do you make a habit of taking advantage of naïveté, or is it just helpless creatures you have so little regard for?"

She shifted the kitten in her arms, absently stroking its soft fur as she kept her gaze locked on him. "I suppose it must be nice, walking through life thinking anything weaker than you is simply asking to be trampled underfoot," she continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "But some of us actually take care of things, rather than just shrugging when they get hurt."

Maddie huffed, shaking her head, as if she’d already decided he wasn’t worth any further breath. "You might find it amusing to prattle on about nihilism like it’s some grand joke, but I’d wager you wouldn’t much like being on the receiving end of that philosophy." She exhaled sharply, adjusting her grip on the Kneazle. "Not that I expect you'd admit it."
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