Originally Posted by
Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh
Even when Asha'rah dove deep, and dredged up that occurrence five thousand years prior, and twisted it well beyond the truth of things; Ishtar remained silent. What was there to say, after all, when the Goddess-no-more, lashed out in a manner she had been called out on ? That Asha'rah too, seemed not to understand what the charge of carelessness -- her use of Hakai in recent years being the main focus -- was similarly telling of the place Asha'rah now found herself in. As much as did the attempt to use her suffering as a currency of sorts, and imply Ishtar was doing this for her own satisfaction.
And it was these statements, that caused Ishtar to sigh and offer a few brief words.
"You brought this down upon yourself, the same as all you just described. Not I, or anyone else." The golden-eyed Oni stated. "Nor have I found satisfaction here. The opposite in fact. Yet here you are believing you know best my motives, and goals."
With that, the Oni turned her focus away from Asha'rah, and focused on the conversation that sprung up concerning a fight ...
-snipped for character limit-
So when the conversation lulled and Ishtar found an opening, she offered first a chuckle, and then a nod. "I do believe Parsley has said yet another thing worth considering. That I called the decision to wage war for not being heard a 'tantrum' was certainly ... unbecoming. And further embarrassment by continuing to engage with Asha'rah is certainly something I seek to avoid."
Glancing at the Fallen then, the Oni turned toward Evangeline, and Sarada, before shaking her head then.
"That said ... I have no desire to fight Asha'rah. I have said what I meant to, and it was not heard. Beating it into her or taking it further, as I know I will ... regardless of vague threats, or Sarada's willingness to serve as arbiter ... will be less productive than this argument." The Oni shrugged her shoulders, before offering a tired sigh. "I also agree with what Ochazuke alluded to, besides, when he spoke of it. The assistance of Asha'rah is necessary." And in this way, Ishtar found a parity before the former God she saw now, truly; and the Majin Sasheem. He was dangerous, chaotic, and even untrustworthy ... and yet his assistance in the past two years was plainly evident.
So shaking her head, Ishtar stated simply:
"So I will swallow my ... grievances. Shelve them until such a time where they can be dealt with in full; and focus on training in the days we have remaining to us, in order to prepare for the task of saving Zurvan, and as a result: the Universes that are now set to fall."
When Asha'rah stepped forward, bowed, and offered apology however, the Oni was silent a moment before offering:
"While it may be true that I am a hypocrite for saying what I did of your War. There is a fundamental difference between your actions, and mine, and it is simple. My 'annihilation of civilizations' was the result of pain you cannot fathom, forcing me to cede consciousness and control, over to something I was unaware I possessed. There was no 'choice', Asha'rah. You however, had a choice." The Oni folded her arms.
"So. You have my apology for equating your decision to start the War in Heaven for not being heard, to a tantrum. I do not however, accept yours."
Finished, finally, and unwilling to waste anymore time on this back and forth with Asha'rah; Ishtar departed.