Vreta was still positioned between both, his posture upright and firm as he looked down upon them. He did not bother moving out of the way of the mug, and gave absolutely no reaction to its impact. “I cannot ask you to [i]like[/i] one another. That would be quite unreasonable. However, in all my centuries of life, I have come to have certain expectations for men, women, and other individuals of science. In lifetimes past, I was a researcher myself, and I consider that experience to be a highlight of my life. Scientists, to me, are exemplars of their species, who push the boundaries of what a mind can do. They are the ones who elevate a species from their primitive origins and push entire societies to the stars, and they have always had my utmost respect. As the peak of a species’ mental prowess, I would expect them to be consummate professionals whose work can speak for them far more than leveraging baseless accusations or flinging small objects.”

For a moment, Vreta paused, his gaze moving slowly between Gazes and Chitnarit. “Was I mistaken?”