Three Houses Supports/Ashe Catherine

C Support

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Ashe: Hello, Catherine. I thought I might find you here.

Catherine: Is there something I can do for you, Ashe?

Ashe: Yes. Could you tell me what you know about this?

Catherine: This is quite an old letter. Where'd you find it?

Ashe: It was found in the bishop's room during the inquiry of the Western Church.

Catherine: Hm, I see. It's one of the documents you collected.

Ashe: This letter mentions my brother, Christophe Gaspard, by name.

Catherine: Hm.

Ashe: He was executed by the church for allegedly taking part in the Tragedy of Duscur. I know you were the one who turned him over. But this letter isn't about that. It's about a plot to assassinate Lady Rhea. If my brother's name is in here, that means this plot predates the Tragedy. So there was another plot against Lady Rhea in the past. And my brother was somehow involved.

Catherine: Ah... I can tell by your face that you know something.

Ashe: Tell me, Catherine. Please, I deserve to know! Christophe was a good man-- maybe too good. It wasn't in his nature to mistrust people. So when the Western Church told him that Lady Rhea had to die for the goddess's sake, or the world's, he went along with it. Just how well did you know my brother?

Catherine: Christophe and I were friends. We were in the Blue Lion House together at the academy.

Ashe: If you were friends, why did you hand him over to be executed? There must have been another way!

Catherine: No. If there was another option, I'd have chosen it. But he was foolish. He went along with the plan to assassinate Lady Rhea. I wasn't motivated by a personal grudge. I had no choice but to turn him in. That much is true.

Ashe: I can't believe that my brother would try to assassinate Lady Rhea. But if he did, that means the church was lying about his involvement in Tragedy of Duscur, doesn't it?

Catherine: "Lying" is a strong word. The world was in chaos, and the church did what it had to. If people had known about the threat to Lady Rhea's life, the panic would only have worsened.

Ashe: So you're saying everything in this letter is true.

Catherine: You can choose what to believe. All I know is, I let him die. And that's something I can never change. Now, if you'll excuse me.

Ashe: Catherine, wait! Please!

B Support

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Catherine: What's wrong, Ashe? Why are you standing there?

Ashe: I've been thinking. No matter what I do, Lonato and my brother are never coming back.

Catherine: Do you hate me?

Ashe: I don't know. Maybe I do. I know you're an ally I can trust. A knight I can respect...but maybe I do.

Catherine: Why don't you take a swing at me? I bet that'll make you feel better.

Ashe: What?

Catherine: Don't just stand there with that timid look on your face. Come at me!

Ashe: I don't think that's going to help.

Catherine: This isn't about avenging the dead. It's about taking revenge for yourself. It's how survivors move on. What will you do, Ashe? You're welcome to stare at your feet for the rest of your life.

Ashe: Ngh...

Catherine: Ah, that look in your eye. I like it! Rrrrgh! Come on! Put your back into it!

Ashe: Catherine...

Catherine: Yes, Ashe?

Ashe: I don't know what's right anymore. I don't.

Catherine: Don't be a fool. You decide for yourself what's right and what's wrong. I believe Lady Rhea is right. So I won't allow anyone to bring her harm.

Ashe: What about a friend? How could you kill a friend to protect her, with no hesitation?

Catherine: I couldn't. I'll never forget that day... When they took him, all I could do was stand there. I had to persuade myself, saying over and over under my breath, "This is the right thing to do." If I hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to stand there. I would've cried out. I'm still persuading myself even now. I probably will be for the rest of my life. If I let myself regret what happened, he will have died for no reason.

Ashe: Catherine...

Catherine: Uncertainty is weakness. Someday, Ashe, you'll have to make up your mind. You know who I am. What will you do about it?

Ashe: I...

A Support

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Catherine: ... Wow, you've gotten much better. You're not doubting yourself anymore. It's like your state of mind is completely different. What changed?

Ashe: Can I tell you honestly?

Catherine: Please do. Maybe this is a chance to resolve our dispute and move on.

Ashe: As a knight, an ally, and even as a person... I know I can trust you. But somewhere in my heart, there's a part of me that can't forgive what you did.

Catherine: Of course. Your brother's blood is on my hands. It wouldn't be easy for anyone in your position to feel forgiving. If someone said it was easy, I would probably give 'em a smack in the face. You may never be able to forgive me, no matter how hard you try. I'm prepared to accept that. It's my duty.

Ashe: I admire your spirit, Catherine. Honestly, I do. I hope the part of me that's holding this grudge will get smaller with time. Maybe someday it'll vanish.

Catherine: That's rather poetic.

Ashe: Maybe, but...I'm being serious!

Catherine: Sorry, didn't mean to make light of it. No, it's all right. We should have talked like this much sooner.

Ashe: I feel like I can finally stop dwelling on the past, and start looking forward to the future. I think meeting you has been good for me too.

Catherine: Different people have different morals. They won't always agree on what's right and what's wrong. Maybe that's obvious. But it's something I think about when I'm talking to you.

Ashe: Can I ask something of you? I'd like to get to know you better, Catherine. As a person...and as my friend.

Catherine: Sure, but I won't do all the talking. It'll be dull if you don't tell me about yourself too.

Ashe: Me? It won't be very interesting for you, but OK.

Catherine: OK! Let's chat over a nice, tasty meal. My treat.

Ashe: Christophe. Lonato. Watch over me, please...

Catherine: Hurry up, or I'll eat all the food! Coming!