[ ... Well. That spoke volumes, didn't it? Even more than that. There was tremendous weight in Maria's words, in how they set up an almost wholly new, yet still understandable image of her. This was... a process, she was certain, and even someone who seemed so firm and mighty in her ways had to have struggled with the beginnings of such a changing course in the rivers of paradigm.

Ursula simply nodded in response. One of... understanding. ]

I suppose it's easy to say I admire you, but... I really do, Maria. All of our differences aside, I don't think that respect will change.

[ And by the sound of it, it would only continue to shine brighter, given enough time and nurturing... ]