[SE] the art of friendship

Zavien

We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road,

but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it.

There's obviously more to the advice Thorn gives, but Zavien doesn't push further, just appreciative of the vulnerability as much as the honest suggestion. It warms his smile even more, taking the advice to heart even when he jokes, "I've already told Soh she's stuck with me. I imagine it will be the same for our kid no matter what they do. Poor thing." He shakes his head pityingly, but there's no denying the smile on his face, the quiet promise wrapped in humor sitting sincerely within the green of his eyes. 

Zavien isn't the most confrontational, and yet as he purchases the simple golden bell, there's a defensiveness to his posture, as if he might still need to stand between the man and Lena. He steps away from the stall with bell in hand, twirling the white ribbon around his fingers as he reports, "He definitely meant it the first time when he threatened to lie to her about my feelings, and even though I called him out for dragging her into things, he never apologized." Which is very telling in Zavien's eyes. 

Pursing his lips, he adds, "The second time, he said it to Soh, so I couldn't tell him how wrong it was." There's a long pause, a mixture of hurt and anger flashing across his face that draws Sol's attention. The little dragon presses closer to his companion's leg as Zavien finally unveils the comment that had hurt the most without even needing to hear it with his own ears. 

"He said I moved on fast."

For a moment, he's quiet, his own doubts pressing in like a cage of pointed accusations he tries to keep from drawing more blood than it already has. He knows it's because he can't argue with the words or the guilt that still chooses to rear its ugly head sometimes; but even if he hadn't chosen for things to work out the way they did, Zavien wouldn't trade the love he'd found in Soh. 

It doesn't mean the words don't sting, and he shakes his head as his gaze lands back on Thorn. "It doesn't feel like something he'd say to someone else without meaning it." Kai doesn't have much of a filter as is, and Zavien doubts he'd bother keeping it on when he's talking to someone other than the target of his insult. That just makes it all the worse.

// you can't keep a secret if it never was a secret to start —

“Eh, they’ll get over it.” Thorn reassures Zavien at the fact of being stuck with the Risen Sun as the child’s father. And the grin shot his way only proves the point despite the vulnerability that Thorn has loosened. But as the conversation shifts, the courtesan’s body language edges toward curiosity, like it’s a puzzle he’s trying to figure out the more that Zavien explains and he asks his own questions.

Idly watching the other man purchase the golden bell, he follows him as they step away from the stall and starts to explain further. “Wait, lie t’who?” Thorn says, feeling like he’s missing something briefly as his brows pinch and his seafoam gaze lands on the other man in confusion. He’s silent after that, letting Zavien parse through the feelings and thoughts that are in his mind. And when he lets it drop that this unnamed offender had said they thought Zavien had moved on too quickly, Thorn’s head tilts in confusion so much so that it almost seemed like he was a bird. And if nobody knew better, one might assume he was a hybrid with a secret avian shift.

Alas, he’s not, but he does reach out to squeeze his friends shoulder with an apologetic smile, hoping that it might help this uncertainty sitting in his friend’s gut. “People process grief differently. An’ just ‘cause he might think y’did doesn’t mean it’s true. If you don’t think so, then who cares what they think?” Maybe it’s because Thorn could really care less about what everyone else thinks about him – single and carefree with nobody to please as he is. “You’ve got a big heart, Zav, don’t let someone use it like a punchin’ bag. That ain’t fair. An' I think you're within yer right t'ask for an apology if that's whatcha want. And if he doesn't wanna give it, then fuck 'em. Who needs 'em?"

thorn

— at least pretend you didn't wanna get caught,
we're concentrating on falling apart //

Zavien

We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road,

but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it.

Realizing that he's glossed over that small detail, Zavien quickly clarifies as he places the bell into the pocket of his thick jacket. "Kai threatened to lie to Lena about me not wanting to marry her - which wasn't true." All over a stupid disagreement about a hypothetical situation. Even now, it feels juvenile, and he lets out a tired sigh. 

As he drops the weight of truth, he's grateful for the steadying hand and Sol against his leg, offering an appreciative quirk of his lips to Thorn. It only lasts a moment as he takes a deep breath, walking more aimlessly as he dares to admit, "It does feel fast." It feels like Lena died yesterday even though he's changed so much since then - the world has changed so much since then. Still, he shakes his head as he says, "But the way it happened was - " His lips purse, trying to figure out how to explain what exactly happened that day and why he'd acted when he might otherwise not have done so. 

Furrowing his brows, Zavien looked to Thorn, obviously still confused about it all himself. "It was like I couldn't control my impulses, and once those floodgates opened... I just realized how much I care about her." He finally smiles, his heart fluttering as he says, "I couldn't ignore it after that."

A warmth spreads through him like sunlight lifting a fog. Feeling the support from his friend, the smile solidifies on his face, a chuckle threatening to slip through with pure relief just to know he's not alone. He hadn't realized the weight he carried or how much he missed his friend. "Thanks, Thorn." Nodding his head, Zavien let out a sigh, releasing so much of the tension he'd been holding onto. "I'll see what he says next time we meet." Maybe things would work out in the end. 

Rolling his shoulders against the cold, he switches the topic to something with more levity. "Did you have any food in mind? All this talk has made me hungry." He grins, looking forward to enjoying a meal with his friend again.

// you can't keep a secret if it never was a secret to start —

“Oh. What?” Thorn starts to say, the little tidbit of information he’d been missing only making it more confusing in the long run. But the past was the past and it sounded like this little difficult relationship between the two of them had been happening for quite some time now if it had sparked before Lena’s unfortunate passing, much that he isn’t even sure where to go from that. So he’s quiet as Zavien continues and the courtesan reaches out to squeeze his friend’s shoulder.

He lets him take as long as he needs to explain, but when Zavien looks at him with equal confusion over the situation and how to describe it, all Thorn can do is flash a soft smile of understanding. “Love’s weird. Makes ya do crazy things, but I think if you’re happy that’s all that matters. An’ it sounds like ya are.” And that was worth keeping close to the chest.

After all, Thorn had realized he probably wasn’t a relationship type of man, given how poorly the last one went. And as he’s thanked by the Risen Sun, Thorn nods his head in agreement and murmurs an easy “you’re welcome” before they start to shift the topics, the path they take changing with the aimless direction Zavien had taken before.

In terms of food, Thorn is always game for it. “There’s a pasta place that just opened ‘n it’s pretty good. You tried it yet?” He asks, bumping his shoulder into Zavien’s as he points in the general direction of said restaurant.

thorn

— at least pretend you didn't wanna get caught,
we're concentrating on falling apart //

Zavien

We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road,

but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it.

The question feels more rhetorical this time and the minor conflict seems so distant that he figures it's not important at this point. If Thorn wants the long and dirty story later, he's happy to explain over food, but for now, Zavien continues walking, drinking up his friend's sage advice. 

There's no hiding the joy he feels when thinking about Soh. He might not know why he'd acted so impulsively that day, but he couldn't have imagined it would lead to so much love and excitement - and he certainly wouldn't change a thing. The baby hasn't even come and he already feels like his heart could burst with the force of his emotions. It seems to shine from every pore, to brighten the green of his eyes, to make his smile warmer than sunlight. Thorn would be hard pressed to find anyone happier than Zavien at this moment, and the content tone of his voice radiates it. "I really am."

Looking to his friend, he takes in the smiles and playful movements, the casualness he constantly manages to wear. It's something he's always appreciated about the man - one of the many reasons they became quick friends to begin with - but Zavien knows the thickest armor is sometimes the easiest to disguise. Tilting his head, he asks the question in return. "Are you?" he ventures, adding to clarify, "Happy?" There's no probing suspicion or judgement in his eyes, only the relaxed openness of an outstretched hand checking in on someone he cares about. The smile on his face is a little softer, assuming Thorn is happy, but willing to support should that not be the case. 

After, Zavien accepts the bump on his shoulder, chuckling as he shakes his head and looks to where he points. "I haven't." Sol seems more excited than they do, tail wagging behind him as he bounds ahead, inexplicably following the hearty smell of pasta.

// you can't keep a secret if it never was a secret to start —

He’s really glad to know that despite everything that’s happened to his friend, that he’s still happy. Drama was drama at times and no matter what happened to you, life seemed to move on without any second to look back at the things that had occurred. And while Thorn was of the mindset to sit and stew whenever they happened to him, he’s stayed free enough lately to avoid the majority of those from cropping back up.

So much so that when Zavien looks back at him and asks the question in return, Thorn’s seafoam gaze focuses on him with lifted brows, a crooked and roguish smile that is the precursor to the laugh that leaves him. “Oh yeah. I’ve got nothin’ to complain about, really.” Except for Colt leaving for the desert and losing another friend from King’s End. But it wasn’t like she was completely gone and he’d never be able to see her again, so he tries to keep that positive outlook.

As for the pasta place, though, the courtesan’s steps pick up a touch, sure that Sol will be able to pick it out from scent alone but also doesn’t want to be left behind. “Gods, it’s so good. They got this pesto thing ‘n these noodles I’m pretty sure they make outta potatoes? Wild. Like eatin’ a dream.” He groans with the thought, bounding up to the door to hold it open for Zavien to slip into first.

The little restaurant is decked out in hues of beige and reds, a homey kind of feel with the scent of bread and garlic and wholesome food within that already has the courtesan simultaneously perking up and melting with. He guides Zavien further into the restaurant toward a booth in the back, slipping into it and nodding to the waitress as she steps by to check in with another table – evident that either Thorn is a regular here or she’s a regular of his. Either way, he pulls out the menus from the back of the booth’s table and slides one over to Zavien for him to look through.

thorn

— at least pretend you didn't wanna get caught,
we're concentrating on falling apart //

Zavien

We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road,

but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it.

Any worries about hidden negativity disappears as Thorn reassures him. The smile solidifies, as satisfied with his friend's happiness as his own. He claps him on the shoulder in turn. "Good." Please with how the afternoon has gone, he starts back on their path, letting Sol lead the way with the power of his nose. 

When they reach the shop, he can't help the laughter that arises from Thorn's enthusiasm. He's not sure he's ever seen the man this excited before, but based on the food he describes, Zavien really can't blame him. His mouth is already watering as he nods his head and steps through the doorway, breathing in the delicious smells. "I'm not sure I've had potato pasta, but as long as they have protein." He guesses some spicy meat or chicken would taste good with the pesto.

Zavien doesn't blink at Thorn's familiarity with the waitress while they take their place at a booth in the back. Whether his friend knows her from his work or hers, Zavien's unsurprised by the connection, well aware of his friend's social skills and just how small King's End can start to feel after a while. He hasn't even been here that long and people already know his name and where he lives. He can't imagine what it must be like for someone who's been here that much longer. 

Granting the woman a grateful smile, he begins perusing the menu as best he can, cracking jokes and enjoying the moment with his friend. 

[FIN]