Harper
"People see in me what they want to," he assures with a smile that plays at something darker, sadder. "But I make a pretty good wise man, even if I don't have the beard." Winking, his hand comes up to rake blunt nails against his cheeks which never seem to grow anything past an evening shadow of stubble. It helps take the weight off the words, and he scolds himself internally for the slip-up. His time with Maea has left him...different. Incapable of turning fully away from those shadows inside.
Though she'd alluded to such an idea in her letter, Harper still blinks quickly, a little stunned by the offer. Maeve knew him as a worker, yes, and he had spent time with Aurelia as well, but he wouldn't have expected either of them to elevate him to...well, anything. Not without Safrin's input, clearly. It is both flattering and humbling, just as she'd said herself. And it reminds him of his conversation with Gideon, the man offering ideas of governance and teachings that had rooted in Harper's mind.
His fingers curl around her own as they find his, holding gentle but firm, the plentiful scars like braille for her to read. "I'd be honored, truly. But in what way would you have me?" Had Safrin mentioned anything of the sort when giving them his name? "I have many, many years of training soldiers, but I know medicine and first aid. Diplomacy, social sciences..." trailing off, he gives a crooked smile, uncomfortable with lauding his accomplishments and skills.
Though she'd alluded to such an idea in her letter, Harper still blinks quickly, a little stunned by the offer. Maeve knew him as a worker, yes, and he had spent time with Aurelia as well, but he wouldn't have expected either of them to elevate him to...well, anything. Not without Safrin's input, clearly. It is both flattering and humbling, just as she'd said herself. And it reminds him of his conversation with Gideon, the man offering ideas of governance and teachings that had rooted in Harper's mind.
His fingers curl around her own as they find his, holding gentle but firm, the plentiful scars like braille for her to read. "I'd be honored, truly. But in what way would you have me?" Had Safrin mentioned anything of the sort when giving them his name? "I have many, many years of training soldiers, but I know medicine and first aid. Diplomacy, social sciences..." trailing off, he gives a crooked smile, uncomfortable with lauding his accomplishments and skills.
I am water - soft enough to offer life
tough enough to drown it away
tough enough to drown it away
