Tal just gave another snort, but his expression lightened a little more at Zavien's laughing reassurance. Sure, he'd just been joking... but it was still nice to have someone else step in and say it out loud. Tal's insecurities weren't as bad as they used to be, but that didn't mean he didn't still wrestle with them, and he appreciated the other man's support.
Although it was downright... weird? to hear all the affirmations that followed. Tal's expression probably looked a little perplexed as Zavien spoke with empathy and kindness in a way the courier clearly wasn't used to hearing in spite of all the blessings he'd just listed. He didn't seem to mind the Breaker's physical proximity, but his emotional warmth left Tal looking a bit flustered as the back of his neck and his ears heated up. He nodded wordlessly, jamming his hands into his pockets and looking down at his feet to avoid meeting Zavien's understanding gaze. "C'n do that," he mumbled shy agreement.
But there was one problem that wasn't so easily solved, and Tal scowled at the floor as his feelings of worry and fear and a little bit of traitorous hurt rose up and muddled together at the other man's question. "It's Soh." He looked up finally to glance at Zavien's face, searching for recognition. "Sohalia. Heart o' Stormbreak... or at least, former Heart," he said with a bitter twist to the word that made it clear his low opinion of the current ruler. "I've been lookin' for her for most o' th'past year now, but haven't found a single lead. Did--" He stopped himself. "Do y'know her?"
Although it was downright... weird? to hear all the affirmations that followed. Tal's expression probably looked a little perplexed as Zavien spoke with empathy and kindness in a way the courier clearly wasn't used to hearing in spite of all the blessings he'd just listed. He didn't seem to mind the Breaker's physical proximity, but his emotional warmth left Tal looking a bit flustered as the back of his neck and his ears heated up. He nodded wordlessly, jamming his hands into his pockets and looking down at his feet to avoid meeting Zavien's understanding gaze. "C'n do that," he mumbled shy agreement.
But there was one problem that wasn't so easily solved, and Tal scowled at the floor as his feelings of worry and fear and a little bit of traitorous hurt rose up and muddled together at the other man's question. "It's Soh." He looked up finally to glance at Zavien's face, searching for recognition. "Sohalia. Heart o' Stormbreak... or at least, former Heart," he said with a bitter twist to the word that made it clear his low opinion of the current ruler. "I've been lookin' for her for most o' th'past year now, but haven't found a single lead. Did--" He stopped himself. "Do y'know her?"
