You can’t stop the change,
any more than you can stop the suns from setting.
Zavien raised his eyebrows at the glint of something dark and humorous in Hadama's eyes. He didn't know why it felt like he'd earned some sort of retribution, but he was suddenly feeling like he should have joined in the suffering as he watched the demigod sip the water. At least the task was done, and he nodded his head with a hint of laughter at the confirmation of difficulty.
He pushed off from the tree, nearly at attention as he heard his full name, the seriousness that laced Hadama's voice. It was something he always asked others to request of him - something he had asked of him after their time in Queen's Gambit. However, it didn't feel right agreeing to something without making him aware of what had transpired in the recent months, not when there was the possibility that he'd be overwhelmed with anxieties.
Sensing his discomfort, Sol moved a little closer. Zavien glanced down at his companion before steeling himself for the confession ahead. As his green eyes met his friend's, he nodded his head, a level of certainty in his words. "I will always do what I can, but... there's something you should know first."
Running a nervous hand through his hair, Zavien gave Hadama an ashamed smile. "I - uh - it was a little embarrassing to admit after it happened... but - well... my last stand against the Void didn't exactly go as planned." His cheeks would probably be red if not for the way talking about it always seemed to drain the blood from his head, and he was suddenly more interested in looking at a pool of water depicting a desert than his friend.
He cleared his throat before continuing, "I don't know if you recall the broadcast about the battle in Halo, but... I was the one who died." Even after months and multiple recounts of the events, his mouth still glazed over the last word like it was smoke on his tongue. However, aware that it was strange to admit such a thing when he was very obviously standing before the man, he didn't hesitate as he added, "Sunjata brought me back with a revivify feather - at least I think that's what it was called - but things haven't exactly been easy since then." Sol leaned against his leg and Zavien swallowed. It wasn't as difficult to tell the story this time - in fact, it became easier with each retelling - but he still felt a strong pulse of shame that he had to admit to a friend that he'd been too unprepared, too weak, and too insignificant.
His smile was a little thinner when he looked up again - not timid, but cautious. "All that to say, I want to and will help. I'm doing a lot better than I was. Just be aware that I may... struggle at times." He shrugged as if that might dismiss the implications of the words - that he'd been broken and was only just starting to feel like himself again.
He pushed off from the tree, nearly at attention as he heard his full name, the seriousness that laced Hadama's voice. It was something he always asked others to request of him - something he had asked of him after their time in Queen's Gambit. However, it didn't feel right agreeing to something without making him aware of what had transpired in the recent months, not when there was the possibility that he'd be overwhelmed with anxieties.
Sensing his discomfort, Sol moved a little closer. Zavien glanced down at his companion before steeling himself for the confession ahead. As his green eyes met his friend's, he nodded his head, a level of certainty in his words. "I will always do what I can, but... there's something you should know first."
Running a nervous hand through his hair, Zavien gave Hadama an ashamed smile. "I - uh - it was a little embarrassing to admit after it happened... but - well... my last stand against the Void didn't exactly go as planned." His cheeks would probably be red if not for the way talking about it always seemed to drain the blood from his head, and he was suddenly more interested in looking at a pool of water depicting a desert than his friend.
He cleared his throat before continuing, "I don't know if you recall the broadcast about the battle in Halo, but... I was the one who died." Even after months and multiple recounts of the events, his mouth still glazed over the last word like it was smoke on his tongue. However, aware that it was strange to admit such a thing when he was very obviously standing before the man, he didn't hesitate as he added, "Sunjata brought me back with a revivify feather - at least I think that's what it was called - but things haven't exactly been easy since then." Sol leaned against his leg and Zavien swallowed. It wasn't as difficult to tell the story this time - in fact, it became easier with each retelling - but he still felt a strong pulse of shame that he had to admit to a friend that he'd been too unprepared, too weak, and too insignificant.
His smile was a little thinner when he looked up again - not timid, but cautious. "All that to say, I want to and will help. I'm doing a lot better than I was. Just be aware that I may... struggle at times." He shrugged as if that might dismiss the implications of the words - that he'd been broken and was only just starting to feel like himself again.
Zavien
