Zavien
I'm going to change the world,
Nodding his head, Zavien confirmed "Safrin quest." Although if he knew Tal's line of thinking, he might add that the goddess had him burn himself with his sword during his last quest, so Ludo wasn't the only deity to ask such discomfort of people. At least Alys had been there to heal him.
Although he was grateful to hear what Tal had been up to, he got the sense that he'd made his friend feel bad for being busy. Sitting up a little higher, he frowned and ran a wet hand through his hair. "I didn't mean it as an insult. It sounds like you've been busy with your own stuff, and I'm just sorry I haven't been more available." Physically, emotionally. It wasn't the kind of friend he wanted to be, and he vowed to do better about checking in, even if it was just a letter here or there.
Perking at the other news, he tried to spin the regret into something light and positive. "I'm glad to hear about Sascha though! Alys must be so happy." It also helped ease some of the guilt he didn't realize he harbored for the companion's death and his own inability to help prevent it. However, even in his relief, he didn't miss the nerves Tal displayed as he glossed over the next piece. He opened his mouth to inquire about what it may have been that caused such a reaction but was quickly swept into the concern for his own wellbeing.
Zavien decided to table the thoughts for a moment, feeling that he had a responsibility to share his progress with one of the first friends he'd told of his death. Smiling softly, he shrugged his shoulders. "A lot better than last season." He paused, letting the truth unfurl as he leaned his head back to look at the open sky above them, the steam obscuring his view of any clouds that may hover above. "Just when I'd thought things were getting better - like I might be 'healed' - Sol had to leave for a mission, and I had to let him in order to prove to Vi that I deserved the Rose." It sounded just as complicated as it'd been, but he didn't really have another way to explain the circumstances except to admit, "I didn't realize how much I'd been relying on him and.... I didn't handle it very well." He winced at the truth, knowing it was an understatement of incredible proportions. He'd been a wreck on the verge of falling apart, and despite the fact that he'd found a new equilibrium with Sol gone, Zavien had no desire to relive the experience.
The gleam in his eyes returned as he continued, "Now that he's back, everything just feels... right again. And things with Lena are doing better, and I'm not looking over my shoulder all the time, and I know it sounds stupid, but I feel hope for what's to come." Not necessarily a certainty that it would all work out or that everything would be okay, but that familiar optimism that had always lived in his heart telling him that things would eventually turn around.
With his own story shared, he couldn't ignore what he'd noticed. Tilting his head to look at Tal, his mood dampened, worry creasing his forehead. "Can I ask what happened? A few seasons ago?" There was a care in his words, like the caution one might take when approaching a skittish creature, willing it to trust them.
Although he was grateful to hear what Tal had been up to, he got the sense that he'd made his friend feel bad for being busy. Sitting up a little higher, he frowned and ran a wet hand through his hair. "I didn't mean it as an insult. It sounds like you've been busy with your own stuff, and I'm just sorry I haven't been more available." Physically, emotionally. It wasn't the kind of friend he wanted to be, and he vowed to do better about checking in, even if it was just a letter here or there.
Perking at the other news, he tried to spin the regret into something light and positive. "I'm glad to hear about Sascha though! Alys must be so happy." It also helped ease some of the guilt he didn't realize he harbored for the companion's death and his own inability to help prevent it. However, even in his relief, he didn't miss the nerves Tal displayed as he glossed over the next piece. He opened his mouth to inquire about what it may have been that caused such a reaction but was quickly swept into the concern for his own wellbeing.
Zavien decided to table the thoughts for a moment, feeling that he had a responsibility to share his progress with one of the first friends he'd told of his death. Smiling softly, he shrugged his shoulders. "A lot better than last season." He paused, letting the truth unfurl as he leaned his head back to look at the open sky above them, the steam obscuring his view of any clouds that may hover above. "Just when I'd thought things were getting better - like I might be 'healed' - Sol had to leave for a mission, and I had to let him in order to prove to Vi that I deserved the Rose." It sounded just as complicated as it'd been, but he didn't really have another way to explain the circumstances except to admit, "I didn't realize how much I'd been relying on him and.... I didn't handle it very well." He winced at the truth, knowing it was an understatement of incredible proportions. He'd been a wreck on the verge of falling apart, and despite the fact that he'd found a new equilibrium with Sol gone, Zavien had no desire to relive the experience.
The gleam in his eyes returned as he continued, "Now that he's back, everything just feels... right again. And things with Lena are doing better, and I'm not looking over my shoulder all the time, and I know it sounds stupid, but I feel hope for what's to come." Not necessarily a certainty that it would all work out or that everything would be okay, but that familiar optimism that had always lived in his heart telling him that things would eventually turn around.
With his own story shared, he couldn't ignore what he'd noticed. Tilting his head to look at Tal, his mood dampened, worry creasing his forehead. "Can I ask what happened? A few seasons ago?" There was a care in his words, like the caution one might take when approaching a skittish creature, willing it to trust them.
but today I'll just be a mermaid.
