Zavien
Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times
Zavien shook his head with a confident intensity, unwilling to let Soh carry that kind of guilt. "I don't think it's fair to cast blame on one person, because plenty of other people could have - should have - stood firm when things started getting out of hand; but being a leader also means knowing limits and when to shift priorities, it means recognizing when the circumstances are within your control - and when they're not." And in case she didn't understand, he leaned forward, not a sprinkle of doubt in his eyes. "What happened was not in your control - or anyone else's for that matter."
Sighing softly, he looked out to the city again, at the people who still sang her name and loved her without regret. "Soh, you did your best to act in the best interest of Stormbreak, and I think that's the best they could have asked for. In the end, it got us home again." By the time he turned back to her, a smile was on his face, victorious despite all they'd been through.
But Soh was distracted, a heaviness weighing on her shoulders and drawing her eyes down so that she wouldn't meet his gaze. Zavien grew quiet again, considering her question with the intensity it deserved. "No. I think it takes someone far stronger to step away than to step up. It doesn't make you selfish, it makes you selfless because you're not acting out of pride or a desire for power, but out of a concern for the people and what's best for them. Only those who are small minded would find fault in your decision." And he'd be sure to defend whatever choice she made to whoever tried to argue as such.
Then there was the matter of who would take her place and he wasn't sure how to bring up Safrin's endorsement of him. It felt wrong to hide his conversation with the goddess, but he didn't want Soh to think it was his only reason for supporting her decision, to think he had some ulterior motive in all of this or that he wanted to take the position from her. He glanced down to Sol at his feet, taking strength in his companion's proximity and the support he'd found. His green eyes were cautious and gentle when he looked to her again, his shoulders and expression firm in the seriousness of his question. "Would you feel comfortable leaving Stormbreak in my hands?"
There was a moment of pause as he let her consider it before he added softly, a small, almost sheepish smile on his face that felt like a timid ray of sunlight peeking through a foggy window. "I wouldn't have suggested it a few weeks ago - hell, I'm not even sure I'd make a very good leader - but I think Safrin might have known you were struggling. It sounded like she wanted someone to be ready so that you would be free to make your choice without worrying about the fate of Stormbreak." It wasn't a lie, although he might have reframed Safrin's reasoning. Zavien didn't want Soh to feel like her leadership wasn't supported by the gods and possibly make her feel worse about the entire situation.
Shrugging his shoulders, he ran a hand through his hair before clasping them together in front of him, patient and understanding. "That doesn't mean you have to say yes, but I hope you can find comfort knowing that someone else - that I am willing to take the burden if that's something you want." He left it in her hands, a gentle offer that she could refuse if she wished, but an opportunity if she had the desire to take it.
Sighing softly, he looked out to the city again, at the people who still sang her name and loved her without regret. "Soh, you did your best to act in the best interest of Stormbreak, and I think that's the best they could have asked for. In the end, it got us home again." By the time he turned back to her, a smile was on his face, victorious despite all they'd been through.
But Soh was distracted, a heaviness weighing on her shoulders and drawing her eyes down so that she wouldn't meet his gaze. Zavien grew quiet again, considering her question with the intensity it deserved. "No. I think it takes someone far stronger to step away than to step up. It doesn't make you selfish, it makes you selfless because you're not acting out of pride or a desire for power, but out of a concern for the people and what's best for them. Only those who are small minded would find fault in your decision." And he'd be sure to defend whatever choice she made to whoever tried to argue as such.
Then there was the matter of who would take her place and he wasn't sure how to bring up Safrin's endorsement of him. It felt wrong to hide his conversation with the goddess, but he didn't want Soh to think it was his only reason for supporting her decision, to think he had some ulterior motive in all of this or that he wanted to take the position from her. He glanced down to Sol at his feet, taking strength in his companion's proximity and the support he'd found. His green eyes were cautious and gentle when he looked to her again, his shoulders and expression firm in the seriousness of his question. "Would you feel comfortable leaving Stormbreak in my hands?"
There was a moment of pause as he let her consider it before he added softly, a small, almost sheepish smile on his face that felt like a timid ray of sunlight peeking through a foggy window. "I wouldn't have suggested it a few weeks ago - hell, I'm not even sure I'd make a very good leader - but I think Safrin might have known you were struggling. It sounded like she wanted someone to be ready so that you would be free to make your choice without worrying about the fate of Stormbreak." It wasn't a lie, although he might have reframed Safrin's reasoning. Zavien didn't want Soh to feel like her leadership wasn't supported by the gods and possibly make her feel worse about the entire situation.
Shrugging his shoulders, he ran a hand through his hair before clasping them together in front of him, patient and understanding. "That doesn't mean you have to say yes, but I hope you can find comfort knowing that someone else - that I am willing to take the burden if that's something you want." He left it in her hands, a gentle offer that she could refuse if she wished, but an opportunity if she had the desire to take it.
