Just smile and be happy.
The first instance of 'sir' has him pausing to blink, suddenly feeling very awkward about it all. He straightens to run a hand through his hair, trying hard not to worry about having hurt Kai's feelings. The young man doesn't seem bothered, but Zavien doesn't miss how Kai's words place him at the top of the hierarchy and put himself at the bottom like he doesn't matter in the scheme of things. It has his eyes narrowing in disappointment. "It's not that. It's that I'd wanted to tell her the news myself, so she wasn't caught off guard by the sudden change, and now I feel like I have to apologize for missing the chance. I don't want to accept help before I do that..." He shrugs his shoulders, leaning down to grab a couple of bottles from what he assumes was a fun day of drinking.
When he straightens again, he's laughing, shaking his head and raising the bottle-filled hands like he might fend off the formalities. "Thanks, but please stop calling me 'sir.' You're making me feel old." There's still a smile on his face, appreciating the kind words despite the way it feels like he's lived twice as long as most people.
His head nods, understanding Kai's reasoning more than most people would. "Perhaps, but I'd hope that Stormbreak's core remains unchanged; and by not being here, you'll be learning those tiny details about someplace else, planting roots that are just as important to you." He smiles, hoping to free Kai of any guilt as he adds, "Regardless, you can't be everywhere all the time. You'll eventually have to choose. Just don't let anyone make you feel bad about what that decision is."
When he straightens again, he's laughing, shaking his head and raising the bottle-filled hands like he might fend off the formalities. "Thanks, but please stop calling me 'sir.' You're making me feel old." There's still a smile on his face, appreciating the kind words despite the way it feels like he's lived twice as long as most people.
His head nods, understanding Kai's reasoning more than most people would. "Perhaps, but I'd hope that Stormbreak's core remains unchanged; and by not being here, you'll be learning those tiny details about someplace else, planting roots that are just as important to you." He smiles, hoping to free Kai of any guilt as he adds, "Regardless, you can't be everywhere all the time. You'll eventually have to choose. Just don't let anyone make you feel bad about what that decision is."
Zavien
