Just smile and be happy.
His laugh echoes over the empty ruins as he shrugs his shoulders. "You're probably right." He doesn't know Flora that well, but he knows that she's always at the center of things, and he doubts anything happens in Caido without her knowing. That doesn't change his feelings about explaining things or enjoying their new shared burden in person, and as Kai validates his intentions, Zavien gives a decisive nod, a nervous smile on his face. "I'll still reach out. Just so she can hear it from me."
The grin doesn't go unnoticed, and he takes a moment to pause in his clean-up to glare playfully, nearly cringing with every instance of the word. "It doesn't feel that way, but call me 'sir' again and I might have to show you just how much 'wiser and stronger' I am." Koa wouldn't disapprove of a spontaneous training session, and Zavien's teasing smirk says as much, his muscles flexing beneath his sweatshirt in preparation for wrestling the formalities from the man. But he holds back for now, tossing a large chunk of rotten wood into the pile. "All I'm saying is that I'm still just 'Zavien' to you - but call me whatever you want in front of other people if it makes you feel better." At least he's not going around parroting 'the Risen Sun' or requiring that Zavien do something more 'within his station' than pick up trash from the city.
Kai's expression brightens blissfully from his words, the uncertainty trading for excitement like the sun finally rising from behind a storm cloud. "Anytime." It has Zavien's smiling in return while he moves to resume his battle against debris. He grabs another cluster of bottles, carefully avoiding the broken portions with merciless sharp edges. "Nothing specific yet. We're taking it one day at a time." There are too many projects to plan and complete before he could start looking to the future, but he knows one thing for sure. "I just want the people to feel safe again - to feel happy and proud of their home."
Zavien takes a moment to admire the city that now relies on him, a gentle protectiveness filling his chest and every pore of his body. He catches glimpses of the people milling about, knowing that he may not know every one of their names, but they matter and every choice he makes will now affect them. It adds a weight to everything, even if the anticipation and optimism still keep him from bowing under the stress. It's enough to make him cautious, to make every decision count, to keep their best interest in mind at all times.
The grin doesn't go unnoticed, and he takes a moment to pause in his clean-up to glare playfully, nearly cringing with every instance of the word. "It doesn't feel that way, but call me 'sir' again and I might have to show you just how much 'wiser and stronger' I am." Koa wouldn't disapprove of a spontaneous training session, and Zavien's teasing smirk says as much, his muscles flexing beneath his sweatshirt in preparation for wrestling the formalities from the man. But he holds back for now, tossing a large chunk of rotten wood into the pile. "All I'm saying is that I'm still just 'Zavien' to you - but call me whatever you want in front of other people if it makes you feel better." At least he's not going around parroting 'the Risen Sun' or requiring that Zavien do something more 'within his station' than pick up trash from the city.
Kai's expression brightens blissfully from his words, the uncertainty trading for excitement like the sun finally rising from behind a storm cloud. "Anytime." It has Zavien's smiling in return while he moves to resume his battle against debris. He grabs another cluster of bottles, carefully avoiding the broken portions with merciless sharp edges. "Nothing specific yet. We're taking it one day at a time." There are too many projects to plan and complete before he could start looking to the future, but he knows one thing for sure. "I just want the people to feel safe again - to feel happy and proud of their home."
Zavien takes a moment to admire the city that now relies on him, a gentle protectiveness filling his chest and every pore of his body. He catches glimpses of the people milling about, knowing that he may not know every one of their names, but they matter and every choice he makes will now affect them. It adds a weight to everything, even if the anticipation and optimism still keep him from bowing under the stress. It's enough to make him cautious, to make every decision count, to keep their best interest in mind at all times.
Zavien
