Zavien
The comforting gesture was welcome, if not a bit surprising in the moment. He gave her a sorrowful smile, shifting his ice cream to pat her hand gently despite the rough calluses. There was a subtle, appreciative nod of his head, knowing that he wasn't the only one grieving Lena, and that he wasn't the only one in his personal grief.
Not inclined to linger on the pain, Zavien moved his hand back to hold the ice cream, trying to shift the mood to something less somber. Soh made it easier, pulling the topic towards lounging in hot springs and hobbies. His smile brightened somewhat, amusement threading into his features. "No, a hot spring does not sound enjoyable right now." There was also the risk of the bottom breaking out from under them, but those were minor details.
Tilting his head, Zavien tried - like, really tried - to come up with an example of something he did for fun, and yet all he could do was offer a half chuckle and a grimace as he said, "Train?" It was about all he had time for these days, the only thing he made time for, but if he thought back... Zavien smiled, recalling the long days full of giggling and whirlwind adventures. "I used to play a lot of games with the kids in the Silk Houses." His eyes took on a distant look, one that turned sad when he couldn't recall having visited them recently.
Zavien forced his smile to brighten again, offering the question back to Soh, "What about you? What do you do for fun?"
Moving to take another bite of his ice cream, the shock of flavor began to fade, turning pleasant and refreshing in the heat. Just as she'd said, he was starting to appreciate his choice in flavors. He slid another bite in his mouth, tipping the cup forward for her to sample if she wanted. "You're welcome to have some of mine." Raising an eyebrow at her suggestion, he asked around his spoonful, "Ice cream? Or just hanging out?" He wasn't against ice cream, and Erika would certainly praise the weight it would put on him, but he might come to hate the dessert if he ate it every week.
His expression turned serious again, his spoon arm lowering to the table so he could give the gravity of the situation his whole attention. At least she agreed with his thoughts, although he hadn't expected her to argue anyways. Still, he nodded approvingly at her addition, hoping she'd have luck finding something - anything - to help them save the city.
"That would be perfect. Whatever Safrin says might give you a better idea of what to look for." Or maybe even where, giving her a starting point for how to search the haystack. Meeting her eyes, he added nervously, "I was thinking about going after our meeting here. It might be beneficial if you were nearby afterwards." He didn't add that it might help to talk through whatever the goddess had to say. Good or bad, they'd need to make plans, and time might be of the essence. He still didn't have a good feeling about any of this.
Not inclined to linger on the pain, Zavien moved his hand back to hold the ice cream, trying to shift the mood to something less somber. Soh made it easier, pulling the topic towards lounging in hot springs and hobbies. His smile brightened somewhat, amusement threading into his features. "No, a hot spring does not sound enjoyable right now." There was also the risk of the bottom breaking out from under them, but those were minor details.
Tilting his head, Zavien tried - like, really tried - to come up with an example of something he did for fun, and yet all he could do was offer a half chuckle and a grimace as he said, "Train?" It was about all he had time for these days, the only thing he made time for, but if he thought back... Zavien smiled, recalling the long days full of giggling and whirlwind adventures. "I used to play a lot of games with the kids in the Silk Houses." His eyes took on a distant look, one that turned sad when he couldn't recall having visited them recently.
Zavien forced his smile to brighten again, offering the question back to Soh, "What about you? What do you do for fun?"
Moving to take another bite of his ice cream, the shock of flavor began to fade, turning pleasant and refreshing in the heat. Just as she'd said, he was starting to appreciate his choice in flavors. He slid another bite in his mouth, tipping the cup forward for her to sample if she wanted. "You're welcome to have some of mine." Raising an eyebrow at her suggestion, he asked around his spoonful, "Ice cream? Or just hanging out?" He wasn't against ice cream, and Erika would certainly praise the weight it would put on him, but he might come to hate the dessert if he ate it every week.
His expression turned serious again, his spoon arm lowering to the table so he could give the gravity of the situation his whole attention. At least she agreed with his thoughts, although he hadn't expected her to argue anyways. Still, he nodded approvingly at her addition, hoping she'd have luck finding something - anything - to help them save the city.
"That would be perfect. Whatever Safrin says might give you a better idea of what to look for." Or maybe even where, giving her a starting point for how to search the haystack. Meeting her eyes, he added nervously, "I was thinking about going after our meeting here. It might be beneficial if you were nearby afterwards." He didn't add that it might help to talk through whatever the goddess had to say. Good or bad, they'd need to make plans, and time might be of the essence. He still didn't have a good feeling about any of this.
A flower cannot blossom without sunshine,
and man cannot live without love.
and man cannot live without love.
