Zavien
A half-hearted shrug attempts to dismiss the protectiveness the threat had set on him, the indignity with which Kai had been willing to lie and ruin his relationship because of his own decisions. "Something about me not wanting to marry her, even though I said nothing of the sort." He'd said he didn't think they were ready for marriage, not that he didn't want to marry her. He would have asked in a heartbeat if he thought she'd say yes. A pointless argument now.
Zavien lets Koa rant, feeling partially guilty for riling him up and further dividing him from his cousin while their world is literally falling apart. He doesn't join in the outrage, doesn't feed into the fire, choosing instead to continue cutting potatoes with the heavy resignation of someone whose already worried the issue to death, whose reached the point of emptiness and acceptance. His anger wouldn't change anything. As much as he regretted his words and hated how it had all gone down, Flora was practically untouchable, a force he couldn't and wouldn't stand against when his region was in turmoil.
Not mentioning that he nearly did clock Kai, Zavien does his best to appreciate Koa's support of his leadership and their damaged city, but it doesn't change the feeling that he could have stopped it all by keeping his mouth shut. Taking at least some of the blame so Koa doesn't combust with rage, he explains, "It just spiraled. I shouldn't have brought it up to her anyways. I learned my lesson the hard way on crossing boundaries between 'personal' and 'political' - not that it'd been my intention to." But being as personable as he is, Zavien's sure that's a line he would have crossed eventually. It's just unfortunate with how it happened, and that it happened with Koa's cousin and his ex.
When the burgers are saved and a hand comes to rest on his shoulder, he finally looks up again. His head nods in quiet agreement, even if he's not angry enough to badmouth them like his friend, he's willing to add softly, "I'm all for people being happy and being in love, but it doesn't feel like they care much for anyone who gets in the way." Koa most of all.
Whether that's true or not, he doesn't want to be involved. He'd screwed up, but it didn't feel good to have his girlfriend brought into the mix or his city insulted like that. He'd hate to see what else Flora does when someone pisses her off, and he doesn't want to be anywhere near when it happens. Instead, he turns his attention to regions other than Torchline, trying to divert the negative energy to something productive, a way to move past it all. "I think most people are heading to King's End anyways, back to where they evacuated before. I'll probably follow them there and help out if you want to tag along." The question is in his eyes, a quiet hope not to lose one more thing.
Zavien lets Koa rant, feeling partially guilty for riling him up and further dividing him from his cousin while their world is literally falling apart. He doesn't join in the outrage, doesn't feed into the fire, choosing instead to continue cutting potatoes with the heavy resignation of someone whose already worried the issue to death, whose reached the point of emptiness and acceptance. His anger wouldn't change anything. As much as he regretted his words and hated how it had all gone down, Flora was practically untouchable, a force he couldn't and wouldn't stand against when his region was in turmoil.
Not mentioning that he nearly did clock Kai, Zavien does his best to appreciate Koa's support of his leadership and their damaged city, but it doesn't change the feeling that he could have stopped it all by keeping his mouth shut. Taking at least some of the blame so Koa doesn't combust with rage, he explains, "It just spiraled. I shouldn't have brought it up to her anyways. I learned my lesson the hard way on crossing boundaries between 'personal' and 'political' - not that it'd been my intention to." But being as personable as he is, Zavien's sure that's a line he would have crossed eventually. It's just unfortunate with how it happened, and that it happened with Koa's cousin and his ex.
When the burgers are saved and a hand comes to rest on his shoulder, he finally looks up again. His head nods in quiet agreement, even if he's not angry enough to badmouth them like his friend, he's willing to add softly, "I'm all for people being happy and being in love, but it doesn't feel like they care much for anyone who gets in the way." Koa most of all.
Whether that's true or not, he doesn't want to be involved. He'd screwed up, but it didn't feel good to have his girlfriend brought into the mix or his city insulted like that. He'd hate to see what else Flora does when someone pisses her off, and he doesn't want to be anywhere near when it happens. Instead, he turns his attention to regions other than Torchline, trying to divert the negative energy to something productive, a way to move past it all. "I think most people are heading to King's End anyways, back to where they evacuated before. I'll probably follow them there and help out if you want to tag along." The question is in his eyes, a quiet hope not to lose one more thing.
It is not a bad thing
to celebrate a simple life.
to celebrate a simple life.
