-Zavien-
Zavien continues to do his best in giving what attention he can to the dogs, letting them jump and jostle around his feet. There's a dumb smile on his lips, treating them like kids vying for his attention. As long as a fight doesn't break out, he's happy to indulge them, and so is Sol as he bumps and sniffs like 'one of the boys.'
More laughter falls freely from his lips like sunlight across skin, catching her grin with his own. The tease doesn't encounter pride or hurt, sparking amusement instead. "Right. A slight improvement." But his head shakes at her encouragement, hand raising in gentle disagreement. "Eh. I'm not after the eight seconds." Self-improvement, sure, but not glory or the thrill of meeting an arbitrary eight seconds. Doesn't mean he'll stop riding just for the fun of it.
His boots hit wood as he ascends the stairs after Colt. He takes a moment to take in the porch, the seating, the homey exterior. Following her lead, he knocks off the loose dirt before removing them, his hands finding more dog heads along the way. Scratching behind the ear of a black and white shepherd, he casts the rancher a knowing smirk then straightens to catch the screen door with his dirt-lined hand. The second explanation is more believable than the first, the humor turning to something softer as he cautiously steps into her home after her.
Giving her the attention she deserves after such a confession, Zavien's gaze doesn't immediately stray to the surrounding space, his voice genuine and sincere. "I can understand that." Maybe his own sense of danger has been too skewed by death and dangerous situations to let a little bruising scare him, but even then, he's always been too much of an optimist to imagine the worst-case scenarios (broken necks and whatnot).
But the playful smile quickly returns, another chuckle warming her back as he adds, "I guess we should all be thankful - otherwise we wouldn't stand a chance." Colt gives him the sense of someone who wouldn't settle for second place, and she's already proven herself skilled enough on horseback. He imagined she could tame most anything.
While she busies herself in the kitchen, Zavien finally lets his eyes wander, taking in the cozy home that feels perfectly lived in - loved in. He's admiring her hat rack when the question is returned his way. He slips his own hat from his head, golden hair slick against his forehead before his hand runs through it. "To prove to myself that I could." It's blunt - honest, without boasting or pretense, and when his gaze finds Colt again, it's with the steady calm of someone who's done just that.
More laughter falls freely from his lips like sunlight across skin, catching her grin with his own. The tease doesn't encounter pride or hurt, sparking amusement instead. "Right. A slight improvement." But his head shakes at her encouragement, hand raising in gentle disagreement. "Eh. I'm not after the eight seconds." Self-improvement, sure, but not glory or the thrill of meeting an arbitrary eight seconds. Doesn't mean he'll stop riding just for the fun of it.
His boots hit wood as he ascends the stairs after Colt. He takes a moment to take in the porch, the seating, the homey exterior. Following her lead, he knocks off the loose dirt before removing them, his hands finding more dog heads along the way. Scratching behind the ear of a black and white shepherd, he casts the rancher a knowing smirk then straightens to catch the screen door with his dirt-lined hand. The second explanation is more believable than the first, the humor turning to something softer as he cautiously steps into her home after her.
Giving her the attention she deserves after such a confession, Zavien's gaze doesn't immediately stray to the surrounding space, his voice genuine and sincere. "I can understand that." Maybe his own sense of danger has been too skewed by death and dangerous situations to let a little bruising scare him, but even then, he's always been too much of an optimist to imagine the worst-case scenarios (broken necks and whatnot).
But the playful smile quickly returns, another chuckle warming her back as he adds, "I guess we should all be thankful - otherwise we wouldn't stand a chance." Colt gives him the sense of someone who wouldn't settle for second place, and she's already proven herself skilled enough on horseback. He imagined she could tame most anything.
While she busies herself in the kitchen, Zavien finally lets his eyes wander, taking in the cozy home that feels perfectly lived in - loved in. He's admiring her hat rack when the question is returned his way. He slips his own hat from his head, golden hair slick against his forehead before his hand runs through it. "To prove to myself that I could." It's blunt - honest, without boasting or pretense, and when his gaze finds Colt again, it's with the steady calm of someone who's done just that.
Life is getting up one more time
than you've been knocked down.
than you've been knocked down.
