-Zavien-
He leans forward slightly to get a look at the marinade, raising an eyebrow as if he might be able to puzzle out the flavors before trying them. As she comments on eating the 'good stuff,' Zavien tacks on an encouraging nod of his head. "Of course," he adds before she's back on the rancher parables about dusting things off and getting back up.
Chuckling at the irony of it - as a man who's died and failed a million other ways and never stayed down - Zavien simple straightens to place a supporting hand against the railing. He lets his gaze land on her, warm and appreciative of the reminder when he raises his bottle and says, "I'm familiar with the process, but I'll do my best not to wind up there again so soon." The smirk on his face isn't the haunted look of someone reliving past struggles or dreading the next fall. The amused tilt hints more at a history she hasn't seen - a close relationship between his ass and rock bottom.
Having looked away to admire the scenery, Colt's chiding voice and use of his full title immediately bring about another wave of laughter. His hands raise innocently when faced with the threat of her marinated tongs, his smile bright enough to match. "Of course not." And he hadn't been, but he'd get to that after she tries to pin him with questions rather than grilling utensils.
Once he feels it's safe enough to do so, Zavien takes a sip of his beer, letting a bit of the heaviness wash down his throat before he answers. "I lived and breathed Stormbreak. All I cared about was what I could do for my city - for my people. Whether that was picking up trash or helping with the odd job or joining the Dragoons. I did what I could and stepped up when I needed to." His eyes drag out to where the wind ripples over grass, the smell of smoke, baked earth, and open air wafting onto the porch. It's so much different than Stormbreak, than the towering buildings and crystal clear air and bustle of people around every corner, and yet he says, "I imagine it's like you and your ranch." Shrugging his shoulders, he lets the smile fade for a moment, the smallest flicker of grief coloring the soft echo of his words. "It's all I ever knew."
When his gaze finds Colt again, it's curiosity rimmed with a sadness, wondering if she might understand what it's like when he asks, "What would you do if you didn't have a ranch to run?"
Chuckling at the irony of it - as a man who's died and failed a million other ways and never stayed down - Zavien simple straightens to place a supporting hand against the railing. He lets his gaze land on her, warm and appreciative of the reminder when he raises his bottle and says, "I'm familiar with the process, but I'll do my best not to wind up there again so soon." The smirk on his face isn't the haunted look of someone reliving past struggles or dreading the next fall. The amused tilt hints more at a history she hasn't seen - a close relationship between his ass and rock bottom.
Having looked away to admire the scenery, Colt's chiding voice and use of his full title immediately bring about another wave of laughter. His hands raise innocently when faced with the threat of her marinated tongs, his smile bright enough to match. "Of course not." And he hadn't been, but he'd get to that after she tries to pin him with questions rather than grilling utensils.
Once he feels it's safe enough to do so, Zavien takes a sip of his beer, letting a bit of the heaviness wash down his throat before he answers. "I lived and breathed Stormbreak. All I cared about was what I could do for my city - for my people. Whether that was picking up trash or helping with the odd job or joining the Dragoons. I did what I could and stepped up when I needed to." His eyes drag out to where the wind ripples over grass, the smell of smoke, baked earth, and open air wafting onto the porch. It's so much different than Stormbreak, than the towering buildings and crystal clear air and bustle of people around every corner, and yet he says, "I imagine it's like you and your ranch." Shrugging his shoulders, he lets the smile fade for a moment, the smallest flicker of grief coloring the soft echo of his words. "It's all I ever knew."
When his gaze finds Colt again, it's curiosity rimmed with a sadness, wondering if she might understand what it's like when he asks, "What would you do if you didn't have a ranch to run?"
Life is getting up one more time
than you've been knocked down.
than you've been knocked down.
