Courage is not simply one of the virtues,
The cat's reaction is warranted, the hiss slicing through the air with a sharpness that could cut steel, except this sends an uncanny draw along his skin. Zavien shivers and anticipates feeling blood well along his shin, bracing for the burn of claws; but the spikey black creature doesn't strike him, vanishing into the alley with a seething glance.
Running a hand along the back of his neck, he tries to soothe the hair that stands up along his spine, pursing his lips at the unnatural sensation fading into sweat. "Sorry," he mutters, disappointed he couldn't quell the insult before the creature left.
His thoughts realign to the task at hand, glancing down at the box within his grasp and the heat coating his skin. "Geez. It's still so hot." Without a second thought - particularly to how strange his actions are - he sets aside the box and strips off his shirt, rolling his shoulder muscles to expose them to the hint of a breeze. Tucking the t-shirt into his jean's belt loop next to his scabbard, Zavien lifts the box back up and resumes their path down the street.
Less bothered by the heat, he begins humming as they walk, the melody torturously out of tune despite the energy and joy infused into every note. The sound might as well be a dying ghost whale drowning in the scream of styrofoam, falling on his own deaf ears without a care. It draws the unnoticed attention of a few people, but Sol is looking at him the closest, seeming more interested in Zavien than anything around them. The companion feels that something is off, but nothing seems blatantly wrong, and so he resigns himself to close monitoring, wings hugged close and head lowered just low enough to appear suspicious.
The town is small and they reach the donation center without any further incidents. It sits next to the ice cream stand, where a bustle of people attempt to enjoy the last bit of excruciating heat. As he passes, Zavien picks out a flash of blonde, throwing a momentary smile before meeting an older gentleman at the door of the donation center. He hands over the box, laughing brightly as he apologizes for the bit of broken pieces, more amused than remorseful for the mess. The man doesn't seem to mind, taking the offerings without complaint for their condition.
With another hand running through his damp hair, Zavien bids the man goodbye and gathers Sol - who hasn't let his companion out of his sight. "Let's go join Soh." Grinning, he stalks completely bare chested towards the ice cream stall. A sheen of sweat glints off his tanned skin, only broken by the gnarled scar across his side, but he doesn't pay a single thought to it when he finds Sohalia amidst the crowd. Whereas he might have paused to consider decency and politeness, he steps into her space to give a warm, friendly hug and the biggest smile, obviously having missed her. "Soh! Hey!" Pulling back slightly, he looks to the ice cream flavors. "Did you already pick something?"
Running a hand along the back of his neck, he tries to soothe the hair that stands up along his spine, pursing his lips at the unnatural sensation fading into sweat. "Sorry," he mutters, disappointed he couldn't quell the insult before the creature left.
His thoughts realign to the task at hand, glancing down at the box within his grasp and the heat coating his skin. "Geez. It's still so hot." Without a second thought - particularly to how strange his actions are - he sets aside the box and strips off his shirt, rolling his shoulder muscles to expose them to the hint of a breeze. Tucking the t-shirt into his jean's belt loop next to his scabbard, Zavien lifts the box back up and resumes their path down the street.
Less bothered by the heat, he begins humming as they walk, the melody torturously out of tune despite the energy and joy infused into every note. The sound might as well be a dying ghost whale drowning in the scream of styrofoam, falling on his own deaf ears without a care. It draws the unnoticed attention of a few people, but Sol is looking at him the closest, seeming more interested in Zavien than anything around them. The companion feels that something is off, but nothing seems blatantly wrong, and so he resigns himself to close monitoring, wings hugged close and head lowered just low enough to appear suspicious.
The town is small and they reach the donation center without any further incidents. It sits next to the ice cream stand, where a bustle of people attempt to enjoy the last bit of excruciating heat. As he passes, Zavien picks out a flash of blonde, throwing a momentary smile before meeting an older gentleman at the door of the donation center. He hands over the box, laughing brightly as he apologizes for the bit of broken pieces, more amused than remorseful for the mess. The man doesn't seem to mind, taking the offerings without complaint for their condition.
With another hand running through his damp hair, Zavien bids the man goodbye and gathers Sol - who hasn't let his companion out of his sight. "Let's go join Soh." Grinning, he stalks completely bare chested towards the ice cream stall. A sheen of sweat glints off his tanned skin, only broken by the gnarled scar across his side, but he doesn't pay a single thought to it when he finds Sohalia amidst the crowd. Whereas he might have paused to consider decency and politeness, he steps into her space to give a warm, friendly hug and the biggest smile, obviously having missed her. "Soh! Hey!" Pulling back slightly, he looks to the ice cream flavors. "Did you already pick something?"
Zavien
but the form of every virtue at the testing point.
