Zavien
Her certainty surprised him, his eyes falling to look at her as she spoke. He hadn't expected a declaration of affection or such convicted belief in their eventual relationship. He was always the optimistic one, sure and certain of how things would turn out for the better, but it was difficult to trust they would have been willing to take the risk by admitting their feelings. At least for him, he'd been careful not to let those kinds of thoughts grow or take form, believing he'd never be able to act on them without hurting someone or breaking his morals. And while he'd certainly done a number on both when he'd kissed Soh, she continued to prove to him at every opportunity why it had been a blessing in disguise.
Zavien let those thoughts rest safely behind her faith, happy to give his own as he answered her question with equal conviction. "I do." He angled his head up as he picked his words. "I think things happen when we're supposed to, one way or another." Perhaps it wasn't necessarily 'destiny,' but he liked to believe in the good of the world, that things had purpose beyond pain and suffering. Otherwise, he could easily lose himself in the darkness of the past as much as the future, always worried about how things would work out.
For a moment, he debated saying what came to his mind. It was a heavy topic, one Lena had never wanted to talk about, one he rarely talked about, but he found himself wanting to tell Soh, trusting that she would respond in the same way she'd done with everything else: compassion and understanding. So his voice lowered, slowing as he tread careful into the confession. "You know... when I died, I'd had a similar thought." Zavien's eyes turned distant, quietly recalling what it'd felt like. Not the pain or suffering or regrets, but the peace and unfaltering belief that he was exactly where he was most needed. "I was proud of how I'd lived my life," he continued, "of the choices I'd made and how far I'd come, and I'd thought, 'If this is how it's supposed to end, I'm happy with that.'" And then he'd embraced death like he had everything in life, like it was just the next step on his journey rather than the end.
Zavien let those thoughts rest safely behind her faith, happy to give his own as he answered her question with equal conviction. "I do." He angled his head up as he picked his words. "I think things happen when we're supposed to, one way or another." Perhaps it wasn't necessarily 'destiny,' but he liked to believe in the good of the world, that things had purpose beyond pain and suffering. Otherwise, he could easily lose himself in the darkness of the past as much as the future, always worried about how things would work out.
For a moment, he debated saying what came to his mind. It was a heavy topic, one Lena had never wanted to talk about, one he rarely talked about, but he found himself wanting to tell Soh, trusting that she would respond in the same way she'd done with everything else: compassion and understanding. So his voice lowered, slowing as he tread careful into the confession. "You know... when I died, I'd had a similar thought." Zavien's eyes turned distant, quietly recalling what it'd felt like. Not the pain or suffering or regrets, but the peace and unfaltering belief that he was exactly where he was most needed. "I was proud of how I'd lived my life," he continued, "of the choices I'd made and how far I'd come, and I'd thought, 'If this is how it's supposed to end, I'm happy with that.'" And then he'd embraced death like he had everything in life, like it was just the next step on his journey rather than the end.
If you don't like the road you're walking,
start paving another.
start paving another.
