Zavien
We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road,
but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it.
There's obviously more to the advice Thorn gives, but Zavien doesn't push further, just appreciative of the vulnerability as much as the honest suggestion. It warms his smile even more, taking the advice to heart even when he jokes, "I've already told Soh she's stuck with me. I imagine it will be the same for our kid no matter what they do. Poor thing." He shakes his head pityingly, but there's no denying the smile on his face, the quiet promise wrapped in humor sitting sincerely within the green of his eyes.
Zavien isn't the most confrontational, and yet as he purchases the simple golden bell, there's a defensiveness to his posture, as if he might still need to stand between the man and Lena. He steps away from the stall with bell in hand, twirling the white ribbon around his fingers as he reports, "He definitely meant it the first time when he threatened to lie to her about my feelings, and even though I called him out for dragging her into things, he never apologized." Which is very telling in Zavien's eyes.
Pursing his lips, he adds, "The second time, he said it to Soh, so I couldn't tell him how wrong it was." There's a long pause, a mixture of hurt and anger flashing across his face that draws Sol's attention. The little dragon presses closer to his companion's leg as Zavien finally unveils the comment that had hurt the most without even needing to hear it with his own ears.
"He said I moved on fast."
For a moment, he's quiet, his own doubts pressing in like a cage of pointed accusations he tries to keep from drawing more blood than it already has. He knows it's because he can't argue with the words or the guilt that still chooses to rear its ugly head sometimes; but even if he hadn't chosen for things to work out the way they did, Zavien wouldn't trade the love he'd found in Soh.
It doesn't mean the words don't sting, and he shakes his head as his gaze lands back on Thorn. "It doesn't feel like something he'd say to someone else without meaning it." Kai doesn't have much of a filter as is, and Zavien doubts he'd bother keeping it on when he's talking to someone other than the target of his insult. That just makes it all the worse.
Zavien isn't the most confrontational, and yet as he purchases the simple golden bell, there's a defensiveness to his posture, as if he might still need to stand between the man and Lena. He steps away from the stall with bell in hand, twirling the white ribbon around his fingers as he reports, "He definitely meant it the first time when he threatened to lie to her about my feelings, and even though I called him out for dragging her into things, he never apologized." Which is very telling in Zavien's eyes.
Pursing his lips, he adds, "The second time, he said it to Soh, so I couldn't tell him how wrong it was." There's a long pause, a mixture of hurt and anger flashing across his face that draws Sol's attention. The little dragon presses closer to his companion's leg as Zavien finally unveils the comment that had hurt the most without even needing to hear it with his own ears.
"He said I moved on fast."
For a moment, he's quiet, his own doubts pressing in like a cage of pointed accusations he tries to keep from drawing more blood than it already has. He knows it's because he can't argue with the words or the guilt that still chooses to rear its ugly head sometimes; but even if he hadn't chosen for things to work out the way they did, Zavien wouldn't trade the love he'd found in Soh.
It doesn't mean the words don't sting, and he shakes his head as his gaze lands back on Thorn. "It doesn't feel like something he'd say to someone else without meaning it." Kai doesn't have much of a filter as is, and Zavien doubts he'd bother keeping it on when he's talking to someone other than the target of his insult. That just makes it all the worse.
