[Training] do it right next time

We can easily forgive a child
who is afraid of the dark

There isn't a hint of frustration or animosity, the smiles and words too warm to be anything but sincere. It releases the guilt that had formed with a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder, Zavien already feeling lighter for having brought it up. He returns the smile with an appreciative one of his own, his admiration for the demigods having always been high, but his respect for Ronin growing all the more. Chuckling, he shakes his head in disbelief, "You handle it better than I ever could." It's something that he never wants to experience, barely able to keep track of his own fights without getting thrown into the middle of other peoples'. It makes his gratitude ring a little deeper as he grins. "Thank you for that - for everything."

Zavien only pauses for a moment before turning to the path back to the city, visibly more relaxed. "Well, I hope you'll at least let me buy you a meal or a drink every time I do. You have to get something out of all the chaos." His laughter is bright and playful, even if he's being completely serious, fully intending to buy Ronin something after their spar.

The real tragedy is men
who are afraid of the light

Zavien

RONIN

the white knight

"Eh, practice makes perfect," Ronin says with a grin. "And that's not even when it comes to being channelled. If you trip and fall into chaos enough, you just get used to being quick in a crisis." It's something everyone can expose themselves to, for better or worse. The only things that change for the Knight are the stakes, though he'll be the first to admit that they tend to get exponentially higher rather than lower. "You're welcome, though. Always, like I said."

Ah, but then Zavien is speaking Ronin's magic words as he brings up food, the Knight raising his eyebrows and gesturing for the other man to lead the way. "I'll let you in on a secret right now - I'll show up anywhere if there's food. Speaking of which, shall we? No need to buy my affection today though, since I'm pretty sure we're both walking out of this with bruises. I know a place that does great surf and turf."

i'll get over it
i just gotta be dramatic first

We can easily forgive a child
who is afraid of the dark

Zavien couldn't argue with that point, being a proud advocate for practice in all sense of the word, so he just grins back, sure that he'll eventually come to be as proficient in 'chaos' as Ronin is. It's hard to avoid in Caido, even if he were trying.

With gratitude given and accepted, his laughter rings a littler brighter, his grin basking in the warmth as he looks to the demigod. "Really? Maybe I won't even have to channel you, just wave around a fresh-cooked steak and let you appear." It might take a little longer, but saving on his channeling would definitely be worth the extra time. 

For now, he'll settle for his own meal, his stomach suddenly showing exactly how much effort he'd put into the spar. "That's perfect. I could really go for something perfectly tenderized - other than me." Offering another cheeky smile, he lets Ronin guide the way.

[FIN]

The real tragedy is men
who are afraid of the light

Zavien