( it's the simplest advice that sticks with him the most. if a god tells him rest is allowed and necessary, isn't it unquestionably true? the words come from the highest authority, after all.
unfortunately, kaladin has witnessed gods make mistakes. this puts them at a lower status—but higher in his estimations. everything and everyone is fallible, even feelings, concepts, and spirits. it makes him crack a small, watery smile when tezcatlipoca grins at him, and then it's gone behind a forearm. )
What do you suggest? ( his arm comes away after a hurried wipe, reddened eyes aiming down into his metoctli. ) Wrestle a kaiju? Win the next beauty contest? Defeat my inner demons? Join one of the Everlights' pillow fights at two in the morning?
( lists them all like they're all comparable.......... )
[ Honestly, this is pretty much the answer he expects. He has a pretty good idea of the kind of man Kaladin is by now, and thus, he’s the kind of guy with the “I’ll rest when I’m dead” mentality. He can’t say he dislikes it—hell, that’s a personality trait he’s drawn to, if he’s honest. It’s why the list of options and immediate refusal makes him laugh. ]
Why not? Those all sound fun, save for the inner demons one. If you think that’s rest, well, leads into my question nicely. Feel like I know the answer too, but I’m going to ask anyways.
[ With his glass still in hand, he points across the desk at Kaladin. ]
What do you do on your days off? What’s “fun” for you?
If you know the answer, do I really have to say it? ( his voice lacks its usual fire, sounding more tired than anything. )
I... I work. I train. I keep my mind occupied. If I don't... It's not pretty, Tez. I'm not all that familiar with "fun."
( tez won't care, or it won't bother him or linger with him, but he still feels it necessary to warn him. warn everyone. maybe then they won't expect so much of him. he's not reliable—not anymore. )
I like to go on walks sometimes. And I like sitting here with you.
Yep. Surely you get that I don’t ask questions for no reason, right?
[ But he laughs gently even so, and he also smiles with an expression that’s a bit hard to place. It looks like fondness, but still not quite right—like there’s something more complicated that comes with it. Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t, but it’s a familiar answer all the same. ]
Well, can’t say I’m opposed to those options. Any of ‘em. Training, meditating, havin’ a talk with yours truly, that’s all good shit for warrior to do.
[ The “but” is clear in his tone, though. He lets that linger as he takes a solid, slow drink, and his own pale eyes are directed down. He’s thinking about something, but it’s still with an easy smile. It doesn’t remain overly mysterious and contemplative long, though. Just long enough to maybe make Kaladin wonder what he’s thinking. ]
We’ll have a night of fun, if it’s all the same to you, then. Doesn’t have to be any more than that. But let’s just say I know your type. And therefore, it’s valuable to see how people spend their time. Can guarantee you’ll learn something, even if it’s just why you end up at my bar so often.
( it feels like adolin's here, guiding him to socialize again. kaladin didn't realize how much he missed him until now, being encouraged so similarly by tezcatlipoca. his friend from home always assured him that hanging out with others didn't require smiles and good humour, just presence of body and mind. he takes that advice and combines it with tezcatlipoca's.
blonds, he thinks, smiling. )
It's all the same to me. I can't promise a good mood, but I can promise I'll learn something. I already have—from you.
( watching people has always been a hobby. how they go about their day, how they interact with others. how they persist despite everything terrible happening in their lives—and everyone has something.
he has a drink to tezcatlipoca's words, again polishing off his glass. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
( it's the simplest advice that sticks with him the most. if a god tells him rest is allowed and necessary, isn't it unquestionably true? the words come from the highest authority, after all.
unfortunately, kaladin has witnessed gods make mistakes. this puts them at a lower status—but higher in his estimations. everything and everyone is fallible, even feelings, concepts, and spirits. it makes him crack a small, watery smile when tezcatlipoca grins at him, and then it's gone behind a forearm. )
What do you suggest? ( his arm comes away after a hurried wipe, reddened eyes aiming down into his metoctli. ) Wrestle a kaiju? Win the next beauty contest? Defeat my inner demons? Join one of the Everlights' pillow fights at two in the morning?
( lists them all like they're all comparable.......... )
No thanks.
no subject
Why not? Those all sound fun, save for the inner demons one. If you think that’s rest, well, leads into my question nicely. Feel like I know the answer too, but I’m going to ask anyways.
[ With his glass still in hand, he points across the desk at Kaladin. ]
What do you do on your days off? What’s “fun” for you?
no subject
I... I work. I train. I keep my mind occupied. If I don't... It's not pretty, Tez. I'm not all that familiar with "fun."
( tez won't care, or it won't bother him or linger with him, but he still feels it necessary to warn him. warn everyone. maybe then they won't expect so much of him. he's not reliable—not anymore. )
I like to go on walks sometimes. And I like sitting here with you.
no subject
[ But he laughs gently even so, and he also smiles with an expression that’s a bit hard to place. It looks like fondness, but still not quite right—like there’s something more complicated that comes with it. Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t, but it’s a familiar answer all the same. ]
Well, can’t say I’m opposed to those options. Any of ‘em. Training, meditating, havin’ a talk with yours truly, that’s all good shit for warrior to do.
[ The “but” is clear in his tone, though. He lets that linger as he takes a solid, slow drink, and his own pale eyes are directed down. He’s thinking about something, but it’s still with an easy smile. It doesn’t remain overly mysterious and contemplative long, though. Just long enough to maybe make Kaladin wonder what he’s thinking. ]
We’ll have a night of fun, if it’s all the same to you, then. Doesn’t have to be any more than that. But let’s just say I know your type. And therefore, it’s valuable to see how people spend their time. Can guarantee you’ll learn something, even if it’s just why you end up at my bar so often.
GOOD TO WRAP UP HERE TBH ✨
blonds, he thinks, smiling. )
It's all the same to me. I can't promise a good mood, but I can promise I'll learn something. I already have—from you.
( watching people has always been a hobby. how they go about their day, how they interact with others. how they persist despite everything terrible happening in their lives—and everyone has something.
he has a drink to tezcatlipoca's words, again polishing off his glass. )
Name a time and place, Tez. I'll be there.