[The claw on his face sees Kadin swallow, he's hoping it reads as a neutral gesture, but he's losing faith by the moment that he's actually maintaining his composed facade. After a long steady breath he blinks, slowly and deliberately, then tilts his head slightly. He's intentionally not leaning into or away from the hand, the movement meant as an inquisitive gesture.
Hard for this man to believe or not, it actually was true. Living in a small, tightly knit, closed community meant that nearly all of the attention his non human portion had attracted was resentment, distrust, and anger. Seemingly the only people who didn't see him that way were Baqer, his teacher and practically his father, and Shen. Shen may have called him brave, and strong, and kind, and gentle, and maybe even wonderful, but he doesn't remember ever hearing the specific word 'beautiful'.
But whatever attempt he was going to make at defending his statement dies in his throat at the second jibe. Uncharacteristically, the contradiction between his actions and his words slips past Kadin, and something lights up in his eyes and his mouth opens just very slightly in surprise before he responds.]
There are other nagas here? Really?
[Hope is not a negative or anxious reaction, and so Kadin makes little attempt to hide it. If this man were as fascinated in others like him then surely he knew where Kadin would be able to find them. There is something very like longing, and maybe even tentative gratitude building in Kadin's chest. All this discomfort would be thoroughly worth it if it meant he could talk to someone else who had never had legs.]
no subject
Hard for this man to believe or not, it actually was true. Living in a small, tightly knit, closed community meant that nearly all of the attention his non human portion had attracted was resentment, distrust, and anger. Seemingly the only people who didn't see him that way were Baqer, his teacher and practically his father, and Shen. Shen may have called him brave, and strong, and kind, and gentle, and maybe even wonderful, but he doesn't remember ever hearing the specific word 'beautiful'.
But whatever attempt he was going to make at defending his statement dies in his throat at the second jibe. Uncharacteristically, the contradiction between his actions and his words slips past Kadin, and something lights up in his eyes and his mouth opens just very slightly in surprise before he responds.]
There are other nagas here? Really?
[Hope is not a negative or anxious reaction, and so Kadin makes little attempt to hide it. If this man were as fascinated in others like him then surely he knew where Kadin would be able to find them. There is something very like longing, and maybe even tentative gratitude building in Kadin's chest. All this discomfort would be thoroughly worth it if it meant he could talk to someone else who had never had legs.]