Post by Marshall on Feb 27, 2019 9:37:25 GMT -5
(Summary: As they travel closer to Um-Shara Yaim Ava and Medren take a moment to talk among themselves.)
Ava walked over to Medren once they finished setting up their small compound for the day. Comms had been established. Ration packets and water distributed for the evening. The group were still a few days away from the epicenter of the Red but it felt good that they were moving.
"How are you holding up?" She asked as her feet slid beneath her until she was sitting on the ground.
He looked up at her and offered her a small smile. "I'm okay... It's--" He frowned, trying to describe what he felt. But he shook his head... Not having words to describe it. "It’s... Weird," he finally settled on. "Are you okay?"
"I'm well as can be expected." She replied. Her back pressed against the wall. "What do you mean by 'weird'?"
"It’s weird because i don't know how to describe it... It's--" He gestures to the door, meaning outside... Meaning the Red. "It feels... Stifling." He looked a little deflated when he said that. It was not a good word, but it was the closest one he had.
"That's because it is." She agreed. "There's an entire world out there that's been blanketed by this thing."
He met her eyes, nodding... "That's not an accurate description... But its the best one I've got," he said softly. He shook his head, frustrated that he didn't have better words. "Have you sensed anyone alive out there?"
"No." There was a weight that seemed to settle over her with that answer.
"No one yet."
"But in a way... That's a good thing, though, isn't it?" He asked softly.
"In situations like this, I always opt to hope for life. That somewhere, somehow, someone or something was able to survive." She replied.
"I'm sure there's survivors somewhere... But if you can't sense life, it means... One, they all got out, which is a great thing... Or two-- if they died, they didn't suffer long."
"I didn't mean it in that sense." She smiled.
"How did you mean it?" he asked.
"In the exact way it was said. As of now, I haven't sensed anyone out there but that doesn't mean I don't hope it doesn't change."
"Oh," he said, looking away. "Why did you really come? Was it to help people? Or something else?"
"That's a strange question to ask." Ava blinked. "I'm here to help."
He studied her face as she said it and he gave her a soft smile. "I believe you... But I'm not sure I'd believe Uncle Sol if he said it."
Ava gave him a strange look before shaking her head.
"Solomon has his reasons just as you and I have ours." she replied. "What's important to remember is not -why- we are here, but that we work together."
"I haven't forgotten... And I won't," he told her gently. "I think motivations for going are different so different choices are likely to be made... As long as we work together, we should be fine."
"Questioning Solomon's motivation can open a door towards doubting his decisions." She cautioned. "As you said, we need to work together and not second guess one another."
"One does not necessarily lead to the other," he told her with a small smile. "I already have doubts on many things, but I have given my word that I will follow orders and cooperate under any circumstances. So I will not be a hindrance in that regard. What I think is irrelevant."
"It doesn't." Ava agreed. "But it's something to keep in mind as we move forward."
At the last statement, she asked. "Is that what you think?"
He gave her a bland little look that was void of humor... Again that seriousness that did not fit an eleven year old. "I think my opinion is willing to be heard, but is unwelcome... And will be reacted to negatively no matter what I say. So I will continue to keep my mouth shut."
"Are you referring to me or Solomon?" Ava asked with a brow quirked.
"You, not so much." But definitely Solomon was the unspoken statement.
"Would you like to know what I think about this situation between you and Solomon?"
He quirked a brow back at her in question.
"I think it would help for the two of you to talk - really talk. See if there is a common ground the two of you can find where your opinion would be received in a positive manner."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "And you think the current situation is conducive to such a talk?" he asked softly.
Her shoulders shrugged.
"I believe there is room for improvement between the way you two work together. And right now," she glances around their surroundings. "We could use improvement."
He sighed again. "Have you talked to him about this or is the effort to fall solely on me?" he asked her.
There was something about what he said that left a bad taste in Ava's mouth. She looked at him.
"Do you not wish to improve your situation with Solomon?" She asked curiously.
"I didn't say that. I asked if you were going to talk to him about this, too.”
"You seem as though taking a first step is more of a burden to you." She replied. "What does it matter if I talk to Solomon about this or not so long as you make the effort?"
"It matters because if you don't, it means that you think blame is solely on me."
"There'd be no blame to place either way." She blinked at him.
He shook his head as if he disagreed... "It doesn't matter," he said softly.
"No." She said, seeing him shut down. "I believe it does."
He turned to face her a little more directly...he studied her face for a long time. Just... Watching her.
Ava patiently waited for him to reply to her statement.
He finally sat back and looked away. It wasn't like he was defeated, though. "I'm trying to figure out if you're the idiot or if I am."
Ava's head shook. For a kid who claimed to be smart, who boasted repeatedly about his maturity level and awareness of his flaws... he seemed to be displaying quite the opposite.
"I think it is time we come to an end in our conversation." She stated with a tired voice. "I do hope you consider my advice and try to improve things with your Uncle."
"Ori'jate, jetii," he told her quietly.
Ava walked over to Medren once they finished setting up their small compound for the day. Comms had been established. Ration packets and water distributed for the evening. The group were still a few days away from the epicenter of the Red but it felt good that they were moving.
"How are you holding up?" She asked as her feet slid beneath her until she was sitting on the ground.
He looked up at her and offered her a small smile. "I'm okay... It's--" He frowned, trying to describe what he felt. But he shook his head... Not having words to describe it. "It’s... Weird," he finally settled on. "Are you okay?"
"I'm well as can be expected." She replied. Her back pressed against the wall. "What do you mean by 'weird'?"
"It’s weird because i don't know how to describe it... It's--" He gestures to the door, meaning outside... Meaning the Red. "It feels... Stifling." He looked a little deflated when he said that. It was not a good word, but it was the closest one he had.
"That's because it is." She agreed. "There's an entire world out there that's been blanketed by this thing."
He met her eyes, nodding... "That's not an accurate description... But its the best one I've got," he said softly. He shook his head, frustrated that he didn't have better words. "Have you sensed anyone alive out there?"
"No." There was a weight that seemed to settle over her with that answer.
"No one yet."
"But in a way... That's a good thing, though, isn't it?" He asked softly.
"In situations like this, I always opt to hope for life. That somewhere, somehow, someone or something was able to survive." She replied.
"I'm sure there's survivors somewhere... But if you can't sense life, it means... One, they all got out, which is a great thing... Or two-- if they died, they didn't suffer long."
"I didn't mean it in that sense." She smiled.
"How did you mean it?" he asked.
"In the exact way it was said. As of now, I haven't sensed anyone out there but that doesn't mean I don't hope it doesn't change."
"Oh," he said, looking away. "Why did you really come? Was it to help people? Or something else?"
"That's a strange question to ask." Ava blinked. "I'm here to help."
He studied her face as she said it and he gave her a soft smile. "I believe you... But I'm not sure I'd believe Uncle Sol if he said it."
Ava gave him a strange look before shaking her head.
"Solomon has his reasons just as you and I have ours." she replied. "What's important to remember is not -why- we are here, but that we work together."
"I haven't forgotten... And I won't," he told her gently. "I think motivations for going are different so different choices are likely to be made... As long as we work together, we should be fine."
"Questioning Solomon's motivation can open a door towards doubting his decisions." She cautioned. "As you said, we need to work together and not second guess one another."
"One does not necessarily lead to the other," he told her with a small smile. "I already have doubts on many things, but I have given my word that I will follow orders and cooperate under any circumstances. So I will not be a hindrance in that regard. What I think is irrelevant."
"It doesn't." Ava agreed. "But it's something to keep in mind as we move forward."
At the last statement, she asked. "Is that what you think?"
He gave her a bland little look that was void of humor... Again that seriousness that did not fit an eleven year old. "I think my opinion is willing to be heard, but is unwelcome... And will be reacted to negatively no matter what I say. So I will continue to keep my mouth shut."
"Are you referring to me or Solomon?" Ava asked with a brow quirked.
"You, not so much." But definitely Solomon was the unspoken statement.
"Would you like to know what I think about this situation between you and Solomon?"
He quirked a brow back at her in question.
"I think it would help for the two of you to talk - really talk. See if there is a common ground the two of you can find where your opinion would be received in a positive manner."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "And you think the current situation is conducive to such a talk?" he asked softly.
Her shoulders shrugged.
"I believe there is room for improvement between the way you two work together. And right now," she glances around their surroundings. "We could use improvement."
He sighed again. "Have you talked to him about this or is the effort to fall solely on me?" he asked her.
There was something about what he said that left a bad taste in Ava's mouth. She looked at him.
"Do you not wish to improve your situation with Solomon?" She asked curiously.
"I didn't say that. I asked if you were going to talk to him about this, too.”
"You seem as though taking a first step is more of a burden to you." She replied. "What does it matter if I talk to Solomon about this or not so long as you make the effort?"
"It matters because if you don't, it means that you think blame is solely on me."
"There'd be no blame to place either way." She blinked at him.
He shook his head as if he disagreed... "It doesn't matter," he said softly.
"No." She said, seeing him shut down. "I believe it does."
He turned to face her a little more directly...he studied her face for a long time. Just... Watching her.
Ava patiently waited for him to reply to her statement.
He finally sat back and looked away. It wasn't like he was defeated, though. "I'm trying to figure out if you're the idiot or if I am."
Ava's head shook. For a kid who claimed to be smart, who boasted repeatedly about his maturity level and awareness of his flaws... he seemed to be displaying quite the opposite.
"I think it is time we come to an end in our conversation." She stated with a tired voice. "I do hope you consider my advice and try to improve things with your Uncle."
"Ori'jate, jetii," he told her quietly.