When The Walls Come Down

Story Circle was enjoyable, as it always is. I told a tale I had learned from a Highmountain traveler some time ago. Even Qiao got up and told a tale of her own! It always pleases me to see my friends embrace the shu'halo storytelling culture. During the course of the stories, a vulpera by name of Gwen Flamepaw sat next to me and her ears oddly kept catching on fire every time she got upset or saddened by the stories. It was disconcerting. Feeling the heat of the flames on the burned side of my face was... uncomfortable and I leaned away from her into Sorvitsune who sat on my other side. As it kept happening, Sorvi eventually took their wing and curled it around me in an attempt to shield me from the flames and the heat. Even Qiao also came over and asked us to scoot down, allowing her to put herself between me and Gwen. It was a welcome relief and I was grateful to them both for showing so much care for my discomfort.
 
After the stories were over, we spoke to some of the others for a time, but eventually Sorvitsune and I adjourned to the Great Gate so that we could speak together as we have been meaning to for a while now. Ever since Erythresh mentioned being part of their weyrn I have been rife with questions, but I did not care to ask them and upset Sorvi. I know their past is something that is difficult for them, they avoid speaking of it any time we even come near the subject. Tonight, though, they offered to answer my questions.
 
I do not feel as if Sorvi is being fully honest with me, not yet, there is still something very guarded in the responses they gave, small evasions and pauses that spoke of them side-stepping the more uncomfortable parts of their past that they were not yet ready to face. I did not press them, I allowed them to speak on the things they wished to speak on, only gently calling them out for the lies or half-truths I could discern. It made them huffy, I feel as if they do not realize how transparent they can be to those of us who know them. I continued to point out how their own actions throughout the course of our friendship countermands everything they claim for themselves. They are caring, protective, and endearing to those they care about and I told them with full confidence that if a time ever arose that Rory and I would need them that they would fight for us, they would protect us, because they love us.
 
Sorvi tried gamely to deny everything, even as the tears fell and their words failed them. I have seen Sorvi cry a number of times by now, but it was nothing like this raw vulnerability that they put on display, if only for me alone. They said something in Draconic that I could not understand, but there was such doubt, such question in it that I had to say something to reassure them. I told them that no matter what it was that they felt that we would overcome it, together.
 
No matter how hard they tried to protest that they could never be what I believe them to be, I reassured them that my faith in them was unshakable. Eventually, Sorvi was driven to tears as they struggled against who they tried to pretend to be -- and whoever it was they were hiding underneath that facade. I do not know if those tears were ones of sorrow, regret, or some manner of catharsis from everything they had shared. No matter the reason, I stayed with them and comforted them; I explained to them how I used to hate myself as well and how it took themself and Rory for me to finally realize that I could be liked, loved, and even thought of as beautiful. That seemed to evoke something in them, at least from the whimpering sounds they made. I am unsure. All I know is that I want to help them be the person that Rory and I see.
 
It may be a long, winding path but I have every faith we can get there.