Learning to Fend for Yourself

[losthunter]

After a brief absence from the Nexus, Hunter has returned. He is still without his magic, as evident by the growth of hair on his head and not being covered by tattoos or piercings. However, Hunter does not have one tattoo, a freshly-created recreation of the rose bush tattoo on his left forearm.

Hunter seems to be deep in thought, as he taps a pencil on a large sketch book with one hand. His other hand is playing with a protection rune hanging from his neck.

"If you had to face a foe that has abilities you do not... how would you prepare yourself?" Something about his question might clue a listener to the fact that this is not hypothetical.

Comments

[lionofthelight]

He wants... Really He wants to reclaim that sort of visage? Light, Zandros can only imagine. He's left staring, rude though it may be, at his own reflection in another man's face.

Hunter wants that again? To be cursed? To be twisted?

Zandros looks down at the table, at his own fist, and says nothing. Not at first, anyway. Not for a long while.

Eventually he asks simply, "Why?"

[losthunter]

Hunter frowns. He looks back at Zandros, with an uncertain look. Are they going to have a problem with this? He hopes not.

"This..." He gestures to his current appearance. "Is not me. It is not Hunter."

"Right now, every time I look in the mirror, I am reminded of a judgmental, rude, irresponsible man. Someone who didn't care about anyone else. And someone who really didn't even care about himself."

Hunter rises, not sure if he should leave or not. "I need to reclaim my real appearance Zandros. I feel like I am pretending... wearing a face that is not mine."

[lionofthelight]

Zandros is quick to gesture for Hunter to take his seat again. "There is no need to leave," he tries. He wouldn't want to be the reason a conversation with one of the friendliest people in the Nexus ends abruptly.

"I simply... Do not understand. I suppose... Perhaps... It is not for me to understand? I am... In truth, I am uncertain I could make the same choice? I have had to consider in the past, when I was a soldier, if or how I might go into my future with--" He stops abruptly. How to phrase this delicately?

"With... An appearance which was not one of my choosing. But the appearance of my choosing is the very one you now seek to escape. Grappling with this concept is... Admitting my own vanity? Quite difficult."

[losthunter]

Hunter pauses at the gesture. And after a moment, returns to his seat.

"You have to understand.... right now, I have an appearance that is not my choosing." Hunter takes a breath to steady himself. "It took my five years to be comfortable in my own skin, and it was taken away from me."

"And maybe I should clarify... your appearance is your own. It does not remind me of my life as... Kyle... the man who was so judgmental and misunderstood others."

He chuckled lightly. "It took me all that time to admit to the faults of my own vanity. So I understand how difficult it can be."

"I just don't want to lose you as a friend."