01-20-2025, 07:49 PM
He'd been attempting to get beneath Sasha’s skin, hoping to see a little bite in the reaction, but Sasha just seemed distressed. Zeke’s roaming fingers hooked as far as Oriena’s underwear and gave it a ping before he grinned and removed his hand. Given the object of Sasha’s concern he was admittedly amused with the whole scenario, though he was far more interested in the volcano of power he'd felt on the grounds outside than whatever compelled Sasha to play the hero.
Zeke’s head tilted in consideration as he watched his dealer sink awkwardly to his knees to set Oriena down – though it wasn’t like she’d even notice a few more bruises. He wasn't thinking about whether to give his help though – that was more or less a given – but of his suspicions concerning what Sasha had just proven himself to be. The menacing weight of that power had felt astronomical. Enough to flatten the church and everyone in it in a tantrum.
He squatted down beside them, arms loose on his thighs. “You could just leave her here. You brought her in from the, ah… inclement weather after all. It's as good a place as any other to sleep whatever it is off.” He watched Sasha’s expression, chin resting in his palm and a teasing smile behind the cup of his fingers, curious as to how much Sasha appeared to feel he owed. Oriena was a customer, and presumably Sasha had come across her a time or two before, but she hardly endeared herself to those she met. If it was a matter of conscience then Sasha had done enough. The church had blankets, dry clothes, and it was warm.
“No more than you or I, I expect.” He shrugged about whether Nox could help. It seemed to Zeke it was unlikely, but if Oriena had mentioned him then that at least cemented his conclusion about Sasha's gift. And unless he got Sick that was far more power than Zeke was keen to engage with himself. Sasha was his man, but Nox would be the better teacher for such an asset. Especially if Sasha proved... difficult to manage. The startling power he'd felt had raged long after the storm upended over the church.
One thing at a time though.
“You never ask anything, Sasha,” he said eventually, with an amused grin. But not unkind. Sasha was never much fun to play with like that, and he had always been loyal.
“Almaz healed those,” he said, indicating the scars he’d trailed before. “I have an understanding with Helena, and she’s far better at it than Illya and his girls ever were. I could call in a favour. If you think she really needs it.” He reached to boop her nose, and chuckled. ”She brings all this shit on herself. And she won’t thank you for any of this, you know.”
Zeke’s head tilted in consideration as he watched his dealer sink awkwardly to his knees to set Oriena down – though it wasn’t like she’d even notice a few more bruises. He wasn't thinking about whether to give his help though – that was more or less a given – but of his suspicions concerning what Sasha had just proven himself to be. The menacing weight of that power had felt astronomical. Enough to flatten the church and everyone in it in a tantrum.
He squatted down beside them, arms loose on his thighs. “You could just leave her here. You brought her in from the, ah… inclement weather after all. It's as good a place as any other to sleep whatever it is off.” He watched Sasha’s expression, chin resting in his palm and a teasing smile behind the cup of his fingers, curious as to how much Sasha appeared to feel he owed. Oriena was a customer, and presumably Sasha had come across her a time or two before, but she hardly endeared herself to those she met. If it was a matter of conscience then Sasha had done enough. The church had blankets, dry clothes, and it was warm.
“No more than you or I, I expect.” He shrugged about whether Nox could help. It seemed to Zeke it was unlikely, but if Oriena had mentioned him then that at least cemented his conclusion about Sasha's gift. And unless he got Sick that was far more power than Zeke was keen to engage with himself. Sasha was his man, but Nox would be the better teacher for such an asset. Especially if Sasha proved... difficult to manage. The startling power he'd felt had raged long after the storm upended over the church.
One thing at a time though.
“You never ask anything, Sasha,” he said eventually, with an amused grin. But not unkind. Sasha was never much fun to play with like that, and he had always been loyal.
“Almaz healed those,” he said, indicating the scars he’d trailed before. “I have an understanding with Helena, and she’s far better at it than Illya and his girls ever were. I could call in a favour. If you think she really needs it.” He reached to boop her nose, and chuckled. ”She brings all this shit on herself. And she won’t thank you for any of this, you know.”