[ It's a strange feeling to abandon his deferential politeness towards Stronghart and exchange it for the discourteous bluntness with which he treats most everyone he encounters in his workday.
Though they are headed in roughly the same direction, van Zieks remains frozen in place as he watches Stronghart's head off into this garish town with his unfailingly even, heavy steps.
He'd never been naive enough to expect anything like shame or repentance, but Stronghart's unshakable calm still leaves van Zieks with a sense of uncomfortable foreboding. What is torment to van Zieks is merely an opportunity to Stronghart, and he's never been known for wasting those.
Once Stronghart is out of sight, van Zieks kicks a wall so hard that he'll feel the ache of it for the rest of the day. It does not make him feel any better.]
no subject
[ It's a strange feeling to abandon his deferential politeness towards Stronghart and exchange it for the discourteous bluntness with which he treats most everyone he encounters in his workday.
Though they are headed in roughly the same direction, van Zieks remains frozen in place as he watches Stronghart's head off into this garish town with his unfailingly even, heavy steps.
He'd never been naive enough to expect anything like shame or repentance, but Stronghart's unshakable calm still leaves van Zieks with a sense of uncomfortable foreboding. What is torment to van Zieks is merely an opportunity to Stronghart, and he's never been known for wasting those.
Once Stronghart is out of sight, van Zieks kicks a wall so hard that he'll feel the ache of it for the rest of the day. It does not make him feel any better.]