Because of course he would rush right to the heart of the matter. Most would probably leave it alone but so far this man hadn't given indication that he was done talking about this. Which meant that Iskandar planned to continue to ask about it. It was how you learned about the world and others, after all. You asked questions and then listened to the answers.
Even if the questions and answers might not always be the kindest of things.
Axel actually finds himself snorting with laughter.
"You're very honest, aren't you," he chuckles, and he doesn't mean it in an unkind way at all. It's a bit refreshing, really, considering he'd spent the past decade or so surrounded by people who wouldn't have been straight with him if their lives had depended on it. Not that he'd been particularly forthright himself, but... well, that's another story for another time. Well, honesty is something he's been meaning to work on, anyway, so... since Iskandar has been so straightforward, maybe he can return the favor. "'Killed' might not be the right word," he says, shaking his head a little. "I... I died, yeah," he says, and it's... really weird to say, "but it was my own choice. I decided that the hero's quest, and the princess' safety, was worth my life." He gives him a wry grin. "Especially since I had been part of the problem up 'til then, anyway."
Huh. It's actually not as tough to be honest as he'd been expecting. He's never been good at talking about himself, especially the things he's... not really too proud of, but he guesses sacrificing yourself for the greater good is worth being a little proud. Maybe.
Iskandar listened to him and in the end he was smiling warmly at Axel. Coming over to him, he rested a hand on his shoulder. "My friend, whatever it is that you did to be part of the problem, I see a noble soul in you. You may have felt you were only helping the hero in his quest but in my eyes you were a true hero."
He gave that shoulder a squeeze before letting him go. "And to return to what you said earlier, I am very honest indeed. I have nothing at all to hide about myself. I believe that the greatest strength you can have is to be so proud of all your weak moments that no one can use them against you. We have all done things that are not something to be proud of. However, if we carry those with us and show the world how we grow from them then what is there to be ashamed of?"
Iskandar laughed softly and shrugged. He knew not everyone could be as open as he was. To expose themselves so thoroughly for every little detail in their lives. It wasn't easy to do that and it could even be terrifying. But what sort of King would he be if he didn't do that himself to help show others that it could be worth the effort to do?
"I was not killed when I died either. Though I would not say that my death when I was human was so noble as your own. I must say that I am proud to call you my friend."
omfg sorry i thought i posted this like a week and a half ago agkshfad but we can call it done here
He jumps a little at the sudden hand on his shoulder; he's still getting used to letting people inside that personal space bubble, but despite his size and obvious strength, Iskandar puts off like zero aggressive or dangerous vibes whatsoever. Axel's sure that, given the right situation, Iskandar could probably annihilate with the best of them, but it seems like he genuinely just... wouldn't want to. So he relaxes a little and then gives a bit of an embarrassed laugh.
"All that, huh?" he says. A true hero? That might be reaching a bit. It's not entirely heroic, he thinks, to take action as a reaction, no matter how noble the action may be. "That's a good outlook, though," he says. "I... guess I've still got a ways to go, before I can say I'm that proud of myself, but... maybe one day." He's working on it.
He looks embarrassed again when Iskandar speaks so kindly, and he's really not sure he deserves this sort of praise, but he thinks it would be rude to refute him. Besides, everybody needs a cheerleader or two in their life, right? He gives him a grin and then reaches up to clap him on the shoulder in return.
"Well, right back at'cha, big guy," he says. He's always been quick to get attached to people, and though his time spent in the Organization had prevented him from really forging any friendships until Roxas came along, it's a skill worth revisiting, he thinks.
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no subject
Because of course he would rush right to the heart of the matter. Most would probably leave it alone but so far this man hadn't given indication that he was done talking about this. Which meant that Iskandar planned to continue to ask about it. It was how you learned about the world and others, after all. You asked questions and then listened to the answers.
Even if the questions and answers might not always be the kindest of things.
no subject
"You're very honest, aren't you," he chuckles, and he doesn't mean it in an unkind way at all. It's a bit refreshing, really, considering he'd spent the past decade or so surrounded by people who wouldn't have been straight with him if their lives had depended on it. Not that he'd been particularly forthright himself, but... well, that's another story for another time. Well, honesty is something he's been meaning to work on, anyway, so... since Iskandar has been so straightforward, maybe he can return the favor. "'Killed' might not be the right word," he says, shaking his head a little. "I... I died, yeah," he says, and it's... really weird to say, "but it was my own choice. I decided that the hero's quest, and the princess' safety, was worth my life." He gives him a wry grin. "Especially since I had been part of the problem up 'til then, anyway."
Huh. It's actually not as tough to be honest as he'd been expecting. He's never been good at talking about himself, especially the things he's... not really too proud of, but he guesses sacrificing yourself for the greater good is worth being a little proud. Maybe.
no subject
He gave that shoulder a squeeze before letting him go. "And to return to what you said earlier, I am very honest indeed. I have nothing at all to hide about myself. I believe that the greatest strength you can have is to be so proud of all your weak moments that no one can use them against you. We have all done things that are not something to be proud of. However, if we carry those with us and show the world how we grow from them then what is there to be ashamed of?"
Iskandar laughed softly and shrugged. He knew not everyone could be as open as he was. To expose themselves so thoroughly for every little detail in their lives. It wasn't easy to do that and it could even be terrifying. But what sort of King would he be if he didn't do that himself to help show others that it could be worth the effort to do?
"I was not killed when I died either. Though I would not say that my death when I was human was so noble as your own. I must say that I am proud to call you my friend."
omfg sorry i thought i posted this like a week and a half ago agkshfad but we can call it done here
"All that, huh?" he says. A true hero? That might be reaching a bit. It's not entirely heroic, he thinks, to take action as a reaction, no matter how noble the action may be. "That's a good outlook, though," he says. "I... guess I've still got a ways to go, before I can say I'm that proud of myself, but... maybe one day." He's working on it.
He looks embarrassed again when Iskandar speaks so kindly, and he's really not sure he deserves this sort of praise, but he thinks it would be rude to refute him. Besides, everybody needs a cheerleader or two in their life, right? He gives him a grin and then reaches up to clap him on the shoulder in return.
"Well, right back at'cha, big guy," he says. He's always been quick to get attached to people, and though his time spent in the Organization had prevented him from really forging any friendships until Roxas came along, it's a skill worth revisiting, he thinks.