"No, you and your sister don't have that kind of relationship, do you?" Jigano murmured a touch sadly, considering the messed up complexity that was Samuel's family situation. "One of fondness, pride, protectiveness... affection. Not all love is romantic, after all, nor all bonds that matter." He had his ties to Sam after all, that had nothing to do with romance and a great deal to do with fondness and affection. Amalia and the bookmaker had much in common, though they each displayed their traits in their own unique ways. Still, it was those similarities that had endeared them both to the bard, and Sam who had first begun to break down the walls around his brittle heart, and that was not something he would forget short of a god's curse.
It felt strange to be talking about Rory, even now. What they had needed so few words between them, and he still wasn't sure what was his place, what was acceptable to say to those who had known the hunter all their lives. Sam's honest joy brought a smile to his face, and he nodded his head in acknowledgment of the kind words. "Thank you," he murmured, content to leave it at that - but Sam, it seemed, was not, and the bard blinked at the prying question. He arched one brow in silent reproof, then sighed, giving a slight shake of his head as his smile turned wry. "I am honored by your interest, my friend, but I enjoy hearing about you, and about those who are dear to me. You never need to apologize for sharing your life with me. But it is... not something that I do easily. A bard tells stories about others, usually, or about his own slightly embellished grand adventures, but the man behind the bard? That is something that is not shared easily. When you give so much of yourself to the world, the parts that remain private are all the more precious." He settled back, watching the companions rather than his friend for a moment as he tried to settle his thoughts. Finally he sighed and gave a little shake of his head.
"I told you that things were complicated. Neither of us has... 'asked out' the other. I am not much given to doing things the 'traditional' way, I'm afraid," he added wryly. "Though I suppose I don't even know what the local traditions even are, in this case."
It felt strange to be talking about Rory, even now. What they had needed so few words between them, and he still wasn't sure what was his place, what was acceptable to say to those who had known the hunter all their lives. Sam's honest joy brought a smile to his face, and he nodded his head in acknowledgment of the kind words. "Thank you," he murmured, content to leave it at that - but Sam, it seemed, was not, and the bard blinked at the prying question. He arched one brow in silent reproof, then sighed, giving a slight shake of his head as his smile turned wry. "I am honored by your interest, my friend, but I enjoy hearing about you, and about those who are dear to me. You never need to apologize for sharing your life with me. But it is... not something that I do easily. A bard tells stories about others, usually, or about his own slightly embellished grand adventures, but the man behind the bard? That is something that is not shared easily. When you give so much of yourself to the world, the parts that remain private are all the more precious." He settled back, watching the companions rather than his friend for a moment as he tried to settle his thoughts. Finally he sighed and gave a little shake of his head.
"I told you that things were complicated. Neither of us has... 'asked out' the other. I am not much given to doing things the 'traditional' way, I'm afraid," he added wryly. "Though I suppose I don't even know what the local traditions even are, in this case."
