Remi's words were well-taken, the bard nodding resignedly at the seeming capriciousness of the gods of Caido. As he had told the alchemist before, though, he didn't think it was deliberate cruelty on the part of the local pantheon so much as living on different scales and being bound by different limitations. Was it what they 'chose' to do that stopped them, or were there compacts and rules that prevented them from certain types of interference, or interfering too often? Faith could have such a deceptively fragile strength, but he chose to put his own in Ludo and Mort, believing that the god of death would not call souls to his domain before their time without reason. What point would there be? In time, most mortal souls - those not lost to Long Night, at least - would find their way to Mort. All the god had to do was be patient, and from what Jigano knew of him, patience and kindness were very much a part of who and what he was.
Ludo, of course, was a different matter entirely, but given what Jigano knew of Mort's herald that wasn't entirely surprising.
Wessex's temper finally drew his lips back in a silent snarl as he fought not to snap back at her. His warning had been meant as a courtesy, albeit a grudging one, but of course she took it as some sort of insult. His fingers dug into the table, nails kept from turning to claws only through his instinctive reservations against partially-shifting himself in view of others. She was spared his sharp retort only because he knew that once he began spitting venom at her there would be no stopping, and he turned his attention inwards, biting his tongue to keep it firmly under control. He let them discuss using Loren as a piece of meat, the shock of hearing Remi offer up the scholar finally distracting him from the rage that bubbled like molten tar beneath the surface of his thoughts.
At least it let him gain control of himself for a few minutes longer, enough to remember the list he and Loren had been building and to hand it over to those most able to make use of it. Remi's additions were noted, and Jigano slowly withdrew a stub of a pencil from one of his sleeve pockets, adding the names to the list - the additions noticeably worse than the previous writing on the sheet.
Of course he had known they might need to be confined. He had said as much to Loren, and to Rory as well. As much as he hated and feared the thought of being imprisoned, the thought of physically hurting one of his friends was worse. He nodded slowly atWessex , though not without a hard line to his mouth that Remi would not have received if he had been the one to say it aloud. "For now, the worst of the rages are only harsh words and broken crockery," he said quietly, sliding a glance to the alchemist and a pulse of weak support, knowing that Ronin was farther along than he was, and probably far worse as well. What had the alchemist told Loren at the oasis? He hadn't seen his husband for a week? "But... they are growing worse. Quicker to rise. Harder to control. Food has no savor, and it's not as though we've stopped thinking and reasoning, so you can't simply lure them - us - like animals." Yet. Always that 'yet' hanging over their heads like a thunderstorm about to break. "Lures... it doesn't make sense, but... it's hardest to keep control around the ones I love," he admitted, looking down at the table and the half-drunk tea cup in front of him as if seeking forgiveness in its reflection.
He didn't find it.
"The urge to lash out is... stronger. Overpowering, sometimes." He slanted a glance to Remi. That might be why Ronin left. In his better moments he was afraid of the rage getting... worse. Of hurting more than just plates and cups. Hopefully Remi already knew that, but Jigano doubted it would be of much comfort to the alchemist. "If this continues as it has been and we lose more of ourselves to the rage, you might be able to lure us with those who the blighted care for most."
Ludo, of course, was a different matter entirely, but given what Jigano knew of Mort's herald that wasn't entirely surprising.
Wessex's temper finally drew his lips back in a silent snarl as he fought not to snap back at her. His warning had been meant as a courtesy, albeit a grudging one, but of course she took it as some sort of insult. His fingers dug into the table, nails kept from turning to claws only through his instinctive reservations against partially-shifting himself in view of others. She was spared his sharp retort only because he knew that once he began spitting venom at her there would be no stopping, and he turned his attention inwards, biting his tongue to keep it firmly under control. He let them discuss using Loren as a piece of meat, the shock of hearing Remi offer up the scholar finally distracting him from the rage that bubbled like molten tar beneath the surface of his thoughts.
At least it let him gain control of himself for a few minutes longer, enough to remember the list he and Loren had been building and to hand it over to those most able to make use of it. Remi's additions were noted, and Jigano slowly withdrew a stub of a pencil from one of his sleeve pockets, adding the names to the list - the additions noticeably worse than the previous writing on the sheet.
Of course he had known they might need to be confined. He had said as much to Loren, and to Rory as well. As much as he hated and feared the thought of being imprisoned, the thought of physically hurting one of his friends was worse. He nodded slowly at
He didn't find it.
"The urge to lash out is... stronger. Overpowering, sometimes." He slanted a glance to Remi. That might be why Ronin left. In his better moments he was afraid of the rage getting... worse. Of hurting more than just plates and cups. Hopefully Remi already knew that, but Jigano doubted it would be of much comfort to the alchemist. "If this continues as it has been and we lose more of ourselves to the rage, you might be able to lure us with those who the blighted care for most."
