Sam's relationship with Wessex was largely uncertain to Jigano. Once, he would have doubted they would have had much common cause, but now it felt like religion had brought them together, even as it was tearing the bard and the bookmaker apart. It wasn't fair, but he'd long since given up on the world being 'fair' - not his own, and not this new one, either. He could only nod at Sam's undertain acceptance of his words and offer a small smile to his old friend. "Hey, if she tries to bully or threaten you into doing something you don't want to, I'll help you. I... I can't promise I'll be there to protect you always," he admitted reluctantly, a catch of remembered pain from his time in Safrin's realm in his voice, "but if you can make it back to me, I'll shield you from her."
He knew his words were not the simple black-and-white, yes-or-no that Sam wanted, but they didn't live in a black and white world. Things were complex, nuanced, full of shades of grey. He was just glad that his friend was willing to accept them for the moment, and he hoped they wouldn't be put to the test the hard way. He stuck the cork in the bottle to seal it, rising with his friend. "No," he said quietly to Sam's question. "But since I can't snap my fingers and turn back the clock to change our pasts and smooth the course between us, it is enough for today. Thank you, Sam. I hope you're able to get your hand fixed soon." No promises had been extracted for the bookmaker to not use his fixed hand to hurt non-Ascended, Jigano thought with dark humor. In spite of the help the bard had given him in fulfilling his quest. But perhaps that was the difference between them. It was enough for now that they could still help each other out. "As you're wandering about in Halo, do you think you could make maps and keep a journal for the guild of what you find? This is still your home, if you want it to be."
He knew his words were not the simple black-and-white, yes-or-no that Sam wanted, but they didn't live in a black and white world. Things were complex, nuanced, full of shades of grey. He was just glad that his friend was willing to accept them for the moment, and he hoped they wouldn't be put to the test the hard way. He stuck the cork in the bottle to seal it, rising with his friend. "No," he said quietly to Sam's question. "But since I can't snap my fingers and turn back the clock to change our pasts and smooth the course between us, it is enough for today. Thank you, Sam. I hope you're able to get your hand fixed soon." No promises had been extracted for the bookmaker to not use his fixed hand to hurt non-Ascended, Jigano thought with dark humor. In spite of the help the bard had given him in fulfilling his quest. But perhaps that was the difference between them. It was enough for now that they could still help each other out. "As you're wandering about in Halo, do you think you could make maps and keep a journal for the guild of what you find? This is still your home, if you want it to be."
