Jigano grinned at the antics of the companions as Isuma bounced in excited circles then fluttered up to try and land in Astra's antlers so she could rub her downy cheek over the luxere's fuzzy forehead in greeting. As he settled in to his seat, Loren's 'threat' was met with a genuine laugh and an earnest nod of agreement. "I imagine things will get very boring here once those blizzards Neron warned of locks everyone in," he agreed ruefully. "I can keep you updated on how our preparations are coming along since you know the drill from last year." Perches and snow moss, food and light, offerings and desperate prayers to weakened gods in the days of darkness.
The tableware brought a delighted grin to his face and the bard leaned forward, eager to see what Loren had cooked up. The grin softened to something warmer at hearing that things were going better for his friend these days, but slipped away at the mention of Maea. Jigano winced, but nodded slow understanding. "I'm working my way back to that mindset, too. Though it's been an uphill battle." His smile, when it returned was crooked as he thought that Sunjata might say he was putting that mildly.
The genuine concern from Loren - not new, but it had been a long time since Jigano had seen it untarnished by grief or bitter loss - touched the bard and he drew a steadying breath, letting his expression relax back into easier lines. "Losing Maea so soon after she came back has been hard," he admitted quietly. "I... haven't always dealt with it well. But Leafchange has been a time of healing. Rory and the hounds are well," he added with a fond smile for his mate. "He's talking about maybe traveling next year. The Grounds are still recovering from Fiat Lux, but things have been blessedly quiet of late. We're starting our preparations for Deepfrost and LongNight. Oh - Phoebe has left us for Torchline," he added, almost as an afterthought. "She's closed the Medical College and left us without an official healer as we head into winter." And the most dangerous time of the year - though no season was truly safe.
He shook his head, dispelling the disquiet he felt at that abrupt decision, turning his attention back to Loren with renewed curiosity. "What of yourself? How goes the Infirmary here? Are you and Sam still, ah, together?" Last he'd heard they had been, but both the bookmaker's and the summoner's relationship status changed so quickly he never knew from week to week who was seeing - or not seeing, or sleeping with on the side - with who.
The tableware brought a delighted grin to his face and the bard leaned forward, eager to see what Loren had cooked up. The grin softened to something warmer at hearing that things were going better for his friend these days, but slipped away at the mention of Maea. Jigano winced, but nodded slow understanding. "I'm working my way back to that mindset, too. Though it's been an uphill battle." His smile, when it returned was crooked as he thought that Sunjata might say he was putting that mildly.
The genuine concern from Loren - not new, but it had been a long time since Jigano had seen it untarnished by grief or bitter loss - touched the bard and he drew a steadying breath, letting his expression relax back into easier lines. "Losing Maea so soon after she came back has been hard," he admitted quietly. "I... haven't always dealt with it well. But Leafchange has been a time of healing. Rory and the hounds are well," he added with a fond smile for his mate. "He's talking about maybe traveling next year. The Grounds are still recovering from Fiat Lux, but things have been blessedly quiet of late. We're starting our preparations for Deepfrost and LongNight. Oh - Phoebe has left us for Torchline," he added, almost as an afterthought. "She's closed the Medical College and left us without an official healer as we head into winter." And the most dangerous time of the year - though no season was truly safe.
He shook his head, dispelling the disquiet he felt at that abrupt decision, turning his attention back to Loren with renewed curiosity. "What of yourself? How goes the Infirmary here? Are you and Sam still, ah, together?" Last he'd heard they had been, but both the bookmaker's and the summoner's relationship status changed so quickly he never knew from week to week who was seeing - or not seeing, or sleeping with on the side - with who.
