The gods were not a pleasant topic - for either of them, really, but the local gods were, at least, largely academic to Jigano. Words on a page, harmless so far, and curiously fascinating. But for Remi they seemed far more... personal. And not in a good way at all.
It didn't take a fox's nose to sense the fear that came off the man, or the tension that thrummed through his handsome frame. Jigano watched him warily, as much to gauge how much harm his words had inadvertently done as to make sure he didn't accidentally trigger a stress-shift in the 'Attuned' man across from him. Ludo?
But-- "Breathe," he said gently instead. "Slowly. Six counts in, six counts out. There are no gods here right now." At least, he hoped.
Frey seemed a somewhat safer topic, though the more he heard of them the more he thought he might like to have a chat with that particular god. If it wasn't suicide to chastise a deity in their place of power. He had gone up against more than one would-be god in his time, but no true deities, and being what he was... he had no doubt as to the outcome of such a confrontation.
Still, the more he heard the more a simmer of true anger began to boil in his chest. It was strange and almost unfamiliar - it had been so long since he'd been truly mad at anyone. He stayed silent, letting Remi continue while keeping his face carefully calm, controlled as a bard's acting mask.
But his eyes snapped with blue fire.
When Remi fell silent Jigano let out a breath, slowly, and took another, following his own suggestion for calming breathing. After a moment he spoke gently, leaning forward deliberately - to show Remi he was neither afraid nor disgusted with him. "Frey," he said with cool judgment. "Is... similar in some ways, yet dissimilar in others, from one of the gods of my world. And while I don't doubt their power..." he paused, mind racing and brow furrowing in thought. "They are also under no obligation to tell the truth. Not if they're the kind to force others to act without consent. Perhaps they did not take your love from you... so much as temporarily numbed it?" He nibbled his lip, fingers drumming softly against the table. "Or perhaps... they seek to make you earn your love back, anew? Starting from the beginning again - starting fresh. They took what was in the past, but I do not think they can take what is in your future." His smile was more sincere, if a little lopsided. "That's the whole point, after all. The game's no fun if they already know the outcome. They cast us like dice because they don't know what numbers we'll turn up. Which doesn't stop some of them from trying to cheat, of course. They're gods, not saints." He sat back, glancing ruefully down at the book that wasn't getting read as much as he'd hoped... but the book would be there later. Remi was here now.
"Your lover... are they here as well?"
It didn't take a fox's nose to sense the fear that came off the man, or the tension that thrummed through his handsome frame. Jigano watched him warily, as much to gauge how much harm his words had inadvertently done as to make sure he didn't accidentally trigger a stress-shift in the 'Attuned' man across from him. Ludo?
But-- "Breathe," he said gently instead. "Slowly. Six counts in, six counts out. There are no gods here right now." At least, he hoped.
Frey seemed a somewhat safer topic, though the more he heard of them the more he thought he might like to have a chat with that particular god. If it wasn't suicide to chastise a deity in their place of power. He had gone up against more than one would-be god in his time, but no true deities, and being what he was... he had no doubt as to the outcome of such a confrontation.
Still, the more he heard the more a simmer of true anger began to boil in his chest. It was strange and almost unfamiliar - it had been so long since he'd been truly mad at anyone. He stayed silent, letting Remi continue while keeping his face carefully calm, controlled as a bard's acting mask.
But his eyes snapped with blue fire.
When Remi fell silent Jigano let out a breath, slowly, and took another, following his own suggestion for calming breathing. After a moment he spoke gently, leaning forward deliberately - to show Remi he was neither afraid nor disgusted with him. "Frey," he said with cool judgment. "Is... similar in some ways, yet dissimilar in others, from one of the gods of my world. And while I don't doubt their power..." he paused, mind racing and brow furrowing in thought. "They are also under no obligation to tell the truth. Not if they're the kind to force others to act without consent. Perhaps they did not take your love from you... so much as temporarily numbed it?" He nibbled his lip, fingers drumming softly against the table. "Or perhaps... they seek to make you earn your love back, anew? Starting from the beginning again - starting fresh. They took what was in the past, but I do not think they can take what is in your future." His smile was more sincere, if a little lopsided. "That's the whole point, after all. The game's no fun if they already know the outcome. They cast us like dice because they don't know what numbers we'll turn up. Which doesn't stop some of them from trying to cheat, of course. They're gods, not saints." He sat back, glancing ruefully down at the book that wasn't getting read as much as he'd hoped... but the book would be there later. Remi was here now.
"Your lover... are they here as well?"
